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The Trump Card...

muttly

muttly

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
ATeam said:
You keep mentioning this but to what end? What is your point? I've never seen people wearing MAGA hats before they started wearing MAGA hats, but so what? I don't feel the need to mention such a thing over and over and over again.

PS. Gas prices remain high today, due entirely to Trump's illegal war of choice
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Paying an extra 20 dollars a month for a couple more (months) to ensure Iran didn’t attack our bases or use a nuclear weapon and also have cheaper gas prices a few months later on the back end is a fair trade-off. Would you rather have cheaper gas prices and let that happen?
Also, according to Grok, the volume and tone of complaints about high gas prices under Biden were low and muted.
Why?They were high and often higher for much of his presidency.
 
ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
muttly said:
Paying an extra 20 dollars a month for a couple more (months) to ensure Iran didn’t attack our bases or use a nuclear weapon and also have cheaper gas prices a few months later on the back end is a fair trade-off. Would you rather have cheaper gas prices and let that happen?
Also, according to Grok, the volume and tone of complaints about high gas prices under Biden were low and muted.
Why?They were high and often higher for much of his presidency.
Click to expand...
I demonstrated above how you can make Grok or any other AI say anything you want it to by manipulating the prompts. And I further explained that I reject all of your Grok use for that reason. If you can source actual facts, I'll listen but Grok is no source of truth in itself.

About the "Paying an extra 20 dollars a month for a couple more (months)," do you think that is the sole negative impact of the closed straight?

Have you seen what the USDA and FAO are saying about the multi-year food-price increase we're now in for because of Trump's actions? Have you seen how the naphtha cutoff is affecting everything from from medical supplies and IV bags to food packaging and consumer appliances?

Even if the war ended today and the Straight of Hormuz was fully reopened, do you actually expect US gas prices to decline to prior levels, even as numerous oil facilities now lay in ruins?
 
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ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
Additional War Thought

I mentioned above that I was surprised Iran has not yet opened fire on the US destroyers and other navy ships now operating in the Straight of Horumz. This is pure speculation, since I don't know, but it occurred to me Iran has not opened fire because the status quo serves them better. They continue to control the Straight and let friendly ships through. Trump has blockaded the blockade and is trying to stop those ships.

Iran's strategy is to keep the Straight closed to increase the economic pain suffered by the West. It's working, and Trump has become a full and willing partner in that effort. Methinks Iran is not firing on the US Navy sitting-duck ships because the present situation is working out great for them.

If Trump keeps going at this rate, Iran may give him an honorary turban and robe.
 
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Pilgrim

Pilgrim

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
ATeam said:
I demonstrated above how you can make Grok or any other AI say anything you want it to by manipulating the prompts. And I further explained that I reject all of your Grok use for that reason. If you can source actual facts, I'll listen but Grok is no source of truth in itself.

About the "Paying an extra 20 dollars a month for a couple more (months)," do you think that is the sole negative impact of the closed straight?

Have you seen what the USDA and FAO are saying about the multi-year food-price increase we're now in for because of Trump's actions? Have you seen how the naphtha cutoff is affecting everything from from medical supplies and IV bags to food packaging and consumer appliances?

Even if the war ended today and the Straight of Hormuz was fully reopened, do you actually expect US gas prices to decline to prior levels, even as numerous oil facilities now lay in ruins?
Click to expand...
So how much are food prices expected to rise because of Trump's actions?
 
muttly

muttly

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
ATeam said:
I demonstrated above how you can make Grok or any other AI say anything you want it to by manipulating the prompts. And I further explained that I reject all of your Grok use for that reason. If you can source actual facts, I'll listen but Grok is no source of truth in itself.

About the "Paying an extra 20 dollars a month for a couple more (months)," do you think that is the sole negative impact of the closed straight?

Have you seen what the USDA and FAO are saying about the multi-year food-price increase we're now in for because of Trump's actions? Have you seen how the naphtha cutoff is affecting everything from from medical supplies and IV bags to food packaging and consumer appliances?
Click to expand...

ATeam said:
Even if the war ended today and the Straight of Hormuz was fully reopened, do you actually expect US gas prices to decline to prior levels, even as numerous oil facilities now lay in ruins?
Click to expand...
You didn’t answer the question. Would you rather have our bases be hit in the M.E. and Iran have nuclear weapons?
Also, it’s stunning how the Left now sees how higher energy costs affect many other sectors of an economy. Hopefully if they ever take power again they’ll keep this in mind instead of pushing expensive “green” policies and an anti fossil fuel agenda that drive up prices. My guess is they’ll resort back to more of the same like under Biden.
 
ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
Pilgrim said:
So how much are food prices expected to rise because of Trump's actions?
Click to expand...
It's difficult to say because these are long-term impacts. Farmers who can actually buy fertilizer are paying highly elevated costs. But many cannot and that means significantly reduced crop yields this Fall. The anticipated food shortages will likely drive prices up. We'll know then how much. The planting season has just begun. We're seeing now some farmers choosing to plant nothing (fallow land) because the costs of planting and harvesting the crop are deemed too high. Those who plant without fertilizer will have lower yields. Those who plant nothing will have none.

But it is without question that Trump's actions are producing these outcomes. The fertilizer shortage has developed because a significant amount of it and the materials used to make it pass through the Straight of Hormuz. It closed after Trump started the war with Iran. It remains closed because Trump cannot get Iran to surrender or agree to his terms. Thus the shortage.
 
ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
muttly said:
You didn’t answer the question. Would you rather have our bases be hit in the M.E. and Iran have nuclear weapons?
Also, it’s stunning how the Left now sees how higher energy costs affect many other sectors of an economy. Hopefully if they ever take power again they’ll keep this in mind instead of pushing expensive “green” policies and an anti fossil fuel agenda that drive up prices. My guess is they’ll resort back to more of the same like under Biden.
Click to expand...
The premise of your question is false.
 
Pilgrim

Pilgrim

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
ATeam said:
It's difficult to say because these are long-term impacts. Farmers who can actually buy fertilizer are paying highly elevated costs. But many cannot and that means significantly reduced crop yields this Fall. The anticipated food shortages will likely drive prices up. We'll know then how much. The planting season has just begun. We're seeing now some farmers choosing to plant nothing (fallow land) because the costs of planting and harvesting the crop are deemed too high. Those who plant without fertilizer will have lower yields. Those who plant nothing will have none.

But it is without question that Trump's actions are producing these outcomes. The fertilizer shortage has developed because a significant amount of it and the materials used to make it pass through the Straight of Hormuz. It closed after Trump started the war with Iran. It remains closed because Trump cannot get Iran to surrender or agree to his terms. Thus the shortage.
Click to expand...
The answer to my question is 3.1%

Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service

ERS research and reporting of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food contributes to an understanding of which food categories experience substantial price changes, how consumers spend their incomes on food, and how and why prices change.
www.ers.usda.gov www.ers.usda.gov
 
ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
Pilgrim said:
The answer to my question is 3.1%

Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service

ERS research and reporting of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food contributes to an understanding of which food categories experience substantial price changes, how consumers spend their incomes on food, and how and why prices change.
www.ers.usda.gov www.ers.usda.gov
Click to expand...
By that source, and for 2026, your answer is correct.

While not directly related to the topic at hand, your answer affirms that inflation continues at rates well above the Fed's 2% target.

The food price increases I have in mind are longer term and are more difficult to quantify. That's because we have to move through an entire crop cycle to learn what the actual decline in food supply will be. The fertilizer supply crisis is acute right now. The Straight of Hormuz has been closed long enough to disrupt fertilizer supply in a major way, and it's planting season now. Farmers cannot buy fertilizer at all in some cases, and those who can pay vastly higher prices.

Some farmers are already choosing to plant nothing this year. Others will plant without fertilizer, thereby guaranteeing lower yields at harvest time. That means food supply will be reduced, which, under traditional supply and demand economics, suggest higher prices.
 
ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
muttly said:
They removed Santos, right?
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Yes they did and that was an extremely rare event. Since 1900 (125 years), there have been only 3 expulsions from Congress, all House members. Santos (R) was expelled in 2023, Traficant (D) in 2002, and Myers (D) in 1980.

That's not because elected officials did not commit crimes. Overall, it's because Congress is more of a protective body than a disciplinary one. They look out for their own.

I recently researched disciplinary actions taken in the US House regarding sex scandals. Click this to see those findings.
 
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ATeam

ATeam

Senior Member
Retired Expediter
The President and the Pope

A recent statewide poll indicates that Florida is becoming increasingly competitive for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Races for governor and US senator are a statistical tie. The Democrat leads in the race for Attorney General. (Source)

There are about 4.7 million Catholics in Florida, comprising 20% of the population. Politically, do you think it would be wise for Trump to avoid pissing contests with the Pope?

What on earth does Trump gain by ripping into the Pope as he is now doing? How does this help Republicans now running for office?
 
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