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Just what is going on with the economy?

The fate of the Trump administration — and perhaps Republicans in Congress — is tethered to how Americans feel about the economy. And right now, it’s hard to find anyone who can say with confidence what the hell is going on. Thursday offered a fresh reminder of the chaos. As The Wall Street Journal noted, “Stocks surrendered gains and closed sharply lower after a whirlwind day of trading that began after Nvidia posted strong results. The Nasdaq composite led indexes lower after being up on the day more than 2%. It closed 2.2% lower. Nvidia gave up an even bigger gain and ...

Cheney was not intimidated

The word that best describes how former Vice President Dick Cheney, who wielded the responsibilities he undertook in public affairs over a long career, began improbably early in life and extended into years of repudiation by his fellow partisans, is “unintimidated.” He was unintimidated by his rise to become White House chief of staff at age 34 in 1975, after flunking out of Yale University and not finishing his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin (while his wife, Lynne Cheney, earned hers). Cheney, who died last month and was eulogized in a ceremony to which the current ...

The best leaders are those who learn from others

When asked what characteristics the most successful people have, I often mention curiosity. This is what it takes to learn from others. In most organizations, there are usually some leaders who are achieving better results than others. This is a good thing. These days, very few travel dollars are needed to get help. What it takes is the willingness to ask the person achieving good results how they are doing it.  One difference between a frontline worker and a manager is that the frontline worker most often works side by side with others who do a similar job. A manager does not work ...

Delivering broadband to W.Va.

When I talk with West Virginians, connectivity is a topic that comes up frequently. Whether you’re a small business owner looking to develop your online presence and reach a broader audience, or a teacher who needs to send a homework assignment to students who missed a class, broadband access is critical in today’s world. It keeps us connected, has the ability to break down barriers, and leads to significant economic growth. Today, I am proud to say that connection is closer than ever. Last week, the state’s Final Proposal under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment ...

Avoiding solutions

Donald Trump’s rise to power has been marked by both malice and hope. He disliked his enemies, yet he seemed able to craft policies that sounded designed to reverse what he saw as an inevitable decline. His approach to foreign policy appeared to be oriented toward avoiding the George W. Bush style of diplomacy. But lately, the approach has been marked not so much by a positive approach as by a desire for retribution. This pivot is a disturbing departure from his first term, when Trump seemed steadier. Perhaps understanding the essence of Trumpism is to reexamine the twists and ...

Fraying at the edges

MAGA’s problems with the administration continue to grow. One of the disputes regards Israel and the American ambassador Mike Huckabee. He visited with Jonathan Pollard, who spent 30 years in prison for having spied for Israel while working in the Defense Department. Huckabee had no problem cavorting with a convicted traitor whose first allegiance was to Tel Aviv and not Washington. Jack Posobiec, a top MAGA influencer, has emphasized the affair and is not pleased. Once more, add in the Epstein scandal, mixed with preferential treatment given to a foreign techno specialist for Visas, ...