South Africa’s hints of clean governance

Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff

“As its citizens demand integrity in their government, South Africa’s recent moves against corruption are gaining traction. In June, for example, a global financial watchdog indicated that Africa’s largest economy has made progress in curtailing illegal money transfers, perhaps allowing it to raise its credit standing. And a South African government watchdog found anti-corruption tribunals have shown ‘significant’ effectiveness in recovering stolen public funds and holding perpetrators accountable. Now a new challenge is testing President Cyril Ramaphosa and his commitment to rooting out corruption, especially among his political allies. In early July, a provincial police chief publicly claimed that the national minister of police had sought to sabotage investigations of political killings. The claim also alleged the minister’s collusion with criminal syndicates and the involvement of other politicians as well as law enforcement officers and judicial officials.” (07/15/25)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2025/0715/South-Africa-s-hints-of-clean-governance

Steve Trinward

MN: Man accused of shooting state lawmakers to face federal charges

Source: BBC News [UK State Media]

“The suspect accused of fatally shooting a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in a gun rampage in June has been indicted on six federal charges, the state’s attorney general has announced. The charges against Vance Boelter, 57, include stalking and murder which prosecutors said could be met with a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. After a two-day manhunt, Mr Boelter was arrested on 16 June for his alleged role in the killings of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman. Mr Boelter remains in custody in Minnesota, where he is also facing state charges. He has not yet entered a plea. According to prosecutors, Mr Boelter stalked and fired at two other state lawmakers — John Hoffman, a Minnesota state senator, and his wife, Yvette Hoffman — in a separate shooting.” (07/16/25)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2ljnyn451o

Steve Trinward

Retailers caught red-handed using Trump’s tariffs as cover for price gouging

Source: New York Post
by Chad Wolf

“In recent weeks, headlines have been filled with warnings from major retailers about impending price hikes due to tariffs reinstated by President Donald Trump. Big Box stores like Walmart and Target have been quick to suggest that tariffs on imported goods, particularly from China, have left them with no choice but to raise prices for American families. Let’s be clear, these decisions are more about raising profit margins and going against Trump’s agenda to bring costs down for Americans than responding to any actual economic pressure. Tariffs are a strategic tool. The Trump administration has always been clear about that. Tariffs are designed to level the playing field, incentivize domestic production, counter predatory trade practices – especially from the Chinese Communist Party – and put America First. Tariffs protect long-term American interests, especially in vital industries like technology and manufacturing.” [editor’s note: Looks like someone missed his morning dose of thorazine … – TLK] (07/16/25)

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/retailers-caught-red-handed-using-trumps-tariffs-cover-price-gouging

Steve Trinward

Officials flag surprising revelations from “deep” State Department cuts

Source: Fox News

“When senior State Department officials set out to trim the agency in ‘the biggest reorganization since the Cold War,’ they couldn’t get a total headcount on employees — for months, they say. ‘It took us three months to get a list of the people that actually work in the building,’ one senior State Department official told reporters during a briefing at Foggy Bottom on Monday, defending the job cuts that detractors have claimed will damage U.S. diplomacy. ‘They couldn’t tell you how many people worked here,’ the official said. ‘It’s sort of scary as a taxpayer and as a public servant to think that we don’t even know how many employees we have. This is a national security agency, you know. Who are these people?'” (07/16/25)

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/its-sort-scary-officials-flag-surprising-revelations-from-deep-state-department-cuts

Steve Trinward

The Timing of Abundance

Source: Bet On It
by Bryan Caplan

“Since abundance is having a moment, now seems like a great time to repitch my case for by-right construction. Because if Klein and Thompson believe in abundance, I superbelieve in superabundance. My central thesis: Governments regulate housing as if the product has massive net negative externalities. They’re hyperconscious of all the downsides for current residents. Practical downsides, like traffic congestion, parking congestion, and school congestion. Aesthetic downsides, like noise, obstruction of views, and destruction of history. But governments almost totally neglect all of the upsides of housing for current residents — and these upsides are legion.” (07/16/25)

https://www.betonit.ai/p/the-timing-of-abundance

Thomas L. Knapp

NEA Teachers Celebrate Motion to Drop ADL; Israel Lobby Fumes

Source: Common Dreams
by Marcy Winograd

“National Education Association teachers in support of Palestinian rights are celebrating their breakthrough success at the NEA’s Representative Assembly in Portland this summer. After years of organizing with both one-on-one conversations and state delegation talks, NEA delegates voted to pass a Drop the Anti-Defamation League motion that rejects the ADL as a curriculum and professional development partner. ‘We are witnessing a sea change in people’s understanding of who the Palestinians are and what colonialism has done to them,’ said Merrie Najimy, former president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) and Founder of MTA Rank and File for Palestine. … While the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and CODEPINK applauded the motion, the Anti-Defamation League blamed a ‘pro-Hamas’ cabal inside the NEA for rejecting an organization that smears peace activists and slams Muslims and anti-Zionist Jews.” (07/16/25)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/nea-drops-adl

Steve Trinward