Just so we are on the same page as this news circulates today, the “billionaire buddy” that Trump referred to in that Oval Office video, Charles Schwab, who Trump said made $2.5 billion during yesterday’s tariff pump and fake, is the founder and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corporation, which started in 1975 as a “discount sales of equity securities” company.

Acquiring smaller but still large trading companies like TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab became the largest discount securities dealer in the United States, and put power into the hands of individuals to make their own trades in the stock market that did not cost a lot. Charles Schwab is also in the mortgage business.

The company Charles Schwab is publishing articles that guide its customers and readers in how to deal with this “volatile” tariff market. Clearly Mr. Schwab is just fine with it. Why this isn’t criminal for being insider trading is not clear. Martha Stewart went to jail for less.

Warren Buffet had been selling off his shares in stock in what some industry insiders say was in preparation for days like yesterday. Where the market would crash and he would be safe, and buy lower priced stocks at a bargain.

In this chaos, readers may find clarity in doing homework on this Charles R. Schwab (born 1937), and on the earlier Charles M. Schwab (1862-1839), the steel tycoon. During that time period, wealthy white men (and white women who were widowed, daughters, or not married and had money) worked for and influenced federal government, calling it public service, but really just running the government. Kind of like what is happening now, but not as obvious.

Katharine Graham was one such white woman who came from money of both her parents, was financially secure before her marriage, remained financially secure after her husband’s suicide, inherited her father’s ownership of The Washington Post with her husband, and then managed all of it after his death, and steered the newspaper through Nixon and Watergate and several other presidents.

She became close friends with investor Warren Buffet, who became an investor in The Washington Post and basically advised her as a friend and curious person of newspapers and the public.

This book is a good read right now as a way to revisit the time before Civil Rights, during 1948 when Israel was formed, during Civil Rights (but she barely talks about Black perspective, even though segregation was a top social issue for her husband before his death).

Buy the book from Binnacle Books, Stanza Books (both in Beacon), Split Rock Books in Cold Spring, or Blackbird Info Shop in Kingston.