How does the First Amendment apply to AI?
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Education
by Tyler Tone
“Far from authorless, AI models are built by a long chain of expressive decisions meriting First Amendment coverage.” (06/24/26)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
Pew survey: Global confidence in Trump stands at 23%
Source: USA Today
“President Donald Trump likes to boast that under his leadership, the United States is the ‘hottest and most respected Country anywhere in the World.’ However, according to a new Pew Research Center survey, the president’s approval ratings among adults around the globe are at an all-time low. Pew surveyed 42,151 citizens of 36 nations and found that a mere 23% of international respondents expressed confidence in Trump’s leadership on world affairs, while overall sentiment about the United States is ‘largely negative.’ … According to Pew, Indonesia, Italy, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey saw some of the most significant drops in favorable views of the United States, with each tallying double-digit declines over the past year. Of the 36 nations polled, less than 10 view the U.S. favorably. That includes Israel at 81%, followed by 68% of Ghanaians, 63% of Nigerians and Kenyans, 61% of Colombians, 58% of Hungarians and 51% of Peruvians.” (06/24/26)
Reason Interview: Jack Clark
Source: Reason
“Is AI Really Taking All the Jobs? Anthropic Co-Founder Reveals the Data.” (06/24/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/06/24/anthropic-co-founder-the-most-powerful-technology-ever-built/
To celebrate the joy of baby banks
Source: Adam Smith Institute
by Tim Worstall
“Some are deluded enough to think that this is a problem: ‘About 400,000 UK children supported by baby banks, up 11% on previous year’ … This is, of course, a glory of our society. Babbies and their mothers are supported. This is achieved entirely by the efforts of society itself, the little platoons. There is no intervention by the Lanyard Class, no compulsory confiscation to pay for it all, just Britons geting together to aid Britons. How glorious it is etc. … The correct response to this is to send ‘em the occasional £50 and leave well alone. Why mess with what works?” (06/24/26)
https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/to-celebrate-the-joy-of-baby-banks
Independence Through an Economist’s Eyes
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Angelo Monaco
“While the Declaration of Independence is frequently lauded as a masterpiece of political philosophy, I have always held that beneath its revolutionary rhetoric lies a sophisticated blueprint for a liberal economic order. Far from a mere catalog of political grievances, the document functions as a definitive rejection of the British economic system, asserting that the ‘pursuit of happiness’ is inextricably linked to the individual’s right to self-ownership, vocation, and the unencumbered exchange of labor. By grounding the legitimacy of government in the protection of pre-political, unalienable rights — most notably the security of property against arbitrary taxation and the freedom to trade with ‘all parts of the world’ — Jefferson and the Continental Congress established the moral and legal infrastructure necessary for a spontaneous market order.” (06/24/26)
https://www.fff.org/explore-freedom/article/independence-through-an-economists-eyes/
In attempt to deflect blame for results of his Iran fiasco, Trump accuses oil companies of “price gouging,” calls for DOJ probe
Source: NBC News
“President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had instructed the Justice Department to immediately probe oil companies for not lowering gas prices at the pump in line with falling costs, accusing them of ‘gouging’ consumers. Trump did not name any companies in his late-night message on Truth Social, which was posted shortly after midnight. … the American Petroleum Institute, which represents all of the major U.S. oil and gas companies, said the industry ‘shares the goal of delivering relief at the pump and restoring stability to global energy markets.’ But, ‘gasoline prices don’t move in lockstep with crude oil, especially during a major global disruption that is still affecting supply, refining and inventories,’ API spokesperson Bethany Williams said.” (06/24/26)
Rising, 06/24/26
Source: The Hill
“Robby Soave delivers his radar responding to podcaster Theo Von’s latest viral clip where he takes a hardline stance against data centers.” (06/24/26)
Turning Back the Free Speech Recession
Source: Law & Liberty
by Adam Tomkins
“The principal argument of The Future of Free Speech is that, when compared with this ‘golden age’ of the late twentieth century, free speech is now ‘in recession.’ The authors are impassioned about this. They lament it at length, and in the final (short) section of the book, they offer what they consider to be a better way ahead. The success (or otherwise) of this book hinges far more on the accuracy and quality of the authors’ account of the present than it does on their proposals for the future (which occupy only its last forty or so pages). Sadly, the authors are unpersuasive. This is not only because of their addiction to jet-setting. It is also due to their treatment being somewhat scattergun and to it being overly one-sided.” (06/24/26)
https://lawliberty.org/book-review/turning-back-the-free-speech-recession/
Chinese regime’s advanced aircraft carrier Fujian transits Taiwan Strait amid military drills
Source: South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]
“The People’s Liberation Army’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian Type 003, transited the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, a day after Taipei launched a combat readiness exercise. Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, said the Fujian could be heading back to its home port in the southern island province of Hainan for a break before it headed out to the South China Sea for more training. … The transit came a day after Taiwan kicked off a five-day military drill called the Immediate Combat Readiness Exercise, an effort meant to boost the island’s ability to quickly move to a wartime footing.” (06/24/26)
New Modes and Orders?
Source: Law & Liberty
by Michael Lucchese
“Even as we love the past, the future is not something to be feared—it is something to be redeemed.” (06/24/26)