Source: Quillette
by Jonathan Key
“More than a century after it was first published, ‘If It Die’—Gide’s shockingly candid account of his childhood and sexual awakening—remains a gripping read.” (04/09/26)
https://quillette.com/2026/04/09/andre-gide-versus-george-orwell-two-paths-to-truth/
Source: The Dispatch
by Berin Szóka
“Last month, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr threatened the licenses of broadcasters who ‘are running hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news.’ ‘This isn’t Reagan’s FCC,’ he had declared just a few weeks before. That’s because President Ronald Reagan knew better. That’s why he vetoed the Fairness in Broadcasting Act of 1987.” (04/09/26)
Source: Liberal Currents
by Nicholas Grossman
“Donald Trump started and now has lost a humiliating, illegal, and stupid war with Iran.” (04/09/26)
Source: Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
“The employment slowdown: Causes and consequences.” (04/09/26)
Source: Antiwar.com
by Dan Steinbock
“Originally set for March, the high-stakes summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was postponed for about ‘five or six weeks,’ due to the U.S. focus on military operations in Iran. The delay suggests that the Trump administration grossly underestimated Iran’s resilience. The summit will take place under the shadow of the worst energy crisis since the 1970s.” (04/09/26)
Source: The Hill
by Brad Bannon
“Trump’s political liability is that he broke two key promises he made to the American people in his desperate bid to win a second term during the 2024 presidential campaign. He pledged to reduce prices and told voters that he would put ‘America First.’ He’s batting 0 for 2 on those two vows. One more strike and he’s out.” (04/08/26)
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5821063-iran-war-trump-approval/
Source: USA Today
by Rex Huppke
“In the sweep of less than 24 hours on April 7, Donald Trump went from threatening genocide to agreeing to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, a ceasefire that appears to give the Middle East nation a lot in return for nothing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m damn glad he stepped away from mass murder. But let’s be honest: America can’t continue with this kind of ‘Look at me, I’m a crazy former reality show star, tune in to see what I’ll do next?!?’ insanity. … If Vice President JD Vance were smart ‒ and I very much don’t think he is ‒ he would use this disgraceful moment to turn on the president and position himself as a less insane choice to lead the country. Maybe some Republicans would get on board with that, knowing the other path available to them ends in political ruin. But I won’t hold my breath.” (04/08/26)
Source: Town Hall
by Derek Hunter
“There used to be a difference between famous and infamous – people aspired to be famous, no one wanted to be infamous. It was good attention versus bad attention. Now, the line between those two sides is gone and desperate narcissists who seek to fill the holes in their souls only see attention; numbers. These people are on full display right now; you should spot them and try to avoid them like the plague. You know the types – every time they’re challenged, they cite numbers of views or subscribers, as if that irrelevant information indicates anything other than the depths of their insecurity.” (04/09/26)
Source: The Daily Beast
by David Rothkopf
“Buckle up, there’s a psychopath in charge. And no, nobody can deny it now.” (04/08/26)
Source: Jacobin
by Branko Marcetic
“The Iran war was such a fiasco that Donald Trump had no choice but to find a way out. Whether it sticks will partly depend on Democrats resisting the urge to irresponsibly goad him back into it.” (04/08/26)