Fagner Almeida

[Axel Merk @AxelMerk]

WSJ's @RichardRubinDC lists social security reform proposals:
* increase retirement age: still bust, long-range gap shrinks
* end tax cap: delays insolvency by 24 years
* raise tax cap: shrinks gap, delays insolvency by 2 years
* lower benefit adjustment: still bust, shrinks gap a bit
* lower benefits to each successive cohort: still bust in the short-term, but long turn turns deficit into surplus
* not mentioned: means testing as to whether you get benefits
@karadapena https://t.co/iTF39hz6OK

[Richard Morrison @RichardMorrison]

New study on regulatory capture: "Certain modern regulatory frameworks can, under identifiable structural conditions, invert their protective purpose by embedding private gatekeeping authority or asymmetric enforcement power."
https://t.co/FaY1y1j6Bw

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@ekwufinance reminds me of the f-35. cant stop building them or whole towns go under but each one costs more than we spend on head start in a year. we keep choosing the wrong dependencies

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@dgsommersmkts the cbo projects interest costs alone will pass defense spending by 2025 and nobody wants to talk about it

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@biancoresearch the cbo inflation projections from 2021-2023 are archived and theyre almost as flat as this chart. nobody got fired

[d. wayne @DWayne8364]

1. Healthcare & Prescription Drug Costs

Medicare Price Negotiation: Empowering Medicare to negotiate prices directly with drug manufacturers for high-demand medications, creating competitive market pressure that helps lower baseline drug costs for all consumers.

Out-of-Pocket Expense Caps: Extending nationwide caps on essential medications—such as expanding the $35 monthly insulin cap to everyone, regardless of whether they have private insurance, Medicare, or no coverage.

Protecting Essential Coverage: Safeguarding protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and banning short-term, sub-standard "junk" insurance plans that lack critical care guarantees.

2. Infrastructure & Clean Energy

Modernizing Roads & Bridges: Investing federal funds into nationwide transportation networks, transit systems, ports, and public airports to boost supply chains and regional commerce.

Expanding High-Speed Internet: Funding universal rural and suburban broadband expansion to bring reliable, affordable high-speed internet to every household.

Clean Energy Independence: Supporting domestic manufacturing of solar, wind, and battery technologies to reduce reliance on volatile foreign oil markets and lower household energy costs.

3. Worker Protections & Family Support

National Paid Family & Medical Leave: Establishing a federally guaranteed paid leave standard so workers can take time off for birth, illness, or caring for family members without losing their livelihoods.

Protecting Social Security & Medicare: Opposing cuts or privatization efforts to ensure these baseline safety-net programs remain solvent for current and future generations.

Expanding Quality Public Education: Increasing federal support for K-12 public schools, expanding access to early childhood education, and strengthening career/technical trade training programs.

4. Digital Privacy & Consumer Rights

Online Data Privacy Protections: Enacting strict national standards to limit how tech corporations collect, track, and sell personal user data.

Cracking Down on Junk Fees: Banning hidden processing charges, unexpected processing markups, and deceptive fees across banking, ticketing, travel, and housing rental markets.

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@JustinWolfers my uncle talks about 1980 like it was economic armageddon but at least he could afford a house. my cousin just got a 7% mortgage and thinks thats a win

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@rwlesq the hyde amendment angle is the one that actually keeps me up at night. weve already got a preview of what happens when congress decides certain care doesnt count

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@GreenPlusAnE love how we always find money to means-test grandma's 1200 social security check but lockheed gets 1.7 trillion for a plane that cant fly in rain

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@BraddrofliT my buddy at treasury says the DOGE stuff is mostly theater - they already know where the waste is, they just cant touch it cuz congress loves their pet projects

[Jeff Clabault @JeffClabault]

Musk has gone too far. The guy is now messing with our elections, our government, our lives, and the future of our country and the American experience. The guy has GOT TO GO. If Musk won't leave voluntarily, take his businesses, his assets, and his freedom. He deserves that!

[U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. @SenBillCassidy]

The people elected this November will have to deal with Social Security’s looming insolvency.

In just six years, benefits could be cut by 28.5%.

If you’re deciding between candidates, ask them: What is your plan to fix Social Security? We cannot wait until 2032 to find out.

[Treavor Anthony English @TreavorEnglish]

That’s the part we should be talking about. We already spend a fortune. So make the money work better.

Let the government negotiate harder on healthcare. Build more housing. Make childcare and education cheaper. Cut programs that don’t work and move the money into things that actually lower the cost of living.

People having more money left after rent, food, healthcare and bills is good for capitalism too. They can save it, invest it, start something, or spend it.

The goal shouldn’t be bigger government. It should be a government that actually works.

[David Doney @David_Charts2]

Join us for a 2-hour economics discussion tonight starting at 7pm CT. My co-presenter and I will cover the federal budget situation; latest CBO report on income inequality; the annual Census reports on income, poverty and healthcare coverage; and the Fed Survey of Consumer Finances.
https://t.co/qMz5aRr5Pz

[Arnold Ventures @Arnold_Ventures]

Labor is making the case for permitting reform. @LIUNA is calling on Congress to pass the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, citing good jobs, lower energy costs, and greater certainty for critical projects.

It’s time to get permitting reform done. Read the statement here: https://t.co/ac9qqwHTFr

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@PeterSchiff kudlow called the 2008 crash 'a mild slump' so his boom detector might need recalibration

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@JonCaldara every time i see a tax plan that ignores inflation indexing i think about bracket creep in the 70s. people woke up 'richer' on paper and poorer in reality. we never learn

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@Dirty_Casualty the 70% figure is wild if you count social security people paid into

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@BigSkyIsAwesome my buddy used to work at cbo and hed always roll his eyes at how people talked about the trust fund like it was a vault with cash in it. its just accounting entries. the real problem is congress never adjusted the tax cap

[Fagner Almeida @FagnerA40183235]

@GreenPlusAnE the munitions thing is real but im way more worried about the 900 billion we spend on defense we dont audit than grandma's social security