Freakonomics Radio, episode 693
Source: Freakonomics
“What’s Our Job as Humans Anymore?” (10/30/26)
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/whats-our-job-as-humans-anymore/
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
How to Bring Down an Empire: Benjamin Franklin’s Forgotten Rules
Source: Tenth Amendment Center
by Michael Boldin
“Benjamin Franklin knew the pattern all through history: Collapse is self-inflicted. In 1773, he wrote a masterpiece of biting satire detailing 20 rules for how a great empire destroys itself from within. The formula is simple: make the government so detestable that the people want secession at any cost. It was supposed to be a warning, but the British ignored it and learned their lesson the hard way. Read his rules and judge for yourself. Is this just another history lesson? Or is it an instruction manual still being followed by the empire we live under today?” (10/30/26)
Douglas Murray and the ‘Four Horsemen of New Zionism’
Source: Libertarian Institute
by Brandt Burleson
“Perhaps you’re old enough to recall the New Atheist movement and the ‘Four Horsemen of New Atheism,’ a reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Christian eschatology, or theology of the end times. Inspired by this quartet, I have been cataloging the ‘Four Horsemen of New Zionism,’ focusing on pivotal commentators and propagandists devoted to contemporary Israel and all the destruction that comes with it.” (10/30/26)
https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/douglas-murray-and-the-four-horsemen-of-new-zionism
MI: El-Sayed’s primary opponent stuns Democrats by endorsing Republican opponent in Senate race
Source: SFGate
“Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s former opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, Haley Stevens, stunned party officials Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers as Democratic tensions boiled over days before the election that could determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill. Stevens endorsed Rogers after attending a Detroit church service with him. The remarkable show of support for the President Donald Trump-backed candidate in the tightly contested race comes after she was uninvited to a joint event the same day with El-Sayed, who defeated the congresswoman by a slim margin in the August primary.” (11/01/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/michigan-democrats-unity-push-falters-as-22505225.php
The Dispatch Podcast, 10/30/26
Source: The Dispatch
“Democrats Play Dirty in Alaska.” (10/30/26)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/dispatch-podcast/democrats-play-dirty-in-alaska/
The Fusion of Commercial Civilization
Source: EconLog
by Richard M Reinsch II
“[Samuel] Gregg’s case differs from a standard account that roots the contemporary West in Athens, Jerusalem, and Rome. He doesn’t deny that the civilizations of these cities have made decisive and salutary contributions to the Western mind, but Edinburgh’s addition makes a tremendous difference for understanding commercial society and, I would add, the constitutional state that fosters it. The crucial import here is that much of the modern West incorporated the ideas and habits of mind of the French and German Enlightenments rather than the Scottish Enlightenment. And, over the centuries, it’s the former enlightenments that have come to dominate the West’s thinking and discourse, to its detriment.” (10/30/26)
https://www.econlib.org/econlog/the-fusion-of-commercial-civilization
Tusk-Nawrocki battle escalates as chief judge is ousted from Poland’s top court
Source: Politico
“Poland’s constitutional court descended into turmoil Friday evening as judges barred from hearing cases moved to oust the institution’s nationalist-linked leadership, sparking accusations of a coup and tense protests. Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, a judge with the court, ordered its president Bogdan Święczkowski and his deputy to be suspended for a month and announced she was taking charge. Święczkowski rejected her authority, accusing those involved of a ‘coup d’état,’ while his deputy was turned away at the building’s gates. The showdown marks an escalation in Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s struggle to undo the judicial overhaul carried out by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) former government.” (10/30/26)
The Anarchist Experience, episode 604
Source: The Anarchist Experience
“Rich & Riley talk about The Libertarian who had a shoot out with Police, and why this lead to the Age of Consent discussion, and how Libertarians seem to be unaware of the Streisand Effect.” (10/30/26)
https://theanarchistexperience.wordpress.com/2026/10/30/the-anarchist-experience-604/
A Bold Proposal: Iran Should Join the Mecca Alliance
Source: The American Conservative
by Eldar Mamedov
“Given that the regime in Tehran shows few if any signs of crumbling even under extreme military and economic pressure, it should be clear that perpetual enmity offers diminishing returns. Accommodation is the only viable path forward. The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan seem to realize that. A regional nonaggression arrangement was reportedly discussed in the meeting in Tehran—the kind of common-sense diplomatic proposal that is both necessary and long overdue.” (10/30/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/a-bold-proposal-iran-should-join-the-mecca-pact/
FIREHOSE FRIDAY and Dead Puppy … Er, Annual Fundraiser … Update
Hey, everyone …
It’s a FIREHOSE FRIDAY, with 107-ish news stories, opinion pieces, and audio/video links awaiting your attention at our web edition.
As I mentioned yesterday, we’re “web-only” because my wife, Tamara, had carpal tunnel surgery yesterday. It went well and she’s recovering nicely, but things like that take a chunk out of any work day. Thanks for your understanding.
As I also pointed out yesterday, every day that nobody donates to our annual fundraiser, a cute little puppy dies. Thanks to subscribing contributors JF and IH, and to long-time supporter CH (who opined “Nooo! Not the puppies!”) for their contributions totaling $25.50 — they surely saved a few puppies AND brought our annual fundraiser total up to (as of 5am on Friday) $1,083.50!
Short and sweet: Our goal is $5,503. Once we’ve raised $2,751.50, supporter GL will “match funds” to get us to the finish line. So we are $1,668 short.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT’S DAILY NEWSPAPER!
I think a reasonable “mini-goal” is to hit the halfway point ($1,375.75) by Monday, with weekend contributions totaling at least $292.25. That URL again:
https://news.rationalreview.com/support-rrnd
Thanks for all you do, and please have a happy, healthy, and prosperous Halloween weekend!
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily