Relax, Everything is Going to be Okay!

[BigHornRam]

I think most of us are wondering why there have been zero arrests from the Epstein files. It seems like there were probably crimes, but I haven't read the files.

Of course, these files were available for a long time not just with the current administration. That doesn't excuse it, but it seems like there are a lot of connected people who are pushing hard to prevent arrests.

Former Prince Andrew has already been stripped of title etc. His prosecution is just another way to go after someone who's lost all power. On the other hand, other prosecutions are still are focusing on social media posts and ignoring the real crimes or at least giving sentences that are so small that the crimes will continue. So, I don't think they are worth holding up as an example to follow.

From what I am gathering, Epstein's hooker/ model service was made up of 18 year old plus women. Creepy yes. Illegal?

 

[Handlebar]

I think I said all of them.

I have my preferred ones just as you do.

TBH the only Economist that I really know anything about is Thomas Sowell

 

[jimh406]

Pretty easy...again source after source with documentation tells us tariffs are being passed on to consumers and prices are being raised.

There is no reasonable debate on that...but Hasset disagrees so strongly that it erases any accomplishments he had previously.

Hey, you guys couldn't make a list of a few consumer items that increased ... I'd say your sources are based on speculation and opinions.

But, feel free to try again.

 

[jimh406]

From what I am gathering, Epstein's hooker/ model service was made up of 18 year old plus women. Creepy yes. Illegal?

That's probably part of the issue. The other part is what is the age of consent where they were. I think I heard that it's like 13-14 in NJ, for instance. Again, creepy to most of us, but not quite illegal.

Maybe we'll see arrests, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

 

[brymoore]

Hey, you guys couldn't make a list of a few consumer items that increased ... I'd say your sources are based on speculation and opinions.

But, feel free to try again.

You have a lot of flat earth theories.

 

[Bonasababy]

Sleepy Donnie is at it again...appears he thought the meeting was "bored of peace."

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024510877349687728

 

[406dn]

TBH the only Economist that I really know anything about is Thomas Sowell

I'm sorry.

 

[jimh406]

You have a lot of flat earth theories.

Like someone posted, pick a position, and you can find sources that agree with you.

 

[Bonasababy]

Hey, you guys couldn't make a list of a few consumer items that increased ... I'd say your sources are based on speculation and opinions.

But, feel free to try again.

Any relation to this guy?

 

[jimh406]

Sleepy Donnie is at it again...appears he thought the meeting was "bored of peace."

Or just sleepy.

 

[noharleyyet]

The fealty is certainly worthy of it, but this isn't political. I might not agree with David Zervos on policy, but at least there is room for debate. You may be surprised that I agree with Warsh on a lot of things, except maybe the impact. But I am willing to see what happens. Again, this isn't political. Hassett is an idiot. Maybe he hasn't always been one? He worked at the Fed in the research group in the mid 90's. Not much of a track record to go on there, but I don't remember any working papers, which tells you something. When he went to AEI maybe he got a larger serving of the cool-aid. He has been a proponent of stuff that hasn't worked and now is just a mouthpiece. Putting a guy like him on TV every week to talk to the public is dangerous. He isn't connected to reality.

 

[Handlebar]

I'm sorry.

Do you have some suggestions?

 

[406dn]

Do you have some suggestions?

Sure, you wouldn't like mine.

So go find one that says foreign countries pay the tariffs, and tax cuts pay for themselves. I'm sure you'll find one.

 

[SAJ-99]

42 working papers, 37 articles, 10 chapters and 5 books

I can do the search, too. There is nothing even remotely interesting in any of it. He is rarely listed as the primary in the 1990's, but that isn't unusual for someone at that stage of their career. This book could have been a winner though.

 

[Handlebar]

Investment under alternative return assumptions Comparing ra

Many recent theoretical papers have come under attack for modeling prices as Geometric Brownian Motion. This process can diverge over time, implying that firms facing this price process can earn infin

ideas.repec.org

The one you suggested would probably be lighter bedtime reading than some of the other ones.

You indicated that he was a lightweight and had no respect from his peers. I pointed out that he has written several papers which you do not agree with apparently. I also showed from a article in all places "The Atlantic" that he had bi partisan support when he was nominated during the first term. I guess many establishment economists feel like he left the reservation and now they don't like him anymore.

 

[SAJ-99]

I guess many establishment economists feel like he left the reservation and now they don't like him anymore.

Correct. Although I would say implying that any economist is “liked” is a bit of a stretch. Respect is about as good as it gets. Your peers either listen to you or they don’t.

 

[Handlebar]

Sure, you wouldn't like mine.

So go find one that says foreign countries pay the tariffs, and tax cuts pay for themselves. I'm sure you'll find one.

Have not found one yet most seem to be in agreement that tariffs are passed on to the consumer much like higher corporate taxes. I tried to find some ways or categories where tariffs have impacted Americans.

From Forbes:
American consumers bore 90% of last year's nearly six-fold tariff increase, adding $1,000-$2,400 to average household budgets, despite overall inflation dropping to 2.4% in January 2026.

This inflation drop occurred due to declining energy and shelter costs, and because tariffs primarily impacted a limited range of imported goods, not broad consumer spending.

Affordability trends were mixed in 2025: housing improved, but food, healthcare, and new vehicle costs worsened, disproportionately affecting lower-income households

From bananas to toys, these 5 charts show how much costs have risen since Trump's tariffs went into effect

Since Trump’s tariffs took effect in April, inflation has been showing up in categories that rarely see big swings.

www.cnbc.com

Here are some categories that CNBC highlighted:

Coffee, Jewelry /Watches, Bananas, Televisions and Toys

I would have assumed that a media company like CNBC could highlight much broader bigger effects but if tariffs are costing $1000.00- 2400.00 per household some of you people are buying a helluva lot of bananas and coffee

 

[Elkmagnet]

166 pages and still arguing?
You guys don't understand.
"Nobody knows better than me!"
It requires no sources and no verification!

 

[SaskHunter]

Relax, everything is going to be Okay now that Trump gave himself $10B to build Trump's Gaza resort rebuild Gaza!

 

[Wind Gypsy]

That's probably part of the issue. The other part is what is the age of consent where they were. I think I heard that it's like 13-14 in NJ, for instance. Again, creepy to most of us, but not quite illegal.

Maybe we'll see arrests, but I'm not holding my breath for it.

You guys dont think the epstein deal is about consenting minors and age of consent do you?