Bulwark Takes, 12/19/25
Source: The Bulwark
“Epstein Files Released, Elise Stefanik Quits.” (12/19/25)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
Remembering Rob Reiner’s Masterpiece
Source: Law & Liberty
by Titus Techera
“Reiner deserves to be remembered because he inspired great affection in millions and millions of people, for, as of now, two generations. Since it’s Christmas, it would be best to remember him by going back to The Princess Bride, which is less of its time than the other movies and more fitting for a family viewing. … More than the funny dialogue or the irony of pointing out the structure of a fairy tale, what makes The Princess Bride such a clever story is the skill with which it brings out what it feels like to be a boy.” (12/19/25)
Capability-based budgeting: A practical roadmap for getting started
Source: Niskanen Center
by Solitaire Carroll
“Capability-based budgeting is not a wholesale reorganization. It’s a way of making the budget legible: first to yourself, then to leadership, then to oversight. Capability-based budgeting is an approach to budgeting that can apply to any kind of team — whether or not you are providing direct support to public facing or mission critical work. You can begin with a single portfolio, a single project, or even a single conversation about what outcomes your team is truly accountable for. Below is a practical roadmap for getting started, based on real federal implementations and the lessons learned along the way.” (12/19/25)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/capability-based-budgeting-a-practical-roadmap-for-getting-started/
How the Charter School Industry’s Newest Scheme Could Be “the Death of Public Schools”
Source: CounterPunch
by Jeff Bryant
“The letters started coming in October 2025. In the first wave, according to the Florida Policy Institute (FPI), “at least 22 school districts in Florida” got letters alerting them that charter school operators, including a for-profit charter school management company based in Miami, intended to use a state law recently enacted to open new charter schools on the campuses of existing public schools beginning August 2027. … With school enrollments in steep decline in nearly every district in the state, fear of a potential mass charter school industry takeover of public school spaces—along with the costs local districts will incur—looms over district leaders across the state and strikes them as a clear existential threat.” [editor’s note: Not sure how this is a bad thing. It exposes “charter schools” as what they are (part of the “public education” monopoly), meaning that monopoly might die off more quickly – TLK] (12/19/25)
France: Court rejects regime’s request to suspend Shein
Source: Deutsche Welle [Germany]
“A Paris court on Friday rejected the French government’s request to suspend Chinese online platform Shein. The government made the request for a three-month suspension after public outcry sparked by the presence on the platform of child-like sex dolls and other illicit items. Besides child-like sex dolls, illegal weapons and banned medications were also found on the platform. The court said in its Friday ruling that suspending Shein would have been ‘disproportionate,’ as the offending products had been removed from the platform.” (12/19/25)
https://www.dw.com/en/france-court-rejects-request-to-suspend-shein/a-75247011
The Tom Woods Show, episode 2719
Source: The Tom Woods Show
“Covid Justice? Here’s a Step.” (12/19/25)
Ukrainian Security Guarantees Are Dangerous and Counterproductive
Source: The American Conservative
by Josh Shifrinson
“A security guarantee for Ukraine is a terrible idea. Even as it would reverse Trump’s long-standing opposition to further enmeshing the United States with Ukraine, a guarantee carries a range of dangers for the United States, Ukraine, and the European NATO allies while delivering few benefits. Whether offered as part of a peace deal or ceasefire, the guarantee may do little to deter Russia. Further, should a conflict break out, the arrangement is poised to trigger a fundamental crisis in U.S.–European relations. Above all, the guarantee promises to complicate rather than ameliorate Ukraine’s own understandable desire to find security for itself in the shadow of its Russian neighbor.” (12/19/25)
Weekend Special Edition (with Year-End Fundraiser Update)
Hey, everyone …
As Christmas and the new year approach, our daily editions will likely get shorter — not because we’re not willing to do the work, but because many of our sources take some time off this time of year. Content is still rolling in, though, so we’ve got a short (10-item) “weekend special edition” for you this morning.
THANK YOU to supporter CS, whose $15 donation yesterday brings our year-end fundraiser total to $2,108.84!
We’re $641.66 short of our goal — once we’ve raised $2,750.50, supporter GL will “match funds” to get us to the $5,501 finish line. We’re reader-supported, so please weigh in with some holiday reader support cheer at:
https://news.rationalreview.com/support-rrnd
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily
PS: A couple of asides …
My family’s in the process of moving house, and I decided to purchase an old (1990), cheap ($700) “pop-up camper” to use as a home office. This is my first morning working from it, and I’ve only got one complaint: It’s COLD. Well, cold for Florida — it’s 44 degrees outside and not much warmer in the camper. I’m gonna have to run a bigger space heater. Anyway, this marks the first time since RRND started in 2002 that we have our own dedicated office space! Huzzah!
Also as part of the move (further out into the country, outside cable Internet reach), I switched to Starlink satellite Internet, and after a month I have to pronounce myself VERY satisfied with its price, quality, and reliability. If you’re looking for Internet service, please try Starlink through the link below. You’ll get a free month and so will I:
https://starlink.com/residential?referral=RC-DF-8980236-19330-50
I suggest buying the equipment through Amazon or Walmart rather than directly from Starlink. It’s usually less expensive.
Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous weekend! – Tom
US regime carries out “massive strike” in Syria
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“The US says its military has carried out a ‘massive strike’ against the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria, in response to a deadly attack on American forces in the country. The US Central Command (Centcom) said fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery ‘struck more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria’ Aircraft from Jordan were also involved. It said the operation ’employed more than 100 precision munitions’ targeting known IS infrastructure and weapons sites.” [editor’s note: If American forces weren’t in the country, where they have no business being, they wouldn’t be getting attacked there, would they? – TLK] (12/20/25)
104 murders in 107 days
Source: The Watch
by Radley Balko
“The Trump administration’s assault on alleged drug boats has killed about one person per day since early September. These are murders, and basic humanity demands that we not get complacent about them.” (12/19/25)