“The Biden administration’s policy in Gaza has been a cautionary tale of what not to do in response to a conflict. Biden threw his full support behind a military campaign that was sure to be brutal and atrocious, he refused to use U.S. influence to bring it to an end, he rushed to shield the perpetrators from the consequences of their aggressive actions, and he ignored the laws that required him to cut off arms transfers. In the process, he put U.S. forces in harm’s way and even launched an illegal bombing campaign in Yemen rather than apply any pressure on Netanyahu. Throughout all of it, the Biden administration has shown a ghoulish contempt for Palestinian lives.” (12/19/24)
“The white whale of government privatization in Missouri is Springfield’s City Utilities, a municipal utility behemoth that should be broken up and privatized to make a fortune for Springfield taxpayers now and result in better utility services in the long run for residents. But at the national level, the privatization white whale has long been the U.S. Post Office. So, it is exciting to hear President Trump declare that he is open to the privatization of the post office.” (12/19/24)
“This fall, shortly after the election, the U.S. House passed a dangerous piece of legislation that many are calling the ‘nonprofit killer’ bill. The bill has an incongruous title: the ‘Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act’. Among other things, it would give the Treasury Department the authority to unilaterally accuse nonprofit organizations of supporting ‘terrorism’, and revoke their nonprofit status. Critics like the ACLU say it’s a blank check for presidents to shut down organizations that criticize them. When the bill was introduced in the spring, it was largely viewed as an effort to silence pro-Palestinian activism. At the time, dozens of House Democrats supported it alongside most Republicans. But after Donald Trump’s White House win, amid fears that the incoming president would use it as a tool to bludgeon his perceived enemies, it passed with significantly less Democratic support.” (12/19/24)
“Earlier this week, Steve Bannon — the former Trump aide and podcaster — told the New York Young Republican Club falsely that the president-elect could run for a third term in 2028, citing a claim from Trump’s legal adviser Mike Davis that the Constitution’s two-term limit, ‘doesn’t actually say consecutive.’ A flood of headlines followed, suggesting Trump is preparing to trample the Constitution and cling to power. Bannon, of course, is wrong. The 22nd Amendment is plain: ‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.’ There is no exception for non-consecutive terms. Twice means twice. … Why would Bannon make such a ludicrous claim? … Bannon and other MAGA loyalists don’t want congressional Republicans treating Trump like a lame-duck president because lame-ducks are more readily disobeyed.” (12/19/24)
“Nations, including the United States, have four ways of getting others to do as they please: force, threats, bribery, and persuasion. All four methods are important, but what has really set U.S. leadership of the free world apart was persuasion, both active and passive. Since its independence, through its can-do culture and its dominance of science, culture, and the arts, the United States has inspired other nations to follow America’s example, cooperate with Washington on projects of mutual interest, or simply to emulate American practices in domestic politics. To describe the power of America’s example is not to romanticize the past, nor to downplay the real tensions in, say, the transatlantic relationship. … However, the re-election of Donald Trump and the flurry of announcements from his team signal, particularly to our friends and allies, a qualitative change.” (12/19/24)
“While Assange’s conviction delighted those scribbling defenders of the national security state, the toadies, the paid-up worthies, and anyone from the CIA to CBS (‘Assange: hacker, thief and exposer of confidential sources!’ came the shrill voice of approval), his prosecution and ultimate conviction on a single charge of the Espionage Act served only one purpose: pouring oil on obtaining, using and discussing material about the crimes and vices of national security, notably the sort supplied by whistleblowers. One way of diminishing the sinister implications of that thuggish legacy is to persuade Freedom Land’s highest, doddering magistrate to show a skerrick of good sense – whatever is left of it.” (12/19/24)
“If there is one thing we can count on, it is the annual warning that China is on the verge of collapsing. Don’t believe me? Here are articles from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. And here is another article with citations going back to 1990, all warning about the same thing: that China’s economy will crash and it will crash hard. Remarkably, we also routinely hear the tale that China is poised to become the world’s next economic superpower. … Despite these contradictory warnings, China has not collapsed or become a bona fide economic superpower. So, what gives? How can a country simultaneously be on the verge of disaster and greatness? The answer lies in understanding China’s economic system (party-state capitalism) and the difference between economic problems and technical problems.” (12/19/24)
“I suppose it is good news that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he supports polio vaccination. But only in comparison to the alternative, like finding out that your cancer is ‘only’ Stage 3. Sure, it’s nice for him to acknowledge that polio is worth preventing. But when it comes to the proposed head of the Department of Health and Human Services, you’d rather that went without saying. The reason it doesn’t is that Kennedy has spent much of his life casting doubt upon one of the greatest public health achievements in human history. We’ve eradicated smallpox, brought polio to near extinction, and made various other killing, blinding and crippling diseases into rare curiosities. Yet that victory remains fragile thanks to the efforts of people like Kennedy.” (12/19/24)
“[T]he Russian assault is devouring Ukraine’s soldiers and weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky begs his Western suppliers daily for more weapons. ‘The priority should be providing missiles,’ he said again on December 9. Possibly between 500,000 and 600,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded and at least 100,000 more have deserted. And yet, desperate for men and weapons, Zelensky is sending the precious men and weapons he has everywhere but the Donbas where the fighting is happening.” (12/19/24)
