Lookin’ Out Your Backdoor

Source: The American Conservative
by Bill Kauffman

“Say the powers-that-be determine to site something truly noxious == a radioactive waste dump, a halfway house for child molesters, a data center — in your neighborhood. (These almost inevitably will be government projects or enabled by corporate welfare and subsidies to developers.) You protest. Instead of meeting your sincere remonstrations with arguments, you will be sneeringly called a NIMBY — a Not in My Backyard obstructionist. This epithet can be disorienting. Not in My Backyard? Well, yeah—not in my backyard. What’s wrong with caring about my backyard?” (06/08/26)

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/lookin-out-your-backdoor/

Thomas L. Knapp

At least 32 dead after major earthquake strikes southern Philippines

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“At least 32 people have died after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, officials say. The quake hit at 07:37 local time on Monday (Sunday 23:37 GMT), triggering tsunami alerts in the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia. Some of those were cancelled hours later. Videos and images showed buildings collapsing, including a clip of a Jollibee fast food restaurant reduced to rubble, and landslides have been recorded in some areas. More than 100 people have been injured across several provinces, almost two dozen are missing, and 10,000 residents have been pre-emptively evacuated, authorities have said.” (06/08/26)

https://archive.is/VkUuE

Thomas L. Knapp

The Runup to the Declaration of Independence

Source: Tenth Amendment Center
by Rob Natelson

“In the years before 1763, the British Empire—although in theory a unified entity—was really a federation. The central government in London controlled foreign affairs and the imperial post office. It also regulated trade with foreign countries and among units of the empire. But otherwise, the 13 future American states were largely self-governing.” (06/07/26)

https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2026/06/07/the-runup-to-the-declaration-of-independence/

Thomas L. Knapp

Armenia: Ruling party wins landslide election victory

Source: France 24 [French state media]

“Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling party has won parliamentary elections, preliminary results showed on Monday, a victory seen as endorsement of the nation’s pro-Western shift after threats from Moscow and claims of Russian interference. Pashinyan’s push to forge closer ties with the West and move Armenia out of the orbit of its former imperial ruler has angered the Kremlin and drawn rebukes from President Vladimir Putin. The election comes after years of turmoil since Pashinyan was swept to power in a 2018 street revolution.” (06/07/26)

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260607-armenia-pm-heads-for-win-to-cement-westward-shift

Thomas L. Knapp

Dems can’t escape Bidens & their drama, even if they’re done covering for them

Source: New York Post
by Miranda Devine

“You could almost feel sorry for Joe Biden when he crashed his wife Jill’s debut book talk in New York last week. Standing in the shadows at the 92nd Street Y, and with no microphone in sight, the former president looked lost as he rasped at his wife: ‘Who do you love most in the whole world?’ Up on stage, resplendent in a pastel skirt suit in her starring role alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Jill responds, ‘Whoopi,’ laughs and turns on her stiletto heel. Maybe it was a comedy routine the former first couple had practiced, but it fell flat. There wasn’t much laughter from the audience. Who humiliates her 83-year-old husband in public to try to boost lackluster book sales? ‘Dr.’ Jill Biden, that’s who …” (06/07/26)

https://nypost.com/2026/06/07/opinion/democrats-cant-escape-the-bidens-and-their-drama-even-if-theyre-done-covering-for-them/

Steve Trinward