From @WSJopinion: Does anyone really believe that the answer to what ails us is more government spending or yet another government program? This should be an opportunity for President Trump and Republicans, writes @wjmcgurnhttps://t.co/cCWEaVEktr ...

It’s way past time for governments to rediscover budget discipline — and actually plan to do something about it (via @opinion) https://t.co/JGAwMCT9zA ...

Britain’s Conservative Party leader sees Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, as a “template” for slashing government spending. But Kemi Badenoch’s chainsaw blade is puny https://t.co/vLZs0vTcK5 ...

President Trump is set to meet today with both House and Senate Democrat and Republican leaders in the hopes of avoiding a government shutdown. Joining us right now is New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler. And Congressman, first of all, thank you for being with us this morning.Um I I'll ask you, >> what what do you think the odds are that we reach some sort of a settlement. We are u at this point just a day about 40 hours out from when you would actually see the government shut down. And to this poin ...

Quantum Computing - Quantum computing is considered a call option on the future of technology and computing, with increasing commercialization and advancements in material science, drug discovery, aerospace, and defense [2][3] - The US, China, and Europe are in a race in quantum computing, with increased capital expenditure (capex) in the space, exemplified by the collaboration between IBM and AMD [3] Market and Investment Strategy - Investors should monitor the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate cut path for potential market impact; any changes in timing or quantity of cuts could pull the market back [5] - Mega-cap tech stocks are already widely held in investor portfolios, and new themes like AI power and infrastructure, and modern warfare offer new investment opportunities [11][12][14][15] Earnings and Technology Trends - S&P earnings were up 10% year-over-year, and NASDAQ earnings were up over 30% year-over-year, with mega-caps leading the growth, driven by capex in areas like AI [8] - Nvidia is central to the AI trade, and its performance is expected to impact hyperscalers, cybersecurity, AI chips, data centers, and cloud computing; expectations include over 50% revenue growth and close to 50% EPS growth [8] Modern Warfare - Modern warfare, including drones and satellites, presents investment opportunities, supported by government spending, with the last aerospace and defense contract being approximately $850 billion [14][15]

International Relations & Diplomacy - Russia is downplaying the prospect of a face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Wimir Zalinski, suggesting thorough preparation is needed for any high-stakes bilateral talks [1][11] - The White House is considering arranging a trilateral meeting between Putin, Zalinsky, and Trump, potentially in Budapest [4] - Discussions are underway regarding security guarantees for Ukraine after the war, with the US potentially providing air support but not ground troops [5][6][13][14] - French President Emanuel Macron is pushing for Geneva as a meeting location, offering immunity for Putin due to the International Criminal Court arrest warrant [5] Military & Security - The British Ministry of Defense estimates it would take Russia four more years of fighting and cost nearly 2 million additional casualties to capture the remaining territories it illegally annexed in 2022 [6] - Russian strikes in Ukraine's northeastern region and Odessa injured at least 30 people and damaged port infrastructure [7] - Approximately 1,200 National Guard troops are being deployed to Washington DC from largely southern states [20] US Domestic Policy & Budget - A federal website tracking government spending is back online after a court order, following its removal by the Trump administration in March [24][25] - The White House and Congress are engaged in a budget fight, with potential for a government shutdown in September [26][28]

Government Spending & Taxation - Government spending is viewed as taxation [1] - Lowering employment and evolving a different mindset inside the government are happening [1] Economic Growth & Deficit - Getting growth going is the key to lowering the deficit [2]

Government Spending & Economy - Elon Musk suggests America is on a path to bankruptcy and government spending needs to be cut [1]

Government Spending & Taxation - Government spending tends to increase to match available tax revenue and even exceed it [1] - Government size is currently excessive [1] Economic Perspective - Milton Friedman's view on government spending and taxation is highlighted [1]

Government Finance - The federal budget deficit is $3 trillion [1] - Federal expenditures amount to $7 trillion [1] - Federal revenue totals $4 trillion [1]