“US President Donald Trump on Monday signed proclamations dramatically shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah, eliminating roughly 3 million acres of protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante and potentially opening the beloved, wildlife-rich areas to industry exploitation. Trump’s proclamations, issued at the urging of Utah Republicans including Sen. Mike Lee, aim to reduce Bears Ears to just under 121,100 acres (down from nearly 1.4 million) and Grand Staircase-Escalante to 181,541 acres (down from 1.87 million). … During a signing ceremony on Monday, flanked by Utah Republicans, Trump characterized his scaling back of monument protections as an effort to give land ‘back to the people of Utah.’ The president falsely claimed that people could ‘virtually not even walk on’ the lands under the protections he targeted.” (07/14/26)
“As we think about what a new reconstruction may look like, one of the major points of tension will be the rules and regulations that bind the actions of the government machinery. One the one hand, the rules cause friction in the gears that get things done. Procurement is slow. Hiring is slow. Policy changes are slow. It will be immensely frustrating to those coming in to fix the government to be told to be patient after so much damage has been done. However, those rules are there for good reason. After all, hiring your buddy in a no-bid contract is how you get a reflecting pool full of algae.” (07/14/26)
Source: The American Conservative
by Harrison Berger
“As a candidate, Donald Trump famously promised to end the war in Ukraine ‘within 24 hours’ of taking office. This past week, he acknowledged that Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure represent an ‘escalation’ in the conflict and offered new support for Kiev’s war effort. ‘It’s an escalation,’ Trump said, ‘but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end of the war.’ … That view—which sees Ukraine’s war as winnable, if only the West will send enough money and weapons—has been the consensus among foreign policy elites since this thing kicked off. Now, aided by Western news outlets, hawks in Europe and our own national security bureaucracy are successfully selling this narrative to a gullible president who had previously resisted their blandishments.” (07/14/26)
“Of my four years of high school Latin, very little has stuck. But one phrase remains lodged in my mind: ‘De mortuis nil nisi bonum.’ Loosely translated, that means ‘Of the dead, don’t say anything but good things.’ That dictum popped into my head when I learned the sad news of the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). But life is not that black and white. Yes, there are many good things to be said about Graham, but his life and political career are so complex it defies characterization as all positive or all negative.” (07/14/26)
“Diplomacy is difficult. It requires patience together with deep knowledge of the country on the other side and the issues under negotiation. The nuclear agreement Barack Obama negotiated with Iran took nearly two years and was 160 pages long. The negotiating team included experienced diplomats and scientists compared to Trump’s team of two real estate developers, one of whom is his son-in-law. Meanwhile, the American military, obviously far superior to that of Iran, presented another option. As Anton Chekhov put it, albeit in a very different context, ‘One must not put a loaded rifle upon the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.'” (07/14/26)
“Over the weekend, The New York Times came out with an overview of its coverage last month of the Graham Platner sexual assault allegations. It was just over one month ago when the outlet delivered its quasi-exposé on three women detailing troubling experiences with the Senate candidate who possesses no discernible resume. The primary focus was on Lyndsey Fifield, and there have been contentious reactions about that report—Fifield included. … If you are wondering why The Times is now doing this dose of introspection, it is because Fifield has since taken her story—and evidence—to CNN, and the network was able to do what The Times reporters Katie Glueck and Lisa Lerer were incapable of doing, and that is to corroborate Fifield’s details with others. This becomes an even more scalding hit to the paper’s credibility.” (07/13/26)
Source: Hoover Institution
by Dan Berkenstock & Walter J Manuel
“China aims to land taikonauts on the Moon before 2030—before the US returns to the lunar surface—and set the operating rules that will govern future lunar activity. Traditional deterrence won’t work in a domain where the US is unable to project military force, and space treaties lack enforcement. This essay presents four conflict scenarios to show what’s at stake, and proposes a near-term US strategy of accelerated missions, allied coordination, clear red lines, and concrete military doctrine.” (07/14/26)
“Like most Americans, I took part in the festivities over America’s 250th birthday. I found it quite remarkable to reflect on that number. On one hand, America is 250 years old, with so much history. On the other hand, America is still a baby compared to many other countries. I found myself having to pause and think about what was nagging me about that number. Two hundred and fifty years. Then the answer came to me. Two hundred and fifty years also marks how long race has played a role in this nation — and still does. Those who say race is as much a part of America as apple pie are not entirely wrong. We may not have the Klan riding through the streets, but I’m not talking about that kind of racism. I’m talking about government-sponsored racism.” (07/14/26)
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Angelo Monaco
“When mainstream schooling, media, and digital spaces reflect a dominant ideological lean, proactive conversations at home become essential to giving children a balanced perspective. Actively engaging your children in the principles of freedom, liberty, and natural rights equips them with the critical thinking skills needed to question prevailing narratives rather than absorb them passively. By introducing these foundational concepts early, you provide them with a moral and philosophical anchor, ensuring they understand that true rights are inherent to the individual, not granted by the state.” (07/13/26)
