Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Bangladesh garment factories disrupted as protests continue for third day

Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]

“Hundreds of garment factories in Bangladesh are facing disruptions as worker protests over low pay and the rising cost of living rock the country’s industrial hubs. There was a heavy police presence in the Mirpur industrial area of Dhaka on Monday and reports of protests taking place for the third day in the Savar, Ashulia and Gazipur areas, Al Jazeera’a Tanvir Chowdhury reported from the capital. About 500 factories were temporarily shuttered after the protests began on Saturday. Thousands of workers have taken to the streets, facing tear gas and sound grenades from police.” (11/02/26)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/2/bangladesh-garment-factories-disrupted-as-protests-continue-for-third-day

Thomas L. Knapp

Is Darline Graham the canary in coal mine for midterm war backlash?

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Jack Hunter

“Solid red South Carolina hasn’t elected a Democratic senator this century. But in the race between Republican. Darline Graham and her Democratic challenger, it’s now a draw. The New York Times called the race a toss-up on Wednesday, with Graham, the sister of the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Democrat Annie Andrews both receiving 48% in their latest poll. Fox News made the same call on Thursday. Democratic Senate candidates in the state don’t tie Republicans. But against the backdrop of Donald Trump’s war and escalating energy and food prices, all bets appear to be off.” (11/02/26)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/darline-graham-midterms/

Thomas L. Knapp

Republicans Are As Socialist As Democrats

Source: Libertarian Institute
by Thomas Eddlem

“While a unified Democratic government has tended to see the fastest growth in government spending since World War II, government grows faster overall under Republican presidents than Democratic ones. And the only real decreases in the size of government spending happened during those six years where there were Democratic presidents and Republican majorities in Congress, first with the post-war build-down under Harry Truman (1947-48), and next after modest cut-backs from the bloated spending of the financial and COVID crises under Barack Obama (2009-10) and Donald Trump (2020), respectively.” (11/02/26)

https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/republicans-are-as-socialist-as-democrats

Thomas L. Knapp

Judge says xAI must face NAACP lawsuit on data center pollution

Source: Engadget

“A federal judge’s latest ruling has denied xAI’s request to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges its data center campus in Memphis, Tennessee is running turbines without proper permits and violating the Clean Air Act. The decision, from US District Judge Debra M. Brown, allows the lawsuit, which was filed by the NAACP, to move forward. The organization filed its legal action against xAI in April, accusing the company that’s now known as SpaceXSI of using unpermitted methane gas turbines to power data centers in the Memphis area.” (11/01/26)

https://www.engadget.com/2303462/judge-says-xai-must-face-naacp-lawsuit-on-data-center-pollution/

Thomas L. Knapp

Free Talk Live, 11/01/26

Source: Free Talk Live

“Sarah from New Mexico says there’s going to be 74 polling locations just in her county! :: Dave in CO tells us about a NH Journal journalist kicked out of a NH Democrat meeting, says he should have gotten video :: Psychedelic nose spray beats depression :: Drama on what actress Sophia Bush said on Call Her Daddy :: Sydney Sweeney hot or ugly? :: Did Trump shoot down a private plane? :: NY to regulate how AI chatbots interact with children :: 2026-11-01 :: Hosts: Bonnie, Riley O’Bill, Rich E Rich.” (11/01/26)

https://soundcloud.com/freetalklive/ftl2026-11-01

Thomas L. Knapp