Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Industrial Policy was the Gateway Drug to Cronyism

Source: Cato Institute
by Ryan Bourne

“In the last two months, Trump has extracted a golden share in U.S. Steel to approve its Nippon merger, strong-armed Apple into $600 billion of investment in U.S. production, called publicly for the Intel CEO’s ouster, and shaken down Nvidia and AMD for 15 percent of revenue from certain chips sales to China (in effect, an export tax). Now the administration is pondering a 10 percent stake in Intel, something that reports suggest could expand to all major semiconductor firms receiving federal funds. There’s a word for the government owning the means of production, of course: socialism.” (08/22/25)

https://www.cato.org/commentary/industrial-policy-was-gateway-drug-cronyism

Thomas L. Knapp

For peace in Ukraine, Russia needs “security guarantees” too

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Nicolai Petro

“The failure of this week’s meeting in Washington to move the needle forward toward peace hinges, in my opinion, on the failure of the participants to properly understand the security dilemma they are facing. Rather than seeking security for all, Europe is still seeking partial security, only for Ukraine. This short-sightedness stems from the desire to punish Russia, which argues that it is only defending its national interests.” (08/22/25)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/ukraine-russia-security-guarantees/

Thomas L. Knapp

Maxwell: “I do not believe [Jeffrey Epstein] died by suicide”

Source: Axios

“Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell told the Department of Justice in newly-released interview transcripts that she thinks he was murdered. … Maxwell said she had no firsthand knowledge of what happened but based her opinion on her knowledge of Epstein, who was not known to be suicidal. Maxwell faulted the Bureau of Prisons and said people can be killed for little money. ‘In prison, where I am, they will kill you or they will pay — somebody can pay a prisoner to kill you for $25 worth of commissary. That’s about the going rate for a hit with a lock today,’ she said. … the DOJ released four redacted transcripts of their interview with Maxwell, the once associated of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Friday afternoon.” (08/22/25)

https://archive.is/H35U6

Thomas L. Knapp

Is Venezuela the Next Target of the US Empire?

Source: Antiwar.com
by Will Porter & Kyle Anzalone

“President Donald Trump has deployed several warships and thousands of Marines to the southern Caribbean – just miles off the coast of Venezuela. The provocative mission was launched under the guise of an anti-narcotics crusade, but risks disastrous outcomes for both countries. While a war with Venezuela might seem unlikely, the move is sure to radically escalate tensions with the Latin American state, and in the worst-case scenario could become a trip-wire for direct conflict with Caracas.” (08/22/25)

https://original.antiwar.com/will_porter/2025/08/21/is-venezuela-the-next-target-of-the-us-empire/

Thomas L. Knapp

Italy: Ukrainian Arrested Over Nord Stream Pipeline Attacks

Source: US News & World Report

“Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected of coordinating the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines, Germany’s prosecutor general said on Thursday, adding that he would be brought before a German judge after being transferred. Seen by both Russia and the West as an act of sabotage, no one has ever taken responsibility for explosions that severely damaged pipelines carrying gas from Russia to Europe in September 2022, marking a major escalation in the Ukraine conflict and ramping up an energy supply crisis on the continent. The suspect, identified only as Serhii K. under German privacy laws, was part of a group of people who planted devices on the pipelines near the German island of Bornholm in September 2022, a statement from the prosecutor’s office said.” (08/21/25)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2025-08-21/italy-arrests-ukrainian-over-nord-stream-pipeline-attacks-german-prosecutors-say

Thomas L. Knapp

Three Positions On Childhood Vaccination: Only One Is Correct

Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp

“Individual doctors are better positioned than ‘experts’ a thousand miles away to evaluate their patients, their patients’ needs, and their patients’ risk levels, and offer their best advice on whether to undergo any medical procedure. And individual patients — or, in the case of children, their parents/guardians — are the ones entitled by right to weigh the benefits and risks, seek advice or not, and make the decisions. When a vaccine is administered, it’s injected into the patient’s body, not RFK’s body or the AAP’s body. Does the phrase ‘my body, my choice’ ring any bells?” (08/21/25)

https://thegarrisoncenter.org/archives/19880

Thomas L. Knapp