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Michael Keegan

@thestratcommsguy.bsky.social
384 followers 343 following 72 posts

Pro-democracy strategic communicator, purveyor of fact and truth based communications. Founder & CEO of Public Engagement Strategies. Author of And The Interesting Thing Is: michaeljkeegan.substack.com

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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Nasdaq 100 contracts slumped 2.1% amid a premarket selloff. S&P 500 futures dropped 1.7%. West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 10% to more than $110 a barrel. European diesel futures hit $200 a barrel. That primetime address was a real home run boss www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Stocks Tumble as Souring War Outlook Lifts Oil: Markets Wrap
Stocks and bonds fell as oil surged anew, with President Donald Trump dashing optimism that the war in the Middle East is nearing a swift resolution and that disruptions to energy flows will ease.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Details, details.
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Reposted by Michael Keegan
Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
NEW: 24 state attorneys general statement ahead of Supreme Court arguments on Trump birthright citizenship order: "We're optimistic the Supreme Court will agree with every judge to consider this exec. order on the merits and hold that it violates this fundamental constitutional right"
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Only missed by $39 trillion!
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Roughly two-thirds of Americans say Trump’s policies have worsened economic conditions in the US, up 10 points since January. Just 27% say they approve of Trump’s handling of inflation, down from 44% one year ago
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
The president’s approval rating for handling the economy has fallen to a new low of 31%—down 8 points since January and 14 points among Republicans—reflecting growing pessimism among Americans over the issue they consistently describe as the most important www.cnn.com/2026/04/01/p...
cnn.com
CNN Poll: Trump’s approval rating on the economy hits a new low | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump’s approval rating for handling the economy has fallen to a new career low of 31%, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, reflecting growing pessimism among Americans ove...
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
“Tariffs quietly chip away at the economic freedoms that American consumers have, for so long, taken for granted: to choose what they want to buy and to get good value for their money, unencumbered by state favoritism about where their goods come from.”
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
I’m sure Sarah will find a way to turn this into some kind of win and proof of DJT’s brilliance…in addition to other cherry picked stats 🙄
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
A chaotic rollout of tariffs is starting to filter through to price tags on store shelves. An immigration crackdown is beginning to weigh on jobs growth. Taken together, the impact of Trump’s whirlwind 6 months back in office is showing up in the economy www.wsj.com/economy/trum...
wsj.com
Trump Effect Starts to Show Up in Economy
New data reflect that the president’s tariff and immigration policies are boosting inflation and weighing on jobs
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
“While a few participants noted that tariffs would lead to a one-time increase in prices and would not affect longer-term inflation expectations, most participants noted the risk that tariffs could have more persistent effects on inflation." www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Fed Minutes Show Policymakers Split on How Tariffs Might Impact Inflation
The emerging divide among Federal Reserve officials over the outlook for interest rates is being driven largely by differing expectations for how tariffs might affect inflation, a record of policymake...
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Across U.S. distribution networks, inside retail and manufacturing warehouses, there's a widespread move to adjust prices higher due to tariffs. Depending on the product, price increases range from 8%-15%
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has told Senate Republicans to expect to see the legislative text of the budget reconciliation package tonight and then to vote at noon Saturday to begin debate on President Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill" thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
Two weeks, huh? www.reuters.com/world/middle...
reuters.com
Iran, Israel launch new attacks after Tehran rules out nuclear talks
Iran and Israel exchanged fresh attacks early on Saturday, a day after Tehran said it would not negotiate over its nuclear programme while under threat and Europe tried to keep peace talks alive.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Today's "And the Interesting Thing is," covering the top stories of the day, is posted and live. Please consider giving it a read and subscribing open.substack.com/pub/michaelj...
open.substack.com
And the Interesting Thing is on June 18
President Calls for Iran’s “Unconditional Surrender,” Weighs Joining Israel and in Military Strikes
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Retail sales in May declined 0.9%, higher than the projected 0.6% drop. The decline followed a 0.1% loss in April and came at a time of unease over tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Sales rose 3.3% from a year ago cnb.cx/4l8DkdV
cnb.cx
Retail sales fell 0.9% in May, worse than expected as consumers pulled back
Consumers spending pulled back sharply, weighed by declining gas sales and looming unease over where the economy is headed.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
“His actions were illegal — both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
“of course, the president is limited in his authority, that’s the difference between the president and King George. We live in response to a monarchy; line drawing is important because it establishes a system of process.” I don’t think he’s ruling for the government www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
latimes.com
'We live in response to a monarchy': Judge appears critical of deployment of National Guard in L.A.
California officials argue that President Trump exceeded his authority by federalizing the National Guard without the consent of Gov. Gavin Newsom and by deploying Marines on American soil.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
These guys and slavery
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
CBO: "One Big Beautiful Bill" would make the wealthiest Americans $12,000 richer each year, while reducing disposable income of the nation’s poorest by $1,600 www.cbo.gov/system/files...
cbo.gov
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
In a newly-issued executive order, the president is moving to block nearly all foreign students from entering the country to attend Harvard, and empowers the Secretary of State to begin revoking visas of foreign students. The president’s sure been busy tonight apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com
Trump moves to block US entry for foreign students planning to study at Harvard University
President Donald Trump is moving to block nearly all foreign students from entering the country to attend Harvard University, his latest attempt to choke the Ivy League school from an international pi...
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
20,000 undocumented students in Texas are no longer eligible for in-state tuition after the state agreed with the federal government's demand to stop the practice. A move that will cost the state $460 million a year www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/t...
texastribune.org
Texas agrees with feds to end in-state tuition for undocumented students
Almost 20,000 undocumented college students in Texas will likely lose in-state tuition after this sudden policy reversal.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
The courage from these unnamed Republicans, once he’s left government and pledged to dial back his political contributions, is so flaccid. They knew his claimed “DOGE” savings, and promises to cut trillions was BS, but now they speak up. Classic www.axios.com/2025/06/04/e...
axios.com
"He's a complete joke": GOP rage with Musk spills out privately after break with Trump
"Nobody really wanted him here. We couldn't wait to get rid of him," said one House Republican.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
The president has ordered an investigation into former President Biden’s use of an autopen to sign pardons and other documents. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee Chair has ordered a similar “oversight” hearing. Good use of time and investigative resources apnews.com/article/joe-...
apnews.com
Trump orders investigation of Biden’s use of an autopen, claiming White House cover-up
President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to investigate former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to sign pardons and other documents.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
Delaying and redacting a report with inconvenient data, undercutting your messaging, is not a messang issue. The correct word for this is “lying.” www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
politico.com
Trump officials delayed farm trade report over deficit forecast
Administration officials blocked publication of written analysis that normally accompanies the report because they disliked what it said about the deficit.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
The Trump administration appears to be using a new tactic to ramp up deportations. Inside immigration court, government lawyers are terminating cases. Then, when people step outside, they are arrested by ICE agents and headed for immediate deportation nbcwashington.app.link/KchJbdWBVTb
nbcwashington.app.link
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
‪The CBO also projects that an additional 10.9 million Americans would lose their health coverage by 2034‬
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
A revised CBO estimate of the president’s tax and spending bill finds the bill will add $2.42 trillion—a $3.67 trillion decrease in expected revenues and a $1.25 trillion decline in spending—over the next decade apnews.com/live/donald-...
apnews.com
Live updates: 10.9 million more people projected to lose insurance in 2034 from GOP tax bill cuts
President Donald Trump has promised to hike nearly all of his tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum to a punishing 50% on Wednesday, a move that would hammer businesses from automakers to home builder...
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
“Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB…” Remember when the GOP would twist words to suggest that Dems hadn’t read bills and called for 72 hours to read and review bill before floor votes? Yeah, me too thehill.com/policy/techn...
thehill.com
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
US growth will slow particularly sharply, sliding from 2.8% last year to just 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026, while higher inflation will prevent the Fed from cutting rates this year. The latest assessment represents a downgrade to OECD’s March forecast, which preceded April 2 tariff announcements
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
OECD: The global economy is heading into its weakest growth spell since Covid-19 as Trump’s trade war saps momentum in leading economies. Global growth is expected to be 2.9% in 2025 and 2026—growth had exceeded 3% every year since 2020, when output plunged because of the pandemic on.ft.com/3SAJIhY
on.ft.com
Global economy set for weakest growth since Covid, OECD warns
Organisation slashes forecasts and says US will be hit particularly hard
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
The EU is preparing for another round of trade talks with the US and “warned that it may speed up retaliatory measures if the president follows through on his tariff threats, the latest of which includes a 50% levy on steel and aluminum imports” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
EU Warns It Could Accelerate Retaliatory Tariffs Over US Duties
The European Union is preparing for another round of trade talks with the US and warned that it may speed up retaliatory measures if President Donald Trump follows through on his tariff threats, the l...
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Reposted by Michael Keegan
The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 02/06/2025
Update: A man who used a flamethrower to attack a group in Boulder, Colo., that was advocating for the release of hostages being held by Hamas has been charged with first-degree murder on.wsj.com/3Z7WE2w
on.wsj.com
Suspect in Colorado Flamethrower Attack Charged With Murder
The FBI is investigating it as an act of terror against a group advocating for the release of hostages in Gaza.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
“It hurts the people raising money. That includes small businesses, that includes loans to small businesses, includes high yield debt, includes leveraged lending, includes real estate loans. That's why you should worry about volatility in the bond market." www.reuters.com/business/fin...
reuters.com
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon tells Fox Business US debt could cause bond turmoil
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said on Monday that the rising U.S. national debt is a "big deal" that could create a "tough time" for the bond market that causes spreads to widen, he told Fox Business’ "Mornings with Maria" program.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
The Penn Wharton Budget Model found that the House-passed big beautiful bill “would reduce after-tax income by $1,500 for families earning less than $22,000 per year, and boost income by $104,000 for those earning more than $5.2 million.” www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
reuters.com
Trump tax bill poses limited benefits, higher costs for lower-income Americans
U.S. President Donald Trump's signature tax break on tips promises relatively few upsides for low-income Americans, who face a net loss of income under his massive tax and spending bill in Congress, analysts say.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
After announcing the Apple tariffs on social media, Trump told reporters that the new levy could start “on, I guess, the end of June”, and that it would also apply to “Samsung and anybody else that makes that product. Otherwise it wouldn’t be fair.”
on.ft.com
Donald Trump threatens Apple and Samsung with 25% tariff on devices
US president says new levy on iPhones and other handsets could apply from the end of June
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Trump's image of dead 'white farmers' came from Reuters footage in Congo, not South Africa. Brilliant! www.reuters.com/world/africa...
reuters.com
reuters.com
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Reposted by Michael Keegan
Reuters @reuters.com · 23/05/2025
Dollar set to snap 4-week winning streak on US fiscal health worries reut.rs/3YWviMK
reut.rs
Dollar set to snap 4-week winning streak on US fiscal health worries
The U.S. dollar was soft on Friday, poised to make its first weekly drop in five weeks against the euro and the yen as worries over the United States' worsening fiscal health sent investors scurrying for safe havens.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
“So, I get a phone call and it's about Social Security. And I'm really, I swear I'm not looking for a job. And I'm like, ‘Well, what am I going to do?' So, I'm Googling Social Security. You know, one of my great skills, I'm one of the great Googlers on the East Coast." abcnews.go.com/US/new-head-...
abcnews.go.com
New head of Social Security, hired from Wall Street, tells staff he had to Google the job when he was offered it
Newly sworn-in Social Security chief Frank Bisignano, who previously was a Wall Street executive, told staffers he had to Google the SSA job when it was offered to him.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
The court deadlocked 4-4 on the case, due to the recusal of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, thereby affirming an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that found it unconstitutional to require the state to fund religious education through its public charter program www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
wsj.com
Supreme Court Declines to Allow State Funding for Religious Charter Schools
The 4-4 decision delivers an unexpected setback to social conservatives.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
When Kristi Noem isn’t donning various costumes to highlight how the Trump administration is deporting people indiscriminately, the Homeland Security secretary is keeping busy by ordering rampant lie-detector tests of her own staffers to root out leakers apple.news/AWzlwHm0iSai...
apple.news
Kristi Noem Needs a Mirror, Not DHS Staff Polygraphs — New York Magazine
The secretary is aggressively hunting for leakers within DHS, though the top source of embarrassing Kristi Noem stories is … Kristi Noem.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Just another reminder that the president is not a middle schooler, but rather a 78-year old man apple.news/AMSQN7pQ7Th2...
apple.news
Trump posts altered video of himself hitting Bruce Springsteen with a golf ball in ongoing feud — NBC News
The video comes after Springsteen made comments during a U.K. concert condemning the president's actions domestically and internationally.
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Meanwhile, OMB writes in a memo endorsing the bill: “The House of Representatives should immediately pass this bill to show the American people that they are serious about ‘promises made, promises kept'...Failure to do so would be the “ultimate betrayal"
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is headed to the White House for a meeting with the president and members of the House Freedom Caucus. “We’re going to have a discussion at the White House about...we’re trying to get the bill in its best possible form" www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
Today's "And the Interesting Thing" has been published and is now available. Please consider giving it a read and subscribing open.substack.com/pub/michaelj...
open.substack.com
And the Interesting Thing is For May 21
House Rules Committee Works Through the Night to Advance "Big Beautiful Bill"
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
The president’s birthday parade, errr the parade celebrating the US Army’s 250th anniversary, could cost anywhere from $25 million to $45 million. DOGE could not be reached for comment nbcwashington.app.link/S7HTjcLByTb
nbcwashington.app.link
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
For those of you playing along at home, habeas corpus is not the president's "constitutional right" to deport people. But hey, at least she knew that Congress is the Article 1 branch of government, so that's good news. More time hitting the books and less time staging photo ops in front of prisons
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
This is ridiculous. Converting the 13-yeard old plane into a fully operational Air Force One could take several years and cost over $1 billion. It likely won't be ready before he leaves office, and after the Boeing planes are delivered. Plus, it's utterly corrupt www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
wsj.com
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
The president is also wrong when he talks about land “being stolen” There are no documented cases of land being seized arbitrarily from white farmers. Why? Because that’s not what the law calls for/spells out. The president has latched onto a conspiracy theory being driven why white nationalists
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
“If they can be charged, we’ll charge them…But if they can’t be charged, we will name them. And we will name them, and in a culture that respects shame, they should be people that are ashamed.” This is shameful www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/u...
nytimes.com
If Justice Dept. Can’t Prosecute Trump’s Foes, It Will ‘Shame’ Them, Official Says
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Michael Keegan @thestratcommsguy.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
The FDA will limit access to Covid vaccines to people 65 years of age and older and others who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill if they are infected. This is a shockingly stupid, but not at all surprising decision! There will be needless deaths as a result www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/f...
statnews.com
FDA will limit Covid vaccines to people over 65 or at high risk of serious illness, leaders say
The FDA announced it will limit access to Covid-19 vaccines going forward to people 65 and older and others at high risk of serious illness
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