“The most sinister idea in modern politics has received a California jury’s endorsement, and much applause. It contradicts democracy’s foundational belief in individual agency. This concept presupposes that individuals can, in common parlance, ‘make up their minds.’ They can assemble and edit their beliefs and convictions. When this idea is diluted, government expands its ambition to curate the public’s consciousness. … The California jury weighed the claims of a now 20-year-old woman who began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram when 9. She says her many emotional and social problems were caused not by her troubled family life but by those platforms. (Although one of her analysts said she did not talk about them.)” (04/03/26)
“The costs associated with this latest criminal war, measured in human lives; the misappropriation of national resources; and the erosion of the rule of law will only continue to mount. Yet there is also a less visible, less immediate price tag for such wars. If the history of American interventions in the region offers any guide, the full bill will likely not become apparent for months, years, or even decades. When it finally arrives, however, it will carry a familiar name: blowback.” (04/03/26)
“It took me a while to see it, but Ayn Rand had it right when she said that the suspicion of, if not hostility to, the free-market economy — capitalism — flows from a suspicion of the pursuit of profit, that is, self-interest. Despite the blinding fact that the Declaration of Independence lists ‘the pursuit of happiness’ as among man’s inalienable rights, a dominant, however conflicting cultural theme is that the pursuit of self-interest — egoism — is at best morally tainted and deserving of critical scrutiny.” (04/03/26)
“I think Elon Musk is a good man, not perfect, but then, the guy I look at in the mirror every morning isn’t perfect, either, so I’m not going to knock Elon about that. I don’t know any perfect people. Well, that’s not true. Leftists are perfect, of course. If you don’t think they are perfect, just ask them. There are reasons leftists consider themselves perfect. When you are allowed to set up your own standard of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ (which leftists do), and you judge yourself by your own standard of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, then how can you do anything wrong? If you violate your own standard, you just change the standard and add the ‘wrong’ thing you did to the ‘right’ side of the column. Voila! Perfection! They do it all the time, individually and collectively. But Elon Musk doesn’t do that (I don’t think), and I certainly don’t.” (04/04/26)
“This article makes a straightforward argument. Europe’s refusal to back America’s war on Iran was not weakness, not anti-Americanism, and not the failure of an Atlantic alliance. It was a deliberate, rational response from governments that had been given no seat at the table yet were expected to share every consequence that followed. What follows is the case for why they were arguably right.” (04/03/26)
“Thanks in large part to President Trump’s disastrous policies, Democrats have a decent shot at not just retaking the House, but maybe even flipping the Senate. Here’s the thing to know: Midterms are a referendum on the incumbent president. And this is especially true when the president is Donald Trump, who dominates every news cycle. He creates weather. He is, in short, always the issue. But what happens when Trump is gone? What happens when Democrats have to defend their record of leadership? What happens when the referendum is on them? Even now — as Dems appear to be surging — polling suggests that fewer than 40% of Americans view the Democratic Party favorably. That’s not exactly a mandate. Yes, voters might choose Democrats as the lesser of two evils this November, but that doesn’t mean Americans are out there buying Democratic foam fingers.” (04/03/26)
“Smith was very much a free trader. He staunchly opposed tariffs designed to disrupt the natural flow of trade (revenue tariffs were less objectionable, but still not great). However, Smith’s approach allows for some exceptions. … Among those exceptions, there is ‘a matter of deliberation’ as to whether tariffs restricting freedom of trade are beneficial. If tariffs can be used in retaliation to open trade with another country (that is, remove their tariffs), then Smith argues temporary tariffs may be desirable:” (04/03/26)
Source: The American Conservative
by George D O’Neill Jr.
“The latest American-Israeli aggression against Iran has exposed the United States’ inability to defend our big bases in the Gulf Countries and smaller bases in Iraq. For decades, these countries have had to endure the ire of their populations who are unhappy with the presence of U.S. forces in their lands. Their citizens are painfully aware of the U.S. and Israeli mass destruction and murder of their Muslim brothers. This may become a source of instability as war escalates.” (04/03/26)
Source: Indendent Institute
by K Lloyd Billingsley
“California’s highway overpass for butterflies and cougars is late and over budget. Curious observers might trace the project to the beginning.” (04/03/26)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“Another shocking aspect of the Ian Freeman case involved false statements that were knowingly, deliberately, and intentionally made in a post-sentencing press release by the New Hampshire U.S. Attorney’s office that prosecuted Freeman. When I discovered that false and deceptive press release, I was incredulous. What would motivate federal personnel to lie about the Freeman case?” (04/03/26)
