HHS

MsMoreCowbell828

Stop it. They're not Republicans anymore. This is P2025, christo-fascism, Qanons running HHS.

harrywrinkleyballs

Blatantly ignorant of the concessions the US made in trade negotiations with Vietnam by previous administrations to get them to abide by RIAA and MPAA copyrights. Now that’s all out the window. Conservatives will always cut off their noses to spite their faces. They have zero understanding of history’s achievements. You were given an apt description of how tariffs impact out economy in a popular movie when Ben Stein, a conservative, explained what happened to our economy after Smoot-Hawley. But, ya’ll act like it’s this new idea that will make everybody rich. Complete idiots. The lot of you. No wonder we have geniuses like RFK Jr running HHS and Hegseth over the military. You’re intentionally trying to destroy the country.

Adventurous-Roof488

RFK doesn’t have oversight of SNAP. RFK runs HHS. The USDA administers SNAP.

femanonette

> To be fair those worms helped him become Secretary of the HHS. and we see what they did for Fry in Futurama.

Watcher145

To be fair those worms helped him become Secretary of the HHS. Maybe we should all eat a little shit now and then?

whiteflagwaiver

HHS being dismantled I don't want to know what kind of loopholes are going to open up for these mega corpo food companies. The food supply is only to get worse when it was already bad.

Cool_Ad_5101

It would be the first time they went against an HHS recommendation 

Many_Easy

Just asking because I’m not sure. Do we have all the information and facts as to why Milgram did not sign off on it? Also, is it not entirely possible that Biden did not want to interfere with full HHS/DEA review process that includes signing? Maybe Biden wanted to remain independent of HHS/DEA. I don’t know for sure and I don’t believe anyone else knows for sure at this point in time. I remember when many or most of here were convinced that HHS recommendation would be “rubber stamped” by DEA. How wrong most of us were.

Bosa_McKittle

He didn't completely shutdown the border. He shut down asylum requests once the average number of daily encounters tops 2,500 between official ports of entry. He also didn't do it unilaterally. There was already an existing law on the books that gave him the authority to do so. This is vastly different than doing it all on his own without congressional approval. >The shutdown would go into effect immediately since that threshold has already been met, a senior administration official said. The border would reopen only once that number falls to 1,500. The president’s order would come under the Immigration and Nationality Act sections 212(f) and 215(a) suspending entry of noncitizens who cross the southern border into the United States unlawfully.  [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-signs-executive-order-shutting-southern-border-rcna155426](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-signs-executive-order-shutting-southern-border-rcna155426) As it relates to descheduling marijuana, >In October 2022, President Joe Biden asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to review how marijuana is scheduled under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In August 2023, HHS recommended to DEA that marijuana be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III, based on HHS’ scientific and medical evaluation. In May 2024, DEA proposed a rule that, if finalized, would transfer marijuana to Schedule III. So again Biden could not use an executive order to reschedule marijuana unilaterally. >The [Controlled Substances Act (CSA)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section811&num=0&edition=prelim), Congress authorized the Attorney General, the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), to schedule substances, move substances between schedules, or deschedule substances. That authority is delegated to DEA, which is within DOJ. This means that, in practice, DEA is the agency that determines whether to schedule a substance and into what schedule a substance will be placed. This placement is based on the substance’s medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or dependence liability. [https://moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty-and-research/drug-enforcement-and-policy-center/research-and-grants/policy-and-data-analyses/federal-marijuana-rescheduling](https://moritzlaw.osu.edu/faculty-and-research/drug-enforcement-and-policy-center/research-and-grants/policy-and-data-analyses/federal-marijuana-rescheduling)

canuck47

I remember when it was first rumored that he was giving HHS to RFK Jr.. Even Republicans scoffed at the idea, and said Trump only promised him that for his endorsement, that he could NEVER be confirmed, the very idea was laughable.  And here we are...

jmu_alumni

Yes it was in the process, but there was so much red tape that it was very possible with a new administration coming in they could effectively kill it (example: DEA could have never set the schedule for interlocutory appeal, or DEA could have gone against the DOJ proposed rule change and ALJ judge approval of rescheduling) Looks like they plan to bypass some of this red tape and go straight to a final. It has been 1 year to this day (coincidence DEA head said this today…?) when DOJ proposed rule change after all the research was done by HHS and the DEA

Crazy_Donkies

Food prices are not down: [https://www.bls.gov/cpi/](https://www.bls.gov/cpi/) Energy is down, oil specifically, due to less demand and OPEN increasing prodcution. This will keep inflation somewhat tempered. I'm not 100% thinking recession, but I'm definately thinking there's a 75% chance. 100% thinking the economy will slow to a crawl for many months. Why I'm not as optimistic as you: Government spending is still contracting, leading to decreases in GDP. Cuts in the HHS and DOD are still happening quickly. Exports will decrease due to issues with our largest trading partners - China specifically. Moreover, with lower oil prices, American oil is less in demand. This is why OPEC increased production - to box us out. I read oil rig counts are decreasing and oil production is slowing. The tariffs are inflationary and will drive up costs. Consumer spending will decrease due to higher prices seemingly coming in anythere from 3% to 100% higher across many product categories. Inflation is expected to rise to 4% plus. This data is from the same people that accurately predicted this negative GDP. Many companies are scaling back capex. In technology as well. Plus, America will continue to import more than exported.

Own_Fold_5212

Just shows how broken DEA roles and responsibilities with respect to CSA are generally. They know how the public feels about it. They know how the HHS feels about it. They know how veterans feel about it. They know what the medical and scientific studies show. There’s no argument to keep it in schedule 1 or 2 🥲…there’s a strong argument to de schedule completely.

AverageNo130

DEA should leave THC drinks, etc up to the HHS/FDA. DEA is not a health agency.

starship_narrator

"Extreme opposite of Trump." The fuck are you on about? Dems ran a center right campaign. Did you hear her speech at the DNC? She sounded like a Bush era republican. Strong army? Helping small businesses, NATO, etc, is all old-school neo-con shit. It seemingly can't be helped, that the majority of this country is so obsessed with culture war bullshit. That we're willing to destroy every aspect of this country because of 12 trans athletes or DEI programs. If Harris lacked intelligence, what does that make Trump? The reason their fascist agenda isn't particularly smooth (the supposed one strength of fascism. Hey, the trains runnon time!) Is because they are inherently incompetent. Which is what happens when you value loyalty above competence. But hey, this is the most meritocratic admin. Common sense! That's why we have Stephen Miller dictating immigration policy, Navarro on econ and tariffs, Hegseth at the DoD, RFK Jr. at HHS, Bondi as AG, Patel at the FBI, and on and on... Meanwhile, Trump golfs incessantly and returns only to have a parade of Heritage Foundation executive orders placed in front of him and read out for his chicken scratch signature; and masturbatory cabinet meetings where his sycophants sit around a table like grade school children having to say what they most like about him, and how great a job he's doing. But yeah, Harris was the far-left extremist, Marxist, communist, socialist, Maoist, third worldist.

Exotic_Negotiation80

>has his skeletons Like being a heroin addict for years? I don't care about that. It's his supposed vocal pro cannabis stance and complete silence on the matter since being appointed that pisses me off. He should be publicly calling out the DEA to follow the HHS recommendation on rescheduling. Not a peep...

Theomach1

Friend, experts in public health, such as APHA executive director Dr Georges C Benjamin, are saying that what is happening at the HHS is an unprecedented disaster of proportions that should terrify people, except most people don’t know all the really important stuff that HHS does to keep people of this country alive. He says you can no longer trust that the food you’re getting is safe, and if it makes you sick there’s no one to investigate how or why, and even if there were there’s no one to issue a recall or communicate it to the public. It’s the same everywhere. The SSA is devastated and barely functional. They rolled back some of the DOGE nonsense but people are missing checks and it is going to cause serious hardships. Pentagon is in total disarray. If we were attacked right now I’m not sure we could effectively organize and muster a response. On and on and on. Our economy is in shambles with major heads of companies warning that we are likely to start seeing shelves empty soon. I’ve already started seeing the early signs, no bananas at the supermarket the other day. They don’t have a long shelf life and are an import. Very susceptible to supply chain disruptions. I never thought the preppers would be right, but it’s their preferred president who is doing it to us. The country is circling the drain and you’re going to feel it sooner rather than later. Tuck Frump. That guy has destroyed the country in less than 100 days. Meanwhile he treats with Saudis, sells access to himself and his people through his BS crypto and now a private club for literal influence peddling. https://accountable.us/trumps-presidency-for-sale-crypto-grift-billionaire-payoffs-and-rising-costs-for-americans/ https://swedenherald.com/article/new-club-executive-branch-offers-wealthy-access-to-trump-administration https://truthout.org/articles/after-uproar-social-security-administration-walks-back-phone-service-cuts/ https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/news/resign-or-be-fired-apha-executive-director-calls-out-rfk-jr/ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/us/politics/hegseth-chaos-pentagon.html

AverageNo130

Would be great if DEA started doing their job, enforcement. Instead of playing HHS.

AntoniaFauci

Well, technically it’s true that if this morning’s news: * lowest 100 day approval rating in history * POTUS tweeting out deranged and misspelled Canadian election manipulation * Leavitt and others doing a perverse mug shot art piece on the White House lawn * Bessent gaslighting the public about China, about tariff ransom talks, about the economy * POTUS overnight deranged tweet promising to canceling income taxes using non-existent tariff money * General public becoming increasingly aware our supply chains stopped at the source a month ago * HHS Secretary actively trying to spread a disease we had eradicated * POTUS unhinged statement saying anyone publishing negative polls should be investigated and punished If these things weren’t happening, I suppose it is possible that the stock market could melt up.

Early_Commission4893

You know shit is going great down there when this idiot has to roll the quarter across the floor again to distract people, haha. Is it RFK gutting the HHS? Putin playing him in the Ukraine talks? Maybe, China and the rest of the world curb stomping him in trade negotiations; and the imminent disaster that’s shaping up to be?

AverageNo130

Tx, that is an overlooked article. " If cannabis no longer meets the definition of a Schedule I or II substance, then 280E no longer applies, regardless of its formal classification." "In late August 2023 HHS officially recommended that cannabis be moved to Schedule III . In April 2024 the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) determined that DEA’s existing approach to evaluating “currently accepted medical use” was “impermissibly narrow,” and it endorsed the HHS two-part inquiry.." "While DEA hasn’t yet finalized rescheduling, it is legally obligated to incorporate HHS’s findings in its decision." "From a tax perspective, that recognition alone raises serious questions about the continued applicability of 280E."

heliumbox

I just look back to the HHS announcement if I ever feel FOMO. We gave back the entire move before slowly climbing back up. If this rumor has legs there is sure to be volatility and back testing "supports".

Co_OpQuestions

Uhhh did anyone else getting a tiny little Dented-head Wojack in the mail from HHS? It says to iron to my sleeve...

htownbob

This is a JFK jr HHS program to assess whether humans can actually “die of embarrassment”. Or in the case of this administration just “be embarrassed” about anything.

AntoniaFauci

QURE was $20+ and then it got massacred on the new administration being assumed negative for health stocks, waiting on data, etc. Since that time QURE has confirmed great results plus we’ve learned the HHS Secretary doesnt mind things like what QURE is working on. By all rights it should be closer to $30 by now.

DietOfKerbango

I’ve never tried to time the market except for buying severely beat up stocks with surplus cash on hand during financial panics. For instance, LVS and MGM during 2009 when CNBC was like “are casinos even going to exist in the future?” Jan/Feb was the only time I’ve had any inclination to predict a downturn. The president was randomly threatening Canada, dismantling regulatory oversight, democratic guardrails collapsing like …improperly installed guardrails, Sec HHS encouraging “measles for everyone!” S&P highs, analysts proclaiming low risk of recession in 2025. I sold off my US index funds in my tax-deferred accounts. Bought some European value, TIPS, lower risk US dividend paying funds. Cash and bond heavy. Since then I’ve been buying back in a little bit, some select beat up US equities, but not the broader market. I wasn’t even factoring in tariffs that much. It was more the medium and long term concerns about US investability: rapidly failing democracy, rapid descent into idiocracy, the dumbest geopolitical policy in recorded history, becoming a laughingstock and pariah on the world stage. Whatever happens with the world’s dumbest trade war, all of the other medium and long term risks remain, and mostly getting worse. And while the executive can destroy institutions and trust immediately, it will take years to repair these things best case scenario. Generations more likely.

reallokiscarlet

If they don't stick to "position or ban" then yes this is the end of WSB. Thanks for reminding me that an Autism Mom is in charge of HHS.

PenjaminJBlinkerton

Great news about HHS then!

Own_Fold_5212

It’s feasible haha…but if I am break even by year end I’ll go unless there’s a more concrete plan for 2026. I’ve been in it since 2021, thought rescheduling was a layup after the HHS + DOJ push to public comment. Then the public comments came in (record engagement, massively positive). Also insane banking access hasn’t been sorted. Long term I think GTI looks great (and other tier 1s will struggle under debt and profitability woes).

DocPhilMcGraw

Ok I read the article: > Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using private medical records to create a registry of people with autism in the United States. > The National Institutes of Health is helping to collect private medical records from government and commercial databases to give to the secretary of health and human services, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said Monday. **The records include prescription records from pharmacies, lab testing, and genomics records from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service, private insurance claims, and data from smartwatches and fitness trackers.** >** The news that HHS is putting together a registry and accessing Americans’ private medical records raises all kinds of privacy concerns.**

DrXaos

There probably will be but this man will be in an institution and influenced by surroundings. The Fed chair can't fire any of the other Board of Governors, so it's very different situation than a maniac like RFK in charge of HHS. Even still there are 5/12 members of FOMC which come from the Fed regional banks and are not appointed by the President. There would have to be 7 maniacs installed, and that's unlikely

PureOrangeJuche

RFK is compiling information about autistic people from private health insurance records, government records, medical providers, smart devices, and any other way that they interact with the health care system. Transaction records from Robinhood may be included in a second tranche of data collection per HHS officials.

meaty87

Be careful man HHS said they’re gonna make an autism registry…best not to talk this much about trains

whistlepig4life

We wouldn’t be in a trade war with our Allies. We wouldn’t be cozying up to Russia. We would have stable markets. We wouldn’t have idiots running HHS or the sec of defense. We wouldn’t be shipping people to prisons in other countries or snatching kids out of schools. Nearly 80% of the market issues are being caused by chaos, idiocy, and consumer/investor confidence. All entirely preventable. If Harris had won…maybe eggs wouldn’t be cheaper because it s due tot he supply and bird flu not the market. But I’d bet since she’s a fucking adult and wouldn’t have started a trade war I bet she could have negotiated getting more chickens or eggs form our ally nations. Cause that’s what fucking adults do.

FeydRiven

What happens is only the collapse of the international economies, & we spill fast into a true depression we haven’t seen in over 100 years. Plus, we get a 1918 pandemic flu that kills millions & destroys our healthcare system entirely because HHS Mc idiot stopped the flu council meeting & they likely don’t have the time to grow, develop, & test the vaccine before it hits us.

ZedRDuce76

100%. I work in a very close proximity to the program and know full well the cuts would be catastrophic. 50% of births in this country are paid for in Medicaid dollars. Entire labor and delivery departments would go under. NICU’s would go under…along with the rest of the hospital. I saw the leaked HHS budget cuts memo the other day. Rural hospitals and clinics are on the chopping block. They even want to go after the tribal health clinics which I’m sure will result in massive litigation bc of the legislation surrounding tribal rights. Then there’s the nursing homes that get decimated since it’s Medicaid that by and large pays the facility fee for those, not Medicare. You’ll have a wave of homeless seniors with complex medical needs. The amount of people that could die from cutting Medicaid is insanely high.

mcorliss3456

Silly study results. Fails to specify method of delivery, and also contradicts prior HHS research showing THC’s neuro-protective traits following traumatic brain injury.

GrippingHand

They could have pushed back on Justice, Defense, HHS, ... but they did not. Maybe they have learned their lesson. I hope so.

bullarcher99

Vaxartto created a pill-form COVID vaccine — no needles, no cold storage, easier global distribution, and potential mucosal immunity. But despite early promise, the government halted their trial via the HHS, while injections dominated the market. Now they have a formal review scheduled in May to determine next steps. With a reverse split on the table, the float would shrink dramatically. If the review clears them to resume, this could re-ignite interest fast — especially with such disruptive tech. Nobody’s watching. No one’s talking. But the idea of a shelf-stable, needle-free vaccine is still powerful — especially if this review goes their way. Could be a sleeper play. Worth keeping an eye on.

DrXaos

Why should USA markets still have a higher CAPE than Europe? Powell's term is up normally before midterms anyway. The question is who will replace him---will it be someone normal, or will Trump fire the entire Board of Governors and replace with clowns, the economic equivalent of RFK jr on health, or the Sec of Defense. No doubt GDP and inflation statistics will come in badly, and I think it's not the Administration will start intentionally lying, like HHS is firing scientists who tell the truth, they'll start publishing intentionally false numbers. And then attacking any private institutions who attempt to gather statistics on their own.

bullarcher99

Vaxart (VXRT) developed an oral COVID-19 vaccine — a game-changer in delivery, storage, and distribution. While injectable vaccines dominated the market, Vaxart’s pill-based approach was sidelined. Then the HHS paused their trial, effectively freezing the only needle-free contender. Now the narrative could shift. They’ve secured an upcoming review with the FDA/HHS due in May. Meanwhile, a reverse split is on the table, which could set up a squeeze-friendly float and bring in institutional eyes. The market hasn’t priced in a resumption or positive review yet. For a company with such disruptive tech, it’s strange how quiet things are. If the review turns out positive, VXRT could rebound hard. Keep this one on your radar — the story’s not over.

manualCAD

From some light research....this bill seems to go straight to descheduling with regulations like alcohol tobacco. Theoretically we could stay out of all the HHS/DEA/S3 shenanigans with medical vs rec and how to deal with each blah blah blah. Just full deschedule.. This could be big...

fleshTH

What do you mean? RFK for HHS Pam Bondi as AG Linda McMahon for education Oh... Oh... I see... Yeah ....

geoman2k

Yep it will come along with breaking news that HHS found the link between vaccines and autism

dansdansy

HHS cuts?

AtticaBlue

Fortunately, the geniuses in the regime are getting rid of the FDA and the USDA, with an assist on the backend by Kennedy Jr., getting rid of science at HHS, so things can only get better in agriculture and food safety! /s

AverageNo130

Somehow, the DEA gets involved after HHS approval of re-schedule. Assinine.

0220_2020

Sam Bankman-fried being pardoned and appointed to a high level government role is my trigger for moving to another country (if I can). He is the craziest and least confidence inspiring person I can think of to become Fed Chairman. Before you say that would never happen, we have a Wrestling Mogul running (closing down) Education and an Anti-Vaxer running HHS. 🥸

crossdefaults

Who is holding or buying cruise ship stocks when an anti vaxxer is running HHS?

ImCursedSofukoff

The DEA or HHS fella he put in charge that would steer the ship for a reclassification has already made several public statements that were critical of cannabis. I'd give it an emphatic "no".

BuckskinBound

Well beyond that it gets a little fuzzy for me to predict specific industry impacts. For example, automotive industry — I picked wrong for COVID, because I though the excess death rate in the elderly was going to result in a glut of used automobiles flooding the market and depressing prices. But of course, disruptions in the supply chain instead caused prices across the board to jump. But will the electric market speed up or slow down? Will Tesla crash out or get bailed out? I can’t tell; too much depends on mercurial policy decisions from the White House. I do see one sure bet: the only industry that will have reliable employment openings will be geriatric care. Because there are a shit-ton of aging Boomers who got industrial-strength exposure to lead and cigarettes and plastics all through their lives and thus will be riddled with dementia and Alzheimer’s and will need full-time caretakers. BUT, these jobs will pay minimum wage and will thus see constant churn and understaffing. So if you put Grandma Karen in a home you can be sure you’ll find her sitting around in a dirty diaper if you can ever cobble together the gas money to visit her. Speaking of gas money…will gas prices go up or down? Will the recession push them down, or will inflation push them up? Will Russia ever back out of Ukraine and rejoin the world economy instead of just selling to India and China? Will different/more/worse shit go down in the Middle East and disrupt supply? Who knows! US Retail is definitely gonna eat shit. Tech is gonna flounder as it blows billions chasing after AI magic that LLMs aren’t equipped to deliver. Home building probably shits the bed proportional to how much the real estate market tanks. Scientific research and supporting industries are screwed from DOGE / RFK Jr / Trump rat-fucking the FDA / NIH / CDC / NASA / NOAA / etc, which is rough because a lot of expensive research equipment is still (custom) built in the US. So those dollars usually recirculate directly into the US economy and all get sucked up and invested into whatever shitcoin Trump is pumping for his “strategic cryptocurrency reserve.” And we’ll probably get one or two Force Majeur events (hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, terrorist attack) for which we will then be utterly unprepared because Trump will have hollowed out FEMA and the CDC and Dept of State and Dept of HHS and so on, and has Homeland chasing legal immigrants out of the country instead of watching for Nazi extremists who will try to blow up a blue state Capitol building or something heinous. And that’s not even touching on the literal firestorm that will likely result circa 2027-2028 when Trump takes steps to stay in office beyond a second term.

pasatroj

Here's the kicker, they actually have NOT hired back who they said they would. I don't have link but Maddow did a segment about this on HHS.

Brokenandburnt

Oi, president Mike "Prophet" Johnson. It has a certain irony to it, The Speaker of the House has a voice in his head that is Speaker of God which in Mike's book. Means that he's a Speaker of the Religion. But hey, if you can have an HHS secretary with a dead worm in his brain why not have a President with a god voice in his head.

TargetRemarkable7383

You’re still trying to rationalize the current administrations choices? The picked a science and vaccine sceptic with no medical qualifications as head of HHS lol.

DietOfKerbango

We are heading off the cliff with anti-science lunacy. Attacks on the independence of our universities, gutting the NIH, proposed legislation to ban mRNA vaccines, the Sec. of HHS encouraging measles outbreaks. Decades of efforts to gut public education, and thus the pipeline of student talent going into STEM. While simultaneously making the country an undesirable and unsafe for foreign students, visitors (including scientists.) Travel to the US has plunged off of a cliff. The general loss of cultural, economic, and scientific influence when you intentionally make yourself the most hated country on earth. As far as weapons, and related technological innovation. When you randomly threaten Canada and abandon the entire free world in the middle of a fascist invasion into Europe, your former allies stop wanting to buy your weapons. When foreign buyers (our former allies) stop buying our weapons, we lose the funding stream and economies of scale that help us innovate and keep building weapons domestically at an OK cost. More broadly, intentionally turning the country into a joke, an unstable failing democracy, has resulted in net foreign outflows of capital for the first time in a long time.

Fish-Weekly

It’s being converted to a marketing organization and moved to HHS to encourage use of alcohol, tobacco and firearms as part of the Make American Healthy Again goals

delilahgrass

Cutting universities at the knees as well as cuts to HHS, USDA, NOAA etc are going to kill research.

UsedState7381

I do not think we will have to wait that long for a conclusion on this matter. Also it's pretty obvious by now that those ALJ hearings were going to be a sham trial, the evidence of collusion of the DEA and the prohibitionists points towards the DEA setting up the hearing just to have enough "credible" evidence that cannabis should remain as a S1 substance, irregardless of the HHS recommendation. And besides, according to Shane has just stated that while the ball is in the hands of the DEA admin, ultimately it remains a DOJ proposed rule: https://nitter.net/admindotlaw/status/1910440897625342094#m Oh, and Shane represents Village Farms...I don't think that getting these hearings cancelled was on Village Farms's best interest, unless there was absolute sure that those hearings weren't going to have the best out come for them.

Monchie523

The bond market went INSANE the other night. That’s a HUGE issue (depression), this is why this guy called off some of the tariffs. Still, he wants a recession (not a depression, not yet).  Here are some longer parts from the WSJ explaining what’s going on. I suggest actually reading some long form articles in this to try to understand it (I know, so much behind paywalls :-/ Before I share the piece, you should also know that part of the faith in treasuries are the rule of law, investment research, and things like independent universities, and having allies.  The NIH cuts and the firings at HHS are a bigger deal than most people understand.  From the piece:  The stock-market meltdown that accompanied President Trump’s intensifying trade war in recent weeks was unsettling enough. The fall in the dollar and rise in bond yields that went with it have been truly ominous. So ominous, it might be why Don changed course, at least temporarily, by pausing some of his tariffs Wednesday. Normally when investors are this scared they seek safety, and nothing is safer than the dollar and Treasury debt.   But despite mounting fear of recession, the usual flight to safety hasn’t materialized. That is for several reasons, some relatively superficial, such as inflation risks, and one more fundamental. In recent years, the U.S. has boasted faster growth, bigger advances in technology, and more-ample supplies of cheap energy than almost any other major economy. Investors worldwide flocked to “American exceptionalism” by buying its assets.  The U.S. is still (for now) exceptional, but it is also less predictable, more antagonistic, and more isolated. For foreign investors, that makes it less safe … This (bond) behavior is unusual. In the seven prior episodes when the S&P 500 fell as much or more, the dollar rose. In the last episode, from January to June 2022, bond yields did rise, because the Federal Reserve was raising short-term interest rates sharply to combat inflation. … Inflation might be part of the explanation now. Tariffs will hurt demand and economic growth, which would normally prompt the Fed to lower interest rates. But tariffs will also raise inflation, at least temporarily, which makes it harder to justify rate cuts. Nonetheless, with recession risks rising sharply, traders are now betting the Fed will cut rates this year. So the Fed isn’t the main reason bond yields are up.  Technical factors might be playing a role. Hedge funds might have been forced to liquidate bondholdings after their positions went against them, and dealers have done less to smooth out volatility. Nonetheless, technical factors can’t explain why bonds and the dollar began behaving strangely weeks ago. The more fundamental explanation is that global investors might be changing how they view the U.S. … The dollar has long been the world’s reserve currency. Investors and central banks use dollars to defend their own currencies, pay for imports, repay debt, and for emergencies. Businesses of all nationalities transact across borders in dollars. All that creates an enormous need to hold dollars, which are typically invested in Treasurys.  … So the U.S. needs foreigners to keep rolling over the bonds they hold, and buying new ones. Even a small pullback would cause yields to jump. Jay Barry, head of global rates strategy at JPMorgan Chase, estimates that yields rise a third of a percentage point for each $300 billion decline in foreign official holdings of Treasurys. There were recent fears that China might try to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs by selling some of its own bondholdings. There is no evidence that it has, but the possibility has highlighted the risks to the U.S. of a trade war morphing into financial war. This Atlantic podcast is free I think https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2025/04/tariffs-trump-recession-economy-stock-market/682383/

iAREsniggles

What makes RFK qualified to run the HHS? You believe he got it based on merit?

Cool_Ad_5101

It’s crazy that they can choose to ignore the HHS recommendation and this would be the first time. A scam for sure 

StolenPies

RFK is head of HHS.

Straightbuggin63

If HHS solves that problem, then Wallstreetbets will be shutdown for good.

ProTHOTius

I've been in it for over 2 years, surviving 4 greater than 40% drawdowns. The company has survived the 'operation', and managed to extend its debt to 2028, has plenty of liquidity, and the $50M buyback can scoop up 25% of the float at current prices. It has suffered tremendously because of the RFK Jr's onslaught on its major customers: 2 agencies within HHS. I still see it as severely undervalued trading at 50% P/BV. One hint of profitability this years, and they have guided they will be profitable for the first time in 3 years, and I see no reason why this should not go back to 1x Book Value, or $8.56. Long term: it is a $15 stock

RaindropsInMyMind

We’re gonna have people losing jobs, losing retirement savings, while losing benefits and safety nets while also having to deal with a sharp increase in prices across the board. I see no world where this isn’t a terrible outcome. Not to even mention the threat of a real war from the trade war, a widespread cyber attack or a pandemic with the hollow husk of HHS.

Crazy_Donkies

In a few months when consumers start hurting then maybe he will make a change.  This being said I don't see a repeal of this, I see some dumbass check going to people to appease them.   I'm in the camp these tariffs are permanent to fund the tax cut or permanence of the last tax cut.  Government cuts will help toward this as well.  (Against my best wishes) Which reminds me.  Let's not forget DOGE is still ripping through HHS and DOD.  Tariffs are a great distraction. 

throwawayainteasy

Listen, your retirement accounts are smaller and goods are gonna be far less available, but on the bright side with the current state of HHS and EPA you're also no gonna live as long so you don't need as much of that stuff anyway. The polices of the Administration are actually very well integrated with each other.

xploeris

Things you SHOULD know about this industry if you're considering investing: - The giant whose shoulders Big Pharma stands on is public research - you know, the public research that Trump's administration recently stabbed in the face in the name of "efficiency". - Our HHS secretary appears to be an anti-vaccine lunatic.

JimboFett87

Why do you think HHS was so targeted last week?

Old-Strawberry-1023

They’re all jumping ship now like rats fleeing and making post hoc reasons about why they had to vote for Trump but didn’t really want to vote him even though there was an admittedly bland and boring but reasonably viable alternative available to them. Because if they don’t do that then they have to confess that their bizarre obsession with trans people and immigrants just cost the nation ten trillion dollars while pitting our most important allies against us. Voluntarily. For no reason at all. Just to fucking do it. We’re at a point where, regardless of the financial meltdown, we’re flabbergasted that the HHS Secretary actually admitted that vaccines ads effective against the measles. But I’ll be damned if I won’t sleep easy knowing that not a single male inmate become a female inmate today or whatever the fuck they babble about while my portfolio gets blowtorched

kjustin1992

Ivermectin worked and studies have shown it. Another example of how liberals rediculed conservatives and were proven wrong again. He didn't deny medical equipment. The country was severely unprepared. According to the HHS Trump acquired over 130 million N95 masks, 80 million gowns, and 14 million gloves. There was a global pandemic and there was a global supply shortage. Things have to be manufactured that takes time. He also fast tracked the vaccine which came out during Trump's terms and Biden took credit for it.

PanhandleChuck1

And layer on RFK, Jr and his wacko ideas along with gutting HHS, and were backed up decades in matters of public health.

GuyNoirPI

He has already moved on from DOGE? They fired 10,000 people from HHS 6 days ago.

CautionarySnail

The only stuff they were truthful about is the stuff doing harm to actual Americans: * job losses for career civil servants who kept us safe (FDA, HHS, OSHA) * tariffs * deliberately causing economic woes * deporting people in bulk — just not just illegal immigrants, but green card holders and random tanned citizens who happen to speak Spanish * cancelling entitlement programs like the one that kept ailing veterans from defaulting on mortgages * hating “elitist” scientists enough that they’re fleeing the country en mass Promises made and kept indeed.

Hopefulwaters

Actually, I disagree that it is political suicide. It is the opposite if done right imo. With confidence, collaboration, a new party could be born that will rule for the next 60 years by taking out the trash. The first Republican to grow the balls and support to impeach Trump, Vance, Pete Hegseth, Michael Waltz, John Ratcliffe, Tulsi Gabbard, Repeal Tariffs and pass legislation to limit them to a 90% vote by Congress, curtail executive orders, Fire Pam Bondi, Fire Leavitt, Fire & Jail & Sue Elon Musk and every member of DOGE, Restore CFPB, FEMA, USAID, DOE and reinstall our antimoney laws. Repeal pardons as illegal for Bitmex, Bitmex founders, J6ers, prosecute the Tate brothers, End the sovereign wealth fund, end all government contracts with Tesla, xAI, SpaceX and any other government subsidies Elon Musk is getting, increase hiring in the NPS, IRS, balance the budget, end all prison contracts with GEO & El Salvador, free all political prisoners, End ICE and prosecute all ICE Agents, pilots and administrators. Restore health funding for NHS HHS and CDC, and so much apologizing we need to do publicly and abroad, establish worker rights and investments into key industries and infrastructure. It is a long list of things that need to be done just to start.... but for the right leader it is not impossible. But the first person to start DOING IT and stop talking about it will basically have a party in their name for the rest of this generation's lives.

Deeznutzsgotcha

Ask Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. Or the head of HHS.

Unexpectedstickbug

Sadly, 988 is federally funded by HHS SAMHSA, which was gutted this week. Not sure if or how long 988 will last. You can also call 211 for local help or 911 in a psychiatric emergency.

counterweight7

The guy running the HHS had his brain eaten by a worm. The competition for most incompetent will be fierce.

BytheMarsh

Indeed he is--first rate--but sadly limited talent for bringing the best con-people into his administration with such dull picks. I was rooting for him to pardon Elizabeth Holmes and appoint her head of HHS. Certainly more relevant experience than RFK Jr., more bigly scammer, and surely more sincere in delivering health to the masses. And there must be a place in his cabinet for Charlie Javice -- makes Scott Bessent look like an amateur. The lady conned the mighty JPM. Discipline for the rich -- deserves an award not jail time.

AverageNo130

DEA is saving us from the scientists and researchers in the HHS.

LuluButter69

HHS says it has to be fluoride free water

Bill_Selznick

Why can't we all just admit the obvious. There aren't any great benefits further down the road. He is doing this to destroy this country. Look at what's being done at HHS. Look at his handling of immigration. Look at Elon destroying everything he touches with his brain trust of 19 year olds. Start calling it what it is. This is an invasion, a war, a coup. In 4 years, if you can even imagine it, this country will be in ruins. The burn it to the ground crowd is in power.

AverageNo130

What's the DEA's response? They know everything about cannabis. Even more than the HHS.

bro-v-wade

He'll have to compete with literal PHDs for those jobs after the HHS layoffs are said and done. RIP op.

TopherBrennan

Yeah, except for the people who die of measles because RFK Jr. is in charge of HHS now. But the rest of us will hobble through!

AverageNo130

Let's see....S3 has been in their lap since HHS approved it during Aug '23. And they still haven't found a way to shoot it down 

BHOmber

DEA delayed the S3 process after HHS handed it off to em. We all know how fed law enforcement feels about spooky scary plants. Sleepy Joe's admin admittedly did more than any other admin for reform. That is a fact. There's not much more they could do. McConnell blocked SAFE/cannabis legislation over 10 times in the Senate. Our system of checks and balances does not work with a 60+ filibuster-proof majority in a split government. Learn civics for *fuck's* sake.

dsmith422

They are slandering Rachel Levine. She is a medical doctor and admiral in the public service corps. Note, she wasn't even in the cabinet (Assistant HHS Secretary is in fact not a cabinet officer), so the shit stirrer is also an ignorant moron on basic facts.

AverageNo130

We must remember HHS approval for S3 on Aug '23. How the hell is the DEA going to overturn this? No HHS S3 approval has ever been overturned.

Crazy_Donkies

I'm in the bear camp. New real time GDP number below zero. Dropping consumer sentiment. HHS and DOD layoffs coming.  Pharma tariffs coming. Trump staffers saying new tariffs will raise $600 billion, which is 6x the automotive tariffs.  Rural Americans feeling pain. Walmart CEO claims Americans are stressed, which is highly unusual for a CEO to do.   Tariffs are an act of war, and I believe they are here to stay for tax cuts for the rich.  So double whammy from reduced exports and less disposable income.  Theoretically a 2% drop in consumer spending and 4% price increases could cause zero or negative GDP growth, many companies showing sales decreases, and smaller profits.  Add in layoffs and you have a recession.  All indications are we are tipping this way. The feds will adjust and pump money into the economy, but that won't stop a slow bleed for the next 6 months.

1bizzyone

sounds like a ready endorsement from Worm Brain at HHS

I_am_Nerman

HHS axes more than $300M in gender, DEI-related health grants to California  Canceled grants included one for adapting an "inclusive teen pregnancy prevention program for transgender boys" and "Buddhism and HIV Stigma in Thailan"

tt12345x

Our big brain HHS Sec told them to take that + vitamin A pills, now hospitals are dealing with kids who have measles *and* liver failure from dumbass home remedies like that

im_ff5

Cresco was one of my top 4! I harvested on Dec 31 and will wait for a jump in point. I lost >80%. I really hope after the DEA/HHS gets it's shit together it'll show us all why they're one of the best.

probablyuntrue

10k fired from HHS Calls on flu season

AverageNo130

I can't see DEA overturning the HHS S3 approval. No HHS approval for re-schedule has ever been overturned afaik.

PeliPal

The Secretary of HHS said everyone should get Measles, the Secretary of Defense is demanding the military make actual plans to invade our friends, the President turned the White House into a Tesla dealership for a day to personally intervene in his First Buddy's stock crashing while telling everyone else that same day that every other stock crashing doesn't matter because tariffs somehow, and all our trading partners are making plans to isolate us for their own safety and wellbeing Does a 10% drop in Dow Jones over a whole month sound like appropriate reflection of that reality, or does it sound like people are still experiencing normalcy bias, that we're just going to snap back to growth any second like Trump's first term?

Quietabandon

NOAA, NASA, HHS, DoD, FBI…  Not to mention leading research universities…

AverageNo130

Some people think they know lot more about cannabis S3 than the HHS. They need to be put in their place.

SnowFlako

HHS already did all the work for schedule three. If I read this right, it’s got minority and whatever in it. I mean guys the what World War II airplane on display or whatever it was had gay in it and they remove that. To me that doesn’t mean anything sector still sucks. Preparing to hold even longer, unfortunately.