Buck Banks, Author at Pensito

Trumponomics: Inflation Is Rising

February 12, 2025 Buck Banks

3%

U.S. inflation rose to 3% in January, strengthening the case for the Federal Reserve to extend a pause on interest rate cuts, reported the New York Times. The Consumer Price Index jumped more than expected, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed on Wednesday, rising 0.5% from December in what was the fastest monthly increase since August 2023. Last month, the annual pace was 2.9%. “Core” C.P.I., which more closely reflects underlying inflation by removing volatile food and energy prices, also showed little improvement. It rose 0.4% from December or 3.3% on a year-over-year basis, both higher than economists expected. The monthly increase in core prices was the highest since April 2023.

$500 Million in Food Aid Going to Waste Due to DOGE

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 Buck Banks

$500 million

“Almost $500 million in food aid is at risk of spoilage as it sits in ports, ships and warehouses after funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, was paused by the Trump administration,” CBS News reports.

Let’s Rename Greenland!

February 11, 2025February 14, 2025 Buck Banks

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced a new bill to rename Greenland — after the U.S. acquires it — to “Red, White and Blue Land.”

Astronomers Discover the Biggest Thing in the Universe (So Far)

February 11, 2025 Buck Banks

1.5 billion

Astronomers discover the largest known structure in the universe to date, a cosmic filament—a strand connecting dark matter, galaxies, and more—roughly 1.3 billion light-years in length, reports .

“Elon Musk’s net worth fell below $400 billion for the first time in two months, dragged down by a double-digit slide in Tesla Inc.’s share price,” Bloomberg reports.“The automaker’s stock has fallen 27% after hitting an all-time high in mid-December on hopes that Musk’s proximity to President Donald Trump would boost the company’s fortunes. Tesla shares and options make up more than 60% of Musk’s wealth, which peaked at $486.4 billion on Dec. 17 in the wake of Trump’s election.”

Trump Has Made European Fascism ‘Mainstream’

February 10, 2025 Buck Banks

“Trump’s tornado has changed the world in just a couple of weeks. Yesterday we were the heretics. Now we are the mainstream.”

— Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, quoted by the New York Times. at a gathering of far-right leaders whose slogan was “Make Europe Great Again.”

Dictator of Culture

February 10, 2025August 14, 2026 Buck Banks

When it comes to culture, Trump thinks he knows what’s best.
He’s taking control of the Kennedy Center at no one’s behest.
Gone will be the orchestras,
The virtuosos and the operas,
And in their stead we’ll get Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood and Kanye West.

Trumponomics: Eggflation Continues to Escalate

February 10, 2025 Buck Banks

$7.30

The cost of eggs continues to hit record highs in the US, with data from the USDA showing wholesale prices above $7.30 for a dozen large white eggs (see data here; click on “Egg Markets Overview”). The figure is up from around $5 at the beginning of the year and almost three times as much year over year.

Murphy Warns thet Trump Is Mounting an Assault on Democracy

February 10, 2025 Buck Banks

“I think this is the most serious constitutional crisis the country has faced, certainly since Watergate. The president is attempting to seize control of power, and for corrupt purposes.”

— Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) warned of an “assault on the Constitution” under President Donald Trump, ABC News reports.

Waltz ‘Thinks,’ He Doesn’t Know?

February 10, 2025 Buck Banks

3%

$500 million

“Almost $500 million in food aid is at risk of spoilage as it sits in ports, ships and warehouses after funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, was paused by the Trump administration,” CBS News reports.

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced a new bill to rename Greenland — after the U.S. acquires it — to “Red, White and Blue Land.”

— Posted on X

1.5 billion

Astronomers discover the largest known structure in the universe to date, a cosmic filament—a strand connecting dark matter, galaxies, and more—roughly 1.3 billion light-years in length, reports .

<$400 billion

“Trump’s tornado has changed the world in just a couple of weeks. Yesterday we were the heretics. Now we are the mainstream.”

— Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, quoted by the New York Times. at a gathering of far-right leaders whose slogan was “Make Europe Great Again.”

$7.30

“I think this is the most serious constitutional crisis the country has faced, certainly since Watergate. The president is attempting to seize control of power, and for corrupt purposes.”

— Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) warned of an “assault on the Constitution” under President Donald Trump, ABC News reports.

“I don’t think there’s any plans to invade Canada.”

— National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, on Meet the Press.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“Every time J.D. Vance opens his mouth, the first two things I can think are, man, that guy is boring. And second, Peter Thiel had to spend a ton of money to get that man elected, barely in the state of Ohio.”

— Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D), on MS NOW.

“If any politician wants to get mothers on their side, they should adopt this issue. It’s such an obvious electoral winner. And what I’ve learned is there is no force in the universe stronger than mothers trying to protect their kids.”

— Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, quoted by Politico, on the threats posed by social media and artificial intelligence.

“I’m very good at flagpoles!”

— President Trump bragged during an “impromptu tour of his various White House construction projects,” Mediaite reports.

Numerati

35%

+150

+750

“The number of U.S. service members wounded since the start of the Iran war has passed 750, according to the Defense Department’s war casualty database,” CNN reports.

+175,000

“The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas during President Donald Trump’s administration so far,” Fox News reports.

$4,600