Source: Niskanen Center
by Michele Evermore & Will Raderman
“When it comes to better understanding present labor market trends or catching unemployment benefit fraudsters, the devil is in the details. States collect quarterly unemployment insurance (UI) wage records from employers that can be applied for these analyses. However, most states do not request key categories of information — such as occupational details, work location, or hours worked — to make more comprehensive assessments possible. This dynamic is starting to change. A growing number of states are beginning to collect or expand use of enhanced wage records (EWRs), which include additional categories of data as part of employers’ quarterly UI wage record submissions.” (01/29/26)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-case-for-enhanced-wage-records-lessons-from-states/
Source: New York Post
by the editorial board
“Why, oh why, is the city’s political elite obsessed with micromanaging food-delivery apps? So much so that it waxes indignant even when it’s simply reversing its own diktats to the (minor) industry. A new law now going into effect forces the apps to put the ‘option’ to tip your deliveryman before checkout. At least two main apps — UberEats and DoorDash — presented the gratuity screen after you got your food, a practice they adopted to comply with previous guidance from City Hall. (Not to mention: Tipping the delivery guy when he delivers worked just fine for decades.) And of course this follows years of City Council laws imposing a hefty minimum wage on this casual work.” (01/28/27)
https://nypost.com/2026/01/28/opinion/heres-one-silver-lining-to-the-citys-moronic-micromanaging-of-delivery-apps/
Source: Fox News
“The U.S. Department of Education announced on Wednesday that a California policy allowing school districts to keep students’ gender transition from their parents violates federal law. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said a federal investigation found that California education officials ‘egregiously abused’ their authority by pressuring school districts to withhold information about students’ gender transitions from their parents. … The findings of the federal investigation could put at risk the nearly $8 billion in education funding the federal government gives the state each year if state officials do not work with the Trump administration to resolve the violations.” (01/29/26)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-finds-california-ban-notifying-parents-gender-transitions-violated-federal-law
Source: National Review
“Access and Influence.” (01/29/26)
https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/the-charles-c-w-cooke-podcast/access-and-influence/
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“Internal review contradicts Trump administration on Alex Pretti shooting.” (01/28/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/01/28/nx-s1-5691539/internal-review-contradicts-trump-administration-on-alex-pretti-shooting
Source: Orange County Register
by Cristine Soto DeBerry
“Federal agents have tear gassed peaceful protestors, detained individuals – including U.S. citizens – in horrific conditions, arrested children, assaulted the elderly, and threatened bystanders exercising basic First Amendment rights. According to recent reports, some ICE agents were even being trained to forcibly enter homes without warrants signed by judges – a blatant violation of the Fourth Amendment. If it feels like some of these federal agents act like the Constitution doesn’t apply to them, it’s because, in most cases, it doesn’t – at least not in a way that allows victims meaningful recourse. We’re fighting to fix that dangerous loophole in California by passing the No Kings Act (Senate Bill 747), authored by State Senator Scott Wiener.” (01/29/26)
https://archive.is/ATvVr
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
by David Rehak
“Gold is up at record highs and now silver is starting to make strides too. This is great. But just keep in mind that the government will try to control it as much as possible, especially in an economic ‘dollar crisis.'” (01/28/26)
http://www.ronpaullibertyreport.com/archives/buy-goldbut-be-prepared-for-what-the-government-might-do-to-it-in-a-dollar-crisis
Source: Orange County Register
by Jody Agius Vallejo
“Immigration has become a fundamental test of our democracy — of whether constitutional rights still limit government power to violate our civil liberties, and of whether that power can be turned inward against the very people it is meant to serve. When federal immigration authority is used to justify secrecy, militarization, and violence in everyday life, the question is whether our constitutional protections still hold at all. Recent events in Minneapolis make this painfully clear. … What is happening in Minneapolis matters because it reflects a broader pattern. It shows what it looks like when military-style federal power is turned inward.” (01/28/26)
https://archive.is/ErD76
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“Israel’s Supreme Court has postponed a decision on whether to allow foreign journalists independent access to Gaza, in the latest delay of a legal battle that has stretched over a year. The court granted the government until March 31 to respond to the petition filed by the Foreign Press Association, despite state attorneys failing to provide detailed justifications beyond citing security risks. The decision extends a policy that has barred foreign correspondents from entering Gaza to report on conditions there, unless reporters are prepared to embed with the Israeli army.” (01/28/26)
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/28/israels-top-court-delays-gaza-press-access-ruling-amid-years-long-ban
Source: LP Alliance
“Lessons from Minneapolis: Building Movement Ecosystems w/ Cara Schulz.” (01/28/26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFBcMEivZlA