Source: Common Dreams
by Martha Molfetas

“Renewables are not just for highfalutin hippies, they’re cheaper and avoid the volatility of wars and chaotic leaders. We are not living the 1970s oil shock moment; there are alternatives to fossil fuels. Those who embrace renewable energy will be better off—from health benefits for communities to reducing energy shock burdens for households. The reality unfolding during this latest oil war is that many nations really do not want to be tethered to volatile energy resources. And who can blame them?” (07/23/26)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/oil-energy-of-war

Source: Law & Liberty
by John O McGinnis

“AConstitution that divides power among three branches and between the federal government and the states needs an umpire. Politicians, responding either to their own interest in expanding their authority or to public passions, will frequently overstep constitutional boundaries. Through judicial review, the Supreme Court therefore serves as a neutral arbiter charged with maintaining the Constitution’s boundaries. But the Court itself is an institution that must respect its own boundaries. Thus, in every constitutional case, the preliminary question is whether the Court can reach and resolve the constitutional issue in a manner consistent with the proper limits on its own power. This term, in two of its most notable cases, Trump v. Barbara and Trump v. Cook, the Court transgressed those constraints.” (07/23/26)

https://lawliberty.org/the-umpires-limits/

Source: The Next Move
by Garry Kasparov

“The key to understanding the difference is the noun. In social democracy, the priority is democracy. Under democratic socialism, the emphasis is on socialism, with democracy reduced to a mere modifier. Social democrats want to remediate some of the injustice and unfairness that comes with unfettered capitalism. I get it: After all, I lived through the Russia of the 1990s. Ultimately, whatever disagreements I have with social democrats, we share common ground as democrats. The same cannot be said for many socialists.” (07/23/26)

https://www.thenextmove.org/p/democratic-socialists-vs-social-democrats

Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Mark Nayler

“The Gibraltar–Spain fence is down—but what happens now?” (07/23/26)

https://fee.org/articles/in-the-shadow-of-the-rock/

Source: Christian Science Monitor
by the Editorial Board

“The rule of law across Europe is on a ‘broadly positive trajectory,’ according to the just-released 2026 European Commission Rule of Law Report. Reforms that bolster independent justice systems and align anti-corruption rules to continentwide principles are part of this arc. In a global context, where democratic norms appear to be on the back foot and several governments are flexing authoritarian muscles, this is good news. But in a note of caution, the same document also points to uneven progress – particularly among Eastern and Central European countries.” (07/22/26)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/0722/The-EU-moves-forward-on-expansion-and-the-rule-of-law