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Patrick W. Watson

@patrickww.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.7K following 1.1K posts

Journalist interested in economics, climate change, technology, labor. Hill Country Texan. @PatrickW at the X place but trying to escape. Once a soldier.

PostsRepliesMedia
Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
It’s the 21st of September. Do you remember? youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk?...
youtu.be
Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Official HD Video)
YouTube video by EarthWindandFireVEVO
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Karl Rove is shocked, shocked to learn racism exists in the party led by Donald Trump.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Some personal news...This week my life changed forever when I lost my wife, my soul mate and my best friend Grace. She was diagnosed with cancer in April. She fought for four months, enduring incredible pain with a smile. 1/
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The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Some policies Trump has pursued are so socialist that they verge on things Stalin might have approved of. He is consolidating the means of production to increase prices as well as his grip on the economy. Trump is creating a cartel. And he's the boss. www.editorialboard.com/whos-the-rea...
editorialboard.com
Who's the real communist?
In fact, Trump is creating a cartel and he's the boss.
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The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
@patrickww.bsky.social wrote this all the way back in 2020. www.mauldineconomics.com/connecting-t...
mauldineconomics.com
Socialism Is Coming but Not the Way You Think
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase (JPM), which just marked the most profitable year any US bank has ever had, spoke on CNBC from Davos last week.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Translation: Stop griping, people. Inflation is your friend.
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The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
As @patrickww.bsky.social once told me: "Iran has to be either defeated or convinced to stop threatening ships. That’s a very high standard because ships don’t sail without insurance, and insurers don’t write coverage in active war zones."
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Trump has never seen the presidency as a job or a responsibility. He thinks it is a prize he won and can use to please himself.
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Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
My message to Americans and to US servicemembers: Being the "good guys" isn't a legacy you inherit. It's a legacy you have to live up to.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
A stupid idea for many reasons, not least of which is that it keeps oil prices high while giving Iran a break to rebuild its depleted drone supply.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
“Fire the women first” is exactly what we should’ve expected.
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Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
A big touch-the-stove problem is that a lot of people came to believe that assholery is the key to success, but also see the appeal of acting like an asshole as an end in itself and vicariously enjoy seeing it at the highest levels. I'm not sure if seeing the biggest asshole fail can fix that.
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 04/04/2026
As Jamelle says, this is really good. So much of global politics these days is gender -- it's obvious to the naked eye but, as this author says, it's vaguely embarrassing to political scientists & other analysts. It seems silly & fuzzy. And it is! But it's so real.
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@ml8ml8 @ml8ml8.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Trump is still desperate for some form of escalation dominance, and to Trump that's more psychological than military. Congress or the cabinet needs to remove Trump from power before he starts floating the idea of nukes.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
I hope the US pilot is rescued soon. The larger point here is that the US still doesn’t have air superiority over Iran. This makes any ground operation even riskier.
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The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
I'm editing an interview with the amazing @patrickww.bsky.social, whose work you should get to know. He tells me something so obvious but so insightful. "Insurers don’t write coverage in active war zones." Trump apparently believes an invasion of Iran is gonna solve his problems. It won't.
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The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
This is my interview with @patrickww.bsky.social.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Great story with some quotes from me.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
A great mystery of our time. Every thinking person, even MAGA people, knows Trump routinely lies and can't be trusted to keep his word. Yet they keep making deals with him. This is stupid. Anyone who trusts Trump deserves whatever happens to them.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
I talk to Republican business people all the time. They fully understand that tariffs are a giant tax increase. But they won't say it out loud because a) they fear Trump retribution or b) they don't want to anger MAGA peers/customers.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
This trend has yet to reach the Texas Longhorns at DKR. Perhaps because we have no empty sections in which shirtless fans can assemble.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
If your movement needs more than 1 second to decide whether it embraces an overt racist, maybe something is wrong with your movement.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
NYT framing of this story is terrible, completely ignoring that it is Trump's Republicans causing the increase. The headline and image seem more designed to deflect blame onto Obama.
nytimes.com
Obamacare Prices Become Public, Highlighting Big Increases
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
The Reagan radio address on free trade which Ontario used in a TV commercial that so upset Trump is interesting for another reason: A president spoke clearly and coherently about public affairs and didn't make it all about himself. I suspect that's what really annoyed Trump.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Another good reason Russians should keep their windows closed. Was it a random apartment or was someone targeted?
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
When AI execs talk, are they describing reality or trying to please the president? No one knows. And that's a problem. www.mauldineconomics.com/connecting-t...
mauldineconomics.com
AI and Hot Mics
AI is changing the way business leaders talk. Investors should change the way they think.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
It keeps backfiring because their alternative plan is "let the sick people suffer and die."
wapo.st
Why Republicans’ attempts to kill Obamacare keep backfiring
The White House and some Republicans are growing nervous that Democrats’ demand to boost Obamacare as part of a government funding bill has salience with voters.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
I spent 2 years commanding a mixed-gender company. My observation: Soldiers are uncannily good at knowing who they can rely on in combat, and it has almost nothing to do physical fitness or personal appearance.
axios.com
Female vets fire back at Hegseth over claims of lowered military standards
Federal law already prohibits gender-based standards for specific roles.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Wait, I was told the US would get out of Middle East quagmires and make other countries defend themselves.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
"Twenty-first-century authoritarianism keeps the public content with abundant calories and dazzling entertainment. Its dominant emotions aren’t euphoria and rage, but indifference and cynicism."
theatlantic.com
America’s Zombie Democracy
Its trappings remain, but authoritarianism and AI are hollowing out our humanity.
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Dare Obasanjo @carnage4life.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
“It's fair to say that 80% of the world's problems involve old men hanging on who are afraid of death and insignificance, and they won't let go. “ - Barack Obama — The root of a lot of our current problems are billionaires and politicians who won at life but then refused to sail off into the sunset.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Wait, I was told tariff policy was stabilizing and the Fed should look through its effects.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
It’s Sept 21. Do you remember?
youtu.be
Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Official Audio)
YouTube video by EarthWindandFireVEVO
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Good look to Senate Democrats, but I'm pretty sure GOP will kill the filibuster if necessary to give Trump what he wants. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Live Updates: Shutdown Looms as Bill to Extend Funding Reaches Senate
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Trump won't change any of his policies unless Republicans begin *openly* opposing them. No sign of that yet, only some quiet grumbling. And it's usually hedged with things like "Harris would be been even worse."
noahpinion.blog
America is getting the economy we voted for
The beatings will continue until someone comes in and fudges the data.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Because the worst looks increasingly likely.
epsilontheory.com
So What, Now What?
I think that I see what IS when it comes to the current gerrymandering efforts in Texas and in California. I’d like to ask readers
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
👇👇👇
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Here’s a question: *Why* is Trump so hell bent on making the fed cut rates? I don’t believe for a minute he cares about balancing the budget or what people pay for mortgages. Everything we know about him says it’s probably something far more selfish. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Trump Team Weighing Options to Extend Influence to Fed Banks
The Trump administration is reviewing options for exerting more influence over the Federal Reserve’s 12 regional banks that would potentially extend its reach beyond personnel appointments in Washingt...
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Michael Derby @michaelsderby.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
If you like inflation and high borrowing costs, you like what Trump is doing to the Fed.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
If the bond market doesn’t have a major freak out tomorrow, Trump will conclude he can fire others, too. And, then, by next spring, he will have full control of the FOMC and get those zero interest rates he wants.
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Nacmtrader17 @nacmtrader17.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
these aren't jokes or distractions i dont understand why more ppl aren't more concerned about this.. he has a sec of def and now with ICE his own personal army
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Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 25/08/2025
"I’ve learned in my military career that disagreement, when voiced respectfully and appropriately, is not disrespect. In fact, it is a deeper form of respect." But Donald Trump is sending a different, dangerous signal: "Disagreement is not tolerated." www.thebulwark.com/p/donald-tru...
thebulwark.com
Donald Trump, Gen. Kruse, and the Perils of Yes Men
There are good reasons the best leaders don’t surround themselves with sycophants.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
With Trump now saying he wants more "deals" like Intel, this piece I wrote in 2020 sounds hauntingly accurate. www.mauldineconomics.com/connecting-t...
mauldineconomics.com
Socialism Is Coming but Not the Way You Think
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase (JPM), which just marked the most profitable year any US bank has ever had, spoke on CNBC from Davos last week.
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Adam Keiper @adamkeiper.com · 20/08/2025
NEW: Remember the rich dilettante who ignored all warnings and took a stupidly designed sub down to see the 'Titanic,' but the sub imploded and he and his passengers instantly died? The U.S. economy under Trump is starting to resemble that story... www.thebulwark.com/p/oceangate-...
thebulwark.com
OceanGate and the Trump Economy
Rich idiot breaks all the rules. Creates a death trap. And everyone hears the popping noises signaling that it’s all about to implode.
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Steve Craven @kekepana.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
“Trust me, I’ll guarantee your country’s security” says the man who cannot be trusted.
open.substack.com
Word & Phrases We Could Do Without
A ‘guarantee’ from Trump?!
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
"An economy based on individual whim is not one where businesses can plan for the future."
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 19/08/2025
The word "enemy" has a specific meaning in international relations. Other presidents used it rarely and cautiously.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
The President of the United States demands that a sovereign nation surrender part of its territory to its invading neighbor, simply because the neighbor is bigger and wants that territory.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 17/08/2025
Not the most important thing here, but worth noting… The other work these federal law enforcement and national guard people in DC *would* be doing is just… not getting done.
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Patrick W. Watson @patrickww.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
All Trump “guarantees” are worthless. Fortunately Zelensky knows this.
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