When Police Sue Their Critics: Why Afroman’s Legal Victory Matters

Source: Independent Institute
by Sam Jenson

“On March 18th, an Ohio jury sided with rapper Joseph Foreman, better known by his stagename Afroman, in a civil tort case. Afroman, known for his over-the-top comedic style and the hit track ‘Crazy Rap,’ was in court this past week after sheriff’s deputies sued him for criticizing and making fun of them in several music videos and in interviews. In an important symbolic victory for freedom of expression, Afroman won the lawsuit. Had the government prevailed, it would have signaled that documenting government conduct and criticizing police could come at a steep price.” (03/20/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/03/20/police-sue-critics-afroman/

Wartime vs Deep Time

Source: CounterPunch
by Stephen F Eisenman

“You might as well ask why someone tugs his earlobe or scratches his chin as ponder why Trump went to war. On a certain day, in a certain place, after conversation with somebody – or all by himself – Trump decided to attack Iran. Perhaps it was a somatic reaction to an external prompt? Or an autonomic response – a fight or flight reaction – to an unknown stimulus ? We’ll never know; Trump himself doesn’t know. … Given that, it’s not surprising the U.S. is losing.” (03/20/26)

https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/03/20/wartime-vs-deep-time/

Diogenes for Our Time

Source: Law & Liberty
by Thomas M Ward

“Plato once called Diogenes ‘a raving Socrates’ and a dog. The latter insult stuck. The word ‘Cynic’ is a transliteration of the Greek Kynikos, which means dog-like. Diogenes owned the insult because the life of a dog so much resembled his own ideal of how human life should be lived. Human beings organize themselves into families and cities, and these institutions are upheld through strict customs and laws. We are animals but have deeply ingrained convictions about when and where to eat, to relieve ourselves, and to express and satisfy sexual desire. Diogenes thought these institutions and convictions, these nomismata, were ‘absurd’ and ‘ridiculous.'” (03/20/26)

https://lawliberty.org/book-review/diogenes-for-our-time/

Robert Mueller, 1944-2026

Source: New York Times

“Robert S. Mueller III, who led the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 12 tumultuous years, brought politically explosive indictments as a special counsel examining Russia’s attack on the 2016 presidential election, and then concluded that he could neither absolve nor accuse President Trump of a crime, died on Friday. He was 81. His family confirmed the death in a statement but did not say where he died or give the cause.” (03/21/26)

https://archive.is/GcQaS

Friday Philosophy, 03/20/26

Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute

“Do we have free will? If, for example, you have decided to read my article, was it up to you whether to do so, or was your decision determined by forces beyond your control? Most people think we do have free will, but there are some influential philosophical arguments that claim we don’t. The situation is quite complex; some philosophers argue that we have free will but are also determined.” (03/20/26)

https://mises.org/friday-philosophy/pink

Thanks to the Iran Hawks, Nuclear Nonproliferation Is Dead

Source: The American Conservative
by Anik Joshi

“he Iran hawks got the war they’d been seeking for the past decade or more—and they managed to kill off not just nuclear nonproliferation, but the concept of nuclear negotiations altogether. Every regime around the world remotely hostile to superpower interests will have to consider investing in nuclear weapons, as those have proven to be the only way to ensure any given regime’s survival. Given what just happened in Iran, the concept of negotiating that away has been torched, not unlike Golestan Palace in Tehran.” (03/20/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/thanks-to-the-iran-hawks-nuclear-nonproliferation-is-dead/

No Time for Losers: Why the War Meant to Save Israel May Destroy It

Source: Antiwar.com
by Ramzy Baroud

“When Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu launched their military aggression against Iran on February 28, they appeared convinced that the war would be swift. Netanyahu reportedly assured Washington that the campaign would deliver a decisive strategic victory – one capable of reordering the Middle East and restoring Israel’s battered deterrence. Whether Netanyahu himself believed that promise is another matter.” (03/20/26)

https://original.antiwar.com/ramzy-baroud/2026/03/19/no-time-for-losers-why-the-war-meant-to-save-israel-may-destroy-it

Iran war: IRGC spokesman killed in missile strike; dueling energy attacks continue

Source: NBC News

“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirms that General Ali Mohammad Naeini, its spokesperson, has been killed in an Israeli-US missile attack. … Israel’s ⁠Oil Refineries, a refining and petrochemicals ⁠company, says an Iranian attack on its complex in Haifa ‌has damaged essential infrastructure. … Iran’s ⁠attack on the Ras Laffan gas facility will cut Qatar’s liquefied natural gas export capacity by an estimated 17 percent, which could disrupt supplies to Europe, Asia and beyond. … Millions of Muslims across the Middle East celebrate Eid while Iran also marks Nowruz under the threat of war.” (03/20/26)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/3/20/iran-war-live-tehran-warns-of-intensified-strikes-if-energy-sites-targeted