Bear Pit: now the sole domicile of politics at LuLa

[digitaldog]

Banning Mexican beef causes price increases. He didn't claim that to be the only reason.

You just don't get it (from the experts): However, experts said that the increase in beef prices was a result of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on some of the top importing countries to the U.S.

But there is TACO!
November 20, 20255:48 PM MSTU pdated 1 hour ago
Trump signs order to remove tariffs from Brazilian beef, coffee
 U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday removed his 40% tariff on Brazilian food products, including beef, coffee, cocoa, and fruits that were imposed in July to punish Brazil over the prosecution of its former president, Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro.
The move follows a similar order by the administration last Friday to remove tariffs on several agricultural products from other countries as the White House makes a U-turn on some tariffs that have increased the cost of food in the United States.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-signs-order-remove-tariffs-some-brazilian-agricultural-imports-2025-11-20/

Trump cuts more tariffs with eye toward grocery prices
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in an interview Thursday on Fox Business Network, said Trump was rolling back food tariffs to make a fresh start after broadly threatening countries with tariffs earlier in the year. (TACO).
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/20/trump-strikes-tariffs-on-brazilian-coffee-beef-and-other-foods-00663860

Exclusive: Trump approval falls to lowest of his term over prices and Epstein files, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds - Updated November 19, 2025
Trump's approval rating falls to 38%, weighed down by cost of living concerns, Epstein
Only 26% approve of Trump's handling of everyday expenses
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-approval-falls-lowest-his-term-over-prices-epstein-files-reutersipsos-poll-2025-11-18/

Once again: Get your facts right, then you can distort them as you please.

[Robert Roaldi]

Banning Mexican beef causes price increases. He didn't claim that to be the only reason.

I'm sorry but that's not what that speech was about though, was it. He wanted to deflect away from talk of tariffs because he wants to keep his job, everyone understands that. If that point was all he wanted to get across, that disease was causing beef import problems, he could have just said that and not received much push back. Instead, he went out of his way to make the statement about undocumented immigrants (and Biden of course). I think that constantly hammering "on message" is getting old.

You have to admit that after Trump implemented tariffs himself in the first place, his lowering them to decrease prices was not a good look. Distractions about Biden and aliens might not cut it like they used to.

[Robert Roaldi]

On this podcast two weeks ago, David Frum and a guest had a long and interesting discussion about relations between the US and Venezuela. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKHS6uo1of0. If nothing else, it's good to be reminded what a long-form conversation by people who know things and express them well is so much more informative than polarized screaming matches on social media.

[Rob C]

On this podcast two weeks ago, David Frum and a guest had a long and interesting discussion about relations between the US and Venezuela. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKHS6uo1of0. If nothing else, it's good to be reminded what a long-form conversation by people who know things and express them well is so much more informative than polarized screaming matches on social media.

Thank you for the link, Robert. It made interesting listening, and even if one takes on board the natural lack of love that the guest had for Maduro, it illustrates how little seems to be understood about the state of the country and how it’s run, and how powerless its citizenry to do very much about the status quo there. The reference to Nigel Farage resonated: Brexit happened because of the apparent ease with which nationalism can be confused with patriotism and where that takes a nation. I have yet to meet or hear a reasoned argument from anybody about what Britain got out of its exit. You’d think that by now, somebody would have manufactured a valid one, but nobody bothers: the nation simply forgets and moves on in its new suit of clothes.

[digitaldog]

TACO (on political tariffs): NBC News Senior Business Correspondent Christine Romans joins Meet the Press NOW after President Trump announces the removal of several tariffs on goods imported from Brazil.
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-rolls-back-brazil-tariffs-as-u-s-faces-higher-grocery-prices-252581445792

[Frans Waterlander]

TACO (on political tariffs): NBC News Senior Business Correspondent Christine Romans joins Meet the Press NOW after President Trump announces the removal of several tariffs on goods imported from Brazil.
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-rolls-back-brazil-tariffs-as-u-s-faces-higher-grocery-prices-252581445792

So glad bananas are not 9.0% more expensive!

[digitaldog]

So glad bananas are not 9.0% more expensive!

Compared to a year ago, they were 8.6 percent more expensive. I can see how the decimal caused your confusion. <g>
Let's look at Trump's accomplishments with a product that was once seen as 'inflation-proof' (what a guy, you should be so proud of him):
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/24/inflation-proof-banana-prices-up-since-april.html

[Frans Waterlander]

Compared to a year ago, they were 8.6 percent more expensive. I can see how the decimal caused your confusion. <g>
Let's look at Trump's accomplishments with a product that was once seen as 'inflation-proof' (what a guy, you should be so proud of him):
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/24/inflation-proof-banana-prices-up-since-april.html

Reaction time only 13 minutes, 58 seconds. Very good, Andrew.

[digitaldog]

Reaction time only 13 minutes, 58 seconds. Very good, Andrew.

The absurd continues to be the desperate last refuge of a pundit without an argument.

[sharonvl]

How does anyone still defend Trump? Seriously. I swear, they must be the same mindset as the folks in Jonestown. They can tolerate NO criticism of Trump. I can offer plenty of criticisms of democrats but MAGA egos are too fragile.

[digitaldog]

How does anyone still defend Trump? Seriously.

It really is impossible to take those who do seriously, at least in these parts. This causes it in large part:

[digitaldog]

How does anyone still defend Trump? Seriously.

Worth viewing:

[sharonvl]

Trump even said of Jamal Khashoggi that a lot of people didn’t like him as if that was a justification for murder.

[digitaldog]

Trump even said of Jamal Khashoggi that a lot of people didn’t like him as if that was a justification for murder.

It is for him; that's all that matters to the MAGA kooks.
Trump accuses Democrats of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death,' for urging military to ignore illegal orders
And accused Democrats, then get death threats. That's how he plays.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/11/20/democrats-demand-trump-delete-death-threats-against-congress-members-before-he-gets-someone-killed/

[Rob C]

It is for him; that's all that matters to the MAGA kooks.
Trump accuses Democrats of 'seditious behavior, punishable by death,' for urging military to ignore illegal orders
And accused Democrats, then get death threats. That's how he plays.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/11/20/democrats-demand-trump-delete-death-threats-against-congress-members-before-he-gets-someone-killed/

Perhaps he watches a lot of Netflix in the office.

[digitaldog]

Perhaps he watches a lot of Netflix in the office.

Watching TV and playing golf are primarily activities when not redecorating bathrooms or destroying ballrooms at the White House.

[degrub]

Should have borrowed the golden throne from the UK 

[Rob C]

Should have borrowed the golden throne from the UK 

Or rented one from Hollywood just for the publicity snaps… closer to home.

[Robert Roaldi]

This Bessent guy is on a roll. He now says that Americans can reduce inflation by moving to red states https://www.newsweek.com/scott-bessents-advice-reduce-inflation-11098264. I could not follow his argument, maybe some of you can.

I see that Bessent did insist again the other day that tariffs are not inflationary. So it must be an error for Trump to reduce tariffs on some food items to reduce their prices.

I saw one online report earlier that Trump spent a lot of time overnight posting to social media. He wants Q to do something. He seems to do this a lot, stay up all night posting. Should a Prez be doing that? It's no wonder he falls asleep at meetings. Mind you, back when I was still working for a living, I felt like sleeping at some meetings even after getting a good night's sleep.

Does anyone know how that secret CIA project in Venezuela is going? Do you think the Venezuelans have sussed it out?

Three more years of this? Really?

[Rob C]

Well, Robert, there is always the possibility that he might suddenly decide he’s had enough of political life, and think he might make it as a pro golfer… if he has things stacked right, why not? It seems entirely possible that he could buy the tournaments. This world’s a funny place, you know.