The Vain Struggle to Curb Congressional Stock Trading

Source: Libertarian Institute
by Joseph Solis-Mullen

“With no external enforcement, functional forbearance, and vested interests at play, an outright ban seems unlikely, perpetuating a system where public polls scream for accountability, but Capitol Hill remains defiantly inert.” (02/05/26)

https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/the-vain-struggle-to-curb-congressional-stock-trading

Thomas L. Knapp

Not Everything Is Corruption

Source: Persuasion
by Siddhu Pachipala

“There are two explanations for why the United States ends up with the policies it does. The first blames corruption. For example, six in ten Americans favor a national health plan like Medicare-for-all. That we haven’t adopted such a policy, and instead maintain an awkwardly assembled Rube Goldberg system — hybrid, employer-based, inconsistent — should be taken as damning evidence for the perversion of the democratic process. So you follow the money. … The second explanation appreciates just how complicated politics can be.” (02/04/26)

https://www.persuasion.community/p/corruption-is-real-but-its-less-consequential

Thomas L. Knapp

Europe’s central bank maintains interest rate with economic growth resilient

Source: SFGate

“The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged Thursday as the economy in the 21 countries that use the euro chugs past the disruption from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs with growth modest, yet resilient. The bank left its benchmark deposit rate at 2%, where it has been since June. after a series of cuts from the peak of 4% starting in mid-2024. The reduced rate has been low enough to re-start mortgage lending for home sales and new construction due to reduced credit costs, boosting growth. Low unemployment is also contributing to demand for goods by consumers and helping keep the economy resilient without the stimulus of further rate cuts. As a result, the chief monetary authority for the eurozone may leave its rates unchanged into 2027, analysts say. The eurozone grew a stronger than expected 0.3% in the last three months of 2025, and may reach growth of 1.3% for all of this year, according to forecasts by Berenberg bank.” (02/05/25)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/europe-s-central-bank-maintains-interest-rate-21335244.php

Steve Trinward

Substack CEO informs users of a data breach

Source: Engadget

“The digital publishing platform Substack has told some of its users that their data was stolen in a security breach. The affected account holders had their email addresses and phone numbers scraped in a hack that occurred in October 2025. In an email posted on Bluesky, Substack CEO, Christ Best, said the company became aware of the breach on February 3, which involved an ‘unauthorized third party to access limited user data without permission.’ While internal metadata was also shared in the hack, Best said that credit card numbers and other financial details were not. No passwords were obtained either.” (02/05/26)

https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/substack-ceo-informs-users-of-a-data-breach-151113809.html

Thomas L. Knapp

The Unstoppable Kill Switch

Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob

“Fifty-seven Republicans in Congress worked with the bulk of Democrats, and the President of These United States, to continue funding development of a ‘kill switch’ on new cars. On Tuesday, the bill became law. You may have thought that most new cars driving down the road could already be switched ‘off’ remotely. After all, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by former President Joe Biden, required the National Traffic Safety Administration to develop just such a technology … But government isn’t fast, and the kill switch project ‘needed’ more funding, which was included in the new $1.2 trillion spending package.” (02/05/26)

https://thisiscommonsense.org/2026/02/05/the-unstoppable-kill-switch/

Thomas L. Knapp