Still The (Military) Base Case

Trump Admin Nears Possible Rescue Deal For Spirit Airlines As 14,000 Jobs At Risk The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is nearing a rescue deal for bankrupt Spirit Airlines that could include up to a $500 million loan in exchange for warrants that would give the federal government a potentially large equity stake. The WSJ noted that the Transportation and Commerce Departments are involved in talks to help save struggling Spirit, which faces the risk of imminent liquidation. *TRUMP ADMIN. NEARS ~$500M RESCUE DEAL FOR SPIRIT AIRLINES:...

Fearing Iranian Escalation In Red Sea, Saudis Push Trump To Call Off Hormuz Blockade Wary of Iranian escalation that shuts down Red Sea traffic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is asking the Trump administration to back off from its newly-implemented blockade of Iranian-linked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday evening. On Sunday, a senior advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that Iran has "large, untouched levers" to respond to such a blockade.  Perhaps ominously, Bab el-Mandeb translates to "Gate of Tears" (map via...

Most Americans Can't Afford New Homes Most Americans can’t afford a new home. A new analysis from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that 65% of U.S. households are priced out of newly built homes, based on current prices and mortgage rates. In some parts of the country, the situation is even more extreme. More than 80% of households can’t afford a new home, highlighting how widespread the affordability gap has become. This map, via Visual Capitalist's Dorosthy Neufeld, shows where Americans are being priced out and where barriers to homeownership are highest. Ranked:...