Source: Independent Institute
by Ivan Eland

“As good investors know, it is often better to cut your losses and move on rather than ride a bad investment to the bottom. Despite his bluster, Trump is reluctant to pull the trigger on attacking Iran’s energy structure. He should follow that instinct and avoid such escalation. The next step will be harder for him, however. His psychology seems to prevent him from admitting that his war on Iran has failed. Yet, as a master of bending perceived reality to fit his own ends, Trump should take the famous advice that Rudy Giuliani gave him for a previous caper: ‘Just say we won.'” (08/04/26)

https://www.independent.org/article/2026/08/04/why-donald-trump-should-just-declare-victory-in-the-iran-war/

Source: American Greatness
by Edward Ring

“Veteran political strategist Garry South has just published a guest commentary in the San Francisco Chronicle in which he asks the question, ‘Is Steve Hilton a serious candidate?’ South then launches a series of attacks to make clear he doesn’t think Hilton is gubernatorial material. But only a serious contender could have survived California’s so-called ‘jungle primary’, where voters choose among all candidates regardless of party affiliation. In a field of 61 candidates, Hilton came in second to Democrat Xavier Becerra. These top-two finishers will now face each other in the state’s general election this November. There’s nothing unique about South attacking Hilton in a guest column. Politics is a dirty business, where tone is more potent than truth and emotion more effective than evidence.” (08/05/26)

https://amgreatness.com/2026/08/05/california-needs-steve-hiltons-allegedly-zany-ideas/

Source: Astral Codex Ten
by Scott Alexander

“Commenters convinced me I made a subtle mis-step in my framing of Psychology Research Is Mostly Fine. My framing emphasized that social priming studies had failed to replicate, but that many other subfields of psychology hadn’t. This naturally led commenters to point to failed replications in other subfields. Although none of these were as bad as social priming, few or none were entirely problem-free. Instead of emphasizing the difference between social priming and other subfields, I should have emphasized the difference between settled science and novel research.” (08/04/26)

https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/the-beauty-of-settled-science

Source: Los Angeles Times
by Jonah Goldberg

“If I considered Trump more heroic than reason and facts could allow, I would say his Sisyphean predicament has the whiff of Greek tragedy to it. Trump is vexed by the fact that the Iranians won’t honor deals or ratify his countless premature claims of victory — giving new meaning to his vow that his presidency would make people tired of winning. It’s almost like they’re out-Trumping Trump.” (08/04/26)

https://archive.is/V11Zl

Source: In These Times
by Jen Sorensen

Cartoon. (08/04/26)

https://inthesetimes.com/article/airline-ceos-are-profiting-and-flying-private-jets-comic-jen-sorensen