Source: Axios
“Last year was the worst on record for government-imposed internet shutdowns, with at least 296 outages across 54 countries, according to a new report from Access Now. Governments are increasingly shutting down the internet to silence dissenting voices during conflicts, protests and elections. … Seven countries joined the first-time offenders list, including El Salvador, France, Malaysia and Thailand. For the first time since 2018, Myanmar overtook India as the worst offender, imposing 85 shutdowns — one more than India.” (02/24/25)
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/24/global-internet-blackouts
Source: Orange County Register
by Steven Greenhut
“‘We cannot make a heaven on Earth, though we may make a hell.’ That’s from the great conservative political philosopher Russell Kirk …. I always had my issues with Kirk, as my political journey led me to a more libertarian worldview given my distaste for the incompetence, abuses and wastefulness of governments. Kirk had no time of day for libertarians. He believed they advocated policies that would lead to social collapse. I wish he were around to comment on the current goings-on in America as conservatives are leading efforts to tear down the existing system to rebuild whatever it is they have in mind. Frankly, libertarians have been all over the map as Trump tramples on established democratic norms, obliterates international alliances, praises brutal dictators and treats immigrants with unnecessary cruelty.” (02/21/25)
https://archive.is/v4Ghp
Source: ABC News
“Russia launched 267 drones into Ukraine on Saturday night, according to the Ukrainian air force, in the largest such attack of the war, as both nations prepare to mark three years since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its western neighbor. Russian drone and missile attacks have for months been a nightly occurrence. But Saturday night’s 267 drones were the largest-ever such bombardment, breaking the previous record of 193 drones set in a December attack. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 138 Shahed attack drones, with 119 others lost in flight without causing any damage. Three drones flew into Belarus, the air force said in its statement to Telegram.” (02/23/25)
https://abcnews.go.com/International/russia-launches-267-drones-ukraine-setting-new-record/story?id=119093732
Source: The Dispatch
by Kevin D Williamson
“And DOGE is not merely imperfect. It’s actively bad.” (02/21/25)
https://thedispatch.com/article/doge-elon-nro-editorial/
Source: Psychology Today
by Zoe Weil
“On Inauguration Day, I was flying home from India, where I had attended Gandhi 3.0, a retreat that brought together 40 people from around the world to explore how Gandhian principles can be meaningful in today’s world. I returned to the U.S. just as my country was erupting in turmoil. … I felt strangely grounded with a deep sense of love for, well, everyone. But I was also aghast, frightened for so many, and startled by those who were delighted by the sledgehammer upheavals, the head-spinning international proclamations, and the unconstitutional decrees. I certainly understand the desire to upend ‘the system’ (something I’ve been trying to do with multiple unjust, unsustainable, and inhumane systems my entire adult life) but what was unfolding was inchoate, cruel, and chaotic destruction rather than carefully considered interventions that would reduce waste and corruption.” (02/22/25)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/becoming-a-solutionary/202502/what-can-gandhi-teach-us-right-now
Source: Unattended Baggage
“Puppet or Puppetmaster?” (02/22/25)
https://unattendedbaggage.substack.com/p/episode-283-hour-1-puppet-or-puppetmaster
Source: JimBovard.com
by James Bovard
“President Trump issued an executive order last week creating a Make America Healthy Again Commission, to be chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Among other targets, the commission will examine ‘prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs.’ Kennedy has been outspoken on the danger of SSRIs, linking them to school shootings and stating that members of his family ‘had a much worse time getting off of SSRIs than they have getting off of heroin.’ Kennedy’s views mortify the mainstream media.” (02/22/25)
https://jimbovard.com/blog/2025/02/22/can-kennedy-save-kids-from-psychiatric-ravage/
Source: Associated Press
“Pope Francis remained in critical condition Sunday and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, responsive and attended Mass, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff battles pneumonia and a complex lung infection. In a late update, the Vatican said Francis hadn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday night but was still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen. Some blood tests showed ‘initial, mild, kidney failure,’ but doctors said it was under control.” (02/23/25)
https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-pneumonia-06324d49846f26a24acec1da5fc74ab2
Source: Bitcoin.com
by Jamie Redman
“A perennial inquiry among financial circles — from bitcoin enthusiasts to gold stalwarts — centers on the U.S. national debt’s vertiginous climb to $36.51 trillion by Feb. 22, 2025. Contrary to the specious assertions of certain commentators who simplistically blame tax reductions, the crux lies in three interlocking forces: expansive fiscal outlays, unrelenting shortfalls between revenue and expenditures, and the compounding weight of interest obligations.” (02/22/25)
https://news.bitcoin.com/from-reagan-to-covid-the-factors-behind-americas-36-51-trillion-debt/
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“Two years ago, a report by the European Parliament estimated that strengthening the rule of law and trust in public institutions would reduce corruption and boost Europe’s economic output by more than $61 billion a year. Now the European Union, which loses an estimated $1 trillion a year to corruption, is finalizing a new directive to impose stiffer penalties on individuals and companies that engage in fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, and other forms of corruption. These actions are worth highlighting because leadership of a decadeslong global struggle against graft may be shifting to Europe from the United States. In just one month, the Trump administration has rolled back long-standing measures to counter fraud and promote transparency. Notably, it suspended a historic measure that inspired much of the world to tackle corruption: the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA.” (02/21/25)
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2025/0221/A-new-global-center-for-clean-government
