Source: David Friedman’s Substack
by David Friedman
“Suppose we come up with really good pleasure drugs, drugs that give us lots of pleasure without negative side effects such as hangovers or cirhosis of the liver. If we accept the economist’s model of the rational actor, their invention is clearly a good thing. It expands our choice set, provides us one more and possibly better way of getting what we want. To people skeptical of the rational model, that conclusion is less clear. To see the problem, consider an extreme version. Larry Niven, in some of his stories, describes wireheads, people who have had a wire inserted into the pleasure center of their brain and stimulate it with a mild electric current. The intense pleasure that results dominates all other concern, making it possible for a wirehead to die of hunger and thirst because getting food or drink is simply more trouble than it is worth.” (06/22/26)
“America was founded on the idea that individuals should be free to pursue their own lives, fortunes, and happiness without excess government interference. The nation’s story has long been one of people fleeing constraints and moving towards opportunity. As the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary, it’s natural to ask whether the nation still embodies this. My answer is mostly yes. The U.S. remains one of the freest and most prosperous societies in human history, and continues to attract millions of immigrants. But do Americans themselves still intuitively feel this way about their country? Increasingly, the answer appears to be no. That is reflected in the rise of ‘geomaxxing,’ a buzzy internet term that describes a serious trend. More Americans are looking beyond their own borders for better quality of life, lower costs, and greater freedom.” (06/22/26)
“French authorities say about 20 people have drowned over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas to seek relief from a heatwave gripping France and other parts of Europe. … Separately, local authorities said the heatwave was the most likely reason for the deaths of two children aged two and four who were found unconscious in a car outside their home in Carpentras in southeastern France. Three more people aged 80 to 95 died in the Bordeaux region from heat-related health issues, local official Sophie Brocas told France TV.” (06/23/26)
“Mark is in Costa Rica, so Sal Mayweather and Free Talk Live veteran Wayne Quinn hold it down for a packed episode covering everything from the Zcash exploit to the future of financial privacy.” (06/22/26)
“One of the basic freedoms we have in this country, enshrined in our Constitution, is the freedom to contract. Two or more parties with differing interests can agree to just about anything, as long as it isn’t illegal, and our country’s court system will enforce that agreement. The rules work a little differently when the government is part of the agreement. The government has the ability to contract as well, but the ability is defined and limited by law. It should be. We, the people, have an interest in the deals that our government is making. Especially if tax money, or government resources paid for by tax money, is part of the deal.” (06/22/26)
“A federal judge on Monday threw out multiple Justice Department subpoenas issued to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other officials, saying they are unconstitutional and part of attempts to harass President Donald Trump’s political opponents. The subpoenas sought to force Walz and others to turn over records and information as part of a federal investigation into whether Democratic officials obstructed the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown through public resistance. … District Judge Patrick Schiltz said the subpoenas were ‘part of an unconstitutional effort to coerce Minnesota officials into assisting the federal government with enforcing civil immigration laws and to harass and retaliate against them for failing to do so,’ CNN reported.” (06/22/26)
