System Update, 05/07/25
Source: System Update
“Christopher Rufo: On Civil Liberties, the American Founding, Academic Freedom, and More.” (05/07/25)
Author: Thomas L. Knapp
Trump’s Hollywood tariff proposal would crush streaming
Source: Orange County Register
by Zoltan Kesz
“Donald Trump’s latest policy stunt, a proposed 100% tariff on all foreign-made films, is designed to appear as a patriotic gesture at first glance. Trump frames the issue as a “national security” concern, claiming that Hollywood productions are ‘betraying’ their home countries when they organize filming in Canada, the UK, or even my native country, Hungary. He is wrong. The MAGA spirit is all about America being more self-sufficient, a political message that has swept Europe and the US, only this time it’s not about the usual industries of steel, oil, and cars. It’s about entertainment, culture, and creativity. Oddly, it’s a protectionist play for an industry and zip code most hostile to President Trump’s agenda. … In the era of streaming, smaller productions churned out at an exceptionally high rate are the lifeblood of platforms like Netflix, Paramount, HBO, and Hulu.” (05/07/25)
Toys, Pencils, and Poverty at the Margins
Source: Cato Institute
by Scott Lincicome
“Tariffs’ biggest cost comes not from buying pricier stuff but buying nothing at all.” (05/07/25)
https://www.cato.org/commentary/toys-pencils-poverty-margins
Waltons launching STEM university in former Walmart headquarters
Source: Axios
“Heirs of Walmart founder Sam Walton plan to launch a private university focused on science and tech — located on the company’s old HQ campus near downtown Bentonville. The future university would provide students pathways to jobs in automation, logistics, biotech and computing — fields crucial to Northwest Arkansas’ future. Building talent in those areas is a priority for the U.S., China and other countries racing to compete in the global economy. Of 15,400 active area job listings in February, roughly 10% were STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and math), according to data from the Northwest Arkansas Council.” (05/08/25)
https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/08/waltons-stem-university-bentonville-walmart
Zooming In, 05/07/25
Source: The UnPopulist
“Why DOGE Should Scare Even Advocates of Small Government: A Conversation with Julian Sanchez and Noah Kunin.” (05/07/25)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/why-doge-should-scare-even-advocates
Politics and the Age of Politicians
Source: RealClearPolitics
by Froma Harrop
“Democrats are deep in debate over the age of their older leaders. Some need replacement, according to younger Democrats who want to replace them. And in some cases, they are right. But these arguments turn toxic when they equate age with capability. Ageism is bad politics, especially when you look at the age of the electorate. … About 52% of registered Democrats are 50 and older. In the overall electorate, about 60% of voters are at least 50. They are not necessarily oblivious to the physical and mental toll time can take, but many, if not most, have felt the sting of age discrimination in employment and other arenas. Throwing age at a candidate for reasons of one’s career advancement will not play well.” (05/08/25)
US Officials Are Responsible for More Immigrant Deaths
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“It is the federal government’s immigration-control system that gives rise to a black market in illegal smuggling and transportation of immigrants. If their federal immigration-control system didn’t exist, immigrants would be free to enter the United States like human beings by walking or driving across an international bridge or other official crossing point. By making it illegal for immigrants to freely do that, immigrants seek other ways to enter the United States to work, with the aim of saving or improving their lives and the lives of their families, including their children. That’s how black markets operate. Make a peaceful activity illegal and immediately unsavory people who don’t give a hoot for the welfare of their customers come into existence to offer their services.” (05/07/25)
https://www.fff.org/2025/05/07/u-s-officials-are-responsible-for-more-immigrant-deaths/
Trump Wants to Make Alcatraz Great Again. That’s a Big Red Flag For America
Source: The Daily Beast
by John Mac Ghlionn
“Alcatraz isn’t being revived because it works, but because it intimidates. It has nothing to do with criminal justice, and everything to do with narrative control.” (05/07/25)
Lithuania: Parliament Approves Exit From Landmines Treaty Amid Russia Threat
Source: US News & World Report
“The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday voted in favour of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over the military threat posed by neighbouring Russia. All five European Union and NATO countries which border Russia – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Finland – have said they plan to exit the international treaty due to the military threat from their much larger neighbour. The Lithuanian vote follows the one in Latvia, where the parliament in April approved the withdrawal.” (05/08/25)
Show-Me Institute Podcast, 05/07/25
Source: Show-Me Institute
“The Final Weeks of the 2025 Session.” (05/07/25)
https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/state-and-local-government/the-final-weeks-of-the-2025-session/