Source: Reason
by Jacob Sullum
“It should be obvious by now that Trump is not thankful for an independent judiciary, which he views as an illegitimate obstacle to his policy agenda and personal whims. That much is clear from his over-the-top denunciations of recalcitrant judges and justices, whom he habitually accuses of political bias or cowardice, sometimes recommending their impeachment. It is also clear from the arguments that Justice Department lawyers have made in court, especially during Trump’s second term.” (08/16/26)
https://reason.com/2026/08/16/trumps-assault-on-judicial-review-undermines-a-crucial-safeguard-against-tyranny/
Source: The American Prospect
by Suzanne Gordon
“On August 5th, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General (VA OIG) released a report entitled ‘Review of Radiology Staffing and Services at the VA Washington D.C. Healthcare System’. The blandly titled report was an indictment of the second Trump administration’s misguided return-to-office (RTO) policy. The OIG documented that the RTO caused a ‘mass exodus’ of radiologists from the medical center and delays in patient care (although no documented patient harm). Additionally, the report found that facility leaders didn’t follow appropriate protocols in notifying quality management of known problems and failed to track incomplete radiologic studies. The OIG report appeared just five days after The American Prospect reported on multiple problems at the DC VA Medical Center, one of them being the loss of its radiologists.” (08/17/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/08/17/va-inspector-general-confirms-prospect-reporting-on-radiologist-shortage/
Source: United Press International
“At least seven Hindu devotees were killed Monday morning in a crowd crush at a Shiva temple in eastern India, where tens of thousands had gathered to take part in a religious observance, according to reports. The incident occurred near Ashok Dham, a famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Lakhisarai during the holy month of Shravan, when Mondays are considered particularly auspicious for worship. Preliminary information indicates that reports that a live wire from a fallen electricity pole electrocuted people queuing for Ashok Dham prompted people to panic and run for safety, causing a barricade to collapse and people to pile on top of one another, The New Indian Express reported.” (08/17/26)
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/08/17/india-Hindu-devotees-killed-crowd-crush/3831786945704/
Source: The Scott Horton Show
“Joe Kent on the Risk That US and Israeli Aggression Will Lead to Stateside Terrorism.” (08/16/26)
https://scotthorton.org/interviews/8-14-26-joe-kent-on-the-risk-that-us-and-israeli-aggression-will-lead-to-stateside-terrorism/
Source: Agorist Nexus
by Vini B
“In a world where every bank transfer, card swipe, and digital payment leaves a permanent trail for the state to follow, the need for tools that restore private exchange has never been greater. Governments expand financial surveillance under the banners of ‘anti-money laundering’ and ‘tax compliance,’ while inflation and capital controls punish ordinary people simply for trying to preserve their wealth or trade freely. Agorists have long understood that the most effective path to liberty is not petitioning rulers but building parallel systems that operate outside their reach. Zano is one of those systems. It is not merely another privacy coin. It is an open-source Layer-1 blockchain designed from the ground up so that every transaction, every asset, and even the type of asset being transferred remains hidden by default.” (08/16/26)
https://www.agoristnexus.com/zano-privacy-infrastructure-for-the-counter-economy/
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“President Donald Trump has said the US will ‘substantially reduce’ joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his ‘very good relationship’ with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un. He also noted on Truth Social that South Korea had recently declined to join the US in the ‘denuclearisation’ of Iran. ‘These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile,’ Trump posted. Seoul said it was reviewing Trump’s comments, adding it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks. Pyongyang has not yet commented.” (08/17/26)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lll7zvn0o
Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp
“Normally when we speak of ‘losing’ something or ‘costing’ something, it’s in terms of already having that thing. You lose $50 on a bet, or a steak dinner costs you $50. Using the definition preferred by supporters of ever-increasing government revenue, though, I ‘lost’ thousands of dollars yesterday when I walked past a bank instead of walking in, waving a gun at the tellers, and taking all the cash from their drawers. It ‘cost’ me thousands of dollars. And committing to not robbing every bank I happen to walk past in the future ‘costs’ me too. I’m ‘losing’ all that money! Oh, the humanity! … even if one supports taxation for the purpose of funding government operations, it’s beyond dishonest to claim that cutting, or just not raising, taxes is a ‘cost’ or a ‘loss’ to government.” (08/15/26)
https://thegarrisoncenter.org/archives/20835
Source: Unattended Baggage
“US Navy: It’s what’s for dinner!” (08/15/26)
https://unattendedbaggage.substack.com/p/episode-352-us-navy-its-whats-for
Source: WCVB 5 News
“100 years of presidential political history may now be just that – history. On Saturday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) made its primary calendar official, as it voted to put South Carolina first in its presidential nominating calendar. The move comes amidst a renewed drama between the DNC and the state of New Hampshire, which has long served as the ‘First in the Nation’ primary state. The party voted in line with a prior vote by the party’s Rules & Bylaws Committee to establish South Carolina first, Nevada second and New Hampshire third. … State law in New Hampshire requires it to hold its primary before any other similar primary contest.” (08/16/26)
https://www.wcvb.com/article/dnc-moves-new-hampshire-further-down-the-presidential-primary-calendar/73444424
Source: Antiwar.com
by Andrew P Napolitano
“The rapid spread of public surveillance cameras represents something far more consequential than a new piece of police technology. It represents a fundamental change in the relationship between the individual and the state. These cameras allow government agents to record, identify, catalog and retroactively track the movements of people who have committed no crime, are suspected of no wrongdoing and have done nothing to invite government scrutiny. That’s not public safety. It’s an assault upon individual privacy. Privacy is not a privilege granted by government. It is an aspect of personal liberty that government exists to protect. It is a natural human right protected from the government in the Bill of Rights. The fact that a person leaves his home and travels upon a public road does not mean that he has surrendered that right.” (08/14/26)
https://original.antiwar.com/andrew-p-napolitano/2026/08/13/the-right-to-be-left-alone-2/
