Source: Pierre Lemieux
by Pierre Lemieux
“Economically and morally, there is nothing wrong, on the contrary, with insider trading as such. But there is everything wrong when it is done by corrupt rulers or their cronies.” (05/24/26)
https://pierrelemieux.substack.com/p/efficient-insider-trading-and-public
Source: Washington Post
by David Ignatius
“President Donald Trump appears to be nearing an escape ramp from the Iran war, but it’s one that represents a risky bet that Tehran’s divided leadership will opt for postwar modernization rather than continuing conflict with the United States and Israel. Like most peace deals, the framework described by U.S. officials Sunday would be a series of compromises, well short of the capitulation that Trump sought when he joined Israel in launching the war on Feb. 28. The Iranian regime can claim victory simply by having survived the assault. If these hardline leaders continue to destabilize the region, however, the deal will probably collapse in another round of strife.” (05/25/26)
Source: Town Hall
by Derek Hunter
“It’s getting tougher and tougher not to wish ill on Democrats, as they promise to trample the Constitution and commit to treating all Americans like we’re a young starlet and they’re Harvey Weinstein at the height of his powers. They are telling us what they’re going to do to us; how they’re going to force their will on us in any way they like, and each of them is taking things further and further down the rhetorical toilet. Maybe we should take failed 2024 Democratic presidential nominee and former Willie Brown side-piece Kamala Harris up on her proposal to implement a series of ‘bad ideas’ before they have the chance to do it to everyone else?” (05/24/26)
Source: Big Head Press
by Scott Bieser
Cartoon. (05/25/26)
Source: Independent Institute
by Jane Shaw Stroup
“By all accounts, climate change alarmists are on the defensive—politically, scientifically, I would even say morally (see Bill Gates’s comment below). We could leave it at that. But there may be hope for a truce in this conflict — and if so, capitalism can take the credit.” (05/22/26)
https://www.independent.org/article/2026/05/22/climate-change-market-innovation/
Source: TomDispatch
by Jasper Craven
“Earlier this year, President Donald Trump surveyed his top military brass on the prospect of making war in Iran. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine urged caution, presciently predicting that a ramped-up campaign against Iran could lead its leaders to close the Strait of Hormuz. However, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s self-styled ‘Secretary of War’, jumped at the prospect of such a conflict. ‘Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up,’ Trump recently recalled at a press event. ‘And you said, ‘Let’s do it, because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.” Americans join the military for any number of reasons: to serve their country, gain economic stability, or simply join a community. For Hegseth, a thirst for martial victory and a desire for a masculine metamorphosis seemed to surpass all else.” (05/24/26)
https://tomdispatch.com/pete-hegseths-desperate-crusade-for-masculine-validation/
Source: Liberalism.org
by Josh Zingher
“Our political battle lines fall increasingly along our growing educational divide, in which young women are advancing, and young men are falling behind.” (05/22/26)
https://www.liberalism.org/p/educational-polarization-and-the-politics-of-young-men
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“The financial world is atwitter over public stock offerings expected to be issued soon by SpaceX, OpenAI, and other mega tech companies. ‘A welcome tribute to the U.S. capitalist system’ is how The Wall Street Journal describes this moment. And The Economist calls SpaceX’s journey toward a listing ‘a marvel of free markets.’ At the other end of the scale from trillion-dollar valuations, an estimated 19 million home-based businesses across America are also economic and social marvels. They embody the hustle, creativity, and vision of lauded tech startups, but without deep-pocketed investors. Home-based food enterprises, in particular, provide families with a financial boost and communities with essential services. And, by serving as low-risk incubators, they offer economic mobility in a system that rewards innovation and effort.” (05/22/26)
Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Katrina Gulliver
“Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have reached a merger agreement, where Paramount will acquire WBD for $110 billion at $31 per share in cash. (The final terms of the deal have yet to be approved by the DOJ and the FCC.) But assuming it goes ahead, report author Jeff Ferry suggests: ‘At a time when the industry is struggling, the proposed merger of Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery stands out as the most significant opportunity for renewed growth in years.’ The merger will create Hollywood’s largest studio, churning out 30 movies a year, and their analysis finds that if this commitment is fulfilled, it could add almost $1 billion to Hollywood’s annual investment in movie production within Los Angeles.” (05/24/26)
Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone
“International flotilla activists say they were subjected to torture and sexual assault by Israeli forces after being abducted in international waters while attempting to bring aid to Gaza. A statement from the Global Sumud Flotilla reports that the IDF held the activists on a makeshift ‘torture boat’, asserting that ‘At least 12 sexual assaults have been documented on that vessel alone, including anal rape and forcible penetration by a handgun.’ This comes after a New York Times report on Israel’s systemic use of sexual torture in its prison camps sent hasbarists howling in outrage for days, and after a Haaretz report on the Israeli military’s internal findings that sexual assault is soaring among its own ranks. If you knew someone who was constantly being accused of rape by different people on a daily basis, at some point you’d have to conclude that that person is a rapist.” (05/24/26)
https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/05/24/israel-rapes-everyone-and-other-notes/