Christmas Cookies 🍪!

More jobs but more problems.

The latest jobs report for the month of November. In a country of 331 million, 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, the jobs are spread across and some netted them while others lost them.

Job creation showed little signs of a let-up in November, as payrolls grew even faster than expected and the unemployment rate fell despite signs of a weakening economy.

Nonfarm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 199,000 for the month, slightly better than the 190,000 Dow Jones estimate and ahead of the October gain of 150,000, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The unemployment rate declined to 3.7%, compared to the forecast for 3.9%, as the labor force participation rate edged higher to 62.8%. A more encompassing unemployment rate that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time positions for economic reasons fell to 7%, a decline of 0.2 percentage point.

The department’s survey of households, used to calculate the unemployment rate, showed much more robust job growth of 747,000 and an addition of 532,000 workers to the labor force.

Average hourly earnings, a key inflation indicator, increased by 0.4% for the month and 4% from a year ago. The monthly increase was slightly ahead of the 0.3% estimate, but the yearly rate was in line.

Markets showed mixed reaction to the report, with stock market futures modestly negative while Treasury yields surged.

“What we wanted was a strong but moderating labor market, and that’s what we saw in the November report,” said Robert Frick, corporate economist with Navy Federal Credit Union, noting “healthy job growth, lower unemployment, and decent wage increases. All this points to the labor market reaching a natural equilibrium around 150,000 jobs next year, which is plenty to continue the expansion, and not enough to trigger a Fed rate hike.”

Health care was the biggest growth industry, adding 77,000. Other big gainers included government (49,000), manufacturing (28,000) and leisure and hospitality (40,000).

Heading into the holiday season, retail lost 38,000 jobs, half of which came from department stores. Transportation and warehousing also showed a decline of 5,000.

Duration of unemployment fell sharply, dropping to an average 19.4 weeks, the lowest level since February.

The report comes at a critical time for the U.S. economy.

Though growth defied widespread expectations for a recession this year, most economists expect a sharp slowdown in the fourth quarter and tepid gains in 2024.

Mike Johnson is experiencing headaches.

Federal Reserve officials are watching the jobs numbers closely as they continue to try to bring down inflation that had been running at a four-decade high but has shown signs lately of easing.

Futures markets pricing strongly points to the Fed halting its rate-hiking campaign and beginning to cut next year, though central bank officials have been more circumspect about what lies ahead. Pricing had been pointing to the first cut happening in March, though that swung following the jobs report, pushing a higher probability for the first expected cut now to May.

The Fed will hold its two-day policy meeting next week, and investors will be looking for clues about how officials view the economy.

Policymakers have been looking to bring the economy in for a soft landing that likely would feature modest growth, a sustainable pace of wage increases and inflation at least progressing back to the Fed’s 2% inflation target.

Consumers hold the key to the U.S. economy, and by most measures they’ve held up fairly well.

Retail sales fell 0.1% in October but were still up 2.5% from the previous year. The numbers are not adjusted for inflation, so they indicate that consumers at least have nearly kept pace with higher prices. A gauge the Fed uses showed inflation running at a 3.5% annual rate in October, excluding food and energy prices.

However, there is some worry that the Covid-era stimulus payments and the continued pressure from higher interest rates could eat into spending.

Net household wealth fell by about $1.3 trillion in the third quarter to about $151 trillion, owing largely to declines in the stock market, according to Fed data released this week. Household debt rose 2.5%, close to the pace where it has been for the past several quarters.

Pressure to rid the world of evil people like Benjamin Netanyahu.

Fed officials have been watching wage data closely. Rising prices tend to feed into wages, potentially creating a spiral that can be difficult to control.

As we close out 2023 with two ongoing conflicts and three forgotten conflicts, President Joe Biden ends on a sour note. His presidential approval is down and his hypothetical main rival Donald J. Trump is leading him in several swing states. If Biden fails to win 270 electoral votes, he will become a one term president like his predecessor and it will be a historical feet for Trump.

An indicted former president could win. I hope to God, he doesn't win.

Trump could become the second Grover Cleveland.

The Writer's Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild of America-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strikes are over. The Blue Cross strike is over. The UAW strike is over.

Israel and Palestine is an ongoing conflict and the public is turning against Biden, Democrats and Israel. The far right Israeli government launched an ongoing conflict and many world leaders are expressing concern that its becoming a genocide. 

Protests in the U.S. have divided America. Many on the left are calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Because of this, some prominent Democrats and progressive figures are turning one another. They are angry at AIPAC, the largest pro Israeli lobby which is pouring millions into primarying Democrats who oppose Israeli propaganda.

George Santos was ousted.

Members of the House have passed legislation that equates anti-Zionism with anti-semitism. They have so far censured three members, expelled George Santos, led Kevin McCarthy out the door and caused frustration for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

Republicans now have a three seat majority. 

Santos is facing indictments and it led to his expulsion from the House. He vows revenge.

Joe Manchin, Democrat of West Virginia retiring also puts the Senate up for grabs. His retirement sparks speculation that he and Liz Cheney are planning a no labels bid for the White House. Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, independent of Arizona are hated among progressives because of their conservative stances on many Democratic issues. Sinema and Democratic lawmaker of Arizona Ruben Gallego are feuding with one another. They both support Israel and criticize pro Palestinian protests. Gallego is challenging Sinema and a Republican who isn't Kari Lake. If Sinema runs it could put the race in favor of the Republican because Gallego is too extreme for Arizona.

Ron DeSantis had debated Gavin Newsom on Fox. He debated Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Chris Christie on Newsnation. None of these debates helped him in the polls. 

Even his attempt to criticize the College Football Playoffs for excluding 13-0 Florida State didn't move the needle. Florida State was excluded despite winning the ACC championship game. Alabama's surprise victory over Georgia for the SEC championship plus Michigan's win over Ohio State and Iowa in the Big Ten Championship has them in the playoffs. 

No. 1 Michigan.

No. 2 Alabama.

No. 3 Texas.

No. 4 Washington.

Florida State criticized the snub and felt that the whole thing was rigged.

Hunter Biden faces nine additional charges for tax fraud in California. He also confirmed he will speak to Congress. However, Republicans are angry that he wants it to be public deflating their attempts to claim that Biden wants to hide the truth. Johnson has said that he will launch a formal impeachment inquiry into the president, despite not having evidence that links President Joe Biden, then vice president to bribery.

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota has a dilemma of his own. His son, Ian killed a North Dakota State sheriff deputy. Ian Cramer was charged Thursday with manslaughter and fleeing an officer after a police pursuit ended in a crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy who had just laid a tire deflation device on the road and was taking cover behind his squad car, according to court documents.

Ian Cramer, of Bismarck, was traveling over 100 mph and already had two flat tires when he slammed head-on into Deputy Paul Martin’s squad car on Wednesday, pushing it “directly into Martin’s person and launching him for about 100 feet,” according to charging documents. Martin, 53, was killed.

Ian Cramer is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday on multiple felony counts including manslaughter, fleeing a police officer and reckless endangerment. Court records did not list an attorney for him, and Sen. Kevin Cramer declined an interview after charges were filed out of respect for Martin’s family.

Kevin McCarthy out by Christmas.

The island nation of Seychelles declared a state of emergency Thursday after flooding killed three people and a huge blast at an explosives depot near the capital injured scores of others.

The explosion caused mostly minor injuries to 178 people, the health ministry said. It took place around 2 am. Thursday and came after hours of heavy rain and flooding starting Wednesday evening, mostly in the north of the main island of Mahe, though authorities did not link the blast to the weather.

Waters from the rains flooded houses, washed away parts of roads and caused landslides in some areas. Two of the people who died in the flooding were trapped in their home, authorities said.

Gun violence is still the No. 1 issue in the United States. Mass shootings happened in Las Vegas, Chicago, Beavercreek, Austin, Lewiston, Tampa and Green Valley. Not to mention many other communities were affected by gun violence.

Yes, folks are working two jobs. I am a testimony of that. But I am confident that in the short term I will have all the resources to reapply for the job I prefer.

The Congress has less work than most Americans. It is infuriating that the average worker works more 50 hours a week while 157 House members and 36 senators work on average of 25 hours a week.

Republicans see the only path to victory is basically obstruct and complain about the president. They won't offer solutions or policies. All they care about is trying to keep folks angry with culture wars and distractions.

President Joe Biden's headaches:

1. Donald J. Trump.
2. Elon Musk and X.
3. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook and Meta.
4. TikTok.
5. The Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate stalling his agenda.
6. Bad poll numbers.
7. The media asking him about Trump's controversies.
8. The Supreme Court making controversial decisions that impact the country.
9. Gun violence and Congress not doing anything to stop it.
10. Inflation.
11. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
12. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) , Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO).
13. Republican governors Ron DeSantis, Doug Burgum, Kay Ivey, Greg Abbott, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Bill Lee, Glenn Youngkin, Kristie Noem, Kim Reynolds, Brian Kemp, Brad Little and Greg Gianforte.
14. Federal Judges and Supreme Court members appointed by Trump.
15. The junk food media and their never ending dramatizing of world events.
16. Anti-Vaxxers. 
17. Lawmakers and activists who protest the CDC guidelines during the pandemic.
18. The endless culture wars that Republicans find outrage in.
19. Fox, Breitbart, Libs of TikTok, The Daily Mail, Newsmax and OANN's relentless talk about Biden conspiracies. 
20. The Republicans constantly dogging his brother James Biden and son Hunter Biden.
21. The Republicans and conservatives spreading misinformation about Ashley Biden.
22. The junk food media mentioning Russian propaganda and Tara Reade.
23. The endless racism towards Vice President Kamala Harris, former president Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.
24. The relentless talk about spending despite the former president's reckless spending.
25. The lack of civility towards fellow Americans.
26. The junk food media's obsession with his age.
27. Vladimir Putin.
28. Xi Jinping.
29. Kim Jong-Un.
30. Benjamin Netanyahu.
31. Alexander Lukashenko.
32. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

Monthly reminders: 

The coronavirus doesn't care about your age, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, politics, economic or social standings. It doesn't care about your business, your performances, your personal finances and travel. It doesn't care about the funerals, the birthday parties, the weddings, the vacations, the events and your graduations.

An active shooter doesn't care about the politics, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, your finances, your family, your plans that day, your successes, your failures, and most importantly, your life.

You're not safe in the school, the concert, the hospital, the church, the casino, the bus station, the subway, the light rail train, the buses, the malls, the local big box store, the political rally, the protest rally, the women's center for reproductive surgeries, the mosque, the synagogue, the state buildings, the workplace, the gas station, the family picnic, the food truck rally, the funerals, the birthday parties, the graduations, the wedding, the televised events, the sporting events and many more events that have some terrorist with a firearm. Domestic violence, suicide, racism, culture war inspired, politically motivated and international operative inspired are types of gun violence.

Food prices, energy prices, rent, city services and college education have risen. Companies are struggling to find workers. They are now trying to push incentives to get workers in.

Real Reasons To Why Unemployment Rate Stays The Way It Is! The main reasons why some are not working.

1. DEAD
   
2. BORN
3. IN PRISON
4. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
5. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
   
6. IN HIGH SCHOOL
7. IN COLLEGE FULL TIME
8. VOLUNTEER
9. DISABLED
10. INFLATION
11. STAY AT HOME PARENT
12. RETIRED 
13. QUIT ON THEIR OWN
14. TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT 
15. NOT HIRING UNQUALIFIED
16. NOT HIRING TOO QUALIFIED
17. ACTIVE MILITARY
18. NATURAL DISASTERS
19. MASS SHOOTINGS DISRUPTING DAILY ROUTINE
20. BEING LAID OFF DUE TO CLOSING OR STAFF REDUCTION
21. DESTRUCTION TO FACILITY OR PROPRETY
22. OUTSOURCING JOBS TO OTHER STATES OR COUNTRIES
23. BEING UNDOCUMENTED IN FEAR OF I.C.E. OR U.S. AGENCIES
24. BEING PUBLICLY OUTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA DOING SHAMEFUL ACTS
25. PARTICIPATING IN UNCIVIL OR VIOLENT PROTESTS

Jobs are looking good despite fears.

Companies are cautious about hiring employees. With the average wages stagnant, many are not looking forward to returning to a job that pays dirt wages. Many who worked in the retail, restaurant and low end service industry are not willing to take a job for less than $10 an hour. Matter of fact, no one can survive on $15 an hour.

Trump still brags about his crowd sizes being the reasons why he believes the 2020 election was stolen.

Republicans don't see the bigger picture itself. They rather continue to believe in conspiracies about people collecting the safety net and not going back to work.

Give them a liveable wage and maybe things might improve in the job market.

We can't always assume that folks are lazy. People are literally dying from being exposed to the coronavirus, gun violence and folks are tired of the status quo of their jobs.

Many single mothers are having trouble trying to find quality daycare or family members to watch children. On top of that, some have lost family members due to the pandemic. A homemaker may have lost their spouse. Some may have no choice but to watch their children or loved ones due to the aftermath of the pandemic.

Folks are still trying to rebound from medical bills, late rent payments, owing taxes and college loans.

Republicans are white nationalists without a conscience. 

Trump's presidency and Republican controlled governments are incompetent. Their leadership has killed millions of Americans. Biden has a slim majority in Congress and things can't be done with obstruction from both parties.

Holding these lawmakers accountable is not just a pledge, but a promise. You need to learn who represents your community. Your local community member, your school board member, your mayor, your state representative, your state senator, your governor, your U.S. Representative, your U.S. Senator and the president need to be held accountable for their actions. 

We need to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats to do something to improve everyone's lives.

Keep pressure on them with Israel. 

They must be held accountable for war crimes and the U.S. must end its aid to Israel. 

They are feeling it. Democrats know the risk of supporters being turned off by their policies. They know that Biden is under extreme pressure to do something. Arab Americans, Muslim and young voters have vowed to never back Biden putting his reelection chances in danger.

The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. 

Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists.