THANK YOU to subscribing contributor T, whose $5 monthly payment yesterday broke our “zero-dollar day” streak! Our annual fundraiser total currently (as of 5am) stands at $1,058.
That’s $1,693.50 short of our $5,503 goal (once we’ve raised half, $2,751.50, supporter GL will “match funds” for the other half).
This year, I’ve tried to be a little less verbose in appealing to you for support, but I guess it’s time to thump the podium and yell a bit:
You already know the story! We’re coming up on 24 years as Rational Review News Digest, with another 11 years before that as Libernet and Freedom News Daily! We’re the Internet’s oldest daily news and commentary roundup for libertarians!
We’re solid, reliable, we get the job done for you, and we only come to you once per year with the “fundraising telethon” schtick!
Once we reach a fairly modest goal, we STFU about money entirely for the rest of the year and mostly for the first three quarters of the following year!
I’d love to STFU about money entirely for the next two months and mostly for nine more months after that! You’re in control of whether or not I get to!
Stop me before I exclaim again! Oh, no, too late!
And, of course, have a great day!
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily
Source: Persuasion
by Dan Williams
“The bots are balanced where social media isn’t.” (10/28/26)
https://www.persuasion.community/p/ai-can-save-the-public-sphere
Source: Politics Politics Politics
“The Midterm Map MADNESS to Beat Them All (with Evan Scrimshaw and Ryan Jakubowski).” (10/27/26)
https://www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/p/the-midterm-map-madness-to-beat-them
Source: United Press International
“North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on military commanders to intensify training to prepare for war, state-run media reported Wednesday, as tensions persist along the inter-Korean border. … Kim praised company leaders as the foundation of the military’s strength and urged them to redouble efforts to improve their units’ combat capabilities. He was joined by senior military officials, including Pak Jong Chon, vice chairman of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission, Defense Minister Kim Song Gi and military chief of staff Ri Yong Gil.” (10/28/26)
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/10/28/Kim-Jong-Un-prepare-for-war-border-tensions/2931793180593/
Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob
“Proposition 40, in California, calls itself — in the title — a one-time tax. But does anyone truly believe that? … The Democratic Socialists of America have endorsed it, not just because it’s a tax targeted against the rich — but because they want it to be much more than a one-time thing. Those who love total government are insatiable in their lust for other people’s money.” (10/27/260
https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/10/27/not-a1time-thing/
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“Just three decades ago, Serbia was the most warmongering place in Europe. On Sunday night, its capital, Belgrade, was the scene of a celebration of peace and joy after parliamentary elections turned out an autocratic ruling party, in a win for a student movement that has no leader and largely put up nonstudent candidates. Most of the student movement’s winning candidates hold doctorate degrees, of whom 44% are women. The Student List, as it’s called, now faces the task of bringing transparency and accountability to a government soaked in crony corruption. Its success in better governance could ricochet across the Balkan states after centuries of violent ethnic rivalries. ‘Serbia is a normal country again,’ Andjela Markovic, a nurse from Belgrade, told the London-based Financial Times. ‘We proved that we can be just like any other nation, where people love their country and love each other even when they disagree.'” (10/27/26)
https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/1027/In-the-Balkans-a-victory-for-political-humility
Source: CBC News [Canadian state media]
“The fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.) has reached 10,000 confirmed cases, government data showed on Tuesday, as health authorities race to slow the spread of the disease in multiple African countries. It is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history and nearly half of the 10,060 people confirmed to have the virus have died, according to data from D.R.C.’s Ministry of Health. That also makes it the deadliest outbreak of the disease in the country’s history. The outbreak declared in May is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.” (10/27/26)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ebola-outbreak-10000-cases-9.7397981
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“How are voters feeling before Election Day?” (10/27/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/10/27/nx-s1-6019227/how-are-voters-feeling-before-election-day
Source: Reason
by Matthew Petti
“Customs and Border Protection (CBP) insists that it has the right to search Americans’ private data without a warrant when entering the country. But ordered to explain one of these searches by a judge, the agency is now trying to wiggle out from under the microscope, invoking its own data privacy. On Friday, Judge Leonie M. Brinkema in the Eastern District of Virginia ordered CBP to explain the seizure of a local psychiatric nurse’s phone and laptop at Washington Dulles International Airport. CBP argued that the court should seal this information from both the public and the nurse himself in order to protect ‘privileged law enforcement information.’ Brinkema initially agreed …. After reading the filings, the judge declared on Tuesday afternoon ‘that most of the redacted information is not privileged law enforcement information and should not be sealed.'” (10/27/26)
https://reason.com/2026/10/27/cbp-really-doesnt-want-to-reveal-what-it-does-to-americans-phones/
Source: ABC News
“Islamic extremist militants killed at least 20 Somali soldiers in an ambush, a military officer who survived the attack said, as the government acknowledged damage to military vehicles but disclosed no troop casualties. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab group, which has fought Somalia’s government for nearly two decades, claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack near Jameeca village in southern Somalia. The Defense Ministry said its troops killed about 75 militants and wounded 56 during hours of fighting. Al-Shabab claimed it killed 321 soldiers and captured prisoners and military equipment.” (10/28/26)
https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/islamic-militants-kill-20-somali-soldiers-ambush-officer-137631631
Source: The American Conservative
“Netanyahu Fails to Provoke Iranian Attack Pre-Election, w/ Robert Wright.” (10/27/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/tac-right-now-netanyahu-fails-to-provoke-iranian-attack-pre-election-w-robert-wright/
