Trump increases pressure on China for trade deal with new 10 percent tariff on the other $300 billion of goods while Chinese economy reels:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/08/trump-increases-pressure-on-china-for-trade-deal-with-new-10-percent-tariff-on-the-other-300-billion-of-goods-while-chinese-economy-reels/

China has proven itself to be an unreliable trade partner in its negotiations, says President Donald Trump, and now he is levying another 10 percent tariff on the remaining $300 billion of Chinese goods that were untaxed. This comes atop the 25 percent tariff on another $250 billion of goods, which is expecting to raise more than $50 billion in revenue this year. Trump cited failure by Chinese President Xi Jinping to follow through on its commitments to stop fentanyl shipments, import more U.S. agricultural products and the failure to conclude a trade deal. With China’s economy taking a hit, is the pressure starting to pay off?

Fed rate cut unsurprising in context of China and Europe devaluations, weak inflation:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/08/fed-rate-cut-unsurprising-in-context-of-china-and-europe-devaluations-weak-inflation/

The Federal Reserve is cutting its key interest rate to a range of 2 percent to 2.25 percent, the central bank announced on July 31, citing slowing inflation. The decision was also coupled with the decision by the Fed to stop selling securities back to the market sooner than expected, and comes as China continues to devalue the yuan another 3 percent in response to the imposition by President Donald Trump of 25 percent tariffs on up to $250 billion of goods shipped to the U.S., and Europe’s recent statement in June that it could be preparing to cut interest rates. Should we expect more rate cuts, or is this it for now?

The Trump economy remains strong enough as 2020 fast approaches:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/the-trump-economy-remains-strong-enough-as-2020-fast-approaches/

The Trump economy grew at 2.93 percent in 2018, the best year since 2005, according to the most recent data. Unemployment remains at a 50-year low of 3.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage growth since 2017 is the best seen since the financial crisis, most recently at 2.8 percent growth in the first quarter of 2019. 4.9 million jobs have been created since 2017. For 16-to-64-year-old working age adults, the economy is definitely improving, the civilian labor force grew by 2.1 million, outpacing population that increased by about 1 million between 2016 and 2018. Those are good numbers. Former President Barack Obama got reelected with numbers that were much, much worse. What do you think?

Another brick in the wall as Supreme Court upholds Trump reprogramming funds for southern border wall. Democrats whine after they voted for it.
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/another-brick-in-the-wall-as-supreme-court-upholds-trump-reprogramming-funds-for-southern-border-wall-democrats-whine-after-they-voted-for-it/

Brick by brick, figuratively, with a serious assist from the Supreme Court ruling that reprogramming $2.5 billion of counter-narcotics monies may be used towards the southern border wall, Donald Trump is fulfilling his promise to get the wall built. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi complained on Twitter, “This evening’s Supreme Court ruling allowing @realDonaldTrump to steal military funds…” Here’s the best part: Democrats voted for all of it. Specifically, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, the bill which allowed the $2.5 billion for counter-narcotics barriers to be built, passed with 185 Democrats voting in the affirmative in the House. Every Democrat except for Sen. Bernie Sanders voted for it in the Senate. Similar overwhelming Democratic majorities voted for another $6.1 billion for the wall and another $4.5 billion to address the humanitarian crisis on the border the Trump administration requested. How will Dems in 2020 say they want to tear down the wall they voted for?

Trump, Barr set sights on Big Tech over antitrust concerns:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/trump-barr-set-sights-on-big-tech-over-antitrust-concerns/

The Antitrust Division of the Justice Department is setting its sights on big tech firms like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Amazon in announcing a review of potentially anticompetitive activities that could be limiting consumer choices. The push comes on the heels of the White House Social Media Summit where President Donald Trump citied censorship on social media as a major concern of his administration. To follow up the summit, Trump promised that there would be a meeting with “representatives of the major social media platforms” to have “a real conversation”about the issue. Now, given the Antitrust Division’s statement that “If violations of law are identified, the Department will proceed appropriately to seek redress,” those meetings may have become a whole lot more interesting. Perhaps a deal can be struck that avoids a confrontation. What do you think?

Judicial Crisis Network Chief Counsel Carrie Severino talks with Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning about her book, “Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Nomination.”

After Mueller testimony, there will be no Trump impeachment before Nov. 2020:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/after-mueller-testimony-there-will-be-no-trump-impeachment-before-nov-2020/

After former Special Counsel’s Robert Mueller’s testimony: If there was no Trump-Russia conspiracy, what was the basis, the conspiracy theory the Justice Department spent three years pursuing that Mueller ultimately debunked saying there was no evidence? Mueller could not say. And now it is abundantly clear based on Mueller’s (lack of) testimony that to find the answer, Attorney General Barr — whom President Trump has delegated his declassification authority to — must get to the bottom of why the heck the Justice Department and intelligence agencies were doing investigating and conducting surveillance on the opposition party in an election year. Spy agencies getting involved in politics is a mortal threat to our republican form of government. And Mueller had no good answer for why it happened. It’s about time we found out. The lack of accountability here is appalling. It’s time to declassify this mess, Mr. Attorney General. What do you think?

Is the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development about to double down on the 2015 federal takeover of local zoning regulations?
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/is-the-dept-of-housing-and-urban-development-about-to-double-down-on-the-2015-federal-takeover-of-local-zoning-regulations/

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is getting set to finalize a regulation modifying the 2015 rule from the Obama administration, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, that conditioned $3.3 billion of annual community development block grants on rezoning local municipalities along income and racial guidelines. More than 1,200 cities and counties accept those block grants nationwide affecting populations of tens of millions of people. Now sources familiar with the final regulation currently being considered by the White House Office of Management and Budget suggest that it will still condition funds on making changes to local zoning, just with a different rationale, to reduce regulatory burdens that contribute to higher housing costs particularly in urban areas such as San Francisco. There’s only one problem. Congress prohibited anything to do with zoning and this rule. Is there any way to stop it?

Trump economy keeps chugging along with 1.4 million more job openings than jobless:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/trump-economy-keeps-chugging-along-with-1-4-million-more-job-openings-than-jobless/

The U.S. Government debt, over $22 Trillion is a sum most cannot grasp. News coverage about deficits while still borrowing money is difficult for most to understand. The average citizen could be excused from comprehending any personal impact.Adding the total U.S. Government, States, and Local debts (nearly $26 Trillion) divided by the current population of about 330 Million gives each of us a bill of nearly $79,000 plus our own personal debt. Can we ever return to a sustainable trajectory?

To end border crisis, Trump administration restricts asylum claims from Central America:
http://dailytorch.com/2019/07/to-end-border-crisis-trump-administration-restricts-asylum-claims-from-central-america/

Under current immigration and asylum regulations, it was impossible to enforce the law on the southern border. The hundreds of thousands of Central Americans flooding the border the past several months gamed the system, betting that a compassionate America would let them in. Afterward, the families were released into the U.S. pending hearings, but those that showed up did so only to the extent they might be granted asylum, and upon rejection were never heard from again. It’s mandatory catch-and-release. Because of the way the regulations were written. Now, to get a handle on the problem and to deter future waves, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice are using their powers under the law to provide for additional restrictions and have issued a new rule telling asylum seekers they must first apply for asylum in the country they first transit through and be denied before they may qualify. Can this stem the tide and deter future migrant waves?