Reasonably Optimistic, 07/08/26
Source: Washington Post
“How populists turn distrust into power.” (07/08/26)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/impromptu/how-populists-turn-distrust-into-power/
The Indestructible Aspiration Toward Freedom
Source: Mindset Shifts
by Barry Brownstein
“Can the transformation of America into a ‘State without freedom’ be stopped? Is it possible to learn of the dangers to freedom and human progress without first living through our own bitter experiences? I know it is fashionable to believe that the new wave of communist/Islamist candidates is hardly a threat to become mainstream outside of blue urban centers in the United States. History says we are one economic crisis away from that view being proven wrong.” (07/08/26)
https://mindsetshifts.substack.com/p/the-indestructible-aspiration-toward
Dems ignored every warning sign in Graham Platner’s Senate disaster
Source: Fox News
by Mark Penn
“Federalist No. 62, written by James Madison, outlines the nature of the Senate and the qualifications of senators — they were older, more removed from politics, with six-year staggered terms, and meant to cool the hot-tempered passions of the House of Representatives. Guess Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and the party organizers didn’t read that one. They are recruiting senators with exactly the opposite qualifications — inexperienced, reckless, flamboyant and unstable. Platner was unqualified from Day One — he had zero life accomplishments of any note, his political viewpoints were extreme, and he had no understanding of the complex issues that a senator would need to be effective. No matter — Democratic leaders showered him with support as a new kind of TikTok Democrat. And that is typically what the left is recruiting and selling to its voters.” (07/08/26)
Conditional pardon granted for Ruth Ellis, last woman executed in UK
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, has been granted a posthumous conditional pardon. Ellis was hanged at London’s Holloway Prison in 1955 after being convicted of murdering her lover David Blakely. Her family have campaigned for her murder conviction to be overturned, arguing she was a victim of domestic abuse and was physically and emotionally abused by Blakely before shooting him. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told MPs the King had granted the pardon, saying that the death penalty had been replaced with a sentence of life imprisonment.” (07/08/26)
Tom Blanton, Awesome Antiwar Artist, RIP
Source: JimBovard.com
by James Bovard
“One of America’s most talented antiwar artists and political satirists passed away last week. Tom Blanton did one of the best daily roundups of government oppression and outrages stories on the Internet. His Project for a New American Revolution was an inspiration for me and thousands of other folks over the years. Tom was also one of the best and funniest headline writers I knew. He was principled, courageous, and talented as the day is long. He was 68 years old and a lifetime resident of Richmond, Virginia. His Flickr page showcases his political art and other smackdowns of contemporary culture from the last 15 years. His artwork is shareable under a C.C. 4.0 license.” (07/08/26)
https://jimbovard.com/blog/2026/07/08/tom-blanton-awesome-antiwar-artist-rip/
Checks & Balances, 07/08/26
Source: Checks & Balances
“What If Trump Seizes the Ballots?” (07/08/26)
https://chkbal.substack.com/p/what-if-trump-seizes-the-ballots
Sources: Hegseth Cancels Meeting With Netanyahu Over Possible Sale of F-35s to Turkey
Source: US News & World Report
“U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth canceled a meeting that had been scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the possible sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli source told Reuters. Any such sale would likely anger Israeli officials. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said Hegseth had also been scheduled to meet Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on a trip to Israel and that Iran would feature in their discussions. … In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he opposed the sale of F-35s to Turkey, and that he had made his opposition clear to Trump.” (07/08/26)
Reason Interview: Clark Neily
Source: Reason
“Can the Supreme Court Still Restrain Executive Power?” (07/08/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/07/08/can-the-supreme-court-still-restrain-executive-power/
Inside the growing religious revolt against Christian Zionism
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Connor Echols
“Faith groups battled over Israel Tuesday during a marathon day of lobbying on Capitol Hill.” (07/08/26)
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/christians-united-for-israel-lobbying/
The Art of Remembering
Source: Law & Liberty
by Kirstin Anderson Birkhaug
“If we love our freedom and want to keep it, the first thing we must do is remember.” (07/08/26)