Source: The Intercept
“ICE and Border Patrol’s purviews have transformed from immigration enforcement to being a political tool of the White House — all under the pretext of public safety.” (07/24/26)
https://theintercept.com/2026/07/24/trump-ice-deaths-mass-deportation/
Source: Free Association
by Sheldon Richman
“I’ve been testing Google’s large language model, Gemini, by asking specialized questions that I know the answers to. For example, I asked, ‘Why does [Objectivist philosopher and Ayn Rand protoge] Leonard Peikoff agree with [British idealist and matter denier] Bishop Berkeley?’ I admit that was badly worded, but Gemini understood and gave the right answer. (Peikoff agrees, as Rand did, with Berkeley that John Locke had incorrectly distinguished primary from secondary qualities in material objects.) Alas, Gemini’s answers were not always flawless.” (07/24/26)
https://sheldonrichman.substack.com/p/tgif-gemini-hayek-and-me
Source: The American Prospect
by Robert Kuttner
“With the Iran war a failure on all fronts, Trump predictably has tried to change the subject yet again. His abrupt imposition of tariffs on some 60 nations generated the desired headlines. But every aspect of Trump’s new tariffs is a fraud, from the professed justification to the supposed economic benefit.” (07/24/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/07/24/trumps-tariff-sham-jamieson-greer-canada/
Source: New York Times
“President Mohammed Shahabuddin of Bangladesh resigned on Friday as Bangladeshis anticipated the return and surrender of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, his onetime ally who fled to India before being convicted of crimes against humanity last year. Mr. Shahabuddin, 76, who was halfway into his term in the largely ceremonial post of president, cited illness as the reason for his resignation. Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the speaker of the country’s Parliament, announced at a news conference that he had assumed the role of interim president, in accordance with the country’s Constitution, which also states that an election to choose an official successor must be held within 90 days.” (07/24/26)
Source: Freakonomics
“Should A.I. Move to Space?” (07/24/26)
Source: Antiwar.com
by Ted Galen Carpenter
“Western leaders have redoubled their propaganda initiatives efforts in recent months to sell the proposition that underdog Ukraine is beginning to win the military contest against Russia. Despite a few flashy Ukrainian military successes, however, the overall picture of an eventual Russian victory in a war of attrition remains essentially the same. Domestic developments in Ukraine even more strongly suggest that Zelensky may be closer to the precipice of disaster than to the summit of victory. Indeed, his position bears an eerie resemblance to that of an earlier U.S. client and political darling, South Vietnam’s Ngo Dinh Diem.” (07/24/26)
https://original.antiwar.com/ted_galen_carpenter/2026/07/23/could-zelensky-suffer-diems-fate
Hey, everyone …
It’s a “Firehose Friday” at the freedom movement’s daily newspaper, with all our content — more than 100 news stories, opinion pieces, and audio/video links! — available only here at the web edition.
Why? Three reasons:
First, Steve Trinward is still traveling, I’m still covering, and a web-only edition saves me about half an hour of messing around versus putting out an email edition. I’m not doing that EVERY day (we do have extra content on the web every day!), but …
Second, I can make good use of that saved half hour this particular morning, as both my wife and I have medical appointments to get ready for and out to.
Third, it’s always a good time to remind you that we’re a reader-supported publication and point you to the “send us money” link:
https://news.rationalreview.com/support-rrnd
Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous weekend! We’ll be back Monday with the regular email and social media editions.
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily
Source: CBS News
“The Trump administration imposed tariffs of up to 12.5% Friday on [American buyers of] goods from 60 U.S. trading partners it accused of failing to crack down on forced labor. The move, announced Thursday, extended the administration’s tariffs on much of the world. … The new tariffs went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, when a separate set of 10% levies on [American buyers of] most imports expired.” (07/24/26)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-tariffs-dozens-countries-forced-labor/
Source: Reason
by Nick Gillespie
“Last year, [Scott] Winters complained to ChatGPT about feeling dizzy and having blood pressure issues. He and his lawyers say ChatGPT advised him to remain ‘recliner-bound,’ and even invoked religious language (‘God did not design your body to endlessly fail’) to cajole the former pastor into taking it easy. A few weeks after consulting ChatGPT, Winters had a ‘massive pulmonary embolism’ intensified by blood clots that might have been linked to his lack of movement. … Contra his legal backers, Scott Winters didn’t nearly die because ‘ChatGPT acted like a medical authority while having none of the responsibility.’ He almost died because he didn’t take responsibility for his health.” (07/23/26)
https://reason.com/2026/07/23/dont-blame-ai-for-your-own-medical-problems/
Source: Underthrow
“Free Yourself with Subversive Innovation.” (07/23/26)
https://underthrow.substack.com/p/free-yourself-with-subversive-innovation