Source: Semafor
by Max Tani
“The California Post is betting its buzzy launch on a war with Gov. Gavin Newsom — and the only surprise so far is the governor’s unbridled enthusiasm for a fight with Rupert Murdoch’s new West Coast tabloid.” (02/01/26)
Source: NBC News
“President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has determined that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington should close for about two years. Trump, who wrote on Truth Social that the decision is ‘totally subject’ to approval by his handpicked board, said that the center will close on July 4 and that ‘financing is completed, and fully in place.’ He did not elaborate on where the funding came from. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on questions about the funding. … Trump has frequently discussed remodeling the Kennedy Center, arguing that the theater was poorly maintained and in desperate need of repairs, some of which are already underway.” (02/01/26)
Source: JimBovard.com
“Trump’s Affordability Tariff Fairy Tales.” (02/01/26)
https://jimbovard.com/blog/2026/02/01/my-video-on-trumps-affordability-tariff-fairy-tales/
Source: The Scott Horton
“Gordon Hahn on the Impediments to Peace in Ukraine.” (02/01/26)
https://scotthorton.org/interviews/1-30-26-gordon-hahn-on-the-impediments-to-peace-in-ukraine/
Source: The Atlantic
by Jacob Stern
“Not so long ago, Ammon Bundy was the most famous right-wing militia leader in America. His two armed standoffs with federal agents had made him the face of the Patriot Movement: a loose assemblage of anti-government extremists, Second Amendment maximalists, and more than a few white nationalists. Even some mainstream elements of the Republican Party embraced him as a modern folk hero. But Bundy’s criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown now threatens to make him a pariah within his own community.” (02/01/26)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/02/ammon-bundy-trump-ice/685849/
Source: Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
“Many news reports treat the absence of a large rise in inflation since Liberation Day as a puzzle, a big problem for economists. And of course Trump and co. are crowing that all the experts were wrong. But if you look at the actual numbers, there isn’t much if any puzzle. The key point is that effective tariff rates have risen much less than headline rates. Partly this is because there have been some major carve-outs, like Apple’s exemption from tariffs on India. Partly it’s because high tariffs have led firms to take advantage of exemptions that were already on the books but weren’t worth the paperwork when tariffs were lower.” [editor’s note: Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that price increases are a symptom of inflation, not inflation itself? – TLK] (02/01/26)
https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/a-wonkish-note-on-tariffs-and-inflation
Source: Ballot Access News
“On January 30, Congressmember Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin) introduced HR 7300. It would ban ranked choice voting in federal general elections. It has many other provisions as well, including a requirement that voters in federal elections must show photo ID in order to vote at the polls. For postal ballots, a photocopy of ID must be enclosed, although overseas military are exempt. The bill has 24 co-sponsors, all Republicans.” (02/01/26)
Source: Lions of Liberty
“Dave Smith vs. Right Hypocrites / ICE Protests Color Revolution.” (02/01/26)
https://www.lionsofliberty.com/episodes/dave-smith-vs-right-hypocrites-ice-protests-color-revolution
Source: Pink Flame of Liberty
“Wolff v. Trump: Melania moves to DISMISS.” (02/01/26)
Source: Orange County Register
by Dave Min
“The murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by masked federal agents earlier this month shocked our consciences. But it is important to understand these killings were the inevitable result of a culture of violence and lawlessness at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in which masked DHS agents have been routinely engaging in brazenly criminal acts across the country for months with no accountability or oversight. To be clear, punching someone in the face because you don’t like the sign they are holding is a crime. Same with pulling a gun on or spraying bear mace at a peaceful bystander. And yet we have seen literally thousands of clearly documented crimes like these committed by DHS agents over the past year with no consequences or even investigations. This is part of a broader culture of lawlessness and contempt for accountability that permeates DHS and ICE.” (02/01/26)
https://www.ocregister.com/2026/02/01/dave-min-trumps-lawless-dhs-is-tearing-america-apart/