A Symphony of Scandal
Source: Law & Liberty
by George Hawley
“Honest politicians are all alike; every crook is crooked in his own fashion.” (05/07/26)
TAC Right Now, 05/07/26
Source: The American Conservative
“Andrew Day and Harrison Berger talk to Ryan Grim of Drop Site News about signs of diplomatic progress with Iran, possible Israeli sabotage of negotiations, and the Iranian Lego videos. Recorded May 6, 2026.” (05/07/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/tac-right-now-is-trump-nearing-an-iran-deal/
Liberal Neutrality and How to Fight For It
Source: Liberalism.org
by Jacob T Levy
“Defending liberal political norms doesn’t mean always reaching across the aisle. Sometimes, liberal neutrality means playing hardball.” (05/07/26)
https://www.liberalism.org/p/liberal-neutrality-and-how-to-fight-for-it
NPR Politics Podcast, 05/07/26
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“How Trump is undermining the fight against public corruption.” (05/07/26)
Grand Theft Oil Futures
Source: Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
“At this point it’s almost routine: Almost every time Donald Trump makes a major announcement about the Iran War, that announcement is preceded — sometimes by only a few minutes — by huge and hugely profitable bets in the oil market. … The Trump administration is making no real effort to crack down on whoever is trading using inside information, and these inside traders are operating with a complete sense of impunity, assured that they can get away with it. The stench of corruption is overwhelming. Yet aside from the raw corruption, these incidents also raise a larger question. The insiders ripped off the parties who sold futures to them at what turned out to be very unfavorable prices to the sellers. What broader damage does this kind of unchecked insider trading do?” (05/07/26)
MS: Tornadoes cut across state as severe storms damage 500 homes
Source: SFGate
“Powerful storms that spawned at least three tornadoes tore through several Mississippi counties, damaging around 500 homes, uprooting trees and injuring at least 17 people, authorities said Thursday. There were no reports of deaths after the tornadoes cut across the state’s southwest late Wednesday evening, said Scott Simmons, a spokesperson for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. He said 12 of those hurt were transported from a hard-hit trailer park in the small community of Bogue Chitto, about an hour’s drive south of the state capital in rural Lincoln County. Most of the two dozen homes at Gene’s Mobile Home Supply were flattened into heaps of splintered boards and twisted metal. People picked through the debris Thursday morning under cloudy skies as a chain saw buzzed in the background.” (05/07/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/hundreds-of-homes-damaged-in-mississippi-storms-22246503.php
Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, 05/06/26
Source: Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael
“Media Watchdog Project Censored Turns 50 Years Old! w/ Misch Geracoulis.” (05/06/26)
Church Report to FISA: Why Won’t Congress Stop the Surveillance State?
Source: The Daily Economy
by Jeffery L Degner
“The Church Committee exposed sweeping abuses by America’s intelligence agencies 50 years ago. Section 702’s recent reauthorization suggests lawmakers are increasingly comfortable with expansive spying on American citizens.” (05/07/26)
How a Fake Citation Misled Courts to Uphold “Sensitive Place” Gun Bans
Source: Independent Institute
by Stephen P Halbrook
“Post-Bruen, courts have sought to uphold restrictions that ban firearms in various ‘sensitive places’ based on a misunderstanding of the Founding-era offense of going armed in a manner that terrorized the public. Antonyuk v. James upheld New York’s place restrictions based on its claim that Founding-era Virginia and North Carolina laws banned going armed per se in fairs and markets. However, it conceded that Virginia only prohibited going armed ‘in terror of the Country,’ but maintained that North Carolina had no such element of the offense, adding that place restrictions in the late 19th century followed the North Carolina model. That historical tradition of regulation, the Second Circuit held, justifies New York’s current law.” (05/06/26)
South Korea: Court reduces prison sentence for ex-prime minister in martial law case
Source: ABC News
“An South Korean appeals court has reduced the prison sentence of a former prime minister convicted of rebellion for his role in then President Yoon Suk Yeol’s ill-fated imposition of martial law in December 2024. Ex-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, a Yoon appointee, was sentenced to 23 years by a Seoul court in January. Yoon was sentenced to life in prison for rebellion the next month. On Thursday, the Seoul High Court upheld most of Han’s convictions, but reduced his sentence to 15 years. It upheld charges including that Han tried to create the appearance of legitimacy for Yoon’s illegal decree by getting it endorsed at a Cabinet meeting and discussing plans to cut off of water and electricity to critical media agencies. The court also affirmed convictions for falsifying the martial law proclamation, for destroying it and for lying under oath.” (05/07/26)