President Trump pokes Jim Cramer a little bit in the middle of this interview as questions are asked about predictable investments and the stock market.   After signing the guest registry at the NYSE, CNBC pundit Jim Cramer gets the opportunity to interview President Trump about the economic and banking policy to be expected in the second term.

Those who follow the specific outcomes of MAGAnomic policy are very optimistic about the future.  The economic forecast for stockholders, banks and even cryptocurrency balance sheets are going to be very strong for the next several years.  It is only through an intense growth period that the USA can expand the economy enough to begin reducing the deficit and getting out of the debt spiral.  WATCH: 

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Nice to see JD Vance in the picture.  If MAGAnomics is going to survive as policy beyond Trump, it is going to take JD Vance to believe in it and reject all the other voices in his ear.   Donald J Trump investing time, a lot of time, in JD Vance is an investment in our future.

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With an introduction from NYSE owner Jeffrey Sprecher, husband of Kelly Loeffler, President Trump gives remarks at the New York Stock Exchange prior to the opening bell. President-elect Trump, surrounded by his family and his proposed Cabinet, was speaking after being named TIME’s “Person of the Year.” WATCH:

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I have been waiting for someone to outline what the Dept of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is all about.  Unfortunately, perhaps due to the history of the matter, it appears few understand. So, with that in mind, and accepting the operators of DOGE may not have a fulsome comprehension of the dynamic, here is what it means.

The last Federal Budget that passed through “regular order” was for Fiscal Year 2008, signed by President George W Bush in September of 2007.  Every budget since has been outside regular order; a series of continuing resolutions, omnibus spending packages and short-term funding mechanisms.  {CITATION}

That is correct.  In the past 17 years, all federal spending has been ‘short-term’ or ‘stop-gap’ spending measures, generally known as “Continuing Resolutions,” where the govt (House and Senate) continue to perpetually resolve to fund the government.  The CRs as they are known, punt the spending debate by accepting a baseline of prior spending and tweaking around the edges.

The key takeaway to begin thinking about DOGE is to understand that REGULAR ORDER has not been used since Fiscal Year 2008.

Title III of the Congressional Budget Act outlines a legal timeline that each President and Congress must follow {SEE HERE}.  Prior to 2007, Continuing Resolutions were only used to resolve short term arguments about spending priorities.

♦ BACKGROUND – The President is required by law to submit his budget by the first Monday in February.  Yes, even when an election takes place and a President doesn’t assume office until January 20th, the first Monday in February is still the legal requirement for the new White House budget proposal.

The Presidents’ budget is then submitted to The House of Representatives, where two weeks later the Congressional Budget Office, reviews the budget and issues an opinion as to the cost of the budget.   No later than six weeks after the President submits his budget all House committees send the House Appropriations Committee their spending proposals [April 15].

Through May and June, each budgetary appropriations bill from the House is sent to the Senate.  The Senate receives the House appropriations bills, then reviews through the Senate Appropriations Committee (Thune just picked Susan Collins as Chair).  The Senate proposes their spending priorities based on the House bill because the House has constitutional authority to originate all spending [June 15].  The House and Senate budgets are “reconciled” using parliamentary procedures [June 30] and then sent to the President for signature.

The fiscal year begins October 1st.

That’s the regular order process.

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Eh, I’m not going to dwell on it.  Kelly is paying for the inauguration, and hubs Jeff is likely selling Bakkt to Nunes, so whatever.  But there is a remarkable irony with billionaire Kelly Loeffler, wife of NYSE owning billionaire Jeffrey Sprecher, being nominated for Administrator of the Small Business administration.

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I’m sure she will do fine.  If her presence on the sidelines helps the team, then cool.

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The latest announcement by President Trump via Truth Social [SEE HERE] should not come as a surprise to anyone here.

As the economic impact of MAGAnomics starts to sink-in to the global psyche, once again it is predictable that China and the EU will use their central banking system in a defensive posture against President Trump’s economic, trade and tariff policies.  As a direct result, the value of the dollar increases, and as we noted before, “Exports from the USA ultimately cost more because the dollar is stronger against EU and Asia currencies. However, a stronger dollar is an offset to BRICS leverage and allows Trump to play economic chess.”

That’s the background for this:

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President Trump knows how to leverage U.S. market access as part of the economic security program for the entire country.  President Trump is the only person who can do this.   If a nation wants to align with an alternative trade currency, President Trump will tariff their products at 100%, and/or shut them out of the USA market completely.

MAGAnomics Simplified: Everyone who is a pragmatic critical thinker knows that China will (a) subsidize their targeted industries; then (b) devalue their currency to lower the impact of exports to the USA. Beijing controls the banks, and they did this before. As a result, the dollar value increases and imports cost less.

The Chinese imports then enter the USA at a lower price consistent with their cost estimate as a tariff offset. China takes in a lower price but retains access. That’s just how it works. The importers pay the tariff with a lowered price and a higher valued dollar. Essentially statis for the time being.

Then…..

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The picture of the seating assignments speaks so loudly you don’t need to hear a word they are saying.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is sandwiched between Secretary of Commerce nominee Howard Lutnick and the man who holds the hammer for Canada’s economic future, President-Elect Donald J Trump.

Also pictured to President Trump’s left is his pick for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and his wife Julia Nesheiwat, the sister of Surgeon General nominee Janette Nesheiwat. Also included in the photo is President Trump’s interior secretary pick, Doug Burgum.  Suffice to say, the economic half of the Trump Doctrine purposefully in place.

Corporate media are focusing on President Trump’s prior statements about imposing tariffs on Canada as the narrative to go with the hastily assembled visit by Justin from Canada….

ABC – […] The meeting came after Trump threatened sweeping 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada until both countries stop what he claims is a flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States.

Trudeau told reporters earlier this week after he and Trump spoke on the phone following the tariff threat that they had a “good call.” He added that he looks forward to “lots of great conversations” with Trump. (more)

According to narrative media, stenographers for the status quo, the focus is on President Trump potentially seeking an early renegotiation of the USMCA trade agreement which is scheduled for a revisit in 2026.

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President Donald Trump has announced Scott Bessent as nominee for U.S. Treasury Secretary. The Secretary of Treasury implements tax policy, manages the nation’s debt, leads financial regulators, monitors and executes sanctions and conducts economic diplomacy. While the U.S. trade representative takes the lead on tariffs, the Treasury secretary typically plays a key role advising on that issue as well.

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Bessent (62) is a hedge Fund manager, the founder of investment firm Key Square Capital Management.  Despite supporting President Trump early, he has faced criticism for working as the CIO at George Soros’s Soros Fund Management from 2011 to 2015. He lives in Charleston, S.C.

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Just dropping some background information to help people make sense of things in the nomination world of businessman and President-Elect Donald Trump.

FINANCIAL TIMES – […] Trump Media and Technology Group, which operates Truth Social, is close to an all-stock acquisition of Bakkt, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing two people with knowledge of the talks.

Shares of Bakkt, backed by NYSE-owner Intercontinental Exchange, skyrocketed more than 160% and were halted multiple times due to volatility. Trump Media shares ended the day up 16.7%.

[…] Trump Media and Bakkt ‒ whose former CEO, Kelly Loeffler, is now co-chair of Trump’s inauguration committee and married to Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher ‒ did not immediately respond to requests for comment from USA TODAY. Intercontinental Exchange declined to comment.

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The interview below is a little complicated at first on the issues of economics. If you are not an economic wonk, or deep research into the theories and realities of how finance and human activity can transact in the world of economics, it might be a little complicated. However, if you are a person who enjoys a deep discussion on the intricacies of the battle between economic freedom -vs- socialism, then this is for you.

Lex Fridman does an excellent job of asking a short ‘big picture’ question, then listening to a lengthy response and answer. The interview is very substantive and as the interview progresses beyond the economic issues, Argentina President Javier Milei pulls back to give perspective on the real battle within the financial ‘west’.

The first hour is wonky, complex and full of answers about what a very intelligent President Milei did to correct the course in Argentina. The second hour pulls back to the broader landscape of freedom. Find some quiet time to enjoy and absorb. WATCH:

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Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction
3:27 – Economic freedom
8:52 – Anarcho-capitalism
18:45 – Presidency and reforms

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The co-chair of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Vivek Ramaswamy, appears with Maria Bartiromo to discuss the goals and intentions of the DOGE effort.

Ms Bartiromo continues to pull the conversation back to the need for Ramaswamy and Musk to go to the legislative branch for permission to reduce government waste.  Over and over again, Ms Bartiromo frames this discussion around: DOGE must go to congress for permission.

Note to Ms. Bartiromo.  DOGE is an initiative of the Executive Branch; specifically, an authorized agency with authorized officials carrying the plenary and absolute power of the Presidency.  The President is the Executive.  The Dept of Govt Efficiency, along with all of the other institutions and offices mentioned by Bartiromo, are subsidiaries within the Executive Branch.

This is the Executive Branch, a plenary power, reducing the size of the Executive Branch and eliminating waste within the Executive Branch.  There is no part of this effort that needs permission, authorization or approval from the Legislative Branch.  That entire line of thinking is structurally flawed.  WATCH:

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President Trump does not have to go to congress to do something entirely within the Executive Branch.

When I watch Ms Bartiromo frame these arguments on completely fraudulent constitutional premises’, I begin to question the motives of Ms Bartiromo.  There’s something else happening here with Bartiromo and her steering “congress, congress, congress” narrative.  I’m not wrong.

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