Underthrow Podcast, 01/07/26
Source: Underthrow
“Applying Great Thinkers: Hayek, Boyd, and McCluhan w/ Mark McGrath and Brian Rivera (Part Two).” (01/07/26)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
Defending Pop Music as Music
Source: Law & Liberty
by David D Corey & Dominic MM Saunders
“In ‘Contemporary Muses,’ Henry T. Edmondson III is gently critical of those who defend the value of pop music on political grounds. Political protest may be a mainstay of pop music, but ‘it would be disappointing,’ he writes, ‘if America’s … cultural commentators were unable to see past the politics.’ Instead, Edmondson proposes to defend (certain) pop music as something that approaches philosophy: ‘Some pop songs explore deep themes of moral philosophy’ or ‘meditate thoughtfully on the human condition.’ Edmondson’s approach bears fruit as he catalogues lyrics that echo major themes of Western moral philosophy. One might wonder, however, whether defending pop music as philosophy is much different from defending it as political protest.” (01/07/26)
Who needs Congress? Might as well shut it down.
Source: The Hill
by Bill Press
“Trump’s war against Venezuela is just the latest manifestation of his abuse of presidential power. In the last 11 months, he has flouted domestic law by firing tens of thousands of federal employees without cause, firing 17 inspectors general, firing the head of the Office of Special Counsel and the director of the Office of Government Ethics, directing the Justice Department to prosecute his political opponents and tearing down the East Wing of the White House. … Trump also violated the War Powers Act of 1973, which limits a president’s ability to send troops into armed conflict without congressional approval. Like the rest of us, members of Congress only learned about the invasion of Venezuela and Maduro’s seizure after it happened. So what’s Congress going to do about it? Absolutely nothing, of course! And that’s the most disturbing news of all.” (01/07/26)
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5674080-venezuela-trump-regime-change/
Judge asks Lindsey Halligan why she’s still pretending to be US Attorney
Source: Independent [UK]
“A federal judge has demanded an explanation from prosecutor Lindsey Halligan for continuing to use the title of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia despite another judge’s ruling that she was unlawfully occupying the role. District Judge David Novak, appointed by President Donald Trump, issued a three-page order Tuesday giving Halligan seven days to explain herself, given that District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie had found in November that the Department of Justice had violated the Constitution by appointing her as a second successive interim hire. Currie’s finding led to the dismissal of criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, two long-standing enemies of the president.” (01/07/26)
The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent, 01/07/26
Source: The New Republic
“Trump’s Vile Attack on Mark Kelly Backfires as Harsh Retort Goes Viral.” (01/07/26)
The Couto Mixto
Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Cláudia Ascensão Nunes
“It is a deeply rooted belief in the Western political tradition, from Thomas Hobbes to contemporary interventionist currents, that a successful political community requires a strong central authority capable of imposing rules and guaranteeing order. According to this view, in the absence of such authority, society would inevitably collapse into chaos. History, however, offers a particularly intriguing counterexample. For nearly seven centuries, the Couto Mixto, a small microterritory composed of the villages of Santiago de Rubiás, Rubiás, and Meaus, existed along the border between Portugal and Spain without a permanent sovereign or centralized governmental authority. Despite this absence of formal state power, it developed a stable social order grounded in voluntary self-government and an extensive regime of free trade.” (01/07/26)
The Empire is Teetering! Why is There No General Strike?
Source: CounterPunch
by Rich Gibson
“Going downhill, like a Slinky on a staircase, the empire rolls down almost imperceptibly, until it reaches the floor and collapses in on itself. But the empire isn’t a Slinky. It is busy with class and imperial warfare, the few attacking the many in ways more numerous than a short essay can outline. Where is the resistance? Where are the unions? Even conservative Catholic, David Brooks, has called for a general strike and mass civil disobedience. It only makes sense.” (01/07/26)
https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/01/07/the-empire-is-teetering-why-is-there-no-general-strike/
China: Refiners expected to replace Venezuelan oil with Iranian crude, traders say
Source: Reuters
“Chinese independent refiners are expected to switch to heavy crude from sources including Iran in coming months to replace Venezuelan shipments halted since the U.S. removed the country’s president, traders and analysts said. Caracas and Washington agreed to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. That arrangement is likely to curtail Venezuelan supply to China, analysts say, reducing a source of cheap oil for independent refiners known as teapots. The world’s biggest crude importer is a major buyer of discounted sanctioned oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela.” (01/07/26)
Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 01/07/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“US Walks Back Maduro Cartel Claim, Witkoff: Progress Made on Ukraine Security Guarantees, More.” (01/07/26)
Venezuela Regime Change: The Most Shocking Statements in Trump’s Most Shocking Press Conference
Source: Antiwar.com
by Ted Snider
“At 4:21 in the morning of January 3, U.S. President Donald Trump posted that ‘The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country.’ No one had anticipated such a military operation prior to the announcement, and no one anticipated the comments Trump would make later that morning in his press conference. The press conference, and the comments that followed shortly after, contained several shocking statements.” (01/07/26)