Source: The Daily Economy
by Thomas Savidge
“Minor adjustments cannot fix a pay-as-you-go system strained by demographic reality. Restoring solvency demands structural changes that emphasize ownership.” (02/27/26)
https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/defusing-the-social-security-time-bomb/
Source: SFGate
“Violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi and in the country’s north left at least 22 people dead and more than 120 others injured as demonstrators supportive of the Iranian government attempted to storm a U.S. Consulate on Sunday, authorities said. In the north of the country, demonstrators attacked U.N. and government offices. The violence came after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Police and officials at a hospital in Karachi said that at least 50 people were also wounded in the clashes and some of them were in critical condition.” (03/01/26)
Source: The Bulwark
“Trump Says There’s No Point in Having Midterm Elections.” (03/01/26)
Source: The Weekly Dish
by Andrew Sullivan
“Another war of choice against Iran is the final gasp of a country that is losing America.” (02/27/26)
https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-last-war-for-israel-a25
Source: Washington Monthly
by Bill Scher
“The president should be scrutinized with the same intensity as others in the Epstein Files.” (02/27/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/27/trump-epstein-allegations-of-abusing-a-minor/
Source: United Press International
“OpenAI announced it secured a deal to provide artificial intelligence services to the Defense Department hours after the Trump administration directed all federal agencies to stop using those provided by Anthropic. OpenAI is the San Francisco-based tech research company founded by Sam Altman, Elon Musk and others behind applications including ChatGPT and DALL-E. … Contract negotiations [sic] between the tech company and the Defense Department soured after the Trump administration demanded it be allowed to use the AI system for ‘all lawful purposes.'” [editor’s note: Demanding that an already in force contract be nullified to let you do anything you want is not “negotiation.” It’s just breaking the contract – TLK] (02/28/26)
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/02/28/openai-defense/8601772310881/
Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
“Does Democracy Require Conformity and Equality?” (02/27/26)
https://mises.org/friday-philosophy/does-democracy-require-conformity-and-equality
Source: Reason
by JD Tuccille
“At the moment, corruption investigations and trials of political figures are taking place in jurisdictions around the U.S. including Hawaii, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C. These aren’t isolated scandals; the latest edition of an international corruption index finds corruption worsening globally, with the United States earning its worst score to date. Given that corruption involves government officials peddling favors for compensation, it shouldn’t be surprising that evidence suggests the solution lies in reducing the power and role of the state.” (02/27/26)
Source: New York Post
by Kevin Kiley
“The rampant fraud uncovered in the state of Minnesota has shocked America and ended the political career of Gov. Tim Walz. Yet as I told Attorney General Pam Bondi at a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, the fraud in Minnesota pales in comparison to what taxpayers have suffered in California. California is undoubtedly the Fraud Capital of America. Here’s what we already know: The state allowed an estimated $32 billion in unemployment fraud during the COVID years, far more than any state, after ignoring ‘repeated warnings’. Perhaps more stunningly, the state auditor recently found unemployment fraud is still costing the state billions. Incidentally, in part because of this staggering fraud, California was forced to take out a $20 billion loan from the federal government to shore up its unemployment benefits. The state then defaulted on the loan – the only state to do so – triggering an automatic tax increase on employers.” (02/27/26)
https://nypost.com/2026/02/27/opinion/california-is-fraud-central/
Source: ABC News
“Thousands of supporters of Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrated in cities across the South American nation on Sunday, as organizers hoped to build momentum for a right-wing victory in the upcoming presidential elections. Protesters draped in yellow and green – the colors of the national flag — took to the streets in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the capital Brasilia to voice their opposition to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who faces a tough reelection bid in October. … Bolsonaro is in prison, where he is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup despite his 2022 electoral defeat to Lula.” (03/01/26)
https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/supporters-brazils-bolsonaro-rally-brazil-lula-130659628