Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Trump Failed to MAGA

Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger

“When Trump won the presidency in 2024, there were high hopes among his MAGA supporters that this time around, he would succeed in MAGA. They looked on him as the man on the white horse — the man who, if given free rein, would restore America to greatness. In fact, for the past two years, Trump has enjoyed extraordinary freedom to do pretty much whatever he wants. … None of this proclivity toward dictatorial power has made America great again, unless, of course, one defines ‘greatness’ as living under a powerful, tyrannical welfare-warfare state rather than in a free, peaceful, prosperous society characterized by a limited-government republic.” (11/06/26)

https://www.fff.org/2026/11/06/trump-failed-to-maga/

Thomas L. Knapp

South Africa: ANC faces coalition scramble after electoral rout as control of key metros slips away

Source: Daily Maverick [South Africa]

“The African National Congress (ANC) faces a difficult balancing act after suffering major losses in the 2026 local government elections: regrouping quickly to negotiate from a position of strength, while determining which parties to partner with to retain municipal influence. The party has been pushed out of the leading position in several key metropolitan councils, including Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, where the Democratic Alliance (DA) has emerged as the leading party. In eThekwini, the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party leads, while the ANC remains the top party in Buffalo City. Mangaung also faces tight contention, making securing a governing majority a tough task for the party. The results emphasise the scale of the ANC’s electoral setback and the challenge confronting its leadership as it prepares to enter coalition negotiations across the country.” (11/07/26)

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-07-anc-faces-coalition-scramble-after-electoral-rout-as-control-of-key-metros-slips-away/

Thomas L. Knapp

America’s Backlash Against Oligarchy

Source: Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman

“The midterm result was a tale of many backlashes. There was the backlash of erstwhile Trump voters, particularly young white males, against high gasoline prices and the Iran War. There was the backlash of Hispanic voters against ICE and Trump’s horrific deportation policy. There was the backlash of Black voters against Republicans’ gerrymandering to negate their votes and Trump’s open racism. There was the backlash of women against the destruction of abortion rights and suppression of the Epstein files. There was a backlash of ordinary families against the loss of healthcare coverage. There was a general backlash against Trump’s bottomless corruption and lies. And there was a backlash of patriotic Americans against Trump’s bromance with Putin. Yet one of the most stunning blows was against the class of oligarchs, whom voters reasonably believe have been major enablers Trump and the Republicans, allowing them to inflict significant economic, social and strategic harm the country.” (11/06/26)

https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/americas-backlash-against-oligarchy

Thomas L. Knapp

A New Factory Isn’t Necessarily a Sign of Growth

Source: Independent Institute
by Randy Simmons & Diana W Thomas

“In 1989 The Economist described a Soviet bus factory whose workers took sledgehammers to newly manufactured trucks. The bus factory needed only the truck chassis, but government rules required the truck factory to supply the whole vehicle, most of which the bus makers would destroy. Complying with the rules meant producing things only to smash them. The workers and managers understood the waste, but changing government standards was harder than dismantling trucks. Individually sensible responses to political directives produced collectively senseless results. Keep that factory in mind when considering Audi’s proposed $4-billion assembly plant in Georgia.” (11/06/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/11/06/new-factory-isnt-necessarily-sign-of-growth/

Thomas L. Knapp