50 Comments

It made my day perfect when over 30 insurance companies refused to loan Trump that $450 million. They want cash as surety. I got out my tiny violin and played it until I had to get out my tiny hanky to dry the almost tear I shed. Love it!!

Expand full comment

Michael Cohen on "Deadline White House" today about Trump selling properties. Lots of things I hadn't considered:

We are talking about a half-billion-dollar bond. He is in the real estate industry. Much of his assets are leveraged. Real estate is not what as some of your other guests have already pointed out. It's not where they want to go. They don't want to go with that because, let's not forget, if he sells the assets, there are also tax consequence points that will be due. He has long-term capital gains, and because it's New York, you also have city and state tax. So you're looking at effectively a 40% taxable rate. Not only does he have that he also has on top of that mortgages attached. So taxes, state taxes, and federal taxes come first, followed by the mortgage, and then whatever is left over would ultimately go to pay off the judgment or to repay the bond. That's why nobody wants it. And he's right, it's effectively impossible.

Now, what does it turn around and tell you, it tells you, it tells you that he's not nearly as rich as he sold himself to the American people that he, even at the trial, at the New York Attorney General trial, he told Judge Engoron that he was worth and had at least $400 million in cash. Well, if that's true, post the 400 million and get the balance, and if it's not true, who knows? Maybe it could be a perjury charge.

Expand full comment

Are his followers selling their blood yet? Organs?

Expand full comment

For the right documents I am sure that a “world leader” will step up….

Expand full comment

The Trump $450 million issue feels like something where everyone goes oh man Trump is screwed, this is it! and then he finds a way to wriggle out of it.

Enjoy your time away, Chris!

Expand full comment

The Saudis might save him still . But what many observers miss is that Trump's holdings are almost all leveraged (ie, they have secured loans against them) and there are covenants that would result in a default if he tried to borrow against them. He may well have other outstanding covenants that would be triggered if his cash fell too low or his borrowings too high. Separately, just consider how mucked up our campaign finance laws are that he can use PAC money to pay for legal bills wholly unrelated to the campaign

Expand full comment

I really like the graph showing the percentage of Americans who say religion's influence is declining. Do you THINK that white republican cristo-fascist men have EVERYTHING to do with this? goddamn

Expand full comment

As the kid who kicked the Sunday School Teacher in the shins at age 5 and told her she was a liar, I have a big smile on my face looking at that graph showing religion being flushed.

Expand full comment

Trump might have to declare Bankruptcy again soon to be a le to get out of this financial crisis. Kudos to Letetia James!! Next time Trump and his Lawyers would know to respect the laws and the Judges. Kudos also to the Judge in this case!!

Expand full comment

Love you Chris!

Expand full comment

No Labels is a joke. Seems like no one wants to go down in history as "person who played spoiler and gave us a Donald Trump dictatorship". They should just pack it in, but I'm sure they'll find some no-name to head the ticket...eventually...

Expand full comment

They’ve been told many times their effort could help Trump. That they won’t take no for an answer suggests that’s exactly what they’re trying to do

Expand full comment

What if no labels joined with RFK Jr ? The motivation seems to be the same as well as the likely funding sources, which is what needs to be hammered regularly.

Expand full comment

Interesting , but I think RFK Jr marches to his own odd drummer and would sync with No Labels.

Expand full comment

I’m not predicting this and there isn’t really any logic to it, but the only logic about any of the minor parties is to enable a Trump, Russia win and if that is there ultimate goal and financing, we can’t think of them in other ways.

Expand full comment

“Sell stuff. Trump could sell stocks and the like or — and this would probably hurt him more — a building or three. “.

There are US, NYS and NYC tax implications here. How much does he need to raise before taxes in order to net the half bil he owes?

Expand full comment

I wonder how much Forbes would now say that Trump is worth?

Expand full comment

(Cue sad music) Folks, for just a million dollars a day, you can help this sad orange man, help him keep from having his assets seized by the NY state attorney general. If you don't help, he may lose everything. Call the number on the bottom of your screen now! Operators are standing by!

Expand full comment

Might I suggest a bake sale and a charity car wash to raise the amount required?

Expand full comment

Enjoy your time off.

Expand full comment

Enjoy your boys!!! Time Is so short. ❤️

Expand full comment

Oh man. After your earlier post I was hoping you would just shut it down for the rest of the day. But here we are. I can’t help but wonder if our current political discourse is in part due to the “good” chart you shared.

Expand full comment

Chris has to scratch that itch to write about Trump one more time today

Expand full comment

No, he just wanted to give you one more chance to vent.

Expand full comment

Well,funny that he(Chris) chose to comment on Trump's inability to pay his penalty (with sympathy for Trump) and he (Chris)has conveniently ignored Trump's dangerous threat of "blood bath" when he(Trump) loses the election in November

Expand full comment

Then you wouldn’t have anything to fret about.

Expand full comment

Plenty to fret and vent about when as usual Trump threatens Democracy like January 6th and now threatening "Blood bath" when he loses in November and some people try to pretend that he didn't say those things.

Expand full comment

Be careful when you take statements out of context, in particular Trump’s “bloodbath” remark — that plays right into the Trump campaign hands. Your comment implies he said there would be a physical bloodbath if he doesn’t win. Reading the MSM headlines you would think that’s what he was saying. You can fact check for yourself the context of his remarks. To be clear, I am not a Trump supporter. I despise his rhetoric, his egotistical and maniacal behavior. He is all about one thing - Trump. He needs to be stopped but we can’t play into their hands.

That’s one of the reasons I’m a subscriber of this Substack - Chris doesn’t react to the headlines of the day. He looks at the messages behind the headlines.

Expand full comment

Agree. Chris has also been quite consistent in his posts about Trump’s threat to democracy, along with Trump’s idiotic ramblings.

Expand full comment

Seizing the opportunity!

Expand full comment

I figured out of all people you would be ecstatic that former Pres. Trump couldn’t pony up the money.

Expand full comment

I was pleased indeed that he's not able to cough up the money and the IMMIGRANT Elon Musk from "shit hole" South Africa refused to give any money. Either way I would be pleased though. If and when he pays the money, he would be some 400 million dollar poorer. Talk of "teflon" Trump....ha ha ha.

Expand full comment

I’m surprised he didn’t get a government bailout like all the banks during the housing collapse that all overvalued their assets.

Expand full comment