Quick Hits: Volume CXLIX

- A certain daytime TV gal was on a whirlwind media tour this past week in commemoration of her 20-year anniversary of "coming out." Inevitably, she was asked about the President of the United States.

Ellen DeGeneres says she doesn’t want President Trump on her talk show because “he’s against everything that I stand for.”

“I’m not going to change his mind,” the daytime TV host told Matt Lauer in an interview on “Today” that aired Friday.

The Emmy winner — who has played host to several political figures on her show over the years, including former first lady Michelle Obama, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — added, “We need to look at someone else who looks different than us and believes in something that we don’t believe in and still accept them, and still let them have their rights.”

Freedom of association is a wonderful thing, isn't it? I mean, isn't it awesome to live in a country where the government cannot coerce someone into unwanted interactions? Thanks for standing on principle, Ellen!


- The headline for this story definitely stood out.

Popeyes manager arrested for allegedly dipping chicken in cocaine based flour to increase business sales.

I'm certainly no expert but isn't cocaine rather pricey? I ask because how much more chicken would this Popeyes have to sell to justify the high costs associated with making coke-laced batches?


- In the last unemployment report before the 2012 presidential election, it was reported that September 2012's rate dropped to 7.8%. That was significant because it had marked the first time in several months it had dipped below 8%. Naturally the Obama administration touted this milestone as one of the reasons the President deserved reelection, which of course he received shortly thereafter.

One of the more frustrating aspects of the eight years of economic reporting under Obama is the U-6 unemployment rate was rarely (if ever) promoted. This particular measurable factors in part time workers who desire to work full-time but are unable to do so, those who are working in jobs for which they are well overqualified but desire opportunities within their field of expertise, etc. But since the mainstream media stooped to touch the hem of Obama's garment had a largely favorable view of Obama, reporting such stats would have reflected poorly on his administration's economic record since the U6 was consistently in the double digits.

Ah, but I have great news, folks! After being conspicuously absent for 8+ years, the U6 is back y'all!!

The official unemployment rate is defined as "total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force," but doesn't include a number of employment situations in which workers may find themselves. The U-6 rate is defined as all unemployed, plus "persons marginally attached to the workforce, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the labor force."

In other words: the unemployed, the underemployed and the discouraged.

Welcome back, U6!! I hope your recovery is matched by economic resurrections over the next several years.

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