Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Few Americans Trust the Federal Government

Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille

“It will likely come as no surprise to readers that the federal government continues to enjoy rock-bottom trust among Americans. Charitable organizations are trusted by a majority of people, and state and local governments, as well as businesses, get thumbs-up from a fair number, but the years-long downward slide in trust in the federal government to act in society’s best interest proceeds apace. That’s grounds for knowing chuckles all around, but also for concern. That’s because, perversely, there’s evidence that low trust leads to bigger government.” (08/22/25)

https://reason.com/2025/08/22/few-americans-trust-the-federal-government/

Thomas L. Knapp

Sri Lanka: Former president arrested for allegedly funding personal trip with state money

Source: CBC News [Canadian state media]

“Sri Lankan police on Friday arrested the country’s former president and senior opposition politician Ranil Wickremesinghe over allegations of misusing public funds during his tenure as president, police said. Wickremesinghe, who served as the island nation’s president from 2022 to 2024, was arrested on allegations of using public funds to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony in London after an official visit to the U.S, police spokesman Fedrick Wootler told The Associated Press. Wickremesinghe’s aide, Danushka Ramanayake, said the former president has been taken to a court after being arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigations Department.” (08/22/25)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/former-sir-lanka-president-arrested-1.7615465

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