President Elon Musk
He probably deserves his own thread at this point, discuss accordingly
This Ron Vara thing is beyond weird. When I was a toddler I had an imaginary friend. But that didn't go beyond age 4 or so, and he didn't tell me what to do.
Can't forget John Baron. These guys are all Weirdos.
Tesla Sitting On Thousands Of Unsold Cybertrucks As It Stops Accepting Its Own Cars As Trade-Ins
Despite producing the Tesla Model Y, the most popular new car on the planet last year, Tesla has had a rough time so far in 2025. The American EV maker faces "Tesla Takedown" protests and other boycotts from citizens across the globe thanks to the inflammatory words and actions of the brand's CEO, Elon Musk.
Though the company previously declared that there were over a million Cybertruck pre-orders, Tesla can't find buyers for the current backlog of nearly 2,400 Cybertrucks, or about $200 million worth of inventory. Not only that, but Tesla is allegedly refusing to accept its own Cybertrucks as trade-ins since it can't sell them, and is reportedly even forcing some owners to Lemon Law their cars instead. That's an ominous sign for the model that was supposed to revolutionize the pickup market and revitalize the automaker's aging line up.
Source:
Sorry, we can't take this piece of junk as a trade in - the side panels are already falling off!
The fact that Navarro has a PhD from Harvard is further evidence that the supposedly elite institutions have gone way off track.
Seriously? Is it a real actual research-based PhD or one of those American PhDs where you have to pass a course. I cant see the former, because there peer-review aspect should destroy his idiotic ramblings...
hmm a quick google suggests the former.
Wow, Harvard has really gone down in my estimation.
I guess Economics is the 'media studies' of the 80s.
Back in the day econ was respectable but now it seems like a major that attracts too many try-hards who are low on talent.
While it's true that some in the Ivy League are there because they are gifted, for the overwhelming majority they are there because they are able to conform better and do what they are told to a tee. They are people driven to succeed by meeting and exceeding institutional expectations. They are not curious people obsessed with truth and the life of the mind. Those people I think are now successfully weeded out of the Ivy League.
But PhDs take brains and hard work.... in science they do, at least :shrug:
The fact that Navarro has a PhD from Harvard is further evidence that the supposedly elite institutions have gone way off track.
Any white guy that old should just be assumed to know nothing unless they have serious accomplishments. The affirmative action back then was off the charts. Navarro is pretty dumb, but he's not a one off.
I know a bunch of Ivy League graduates and most fit the generic Deuces description, except the one guy from Yale that went on a scholarship, looks like a bald Osama Bin Laden and is the biggest conspiracy theorist I know in real life. Ofc, not a nutty as some of the people in here though.
On another topic, can't wait for TSLA to go to $0. I know it won't, but a guy can dream.
Also, Mavarro is like a christian apologetic that gets a biology PhD. He’s only notable and working for Trump because everyone else with similar credentials completely disagrees with him.
There don't seem to be too many economists defending the tariffs, I assume because doing so makes you look economically illiterate. You just don't incentivize investment by inducing a recession. I think most anyone can understand that.
If we agree that this tariff policy is not meant to do what its sponsors say it will, and that that is apparent to the sponsors as well, then what is the true aim?
This is where you are, I think, unlikely to find good analysis in the mainstream because, even regarding Trump, it is still a bit of a taboo to question motives. But in social media motives can be questioned. I think this is really about destroying the federal government. Anti tax radicals like Grover Norquist support the tariffs, I think for that reason, that they are somehow in service of breaking down the administrative state and social safety net while increasing executive power. To think that the tariffs aren't functioning with DOGE towards some dystopian (from a working person's perspective) nightmare of inequality would be silly. The two projects have to be working towards the same goal and that is a good point at which to try to figure out the real motive here.
If we agree that this tariff policy is not meant to do what its sponsors say it will, and that that is apparent to the sponsors as well, then what is the true aim?
I think the bolded is a stretch. This isn't some 5-D chess going on. It's a bunch of idiots.
I think the bolded is a stretch. This isn't some 5-D chess going on. It's a bunch of idiots.
Personally I put limits on how dumb people can be in various spots. Past those limits I have to assume they are being deceptive. On most issues I can see how someone could think differently than the consensus. Were the vaccines safe and effective, for example? If we are to be honest it can be argued both ways. I wouldn't even assume people are too smart to not believe in traditional vaccines.
But when you blame DEI for a series of bank failures or blame black people's love of shrimp for bankrupting Red Lobster, then, no, I don't think anyone with a triple digit IQ sincerely believes such bs. I have to put this tariffs regime in that category of no, there is some other motive behind this charade. This time around Trump has clearly shown himself to be a willing vessel of those who funded his campaign. Is it his son or son-in-law? There is somebody behind this idiocy other than just Trump and they don't think these destroying trade will strengthen our country.
Could it be the Israelis? They clearly wanted Trump in office and they clearly railroaded the Harris campaign. As a ploy the tariffs are pretty good because it has to be the nut dumbest idea that anyone would think anyone could believe while also a viable way to send the country into pure chaos and ruin. Does Israel want us in a state of ruin? Probably, within limits. It makes sense to look at exogenous influences because whoever is behind this is, in my estimation, much more likely to be an enemy of the state than as stupid as you would have to be to actually think this is good.
Personally I put limits on how dumb people can be in various spots. Past those limits I have to assume they are being deceptive. On most issues I can see how someone could think differently than the consensus. Were the vaccines safe and effective, for example? If we are to be honest it can be argued both ways. I wouldn't even assume people are too smart to not believe in tradit
I'll just quote a post I made in BFI
We can just take trump at face value. He likes tariffs. He’s been consistent with this for 30-40 years.The rest is just a bunch of noise. Giga brained negotiation tactic? NopeAttempt to lower rates to refinance debt? NoBlatant market manipulation? I mean yeah but that isn’t the intent.Trump wants to implement tariffs and had a disastrous roll out and is now conceding, while get
The messaging on this is actually incredibly clear. Trump has admitted as much multiple times throughout the day. They are just framing it as strength by calling out China.
[...]
Could it be the Israelis? [...] Does Israel want us in a state of ruin? Probably, within limits. [...]whoever is behind this is, in my estimation, much more likely to be an enemy of the state [...]
Subtle.
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trum...
So far DJT has spent negative 150 billion less than sleepy joe. Very efficient
So Trump, Musk and the Trumpy-Musky idiots say no tariffs on a bunch of finished electronic goods from China (phones and computers), but there's still tariff on raw materials and parts. So, the morons are just trying to hurt USA manufacturing.
You guys are really stupid. And since neither Trump, nor Elmo are reading this, I want it to be clear that I'm talking about bgnight, juan valdez, mschu, mongidig, craig...and yes, lucium who is supposedly a libertarian who hates tariffs, but, push comes to shove and everytime he's Trump and Musk's corner.
So Trump, Musk and the Trumpy-Musky idiots say no tariffs on a bunch of finished electronic goods from China (phones and computers), but there's still tariff on raw materials and parts. So, the morons are just trying to hurt USA manufacturing.
As we're on a poker forum (it still is, right?), Victoria Coren's brother wrote a short piece on this yesterday - [URL="https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/columnists/article/donald-trump-america-great-again-tariffs-nmg0kknvz"]Let’s make America make again — oh, wait
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When trump was auctioning off the Presidency one of his asks was I still get to do my tariffs. They said fine whatever grandpa lol and now they're re-negotiating/whittling him down in the background. When all of his "deals" are done they're probably going to amount to trump's nafta--basically the same thing with some small changes.
Musk told voters that if Americans elected the Republican ticket,
he’d uncover ways to cut “at least $2 trillion” from the federal budget.
After Donald Trump’s victory, told the public that he believed he had a “good shot” at cutting $1 trillion
Last week, at a White House cabinet meeting, he and the
quasi-governmental DOGE initiative “anticipate” $150 billion in spending cuts
turns out, he meant that he would profit by around $150 billion on the subsequent privatization of cut services.
Musk told voters that if Americans elected the Republican ticket,
he’d uncover ways to cut “at least $2 trillion” from the federal budget.
After Donald Trump’s victory, told the public that he believed he had a “good shot” at cutting $1 trillion
Last week, at a White House cabinet meeting, he and the
quasi-governmental DOGE initiative “anticipate” $150 billion in spending cuts
Do I hear $10 million?
Not quite everything. If Elon and Trump made opposite statements regarding something I knew nothing about, I would be inclined to think Elon was the honest one.
