Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“Japan has relaxed decades-old restrictions on its arms exports, clearing the way for it to sell weapons to more than a dozen countries. The announcement on Tuesday marks a milestone in Tokyo’s shift away from the pacifism that has characterised its post-war defence policy. It also comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region. Restrictions that limit arms exports to just five categories — rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping — will be lifted. This means Japan can now sell lethal weapons to the 17 countries with which it has defence agreements, including the US and the UK. … Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said in a press briefing that the move was ‘intended to safeguard Japan’s security and further contribute to the peace and stability of the region.'” (04/21/26)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyx4vlqy4vo
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by James Bovard
“Presidents perennially claim that they possess their power thanks to ‘the consent of the governed.’ This phrase, a signature line of the Declaration of Independence, has echoed in official declarations ever since Jefferson’s time. President Harry Truman assured Congress in 1952, ‘No government can be invested with a higher dignity and greater worth than one based upon the principle of consent.’ But this has long since been a charade. As the federal government has become far larger and more heavy-handed, it is ever more important to persuade people that they consented to their oppression. But political consent is gauged very differently than consent in other areas of life.” (04/20/26)
https://www.fff.org/explore-freedom/article/consenting-to-endless-coercion/
Source: Reason
“Can New York Survive Mamdani’s Tax Plan?” (04/20/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/04/20/can-new-york-survive-mamdanis-tax-plan/
Source: Axios
“President Trump said Monday he’ll use a Cold War-era national security law to try and bolster domestic production of motor fuels and electricity. His use of the Defense Production Act comes amid high gasoline prices during the Iran war, and rising power costs. … The memos address petroleum production and refining, coal-fired power, natural gas pipelines and processing, and more. They invoke the 1950 law that gives presidents substantial powers to try to bolster private industrial production of materials and supply chains deemed vital to U.S. security.” [editor’s note: Trump and Biden both used the DPA during COVID as well. It doesn’t accomplish much, other than signaling to the serfs who claims to be in charge – TLK] (04/20/26)
https://www.axios.com/2026/04/20/trump-energy-fuel-cold-war-defense-law
Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob
“I might not win an argument explaining how San Jose’s public surveillance relates to the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. But. … That amendment insists that people have a right ‘to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,’ and that governments may not search and seize property without a warrant ‘upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.’ … I’m biased: mass surveillance is Orwellian. Do we want our government keeping track of us that much? Especially as in San Jose, where not only can over a thousand police department employees scour the data sans any legal warrant, but the department also shares this resource with over 300 agencies across the state. Creepy. That’s the word for it.” (04/20/26)
https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/04/20/c-word-in-surveillance/
Source: Forbes
“China’s President Xi Jinping on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Iran War and said the Strait of Hormuz should be reopened for shipping traffic, in his first public remarks calling for the critical waterway to be opened just weeks before he is set to host President Donald Trump in Beijing. Xi’s remarks were included in a readout of a call between him and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, released by Chinese State media. Xi said the strait should ‘remain open for normal passage,’ without singling out either Iran or the U.S. blockade. The Chinese leader also added that his country wants an ‘immediate and comprehensive ceasefire’ and is willing to support all diplomatic efforts to restore peace.” (04/21/26)
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/04/20/chinas-xi-finally-speaks-on-trumps-iran-war-says-strait-hormuz-must-reopen/
Source: Reason
by Jeff Luse
“From higher crime to teenage stoners, here are things that the weed debate got wrong.” (04/20/26)
https://reason.com/2026/04/20/3-disasters-that-legal-weed-didnt-unleash-despite-the-forecasts/
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“Berlin has summoned the Russian ambassador to condemn what it calls ‘direct threats’ against ‘targets in Germany.’ The threats, which were not detailed, are aimed at undermining Germany’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, Berlin’s Federal Foreign Office said in a statement on Monday. … Last week, Russia’s Ministry of Defence published a list of 21 companies that Moscow believes are subsidiaries of Ukrainian defence companies or suppliers of key components. At least three German firms were among those listed as supplying drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to Ukraine. The post included a vague suggestion that those locations could be targeted.” (04/20/26)
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/20/germany-summons-russian-ambassador-citing-direct-threats
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
by Ron Paul
“Supporters of the income tax implicitly endorse the idea that our rights are gifts from government and, thus, can be revoked by government at the will of our rulers. Adoption of the income tax signified the abandonment of the belief that individuals have inalienable rights granted them by the Creator. Therefore, those who believe in natural rights must reject income taxation. It is also a violation of the people’s rights when the central bank reduces the value of the dollar, and thus the people’s purchasing power, via the hidden inflation tax.” (04/20/26)
http://www.ronpaullibertyreport.com/archives/america-land-of-the-not-really-free
Source: CNN
“Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer will step down from the Trump administration to take a job in the private sector, according to a statement posted Monday by White House communications director Steven Cheung. … Chavez-DeRemer’s brief tenure has been one marked by turmoil as she’s come under internal investigation following complaints within the department about her conduct. The New York Times previously reported that her husband had been banned from the department’s headquarters amid sexual assault allegations. A criminal investigation into that matter has been closed. In March, two of her top aides were forced out amid an investigation into misconduct at the agency, the Times reported.” (04/20/26)
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/20/politics/lori-chavez-deremer-labor-secretary-out-trump
