Squawkbox – August 16, 2025

Reading the Milestones test scores as reported in the Herald showed a steep decline in English, with only 47% of eighth-graders proficient in math, and third-graders at 44%. Overall proficiency rates indicate most students struggle to master the material. Does that make you wonder how all of these kids are getting into college, and passing that work, and so many themselves becoming teachers?

Seems to me stores, buildings, shops, would be easier to access if Jackson and Washington streets were two-way. I have always wondered why they were made one-way streets in the first place. Driving around the block, peering in the shop windows, used to be a favorite pastime. That will never be again, just a fond memory.

SMRs, you elected the True President, and he created high tariffs, which are consumption taxes. You may be having a blue Christmas.

Waiting to read the Epstein files? Good luck. Perhaps you should read this court filing to get a glimpse of why those files won’t become public. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CASE NUMBER ED CV16-00797 14 DONALD J. TRUMP and 15 JEFFREY E. EPSTEIN.

Just curious: What happened to the cornerstone dated 1953 from the Oglethorpe Bridge?

Trump says his meeting with Putin is this Friday in Russia, but it’s really in Alaska. Is the USA giving the state back to Russia? If Biden had made such a glaring error, Fox News and Trump’s MAGA cult would be blasting it from the rooftops. Yet nothing is said of the daily, descent into madness that this nation is subjected to under Trump 2.0.

Former CIA director warning: “Attacks on America’s electrical substations could result in coast-to-coast blackouts for up to 18 months, killing 9 out of 10 Americans by starvation and societal collapse. America is unprepared.”

Trump tells you that tariffs are for punishing countries for dumping cheap goods on our markets, which hurts U.S. manufacturing. He says he wants to level the playing field. Sounds like DEI for U.S. manufacturing. He knows that his tariffs are really about him and U.S. manufacturers/donors punishing us for buying cheap goods that we can afford.

Looks like someone woke Michael Harris up and reminded him that he is supposed to hit the ball on occasion. The Braves are still a disaster and are going nowhere, but it looks like at least one of their do-nothings has finally woke up and remembered what he’s being paid millions of dollars to do.

Facebook post of the day: The devil’s best work was being able to convince evangelicals that a racist man who makes fun of dead soldiers, has five kids with three wives, gropes women, incites violence, and never tells the truth, was sent here by God. That Man Without a Family

OK, I get it. You’re going to support Trump no matter what, even as our way of life crumbles. But how can you look in the mirror and proclaim yourself a Christian knowing what a vile man you’ve chosen as your false god?

MAGA voters that are against immigration should be barred from eating at all Mexican and Chinese restaurants. They should only be allowed to eat at Cracker Barrel.

Preacher Lorenzo’s apartments to be remodeled to the tune of $5 million seems to have disappeared from the preacher’s church Facebook pages. Seems people were writing Preacher Warnock and asking questions. What a rip off.

Looks like our County Commission chairman is embroiled in another personal issue that calls to question his character. That must be a forgiving church cult he rules over.

Sounds unbelievable, but look it up. Trump is now trying to get the bodes of immigrants who were here illegally and who died and are buried in the U.S. deported. This is a new low, people. The reason? So that he can meet his deportation goal. His policies are failing; time to dazzle them with BS.

The father of IVF (Trump) has backed out on his promise to make IVF free for all women.

Congratulations, Putney, on your new community center. Let’s see, $1.8 million for the handful of people who live out that way. Comes up to $25,000 or so per person, courtesy of the few people in Albany who actually work and pay taxes.

Make no mistake, that trillion dollars in profit from the new tariffs is coming right out of your pocket if you buy anything imported on the new tariff list. 

Highest regards to Chad, Bo and other city leaders who are often seen picking up litter in their extended neighborhoods, the direct cause being the inconsiderate, throw-it-in-your-face people that do harm and go unabated. Why and to what end the great effort, and exorbitant spending of city resources, if the community at large demands service from others with no accountability on themselves?

How will the True President make America affordable again? Inflation is still getting higher.

Democrats more or less walked off their job disputing the Congressional map redistricting. Democratic states have done the same thing. The Democrat hypocrisy never ends. They always complain about Republicans do this and do that, when they do the same thing if not worse.

After cutting Medicare and Medicaid, the True President will turn our medical system into a Canadian-style system. Get ready for higher taxes.

Squawker, the prescription drug card you are referencing can be used at any drug store. This may be stupid to you because you are misrepresenting the facts. Ms. Green and I both said the card was basically the same as a GoodRx or any other prescription drug card. I think in all fairness to the citizens, if the board decides to move forward with the process, let the citizens decide, not you.

Think you are old and you will be old. Think you are young and you will be delusional.

I’m happy for the folks in Putney getting their community center, but I can’t for the life of me figure how this is a wise use of taxpayer money. Let’s see what this facility looks like a few months after it’s finished. Just a waste.