Tues Blogcast: 50-yr mortgage; Leanne Morgan; AI fighter jet

Thank you, veterans

On this Veterans Day, I offer my most sincere gratitude to all who served in Americas Armed Forces. This includes, as you probably know, my parents, who were both physicians in the United States Navy. Dad, among other things, served as ship's surgeon on the original USS John F Kennedy aircraft carrier and there's a part of a not-well-known book called Supercarrier where they tell a story of my dad saving a sailor's life. And my mom retired as a Rear Admiral after having been in charge of US Navy Medicine for Europe and then Commanding Officer of multiple US Navy hospitals.

History of Veterans Day - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Just One Thing: Get your $20 credit if you're a YouTube TV customer

YouTube TV is offering subscribers a $20 credit due to Disney/ABC/ESPN stations being unavailable on the platform. In a move that I think is pretty cheap and disrespectful to customers, you actually have to take an action to claim the credit rather than it being automatic. From a USA Today article on the topic:

1. Go to tv.youtube.com on web browser and sign in. The credit is not accessible on YouTube TV's mobile app.
2. Select your profile picture.
3. Select Settings.
4. In the left menu, select Updates.
5. Select Claim credit.

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One More Thing: Peak Trump?

I think we've seen Peak Trump, as far as his popularity, and that's not a good thing: Peak Trump - by Ross Kaminsky - The Ross Report

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Today's Guest

Leanne Morgan is one of the top comics in America. With a friendly, folksy, family-friendly style and Southern accent, she's someone everyone can (and probably will) find funny. Leanne has a New one-hour Netflix standup special called Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things | Netflix Official Site (which premiered a week ago). She also has her own Netflix sitcom, Leanne, which was just picked up for a second season. She’s working with a bigtime TV comedy writer and producer, the dude who did The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men and The Kominsky Method.

And her book, published last year, is also great: What in the World?!: A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings

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Other Stuff

The US Senate moved quickly yesterday to pass a package of bills to get the government back open. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson gave House members 36 hours to get back to DC for House votes.

Senate Passes Bill to End Government Shutdown: Trump Live Updates - The New York Times (may require subscription)

Senate passes shutdown-ending deal - POLITICO

An odd twist: Thune secures provision in government funding bill letting senators sue for phone records seizure - POLITICO

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I mentioned yesterday that I think the idea of a 50-year mortgage is almost entirely a bad idea, bad for almost any homebuyer who would take one, and a product that failed when it was tried 20 years ago. Who needs a 50-year mortgage? - by Ross Kaminsky

Today we learn this: Trump’s 50-year mortgage plan is getting panned. Allies blame this man. - POLITICO

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The International Olympic Committee is saying they really haven't decided yet but in the age of Trump I think they have no choice: IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events | International Olympic Committee | The Guardian

International Olympic Committee: No decision yet on transgender ban - ESPN

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A nice Veterans Day-ish story: 102-year-old Veteran Makes Big Screen Debut in New Christmas Movie that Celebrates Military – RedState

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This doesn't seem like the best police work: How Terri Ackerman's body was found just steps from her home

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This didn’t age well: Schumer keeps tight grip on Senate Dems as shutdown wears on

Now: Scoop: Schumer privately fought to extend government shutdown

And this isn't surprising given how much the Democrat base wants its politicians to fight against Trump all day, every day, no matter what: Democrats' shutdown rage erupts in call: "People are f**king pissed"

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Kinda funny but also kinda sad statement about today's youth/young adults: Their Professors Caught Them Cheating. They Used A.I. to Apologize. - The New York Times

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Interesting point...much like the so-called "K-shaped recovery": Feeling Great About the Economy? You Must Own Stocks - WSJ

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This is a truly terrible idea. Unaffordable and makes the same inflation-inducing mistake that Biden's helicopter money made. That said, remember that Actually Trump did helicopter money first and wanted the amount higher than what Congress actually did. Don't ever confuse Trump for a fiscal conservative. If he ever seems like that, it's accidental. I don't mean he won't take fiscally conservative positions sometimes, but it's not out of any sort of principle.

Seriously? $2,000 tariff dividend: What to know about Trump's stimulus checks

What to know about Trump's promise of $2,000 tariff dividend payments - ABC News

I think he’s trying to pressure the Supreme Court with this stuff. They won’t be influenced by this. 

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This is a bad idea, and now we have a better sense of why Trump posted it on social media:

Who needs a 50-year mortgage? - by Ross Kaminsky

Trump’s 50-year mortgage plan is getting panned. Allies blame this man. - POLITICO

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Yes, Chicago, please relieve us of this man: DPS' Alex Marrero named one of two finalists for Chicago Public Schools’ top job - Denver Gazette

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Chinese scientists (apparently) figure out a new way -- safer and cheaper -- to make many chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Chinese Chemist Accidentally Solves Century - Old Problem with Extremely Simple Reaction

Has China found a way to make your drugs cheaper? Scientists think so | Health News - Business Standard

This is the actual scientific publication: Direct deaminative functionalization with N-nitroamines | Nature

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This is a good and valid conversation for Trump to have and a relationship to try to develop while living by “trust but verify.” Still, one wonders about how his base feels about how much time he’s spending on foreign policy.

Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa after U.S. removes him from terrorist list - CBS News

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Trump in historic DC visit | Semafor

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Today's Video

Anduril's business model is to make weapons using existing manufacturing capacities to massively lower costs. It's utterly insane that they were able to go from concept to test flight for the Fury jet in 18 months. If I were the defense manufacturing industry big guys, I'd be scared to death right now and looking for ways to get much more nimble and much less expensive. (Which probably means much less profitable, which they won't enjoy but taxpayers will.)