The Daily, 03/25/26
Source: New York Times
“Are Higher Energy Prices Here to Stay?” (03/25/26)
We don’t need to argue about AI to reduce the likelihood of catastrophe
Source: Sex and the State
by Cathy Reisenwitz
“On the one hand, it’s not difficult at all for me to imagine an algorithm that could beat the pants off the smartest human when it comes to making decisions. We are not, classically, as a species, all that great at making choices that lead to the outcomes we say we want. Or even the outcomes we clearly do want. We are predictably irrational. We have all kinds of cognitive biases. I wrote a little about this not long ago in Cathy reads books: Enlightenment 2.0 review. On the other hand, I guess I’m enough of an AI scaremonger to be wary of things potentially going awry in a world in which one or several bots make all major decisions for humanity.” (03/25/26)
https://cathyreisenwitz.substack.com/p/we-dont-need-to-argue-about-ai-to
Rising Sun Over the Arctic: Japan’s Arctic Journey from North Pacific Hegemon to Democratic Polar Partner
Source: Isonomia Quarterly
by Barry Scott Zellen
“As the Arctic and adjacent ‘near-Arctic’ remilitarize and old Cold War fault lines between East and West re-remerge as salient boundaries defining new blocs of increasing mutually exclusive cooperation and strategic alignment, it’s not just NATO that’s rethinking the strategic foundations for a secure polar world in response to Russia’s military resurgence underway for over a decade now, culminating with its full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Across the Pacific from NATO’s North American member states … the states of Northeast Asia are also rethinking the foundations of Arctic security for their evolving Arctic policies, keeping pace with a fundamental geopolitical transformation of the region with roots that date as far back, ironically, as the Arctic Council’s 2013 cooperative expansion to include among its new non-Arctic observer states five Asian countries …” (03/25/26)
https://isonomiamag.substack.com/p/rising-sun-over-the-arctic-japans
TAC Right Now, 03/25/26
Source: The American Conservative
“Iran and the New World Disorder.” (03/25/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/tac-right-now-iran-and-the-new-world-disorder/
How to Keep ICE Agents Out of Your Devices at Airports
Source: The Intercept
by Nikita Mazurov
“The only surefire way to keep your devices from being searched and seized is to simply not bring them with you on your trip. If you can’t leave them at home, consider mailing them to and from your destination. Another option is to leave devices that contain sensitive information at home and instead bring throwaway travel devices you’re willing to have searched or confiscated. This doesn’t need to be an expensive proposition. You can reformat and repurpose an old phone or tablet, or purchase refurbished older models that are comparatively cheap. Then buy a temporary SIM card or eSIM so that you’re not using your usual number. Remember to let contacts know that for the duration of your trip you’ll be reachable at a different number. Create a travel account for these devices.” (03/25/26)
https://theintercept.com/2026/03/25/ice-airports-phone-security-privacy-safety/
Better Uses for the Money Pete Hegseth Wants to Throw at Trump’s Illegal Iran War
Source: OtherWords
by Lindsay Koshgarian
“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would rather use your tax dollars to bomb Iranian families than feed American families. That’s the upshot of news that Hegseth is prepared to request $200 billion in funding for the Pentagon’s new war on Iran. That’s far higher than earlier reports that put the request at $50 billion or $100 billion. And all of these astounding sums would come on top of the $1 trillion already budgeted for the Pentagon, itself a record. It should be clear: Funding this unjust, unpopular, and illegal war comes directly at the expense of ordinary Americans.” [editor’s note: And so would the cost of funding all the “social programs” the author recommends. How about cutting out ALL that spending instead of stealing the money? – TLK](03/25/26)
https://otherwords.org/our-tax-dollars-should-be-funding-our-communities-not-trumps-war/
Airbus wins Chinese airline’s 101-plane order in victory over Boeing in key market
Source: South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]
“China Eastern Airlines said on Wednesday it placed a multibillion-dollar order for 101 Airbus A320neo aircraft, marking another success for the French company after it raked in big orders from Chinese airlines in December and amid uncertainties related to a widely speculated potential deal between its rival Boeing and Beijing. … Last year, Airbus secured orders for 148 A320 aircraft from several Chinese airlines and a state-owned aircraft leasing group. China Eastern was not part of that deal. While Airbus keeps taking in orders, the speculated Boeing deal has yet to materialise, with the delayed visit to China by US President Donald Trump adding more uncertainty.” (03/25/26)
Rising, 03/25/26
Source: The Hill
“Robby Soave gives his radar on Rep. Maxine Waters eyeing a leadership role if Democrats retake the House this year, despite being 87 years old.” (03/25/26)
An Intensely Focused Mind
Source: Law & Liberty
by Caroline Breashears
“Adam Smith was an absent-minded professor who was somehow able to see further than anyone else.” (03/25/26)
What Did Republicans Expect?
Source: The Contrarian
by Jennifer Rubin
“Republicans made a calculated bet that by indulging Donald Trump’s ill-conceived and cruel schemes (e.g., unleashing ICE on cities, tariffs, wars with Venezuela and Iran, slashing healthcare to pay for tax cuts for the rich), the country would somehow stumble through. They figured congressional Republicans would share in any successes but somehow avoid any blame when things (inevitably) went haywire. Politics rarely works out that way.” (03/25/26)
https://www.contrariannews.org/p/what-did-republicans-expect