“There is a point in the decline of republics when the problem is no longer that government breaks its own laws. Governments will always behave unlawfully. The deeper problem comes when the constitutional machinery designed to prevent those acts stops functioning — when spending becomes detached from arithmetic, presidential power becomes detached from law, and Congress and the courts become detached from the Constitution. That’s where America is today.” (08/30/26)
Source: David Friedman’s Substack
by David Friedman
“‘It is never too much to remember how much ethnic cleansing was made in the past based on ‘scientific evidence’ that some races were ‘not as intelligent as ours’ … (Comment on my blog) … Claims of this sort, about genocide, slavery, or ethnic cleansing, are offered as a reason not to talk about group differences. The implicit argument is that even if the average IQ of Africans is lower than that of Europeans or fewer women than men are talented at mathematics it is better not to say so, better to pretend it isn’t true. People making the argument rarely put it that way but it is pretty clearly what they believe. This raises three questions.” (08/30/26)
“The House returns Monday from its five-week recess, with approving a short-term funding bill to head off a government shutdown topping its to-do list. Funding is set to lapse Sept. 30 without a deal, and lawmakers are planning to take another weeklong break for Labor Day. In July, the House passed a GOP-led bill to punt government funding past the November midterm elections. But the House measure, which would have extended funding at current levels until Dec. 4, met resistance in the Senate.” (08/31/26)
“The Privacy Act of 1974 is the most important bulwark against federal government misuse of the enormous amount of personal data it collects. This applies to information that can be used to confirm an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other information linkable to a specific individual. The Privacy Act limits access to and disclosure of such information to those with a need to know regarding the performance of their duties. Individuals harmed by unlawful disclosure may sue the agency in federal court, but only for actual damages. … When officials override agency safeguards, Privacy Act remedies have been insufficient to stop ongoing harms or provide complete relief to a harmed individual. Recent events involving investigation of the President’s political enemies demonstrate the holes in the remedial framework.” (08/30/26)
“Truth, the old saying goes, is stranger than fiction. Which may be why I like biographies. They’re the stories of real people. They tell us about real heroes. Role models. Inspirations. But the most interesting and inspiring of such stories are often autobiographies. Autobiographies go a step beyond the biography. They give us a glimpse into a person’s soul. They reveal personal struggles in a visceral way.” (08/30/26)
“Niger’s army, backed by Russian paramilitary forces, regained control of a key military airbase on Sunday after it was attacked by mutinous soldiers a day earlier, the latest challenge to military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani as his government struggles to contain a jihadist insurgency. The attack highlighted tensions within Niger’s armed forces, which have suffered repeated battlefield losses while fighting West Africa’s al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates. Tiani took power in a coup in 2023 vowing to turn the tide against the jihadists, but both affiliates have staged high-profile attacks in the capital earlier this year. … Residents said the capital appeared calm on Sunday and Monday, while aircraft circled overhead on Sunday and authorities dismantled roadblocks erected during the unrest.” (08/31/26)
“Boomer potheads causing a stink for their neighbors :: Smoking in public talk :: Ricky has a problem with non-smokers :: Is it racist to say black people smoke menthols? :: Big Beautiful Bill regulated THC drinks :: Penguin says curry stinks… racist?? :: NO CREAMY GARLIC NOODLES FOR PENGUIN! :: Which states have fewer women? :: Nihilism, taking your dog for a walk and what to do with your life :: Meta paying $18 billion to these 48 states :: Lazy parents say ‘paren my kid for me’ :: David crashes out :: 2026-08-30 :: Hosts: Bonnie, Kahuna, Penguin, Mark Edge.” (08/30/26)
