Source: Libertarian Institute
by Joseph Solis-Mullen
“When Xi Jinping departed Washington at the end of September, the verdict was already plain. Another carefully choreographed encounter produced a short extension of the trade truce, a modest $30 billion reciprocal tariff arrangement on non-sensitive goods, some coal purchases, an AI dialogue, and the familiar language of ‘constructive strategic stability.’ Ceremonial pomp, pandas, and mutual professions of personal friendship filled the space where real structural progress was absent. The outcome matched what I had advised readers to expect in the runup—namely, that the deeper frictions, technology controls, Taiwan, and Washington’s persistent urge to police Beijing’s commercial relationships, would remain unresolved. Having given things a chance to breathe, now is a good time to look at what has transpired since Xi and Trump’s meeting and to look to the road ahead.” (10/15/26)
“One of the great ironies of American politics is that Donald Trump won the 2024 election basically because a significant number of credulous voters believed his promises to bring prices down beginning on ‘day one.’ What actually happened was that America, along with the rest of the world, experienced a temporary surge in inflation in 2021-22, mainly because of the lingering effects of Covid disruptions. And voters still blamed Joe Biden for that surge. But by 2024 the war against inflation had been largely won, at startlingly low cost — the recession many analysts claimed would be necessary to get inflation down never happened, but inflation came way down anyway. And then Trump snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.” (10/15/26)
“SpaceX CEO Elon Musk dismissed claims his company had restricted connectivity speeds of its Starlink services in Ukraine that the military there said had thrown a wrench into its operations, saying the Trump administration was the likely culprit behind any service disruption. Writing on X on Wednesday, Musk said the system supplied to the Ukraine Armed Forces was a military-grade version of the satellite high-speed internet service over which SpaceX had no control. ‘Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. Government. Any limits on speeds or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately POTUS [the President of the United States].’ … Musk’s comments came after advisers to Zelensky said that on Tuesday evening connectivity aboard Starlink-equipped UAVs suddenly started being strangled when they exceeded 100 mph, prompting officials to ask Musk to remove any restrictions.” (10/15/26)
“The framework of combating drug trafficking serves as the United States’[s] primary mechanism for geopolitical control in the region. The recently announced ‘Plan Patriota Siglo XXI’–in which De la Espriella asks the United States to fund technology, radar systems, and cyberdefense and announces the resumption of aerial spraying, with Rubio leaving open the possibility of establishing a joint military base in Colombia—or the delivery of coast guard vessels to Ecuador, are not acts of philanthropy, but rather part of a circular business model designed by and for the U.S. military-industrial complex. The U.S. industrial complex reaps economic profits at the very moment its commercial establishments—authorized to sell weapons to the public—supply the cartels.” (10/15/26)
“Hezbollah has admitted ownership of a massive explosives shipment seized by Lebanese security forces, insisting the materials were intended for use against Israel while openly rejecting a government ban on its military activities. Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah confirmed on Thursday that the vehicle and its cargo belonged to the group, demanding the immediate release of two detained men and the return of the confiscated explosives. The admission marks a significant escalation in the confrontation between Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, which has launched an investigation into the shipment amid fears that the materials could be used in political assassinations.” (10/15/26)
“Health sciences today all too often function as a sophisticated propaganda system for pharmaceutical products, as the Covid‑19 vaccine rollout showed on an unprecedented scale. Since at least the 1980s, scientific institutions, journals, regulators, and mainstream news media have been gradually restructured to align knowledge production, communication, and censorship with corporate interests. This is an argument not against biomedical science but for a science of integrity, honesty, and humanity.” (10/15/26)
“Trump always has viewed the world as a zero-sum game. Whether the subject is military conflict, trade agreements, or real estate deals, he regards most outcomes as having a winner and a loser. He also never admits a mistake and certainly will not do so publicly regarding the current war. Thus the conflict continues as a search for something Trump can claim as a ‘win.'” (10/15/26)
