Vance to visit Indiana as Trump pressures GOP states to re-gerrymander

Source: Seattle Times

“Vice President JD Vance visits Indiana on Thursday to discuss redistricting with Republican leaders as President Donald Trump ramps up pressure on GOP states to redraw congressional boundaries and give the party more winnable seats in the 2026 midterm elections. Vance is scheduled to hold private meetings with Gov. Mike Braun and others before attending a GOP fundraiser Thursday night in the solidly Republican state. Braun told reporters Tuesday he expects to discuss several matters with the vice president — including redistricting — but said no commitments have been made. … Braun would have to call a special session if he chooses to start the redistricting process, but lawmakers have the sole power to draw up new maps.” (08/07/25)

https://archive.is/upMGg

Thomas L. Knapp

The Woke Right Stands At the Door

Source: Persuasion
by Jonathan Rauch

“[James] Lindsay is among a growing number of scholars and intellectual historians talking about what they call the ‘woke right.’ The notion is not that the far left and far right share the same politics or goals. Rather, it is that the far right has adopted, partially on purpose but mostly through osmosis and convergent evolution, claims and strategies that parallel the far left’s. The MAGA right has strange and sinister qualities which look nothing like the traditional, religious wing of conservatism familiar from the era of William F. Buckley, or the anti-government, libertarian conservatism of Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. Its anarchic rejection of truth, its Nietzschean embrace of power as self-justifying, its unashamed anti-liberalism, and its glee in transgressing boundaries and giving offense are something new on the right: an embrace of postmodernism, which until recently was the exclusive property of the illiberal left.” (08/06/25)

https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-woke-right-stands-at-the-door

Thomas L. Knapp

Ten Examples of Absurd Fallout From the UK’s Online Safety Act

Source: Reason
by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

“The measure is putting up roadblocks for people who want to read about world news, listen to music on Spotify, chat on Discord, play video games, find information about quitting smoking, or join antimasturbation groups.” (08/06/25)

https://reason.com/2025/08/06/10-examples-of-absurd-fallout-from-the-u-k-s-online-safety-act/

Thomas L. Knapp

Senior FBI official who resisted Trump regime demands is pushed out

Source: SFGate

“A senior FBI official who served as acting director in the first weeks of the Trump administration and resisted demands to turn over the names of agents who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, investigations is being forced out of the bureau, two people familiar with the matter said Thursday. The circumstances of Brian Driscoll’s ouster were not immediately clear, but his final day is Friday, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss the personnel move by name and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Additional ousters were possible. Spokespeople for the FBI declined to comment. The news comes amid a much broader personnel purge that has unfolded over the last several months under the leadership of current FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino.” (08/07/25)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/senior-fbi-official-who-resisted-trump-20806960.php

Steve Trinward