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About those tariffs on Canadian lumber…

Several U.S. presidents have imposed tariffs on Canadian lumber as part of a decades-long trade dispute between the United States and Canada, primarily over softwood lumber. This conflict, often referred to as the "softwood lumber dispute," stems from U.S. claims that Canadian lumber is unfairly subsidized by government-set stumpage fees, giving Canadian producers an advantage over American ones. Below is a list of presidents who have overseen the imposition of tariffs on Canadian lumber, based on historical actions and trade policies: Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) The modern softwood lumber dispute began in the 1980s under Reagan. In 1986, during "Lumber II," the…

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See, I told you so.

President Trump gets results.  Immediate results. I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace. None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under… - Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 4, 2025 From Zelensky the Pimp's full post on X: I would like to reiterate Ukraine’s commitment to peace. None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as…

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Zelensky is a pimp

Rarely have I seen a realpolitik misread as glaring as this from last week.  It was so bad it needed quoting and a thread about all of the different Laws of Power that Zelensky has no grasp of.  I will try to duplicate the thread here in a single post. At a press conference in Kiev, Zelensky offers to step down in exchange for peace and NATO membership. Putinists simply don’t understand the man. They’re cynical and self-interested, and lose their minds in the face of real patriotism. pic.twitter.com/yxegvgHGMx - Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) February 23, 2025 Zelensky is a pimp. This…

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The 48 Laws of Power

The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene is a book that explores the dynamics of power and influence, drawing from historical examples and philosophical insights. Published in 1998, it distills 48 "laws" or principles that Greene argues are timeless strategies for achieving and maintaining power. The book is often described as a guide to navigating complex social and professional environments, though it has sparked debate for its amoral tone and pragmatic, sometimes ruthless, advice. Each law is presented with anecdotes from figures like Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and various historical leaders, illustrating how these principles have been applied (or ignored) to…

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The myth of Medicaid cuts: Explaining Baseline Budgeting

The Democratic claim that the Republican budget resolution authorizes up to $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid originates from an interpretation of the budget resolution passed by the House of Representatives on February 25, 2025. Specifically, it stems from the resolution's directive to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to identify at least $880 billion in spending cuts over a decade. This figure is part of a broader Republican plan to reduce mandatory spending by up to $2 trillion to offset extensions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and fund other priorities like border security and…

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