Mon Blogcast: Big wins for Trump; Rockies news; Nature & Science gem hall
May 12, 2025
Trump announces aggressive actions on drug pricing
Pharmaceutical companies are NOT happy
This morning, President Trump announced a new executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug costs for Americans. It's a huge issue and it's just the kind of thing Trump should be focused on. Pharma companies won't like this but it may end up in a long overdue change to global drug prices where other countries won't be able to dump the costs associated with developing new products on to American consumers, patients, and taxpayers.
It's very complex and I can't say I understand all the details but I like what I'm hearing so far.
Trump will sign an executive order calling on health department to negotiate lower drug prices
It's not just about lowering prices within the current system but about significant changes to the system including an apparent assault on PBMs (which exist for a reason but seem much too profitable) and efforts to get more drug company-to-customer direct sales.
Trump Executive Order Could Reshape How Americans Pay for Drugs. It’s Not Bad for Pharma.
Trump to sign executive order that aims to slash drug prices by 59%
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Just One Thing: Give him the Prize
My thoughts about the Nobel Peace Prize may shock some listeners. Please give my Substack a read and please subscribe:
Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize - by Ross Kaminsky
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One More Thing: US and China announce a trade deal
It really isn't a deal other than to back off for a while so they can negotiate but it's still a good start
They're saying there's progress. I hope there is. There's no way they actually reached substantive agreement over such a short time with so many complex issues but still the market will continue its positive reaction to what appears to be Trump repeatedly climbing down from most tariffs other than the 10% baseline which is bad policy but not fatal policy: U.S., China trade talks lead to "total reset," Trump says
Interesting comment from Matt Lynn writing for The Spectator: China has won the trade war with President Trump - The Spectator World
Instead, President Trump has looked at the potentially devastating impact that cutting the US off from Chinese imports would have on the economy and blinked. He was not ready to ride out the inevitable spike in inflation or the likely recession. For China, that is clearly a victory. The US needs China more than China needs the US. With that becoming increasingly clear, the US won’t restart the trade war any time soon – and China can resume its long-term plan of turning itself into the world’s dominant economy.
My thoughts this morning:
What I got right: That the graceful way out of his trade disaster would be for Trump to pretend that (except for his 10% baseline tariffs) everything else he had proposed was just for negotiating leverage.
— Ross Kaminsky (@Rossputin) May 12, 2025
What I got wrong: That Trump would go down that road, essentially to…
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The Rockies win a game and lose their manager
After setting history with their biggest shutout loss in franchise history (and one of the worst in MLB history) and tying the record for the worst record in the first 39 games of a season (at 6-33 after Saturday's shellacking by the Padres), the Colorado Rockies won on Sunday...and also lost their manager. I thought he'd have been fired long before now though I think a lot of fans think ownership is as big a problem as coaching.
I'm glad they had a sense of humor after Saturday's nightmare of a game continuing a nightmare of a season:
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 11, 2025
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Today's Guests
Jack Corrigan is the KOA "Voice of the Rockies" (along with his partner in broadcasting, but probably not in crime, Jerry Schemmel.) He joins us to talk about the baseball stuff I mentioned above.
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Luke Fernandez is the Denver Museum of Nature and Science project lead for the renovation of the new Dea Gems & Minerals Hall
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State Senator Paul Lundeen (R-CO9) is the Colorado State Senate Minority Leader. He represents northern El Paso County, including Monument. He'll join us for a post-session wrap-up.
Republican | Senator Paul Lundeen | Colorado Springs
Colorado legislature 2025: Top 101 bills debated at Capitol
Colorado lawmakers build blue wall to protect state from Trump - Axios Denver
I’m vehemently opposed to Senate Bill 3 (which the governor has signed) but I do find it amusing that what was supposed to be a ban turns into something that a reporter calls “training standards for some gun purchases.” Here are 5 key bills the Colorado Legislature passed this year • Colorado Newsline
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Other Stuff
The term “hero” is overused. But it’s absolutely appropriate here: Army medic receives award for fending off shooter, saving life
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Bring it on:
A Common Sense Budget Reconciliation Bill - WSJ
I hope so: CBO said millions could lose Medicaid coverage
Remember when we were told that Clinton's welfare reform, that he was forced to sign by Newt Gingrich, would literally result in people dying in the streets? Instead, millions of people got jobs: The Clinton Presidency: Strengthening American Families
Glad to see they didn't cave in to the NY and CA Republicans who want the federal government to subsidize high state taxes: No SALT added to the legislation
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Go to the drive-in movies! 88 Drive-in Theatre reopening for 2025 summer movie season | 9news.com
I remember doing to drive-ins when I was a kid...
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Yes, there are racists in this effort but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a kernel of important truth: Inside MAGA's fight for "Western civilization"
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Denver is still expensive but any relief is welcome: Denver rent is dropping for first time in 15 years. What does that actually mean for renters?
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Yeech: Screwworm: What to know of threat as US suspends Mexico cattle imports
SEE THE VIDEO BELOW
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This math reads to me as if Kalshi might have lost $10 million on the Papal Conclave but there's a good chance I'm missing something. There isn't enough data in the article to guess how Polymarket did. Online bettors spent over $40 million gambling on identity of next pope
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Sometimes you forget how stupid kids are: Dangerous TikTok "Chromebook Challenge" hits Colorado schools - Axios Denver
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To me this wasn’t a very difficult question. What do you think? Supreme Court rules birth parents of child born in IVF mix-up are legal parents | The Times of Israel
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We had our "Luna" before it was cool: Most Popular Dog Names by State | U.S. News
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I wonder how these colors will actually look: FDA approves 3 color additives as part of RFK Jr. dye ban effort
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“Disparate impact” doctrine is evil, especially these days, and it’s used by evil people like Ibram X Kendi, a racist grifter now at Howard University. Do you remember the stories…during Obama I think…where schools were intentionally suspending white kids for minor infractions or not suspending black kids for major infractions just so the numbers (or percentages) of kids was more equal by race?
The Consequential Trump Move No One’s Noticed
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The British are particularly hostile to free speech with a pattern of policies that's in the same broad anti-freedom and assume-the-worst family as disparate impact.
During the Biden administration in particular, the US didn’t feel much better than the UK. But imagine living in a place where you can be arrested for stuff like this: Police face lawsuit after retired officer arrested over ‘thought crime’ tweet
The British state is crushing free speech
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This probably won’t surprise you at all: Exclusive: NGOs Got Billions from the EPA Despite Internal Concerns
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I wonder if this is a real thing or if CNN is hyping it up: Why men are shaving off their eyelashes | CNN
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Yeah, I'll take the cow poo mask: Feat of 'dung-gineering' turns cow manure into one of world's most used materials
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Today's Video
How the US tries to combat the spread of screwworm (Thanks to listener Sue for sending this along!)
Introduction · STOP Screwworms: Selections from the Screwworm Eradication Collection ·