Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, 04/16/26
Source: Politico
“Politics, polling, and more RFK Jr. animal lore.” (04/16/26)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
A Threat to the Constitutional Order
Source: Law & Liberty
by Peter J Wallison
“Advocates of the unitary executive theory believe it reinforces the separation of powers. It actually destroys it.” (04/16/26)
https://lawliberty.org/a-threat-to-the-constitutional-order/
IMF rules out augmentation of Egypt’s $8 billion loan program
Source: Middle East Online [UK]
“International Monetary Fund is not currently discussing an augmentation of Egypt’s two-year-old, $8 billion IMF loan program despite a severe impact from the Middle East war on the country’s economy, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday. … Speaking to reporters, Georgieva made it clear that the existing Extended Fund Facility arrangement, approved in late 2024, remains unchanged and that no talks are taking place to expand its size or scope. … The announcement comes as Egypt grapples with significant economic challenges triggered by the Iran-Gulf war that erupted on February 28. The conflict has disrupted regional energy markets, raised global oil prices, and created uncertainty in maritime trade routes, all of which have strained Egypt’s key revenue sources — particularly Suez Canal receipts and tourism.” (04/16/26)
https://middle-east-online.com/en/imf-rules-out-augmentation-egypt%E2%80%99s-8-billion-loan-program
Ron Paul Liberty Report, 04/17/26
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
“The State vs. Joby Weeks.” (04/16/26)
“Men of Narrow Hearts and Little Minds in High Places”
Source: Eunomia
by Daniel Larison
“It is a fitting description of so many of the political leaders we have had in the last twenty-five years. It is no accident that this has been an era defined by almost constant warfare. War is the ‘solution’ favored by the cruel and stupid. Our men of narrow hearts and little minds in high places resort to the same failed policies year after year, and they produce the same miserable results every time. They hallucinate or fabricate threats, overreact to the imaginary threats, and then needlessly kill a lot of people to ‘solve’ a problem that never existed.” (04/16/26)
https://daniellarison.substack.com/p/men-of-narrow-hearts-and-little-minds
Trump and Vance versus Pope Leo on War and Peace
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
President Trump’s and Vice-President Vance’s criticisms of Pope Leo on matters of war and peace bring to mind important points that others have historically made about America’s current system of militarism, imperialism, warmongering, and the destruction of the liberty and well-being of the American people at the hands of their own government.” (04/16/26)
https://www.fff.org/2026/04/16/trump-and-vance-versus-pope-leo-on-war-and-peace/
“The Rich Don’t Pay Their Fair Share” and Four Other Tax Myths That Won’t Die
Source: Reason
by Veronique de Rugy
“Every April, Americans spend more than 7 billion hours filing taxes and roughly the same amount of time arguing over them, almost entirely on the basis of several common myths. Here are the five most consequential.” (04/16/26)
The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, 04/16/26
Source: The New Republic
“Trump Rage at Pope Darkens as Ex-Allies Warn of Worsening Mental State.” (04/16/26)
Lebanon talks: A “farce” disguising something much more sinister
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Khaled Elgindy
“What Israel and the US seek is not a peace deal but an agreement to turn the government in Beirut into something like the Palestinian Authority.” (04/16/26)
The Return of History in Southwest Asia
Source: Law & Liberty
by Ibrahim Al-Marashi
“The third Gulf War is the latest in a long line of fumbles in the region.” (04/16/26)
https://lawliberty.org/the-return-of-history-in-southwest-asia/