LyrArc Article Gist
Google's $20 billion transfer to Apple so that it can have the monopoly on search, paying a competitor to take its business in this way to reduce competition does not look right in the courts of law and principles established since Teddyt Roosevelt's struggle to end oil monopolies in the 1900's. The US was built on competition, monopolies existed for short times till they were brought under the law and dismantled, and new competition evolved in a environment that is good for competition. The Apple -Google arrangement looks cosy and not in line with America's pillar of strength in its economy- competition, and not in line with the laws of the US economy. The rest of Google's monopoly only retards competition that is the heart of the US economy, and retard the new ideas that can bring new inventions and new industries to propel America and it's vision forward free of the burden of unfair and illegal monopolies.

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A good meeting of Merz with Trump at the White House and reaching out at a personal level. The German leader handed Trump a birth certificate of his grandfather from the Palatinate region of Bavaria. Merz says-

"I'm returning with the feeling that I've found in the American president someone I can speak with very well on a personal level," he said. "We have a lot in common, even in the different career paths we've taken between politics. That creates a certain bond."

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The title is misleading as it does not day that the the drop in the trade deficit is largely because of the steep climb in the trade deficit in March so that the April numbers decline was made that much larger. Importers tried to beat the DJT tariffs by importing ahead of the tariffs date. For the trade deficit to truly turn around Make in the USA has to go into effect over the next 5 years reducing imports and rebuilding American manufacturing, and the tariffs should be seen in that context as a way to do this. Tariffs only reduce the overconcentration of manufacturing in one country which poses serious risks as well as leaves American workers at the mercy of other countries.Imports were still $351 billion in April and the deficit at $62 billion.

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The war of the Houthi rebels in the Persian Gulf shipping lanes turns into a stalemate with the US Navy and Air Force reports WSJ. US oil money supports many of these conflicts as it finds its way to the Middle East where development priorities fall behind decade after decade.

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Trump- Musk relationship breaks down June 2025 as Musk calls the Trump bill in Congress with cuts to renewable energy and higher spending and "abomination." DJT says Musk has "Trump derangement syndrome." And he calls for ending all subsidies to Musk's businesses.

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ECB cuts rates to 2.0% from 2.25% June 2025. This is the eighth such cut in a year. Inflation in Eurozone is 2.0%.