Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob
“[Graham Platner] presents himself as a working-class guy, though he comes from a wealthy family that placed him in a $75,000 a year prep school. He is an oyster farmer, but most of his income derives from disability payments. He told reporters that he bought his home with a VA loan, but his father loaned him the money. … Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont socialist, [says] ‘We desperately need somebody like him here in the U.S. Senate.’ Graham Platner should fit right in.” (06/03/26)
https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/06/03/a-perfect-fit/
Source: US News & World Report
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is canceling most pending contracts initiated under ousted Secretary Kristi Noem, the current secretary said on Wednesday, a move that follows congressional scrutiny and an internal watchdog review of her contracting practices. During a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, Secretary Markwayne Mullin also said he would restore longer training for federal immigration officers, reversing a Noem-era decision that shortened training during a hiring surge and drew bipartisan concerns in Congress about whether recruits were adequately prepared. Mullin faced questions from a top Democrat about what steps he had taken to roll back Noem-era contracts. ‘We are looking at the contracts that weren’t already signed, and we did go through and cancel most of those,’ Mullin said. The move is part of a broader effort by Mullin to unwind contracting practices under Noem that drew bipartisan criticism.” (06/03/26)
https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2026-06-03/us-homeland-security-cancels-most-pending-noem-era-contracts-after-review
Source: Washington Post
“Did Trump win the late-night comedy battle?” (06/03/26)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/make-it-make-sense/did-trump-win-the-latenight-comedy-battle/
Source: Free the People
“It’s Time to Legalize Home Distilling | Guest: Robert Alt.” (06/03/26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEcwsoki6xY
Source: Freedom and Flourishing
by Dr. Edward W Younkins
“The philosophical systems of Baruch (Benedict de) Spinoza and contemporary neo-Aristotelian thinkers such as Ayn Rand, Douglas B. Rasmussen, and Douglas J. Den Uyl represent distinct yet somewhat convergent approaches to understanding reality, human nature, and the conditions for human flourishing. Spinoza’s rationalist monism and determinism appear, at first glance, to be at odds with the teleological realism, moral objectivism, and emphasis on individual agency characteristic of Objectivism and Individualistic Perfectionism. However, upon closer examination, these traditions exhibit areas of comparability, partial compatibility, and parallel insights across metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy.” (06/03/26)
https://www.freedomandflourishing.com/2026/06/are-spinozas-philosophy-and-neo.html
Source: Independent Institute
by Sam Jenson
“In December 2025, just days before Christmas, 13-year-old Jaleeyah Tune was murdered in Goldsboro, North Carolina. According to prosecutors, Jaleeyah was ambushed by three teens with alleged gang ties. In the aftermath of this tragedy, new legislation, House Bill 1173, has advanced in North Carolina. This new bill, known as ‘Jaleeyah’s Law,’ would enhance criminal penalties for gang-related activity. Lawmakers are attempting to prevent tragedies of this kind in the future, but such laws can prove slippery slopes. It cannot be overstated how tragic the loss of Jaleeyah Tune is, but emotionally charged lawmaking has already led to overcriminalization, wrongful gang designations, and erosion of due process before.” (06/03/26)
https://www.independent.org/article/2026/06/03/north-carolina-hb-1173/
Source: The UnPopulist
by Pouya Nikmand
“{The country’s rulers have become more entrenched and brutal, turning the glimmer of hope during the protests into fear and despair.” (06/03/26)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/iranians-had-a-better-shot-of-toppling
Source: Reuters
“The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s broad authority to recover illegal profits using a financial remedy called disgorgement, buttressing one of the Wall Street watchdog agency’s key powers. The justices, in a 9-0 ruling, upheld a lower court’s decision that had endorsed a wide use of the SEC’s disgorgement authority. President Donald Trump’s administration had defended the SEC in the case. … [Ongkaruck] Sripetch admitted violating securities law, and in a related criminal case was sentenced to 21 months in prison. Sripetch challenged the lower court’s disgorgement order on the grounds that the SEC failed to prove his actions caused stock prices to drop or otherwise financially harmed investors.” (06/04/26)
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-supreme-court-backs-sec-fight-over-disgorgement-power-2026-06-04/
Source: SFGate
“Monterey Park voters made history Tuesday by passing the first permanent ban on data centers nationwide. Voters are on track to overwhelmingly approve the ban, with 86% in favor according to the latest ballot count, leading organizers to claim victory (the official results won’t be certified until July 10). Where other jurisdictions have passed temporary measures to curb the controversial development of these massive server farms, Monterey Park voters’ decision in this election will keep developers at bay unless voters want to revisit the decision in a future election.” (06/03/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/monterey-park-data-center-ban-22290345.php
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“Why did Governor Polis release election denier Tina Peters?” (06/03/26)
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/03/nx-s1-5844931/why-did-governor-polis-release-election-denier-tina-peters
