"Let's take this outside!" ... "OK, good, now let's go back inside." The market soaring with relief as the great tariff war between the US and China has been postponed. Yogi Berra might describe the economic news as being like déjà vu all over again, because it sure seems that we're back where we started. Of course, given the market disruptions and the supply chain concerns, there aren't a lot of people complaining about the destination—but the instability caused by the journey could have a lasting effect. (If nothing else, whenever I check my portfolio, my face reverts to an expression that looks like it was painted by Edvard Munch.) And what exactly was achieved through the hardball, boomerang effect inducing tactics that left us pretty much right where we started? "While the Trump administration vowed to punish any country that retaliated against its April 2 tariffs, China, which did exactly that, finds itself with slightly lower levies tariffs than it faced April 2. Eurasia Group founder Ian Bremmer said in a note to clients that the ratcheting down of U.S. tariffs signaled 'Trump’s biggest climbdown to date.'" Barron's: Trump Blinked ‘Big Time’ on China Trade, Taking Worst Case Off Table. 2Guile High Club"In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar -- a gift that is to be available for use by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation." ABC News: Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar. Chuck Schumer: "Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom." Trump: "I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,' ... I thought it was a great gesture." (I sure hope American democracy is equipped with landing gear...) 3Hostage Release"Hamas announced Sunday night it had agreed to free Alexander, 21, after several days of talks with the United States as part of an effort to reach a ceasefire and resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza." Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander returns to Israel after Hamas release. The deal seemed to be made between Hamas and the US, with Trump describing the release as a "step taken in good faith toward the United States and the efforts of the mediators – Qatar and Egypt – to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones." The goal of ending the war is definitely different from Netanyahu's position (airstrikes have already resumed), and from Trump's earlier suggestion that Gaza be cleared to make way for a real estate development. 4The Dance Card is Full"Fueled by socioeconomic, cultural and technological changes, dance music and club culture have built on the progress of the past to leave a footprint deeper than we’ve seen before. As costs skyrocket for live instrumental acts to hit the road, a touring D.J. needs to travel with only a USB stick full of music. The continued evolution of D.J. hardware and software has softened the learning curve (and entry price) for beginners, while expanding possibilities for seasoned performers. And digital platforms like Boiler Room — the hugely popular video series that pioneered the de facto online D.J. video format — have changed the trajectory of what it means to be an electronic music artist or fan." All you have to do is attend a massive outdoor music festival to figure out DJs can draw crowds as big as full bands. NYT (Gift Article): Dance Music Is Booming Again. What’s Different This Time? A Lot. Oh what a feeling, dancing has no ceiling.... 5Extra, ExtraCutterfly Effect: "More people have been displaced by violence in Sudan than in Ukraine and Gaza combined. Statements about Sudan are regularly made at the UN and in other international forums. And yet the people in these photographs seem to have been abandoned in an empty landscape. As the United States withdraws and international institutions decay, their ordeal may be a harbinger of what is to come." The decisions made in Washington and debated on social media have real world impacts, often a world away. The Atlantic (Gift Article): The Crisis of American Leadership Reaches an Empty Desert. 6Bottom of the News"A few years ago, The Financial Times named Kiss 'rock’s greatest capitalists.' By the newspaper’s count, the band founded in 1973 had licensed its name to some 5,000 products, including Kiss Kondoms and Kiss Kaskets." And for Gene Simmons, the beat goes on. NYT (Gift Article): He Spent $12,495 to Be Gene Simmons’s Roadie (and Got More Than Expected).
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