Source: Reuters
“The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits was unchanged at a low level last week, pointing to continued labor market strength. Labor market resilience, which is driving the economy, together with elevated inflation have led financial markets and some economists to expect that the Federal Reserve could delay cutting interest rates until September. A few economists doubt that the U.S. central bank will lower borrowing costs this year.” (04/18/24)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weekly-jobless-claims-unchanged-low-levels-2024-04-18/
Source: National Review
“The Right Side of the Desk.” (04/18/24)
https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/capital-record/the-right-side-of-the-desk/
Source: Eunomia
by Daniel Larison
“The Biden administration still hasn’t given up on its terrible plan for a Saudi-Israeli normalization deal. The Wall Street Journal reports: ‘The Biden administration is pushing for a long-shot diplomatic deal in coming months that presses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a new commitment to Palestinian statehood in exchange for diplomatic recognition by Riyadh, U.S. and Saudi officials said.’ The outlines of the deal are the same as they have been for the last year: the U.S. bribes the Saudis with major favors and commitments, the Saudis agree to recognize Israel, and the Israeli government doesn’t have to do much of anything. This was a terrible deal for the United States last year, it was a terrible deal before the start of the war in Gaza six months ago, and it will still be a terrible deal six months from now.” (04/18/24)
https://daniellarison.substack.com/p/pursuing-saudi-israeli-normalization
Source: EconLog
by Kevin Corcoran
“The YouTube algorithm is a mysterious thing. It’s supposed to recommend videos you might like, based on videos you’ve watched and rated before, but as far as I can tell the recommendations are generated randomly by a half-asleep chimpanzee. Still, just as broken clocks are still right twice a day, random suggestions can manage to highlight things worth checking out. A while back, the YouTube algorithm put, of all things, a clip from Sesame Street in my recommended videos. This episode featured a guest appearance by Brett Goldstein, best known for his role in Ted Lasso as the hot-tempered and extremely foul-mouthed professional athlete Roy Kent. Curiosity got the better of me, so I checked it out.” (04/18/24)
https://www.econlib.org/on-fairness-aesop-vs-sesame-street/
Source: US News & World Report
“Croatia’s ruling conservatives said Thursday that talks have already started about the formation of a new governing majority the day after a highly contested parliamentary election that saw a far-right party emerge as a potential kingmaker. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who is the leader of the Croatian Democratic Union party, or HDZ, said that the party has contacted some of the potential future partners and more talks will take place on Thursday. Preliminary results of the vote on Wednesday showed that Plenkovic’s HDZ won 61 seats in the 151-seat parliament, which means the party has to form a coalition government to stay in power.” (04/18/24)
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-04-18/croatias-conservative-pm-convinced-his-party-will-soon-form-a-new-majority-after-inconclusive-vote
Source: Libertarian Institute
“The IDF Has Attacked Humanitarian Sites and Convoys Over 350 Times.” (04/18/24)
https://libertarianinstitute.org/kyle/coi-578-the-idf-has-attacked-humanitarian-sites-and-convoys-over-350-times/
Source: The Hill
by Tim Busch
“The pro-life movement is at a crossroads. Nearly two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, activists continue to demand that Congress pass a national abortion ban — a policy that has no chance of passing on its own, especially after widespread outrage over Arizona’s reinstatement of an 1864 abortion ban. We can either continue to advocate that failed strategy, or we can try something that may work. Those of us who care about saving unborn lives and protecting mothers should support a political exchange, giving politicians who support abortion something they want in exchange for the pro-life progress we want.” (04/18/24)
https://thehill.com/opinion/congress-blog/4601616-a-national-abortion-ban-wont-pass-on-its-own-republicans-should-make-a-deal/
Source: Adam Smith Institute
by Tim Worstall
“There are those trying to insist that significant parts of the American economy are uncompetitive. This allows the exercise of market power and thus excess or economic profits. True, this is the sort of analysis that comes from Senators Warren and Sanders so best not taken entirely seriously but there are also those we have to worry about like FTC chair Lina Khan. Is there in fact some way we can test this? … a useful conclusion is that if it’s not possible to enter through greater efficiency or lower prices then the market as it is is efficient without excess or economic profits.” (04/18/24)
https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/the-groceries-market-seems-alarmingly-competitive-to-us
Source: Seattle Times
“A human rights organization representing ethnic Armenians submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court on Thursday, arguing that Azerbaijan is committing an ongoing genocide against them. Azerbaijan’s government didn’t immediately comment on the accusations. The neighboring countries have been at odds for decades over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, and are already facing off in a separate legal case stemming from that conflict. Lawyers for the California-based Center for Truth and Justice, or CFTJ, say there is sufficient evidence to open a formal investigation into Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and other top leaders for genocide. They have submitted a so-called Article 15 communication urging the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan to look into alleged atrocities.” (04/18/24)
https://archive.is/WkGpq
Source: The Dispatch
“Retire Universal Injunctions.” (04/18/24)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/retire-universal-injunctions/
