Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, 03/16/26
Source: Politico
“Playing it Strait.” (03/16/26)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
Medical Research Is Hopelessly Caught in Red Tape
Source: Persuasion
by Ruxandra Teslo
“A story about Paul Conyngham, an AI entrepreneur from Sydney who treated his dog Rosie’s cancer with a personalized mRNA vaccine, has been circulating on X this week. What makes the story inspiring is the initiative the owner showed: he used AI to teach himself about how a personalized vaccine could work, designed much of the process himself, and approached top researchers to take it forward. Whether the treatment itself was curative and how much of an improvement it represents over the current state of the art is not the point here. What interests me instead is the bureaucratic absurdity Conyngham encountered while trying to pursue the treatment.” (03/16/26)
https://www.persuasion.community/p/medical-research-is-hopelessly-caught
Kazakhstan Approves New Constitution: 87.15% Vote in Favour, Election Commission Says
Source: US News & World Report
“Kazakhstan voted 87.15% in favour of adopting a new constitution, the Central Election Commission said on Monday. Voter turnout for the referendum stood at 73.12%, the commission said. The new constitution streamlines the country’s Parliament and recreates the office of vice president, which was abolished in 1996. It gives the president the right to appoint the vice president, as well as a host of other key officials. The constitution’s swift drafting prompted some analysts in Kazakhstan to suggest that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev might be looking to anoint a successor as vice president and leave office early, or to stay in his post with a new constitution resetting his term limits.” (03/16/26)
Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 03/16/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“US Tells All Citizens To Leave Iraq as Attacks Escalate, IDF Kills 12 in Gaza, and More.” (03/16/26)
The Voter Fraud Fraud
Source: The Bulwark
by Angus S King, Jr.
“There just isn’t evidence of significant election cheating — but that won’t stop the GOP from pushing its dangerous SAVE America Act.” (03/16/26)
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-voter-fraud-fraud-election-cheating-save-america-act
Put out more flags?
Source: Semafor
by Ben Smith
“As the Iran war dominates global economic calculations, media and social media alike, there’s one place where it’s been strangely absent: Washington, DC. The American capital in the second Trump administration has developed a bit of a devil-may-care, drink-with-lunch spirit captured in the Pentagon’s cheerily bellicose memes. Still, when I was in DC last week, I was surprised by the total absence of yellow ribbons, patriotic banners, or the usual wartime acknowledgements of fallen troops and the many others in danger. … During the Iraq War, yellow ribbons — showing support for the troops, if not the conflict — were ubiquitous, as were anti-war demonstrations. Then came the long global war on terror, which meant that the US was both constantly at war and never at war. Washington remembered Afghanistan, only briefly, when we withdrew. … The nation’s capital is, as always, a bubble, but it’s hard to see how this relative good cheer can last.” (03/16/26)
https://www.semafor.com/article/03/15/2026/put-out-more-flags
Operation Epic Sound and Fury
Source: The Dispatch
by Mike Nelson
“There’s more to winning a war than achieving military objectives.” (03/16/26)
https://thedispatch.com/article/iran-war-planning-military-objectives-outcomes/
WA: Law will make it easier for regime to distribute abortion pill stockpile
Source: Seattle Times
“Washington earlier this year had to return 30,000 expiring doses from its abortion pill stockpile to the manufacturer. A state law signed Saturday seeks to ensure remaining pills the state has on hand are easier to access and use. Before Senate Bill 5917, the state needed to sell its mifepristone pills for at least the purchase price, plus an extra $5 fee per dose. The new law eliminates the requirement for the state to get paid for the medication. It also requires the Department of Corrections to coordinate with the Department of Health to identify recipients for the pills.” (03/16/26)
How to Fix It with John Avlon, 03/15/26
Source: The Bulwark
“Trump’s War With the Fed Could Backfire (w/ Kenneth Rogoff).” (03/15/26)
Yes, Trump Can End This War
Source: The American Conservative
by Ryan Costello
“With the Iran war going very poorly, President Donald Trump has given increasing indications that he is looking for an off-ramp. He made the mistake of listening to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and other hawks in the run-up to the war, and now their Pollyannish predictions have all fallen flat. Declaring victory and getting out as soon as possible is far and away the best option available. … Yet, ending the war is not as easy as simply declaring victory. Key Iranian figures have signaled that they are not seeking a ceasefire and intend to inflict sufficient pain to deter any future attack on Iran. … To avoid a Forever War consisting of repeated short conflicts, the U.S. should start thinking about how to stop Israel from dragging it into Mideast hostilities.” (03/16/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/yes-trump-can-end-this-war/