“Holly [Mathnerd] warns that social media magnifies tribal hatred. Having written many essays on the horrors of tribalism, I think she is spot on. We can go further. We won’t get to the roots of tribal hatred if we don’t assess cause and effect. Our inner decision to cherish our tribal beast creates the demand to express our hatred on social media. No matter what political or social side we are on, Holly’s observation applies: ‘You cannot defend the individual by changing which collective gets put in the defendant’s chair.'” (09/16/26)
“In the last two days, a pair of government reports confirmed what many outside analysts have claimed: the Iran war has been extraordinarily costly for the U.S. military and for the American public. … arlier this month, Trump claimed on Truth Social that the military has ‘virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition.’ He called those who reported there were shortfalls ‘treasonous.'” (09/16/26)
“Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Constitution Day event at James Madison University about ‘Rage and the Republic’. and various constitutional issues. During the event, organized by the James Madison Center on Civic Engagement, one student asked me what I would change about the U.S. Constitution. I said that I would amend the Constitution to eliminate birthright citizenship, as have other nations who once followed this ill-considered practice. Well, Sen. Rand Paul (R., Kentucky) has wasted no time. He just reintroduced his bill to ban birthright citizenship. I have previously written about the possible need for such an amendment after the decision in Trump v. Barbara. With that decision, the matter now rests not with the court but with the country.” (09/16/26)
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
by Greg Gonzalez
“Last week, Rep. Glenn Grothman introduced H.R. 10335, the Restoring Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Act of 2026. The bill would make it easier for Americans who successfully vindicate their civil rights in court to recover the cost of doing so. The bill is scheduled for a committee vote today, and FIRE is urging lawmakers to support it. … litigation is expensive. In America, each side generally pays its own attorney’s fees, regardless of who wins. This creates a problem: people who cannot afford substantial legal fees are less able to find attorneys to represent them. This is especially true in civil rights cases, where the purpose of the lawsuit is often to stop unlawful actions by the government rather than to win large monetary judgments.” (09/16/26)
“Sydney Sweeney’s new ad for sports betting app Novig has sparked backlash from athletes and critics alike. But the real issue isn’t the ad – it’s that she’s a registered Republican.” (09/16/26)
“Welcome to the barfing-in-the-neighbors’-bushes hangover of Ukraine’s ‘turning the tide’ exuberance this summer. Actually, the exuberance phase was short-lived, so we’ve been feeling the crapulence since at least mid-July, when President Volodymyr Zelensky axed the popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Days later, he fired Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and, one day after that, Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Andrii Hnatov. Wartime presidents don’t strike down their top military leaders when battlefield developments are coming up roses. … This Sunday, Zelensky slapped sanctions on his own former press secretary, Iulia Mendel, who has become one of his fiercest and most prominent critics. According to a presidential decree, Mendel spreads ‘Russian propaganda’ …. Not only will she face economic restrictions like asset freezes, but internet users within Ukraine will be blocked from accessing her social media accounts.” (09/16/26)
“How could it be, then, that the same party touting its credibility in the fight against big-government economic planning is also led by a president who is offering every American adult a free $5,000? Is this not an example of the very economic interventionism Republicans claim to oppose? This creates a clear bind for the Republicans. Are they for ‘free markets’ or ‘free handouts?'” (09/16/26)
