December 17, 2015

Who Is The Least Influential Person In 2015?

 
 
 
 

PNUT GALLERY


After much deliberation and vote tallying, the results are out. See which world leaders made the least impact on our lives this year and who won the Pnut’s 2015 Least Influential Person of the Year. 
 


IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ


Macro 101 Part 1: Federal Reserve: ‘We Have Lift Off!’


After months of hype, the US Federal Reserve announced that it would raise interest rates for the first time in a decade to 0.25%. The move comes after months of casual hint dropping by Chairwoman Janet Yellen that built up more hype than a new season of Game of Thrones. The Fed also indicated that rates would “gradually” rise with as much as four increases in 2016.

What does this mean?
Broadly speaking (and really, very broadly speaking) this is a vote of confidence on the US economy. Central banks raise rates to cool down the economy, avoid bubbles and keep inflation low. The rest of the world has an opposite problem, their economies are growing too slowly and they have no inflation. So, in a way, what Yellen is really trying to say is: USA! USA! USA! 

 

Macro 101 Part 2: US Government Decides To Stay Open Next Year


The US Congress reached an agreement to keep the government funded until September 2016 which, apparently, is cause for celebration. The budget deal is Paul Ryan’s first big test as Speaker of the House and so far, it looks like he’s passed with flying colors. He announced the deal to his fellow Republicans saying they won some battles and lost others (aka compromise).

Key parts of the bill include the lifting on oil export restrictions, benefits for 9/11 first responders and a few tax breaks. You can read the 2,000 page bill here or Politico’s summary here.

 


NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

 

Saudi Anti-Terror ‘Coalition Of The Willing’ Lacks Coalition

 
Two days ago we reported on a new Saudi-led anti-terror coalition made of Muslim countries. Many of you were surprised, but none more so than the Pakistani government who were mentioned by the Saudis as a member of the coalition despite having no knowledge of it. The Pakistani Foreign Minister called his ambassador in Riyadh to find out what the deal was. Malaysia and Indonesia had similar reactions… Surprise!



South African Protesters Want Zuma To Zoom Out Of Office


Thousands of South Africans marched in the streets of Johannesburg and Cape Town yesterday demanding that President Jacob Zuma “must fall.” Even Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s daughter told them to “send him on his way” in a sign of growing frustration with Zuma’s governance after corruption scandals and a game of musical chairs with his Finance Ministers crashed both the currency and the stock market. 
 


Baltimore: Trying To Move On Past Freddie Gray


A judge in Baltimore ruled a mistrial in the case of one of the policemen charged with manslaughter for the death of Freddie Gray, a 25 year-old Black man who died under police custody due to an injury in his spinal cord. The case exposed fissures in police’s treating of young Black men in America. Baltimore Mayoral Candidate Calvin Young told us that “Baltimore is patient” and that eventually these trials would build a stronger city. 
 


Qatari Hunters Kidnapped While Hunting In Tourism Hotspot, Iraq 


100 armed gunmen kidnapped 27 Qataris, including members of the ruling family, while on a hunting tour in Iraq. Arab hunters routinely go to Iraq to hunt for a pheasant type bird with their pet falcons. One half of Iraq is governed by a Shiite government and its militias who aren’t friendly with Sunni Qatar and the other half is governed by ISIS, which isn’t friendly with anyone. All of this begs the question: who the eff goes hunting in Iraq?
 


Keeping Our Eye On…

  • Social Media: Turns out the San Bernardino attackers didn’t discuss Jihad openly on Facebook… they used private messages. Don’t worry, that nuance won’t stop the government from friending you on the Book of Faces anyway. 
  • North Korean Subversion: The hermit kingdom gave a Canadian pastor hard-labor for life for “subversion” against the state. Not sure what that means in a country where the leader’s uncle gets fed to ravenous dogs.
  • Flights To Cuba: The US and Cuba, two nations who have been annoying/scaring each other for years (missile crisis anyone?), have reached an “understanding” on resuming regular flights between the two countries. All part of a grand plan to become friends again.
  • Weird Pnut: New Zealand has given approval to the Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster to carry out marriage ceremonies. Members of the church are called…wait for it…Pastafarians and believe that the world was created by a spaghetti-based being. The church’s top official is called Top Ramen.
 
 
Barack Obama Singing Hotline Bling by Drake
Obama Singing Hotline Bling. The Internet Is A Weird, Weird Thing
 

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