Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, 04/02/26
Source: Politico
“20 minutes, few answers: Trump addresses the nation on Iran.” (04/02/26)
So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, 04/01/26
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
“Social media = cigarettes?” (04/01/26)
https://www.fire.org/news/podcasts/so-speak-free-speech-podcast/social-media-cigarettes
Trump’s April Fools’ Address to the nation
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
“Expectations reached a fever pitch Wednesday, but he neither called for an end to the war nor announced a ground invasion. Bottom line: We’re not finished.” (04/01/26)
Shutdown ends with America doubting there was ever any point to it in the first place
Source: New York Post
by staff
“Not only are TSA agents getting paid, the whole absurd Homeland Security shutdown will soon end … with a whimper, wouldn’t you say? It leaves all sides in Washington a bit disgruntled and the public (especially those about to fly!) simply relieved. Senate and House GOP leaders John Thune and Mike Johnson announced Wednesday that they’d pass the bill to fund everything except some immigration-enforcement functions, then cover ICE and so on (which are fine for now thanks to special funding passed last year) in a reconciliation bill (which dodges the Senate filibuster) in a few weeks. Of course President Donald Trump took the key steps in ending the standoff, first by sending ICE agents to airports to help out and then by issuing an executive order to get TSA agents paid and so remove whatever cudgel Democrats thought they had to force ‘reforms’ to gut immigration enforcement.” (04/02/26)
Pakistan: Regime Says It Is in Talks With Afghanistan to End Conflict
Source: US News & World Report
“Pakistan is holding talks with Afghanistan to end the worst conflict between the South Asian neighbours since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. The talks in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi were being held between senior officials of the two countries, the spokesperson said. China has been trying to mediate a negotiated settlement to the conflict between the allies-turned-foes that share a 2,600-km (1,600-mile) border. The fighting, that began last October, has killed scores of people on both sides.” (04/02/26)
Utah teen identified as victim of serial killer Ted Bundy
Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“Officials in Utah have formally closed a 51-year-old cold case after using new DNA technology to identify a murdered teenager as a victim of serial killer Ted Bundy. Laura Ann Aime, 17, disappeared after leaving a party on Halloween in 1974. Her body was discovered about one month later by hikers in the American Fork Canyon. On Wednesday, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office announced that new testing ‘confirmed irrefutably that DNA evidence recovered from Laura’s body verified the existence of DNA belonging to Bundy.’ … Before he was executed in Florida in 1989, Bundy confessed to Laura’s killing, but since he would not elaborate or give any detail to his actual involvement in her death, ‘the Sheriff’s Department elected to keep this case open until investigators could prove, without a shadow of doubt,’ that he was her killer, the sheriff said in a statement.” (04/02/26)
Bulwark Takes, 04/01/26
Source: The Bulwark
“Tim Miller, Sam Stein, JVL and Mark Hertling React to Trump’s Iran Address.” (04/01/26)
The Science of Politics, 04/01/26
Source: Niskanen Center
“Can corporate scandals reinvigorate democracy?” (04/01/26)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/can-corporate-scandals-reinvigorate-democracy
The Case for Going to the Moon
Source: Persuasion
by Luke Hallam
“I’m not saying that everyone has to find space cool and interesting. Plenty of people don’t. But it’s surely a shame that the culture as a whole finds itself unable, most of the time, to be awed and inspired by those parts of the universe that exist beyond the thin shell of our atmosphere. Exploration requires curiosity, and curiosity is deeply human. Unlike other animals, we aren’t driven to new environments simply because of resource scarcity or the threat of predators. We have a surplus of wonder that causes us to pursue knowledge and beauty wherever we find it, without quite knowing why. Artemis II is just one small example of that spirit in action.” (04/01/26)
https://www.persuasion.community/p/were-going-back-to-the-moon
Is it safe to use Signal?
Source: Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
by Adam Goldstein
“The encrypted messaging app Signal is back in the news — and this time, people are asking: Will using it get me arrested? The short answer is probably not. If your speech would be protected if you were talking to a friend at a park or over the phone, your speech will still be protected when you have that conversation on Signal. And if not, you’re not any more likely to get arrested by using Signal than you were before you started using it. In other words, if you’re doing something unlawful, adding Signal to the mix probably doesn’t appreciably increase the already existing risk of getting arrested for breaking the law.” (04/01/26)