Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob

“British-American philosopher Mick Jagger put it best: ‘You can’t always get what you want.’ A universal verity. But what about a sadder situation? ‘You must always get what you don’t want.’ Only the deepest pessimist thinks this pertains to our lives, our ‘lived experience’ in even these our mixed-up times. But it does apply to one huge domain of life: our representation in Congress.” (04/24/26)

https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/04/24/what-we-want/

Source: Law & Liberty
by Neal McCluskey

“If we want less polarization in our country, we need more history and virtue in our classrooms.” (04/24/26)

https://lawliberty.org/book-review/the-education-democracy-requires/

Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille

“With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, President Donald Trump’s reversal from opponent to supporter of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) seemed certain to guarantee renewal of the law. That’s not what happened. Instead, Section 702 of the controversial spying legislation won only a temporary extension, to April 30, as civil libertarians and surveillance-state supporters from both major parties continue to battle. Hopefully, the outcome is the long-deserved demise of surveillance practices that threaten the privacy of Americans.” (04/24/26)

https://reason.com/2026/04/24/congress-still-has-a-chance-to-curb-section-702-surveillance-abuses/

Source: Washington Monthly
by Bill Scher

“The longtime conservative commentator is wrapping his newfound opposition to the president in loopy anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.” (04/24/26)

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/04/24/tucker-carlson-broke-with-donald-trump-hes-still-terrible/

Source: Law & Liberty
by James M Patterson

“There is a deep irony in [Sohrab] Ahmari’s position. He is distressed by the American right’s hostility to Pope Leo. But he has aligned himself with the Catholic sub-group that is least able to reconcile itself to the pope’s anti-war position. Modern popes have for some time been deeply critical of militant global powers, and great powers tend to push back against those critiques. But the patriotic, pro-inclusion thinkers Ahmari despises (like Murray, Neuhaus, and Novak) warmly welcomed the Church’s move away from forms of authoritarian nationalism that repeatedly led to state oppression and war. Ahmari and the postliberals are the ones actively trying to reinvigorate those forms of political theology, despite ample empirical evidence that they tend to breed violence and hatred.” (04/24/26)

https://lawliberty.org/the-pontiff-and-the-postliberals/

Source: The Bulwark
by Patrick Granfield

“Hegseth’s approach to the press risks lasting damage to the institution he leads. A Pentagon that shares only good news with the public, and a secretary who consistently insults the press, lose both the benefit of the doubt and an important mechanism for self-correction. Hegseth’s posture endangers more than accountability at the Pentagon. It limits the effectiveness and legitimacy of U.S. service members who are called to carry out their mission.” (04/24/26)

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/pete-hegseth-war-on-the-press-pentagon-credibility