Generational Debts of Gratitude
Source: Law & Liberty
by Rebecca Burgess
“Today’s veterans owe a special debt to the Greatest Generation of World War II.” (06/12/26)
Category: Opinion
The Beau Idéal Historian
Source: Law & Liberty
by Aaron N Coleman
“The celebrations of the 250th anniversary of independence will be a bit dimmer now with the sudden passing of the greatest historian of the American founding, Gordon S. Wood. Since the 1960s, Wood stood at the pinnacle of the historical profession. The list of awards and accolades he received over his sixty-year career, including the National Medal of the Humanities, is longer than most academics’ CVs. For all the deserved laurels, however, Wood accomplished something most academics only dream of: he crossed into popular culture.” (06/12/26)
The Face of Modern Britain: Jihad’s Triumph
Source: American Greatness
by Roger Kimball
“It turns out that I have found something to agree with Keir Starmer about. During Ramadan this year, the prime minister described Muslims as ‘the face of modern Britain.’ I think that is correct. Whether it is also something to be happy about is another question. The PM, for his part, couldn’t be more pleased. Muslims in Britain, he went on to say, are ‘a success story when it comes to diversity.’ Was that qualification (‘when it comes to diversity’) just a nod to reality? Or was it merely his capitulation to some sort of self-imposed linguistic quota according to which he must punctuate two out of three pronouncements with the word ‘diversity’ or go without his pudding? The jury is still out on that.” (06/14/26)
https://amgreatness.com/2026/06/14/the-face-of-modern-britain-jihads-triumph/
Celebrate the Fourth of July. But Don’t Forget the Twelfth of June.
Source: Independent Institute
by William J Watkins, Jr.
“Naturally, the main event of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations will be the Fourth of July, in honor of the Declaration of Independence. But a little tailgate party would be appropriate for the Twelfth of June. For it was on that date, 250 years ago, that Virginia’s Declaration of Rights was adopted. Written primarily by George Mason, Virginia’s declaration inspired Thomas Jefferson in writing the nation’s founding document. It set forth in plain language America’s first principles and provided guideposts for the establishment of a republican government.” (06/12/26)
Upholding US values of security and privacy
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“The lapsed authorization Friday night of a key national security surveillance provision that aims to prevent terrorist acts underscores the complex role of government in protecting the lives of U.S. citizens – and their constitutional right to privacy. Although the Senate and the House recently voted down a third short-term extension of the provision, Americans need not worry that national security or their individual safety has been massively compromised. Earlier this year, a specialized federal court renewed the annual certification of the tool – Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) – until March 2027. So, standard intelligence-gathering will not stop. However, some members of Congress, as well as political analysts, indicate that they’re ready for partisan wrangling and division around this issue to stop.” (06/12/26)
Punish Energy Producers?
Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob
“The latest attempt to hamper our ability to do things? A series of lawsuits against oil companies for allegedly committing global warming. The plaintiffs want billions and billions to be extracted from these companies for fueling civilization.” (06/12/26)
https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/06/12/punish-energy-producers/
Graham Platner Signals a Problem for Democrats, and the Rest of Us
Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille
“The ‘progressive’ wing of the Democratic Party is on a roll, winning nominations and elections. Left-wing leaders are taking earned victory laps as they chalk up victories for candidates espousing socialism, hostility to Israel (and often Jews), identity politics, and other leftist positions that were until recently thankfully rare in American politics. But the radicals’ support for Maine’s deeply troubled Graham Platner, who won the party’s nod to compete in the U.S. Senate race, shows the dangers posed by a movement that seemingly holds ideological lunacy as its highest value. It’s not clear that anybody is in a position to stop them.” (06/12/26)
https://reason.com/2026/06/12/graham-platner-signals-a-problem-for-democrats-and-the-rest-of-us/
Trump’s Bait and Switch on Top Intelligence Job
Source: The American Prospect
by Robert Kuttner
“On Thursday, Donald Trump belatedly reacted to the revolt (which included several key Republicans) over his preposterous installation of uber-loyalist Bill Pulte, who has not a shred of national security experience, as acting director of national intelligence, by nominating Jay Clayton for the position. But he has no such experience either. Clayton, SEC chair in Trump’s first term, was a longtime Wall Street lawyer at the power-law firm Sullivan & Cromwell. He now serves as U.S. attorney in Manhattan. Some Democrats were quick to take the bait, which matters at a time when the party is allowing a key warrantless wiretapping provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to expire today, because of the Pulte appointment.” (06/12/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/06/12/trumps-bait-and-switch-top-intelligence-job-dni-clayton/
Why Bother Considering Whether Government is Necessary?
Source: Freedom and Flourishing
by Winton Bates
“Is the existence of government an issue that should occupy the minds of those who believe that liberty supports human flourishing? As far as I know, there is no country in the world in which citizens are currently faced with a choice between having a minimal state or no state at all. In liberal democracies – the countries that currently enjoy the greatest personal and economic freedom – liberty is being threatened by political movements with authoritarian tendencies. Authoritarianism is presented in the wrapping of different varieties of collectivist idealism which offer citizens the opportunity to attribute personal and social problems to immigration, foreign competition, the greed of the wealthy, systemic discrimination, environmental degradation or anything else that appears to justify a larger role for government. Shouldn’t libertarians be focusing their attention on supporting the political/legal order – democracy, or representative government – that has been most successful in promoting personal and economic freedom?” (06/12/26)
https://www.freedomandflourishing.com/2026/06/why-bother-considering-whether.html
FISA Fail: A Good First Step, But Hold Off on the Celebration
Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp
“FISA was always terrible, and section 702 always made it even worse. I’m glad it failed of re-passage. It needs to die in a fire, permanently. But there’s nothing really to celebrate here, because we’ve known — since at least as far back as 2013 — how the US regime operates with regard to its surveillance powers. If the US regime doesn’t like the law, it breaks the law. If US regime figures are asked (under oath) about breaking the law, they deny (under oath) breaking the law. If a whistleblower outs the evidence that the US regime is breaking the law, the US regime charges the whistleblower with espionage and chases him out of the country, while the perjurers continue their skulduggery without penalty or punishment.” (06/11/26)