Here. We. Go. Welcome to the inaugural edition of the UNFTR Newsletter. Undoubtedly, it will evolve over time, but we’re excited to bring you more content and easily accessible links in one place. You are receiving this because you have exchanged with us in the past. Perhaps as a subscriber on Substack, as a member of the show, through the contact form on our website or the purchase of our coffee or merchandise. No matter how you got here, we’re grateful to have you Without further ado, here's what's on our minds:
Federal Funds Rate
The Federal Reserve raised funds a quarter of a point this week despite calls to slow down or hold on rate hikes from Wall Street, members of Congress and the inhabitants of the planet who are trying to get by. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is undeterred, even by bank failures in his mission to put two million U.S. residents out of work. All in service of “price stability.” Time’s up. Time for some new blood at the Fed. Monetary interventions aren’t the only way to slow inflation.
NPR: Fed raises interest rates again
The Trump Saga
The ongoing orange dumpster fire that is our former president continues to amuse in the most horrific way. Claiming he’s about to be arrested, DJT called for his legions of supporters to take to the streets. So far, he’s still roaming the halls of Mar-a-Lago, and more people attended Kimberly Guilfoyle’s speech at CPAC than took to the streets. Random story about KG. Met her once when I moderated a panel in NYC, and she was really mean. Anyhoo.
Time: Trump falls short of another Jan 6
TikTok
The U.S. is trying to pry the beloved social platform from China’s grip over fears that the CCP is stealing our data and infecting the minds of the youth. At least they stopped sending giant balloons over Montana though, amirite?
NYT: China Will ‘Firmly Oppose’ Sale of TikTok
And now, on with the show.
We have a simultaneous drop on the pod feed and YouTube, beating back the right wing attack on all things “woke,” including a clip of Bethany Mandel’s epic meltdown when asked to define the term. Considering she just released a book all about the dangers of woke culture, you’d think this wasn’t much of a gotcha question. Apparently, it was. There’s more to consume on YouTube, as you’ll find below, and today’s full episode on the pod examines the theory of “Creative Destruction,” a term coined by famed economist Joseph Schumpeter.