Author: Thomas L. Knapp

America’s Moral Rot in the Age of Trumpism and How to Reverse It

Source: Liberal Currents
by AD Blair

“Police apologists are often quick to minimize revelations of corruption and misconduct by law enforcement as ‘just a few bad apples.’ But the whole point of that adage is that a single bad apple can ruin all the other apples in the barrel. For the last 11 years and counting America has seen one of its two major political parties, its federal government, and much of the rest of society infested by a very large and very rotten spray-tanned apple. And the rot has spread far and wide.” (09/15/26)

https://www.liberalcurrents.com/americas-moral-rot-in-the-age-of-trumpism-and-how-to-reverse-it/

Thomas L. Knapp

Hungary to amend anti-LGBTQ law to align with EU standards

Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]

“Hungary’s government has submitted a bill to parliament to amend anti-LGBTQ rules for minors that were introduced under former nationalist leader Viktor Orban. The law, which was created as an add-on to the country’s existing child protection regulations in 2021, banned the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ to under-18s. The same law was later used to ban Pride marches. … The bill submitted on Monday aims to remove references in the 2021 legislation banning the ‘promotion’ or ‘display’ of homosexuality and gender transition to minors. It would now refer simply to material that can ‘seriously impair the child’s physical, intellectual, emotional or moral development’.” (09/15/26)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/15/hungary-to-amend-anti-lgbtq-law-to-align-with-eu-standards

Thomas L. Knapp

The Ukraine War

Source: David Friedman’s Substack
by David Friedman

“My main source of information on the war is the Institute for the Study of War website, which provides detailed daily reports based on satellite evidence of who is doing what where, official statements from both sides, and posts by Russian milbloggers. ISW is openly on the Ukrainian side, reports statements by sources in the Ukrainian military straight, statements from the Russian side more skeptically. … There are three different ways of interpreting the situation with different implications for the future of the war.” (09/14/26)

https://daviddfriedman.substack.com/p/the-ukraine-war

Thomas L. Knapp

CA: Two Oakland police helicopter pilots accused of faking FAA certifications

Source: SFGate

“Two Oakland Police Department officers are facing federal charges after allegedly conspiring with a federal aviation official to fake their helicopter pilot certifications. Prosecutors said the scheme happened between July 2023 and March 2024, when the two officers, Brandon Mart and David Mac, allegedly worked with William Miller, an aviation inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration, to fraudulently receive their certificates. The officers are accused of submitting fake documents related to ‘checkrides,’ according to an indictment filed on Aug. 27. A checkride, which is required to obtain a pilot certification, includes a practical flight test with specific maneuvers and an oral exam covering topics like aviation regulations and aircraft systems. The indictment alleges Mart received three fraudulent checkride certifications and Mac received one, even though the officer failed to complete all of the requirements or some checkrides never occurred at all.” (09/14/26)

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/oakland-police-pilot-fraud-22431888.php

Thomas L. Knapp