Odds and Ends — 23 August 2023

almost 3 years ago

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, and Debt:

What’s Holding Back India’s Economic Ambitions?

Many countries have followed a similar economic trajectory: As they develop, women increasingly enter the workforce, further fueling the country’s upward climb.
It happened in China, Japan and South Korea in the latter half of the 20th century. The U.S. saw its female labor-force participation rate—the percentage of women age 15 and up who are working or actively looking for work—grow from 32% in 1948 to 59% by 2000.
India, which overtook the U.K. last year as the world’s fifth largest economy, hasn’t followed that path. Since 1990, its female labor-force participation rate has hit a peak of only 31% in 2000, according to data from the World Bank. Last year, it was 24%.

Elon Musk’s Shadow Rule

How the U.S. government came to rely on the tech billionaire—and is now struggling to rein him in.

The median 401k for Boomers is heartbreaking and something I’ve been pointing out since my Retirement Crisis video. The American Dream that failed. https://t.co/eMsVFSDjnN
— Raoul Pal (@RaoulGMI) August 20, 2023

Coronavirus News, Analysis, and Opinion:

Are Masks Making a Comeback?

Republicans More Likely to Believe Health Misinformation

Florida Man:

Despite DeSantis’ plea, Disney isn’t ‘moving on’ from lawsuit

Politics:

BREAKING: Jack Smith's team tells Judge Cannon that a key witness in Trump's Mar-a-Lago documents case retracted false testimony after switching lawyers.

Details TKhttps://t.co/TrUDLFDTmm pic.twitter.com/2fnxtbYIrd
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 22, 2023

Bolsonaro Tries to Avoid Arrest

It has been a bad 10 months for Jair Bolsonaro.
He lost re-election as Brazil’s president. Thousands of his supporters stormed Brazil’s halls of power. And he was blocked from holding elected office for seven years.
Now things could soon get worse: Across Brazil, both his critics and supporters speculate that the next twist might be his arrest.

McCarthy Threatens Impeachment Inquiry

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) warned Tuesday that the House could launch an impeachment inquiry as soon as September if the Biden administration doesn’t turn over documents — including some that were apparently never requested by the GOP.

So just on general principles? Has McCarthy thought this through? He’s barely hanging on to the Speakership as is. I can’t imagine he’ll get to keep it if he (likely) botches this and comes up short on the vote count.

Junior says the bail restriction that prohibits Trump from harassing and intimidating witnesses is “against everything America stands for.”https://t.co/zvFdnhrGgD
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 22, 2023

Leonard Leo’s Network Under Investigation

The Federalist Society co-chair and ex-Trump judicial adviser has utilized nonprofit groups to collect more than $1 billion for conservative causes.

Hard to see Meadows not getting charged federally soon. Or pleading and cooperating. But soon.
— Andrew Weissmann (weissmann11 on Threads)🌻 (@AWeissmann_) August 22, 2023

It’s called mansplaining.

Afghanistan Reemerging as a Terrorism Incubator

Two years after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, there is growing consensus that the country is again devolving into a hotbed of terrorism activity that is already beginning to affect the region, if not yet capable of reaching the West.”

”He learned from studying Hitler’s speeches": Leading civil rights lawyer on 20 ways Trump is a copy

Georgia Republicans Seek Ways to Punish Prosecutor

Several Republican lawmakers are seeking ways to sanction Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis after she brought criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and 18 allies.
Trump backers are going after Willis using a new state law approved by Gov. Brian Kemp that creates a state commission with power to sanction or oust prosecutors found to be neglecting their duties or responsible for an array of other violations.

SUPER FUN FACT: The person in this photo who called for the other person in this photo to be arrested is going to be arrested. pic.twitter.com/7Ea3VC4zZy
— Middle Age Riot (@middleageriot) August 22, 2023

Gamblers Are Betting on Trump’s Weight

Jan. 6 rioter who charged police while carrying a gun sentenced to 7 years