Source: Washington Monthly
by Bill Scher
“The recent string of primary victories from left-wing insurgents are not ushering out moderates, but fellow progressives.” (07/02/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/07/02/dsa-democratic-party-the-left-vs-left/
Source: Foreign Policy In Focus
by John Feffer
“The Trump administration concluded a recent mineral deal with Kazakhstan that, not surprisingly, enriches not only President Donald Trump’s own family but that of his secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick. Trump’s two eldest sons, part owners of Dominari Securities, are set to profit from the Kazakh tungsten deal. So is Cantor Fitzgerald, the investment firm run by Lutnick’s two sons. As The New York Times pointed out in its investigation of the scheme, ‘Their sons were soon doing business with partners in a deal that their fathers were negotiating, continuing a pattern of self-enrichment in the second Trump administration that has few precedents in American history.’ The phrases (‘self-enrichment’ and ‘few precedents’) are interesting ways of characterizing this latest instance of the administration’s corruption. Isn’t self-enrichment a good thing, in the sense of profiting from your own hard work?” (07/01/26)
Source: United Press International
“South Korea’s Hyundai Motor and Kia posted record first-half sales in the United States, driven by strong demand for hybrid vehicles and sport utility vehicles despite elevated borrowing costs and slowing electric vehicle demand. Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday that Hyundai, Kia and the Genesis luxury brand sold a combined 920,383 vehicles in the United States from January through June, up 3% from the same period last year.” (07/02/26)
Source: Politico
“Can the American experiment survive? (with Ken Burns).” (07/02/26)
Source: The Hill
by Brett Erickson
“The Trump administration is currently coming under fire for their decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Iranian oil, but the proposed alternatives have become detached from reality. The vocal opponents are treating the decision as though Washington willingly handed Tehran an enormous economic windfall beyond what they would earn regardless of sanctions being imposed. Some are now even pushing for the administration to retroactively amend the waiver by forcing Iranian oil revenues into escrow accounts, which is something Iran would never have agreed to. That may sound tough. It may sound politically appealing. It is also a great way to ensure the destruction of the agreement that reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomacy is not about obtaining ideal outcomes. It is about obtaining achievable outcomes.” (07/02/26)
https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5949142-trump-admin-iran-sanctions-waiver/
Source: Law & Liberty
by James Wallner
“This weekend, Americans will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence in nationwide celebrations featuring backyard barbecues, fireworks displays, and concerts. President Donald Trump echoed the sentiments of many patriotic revelers and underscored the Declaration’s centrality to America’s political identity when he described the event. ‘With a single sheet of parchment and 56 signatures, America began the greatest political journey in human history.’ But America didn’t begin its journey by declaring its independence. Before those 56 men signed the hallowed document, important events had already made independence a reality. By the summer of 1776, America was well on its way.” (07/02/26)
Source: The Hill
“Robby Soave gives his radar looking at how many countries in Europe refuse to install air conditioning despite facing major heat waves.” (07/02/26)
Source: Liberal Currents
by Steven L Taylor
“Putting a meaningless distinction to bed.” (07/02/26)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/is-the-united-states-of-america-a-republic-and-not-a-democracy/
Source: Brennan Center for Justice
by Michael Waldman
“How will we remember this Supreme Court term? For Louisiana v. Callais, which demolished the 1965 Voting Rights Act. For near misses, too, as when the Constitution’s plain-language guarantee of birthright citizenship was recognized by only a bare majority of the justices. (As JD Vance crowed, that core protection is now ‘hanging by a thread’.) I think the term may be remembered most as a time when the supermajority of very conservative, very pro-business justices bent the shape of American government. It was a power grab in legal garb, undermining Congress, granting presidents more authority, but with key decisions ultimately in the hands of the nine unelected officials now redesigning government. In 2005, The New York Times Magazine published a story about a cadre of intense anti-government legal activists. They bemoaned ‘the Constitution in exile’, what they saw as an epic wrong turn in the 20th century.” (07/02/26)
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/supreme-court-chips-away-checks-and-balance
Source: CNBC
“Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday said the Baltic country’s top political leaders had agreed that a constitutional ban on the domestic deployment of nuclear weapons should be removed. The decision comes shortly after lawmakers in Finland, another NATO member that shares a border with Russia, voted to lift its longstanding ban on nuclear weapons. … The removal of the provision means Vilnius can adapt to evolving security circumstances in the future, Nauseda said. He added, however, that there were no immediate plans to store nuclear weapons in the country.” (07/02/26)
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/02/russia-ukraine-nato-lithuania-nuclear-weapons.html