Other Stuff

I'll start with an unimportant note: I mentioned last week that my kid and I saw "Presence" and it was one of the worst, most pointless and boring movies I'd ever seen. Last night we went to see "Companion". While I didn't enjoy $22.50 a person for IMAX, the movie was thoroughly entertaining and a lot of fun, though it definitely deserves it's R rating. Unlike with "Presence" which got good reviews from critics but is actually terrible, this movie deserves its excellent reviews. I gave it 4.25 out of 5 stars. My kid gave it 4 out of 5. And it's probably worth the few extra bucks to see on IMAX even though it doesn't have a lot of special effects...especially if you can find an early show and save a little.

Companion (2025) | Rotten Tomatoes

.

Wow...I hope it works well and I hope there's a generic of it at some point so people can afford it (or that it's reasonably priced to begin with): FDA approves first non-opioid pain medicine in more than 20 years - Ars Technica

.

More on trade: I'm frustrated as I write this on Sunday evening after spending the better part of an hour in conversation/debate with people on Twitter. Even people who are fairly smart and good at business are repeating Trumpy claims about tariffs and trade that are not true, have never been true, and are very unlikely to ever be true. I very very much hope I'm wrong but this country could be in for a LOT of economic pain if Trump doesn't back down...which is not his style. I note that there is a very different conversation to be had about an enemy/competitor like China than an ally like Canada, Japan, and, yes, Mexico.

The Dumbest Trade War Fallout Begins - WSJ

Trump says EU tariffs will happen and UK is 'out of line' but deal 'can be worked out' - live updates - BBC News

White House explainers and order: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China – The White House

Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border – The White House

Trump Tariffs: The Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War

Trump’s Move to Put Tariff Hikes Ahead of Tax Cuts Has Spooked Almost Everyone - WSJ

Canadians are 'perplexed' by Trump's tariffs, ambassador to the US says - ABC News

Trump's 25% tariffs confuse and anger Canadians

I buy a lot of small electronic parts on AliExpress (the retail version of Alibaba, for smaller purchases). These are things I either can't get in the US or they're much more expensive here (and made in China in any case). This change will definitely cost me money: Trump tariffs take aim at trade loophole used by Temu, Shein

.

I've long said that trade is Trump's worst policy area...and it is. But I also want to be sure to note some things he and his team are getting done that are good, or even excellent. Here are a few just in recent days:

Rubio tells Panama to end China's influence of canal or face US action | Reuters

A little more detail here with a missing-the-point headline by CNN: Trump reiterates threat to retake Panama Canal ‘or something very powerful’ will happen | CNN

Rohit Chopra Is Ousted, at Last - WSJ

Trump says he ordered air strikes on Islamic State group in Somalia

Federal employees told to remove pronouns from email signatures by end of day - ABC News

.

Interesting timing: Jordan reportedly warns it could extradite Sbarro bombing mastermind to US for trial | The Times of Israel

.

You'll soon know a little more about the finances of your Uber ride: Judge rejects Uber's challenge to Colo. disclosure law | Courts | coloradopolitics.com

.

I hate this story: Louisiana's law is ridiculous (but legal) and voters will have to change politicians if they want to change the law (maybe they like it); New York's law is important (and will likely be tested in court). Arrest warrant issued for New York doctor indicted in Louisiana for prescribing abortion pill | AP News

.

Offered without comment: Army captain killed in DC midair collision was a 'brilliant and fearless' patriot | AP News

.

I owed you a few of these from last week:

This was always an outrageous prosecution, regardless of what you think about the underlying issues regarding transgender youth. 'We Never Gave Up': Texas Whistleblower Went Toe-to-Toe with the Gender-Industrial Complex — and Won | National Review

This will be thrown out in court: Oklahoma schools leader Ryan Walters moves to require students to prove citizenship

.

This reminds us of how lonely many Americans are. So while to some of us who grew up in a time before smart phones and social media and politics kept people apart, in today's environment I'm glad for anything that brings people together in person: Axios: 1 big thing: Embracing the "errand hang"

.

Marriage and dating in the US...there's a group that it's going particularly badly for (and has been for a while now): Interesting data points, including about perceived safety of dating apps and what women think of how rapey men are: Romantic Recession: How Politics, Pessimism, and Anxiety Shape American Courtship - The Survey Center on American Life

Related: Axios: The marriage gap for women isn't what you think

.

I understand it seems a little…Luddite, but I like moving the Overton Window on the use of technology, esp by young people: Luddite Teens Still Don’t Want Your Likes - The New York Times

.

This is a really remarkable story. One wonders if Congress will try to intervene. One also wonders whether the people trying to see classified information have security clearances and, if so, how they got them. AND, how does someone who hasn’t been Senate-confirmed to anything get this much power?

Top Security Officials at Aid Agency Put on Leave After Denying Access to Musk Team - The New York Times

.

Good move: CU removes DEI web page

Ross Kaminsky