Odds and Ends — 19 January 2025

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:

https://twitter.com/Timodc/status/1880617355182735583

El Salvador’s Secret Weapon? Its Extensive Bitcoin Education Program, Says Stacy Herbert

A positive feedback loop is being created between El Salvador’s bitcoin education programs and crypto companies looking for a friendly jurisdiction.

TikTok Starts Going Dark in the U.S.

Hours before a federal law banning TikTok from the United States was set to take effect, the social media app went dark, and U.S. users could no longer access videos on the platform. Instead, the app greeted them with a message that said ‘a law banning TikTok has been enacted.’
From the message: “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work us on a solution. Please stay tuned!”

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1880394206331686949

Vitalik Buterin announces leadership changes for Ethereum Foundation

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1880452158795235566

Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:

RFK Jr. Sought to Stop Covid Vaccinations

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the nation’s health agencies, formally asked the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the authorization of all Covid vaccines during a deadly phase of the pandemic when thousands of Americans were still dying every week.
Mr. Kennedy filed a petition with the F.D.A. in May 2021 demanding that officials rescind authorization for the shots and refrain from approving any Covid vaccine in the future.

Politics:

https://twitter.com/rledbetterCPA/status/1880345796790612306

On a Mission From God: Inside the Movement to Redirect Billions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private Religious Schools

In the past few years, school vouchers have become universal in a dozen states… and, with Donald Trump returning to the White House, they will likely have federal support.

https://twitter.com/RBReich/status/1880296469388750860
https://twitter.com/Brendan_Duke/status/1880281829674242411

Biden Is Expected to Issue More Pardons

President Joe Biden is expected to make further use of his clemency power before leaving office next week, potentially extending pre-emptive pardons to individuals who could be targeted for retribution by President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
The timing for the clemency actions, should Biden decide to grant them, is likely to be during his final hours in office — on Sunday or before noon on Monday.

https://twitter.com/maxdubler/status/1880307596135104535

First Hostages Return as Gaza Cease-Fire Takes Hold

Three hostages were released from Gaza on Sunday and returned to Israel, the Israeli military said, as a long-awaited cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect.
The truce prompted celebrations in Gaza, relief for families of Israeli captives and hope for an end to a devastating 15-month war.

https://twitter.com/PoliticusSarah/status/1880094296331931840

I knew one day I’d have to watch powerful men burn the world down – I just didn’t expect them to be such losers

https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz/status/1880307929263534299
https://twitter.com/ArtCandee/status/1880303063258530018
https://twitter.com/AmoneyResists/status/1880467660389199881
https://twitter.com/shillman1/status/1880489776454988058
https://twitter.com/DeaconBlues0/status/1880458678194815230

Trump's MAGA agenda is already stalled in Congress

https://twitter.com/denisedwheeler/status/1880385179958800871

Trump’s Promise to Pardon J6ers Comes With Serious Complications — And Danger

https://twitter.com/marlene4719/status/1880241930153652296

U.S. Starts Maneuvers to Avoid Breaching Debt Limit, Putting Pressure on Congress

Annual deficits will stay above 5% of GDP for the next decade, remaining at levels the U.S. normally doesn’t reach outside of wars, recessions and crises. The government’s cost to service that debt will continue to climb. Net interest expense, which already exceeds defense spending, will top $1 trillion in 2026. And by 2027, the government’s interest costs will be a larger share of the economy than at any point since at least 1940.
In reality, the fiscal picture may be even bleaker than the CBO forecast suggests. The official estimates assume that Congress enacts no new laws. That means the forecast for the next decade includes trillions of dollars in tax revenue that come from the expiration of the bulk of 2017 tax cuts at the end of 2025.

https://twitter.com/DavidPepper/status/1880286620999643423

A Canadian Trade War Would Target Red States

Canadian officials are preparing a three-stage plan of retaliatory tariffs and other trade restrictions against the United States … Initial tariffs would mostly affect consumer goods worth 37 billion Canadian dollars ($25.6 billion)…
Canadian officials said their choice of goods was meant to be precisely targeted and aimed at political impact. They specifically want to focus on goods made in Republican or swing states, where the pain of tariffs, like pressure on jobs and the bottom lines of local businesses, would affect Trump allies.

https://twitter.com/BraddrofliT/status/1880013626226143332

As Trump presidency looms, Minneapolis Police Department reaffirms it's not responsible for immigration enforcement

https://twitter.com/MikeOkuda/status/1880320274048118834

U.S. Reveals Once-Secret Support for Ukraine Drones

U.S. officials said on Thursday that they had made big investments that helped Ukraine start and expand its production of drones as it battled Russia’s larger and better-equipped army.
Much of the U.S. assistance to the Ukrainian military, including billions of dollars in missiles, air defense systems, tanks, artillery and training, has been announced to the public. But other support has largely gone on in the shadows. That included helping Ukraine develop a new generation of drones and revolutionize how wars are fought.

https://twitter.com/olddog100ua/status/1880110183558603227
https://twitter.com/saintjavelin/status/1880302573304836579
https://twitter.com/DarthPutinKGB/status/1880184903133962555

Bill Gates Becomes the Latest Billionaire to Bow Down to Trump

https://twitter.com/Martina/status/1880299740421922865

GOP flirts with magical thinking on paying for Trump's tax cuts

GOP tax writers are gathering support for creative ways to make the price tag $0 for extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
The procedural and budgetary gambit will free Republicans from the burden of finding the $4 trillion in spending cuts. But deficit hawks, including member of the House Freedom Caucus, haven’t completely signed off on the novel approach.

https://twitter.com/tessgerritsen/status/1880238514329260212

Trump’s Biggest Political Liability Is Hiding in Plain Sight

The L.A. fires are fueling a sinister bipartisan narrative that’s impossible to ignore.

https://twitter.com/RightWingCope/status/1880058900218802359

Serendipity:

https://twitter.com/MuseZack/status/1880064628862120349
https://twitter.com/L0m3z/status/1879983241194795061
https://twitter.com/sesamestreet/status/1880278666544050656

Climate misinformation is rife on social media – and poised to get worse

https://twitter.com/TheStingisBack/status/1879996148456518043

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