Daily Musings — Thoughts on News of the Day
December 23, 2020
House Dems will try to pass $2,000 stimulus checks this week after Trump signals support
In a video address Tuesday night, Trump called the proposed stimulus checks of $600 included in the economic relief bill that Congress passed Monday “ridiculously low” and said the payments should be more than tripled — a proposal that many Democrats immediately lined up behind.
Stimulus arrives as confidence sinks: Morning Brief
“Consumers’ assessment of current conditions deteriorated sharply in December, as the resurgence of COVID-19 remains a drag on confidence…”
Jobless claims: Another 803,000 Americans filed new unemployment claims last week
Though initial unemployment claims improved more than anticipated last week, claims are still coming in at historically elevated levels.
In pandemic America’s tent cities, a grim future grows darker
The virus presents a compounding threat. Not only are these populations some of the most vulnerable to the coronavirus, but by destroying millions of jobs, the pandemic threatens a wave of evictions that experts warn could lead to a catastrophic housing displacement and even more people living on the streets.
The ‘Darkest Days’ Are Ahead Of Us, Biden Warns About COVID-19 Pandemic
“Our darkest days in the battle against COVID are ahead of us, not behind us…”
This billionaire warns that America’s massive wealth gap could lead to conflict
“There will have to be a resolution of the system working for the majority of the people in which there’s productivity…And that could be obtained either in a smart, bipartisan way — or it will come by greater conflict.”
Wheels Come Off For Bus Companies, Closing Down Travel Options For Poorer Americans
Demand for bus travel has fallen by more than 80% during the pandemic, as public health authorities urge people to avoid travel where possible.
Global cargo logjam deepens, delaying goods bound for retailers, automakers
A surge in demand for furniture, exercise equipment and other goods for shoppers sheltering at home in a worsening COVID-19 pandemic has upended normal trade flows. That has stranded empty cargo containers in the wrong places, spawning bottlenecks that now stretch from factories to seaports.
Read more at VicNapier.com and my Medium.com page.
