Source: The American Conservative
by Peter Van Buren

“Meigs County is around 79 percent Republican; more importantly, 71 percent of adults typically vote, solidly above the U.S. average. The Democrats should take note as they try to retake Ohio in this year’s elections. Many in the area rely on food stamps. Yet people tend to see their benefits as deserved, since most work and pay taxes, unlike the way they see the people in big cities, who they think depend on the same assistance across multiple generations. It takes little more than a bottle of beer to hear anecdotes suggesting this perspective is racially tinged, as is locals’ view of democratic socialism. Public opinion here is still shaped by local daytime conservative talk radio shows listened to in the truck. Being here you understand that the jumbled beliefs people hold do not always make sense—but they vote based on those beliefs, whether you find them logical or not.” (10/12/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/what-i-saw-and-heard-in-vance-country/

Source: Big Head Press
by Scott Bieser

Cartoon. (10/12/26)

https://www.quantumvibe.com/strip?page=2609

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Katherine Thompson

“When combatant commanders become more powerful than civilians in the eyes of the media, Washington, and world leaders, it throws off a critical balance.” (10/12/26)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/hegseth-generals-admirals/

Source: American Greatness
by Stephen Bryen

“On October 9 in the afternoon, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he had struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, arranging deliveries of diesel fuel to the United States and world markets. Trump said that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons ‘immediately thereafter’. Russia will deliver an additional 3 million tons ‘within a short period of time after that’, Trump said. … The announcement triggered outrage in Kiev, with Zelensky condemning the U.S. and Trump personally. Zelensky said it was ‘definitely unfair’, ‘definitely not partner-like’, and ‘a weak decision by strong partners’, effectively portraying it as a stab in the back. The Trump administration had been openly asking Kiev and Zelensky not to launch attacks against Russian refineries, but Kiev rejected the American requests.” (10/12/26)

https://amgreatness.com/2026/10/12/trump-and-putin-more-than-just-diesel/

Source: Law & Liberty
by Aaron Alexander Zubia

“The Founders’ constitutional morality demands more than mechanical checks and balances.” (10/12/260

https://lawliberty.org/james-madison-on-human-nature/

Source: Asia Times
by Faisal Mahmud

“Demanding the resignation of a minister is one thing. It is uncomfortable for a government, occasionally embarrassing for a prime minister, but ultimately manageable. Ministers can be sacrificed and their departures can be presented as accountability, and governments can move on. Demanding the resignation of the chief election commissioner is quite another matter and for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the difference could hardly be more consequential. The latest wave of protests in New Delhi centers on allegations of widespread voter manipulation through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other suspected electoral irregularities, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.” (10/12/26)

https://asiatimes.com/2026/10/is-modi-facing-his-own-bangladesh-moment/