Quick Hits - Volume CCLXXXVII

 - On Tuesday, President Joe Biden was prepared to tout the one-month anniversary of the signing of the "Inflation Reduction Act." Problem is, inflation didn't....uh.....reduce in the past month.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 0.1 percent in August on a seasonally adjusted basis after being unchanged in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 8.3 percent before seasonal adjustment.

Increases in the shelter, food, and medical care indexes were the largest of many contributors to the broad-based monthly all items increase. These increases were mostly offset by a 10.6-percent decline in the gasoline index. The food index continued to rise, increasing 0.8 percent over the month as the food at home index rose 0.7 percent. The energy index fell 5.0 percent over the month as the gasoline index declined, but the electricity and natural gas indexes increased.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.6 percent in August, a larger increase than in July. The indexes for shelter, medical care, household furnishings and operations, new vehicles, motor vehicle insurance, and education were among those that increased over the month. There were some indexes that declined in August, including those for airline fares, communication, and used cars and trucks.

Nevertheless, the White House still wanted to carry on with the celebratory tone by having their scheduled musical guest James Taylor croon away. 

A song referencing suicide in an event about the state of the American economy? Maybe the Biden White House decided to concede to the reality of  bad economic conditions after all.

- MyPillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell claimed Tuesday evening that the FBI seized his phone while he was sitting in a drive-thru at a Mankato, MN Hardee's. Lindell claims this was done as part of an "official criminal investigation of a suspected felony." 

While I will await official word from law enforcement officials on the nature of this executed warrant, I can't help but give my immediate attention to another matter: there are still Hardee's restaurants in Minnesota????

Now that you know we exist... you should really try our pillowy biscuits.

— Hardee’s (@Hardees) September 14, 2022

Well I'll be. Their lunch menu was a staple during my college years. 

- Pretty much anything Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) says or does these days sends progs into utter derangement. This latest stunt being no exception. 

Lawmakers in Massachusetts were tasked with caring for dozens of migrants Wednesday after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent two planes full of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, a ritzy island located in Dukes County.

On Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers voiced their criticism online after they were forced to act swiftly to provide them shelter, food, blankets and other necessities to the 50 migrants who now reside in their state.

Rep. Dylan Fernandes, a local lawmaker who represents Martha's Vineyard as well as Falmouth, Nantucket and Gosnold, said on social media that he was part of the logistical effort to welcome the migrants, which he claimed DeSantis sent "to gain cheap political points."

Perhaps. But refusing to enforce laws on the books and not assisting overrun border towns in Texas & Arizona in the name of "compassion" is also political theater. 

To the credit of some at Martha's Vineyard, they have provided more than adequate shelter and medical care to those who have arrived, but not in any of their homes. So why was there no offer to host a family in a personal residence? I'm gonna guess more than a few MV properties were displaying a "All are welcome here" sign. Why not live up to that mantra? 

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