Print the page
Increase font size

Posted November 25, 2019

Byron King

By Byron King

Loud and Clear

Just how opaque is the business of campaign financing? Corporations may make donations to campaigns under other names, says our first contributor.

And another reader pegs Amazon for a deep-pocketed company making campaign donations.

Speaking to that -- about three weeks ago -- Amazon donated $1.5 million to a Seattle-based Super Pac that supports seven candidates for the citys District Council.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal had this to say about the large donation: "This most recent influx of money from Amazon is callously disrespectful to the residents of our city.

It says loud and clear that some people are afraid of letting real democracy work for the people. (emphasis added)

Do you agree or disagree with the Congresswoman? Has the wild world of bankrolling campaigns destroyed democracy in the U.S.?

Your Rundown for Monday, November 25, 2019:

Are Ubers Days Numbered?

Uber was stripped of its license to operate in London on Monday by the citys transport regulator, which cited a pattern of failures that placed passenger safety and security at risk, CNBC reports.

Uber has 21 days to appeal the decision. The thing is, the companys already operating in the city under two appeals to regulator Transport for London (Tfl).

Tfl had first suspended Ubers license in 2017, flagging concerns with the companys approach to safety, CNBC reports.

Following that initial move, Uber had twice been granted a temporary license to continue operating in the city the first, a 15-month reprieve issued by a judge last year, and the second, a two-month permit granted by TfL in September.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says: We understand were held to a high bar, as we should be. But this TfL decision is just wrong. Over the last 2 years we have fundamentally changed how we operate in London. We have come very far and we will keep going, for the millions of drivers and riders who rely on us.

According to the company, there are 45,000 Uber drivers in the city. And itll be business as usual for them today as the company appeals. But for how much longer?

Which leads to how much longer can Uber sustain its unprofitable business model? (Thats right -- the companys notoriously unprofitable.)

If Ubers massive stock sell-offs mean anything, Ubers days are numbered. Were talking about co-founder Travis Kalanick selling half his Uber shares -- for $1.5 billion -- after the stocks lockup period ended Nov. 6.

Just another stop on Ubers road to ruin?

Market Rundown for Mon. Nov. 25, 2019

S&P 500 futures are up 17 points to 3,127.

Oils lost 28 cents per barrel to $57.30.

Gold is down $5.60 to $1,458 per ounce.

Bitcoins up 2% to $7,165.35.

Have a good day. Well talk tomorrow.

For the Rundown,

Aaron Gentzler

Aaron Gentzler

162,000 Jobs, Give or Take

162,000 Jobs, Give or Take

Posted September 07, 2026

By Matt Insley

America added 162,000 jobs in August. Jim Rickards looks beyond the headline to what your labor is really worth and what AI means for the future of work.
Buck Sexton: The DSA Has a Pentagon Problem

Buck Sexton: The DSA Has a Pentagon Problem

Posted September 04, 2026

By Matt Insley

Buck Sexton warns that America’s affordability crisis is creating an opening for socialism — just as global threats are forcing Washington to confront the true cost of national defense.
When Jim Rickards Spotted a Whale

When Jim Rickards Spotted a Whale

Posted September 02, 2026

By Matt Insley

France brought 129 tonnes of gold home — without shipping a single bar. It’s one more sign central banks are taking gold very seriously.
The Gates Family Knows How to “Rule”

The Gates Family Knows How to “Rule”

Posted August 31, 2026

By Matt Insley

A Stanford seminar, Phoebe Gates’ controversial startup and Bill Gates’ political spending raise a bigger question about billionaires, socialism and power in America.
The Fine Print Favors Meta

The Fine Print Favors Meta

Posted August 28, 2026

By Matt Insley

Meta agreed to pay billions to settle a landmark case over teen social media use. But the fine print could turn a costly legal settlement into a surprising competitive advantage.
The CIA’s Meeting In Moscow

The CIA’s Meeting In Moscow

Posted August 26, 2026

By Matt Insley

Can Washington use Russia’s influence over Iran to ease tensions, reopen Hormuz and bring down oil prices?