Supreme Irony: Congressional Democrats Seek to Reform Institution That is More Popular Than They Are

Source: Jonathan Turley
by Jonathan Turley

“Congressional Democrats blocked an effort to introduce a constitutional amendment to bar the Court’s expansion, with many members reiterating their demand to pack the Court to create an instant liberal majority. The Democrats insisted the Court is broken and no longer legitimate because of partisan rulings they want reversed by a packed Court. Ironically, the vote came with the release of the latest Harvard-Harris polling showing that Congress itself is still the least respected institution, while the Supreme Court holds higher approval than either the White House or Congress. Congress is still wallowing at 34 percent approval among the American people. Both parties are equally disliked, with 55% disapproval of the GOP and 53% disapproval of the Democratic Party. Conversely, the Supreme Court continues to enjoy far greater approval from the public, currently at 49% at ‘very favorable’ or ‘favorable’.” (09/03/26)

https://jonathanturley.org/2026/09/03/supreme-irony-congressional-democrats-seek-to-reform-institution-that-is-more-popular-than-they-are/

Italy: Meloni regime sets longevity record

Source: Associated Press

“In a country where governments are famously short-lived, the perceived success of Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni has often been attributed to her survival skills rather than her accomplishments. On Thursday, after 1,413 days — nearly four years — Meloni’s conservative administration became Italy’s longest-serving uninterrupted government since World War II, surpassing the record set by the late Silvio Berlusconi between 2001 and 2005. None of Italy’s 68 governments in the country’s 80 years as a republic has yet to complete a five-year term without interruption. Berlusconi came closest, but a government crisis forced him to resign briefly in 2005 before forming a new Cabinet. Meloni and her party will celebrate their feat on Friday with a large preelection rally in the southern city of Bari.” (09/03/26)

https://apnews.com/article/italy-meloni-government-longevity-record-election-84dc931418ddcbd9b00ed497233fe922

Russia Is at War With the West. Don’t Call It “Hybrid.”

Source: The Next Move
by Garry Kasparov

“If Russia attacks Europe, and Europe doesn’t call it war, is it actually a war? As the Kremlin continues to probe the West’s defenses, it’s clear that European leaders would prefer you call it ‘hybrid war,’ hoping that the focus stays on the ‘hybrid’ half of the equation and not on the ‘war.’ … hybrid war is a real category of warfare. It refers to an entire arsenal of non-kinetic actions a country can take to undermine its enemies. Russia has tried just about every hybrid warfare tactic you can think of: Cyberattacks. Troll farms and propaganda. Propping up far-right political parties to disrupt democracy in France and Germany. Interfering in American elections. As a KGB officer, Vladimir Putin is expert in this method, which is more subterfuge than brute force. The problem is that Russia long ago moved beyond this domain to begin carrying out open attacks on the West.” (09/03/26)

https://www.thenextmove.org/p/russia-is-at-war-with-the-west-dont

Florida wants colleges out of politics. There’s just one problem.

Source: Expression
by Ryan Ansloan

“Last week, Polk State College proudly announced that its Board of Trustees had adopted a statement committing the school to institutional neutrality. On Sept. 3, the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors will consider taking the first formal step toward requiring all 12 universities in the system to adopt institutional-neutrality policies of their own. On the whole, that’s good news. Institutional neutrality can help colleges remain focused on their educational mission while leaving political and social debates to students and faculty. But both the Polk State policy and the proposal before the Board of Governors contain a significant loophole. Rather than hew to the clear and rare exceptions used by many schools that have adopted institutional neutrality, these policies provide a new exception that threatens to render the neutrality commitment meaningless.” (09/03/26)

https://expression.fire.org/p/florida-wants-colleges-out-of-politics

The moving lessons of nomadic herders

Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff

“The summer of 2026 hasn’t just been a time for pastoral relaxation in the great outdoors; it’s also been a season of, and for, pastoralists. Global events have brought together hundreds of representatives from communities whose lives and livelihoods are built on pastoral or nomadic herding traditions. On Monday, the sixth World Nomad Games kicked off in Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia. Hundreds of participants are competing in horse races and horseback wrestling, falconry, and archery, among other events. Meanwhile, over the preceding two weeks, at a conference in Mongolia – where about a third of the population is nomadic – pastoralists from around the world advocated for rights to public grazing lands and freer movement.” (09/02/26)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/0902/The-moving-lessons-of-nomadic-herders