Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Trump Guts Two National Monuments “At the Behest of Polluting Corporations Who Seek to Ravage Them’”

Source: Common Dreams
by Jake Johnson

“US President Donald Trump on Monday signed proclamations dramatically shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah, eliminating roughly 3 million acres of protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante and potentially opening the beloved, wildlife-rich areas to industry exploitation. Trump’s proclamations, issued at the urging of Utah Republicans including Sen. Mike Lee, aim to reduce Bears Ears to just under 121,100 acres (down from nearly 1.4 million) and Grand Staircase-Escalante ⁠to 181,541 acres (down from 1.87 million). … During a signing ceremony on Monday, flanked by Utah Republicans, Trump characterized his scaling back of monument protections as an effort to give land ‘back to the people of Utah.’ The president falsely claimed that people could ‘virtually not even walk on’ the lands under the protections he targeted.” (07/14/26)

https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-shrinks-national-monuments

Thomas L. Knapp

Israel: Knesset passes law sought by ultra-Orthodox to skip mandatory military service

Source: The New Arab [UK]

“Israel’s parliament on Monday passed a law declaring the study of Jewish religious texts a ‘fundamental value’ of the state, a move widely seen as strengthening the ultra-Orthodox community’s case for exemption from mandatory military service. … For decades, most ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have avoided Israel’s mandatory military service by registering as full-time religious students. Israel’s Supreme Court ruled this exemption illegal, and the military—stretched thin after more than two years of war—has demanded more recruits. Rather than directly legislating an exemption, which the court would likely strike down, the coalition took an indirect route: drafting a ‘Basic Law’—a type of legislation with quasi-constitutional weight in Israel—declaring Torah study ‘a core national value’.” (07/14/26)

https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-knesset-passes-law-ultra-orthodox-seek-skip-military

Thomas L. Knapp

Making Government Work From Within

Source: Liberal Currents
by Christopher Whitaker

“As we think about what a new reconstruction may look like, one of the major points of tension will be the rules and regulations that bind the actions of the government machinery. One the one hand, the rules cause friction in the gears that get things done. Procurement is slow. Hiring is slow. Policy changes are slow. It will be immensely frustrating to those coming in to fix the government to be told to be patient after so much damage has been done. However, those rules are there for good reason. After all, hiring your buddy in a no-bid contract is how you get a reflecting pool full of algae.” (07/14/26)

https://www.liberalcurrents.com/making-government-work-from-within/

Thomas L. Knapp

EU bans gold imports from Sudan to curb money financing the war

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“The European Union (EU) has banned the purchase, import and transfer of gold from Sudan, saying the trade has become a key source of financing for the country’s civil war that erupted in April 2023. The conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, forcing more than 14 million people from their homes. Sudan is one of Africa’s largest gold producers and its vast reserves have become a crucial source of revenue for both sides, according to rights groups. EU foreign ministers approved the measures alongside a ban on exports to Sudan of mercury and cyanide, chemicals widely used in gold mining.” (07/14/26)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3e3nqwr5do

Thomas L. Knapp

After Ankara, Deep State and Euro Hawks Celebrate Wins

Source: The American Conservative
by Harrison Berger

“As a candidate, Donald Trump famously promised to end the war in Ukraine ‘within 24 hours’ of taking office. This past week, he acknowledged that Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure represent an ‘escalation’ in the conflict and offered new support for Kiev’s war effort. ‘It’s an escalation,’ Trump said, ‘but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end of the war.’ … That view—which sees Ukraine’s war as winnable, if only the West will send enough money and weapons—has been the consensus among foreign policy elites since this thing kicked off. Now, aided by Western news outlets, hawks in Europe and our own national security bureaucracy are successfully selling this narrative to a gullible president who had previously resisted their blandishments.” (07/14/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/after-ankara-deep-state-and-euro-hawks-celebrate-wins/

Thomas L. Knapp