BREXIT - Further Down the Rabbit Hole

"In the UK, Brexit supporters feel their will is being thwarted" PBS NewsHour 4/9/2019

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SUMMARY:  Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking an extension for the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, after failing three times to get Parliament to agree to her proposal.  Now some Brexit supporters are afraid their country’s separation from the EU will never happen.  Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports on the mood in Gravesham, a district south of London, which voted to leave.

"EU may offer a Brexit extension, but political complexities remain" PBS NewsHour 4/10/2019

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SUMMARY:  With the United Kingdom’s initial extension for Brexit expiring Friday, the pressure is on for a gathering of European Union officials to come up with an alternative.  Nick Schifrin talks to Amanda Sloat, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former deputy assistant secretary of state, about breaking news of a possible reprieve for the UK and which EU leaders are taking the hardest line.

BREXIT - Britain Going Down the Rabbit Hole

"Prolonged Brexit impasse causes rising angst in the UK" PBS NewsHour 3/25/2019

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SUMMARY:  European leaders agreed to delay the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union for at least a few weeks, but there is still no deal for how the withdrawal will occur.  As the impasse drags on, protesters take to the streets and it's clear that “Brexiters” and “Remainers” alike are growing increasingly impatient and uneasy about their country's fate.  Malcolm Brabant reports from Yorkshire.

"On Brexit, Parliament’s only consensus comes as rejection" PBS NewsHour 3/27/2019

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SUMMARY:  British Parliament voted Wednesday on eight proposals for how the United Kingdom should handle a stalled Brexit, yielding no consensus beyond disapproval for exiting the European Union without a deal.  As a result, is the outlook brightening for Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan, which Parliament has rejected twice?  Nick Schifrin talks to Allie Renison of the Institute of Directors for analysis.

"After another failed vote, what’s next for Brexit?" PBS NewsHour 3/29/2019

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SUMMARY:  Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal for a third time Friday, though by a smaller margin than in the prior two votes.  While May vowed to keep trying to secure her deal’s approval, both the UK government and its people remain divided.  Judy Woodruff talks to Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House a London think tank, about the lack of consensus and May’s outlook.

BRITAIN - Brexit, You Bought It and You Own It

"With May’s plan defeated, could a no-deal Brexit be ‘ruinous’ for the UK?" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2019

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SUMMARY:  Britain's Parliament soundly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s revised Brexit plan.  May had secured some concessions from the European Union over the most contentious parts of the agreement, but they weren’t enough for opponents.  With less than three weeks until the scheduled date for Brexit, the UK’s trajectory remains unclear.  Judy Woodruff talks to special correspondent Ryan Chilcote.

"‘Political meltdown’ grips UK after Theresa May’s Brexit defeat" PBS NewsHour 3/12/2019

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SUMMARY:  The United Kingdom continues to face political turmoil over Brexit, as Prime Minister Theresa May failed to find enough support in Parliament for her amended agreement with the European Union.  Judy Woodruff talks to Sir Peter Westmacott, former British Ambassador to the U.S., about the most likely courses of action now, May’s “extremely fragile” majority and why Brexit matters across the globe.

"Parliament wants to delay Brexit, as May vows 3rd vote on proposed deal" PBS NewsHour 3/14/2019

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SUMMARY:  The United Kingdom's political crisis over how to exit the European Union continues.  This week, Parliament rejected the option to leave without an agreement, and on Thursday, it voted to delay Brexit for three months.  If the EU grants the extension, will it offer Prime Minister Theresa May a "lifeline?"  Foreign affairs correspondent Nick Schifrin talks to Peter Spiegel of the Financial Times.

UNITED KINGDOM - Brexit, Major Disruptions?

IMHO:  Brexit, sorry to say, was the biggest mistake the British voter made.

"Leaving EU without a Brexit deal could cause major disruptions in UK" PBS NewsHour 8/17/2018

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SUMMARY:  Two years ago, British voters decided in a bitter referendum to quit the European Union.  Now the country's imminent departure, possibly without an agreement between the two bodies, could cause chaos.  Special correspondent Malcolm Brabant reports on how Brexit has divided Britain and how some are preparing for a potentially difficult economic fallout.

OPINION - Shields and Brooks 7/27/2018

"Shields and Brooks on Trump’s role in the economy, Michael Cohen, and the Russia probe" PBS NewsHour 7/27/2018

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SUMMARY:  Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s news, including a blockbuster new report on U.S. economic growth, the fallout from President Trump’s trade wars, plus the latest developments in the Russia investigation, including whether the President knew about a 2016 Trump Tower meeting ahead of time.

Judy Woodruff (NewsHour):  So, from the Russia investigation to the economy, and other things, it’s been a busy week for this President.

We turn now to the analysis of Shields and Brooks.  That is syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks.

It is so good to see both of you together.

Mark Shields, syndicated columnist:  Thank you.

Judy Woodruff:  Sometimes, in the summer…

Mark Shields:  I have been here, Judy.

(LAUGHTER)

Mark Shields:  I haven’t been missing.

Judy Woodruff:  So, let’s start — David, we’re going to start with you, because you have been away — with the economy, our lead story tonight.

Blockbuster numbers for the past second quarter of the year, growth off the charts.  The President said today several times that he deserves the credit for this, his policies have led to a turnaround in the American economy.

Does he deserve the credit?  What’s the significance for him?

David Brooks, New York Times:  Totally.  We would be back in medieval economy if not for Donald Trump. [sarcasm]

No, it’s just a truism that Presidents get the blame when it’s going down and they get the credit when it’s going up.  But their effect on the economy is generally over the long term.  It’s not a short-term thing and not a quarter-by-quarter thing.

I think, if you look at the economic data, there is a lot of consumer spending.  And that probably, as David Wessel said earlier in the program, because of the tax cuts.

I think the business investment is not as high as you would think it would be.  The whole idea of corporate rate cuts is, you’re handing a lot of money back to corporations, and they’re going to blow out the ceiling.

And it’s fine, but it’s not what you would expect.  And, earlier, I thought the tax cut really was having an effect in inducing corporations to invest.  That seems not to be the case.  It’s not bad, but it’s not fantastic.

And so I would say the tax cut gets some credit, but not a lot.

Judy Woodruff:  Mark, how do you look at these numbers and the President’s role in all this?

Mark Shields:  I look at it, Judy, that Donald Trump is capable of convincing people of just about anything.

I mean, recall, if you will, November 2016, when he got elected, he convinced enough voters that the country was at the brink of desolation and destruction.  We, at that point, had — were in a point of 89 consecutive months of economic growth, of 80 months (an historic high in the country) of job growth, consecutively.

Judy Woodruff:  When he was elected.

Mark Shields:  When he was elected in November 2016.

He somehow was able, at a time when longevity was an all-time high, graduation rates were at an all-time high, pollution, other than greenhouse gases, were at an all-time low — I mean, it was — it was really a good era.  And yet he was able to say, this is the worst time in America, it’s the darkest moment.

Now, David’s right.  He does — the President does either get credit or blame.  And I would just point out to him, as a cautionary note, the last time the economy grew at a faster rate was third quarter of 2014, when it grew — Barack Obama was President.  It grew at 5.2 percent, David Wessel mentioned.

And that election of 2014, the Democrats’ numbers in the House of Representatives lost to the point where they had their lowest number since 1928, they held fewer state legislatures than they had at any time prior to the Civil War.

And so, when the economy is bad, the economy is the only issue.  When the economy is good, the elections are oftentimes about other issues.

UK ECONOMY - The Royal Wedding

"Why the royal wedding is a gift for the UK economy" PBS NewsHour 5/18/2018

This is one of those 'DUH' questions.

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SUMMARY:  Saturday's wedding between Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle has provided a much-needed boost for Britain’s economy during the uncertainty of its separation from the European Union.  From those hawking commemorative knickknacks to the cucumber industry, special correspondent Malcolm Brabant explains what the windfall means for the U.K.

The Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (9:33:14)