Fountainhead Forum, episode 489
Source: Fountainhead Forum
“Jorge Trucco on Javier Milei and Argentina’s cost of living.” (09/21/26)
https://rumble.com/v7ft0b6-ff-489-jorge-trucco-on-javier-milei-and-argentinas-cost-of-living.html
Mike Johnson’s Claims of House Productivity Are Misleading
Source: Exiled Policy
by Jason Pye
“One criticism of House Republicans is that they haven’t really done much with their majority. The Wall Street Journal notes that House Republican leadership has canceled 63 voting days since the beginning of the 119th Congress. Congress really hasn’t done much to address the issues that are at the forefront of voters’ minds, such as affordability, inflation, and the economy. During an interview on Newsmax 2 with Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) tried to deflect the criticism, claiming that the House has been on a record pace in terms of passing legislation. … Johnson’s version of events is almost comically self-congratulatory. It’s campaign rhetoric, and it’s disingenuous.” (09/21/26)
https://exiledpolicy.substack.com/p/mike-johnsons-claims-of-house-productivity
Bitcoin hits highest level since January
Source: CNBC
“Bitcoin rose above $86,000 on Monday as the cryptocurrency continued its sharp rally over the past few days. Bitcoin was trading at $85,863.40, up around 5.8%, according to CoinMetrics. Earlier in the day, the cryptocurrency rose as high as $86,349.90, its highest level since late Jan. 29. Investors are assessing whether the ‘crypto winter’ — a depressed period of digital asset prices — which began after bitcoin hit an all-time high of over $126,000 in October 2025, is over. … The rally comes even as the U.S. Senate last week blocked the Clarity Act from advancing. It would have set up a framework for crypto in the U.S. and divided industry oversight between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).” (09/21/26)
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/21/bitcoin-price-crypto-rally.html
People Get Paid for Blood, Plasma, and Drug Trials — Why Not Kidneys Too?
Source: Reason
by Caleb Petitt
“About 4,000 people in America die every year while waiting for kidney transplants. More than 95,000 currently need regular dialysis to stay alive while waiting for transplants. The average person who needs a kidney must endure the discomfort and restrictions of dialysis for three to five years during the wait. Most countries have organ-donation systems like America’s—and long waitlists. Iran, by contrast, legalized payment to kidney donors in 1988; within 11 years the country eliminated its waitlist. Payment compensates donors for their time, pain, and risk; it also increases the supply of willing donors.” (09/21/26)
https://reason.com/2026/09/21/people-get-paid-for-blood-plasma-and-drug-trials-why-not-kidneys-too/
Reason Roundtable, 09/21/26
Source: Reason
“Does CNN Deserve To Be Banned From the White House?” (09/21/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/09/21/does-cnn-deserve-to-be-banned-from-the-white-house/
Ukraine: Four killed in Russian strikes
Source: Sacramento Bee
“Russia hit Ukraine’s industrial heartland overnight, killing four, while an attack in the north cut power supply to thousands, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday. Moscow has escalated its air war, striking economic targets from businesses and ports to logistics hubs as frontline fighting has largely stalled more than 4-1/2 years into the war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. … Moscow simultaneously hit industrial enterprises in the cities of Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Pavlohrad in the southeastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on the Telegram messaging app.” (09/22/26)
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/world/article317332475.html
President Trump Bribes the People
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
by Ron Paul
“President Trump, speaking at the Republicans’ midterm convention, pledged that if Republicans maintained control of the Congress in the November election every adult American will receive 5,000 dollars from the government. … Some commentators have expressed outrage over President Trump’s attempt to bribe voters. These commentators have tended to ignore the fact that, since the rise of the welfare-warfare-regulatory state, most political campaigns are little more than legalized bribery.” (09/21/26)
https://www.ronpaullibertyreport.com/archives/president-trump-bribes-the-people
Flights at major US airports delayed after cable cut by construction workers
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“Hundreds of flights have been delayed at major airports in the US after construction workers accidentally cut a cable needed for air traffic control. Ground stops and delays were issued on Monday afternoon for airports in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Hours later, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the cable had been repaired and airports would resume normal operations, though delays were still expected. … The delays happened after the damaged cable impacted the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, which is used to guide planes during takeoff and landing, transport officials said.” [editor’s note: Sounds more like some kind of “security incident” they’d rather not admit happened – TLK] (09/21/26)
Government by Consent of the Governed — Later On
Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by George Ford Smith
“You might want to hire someone to paint your house, but the painters need your permission first. For most people, consent precedes action. In the world of ‘government as we know it,’ an invaluable Robert Higgs expression, the exact opposite is often the case, especially when the action desired implies a disastrous change to American life. Ever wonder why false flags are so dear to government’s heart?” (09/21/26)
https://mises.org/mises-wire/government-consent-governed-later
Yemen: Houthis move to seize strategic terrain after Trump calls off airstrikes at last minute
Source: The Guardian [UK]
“Houthi fighters are moving to seize strategic heights in Yemen that would cut the Red Sea coast off from areas held by Saudi-backed forces after Donald Trump called off US strikes on the group at the last minute, reportedly as bombs were being loaded on to aircraft. Amid increasingly heavy fighting in Yemen, which has displaced tens of thousands of people in recent weeks, the New York Times reported on Monday that the US president had flip-flopped wildly in recent days after a call from Saudi Arabia for US strikes on the Houthis. It comes amid the Houthis’ rapid advance on the ground with the group gaining control over much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and advancing to areas adjacent to the crucial Bab al-Mandab strait, which Saudi Arabia has used as an alternative route for oil exports bypassing disruption in the strait of Hormuz.” (09/21/26)