Reasonably Optimistic, 07/08/26
Source: Washington Post
“How populists turn distrust into power.” (07/08/26)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/impromptu/how-populists-turn-distrust-into-power/
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
The Indestructible Aspiration Toward Freedom
Source: Mindset Shifts
by Barry Brownstein
“Can the transformation of America into a ‘State without freedom’ be stopped? Is it possible to learn of the dangers to freedom and human progress without first living through our own bitter experiences? I know it is fashionable to believe that the new wave of communist/Islamist candidates is hardly a threat to become mainstream outside of blue urban centers in the United States. History says we are one economic crisis away from that view being proven wrong.” (07/08/26)
https://mindsetshifts.substack.com/p/the-indestructible-aspiration-toward
Conditional pardon granted for Ruth Ellis, last woman executed in UK
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, has been granted a posthumous conditional pardon. Ellis was hanged at London’s Holloway Prison in 1955 after being convicted of murdering her lover David Blakely. Her family have campaigned for her murder conviction to be overturned, arguing she was a victim of domestic abuse and was physically and emotionally abused by Blakely before shooting him. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told MPs the King had granted the pardon, saying that the death penalty had been replaced with a sentence of life imprisonment.” (07/08/26)
Tom Blanton, Awesome Antiwar Artist, RIP
Source: JimBovard.com
by James Bovard
“One of America’s most talented antiwar artists and political satirists passed away last week. Tom Blanton did one of the best daily roundups of government oppression and outrages stories on the Internet. His Project for a New American Revolution was an inspiration for me and thousands of other folks over the years. Tom was also one of the best and funniest headline writers I knew. He was principled, courageous, and talented as the day is long. He was 68 years old and a lifetime resident of Richmond, Virginia. His Flickr page showcases his political art and other smackdowns of contemporary culture from the last 15 years. His artwork is shareable under a C.C. 4.0 license.” (07/08/26)
https://jimbovard.com/blog/2026/07/08/tom-blanton-awesome-antiwar-artist-rip/
Checks & Balances, 07/08/26
Source: Checks & Balances
“What If Trump Seizes the Ballots?” (07/08/26)
https://chkbal.substack.com/p/what-if-trump-seizes-the-ballots
Sources: Hegseth Cancels Meeting With Netanyahu Over Possible Sale of F-35s to Turkey
Source: US News & World Report
“U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth canceled a meeting that had been scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli source told Reuters. Any such sale would likely anger Israeli officials. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Hegseth had also been scheduled to meet Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on a trip to Israel and that Iran would feature in their discussions. … In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he opposed the sale of F-35s to Turkey, and that he had made his opposition clear to Trump.” (07/08/26)
Reason Interview: Clark Neily
Source: Reason
“Can the Supreme Court Still Restrain Executive Power?” (07/08/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/07/08/can-the-supreme-court-still-restrain-executive-power/
Inside the growing religious revolt against Christian Zionism
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Connor Echols
“Faith groups battled over Israel Tuesday during a marathon day of lobbying on Capitol Hill.” (07/08/26)
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/christians-united-for-israel-lobbying/
The Art of Remembering
Source: Law & Liberty
by Kirstin Anderson Birkhaug
“If we love our freedom and want to keep it, the first thing we must do is remember.” (07/08/26)
ME: Platner trying to put “thumb on the scale” vis a vis replacement Senate candidate, Democratic Party claims
Source: New York Post
“Graham Platner seems not to like taking no for an answer. The head of the Maine Democratic Party accused the embattled Senate candidate and alleged rapist late Tuesday of trying to put his ‘thumb on the scale’ as the party scrambles to find a replacement ahead of the November election. … ‘We have repeatedly reiterated to Graham Platner’s team that they have no role in determining our next Democratic nominee for the US Senate, nor in determining what this process looks like,’ [MDP Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said]. ‘We have also reiterated that Graham Platner must drop out of this race, so that Democrats in Maine can focus on defeating Susan Collins this November. ‘We look forward to making this process public as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race.'” (07/08/26)