Winning? Republicans support a war that’s pummeling ‘Main Street’

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Jack Hunter

“If you ask President Donald Trump, he is winning the Iran war, implementing a ‘comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict,’ and making serious progress on ending the war in Ukraine. So much winning — on Main Street, in the Persian Gulf, and everywhere else. But pollsters will tell you that Americans are largely against the war in Iran and feel the president hasn’t really explained why the U.S. is there. Moreover, 60% now have an unfavorable view of our ‘iron clad’ relations with Israel, and a majority have low trust in Trump’s decision-making regarding Ukraine and Russia. These are negatives that could obviously affect his party in the approaching midterm elections.” (05/15/26)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/republicans-iran-trump/

KS: Judge Blocks Law Banning Gender-Transition Treatments for Youths

Source: New York Times

“Kansas cannot enforce its ban on nonsurgical gender-transition treatments for minors, a state judge ruled on Friday. The ruling gives supporters of transgender rights a significant, though temporary, victory after more than a year of setbacks in capitols and courtrooms across the country. … The judge, Carl Folsom III of the State District Court in Douglas County, said in granting a temporary injunction that the law had likely violated parents’ rights to make decisions for their children. Attorney General Kris W. Kobach, a Republican whose office defended the law, criticized the ruling as ‘a stark example of judicial activism,’ and vowed to appeal.” (05/16/26)

https://archive.is/B404i

Liberals support even illegal protest while conservatives oppose even legal protest

Source: Expression
by Sean Stevens

“First, some good news. Almost no American surveyed, regardless of their ideological views, said that it is ever unacceptable to peacefully protest outside [a] speech. That said, significantly more liberals were accepting of peaceful protest than their moderate and conservative counterparts — but not their very conservative counterparts. If nothing else, these findings show that Lizardman’s Constant, which says about 4% of any survey will give bizarre or insincere results, is alive and well. Yet, when it comes to other protected forms of protest, very liberal and liberal Americans were significantly more supportive of their use than moderate, conservative, or very conservative Americans.” (05/15/26)

https://expression.fire.org/p/liberals-support-even-illegal-protest

The Green Deal’s War on Polish Furniture

Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Cláudia Ascensão Nunes

“Poland is one of the most dynamic and promising economies in the European Union. With GDP growth of 3.6% in 2025 and forecasts pointing to 3.7% in 2026, the country continues to establish itself as one of the continent’s engines of growth. However, there is a European regulation threatening one of the sectors that contributes most to this success: the timber and furniture industry.” (05/15/26)

https://fee.org/articles/the-green-deals-war-on-polish-furniture/

Philippines: Regime Asks Court to Deny Petition of Senator Sought by ICC

Source: Bloomberg

“The Philippine government asked the Supreme Court to deny a petition by Senator Ronald Dela Rosa to stop his arrest after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant on allegations of crimes against humanity. The government’s executive branch can enforce the ICC arrest warrant, the Office of the Solicitor General said in a comment filed to the court on Saturday and made public Sunday. … Dela Rosa was chief of police from 2016 to 2018, when ex-president Rodrigo Duterte waged a crackdown on illegal drugs that killed thousands. Dela Rosa went on to win a Senate seat in 2019 and was reelected last year. He maintains the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines.” (05/17/26)

https://archive.is/42oJc