Dave Ramsey Stars In New Show ‘To Catch A Borrower’ Where He Catches Christians Trying To Buy Things On Credit Cards - The Babylon Bee

“Do you know who I am? I’m Dave FREAKING Ramsey and you’re BROKE, STUPID! What makes you think you can afford those golf clubs when you haven’t even finished Baby Step 2?”

Biden Considers Invoking Defense Production Act to Boost Minerals for EV Batteries - WSJ

The companies would still be subject to the regular environmental review process and permitting wouldn’t be expedited, the person said. Mr. Biden’s plans were earlier reported by Bloomberg.

That moment when you realize that your plan to clear a log jam is just more logs.

401(k) Savings Plans Get a Boost in Bipartisan Retirement Bill - WSJ

The bill would allow older workers to make bigger contributions.

Nice payoff to the AARP vote.

This illustrates how dumb this bill and this Congress is. Why not increase limits for all workers so we don’t have another wave of underfunded/underprepared savers in the decades to come?

Putting money into your retirement account at age 50+ has virtually no opportunity for a meaningful return when compared to the same savings opportunity for workers in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Ukraine Proposes Neutral Status With Guarantees, but Zelensky Calls for More Western Help - WSJ

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said Russia would significantly decrease its military activities around Kyiv and Chernihiv, north of the capital, in order to increase trust during negotiations.

Also, they were getting demolished.

I wonder how Turkey is going to spend this gusher of new overflight fees.

The President We Have - WSJ Opinion

The reality is that we have to live with Mr. Biden for three more years as President. And please stop writing letters imploring us to demand that Mr. Biden resign. Do you really want Vice President Kamala Harris in the Oval Office?

That made me laugh.

The voters picked him, so let’s help him do the best job that he can!

A solid start is handing Congress to the GOP in the fall so he will no longer be beholden to the progressive fringe.

Joe Biden is a caretaker president, but four years is long enough to do lasting damage. We gain nothing from a counterproductive presidency.

Biden to Propose New Minimum Tax on Wealthiest Americans - WSJ

it would apply only to those who don’t pay at least 20% in tax on a combination of income as typically defined and their unrealized gains on unsold assets such as stocks and closely held businesses

Unrealized gains? This nonsense again.

Biden’s Great Energy and Climate Contradiction - WSJ Opinion

Several large pipelines and LNG export projects have been scrapped in recent years amid opposition from progressive states and green groups. It can take four to five years to get a federal permit for a pipeline that can be built in six to nine months.

Let’s get these decisions right, but surely we can do it faster than 48 months.

It’s Cold Brew o’clock!

☕️

IRS Delays, Sudden End to Tax Break Leave Employers Frustrated With Covid Credits - WSJ

IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said the agency was unable to automate systems to expedite these refund requests. These problems—and other customer-service issues—stem from a lack of resources for the agency, said Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D., Ore.).

And also COVID, supply chain disruptions, chip shortage, inflation, and Putin.

Who Said It: Vice President Kamala Harris Or Elmo? - The Babylon Bee

Quote: “So Ukraine is a country in Europe. It exists next to another country called Russia. Russia is a bigger country. Russia is a powerful country. Russia decided to invade a smaller country called Ukraine. So basically that’s bad.” Answer: Kamala. The adults are back in charge!

I read this and thought, “No way she said that. The Bee totally made it up.” I was so wrong.

‘Russian World’ Is the Civil Religion Behind Putin’s War - WSJ

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, recently described the war in Ukraine as nothing less than an apocalyptic struggle between good and evil. Its outcome, he said, will determine “where humanity will end up, on which side of God the Savior.”

Probably not on the side of the aggressor intentionally targeting schools, hospitals, and apartment blocks.

Then again, maybe his quote was more true than he realized.

Pope Francis Laments War in Ukraine Without Taking Sides - WSJ

On Thursday, in a speech citing Mahatma Gandhi, the famed exponent of nonviolent resistance, the pope denounced as madness the decision by some countries to raise their military spending above 2% of gross domestic product, an apparent reference to North Atlantic Treaty Organization members including Germany who have announced higher military spending in response to the war in Ukraine. “The true response is not more weapons, more sanctions,” the pope said.

As if a sovereign nation doesn’t have a right to self-defense?

Manchin Signals He Wants to Restart Talks on Climate, Tax Package - WSJ

The West Virginia Democrat’s remarks, made in conversations with energy executives and lobbyists, echo his previous public calls for legislation centered on raising taxes, reducing the deficit, lowering drug costs and offering clean- energy incentives.

Inflation is at 8%, the Fed is aggressively raising rates. So yeah, let’s go ahead and guarantee a recession by raising taxes!

What Teenagers Really Learn from Stock-Market Games - WSJ

Zach used about $200,000 in margin borrowing to drive his pretend portfolio up to $583,070. “It’s nice that they let you do that,” he says. “It makes it easier to make money.”

Way to go, teach!

In America’s No. 1 Inflation Hotspot, Democrats Face Restive Voters - WSJ

Economists attribute the surge in inflation to several factors: disruptions to supply chains and shifts in consumption patterns caused by the pandemic, soaring oil prices driven in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a decline in the labor force due to early retirements, concerns about Covid and other factors, and strong demand fueled by repeated rounds of fiscal stimulus and the ultralow interest rates maintained by the Federal Reserve.

I’m always irritated when the technocrats bury the most likely explanations at the bottom of a heaping pile of excuses.

Car Buyers Shun Leases as Deals and Vehicles Dwindle - WSJ

The higher lease rates are also adding to concerns about affordability, as leasing has long been a popular option for consumers looking to get into a new vehicle but at a lower monthly payment than if they were to buy the car outright.

Dumb.

Former Boeing Pilot Found Not Guilty in 737 MAX Trial - WSJ

Boeing admitted in its settlement with the Justice Department that former employees deceived the FAA. The deal blamed two employees, although only Mr. Forkner was charged, and said senior management wasn’t involved in the misconduct.

Nice to see the judicial process functioning as designed. This case was outrageous from the first filing.

Student-Loan Freeze Saves Borrowers Nearly $200 Billion as Biden Considers Extension - WSJ

Washington Sen. Patty Murray (D.), who leads the Senate’s education panel, has specifically pushed for a renewed pause into next year to give the administration time to come up with a plan to overhaul the student-loan payment system, including some debt forgiveness, especially for low-income borrowers, as well as changes to income-based repayment plans and altering how student debt affects consumer credit scores.

I think she meant to give the administration time to get past the midterms.

Jesse Wilburn, a 27-year-old electrical engineer in Philadelphia, said that while his $30,000 in student debt is relatively manageable, he is considering forgoing payments in solidarity with those who can’t pay back their loans if the freeze on payments ends in May.

True bravery.

TurboTax Threatens To Tell IRS Customer Cheated On Taxes Unless They Upgrade To Deluxe Version - The Onion

“We’ve got all your information now, and we can easily change a few numbers here or there, maybe add a couple red flags—but of course all that can go away for an additional $99.99,” read the message

Russian Forces Kill Civilians, Loot for Supplies in Occupied Ukraine, Residents Say - WSJ

“The Soviet occupation lasted 70 years, and some people still have a good memory of that time: It was safe, there was something to eat and something to drink,” he said. “But we are a different generation, and all that is not enough for us. What we need is freedom, freedom to live in our own country where nobody else tells us what to do.”

U.S. Sends Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia, Fulfilling Urgent Request - WSJ

The Biden administration has transferred a significant number of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia within the past month, fulfilling Riyadh’s urgent request for a resupply amid sharp tensions in the relationship, senior U.S. officials said.

I think they noticed how long they had to wait.