America

Authored by Charles Hugh-Smith via OfTwoMinds blog,

Trying to reduce the carefully choreographed drama to one stage and one audience risks misunderstanding the signal.

It seems many media observers are confused by events in Syria and the swirl of competing narratives. Did the Swamp drain Trump? Did the Neocons succeed in forcing Trump to follow their lead? Is the U.S. ramping up yet another endless war?

It's been a bad start to the week for bank CEOs and ex-CEOs.

Hours after Barclays chief executive Jes Staley was slammed with a regulatory probe and learned he would see substantial cuts to his compensation after he tried to "unmask" a whistleblower, the board of Wells Fargo said it has clawed back an additional $72 million of pay from the two former execs it holds responsible for last year's biggest banking scandal, namely the bank's unprecedented cross-selling practices which went on for years, and which, too, resulted in numerous whistleblowers being silenced.

• Euro hovers above one-month low as French election nerves grow (Reuters)
• French Election Risk Reawakens as Bonds Drop, Volatility Jumps (BBG)
• Hopes fade for U.S. bank earnings despite rally in financial shares (Reuters)
• Skepticism Grows About Higher Fed Rates Helping Banks’ Margins (BBG)
• Record Bond Issuance Signals Doubts About Economy (WSJ)
• Price for Tax Overhaul Makes Bipartisan Deal Unlikely (WSJ)
• Congress Sinks Into Partisan Morass as Shutdown Threat Looms (BBG)

Authored by The College Fix,

On Friday about 40 protesters at Iowa State University demonstrated against the school’s use of prison labor “to acquire furniture.”

According to the Iowa State Daily, the group ISU Student Action organized the event because “prisoners may be paid as little as 15 cents per hour” … apparently not considering the fact that these laborers are incarcerated.

Dear Readers,

I owe you an apology. I made a mistake. I am writing this letter in the first person, because I made the mistake.