The 1600: On Boomers
Good morning,
Boy, nothing gets the angry emails flowing like when I gently rib the Boomers. Guys, it isn't personal. I was raised by two loving, wonderful Boomers! But the fact remains that the Baby Boomer generation pulled off the greatest fumble in American history, having inherited a peaceful world and rich country that they then bankrupted by cutting their own taxes, presided over the death of the industrial heartland, completely ignored the climate change problem, and financed war after war with deficits—while also managing to lose those wars. (Ever notice how the only war the Boomers were fully against was Vietnam, the one they actually had to fight in? Though to be fair, that war was the fault of their parents in the "Greatest Generation.") Only a Boomer could buy a house for $20,000 in the 1970s, sell it for $2M in the 2020s, and not see how good they've had it.
I can almost hear many of you going for that unsubscribe button. Again, nothing personal! But it's our God-given right as Americans to make sweeping, unfair generalizations about those who came before and after us. And don't get me wrong. As an elder Millennial, we're not much better: entitled, annoying, you name it. And this younger generation coming up, the Zoomers, whoa boy. They might be the most useless of all (though that is mostly our fault for raising them with phones and social media).
Anywho, on that unifying note, here's what's happening in DC today. Remember Elon Musk? After going dark for a few weeks following his falling out with President Trump, the world's richest man is back in front of the keyboard threatening to primary any GOP senator who votes for the tax bill that is on the cusp of passage this morning. Musk is promising to launch a third party he's calling the "America Party" once this bill becomes law. It's an interesting thought experiment. I've long said we desperately need a real, well-financed third party in this country. Elon's got the money to back it, but unfortunately he is far too polarizing to be the face of it. Will never work if he's involved. Trump, btw, is punching back, posting overnight about how his former "first buddy" is really just mad about the EV subsidy going away in the bill and noting, accurately, how much Musk's businesses have benefitted from gov't subsidies.
Trump meanwhile heads to Florida today to tour this new ICE detention center dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" that's being put up in the middle of the oppressively hot and swampy Everglades. What could go wrong? Does anyone remember how this was literally a joke Obama used to use on the campaign trail when he was running for reelection?! He used to crack that Republicans' immigration policy might as well be a giant moat on the border filled with alligators. Hahaha! Maybe if he and his veep had taken border security seriously we wouldn't be here!
I know what the White House is trying to do—they want to send a message of deterrence for potential migrants while also trying to scare enough of those already here to self-deport—but their immigration policies look ridiculous and cruel. I'm getting a bit sick of watching videos of grown men with their faces masked jumping out of unmarked vans to arrest day laborers and ladies selling churros. Is that supposed to make me feel safe? It just makes me feel gross.
OK, I think I successfully upset just about all of you today. You can email in to yell at me, I don't mind. Maybe I'll even post some of the better ones tomorrow.
The Rundown
President Donald Trump reignited his feud with Elon Musk and touted having the Department of Government Efficiency look into federal money received by the billionaire, who until May had spearheaded the very same department focused on slashing fraud and waste in U.S. government spending. Here's the latest.
Also happening:
US-Iran nuclear talks: Iran's Foreign Minister set firm conditions for any renewed talks with the United States, signaling that Tehran remains open to diplomacy but not without conditions, in a new interview with CBS News. Read more.
Exclusive: India is hopeful of reaching a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration very soon, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told Newsweek in an interview. Read more.
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