White House Labor Nominee David Weil Blocked in Senate - WSJ

Mr. Weil, an economist at Brandeis University, previously served as head of the division between 2014 and 2017 under the Obama administration. Mr. Biden nominated him to return to the post in June with backing from labor unions.

Good news. Weil’s policies while previously in office were just terrible, and the courts agreed.

Biden’s Gaffes Grate on Voters - WSJ Opinion

Asked by Fox News’s Peter Doocy about this triple gaffe Monday at a White House rollout of his 2023 budget, the president replied, “None of the three occurred.”

Ah, my mistake, sir.

I’ll disregard your quotes and your staff’s many statements clarifying your quotes.

‘I Can’t Work With This Man’—After Repeated Gaffes, Biden’s Teleprompter Resigns In Disgust - The Babylon Bee

“I can’t take it anymore,” the teleprompter read. “I give him everything he needs to say and he still ignores me. He goes off-script and talks absolute nonsense. It’s humiliating!”

Biden to Tap Strategic Oil Reserves, as Crude Prices Drop - WSJ

A release of that size would be nearly four times the largest ever drawdown from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, according to analysts at ClearView Energy Partners LLC. And it comes after the president has already tapped the reserve twice in six months, amid his promises to act aggressively as needed to ease rising prices for drivers.

I hope there’s not a legitimate strategic need for those barrels between now and when they’re replaced.

Buying votes doesn’t qualify as a good use of a national strategic stockpile.

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.