Source: The UnPopulist
by Alan Elrod

“When Britain’s most notorious far-right agitator, Tommy Robinson (whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), endorsed a Reform UK candidate late last month, it was yet another indicator of the growing ideological overlap between the nation’s most extreme anti-immigration elements and the right’s institutional organs. Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s insurgent right-wing populist party that has led the polls for over a year, disavowed Robinson—a predictable maneuver aimed at damage control. But it couldn’t obscure the real story: the collapse of any meaningful ideological daylight between Robinson’s street-level radicalism and right-wing electoral politics in Britain today.” (02/18/26)

https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/the-far-right-is-rapidly-remaking

Source: David Friedman’s Substack
by David Friedman

“A lot of current writing is self-published, either online or in print or kindle. Much of it is fan fiction, stories set in a fictional world created by another author, often using his characters. Being a fan is seen as lower status than being an author, fan fiction as a low status literary activity. Quite a lot of what I read and enjoy is fan fiction, hence this essay. I will list what I believe are the main charges against it and try to show that they are for the most part mistaken.” (02/18/26)

https://daviddfriedman.substack.com/p/in-defense-of-fanfic

Source: Foreign Policy
by Sina Toossi

‘It would be a mistake to view the protests across Iran that peaked on Jan. 7 and 8, and the subsequent brutal crackdown that killed at least 6,506 protesters, solely as a confrontation between state and society. Against a backdrop of economic hardship and political discontent, rival factions within the Islamic Republic have sought to steer, contain, or exploit unrest to advance their own agendas. The latest upheaval unfolded amid intense maneuvering inside the system, as competing power centers jockeyed over economic reform, foreign-policy direction, and control of the political field.” (02/19/26)

https://archive.is/ePUxy

Source: Orange County Register
by Alexander Langlois

“One can be excused for wondering why the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently beaten accusations of near-death since its inception in 1979. The regime in Tehran has held onto power through successive internal and external crises regardless of doomsday prophesizing in Washington or Tel Aviv. As the Iranian government faces one of the most difficult moments in its brief existence – both internally and externally — the question now, as the US sends a second aircraft carrier to the region is will this time be different?” (02/18/26)

https://archive.is/BOZvf

Source: In These Times
by Jeffrey D Sachs

“Distinguished Members of the Security Council, The President of the United States is issuing grave threats of force against the Islamic Republic of Iran if it does not accede to US demands. His actions risk a major regional war that would be devastating. Asked if he wanted regime change, he responded that it ‘seems like that would be the best thing that could happen.’ When asked why a second US aircraft carrier has been sent to the region, President Trump answered ​’in case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it … if we need it, we’ll have it ready.’ These threats are in violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which declares that ​’All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.'” (02/19/26)

https://inthesetimes.com/article/no-us-war-on-iran-open-letter-to-un-security-council-jeffrey-sachs