Source: Pierre Lemieux
by Pierre Lemieux
“It was an error three centuries ago. Knowledge of the workings of society has progressed, but some did not get the memo.” (05/27/26)
https://pierrelemieux.substack.com/p/the-troubling-persistence-of-luddism
Source: Shawn Huckaby
by Shawn Huckaby
“I was raised in a rural Virginia family that, despite what that might lead you to believe, was not particularly religious. My mom was nominally a Christian but church service was not a regular part of our life. My dad was an atheist influenced by Ayn Rand. The latter went on to influence me, and as a consequence, I spent roughly the first 30 years of my life as a very garden-variety atheist. … I left Ayn Rand behind at some point in my mid-20s and developed an interest in broader philosophy. … This exploration eventually led me into religion but outside of the typical Abrahamic context.” (05/27/26)
Source: SFGate
“A billionaire and insurance mogul with Bay Area ties was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after he orchestrated an elaborate scheme that defrauded multiple insurance companies out of $2 billion that he used to buy mansions and private jets, the U.S. Department of Justice said. San Mateo native Greg Lindberg, 56, was sentenced on Tuesday in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina on charges related to a multibillion-dollar fraud conspiracy that bankrupted several insurance companies and policyholders, the DOJ announced in a news release. Lindberg, now a Florida resident, was the founder and chairman of North Carolina-based international private equity and financial services firm Eli Global LLC, and Global Bankers Insurance Group, which managed international life insurance and reinsurance companies. Bloomberg Businessweek reported in December 2024 that Lindberg’s net worth had been more than $1 billion.” (05/28/26)
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/greg-lindberg-insurance-fraud-22279355.php
Source: Libertarian Institute
“Trump Has Lost in Iran, What Will He Do Next?” (05/27/26)
Source: Niskanen Center
“Are the Courts contributing to democratic backsliding?” (05/27/26)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/are-the-courts-contributing-to-democratic-backsliding
Source: Reason
by Ari Shtein
“When President Donald Trump announced broad and arbitrary import taxes last April — tariffs that the Supreme Court would later determine were illegal — he said they would uplift domestic producers, even though many economists predicted the opposite. More than a year later, Americans can safely say that the economists were right. Trump’s tariffs have not only failed in their central aim — to bring manufacturing jobs back to America — they’ve also hurt Americans across a range of economic sectors, including agriculture. That’s the latest analysis from the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Agricultural Trade Monitor, which recently found that between March 2025 and February 2026, annualized U.S. agricultural exports to China dropped by nearly $15 billion. This is almost $5 billion more in lost trade to China than what American farmers saw during the first Trump administration.” (05/27/26)
Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“Amid the fears and concerns about artificial intelligence and emerging online technologies, a statement by the founder of Christian Science – and of this publication – offers reassurance. Referencing the United States’ ringing Declaration of Independence, Mary Baker Eddy wrote, ‘God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience’. With the promise and exercise of these innate rights, humanity is well placed to take on the challenges – and promise – of AI. Many religious leaders, as well as Silicon Valley innovators and analysts, are weighing in on the role of human creativity and intelligence, as well as workplace skills and relevance. Most recently, Pope Leo XIV delivered a major statement on faith and human progress in the age of AI, titled ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ (Magnificent Humanity).” (05/27/26)
Source: Politico
“The top prosecutors of New Jersey and New York announced Wednesday they’ve launched an investigation into FIFA’s ticket selling practices in the latest escalation of tensions between soccer’s international governing body and the governments of the region that will host the World Cup. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and New York State Attorney General Letitia James in a rare joint press release said they plan to probe ‘a range of issues that have arisen with FIFA’s ticketing process,’ including dynamic pricing that’s driven the cost of the most in-demand tickets to five figures. The attorneys general said they issued subpoenas to FIFA for details about their ticketing practices.” (05/27/26)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/27/nj-ny-world-cup-ticket-price-investigation-00937921
Source: The American Prospect
by Greg Casar
“Most people involved in artificial intelligence can agree on one thing: AI is coming for your job. Anthropic’s CEO predicts Great Depression levels of unemployment in the next five years. Bill Gates says that within ten years humans won’t be needed ‘for most things’. Corporate leaders say AI-driven layoffs are already starting, with Intuit firing thousands just this week, citing AI. Businesses justify their huge investments in AI by committing to spending less on labor, and AI firms sell their products promising to help them do it. Regardless of whether AI is yet good enough to replace workers, their plan is clear: lay off millions of workers, justified by AI. One entity seems totally unaware: the United States government. The only major AI proposal advanced this Congress was a failed effort to prevent states from regulating the industry.” [editor’s note: Create jobs? As in WPA dig ditches and fill them in? If they’re going that route, maybe should just fund UBI that way as a safety net – SAT] (05/28/26)
Source: Brennan Center for Justice
“The Intellectual Movement Behind MAGA (with Laura Field).” (05/27/26)