Author: Thomas L. Knapp

The Invisible Hand at Sea

Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Cláudia Ascensão Nunes

“The archipelago of the Azores, a Portuguese territory located in the North Atlantic between Europe and North America, is frequently celebrated for its natural beauty, volcanic landscapes, and the idyllic image of dairy cows dominating the green islands. This tourist imagery, however, hides a historically difficult economic reality. The geographic location of the Azores, marked by insularity, market isolation, and natural limitations on agricultural production, has imposed deep economic costs.” (01/29/26)

https://fee.org/articles/the-invisible-hand-at-sea/

Thomas L. Knapp

Cathy reads books: Enlightenment 2.0 review

Source: Sex and the State
by Cathy Reisenwitz

“I’m a bit of a freak for human irrationality. My first love was politics. My profession is marketing. I’ve read more Behavioral Econ than a normal person. So a book whose thesis is ‘humans are bad at reasoning and that’s why politics sucks and is so tribal, irrational, and populist’ was obviously going to appeal to me. Enter Enlightenment 2.0, by Joseph Heath.” (01/29/26)

https://cathyreisenwitz.substack.com/p/cathy-reads-books-enlightenment-20

Thomas L. Knapp

Germany: Deutsche Bank offices raided in money laundering probe

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“Deutsche Bank’s offices in Frankfurt and Berlin have been raided by officials as part of an inquiry into money laundering. In a statement, the Office of the Federal Prosecutor said it was conducting an investigation, involving the Federal Criminal Police Office, into ‘unknown individuals and employees’ at Germany’s largest bank. It said Deutsche Bank had ‘maintained business relationships in the past with foreign companies’ which were suspected of ‘having been used for money laundering purposes as part of further investigations.’ … German media reported that the case carries possible links to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, a claim his lawyers say is ‘entirely false and inaccurate.'” (01/29/26)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx20199qzj9o

Thomas L. Knapp

Taming Big Tech

Source: hypertext
by David Dagan

“AI’s embodiment in grimly purpose-built data centers is drawing grassroots opposition from across the political spectrum. Deeper fears of AI doom are generating proposals for more serious regulation of the technology. The EU has already acted. And the ever-growing anxiety over the cultural acid leaking through our phones is leading many schools and parents to clamp down. Will we get a political movement that is equal to the challenge this time?” (01/29/26)

https://hypertext.niskanencenter.org/p/taming-big-tech

Thomas L. Knapp

The Justifications For War With Iran Keep Changing

Source: Caitlin Johnstone
by Caitlin Johnstone

“First it’s nukes, then it’s conventional missiles, then it’s protesters, and now it’s back to nukes again. Kinda seems like war with Iran is itself the objective, and they’re just making up excuses to get there. As the US moves war machinery to the middle east and holds multi-day war games throughout the region, President Trump and his handlers have been posting threats to the Iranian government on social media warning them to ‘make a deal’ on nuclear weapons.” (01/29/26)

https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/01/29/the-justifications-for-war-with-iran-keep-changing/

Thomas L. Knapp

US appeals court says Noem’s decision to end protections for Venezuelans in US was illegal

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

“A federal appeals court ruled late Wednesday that the Trump administration acted illegally when it ended legal protections that gave hundreds of thousands of people from Venezuela permission to live and work in the United States. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that found Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem exceeded her authority when she ended temporary protected status for Venezuelans. The decision, however, will not have any immediate practical effect after the U.S. Supreme Court in October allowed Noem’s decision to take effect pending a final decision by the justices.” (01/29/26)

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/01/29/noem-decision-venezuelans-appeals-court/

Thomas L. Knapp

Higher Education May Be Beyond Saving, Unless …

Source: Independent Institute
by Richard K Vedder

“I’ve spent more than two-thirds of a century (since 1958) at American universities. Never in all those years has their earned and deserved reputation as the best in the world suffered bigger threats than today. U.S. colleges and universities not only have behaved abysmally, but they’re now paying a high price for showing contempt for the prevailing values of the public that sustains them. … Can and will universities be saved, overcoming this crisis? Not without some serious behavioral modification.” (01/29/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/01/29/higher-education-may-be-beyond-saving-unless/

Thomas L. Knapp