Rising, 03/10/26
Source: The Hill
“Shock Poll: Democratic Party super unpopular; voters hate Kamala, Newsom, AI, Iran.” (03/10/26)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
The Soft Disinformation Contagion
Source: Quillette
by Jorge Iniesta Cases
“We live in a paradoxical informational landscape. Never before have citizens had access to such an abundance of data, expert commentary, real-time analysis, and historical context. The digital age promised a ‘Great Clarification,’ where the democratisation of information would serve as a universal solvent for ignorance. But despite this unprecedented availability, it has rarely been so difficult to form a coherent understanding of what is actually happening in the world. The problem is not ignorance in the classical sense. The contemporary public is not uninformed; on the contrary, it is hyper-informed.” (03/10/26)
https://quillette.com/2026/03/10/the-soft-disinformation-contagion-psychology-social-media-politics/
NPR Politics Podcast, 03/10/26
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“ICE is keeping tabs on American citizens.” (03/10/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/10/nx-s1-5742731/ice-is-keeping-tabs-on-american-citizens
Cocky Iran Hawks Forget the History of Blowback
Source: Washington Monthly
by Bill Scher
“Bombing Iran may be the easy part. What hawks refuse to reckon with is everything that comes next.” (03/10/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/03/10/iran-hawks-forget-history/
Cuba: Regime pharmacy accused of dispensing expired HIV drugs
Source: United Press International
“Patients living with HIV in Havana reported receiving expired antiretroviral medications at state pharmacies as the health system faces supply shortages and difficulties monitoring patients’ conditions. Activist Evelyn Pineda, who lives with HIV along with her 10-year-old son, told Radio Martí that medications are often unavailable and that when they do arrive, ‘you go to pick them up and they are expired.’ … Workers at the state pharmacy located on Aranguren Street in Guanabacoa said the drugs are part of international donations intended for antiretroviral treatment. Staff said they can be consumed ‘as long as they remain sealed and the medication does not change color.'” (03/10/26)
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/03/10/latam-Cuba-expired-HIV-drugs/6171773158153/
Ron Paul Liberty Report, 03/10/26
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
“Trump Team Talks Tough While Begging For An Off Ramp.” (03/10/26)
Why the neutral interest rate cannot be established
Source: Cobden Centre
by Dr. Frank Shostak
“Most commentators are of the view that what prevents the attainment of price stability is the deviation of the policy interest rate such as the federal funds rate from the neutral interest rate also known as the natural interest rate. The natural interest rate, it is held, is the one that is consistent with stable prices and a balanced economy. What is required then is that Fed policy makers successfully direct the federal funds rate towards the natural interest rate. … How is one to implement this framework of thinking? The main problem here is that the natural interest rate cannot be observed. How can one tell whether the market interest rate is above or below the natural interest rate?” (03/10/26)
https://www.cobdencentre.org/2026/03/why-the-neutral-interest-rate-cannot-be-established/
Brazil: Bolsonaro Seeks Court Approval for Prison Visit by Trump Adviser
Source: US News & World Report
“Lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have asked the country’s Supreme Court to allow Darren Beattie, who was recently tapped by the Trump administration for a senior advisory role overseeing Brazil, to visit him in prison next week, a document showed on Tuesday. Bolsonaro began in November to serve a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup against his successor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated him in the 2022 presidential election. … Beattie, a critic of Brazil’s current government, was appointed to the position shaping U.S. policy toward Brazil last month, a move that suggested relations between the two countries remain delicate despite a recent rapprochement. In August, Beattie provoked a diplomatic incident after describing Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in an X post as ‘the key architect of the censorship and persecution complex directed against Bolsonaro.'” (03/10/26)
Half the Answer, episode 70
Source: Liberal Currents
“Trent and Caitlin reconnect with journalist Walker Bragman to hash out the current state of the NIH and HHS, the ideologies that drive people to promote eugenics and science denial, and the childish nature of fascism.” (03/10/26)
Reassessing police de-escalation training: Evidence, gaps, and policy priorities
Source: Niskanen Center
by Robin S Engel & Jennifer Cherkauskas
“In recent years, de-escalation training has become a key approach in law enforcement, providing officers with tactics, skills, and tools to better manage interactions with the public. This focus reflects growing community and law enforcement interest in resolving conflicts and handling challenging, often emotionally charged interactions with members of the public more effectively than in the past, particularly when encountering individuals in crisis. Proponents of de-escalation training argue that it equips officers with enhanced skills to resolve conflicts in highly confrontational situations without the use of force or less severe force (Oliva et al., 2010). Others, however, have raised concerns about the use of de-escalation tactics, suggesting that the training increases officers’ risk of injury by encouraging slower and less effective responses to potentially volatile situations than the operational responses of traditional policing …” (03/10/26)