Real Unity, 07/13/26
Source: Free the People
“Politics Isn’t Redemptive: The Danger of Political Idolatry | Noelle Fitchett.” (07/13/26)
Making Government Work From Within
Source: Liberal Currents
by Christopher Whitaker
“As we think about what a new reconstruction may look like, one of the major points of tension will be the rules and regulations that bind the actions of the government machinery. One the one hand, the rules cause friction in the gears that get things done. Procurement is slow. Hiring is slow. Policy changes are slow. It will be immensely frustrating to those coming in to fix the government to be told to be patient after so much damage has been done. However, those rules are there for good reason. After all, hiring your buddy in a no-bid contract is how you get a reflecting pool full of algae.” (07/14/26)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/making-government-work-from-within/
Liberalism Needs to Reconstruct Itself
Source: Persuasion
by Marlene Laruelle
“The movement’s electoral defeats are no accident. Something more than restoration is needed.” (07/14/26)
https://www.persuasion.community/p/liberalism-needs-to-reconstruct-itself
EU bans gold imports from Sudan to curb money financing the war
Source: BBC News [UK state media]
“The European Union (EU) has banned the purchase, import and transfer of gold from Sudan, saying the trade has become a key source of financing for the country’s civil war that erupted in April 2023. The conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, forcing more than 14 million people from their homes. Sudan is one of Africa’s largest gold producers and its vast reserves have become a crucial source of revenue for both sides, according to rights groups. EU foreign ministers approved the measures alongside a ban on exports to Sudan of mercury and cyanide, chemicals widely used in gold mining.” (07/14/26)
Compound Interest, 07/14/26
Source: Semafor
“AI is coming for lawyers. Are they ready?” (07/14/26)
After Ankara, Deep State and Euro Hawks Celebrate Wins
Source: The American Conservative
by Harrison Berger
“As a candidate, Donald Trump famously promised to end the war in Ukraine ‘within 24 hours’ of taking office. This past week, he acknowledged that Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure represent an ‘escalation’ in the conflict and offered new support for Kiev’s war effort. ‘It’s an escalation,’ Trump said, ‘but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end of the war.’ … That view—which sees Ukraine’s war as winnable, if only the West will send enough money and weapons—has been the consensus among foreign policy elites since this thing kicked off. Now, aided by Western news outlets, hawks in Europe and our own national security bureaucracy are successfully selling this narrative to a gullible president who had previously resisted their blandishments.” (07/14/26)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/after-ankara-deep-state-and-euro-hawks-celebrate-wins/
The twisted trail of Lindsey Graham
Source: The Hill
by Bill Press
“Of my four years of high school Latin, very little has stuck. But one phrase remains lodged in my mind: ‘De mortuis nil nisi bonum.’ Loosely translated, that means ‘Of the dead, don’t say anything but good things.’ That dictum popped into my head when I learned the sad news of the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). But life is not that black and white. Yes, there are many good things to be said about Graham, but his life and political career are so complex it defies characterization as all positive or all negative.” (07/14/26)
https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5966936-lindsey-graham-political-journey/
China: Regime Purges Third Politburo Member in Deepening Anti-Graft Drive
Source: US News & World Report
“China has expelled Ma Xingrui, a former Politburo member, from the ruling Communist Party on corruption charges, making him the third sitting member of the elite decision-making body to be purged since 2025 as President Xi Jinping intensifies his anti-graft campaign. Ma, who also served as the deputy head of the central rural work leading group, was placed under investigation in April over suspected ‘serious violation of law and discipline’ – the party’s euphemism for corruption. Investigators found that Ma had sought benefits for others in the selection and appointment of officials and improperly arranged jobs for others, Xinhua reported.” (07/14/26)
The Chris Spangle Show, 07/13/26
Source: We Are Libertarians
“The Declaration of Independence at 250: Dan Miller on America’s Founding.” (07/13/26)
https://www.chrisspangle.com/p/the-declaration-of-independence-at
Chekhov, the Military Budget, and Endless Wars
Source: CounterPunch
by Bruce Altschuler
“Diplomacy is difficult. It requires patience together with deep knowledge of the country on the other side and the issues under negotiation. The nuclear agreement Barack Obama negotiated with Iran took nearly two years and was 160 pages long. The negotiating team included experienced diplomats and scientists compared to Trump’s team of two real estate developers, one of whom is his son-in-law. Meanwhile, the American military, obviously far superior to that of Iran, presented another option. As Anton Chekhov put it, albeit in a very different context, ‘One must not put a loaded rifle upon the stage if no one is thinking of firing it.'” (07/14/26)
https://www.counterpunch.org/2026/07/14/chekhov-the-military-budget-and-endless-wars/