by Daniel Brouse June 1, 2025 On May 30, 2025, Donald Trump announced that he would raise tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. The announcement took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—ironically, at the headquarters of U.S. Steel, a company now under foreign ownership after being acquired by Japan-based Nippon Steel. Despite Trump’s […]
Category Archives: Business
Trump’s Steel Tariff Déjà Vu: Doubling Down on Economic Damage
Federal Court Rebukes Trump’s Tariff Plan as an “Unprecedented” Executive Overreach
by Daniel Brouse May 29, 2025 In a landmark decision, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of International Trade has struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping 2025 tariffs, ruling that he unilaterally overstepped his authority by imposing blanket tariffs on all imported goods under a disputed claim of national security. The court called the […]
Climate Risk: The Sixth ‘C’ Transforming Credit and Mortgage Markets
The First Street Foundation’s report, “Climate, the Sixth ‘C’ of Credit,” introduces climate risk as a critical factor in credit assessments, alongside the traditional five Cs: character, capacity, capital, conditions, and collateral. This addition reflects the growing impact of climate-related events on mortgage markets and financial stability. Key Findings 1. Climate Risk as a Credit […]
When AI Attacks Itself: The Strange New World of Automated Copyright Warfare
by Daniel Brouse May 25, 2025 In our last R&D and A&R deep dive, “AI, Copyrights, and the Music Industry: A Glimpse into the Future of Intellectual Property,” we explored the growing legal and ethical complexities facing artists who use artificial intelligence in their creative workflows. But as complicated as things were then, the latest […]
Market Volatility Intensifies as Bond Market Sends Clear Warning
by Daniel Brouse May 21, 2025 As anticipated, the stock market is experiencing extreme volatility. This is precisely why I recommended dramatically reducing exposure to equities. The emotional and financial toll of riding this rollercoaster isn’t just unsettling—it’s unsustainable over the long run. Historically, chasing equity rallies in an unstable environment is a losing strategy. […]
AI, Copyrights, and the Music Industry: A Glimpse into the Future of Intellectual Property
I recently encountered a fascinating twist in the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and intellectual property. After releasing several thousand AI-generated songs via an international distributor to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and others, I was notified that one of my tracks was being held up. The reason? The system had flagged the release […]
Moody’s Downgrade Ends Century-Long AAA Credit Rating for the United States
by Daniel Brouse May 16, 2025 The United States has just lost its last perfect credit rating, a significant downgrade that could have serious implications for financial markets and the broader economy. On Friday, Moody’s Ratings downgraded U.S. government debt, stripping the country of its long-held AAA rating. This move marks the end of more […]
China Quietly Retreats from U.S. Debt Market Amid Trade War Volatility
by Daniel Brouse May 14, 2025 Cash flows and foreign treasury holdings in and out of the United States have grown increasingly volatile under the Trump administration’s ongoing trade war. One of the most consequential—and largely underreported—developments is China’s quiet withdrawal from the U.S. Treasury market. Unlike an overt selloff that would signal immediate economic […]
Tariffs on Trial: Court Case Could Rein in Executive Trade Powers and Stabilize U.S. Economy
by Daniel Brouse May 13, 2025 If the Trump-era tariffs are struck down by the courts, the United States could see a return to more stable and predictable economic conditions. Such a ruling would likely reduce inflationary pressures, ease supply chain disruptions, and reopen channels of global trade—fostering stronger international partnerships and lowering costs for […]
Ignore the Noise: The Bond Market Is Sounding the Alarm
by Daniel Brouse May 13, 2025 A couple of months ago, I suggested that those concerned about the future of the economy should focus less on the stock market and more on the bond market. Since then, the divergence between financial market optimism and economic reality has only widened. The stock market, increasingly detached from […]