DailyFriend.co.za. April 26, 2026 In the novel The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway’s character Mike Campbell is asked how he went bankrupt. He famously replies, “Two ways, slowly and then suddenly.” The United States today is in the “slowly” phase. Savvy economist and interest rate guru Jim Grant agrees that “The U.S. government is going broke but is not now broke.” In every year for two decades … Continue reading The USA Is Going Broke
March 17, 2026 Host Peter Lewis, Barry in Washington and Mark Michelson and Will Denyer in Hong Kong discuss the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, shipping, Donald Trump’s plan to postpone his visit to China, and the central banks, particularly the Federal Reserve, which is likely to hold interest rates steady amid rising inflationary pressure from much higher oil prices. Listen on YouTube Continue reading Peter Lewis Money Talk podcast
Back in the late 80s at the VOA morning meeting it was announced that the Grateful Dead would be in the downstairs conference room at 11 o’clock. A wannabe dead head, I strolled over to the C Street entrance where the band members emerged from a stretch limo. With only the music editor providing a greeting, I asked Jerry Garcia if they would like to see … Continue reading When the Grateful Dead Came to VOA…..and More
Bob, the preeminent economics columnist of his generation, died this month at 79. Neil, an esteemed journalist and author, died in September 2024 at 65. Here they are in 2005 with yours truly at VOA. Continue reading Two Friends and Colleagues Who Died Too Soon–Bob Samuelson and Neil King
The Wire-China August 10, 2025 Continue reading Hong Kong Media: Sliding Towards Irrelevance
Barry D. Wood 