Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Deep Capture

Source: Brownstone Institute
by Sofia Karstens

“[Woodrow] Wilson’s central argument was that government should be split into two separate domains: politics, where elected officials set broad goals and policy direction, and administration, a technical, expert-driven sphere that should be run with ‘large powers and unhampered discretion’ and insulated from day-to-day political interference. Wilson suggested that government ought to be removed from the political process…in other words: ‘Democracy is too important to be left to voters.'” (08/11/26)

https://brownstone.org/articles/deep-capture/

Thomas L. Knapp

Trump Media’s Quarterly Loss Widens to $238 Million From $20 Million a Year Earlier

Source: US News & World Report

“Trump Media & Technology Group, founded ⁠by ⁠U.S. President Donald Trump ⁠and known for its Truth Social platform, reported a ​wider second-quarter loss, largely due to unrealized losses tied to its cryptocurrency assets. Its ‌second-quarter net loss jumped to $238.1 ‌million from about $20 million a year earlier, the company said in ⁠a statement. Digital ⁠assets, including cryptocurrencies, came under pressure during the April-to-June quarter ​as investors shunned riskier assets amid uncertainty over U.S. interest rates, geopolitical tensions and persistent outflows from crypto investment products.” [editor’s note: The guy went bankrupt running a casino, which is the second-closest thing to a license to print money. The closest thing is a corrupt White House and he apparently can’t make even THAT work. He seems to be about as good at business, and in the same way, as he is at golf – TLK] (08/11/26)

https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2026-08-11/trump-medias-quarterly-loss-widens-to-238-million-from-20-million-a-year-earlier

Thomas L. Knapp

The Guardian proves that renewables are not, in fact, cheaper

Source: Adam Smith Institute
by Tim Worstall

“[R]enewables are not cheaper than fossil fuels. If they were then we’d not even have a climate change problem in the first place – everyone would just be naturally scrambling for the now cheaper option and the problem would go away. Which does mean that every plan, every insistence, every fine and policy imposed is proof that renewables are not cheaper. Could even still be worthwhile, but not cheaper.” (08/11/26)

https://www.adamsmith.org/blog/the-guardian-proves-that-renewables-are-not-in-fact-cheaper

Thomas L. Knapp

SCOTUS: Alito knocked down big bucks on oil, gas investments

Source: The Guardian [UK]

“The supreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows. The analysis from the non-profit advocacy group and judicial watchdog Court Accountability, shared exclusively with the Guardian, found that even at the lowest range of estimates, Alito gained almost $400,000 from his oil and gas interests since being tapped for the high court by George W Bush in 2005. The findings come as the supreme court prepares to take up a case in which the oil companies Suncor Energy and Exxon asked the justices to find that federal law prevents subnational governments from filing lawsuits against fossil fuel producers for the climate-warming effects of their products. … Court Accountability and other groups have called for a Senate committee to investigate Alito, the sole supreme court justice with holdings in energy companies, and said he should recuse himself. He and the court rejected those calls.” (08/11/26)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/11/samuel-alito-oil-gas-assets-supreme-court-analysis

Thomas L. Knapp

Substance Beats Labels in Fighting Marxism

Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Wanjiru Njoya

“In a recent controversy over ideological indoctrination at the Smithsonian museum, one member of staff mockingly said, ‘I didn’t realize all my colleagues were Marxists.’ The implication is that their critics are using the label ‘Marxist’ to denote any historical interpretations with which they disagree. The museum’s staff insist that their only goal is to offer an ‘inclusive’ portrayal of history. Similarly, many who support diversity, equity, and inclusiveness do not necessarily see themselves as neo-Marxists, even though they promote the tenets of cultural Marxism.” (08/11/26)

https://mises.org/mises-wire/substance-beats-labels-fighting-marxism

Thomas L. Knapp