🔗 Some Economic Reality
Opinion | Can We Please Stop Lying About Obama? - The New York Times
As the economics writer Noah Smith has noted, top marginal tax rates were significantly higher in 2016 than in 1992. Federal spending on social programs went up, not down. Government policy became more progressive (favoring those down the income scale), not less. Much of the economy grew more regulated, not less. U.S. tariff rates were basically stagnant.
The era between the start of the Clinton administration and the end of the Obama one was not a libertarian/globalist free-for-all. It was an era of mainstream presidents who tried to balance dynamism and solidarity.
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I never thought I’d be sharing David Brooks, but this was a compelling read. While individuals will naturally have their own experiences, it’s important to step back and look at the bigger picture. This was one of the aspects of the 2016 Democratic primary that frustrated me most. Every policy creates winners and losers, but global trade produced far more winners than losers. Yet from 2016 until now, pointing this out seems to automatically earn you the label “neoliberal shill.”
The Fight for the Larry O’Brien
Eastern Conference
Round 1
Cleveland 4 Miami 2
Boston 4 Orlando 1
New York 4 Detroit 1
Milwaukee 4 Indiana 3
Conference Semifinals
Cleveland 4 Milwaukee 2
Boston 4 New York 2
Conference Finals
Boston 4 Cleveland 1
Western Conference
Round 1
Oklahoma City 4 Memphis 1
Golden State 4 Houston 2
Los Angeles Lakers 4 Minnesota 2
Los Angeles Clippers 4 Denver 2
Conference Semifinals
Los Angeles Clippers 4 Oklahoma City 2
Los Angeles Lakers 4 Golden State 3
Conference Finals
Los Angels Clippers 4 Los Angeles Lakers 2
NBA Finals
Boston 4 Los Angeles Clippers 2
Who Will Lift the Cup?
It’s the most magical time of year in sports. The baseball season has started and now the NBA and NHL playoffs are about to kick off. The NHL brackets are now set, so who will lift the best trophy in sports? Well the only thing I know for sure is that it won’t be the New York Rangers.
Eastern Conference
Round 1
Toronto 4 Ottawa 1
Tampa Bay 4 Florida 2
Montreal 4 Washington 3
Carolina 4 New Jersey 2
Conference Semifinals
Tampa Bay 4 Toronto 2
Carolina 4 Montreal 1
Conference Finals
Tampa Bay 4 Carolina 2
Western Conference
Round 1
St. Louis 4 Winnipeg 2
Colorado 4 Dallas 2
Vegas 4 Minnesota 1
Los Angeles 4 Edmonton 1
Conference Semifinals
Colorado 4 St. Louis 1
Vegas 4 Los Angeles 2
Conference Finals
Colorado 4 Vegas 2
Stanley Cup Final
Colorado 4 Tampa Bay 3
2025 MLB Predictions
National League
NL East: Atlanta Braves
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
NL West: LA Dodgers
WC 1: New York Mets
WC 2: Arizona Diamondbacks
WC 3: Philadelphia Phillies
American League
AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
AL West: Seattle Mariners
WC 1: New York Yankees
WC 2: Texas Rangers
WC 3: Toronto Blue Jays
Postseason
NLCS: Dodgers over Mets
ALCS: Mariners over Blue Jays
World Series: Dodgers over Mariners
2025 Women’s Tournament Picks
My predictions for the 2025 NCAA Women’s tournament! Below are my regional final picks, you can click here to see the whole bracket once the tournament tips off.
Region 1 UCLA over LSU
Region 2: South Carolina over North Carolina
Region 3 Notre Dame over Texas
Region 4 UCONN over USC
Championship: South Carolina over UCLA