Free Speech Unmuted, 08/11/26
Source: Hoover Institution
“Can AI Libel You? The Robby Starbuck Case | Eugene Volokh and Jane Bambauer.” (08/11/26)
The War on Drugs Has Come to the Maternity Ward
Source: Reason
by Tosin Akintola
“At first glance, a new mother taking part in a drug screening seems reasonable. For the sake of the mother and child, a doctor performs a clinical test to rule out any complications or signs of risks to the newborn. But the story quickly takes a dark turn. If there’s a positive test result, it doesn’t stay between the doctor and the patient. In 24 states and Washington, D.C., a positive test alone is enough to initiate a child welfare report, according to a report by the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association. Depending on the state, that test could land the mother on a child abuse registry. Worse still, the mother may be notified the test has occurred only after the fact.” (08/11/26)
https://reason.com/2026/08/11/the-war-on-drugs-has-come-to-the-maternity-ward/
Colombia: Earthquake response strains new government and rescuers
Source: SFGate
“The search for survivors in the rubble of Colombia’s powerful earthquake grew more desperate on Wednesday, two days after the quake brought down buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars. The devastation has tested Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as it scrambles to respond to the natural disaster and civil society as it pushes to provide aid to the vulnerable communities most affected by the quake. By Tuesday, de la Espriella said the 7.4 magnitude earthquake had killed at least 181 people and left 2,595 more injured in the west of the country. He said at least 195 remained missing, but civilian-run databases put that number at more than 4,000 Wednesday morning.” (08/12/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/earthquake-response-strains-colombia-s-new-22384589.php
Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 08/11/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“Turkey Thinks Israel Faked Trump Assassination Plot, US Bombs Cargo Ship in Gulf of Oman, and More.” (08/11/26)
Federal Social Service Spending Creates a Sense of Entitlement Among Bureaucrats
Source: Independent Institute
by Christopher J Calton
“Last month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suspended funding to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which quickly sued to block the decision. The controversy raises an important question: to what extent are local bureaucracies entitled to federal funds?” (08/11/26)
Donald Trump Invented a New Forever War
Source: The American Prospect
by Ryan Cooper
“In one of America’s daily political subplots that would have been rejected from a pre-2025 Armando Iannucci script for being too silly, it turns out Donald Trump was recently smuggled out of Air Force One in a catering container for fear of being assassinated by Iran. He was visiting Turkey last month, and apparently intelligence came in warning of an Iranian threat. Trump had already forgone his Qatari bribe jet, which has not yet been outfitted with the usual security systems, and so was traveling on the old presidential 747. It seems he was too frightened to use that plane as well, so he boarded by the normal door in sight of the cameras, then was quickly bundled out the side entrance onto a catering truck and into a military jet.” (08/12/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/08/12/aftermath-donald-trump-invented-new-forever-war/
DOJ opinion extends executive privilege to president’s communications with private advisers
Source: The Hill
“A new Department of Justice (DOJ) memo argues the president can assert executive privilege not just over communications with his White House staff, but also with ‘private advisors’ outside of government, an interpretation that would broaden the number of people President Trump could try to shield from congressional investigations. The Monday opinion from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) isn’t binding but nonetheless signals the Trump administration is thinking about how to respond to an expected bevy of investigations into the White House should Democrats retake the House. Traditionally, the president may assert executive privilege over communications only with executive branch staff. But the OLC argues the counsel the president might get from those outside the government could be just as important to the White House and also merits protection.” (08/11/26)
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6022381-doj-executive-privilege-outside-advisers/
Pink Flame of Liberty, 08/11/26
Source: Pink Flame of Liberty
“Let’s watch the LPNH Disaffiliation Judicial Committee Hearing (and looking at new amici).” (08/11/26)
Colorado sinking fast
Source: The Price of Liberty
by Nathan Barton
“Colorado has been labeled as ‘increasingly blue’ for several decades. Not just the most recent governors (Hickenlooper and Polis) have been extremely liberal and left (‘Regressives’ as TPOL labels them), but the General Assembly (both houses) has had super-majority Democratic control for a long time as well. (Yes, the Colorado GOP is as much to blame for this, due to their own stupidity and lack of skills and internal cohesion, as the Colorado Democrats are. And don’t get us started on the worthlessness of the Colorado Libertarian Party.)” (08/11/26)
https://thepriceofliberty.org/2026/08/11/colorado-sinking-fast/
WI: “Moderate” Democrat pulls off upset over socialist in gubernatorial primary
Source: NBC News
“Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has won the Democratic primary in Wisconsin’s race for governor, NBC News projects, dealing a major upset to democratic socialist Francesca Hong. The result marks a dramatic turnaround for Crowley, who had dropped out of the race roughly a month ago after initially struggling to gain traction only to re-enter days later with outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’[s] endorsement. Hong, a state lawmaker from Madison, had led in the polls in the final stretch of the race, but faced growing scrutiny over her past controversial positions and general election viability.” (08/11/26)