Source: David Friedman’s Substack
by David Friedman
“Many years ago I noticed that being paid to give a speech felt better than being paid to be a professor even though it was much less money. My payment for a speech was by people who wanted to hear it. My pay as a professor was decided by administrators, only indirectly by the students who were the consumers of what I was producing. It felt to my intuition less real, less something I deserved. I got the same pleasure out of collecting royalties when my books were first published. A friend and fellow professor who was also a serious gambler, a card counter at blackjack, told me that the money he got the most pleasure from was money he won from other players in open combat. I conclude that for me, perhaps for many others, being paid for something cuts both ways.” (11/11/25)
“It’s been a while since I’ve written for TomDispatch, and there’s a reason for that. About 16 months ago, I experienced a catastrophic car crash. An SUV veered across the double yellow line of the highway I was traveling on and hit my little Chevy Spark head-on — on the driver’s side. I’ve been told that I’m lucky to be alive. I was left with multiple injuries and have been on the slow road to recovery. I’ve always seen myself as a person who pushes forward to overcome obstacles. Since the collision, however, doing so has become more complicated, because I’m learning that recovery is a long road, filled with detours I couldn’t have predicted. Time and again, my expectations have been turned upside down. I’ve had to take deep breaths, sit back, and pay close attention.” (11/11/25)
Source: Libertarian Institute
by Ted Galen Carpenter
“President Donald Trump professed to be extremely pleased with the results of his recent summit meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea. Indeed, with his typical hyperbole, he rated it ‘a 12 out of 10.’ Trump expressed special satisfaction with the conclusion of new trade agreements that significantly eased bilateral economic tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In what amounted to a casual comment, he also stated that he had received a pledge from Xi that the PRC would not take any military action to change Taiwan’s political status during the remainder of Trump’s term. Interestingly, neither the United States nor PRC documents summarizing the summit indicated that the Taiwan issue was discussed at all — a very surprising omission given the usual importance of the topic.” (11/11/25)
“The shutdown’s uselessness is demonstrated by the fury of those who want it to keep it going (and indeed are still delaying the Senate’s final floor vote). ‘People want us to hold the line,’ thundered Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bx-Queens), furious that eight of her Senate colleagues crossed the aisle to get the government working again (at least until January). Who to blame for the sanity caucus quashing the six-week tantrum? Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Brooklyn) of course. Sure he voted to keep the shutdown going, but he’s friends with the ‘traitors’ and failed to make them obey the demands of the Trump-deranged.” (11/10/25)
“While the media has covered extensively Democratic successes in the 2025 off-year elections, there is one story that has been dramatically undercovered. This is the fact that the 2025 Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races show that Democrats can win over Trump voters. Granted, these are not dramatic slices of the Trump coalition, but they are enough in these hyper-polarized times to win elections. According to CNN polling, in New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill in her race for governor was able to win 7% of those who had voted for Donald Trump in 2024. Interestingly, the Virginia exit polling data shows that Rep. Abigail Spanberger won the identical (7%) of Trump voters.” (11/11/25)
“In the NFL offseason, star running back Saquon Barkley signed a $40 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles. Make no mistake, he earned it after rushing for 2,005 yards in the regular season and helping to bring another Lombardi Trophy to Philadelphia. I’m not alone in thinking this. As one sports writer put the point, ‘He deserves it … Barkley is easy to root for, not only because he can jump backward over people, but also because he works hard, he’s kind, and he’s a great teammate.’ Rarely does anyone argue that it’s morally wrong for a football player, or other performer, to earn tens of millions of dollars. But if a CEO earns the same amount, it’s greed, exploitation, or a symptom of the ills of late-stage capitalism.” (11/11/25)
“Americans frequently disagree over how to respond to crime, and partisan agendas sometimes lead to imprudent policy decisions, whether seen in progressive prosecutors’ refusal to charge certain offenses or in the dispatching of the military to American cities. Yet beyond the headlines, the New Right’s growing concern about the fate of the family provides a fresh opportunity for left and right to find common ground on preventing crime, particularly juvenile delinquency. The right has an opportunity to bolster families and help young men to thrive, while staying true to the fusionist alliance between traditional conservatives and libertarians.” (11/11/25)
“Politicians will be heartily applauded for saluting American’s soldiers today. But if citizens had better memories, elected officials would instead be fleeing tar and feathers. Politicians have a long record of betraying the veterans they valorize.” (originally published 11/11/28; re-posted 11/11/25)
“For more than three decades, I had the honor of serving our country in uniform. I led soldiers at home and abroad. I commanded U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency through some of the most complex technological shifts in our history. But the transition that came after my time in uniform came to an end was its own kind of mission. The structure, tempo and identity that comes with military service doesn’t simply disappear when you step out of it. The day you enter civilian life, you begin a new chapter – and you’re expected to write it while you’re living it. Every year, more than 200,000 service members make that same transition. And nearly half of post-9/11 veterans say it was harder than they expected – not because they lack discipline or talent, but because translating your experience into civilian terms can be difficult.” (11/11/25)
