“For most of modern history, the perception of whether a country is ‘rich’ or ‘poor’ has centered on the wealth of its citizens. We look at median incomes and GDP per capita to divide the world into prosperous nations — usually Western democracies with median household incomes above $30,000 — and poorer ones in the developing world, where typical earnings are a fraction of that. This citizen-level view of wealth makes intuitive sense, because income dictates living standards. But there’s another, increasingly-important way of understanding national wealth: by examining the financial health of the state itself.” (12/12/25)
“A federal judge on Friday barred U.S. immigration authorities from re-detaining Kilmar Abrego García, acting on fears raised by his lawyers that officials intended to take him into custody just hours after he was ordered released. Those concerns arose in response to government maneuvers in the wake of U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling Thursday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been unlawfully detaining Abrego for months. Abrego, a 30-year-old undocumented immigrant and longtime Maryland resident, became a flash point in the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. The White House had repeatedly called Abrego a smuggler and ‘a proven gang member,’ though those allegations are still pending in the courts, and threatened to deport him to countries in Africa or Central America.” (12/12/25)
“The problem is communism — in finance. That’s the world according to Robert Kiyosaki, says an Epoch Times profile. ‘Kiyosaki described the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank — established in 1913 with a goal of stabilizing the nation’s monetary supply following years of extreme volatility, and preventing panic — as a Marxist organization,’ Travis Gillmore writes. ‘When the Fed came to America, it was the end of America,’ states Kiyosaki, who co-authored a bestselling investment book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, in 1997, ‘and our freedom is being stolen via our money.'” (12/12/25)
“Democrats on Friday released 19 new photos from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, showing him alongside President Trump and former President Clinton. … Democrats said they had obtained 95,000 new photos from the Epstein estate. The 19 they released online include images of Epstein and several notable figures. The images posted by Oversight Democrats included a black-and-white photo of Trump with six women. The women’s faces are covered with black boxes to prevent their identification. Another photo shows condoms with a cartoon image of Trump on each package along with the words ‘I’m HUUUUGE!’ … The photos released by Democrats show a number of famous people with Epstein, including Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser, as well as Clinton, filmmaker Woody Allen, attorney Alan Dershowitz and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.” (12/12/25)
Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Daniel J Mitchell
“According to a new report from the New York Federal Reserve, Americans have accumulated over one trillion in credit card debt, an all-time high. It’s a record that would make financial advisor Dave Ramsey lose the remaining hair on his head, but even worse, the share of balances in serious delinquency climbed to a nearly financial-crash level of 7.1%. In other words, Americans are borrowing more and paying back less. This alarming trend has naturally drawn the attention of politicians eager to offer a quick fix. Unfortunately, the solution gaining bipartisan traction is a blanket cap on credit card interest rates. Like most political quick fixes, it is an economic prescription guaranteed to harm the very individuals it claims to protect.” (12/12/25)
“The term ‘narco-terrorist’ is meant to dehumanize and desensitize. Their conduct — murder, terrorism, and poisoning Americans’ bodies — morally disqualifies them and, therefore, justifies extraordinary punishment. The possibility that harmless fishermen are blown to pieces must not weaken our leaders’ resolve to defend the nation. The boat strikes may be illegal and appalling, but the Trump administration’s conduct follows a long historical pattern, where America’s enemies operate outside the acceptable boundaries of civilization, and Washington’s heavy-handed response can be justified by notions of national security, economic interests, racial superiority, or basic human decency — or all four simultaneously.” (12/12/25)
“South Korea’s former acting leader Choi Sang-mok was indicted Thursday on charges related to the brief imposition of martial law in December 2024 by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, becoming the latest high-profile figure embroiled in legal troubles over the case. Choi is one of three top Yoon administration officials who served as caretaker presidents after Yoon was impeached and removed from office over the martial law declaration that plunged South Korea into massive political turmoil. Yoon is now in jail while facing a high-stakes criminal trial on rebellion charges. Dozens of high-level officials and military commanders of the Yoon administration have also been arrested, indicted or investigated over their roles in Yoon’s martial law debacle and other allegations.” (12/12/25)
“Even in our government-laden market economy, private enterprise — entrepreneurship — is extraordinary. Consumers at all levels are the beneficiaries. How could it be otherwise? If they don’t like something, they let the capitalists know, and other capitalists stand ready to take their place. … That the executive branch, thanks to Congress, has the power to approve, reject, or modify mergers and acquisitions is an abomination in a society that calls itself free. That The Maestro — the man who would be king — expects to review Netflix’s proposal personally is simply the latest outrage and perfectly consistent with Trump’s ‘philosophy’ of governance, or more to the point, his ridiculously expansive view of his coercive power over peaceful exchange, that is, social cooperation.” (12/12/25)
