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On prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, skeptics are profiting from Musk's spotty track record on ambitious promises.
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Use options to play Meta, Microsoft and Apple says Evercore ISI
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Topic:Â PoliticsThe new Trump administration has done a dizzying list of extreme actions, insane cabinet appointments, executive orders and much more. The Democrats have been largely powerless to stop them, and do not appear to have even been trying very hard. Christian "reconstructionist" Russel Vought, architect of both Project 2025 and hidden plans, is running OMB, and Some fear a coup is in progress, and while it's not certain, the fear can't be easily dismissed.
What can be done? For Democrats, the time to act was last year, but they failed. Trump controls the White House, the Senate, the House and much of SCOTUS, a level not seen for many decades, though the margin is small. Most people are asking how can they resist, and as always, there is a great deal of outrage and statements of opposition.
There is a radically different strategy, one that will no doubt anger those feeling outrage, for it is frustrating, contains risk, and seems counterintuitive. It may also be the best plan.
It must be understood that Trump's main strategy is to create enemies, and unify his supporters around them. His main enemy is the left, or Democrats, but he has also specifically demonized immigrants, drag queens, trans people, abortion supporters and many others, even including China and allies like Mexico and Canada.
Trump works by pitching these enemies as the bogeyman, but he also enlists those enemies to help him. He is deliberately as provocative as he can be, in order to trigger outrage. If he can make his enemies lash out at his supporters, engender hate for him and
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There's no way to sugarcoat this: Small and midsize businesses should be scared to death about the consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act. Unless they provide goods and services to the green energy industry, the law's unforeseen consequences could increase their operating expenses in two ways. Here's what to expect — and how to prepare.
SEE MORE Audit-Proof Your Small Business
The Inflation Reduction Act is essentially a climate change law with some health care benefits. While the new legislation doesn't include any direct tax increases on small and midsize businesses, some of its provisions have the potential to raise costs for these companies significantly.
First Reason Why Cost of Business Could Be Going Up
For one, your chances of being audited may be going up. The new bill substantially expands the Internal Revenue Service's budget: More than half of the $80 billion increase in the IRS budget over 10 years will be used to beef up enforcement through new technology and new hires. That means more audits for companies that are the least able to financially manage them. I worry for businesses that gross $5 million or less since they usually don't have excess funds to pay a lawyer $50,000 to fight the IRS if their matter proceeds to court.
In a letter to the Senate, the agency's commissioner said, "These resources are absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans." Even so, with the hire of new auditors, it's likely that people with little or
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