Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 05/19/26
Source: Antiwar.com
“Senate Advances Iran War Powers Resolution, Third Day of US Airstrikes in Nigeria, and More.” (05/19/26)
Flirting with MAGA Money Part 3 — The Deal with The Devil
Source: Jake Porter’s Analysis & Investigations
by Jake Porter
“In late 2023, a quiet operation was launched to neutralize a threat to Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. The target wasn’t a Democrat, but the Libertarian Party (LP). What followed was a masterclass in political co-optation. Through backroom deals, a highly unusual joint fundraising committee with Robert Kennedy Jr., and blatant internal sabotage, leadership within the Libertarian National Committee (LNC) effectively turned the party of ‘Principle’ into a subsidiary of the Trump campaign.” (05/19/26)
https://jakeporter.substack.com/p/flirting-with-maga-money-part-3-the
Trump’s perilous moment of truth on Iran
Source: New York Post
by staff
“President Trump is facing a moment of maximum peril in his handling of Iran — one that will shape his legacy, America’s stature and perhaps the course of history itself. We are entering the sixth week of a two-week cease-fire that was agreed to on the pre-condition that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened immediately. Yet it never opened, and Iran continues to attack our Arab allies — while it dithers and strings out talks. What gives? The prez’s big risk: Political pressure over the midterms and the buzzing of isolationists in Trump’s own camp might nudge him to take any deal that lets him declare victory, save face and bug out of Iran. This would be a catastrophic mistake, comparable almost to Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler at Munich in 1938. It would burn his legacy on the bonfire of political expediency.” (05/19/26)
Norwegian journalist’s question to India’s Modi sparks online backlash
Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“A Norwegian journalist’s question to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked a controversy in his country. Modi was on a two-day official visit to Oslo this week. As he walked away after a joint press appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, journalist Helle Lyng called out to him, asking why he does not take questions, but got no response. Later in a press conference by Indian diplomats, Lyng asked, ‘Why should we trust you (India)? Can you try to stop the human rights violations that goes on in your country?’ India has rejected the allegations, highlighting its ‘commitment to justice and freedom.’ Lyng later told BBC Hindi that it was her ‘duty to ask’ the questions. Modi has not held a traditional solo press conference since taking office in 2014, and has rarely answered questions from journalists on his trips abroad.” (05/20/26)
Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, 05/19/26
Source: Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael
“How an Ultra-Zionist Rabbi Inspired Candace Owens’[s] Conspiracy Theories w/ Jay Michaelson.” (05/19/26)
Pet Love
Source: Chris’s Substack
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra
“May is National Pet Month in the United States. It is a celebration of the bond between pets and people — a testament to the immense joy that pets bring to our lives. Through the years, the deep connection that I experienced with our family pets was a source of support, companionship, visibility, and love.” (05/19/26)
Filming Cops Is a First Amendment Right. The Feds Keep Harassing People for It Anyway.
Source: Reason
by Jacob Sullum
“Most federal appeals courts have recognized the right to record police. DHS employees nevertheless seem to view it as a crime.” (05/19/26)
Discord now has end-to-end encryption on all calls
Source: Engadget
“Your calls on Discord are now truly private. The social platform says it’s completed its years-long endeavor to apply end-to-end encryption in all voice and video calls. This security is applied to all calls outside of stage channels, with no need to opt into the added protection. Attitudes on end-to-end encryption have been shifting at some platforms. While many see E2EE as a critical way to keep personal conversations personal, there have been some moves away from this security option.” (05/19/26)
https://www.engadget.com/2177277/discord-now-has-end-to-end-encryption-on-all-calls/
A welcome spotlight on China’s Christians
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“One unexpected result from last week’s China-U.S. summit was that Chinese leader Xi Jinping told President Donald Trump that he ‘would consider’ releasing the country’s most prominent Christian pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri, from detention. Whether the release happens or not, the mere fact that Mr. Xi had to respond favorably to the U.S. leader’s request confirmed an obvious point to the country’s religious faithful: The Chinese Communist Party does not control the narrative of what their persecution means. God does. Last October, when police rounded up Mr. Jin and more than 20 other pastors in a major crackdown, his Beijing Zion Church issued this statement: ‘The Church belongs to God, not to any political power’. Such conviction might help explain why, by some estimates, the number of Christians in China remains close to the party’s total membership despite decades of repression, frequently raising curiosity among many Chinese about Christianity.” (05/19/26)
Sal and Mark, episode 3
Source: Free Talk Live
“A weekly deep-dive into crypto, privacy, and practical freedom. This episode features Stefan Kinsella on the stunning split between Hans-Hermann Hoppe and the Mises Institute; Tux from Cake Wallet on Lightning Network, Silent Payments, and the new Cupcake hardware wallet feature; plus discussions on the Hoppe-Milei controversy, tax resistance, Freedom Dollar vs. Tether, and why privacy coins are the future.” (05/19/26)