“It’s not difficult to attract the attention of government officials, especially if you have a relatively high profile in business, political activism, or journalism. That can lead to difficulty crossing borders, even in countries with relatively firm civil liberties protections, such as the United States. Officials at border crossings often have powers beyond those of police within the country, meaning that even returning citizens might have to submit to searches of their possessions and their electronic devices. But travelers can take steps to keep information safe and beyond the reach of nosy enforcers.” (06/25/25)
Source: Fox News Forum
by Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, (USA, ret.)
“The headlines may proclaim a ceasefire, but let us be clear: the Israeli-Iranian war is far from over. What we are witnessing is not peace; it is a tactical intermission. The guns may be momentarily silent, but the war remains alive in motive, method, and mindset. President Donald Trump’s June 23 announcement of ‘a complete and total ceasefire’ between Israel and Iran brought a welcome pause to twelve days of deadly escalation. Yet his own remarks in the hours that followed, including en route to the NATO summit, betrayed the precarious nature of that agreement — and the volatility of the players involved. Just before boarding Air Force One, Trump issued a pointed public rebuke: ‘Calm down, Israel!’ He warned Prime Minister Benajamin Netanyahu that any strike against Iran after the ceasefire’s effective hour would constitute a violation.” (06/25/25)
“Bad models and bad data created a killer pandemic of uncertain gravity that was later supposedly solved by shots tested with bad data and whose efficacy was further demonstrated by awful models and data. There is surely a lesson here. And yet the romance with bad models and bad data is not entirely over. There is evidence that a very similar scenario unfolded with regard to the claim that Iran was constructing a nuclear weapon, resulting in a hellfire of bombs and death in both Iran and Israel. The same sketchy claims, obscured in shape-shifting language that blurred crucial distinctions between intentions and realities, were generated by an AI model.” (06/25/25)
“Kenya’s youth leaders are urging fellow-citizens to carry three items at planned June 25 demonstrations: flags, to signify national unity; flowers, to honor dozens of civilians killed during and since last June’s surge of popular protests; and placards that demand political accountability and adherence to democratic norms. A 2024 government plan to impose taxes on a range of everyday items sparked what has become a year of dissent. As protests grew last June, security forces killed 60 civilians. Kenyan President William Ruto subsequently withdrew the finance bill and shuffled his Cabinet. … Fed by frustration with official corruption and arrogance, the tax objections have morphed into broader pleas for honest, transparent, and responsive governance.” (06/24/25)
“Whenever a legal challenge to a given policy is decided, a discussion tends to arise as if the court is making a statement on the desirability of the policy itself. For example, after the US Court of International Trade struck down Trump’s tariffs enacted under the International Economic Policy Act (IEEPA) of 1977 (VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump), supporters of the tariffs took to social media to decry the court’s ruling as a ‘judicial coup’ against a vital policy. … On the Left, after the US Supreme Court overruled Roe v Wade in Dobbs, many decried the ruling as supporting bad policy (abortion restrictions). The argument they were making was that Dobbs wasn’t wrongly decided because the law was wrong, but because legal abortion is a desirable policy. But here’s the thing: courts do not exist to judge policy.” (06/25/25)
“Zohran Mamdani came in a clear first in the Democratic mayoral primary, and so a pretty sure bet to win once all the ranked-choice rigmarole counting concludes — and thus becomes the favorite to be New York City’s next mayor. But not the prohibitive favorite. … Credit Mamdani for running an energetic campaign with a forward-looking feel, for charm and grace under fire. Pity those who voted for him, believed his false promises and mistake his idealistic social media feed for real life. … We remain convinced that a Mayor Mamdani would be a disaster for New York City, and believe a majority of voters will agree … if he faces a credible opponent in November.” (06/25/25)
“The reelection of Donald Trump to the American presidency has seemingly brought bought a radical disruption to the political, social, and economic status quo both within the United States and in other parts of the world. Nothing has seemed as potentially disruptive as his insistence that the existing world trade system is rigged to the disadvantage of the United States.” (06/25/25)
“On June 24, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a truce between Israel and Iran following nearly two weeks of open warfare. Israel began the war, launching a surprise offensive on June 13, with airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, missile installations, and senior military and scientific personnel, in addition to numerous civilian targets. In response, Iran launched a wave of ballistic missiles and drones deep into Israeli territory, triggering air raid sirens across Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba and numerous other locations, causing unprecedented destruction in the country. What began as a bilateral escalation quickly spiraled into something far more consequential: a direct confrontation between the United States and Iran. On June 22, the United States Air Force and Navy carried out a full-scale assault on three Iranian nuclear sites (Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan), in a coordinated strike dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.” (06/25/25)
Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Allen Mendenhall
“After five years teaching at a business school — following an academic journey through English literature, law, and humanities — I depart with an unexpected observation: many students require convincing that profit serves a legitimate purpose. The calculation is straightforward — revenue minus expenses — yet the moral dimension perplexes these undergraduates. They arrive harboring suspicion toward the very economic engine that creates prosperity and opportunity. Perhaps more revealing is the contrast between students of different backgrounds. Those from modest circumstances — particularly young African American men from rural South Alabama — approached entrepreneurship with refreshing clarity. Having experienced economic hardship firsthand, they viewed profit as a practical necessity rather than a moral compromise. They regarded with genuine puzzlement their more advantaged peers who displayed ambivalence toward commercial success while benefiting from its results.” (06/25/25)
