The Political Orphanage, 04/09/26
Source: The Political Orphanage
“The Travails of Afroman and Lindy West (WSPN).” (04/09/26)
https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/the-travails-of-afroman-and-lindy-west-wspn
Internal Combustion Engines: The Great Economic Equalizer
Source: The Daily Economy
by Jeffery L Degner
“Internal combustion engines empowered millions to participate in the modern economy. Restrictions on their use hit the poor hardest.” (04/09/26)
https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/internal-combustion-engines-the-great-economic-equalizer/
Tulsi Gabbard keeps her focus on revealing Deep State’s dirty secrets, even as it tries to take her down
Source: New York Post
by Miranda Devine
“Anonymously sourced hit pieces have hammered Tulsi Gabbard the past few months in the Guardian, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Republic, CNN, NBC, MSNBC, you name it. They are part of a relentless campaign to undermine President Trump’s director of national intelligence because she is almost single-handedly revealing the dirty secrets of the Deep State. Rumors swirl around Washington that the president is displeased with her and she will soon follow Pam Bondi out the door. But that doesn’t appear to be the case.” (04/08/26)
In potential boost to ceasefire efforts, Netanyahu authorizes direct talks with Lebanon
Source: SFGate
“In a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he authorized direct negotiations ‘as soon as possible’ with Lebanon aimed at disarming Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the neighbors. The two countries have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948. There was no immediate response from Lebanese authorities, but the announcement appeared to bolster the tentative ceasefire in the Iran war that had staggered under the weight of Israel’s bombardment of Beirut, Tehran’s continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether planned peace talks can find common ground. Netanyahu’s announcement came amid disagreement over whether the ceasefire deal included a pause in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, and a day after Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes that resulted in the deadliest day in Lebanon since the war began on Feb. 28.” (04/09/26)
Sam Altman Is Having a Really Weird Week
Source: Mother Jones
by Alex Nguyen
“Sam Altman wants you to know that he’s just fine. Sure, his company, OpenAI, is reportedly building technology that it fears and some of his former colleagues think he’s a pathological liar, but really? It’s no big deal.” (04/09/26)
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/sam-altman-ronan-farrow-open-ai-report/
NPR Politics Podast, 04/09/26
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“JD Vance stumps for Hungary’s Orbán.” (04/09/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5779235/jd-vance-stumps-for-hungarys-orban
The Headlines, 04/09/26
Source: New York Times
“A ‘Messy’ Cease-Fire, and a 15-Year Sentence for the ‘Ketamine Queen.’” (04/09/26)
Advisory Opinions, 04/09/26
Source: The Dispatch
“Trump’s ‘War Crimes.’” (04/09/26)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/trumps-war-crimes/
Job Growth on ICE
Source: Paul Krugman
by Paul Krugman
“Armageddon may (or may not) be on hold for a little while, so let’s talk about other issues, like the state of the economy — in particular, what’s going on with job growth, where important things are happening. Are they good things or bad? Well, it’s a bad news/good news/but the good news is really bad news situation.” (04/09/26)
For peace with Iran to work a reckoning with Israel is in order
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by James R Webb
“Despite the challenges ahead for the U.S. in securing a durable peace, there is perhaps a massive potential political opportunity for President Trump to fulfill a campaign promise. A core promise that attracted independents and conservatives, and arguably was the single biggest driver of both of his electoral victories, was the removal of American troops from the Middle East. Preventing the continuation of, or yet another war with the U.S. is arguably Iran’s most meaningful demand, and perhaps the most valuable for the U.S. at the bargaining table. At this juncture, American basing across the region only serves to pressure and threaten Iran, whose existence is not and never has been an existential threat to the U.S. homeland. Further, what better way for President Trump to demonstrate victory than to publicly declare that our objectives have been met and that the troops are coming home, thus making a splash heading into midterms?” (04/09/26)