Source: Reason
“Technology authors Perry Metzger and Brian Merchant debate the resolution, ‘Artificial Intelligence will provide enormous net benefits to nearly every member of society.'” (01/30/26)
https://reason.com/podcast/2026/01/30/will-ai-benefit-everyone/
Source: Washington Post
by Fareed Zakaria
“Donald Trump, JD Vance and other MAGA luminaries often proclaim that the grave danger facing the West is ‘civilizational erasure,’ which they claim is happening in Europe: Through its dangerously misguided approach toward identity and immigration, Europe is destroying the West’s distinctive legacy.
But the West’s defining character has not been tribal or religious solidarity — that describes most of the world. The West’s precious, almost unique, achievement has been the limitation of state power.” (01/30/26)
Source: The American Conservative
by Scott Greer
“President Donald Trump suggested this week that he may put Ted Cruz on the Supreme Court. It was not meant as a compliment, as he explained how it would be easy to get the Texas senator confirmed. ‘The Democrats will vote for him because they want to get him the hell out and the Republicans will vote for him because they want to get him the hell out, too,’ Trump said at a press conference attended by Cruz and many other GOP lawmakers. The remark was probably meant to needle Cruz. Axios reported over the weekend that the senator attacked the president and vice president in comments to donors. Cruz is building himself up for another presidential run that will pit him against J.D. Vance.” (01/30/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/will-ted-cruz-go-anti-trump-in-2028/
Hey, everyone …
It’s a FIREHOSE FRIDAY at the freedom movement’s daily newspaper. We’ve got nearly 120 news stories, opinion pieces, and audio/video links (too many for a standard email edition) lined up for you here at our web edition:
But wait … now that most or all of our daily editions are “hybrid” editions with some content in email and some only on the web, why have these web-only days?
Two reasons, one of them specific to this week.
The reason specific to this week is that Steve has been out of action the last few days due to the winter storm weather taking out his power and Internet. Which means that I’ve been busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest, so I decided today to focus entirely on “lots of content” rather than spending any time on “email formatting.”
The general reason is that, outside of our annual year-end fundraiser, I limit my mentions of money to the occasional reminder — usually on “web-only” days — that we’re a reader-supported publication and that you’re a reader. Please consider a one-time donation or, better yet, become a “subscribing contributor” for as little as $1 per month! Here’s the info on that:
https://news.rationalreview.com/support-rrnd
Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous weekend — and stay warm (even here in north central Florida, we’re expecting temperatures below 20 degrees fahrenheit this weekend)! We’ll be back with the regular email / social media editions on Monday.
Yours in liberty,
Tom Knapp
Publisher
Rational Review News Digest / Freedom News Daily
Source: The New Arab [UK]
“Civil society groups and celebrities are calling for a general strike or ‘National Shutdown Day’ across the US on Friday, 30 January, to protest the government’s hardline immigration crackdown. In cities and towns across the country, people will not be going out to school, work or shopping to show solidarity with residents in Minnesota, where earlier this month Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents [murdered] two local protesters. … Some of the main organisers of Friday’s general strike are student unions and labour activists from the University of Minnesota, who advocated a similar statewide action on 23 January, the previous Friday. This time, the shutdown is set to be nationwide, with hundreds of endorsements from local, state and national organisations, and with some major names showing their support.” [editor’s note: Nice sentiment, but I don’t expect it to be the big deal it should be – TLK] (01/29/26)
https://www.newarab.com/news/anti-ice-general-strike-planned-across-us-30-january
Source: Judging Freedom
by Andrew P Napolitano
“Last week, a half-dozen masked and unidentifiable Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents killed a 37-year-old federal employee, a nurse, by spraying pepper spray into his eyes, pushing him to the ground, stealing his lawfully owned and carried handgun, and then shooting him nine times in the back. … Under the Constitution, immigration — who can legally come to and remain in the United States — was left to the states to regulate; and naturalization — who can become an American citizen — was left to the feds.” (01/29/26)
Source: The Fifth Column
“Enthusiastic Armadas, Armenian Bakeries, Ye’s Apology Ad.” (01/29/26)
https://www.wethefifth.com/p/enthusiastic-armadas-armenian-bakeries
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“US President Donald Trump says Russia’s Vladimir Putin has agreed not to attack Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and other parts of the country for a week due to ‘extraordinary cold’ weather. Russia has not confirmed an agreement, but Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move. While Trump did not specify when the pause would begin, overnight into Friday air raid alerts went off in just four Ukrainian regions that are close to the frontline. Temperatures in Kyiv were due to plummet from Thursday, reaching -24C (-11F) over the next few days. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, as it has during cold periods since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.” (01/30/26)
Source: Reason
by Veronique de Rugy
“Industrial policy is failing, and not just in Washington. Across America, officials promise to engineer the right economic outcomes by intervening in the market in just the right ways. Most people know that under Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the idea has exploded. Less appreciated is how enthusiastically governors and state legislators are embracing their own versions. They repeat the same claims: With the right mix of subsidies, protection, and political direction, one government or another can revive strategic industries and deliver durable economic strength. The results tell a different story. Wherever it’s found, industrial policy is producing wasted resources, distorted incentives, and fragile outcomes that collapse the moment political support shifts or market realities intrude.” (01/29/26)
Source: SFGate
“A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey, who had dialed 911 to report a possible prowler outside her Springfield home. Sean Grayson, 31, was convicted in October. Grayson, who is white, received the maximum possible sentence. He has been incarcerated since he was charged in the killing. … Grayson was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, which could have led to a life sentence, but a jury convicted him of the lesser charge. Illinois allows for a second-degree murder conviction if evidence shows the defendant honestly thought he was in danger, even if that fear was unreasonable.” (01/29/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/the-former-illinois-deputy-convicted-of-killing-21321475.php