“The United States launched new attacks on Iran last night and Tehran retaliated against American targets across the Middle East, a second day of strikes following the downing of a U.S. military helicopter. Iran’s military announced that the Strait of Hormuz, the key trade route it has largely blocked through the war, is now closed to all marine traffic in response. U.S. Central Command maintained the key waterway was still open. Three Indian nationals were killed after the U.S. military fired at a Palau-flagged tanker off the coast of Oman, India’s minister of ports, shipping & waterways said.” (06/11/26)
“Ukrainian drones have struck a historic museum in Russia-annexed Sevastopol in Crimea and the occupied [sic] port of Mariupol, as Russian authorities slashed nighttime train schedules amid intensifying air attacks across the peninsula and deep into Russia. Sevastopol’s Russian-installed governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, announced the damage on Telegram early on Wednesday. … The attack on the port of Mariupol caused a blackout at the site, according to Ukraine’s military. Several of the port’s key facilities were struck, including energy and maintenance infrastructure, which has ‘significantly limited’ the city’s capacity as a logistics hub, the military said. … In Novokuibyshevsk in Russia’s Samara oil hub region, hosting Rosneft refineries, regional governors said authorities repelled drone attacks while urging one million residents to seek shelter. Russian OSINT channel Astra confirmed the Kuibyshev oil refinery was burning after at least 29 drones attacked.” (06/10/26)
“The Libertarian Party expelled its New Hampshire chapter from the national party. For years, the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire (LPNH) has prided itself on being the radical vanguard of the liberty movement and made itself a public relations nightmare for the wider libertarian movement. Its chair, Jeremy Kauffman, became notorious for tweets he posted from the New Hampshire chapter’s account, including implying that historically black colleges and universities were ‘chimp factories’ and declaring that ‘Anyone who murders Kamala Harris would be an American hero.’ Faithless to the wider party, the LPNH endorsed and campaigned for Donald Trump over the Libertarian Party’s own presidential nominee, Chase Oliver, in 2024. When the vote by the Libertarian National Committee to eject the LPNH finally came during the party’s national conference, it was swift and decisive.” (06/10/26)
“President Donald Trump on Wednesday spent nearly a full hour ranting about the new-look Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, trashing Democrats as ‘Dumocrats’ and downplaying the sky-high inflation that his war against Iran has caused before nearly forgetting to do the one thing he’d brought reporters into the Oval Office to see. As White House aides attempted to usher the White House press pool from the room after Trump ended the event by thanking reporters …. someone pointed out that he hadn’t actually signed the bill — at the signing ceremony in the Oval Office — he quickly pivoted to attacking his predecessor’s use of an autopen as he took out his bespoke Sharpie and inked a signature on the page as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso and others watched over his shoulder.” [editor’s note: Too bad some idiot reminded him – TLK] (06/10/26)
“I’ve never considered myself a particularly brave person, but I’ve never been afraid enough to feel like I needed to be governed or to have you governed on my behalf. I’ve never been so afraid that I was willing to give up essential liberty for a false feeling of safety. I can’t comprehend this level of irrational fear.” (06/10/26)
“Amnesty International said that a significant acceleration in the speed and scale of Israeli annexation measures in the occupied West Bank amounted to a campaign of ‘ethnic cleansing’ aimed at removing Palestinians and ultimately annexing the territory. In a new report published Wednesday, the global human rights organization accused Israel’s government of implementing a state-led and -sponsored campaign that has resulted in the forcible displacement Palestinians in the West Bank. … Israel has in the past denounced accusations including allegations of ‘ethnic cleansing,’ as reflecting longtime unfair bias. It did not immediately respond to the Amnesty report.” (06/10/26)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“[A]fter saying 12 years ago that marijuana policy should decided by the states, the Times now wants the federal government to be involved: ‘The federal government needs to be part of these solutions. Leaving taxes and regulations to the states threatens to create a race to the bottom in which people can cross state lines to buy their pot. Congress can set a floor, as it has done, however inadequately, with alcohol and tobacco, and states can build on it as they choose.’ The goal should be ‘to balance personal freedom and public health.’ Libertarians have likewise had some second thoughts about marijuana legalization, but not for the same reasons as the New York Times, Republican and conservative drug warriors, or state marijuana prohibitionists. The issue with libertarians is that marijuana legalization is not marijuana freedom.” (06/10/26)
“The Florida Supreme Court paved the way for Republicans to use a new House map that the party hopes will net them up to four seats in November – delivering another blow to Democrats’ efforts to push back against GOP redistricting. In a 6-1 ruling, the high court declined a bid from groups challenging the map to temporarily halt the use of the new Republican-friendly House lines and instead implement the current map for this fall’s elections as the broader case over the congressional map makes its way through the courts. Florida’s currently congressional delegation has a 20-8 edge favoring the GOP, but the new map could offer Republicans as much as a 24-4 advantage.” (06/10/26)
Source: Cato Institute
by Emily Ekins & Jonah Messinger
“The newly released Social Security Trustees’ annual report shows that the Social Security Trust Fund’s finances have deteriorated further. The trust fund is now projected to be depleted sooner than previously expected, meaning Congress will face an even larger financing gap. Closing that gap will require larger tax increases, deeper benefit cuts, or some combination of both. Recent polling on Social Security from the Cato Institute in collaboration with YouGov offers some clues about how Americans are likely to respond to this news. Americans are aware that Social Security is underfunded, but many do not understand the severity of the problem.” (06/10/26)
