Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Connor O’Keeffe
“The rising popularity of politicians on the American left who either explicitly identify as socialist or, at least, don’t shy away from or disavow the term appears to be causing genuine concern within the Washington establishment. That is, of course, entirely justified. Socialism is profoundly unjust and destructive. … However, the concern we’re seeing from the neoliberal and neoconservative establishment is frustrating. Because the political order that they have built and preserved over the last half century has made the growing popularity of this kind of ‘democratic socialism’ all but inevitable.” (09/02/26)
“El Salvador’s national bitcoin reserve grew again this week, with the government confirming its holdings now stand at 7,762 BTC. The purchase continues a policy of buying one bitcoin per day regardless of its price (ever since the country became the first nation to make bitcoin legal tender in 2021). … the accumulation has continued despite a $1.4 billion IMF financing agreement that explicitly asked El Salvador to confine its public-sector bitcoin purchases and make merchant acceptance voluntary. Bitcoin’s formal legal-tender status was rescinded through a legislative amendment tied to that same IMF deal, but the reserve-buying policy was never part of the rollback.” (09/02/26)
“By unilaterally razing and replacing the East Wing, the president again shows his disregard for the rule of law and the separation of powers.” (09/02/26)
“Do you remember over the course of the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections when Donald Trump and his ‘Make America Great Again’ movement promised to launch the United States into yet another Middle Eastern war, this time with Iran? No? No one does. Because it didn’t happen. ‘When I’m back in the White House, we will expel the warmongers, the profiteers, and take over our government and we will restore world peace,’ Trump said during a National Guard Association speech in August 2024 to cheers and applause.” [editor’s note: And everyone who cared one way or another about honesty knew he was a lying sack of crap long before he got elected the first time, let alone the second. He didn’t fool anyone; they fooled themselves, and have only themselves to blame – TLK] (09/02/26)
“The House voted Tuesday to censure Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., following a House Ethics Committee investigation that concluded he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female staffers in his office. A censure registers the House’s deep disapproval of a lawmaker’s conduct that does not meet the threshold for expulsion from office. … [House Ethics Committee chair Michael] Guest said that behavior included providing the aides with lavish gifts, making comments about their appearance and dress, sending notes regarding his affection and inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations. He also said Edwards was aware that the women were uncomfortable with his behavior.” (09/01/26)
“The $40 trillion debt point naturally prompted much griping among pundits, many of whom see their job as promoting hysteria in order to justify cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and other popular social programs. As is clear to anyone not on the payroll of the rich and very rich [or, you know, familiar with basic economics – TLK], the debt is overwhelmingly the result of tax cuts, mostly to high earners, put in place by Presidents Reagan, Bush II, and Trump. Unfortunately, confusion on the debt can spread even among the sane.” (09/02/26)
