Source: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
by Jim Naureckas
“In The Dawn of Everything, David Graeber and David Wengrow note that the Western notion of freedom derives from the Roman legal tradition, in which freedom was conceived as ‘the power of the male household head in ancient Rome, who could do whatever he liked with his chattels and possessions, including his children and slaves.’ Because of this, ‘freedom was always defined (at least potentially) as something exercised to the cost of others.’ You have to understand this notion of freedom (that to be free, you have to make someone else less free) to make sense of the idea that Donald Trump is a champion of ‘free speech.’ This is, unfortunately, not a fringe idea.” (03/05/25)
“There is perhaps no piece of legislation that the current Labour government will introduce in its tenure that is more dystopian, more depressing, and more dangerous than the Data Use and Access Bill. This bill poses a real threat to the freedoms of every single individual in the United Kingdom. You have a natural, given right to privacy; what you use your property for cannot be spied upon unless there is a very real, solid, and robust case to break this privacy based on your aggression against another individual’s property rights. The Data Use and Access Bill is being snuck through the British Parliament with very little media coverage. It was introduced in the House of Lords — possibly to avoid a scene — it must be opposed by every individual who wishes to live a private life.” (03/05/25)
“For the past six weeks, we have witnessed just how far President Donald Trump is willing to go to reshape America in his dystopian vision. Now we’re witnessing Republican fear of having to account for that reshaping. Trump signed more executive orders during his first month than any president in over 40 years. USA TODAY has reported that there be more than 100,000 federal job cuts already. Half the country is, understandably, concerned, and they’re speaking out about it. As a result, GOP lawmakers holding town halls nationwide are having to answer for Trump and Elon Musk’s reign of chaos – even in deep red districts. Instead of facing those criticisms head on, Republicans have decided to hide.” (03/05/26)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger
“Today, there are many people, including Zelensky, who are exhorting Trump to cancel his suspension of U.S. arms to Ukraine. But how can Trump do that, given his conviction that Ukraine was the one that started the war?” (03/05/25)
“‘Act worthy of yourselves.’ That’s how the great patriot and Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren urged the people to commemorate the Boston Massacre, which happened today in history – March 5, 1770. In the face of a standing army occupier – and direct threats to his own life – Warren pressed the people to stand firm for liberty in the face of the mighty British Empire, ‘until tyranny is trodden under foot.’ The Massacre in Boston did a great deal to solidify opposition to arbitrary, centralized power – and permanent standing armies. For many years, it was commemorated as a solemn public holiday in Boston, with speeches from prominent patriots like John Hancock, James Lovell and others. Joseph Warren delivered the oration in 1772 – and was the only person ever chosen to give the speech a second time, on March 6, 1775.” (03/05/25)
“Colleges are so unable to corral their own students that the president of the United States is stepping in to do it for them. Trump has pledged to halt federal funding for schools that allow illegal protest activity to continue on their campuses — and is even threatening to slap student agitators with expulsion, arrest and deportation. ‘All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,’ the president wrote in a Tuesday morning Truth Social post. ‘Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!’ It should never have gotten to this point. Pulling academic institutions’ funding might seem severe, but it’s an unfortunately necessary last-gasp attempt to restore order on campuses derailed by unlawful protesting.” (03/05/25)
“President Trump is on a mission. He wants to end government waste and find efficiencies that could save the federal government money. His new Department of Government Efficiency, with Elon Muck at its helm, is framed to cut government bureaucracy. And with Daylight Saving Time set to begin on March 9, DOGE has a big, juicy, low-hanging fruit just waiting to be grabbed.” (03/05/25)
“Such alliances as the Putin/Trump partnership are not unusual in American foreign policy. The United States has long supported repressive regimes for political purposes, especially during the Cold War. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” (03/05/25)
