How a first-grader taught her school district and a federal judge about free speech

Source: The Hill
by Jonathan Turley

“In March 2021, California principal Jesus Becerra was confronted by a clear and present threat to his school. Standing before him was the culprit — a student apparently so dangerous that Becerra had to act without delay to protect the entire Viejo Elementary School in the Capistrano Unified School District. The little girl is known only as B.B. in federal filings, but her actions were so heinous that a parent alerted Becerra to take all necessary action. Beccera showed B.B. the incriminating evidence: a picture of children holding hands with the words ‘any life’ written under ‘Black Lives Matter.'” (03/14/26)

https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/5783916-california-principal-threat-black-lives/

Thomas L. Knapp

The despicable disgrace of the “call off the war” crowd

Source: New York Post
by staff

“We’d like to believe that the negative coverage of the Iran war so rampant in the media is simply more Trump Derangement Syndrome, but it’s plainly also about how the president’s firm actions expose how pathetically the same elites applauded President Barack Obama’s misbegotten Middle East policies, and not just his sad nuclear deal with Tehran. To simplify things, consider The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, the dean of elite liberal political analysis, who’s actively sneering at the joint US-Israeli effort to defang an entity that for five decades has called them ‘The Great Satan’ and ‘The Little Satan.’ … the two nations took out Tehran’s nuclear program last year, as it was weeks from producing usable weapons, and they’ve acted before it could rebuild its defenses and offensive conventional forces to shield it as it recovered that capability.” [editor’s note: Are unlimited hallucinogens a formally codified office benefit at the Post, or is their use during work hours merely tolerated? … – TLK] (03/13/26)

https://nypost.com/2026/03/13/opinion/the-despicable-disgrace-of-the-call-off-the-war-crowd/

Steve Trinward

Wine Says He has Left Uganda

Source: US News & World Report

“Ugandan opposition leader ⁠Bobi ⁠Wine said he has temporarily ⁠left the country after two months in hiding ​in the wake of a presidential election in January that kept long‑time leader ‌Yoweri Museveni in office. Wine, ‌whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, disputed the outcome of that ⁠contest, alleging ⁠fraud, and had been in hiding since fleeing his home ​in Uganda’s capital Kampala. In a five-minute video message posted on X on Saturday, Wine said he had left the country for ‘critical engagements outside Uganda,’ without ​specifying where he was or what the engagements were. ‘At the right ⁠time ⁠I will come back ⁠and continue ​with the cause,’ he said. The pop star‑turned‑politician has said his campaign was ​constrained by security ⁠forces blocking his rallies and arresting his supporters.” (03/15/26)

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-03-15/uganda-opposition-leader-bobi-wine-says-he-has-left-country-after-disputed-vote

Thomas L. Knapp

Questions for Markwayne Mullin

Source: The Watch
by Radley Balko

“Kristi Noem has been the worst head of Homeland Security in the department’s 20-year history, and it really isn’t even close. Her tenure was marked by reckless abuse of power, brazen lying and disinformation, white supremacist propaganda, and shameless corruption. Prior to Noem, we had never seen a cabinet official shoot a propaganda/weird fetish video from a foreign prison known for torture and abuse. Prior to Noem, we’d …. never seen a cabinet official celebrate the illegal killing of unarmed U.S. citizens. … Trump’s nominee to replace Noem is Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a mixed-martial-arts fighter turned plumber turned politician. Mullin is probably best known for challenging a witness at an oversight hearing to a fight, jamming his fingers into the nostrils of sleeping colleagues and their spouses, and projecting so much masculinity that he requires the names of two men.” (03/13/26)

https://radleybalko.substack.com/p/questions-for-markwayne-mullin

Thomas L. Knapp

Time to Grow Out of “Playing War”

Source: Common Dreams
by Robert C Koehler

“Boys will be boys. Just ask the president. At a gathering of Republicans a few days ago, Donald Trump talked nonchalantly about the recent sinking of an apparently unarmed Iranian frigate by the US Navy — in the Indian Ocean, more than 2,000 miles from the Persian Gulf. A total of 104 crew members were killed and 32 more were injured. The president proceeded to make this more than merely another brutal, pointless act of war. He turned it into a glaring (shocking) revelation of truth … about the American-Israeli war on Iran and, quite possibly about all wars: about war itself.” [editor’s note: “That enemy warship, headed toward the theater of operations, was ‘apparently unarmed,’ may be the dumbest claim I’ve seen from either side of the debate over this conflict – TLK] (03/14/26)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/no-more-playing-war

Steve Trinward

Libertarian Activist Abducted by Regime Thugs Following Return From Egypt

Source: Independent Political Report

“A libertarian activist from Orlando with a history of volunteering with the Libertarian Party of Florida is being held in federal immigration custody and facing possible deportation to Egypt, according to details shared with Independent Political Report. A friend of Aly who has remained in contact with him during his detention told IPR on Friday that Izzy Aly, also known as Islam Mahmoud Aly, was [abducted] by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on December 22 after arriving at a U.S. airport following a trip to Egypt, where he had traveled to settle matters related to his late father’s estate. … Aly, an Egyptian national who resides in the Orlando area, has been active for several years in libertarian political circles, including by attending meetings of the Libertarian Party of Florida to support the party’s activities.” (03/14/26)

https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2026/03/libertarian-activist-detained-by-immigration-authorities-following-return-from-egypt/

Thomas L. Knapp