- US, UK regimes strike first major trade deal of Trump tariff era
Source: Axios
“The U.S. and Britain have apparently struck a major trade deal, set to be announced at the White House Thursday morning. It’s the first major trade pact since Trump began a campaign of global tariffs. It may serve as a model for the dozens of other countries negotiating with his administration. The full contours were not immediately clear, though Bloomberg said talks had focused on reducing tariffs for cars and steel.” (05/08/25)
https://www.axios.com/2025/05/08/trump-britain-trade-deal-tariffs-keir-starmer
- Trump’s acting FEMA chief fired a day after breaking from the regime
Source: CNN
“The acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been fired one day after he broke with fellow members of the administration when he told lawmakers he does not support dismantling the agency, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Cameron Hamilton, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, was escorted out of FEMA’s headquarters on Thursday, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. … CNN previously reported that Hamilton was given a lie detector test just days after taking part in a meeting with top DHS officials for a policy discussion on the future of FEMA and how to potentially dismantle the agency. That closed-door meeting was reported by CNN and other media outlets. At least a dozen other FEMA officials have also been polygraphed by DHS in recent weeks, primarily for alleged media leaks.” (05/08/25)
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/08/politics/fema-administrator-acting-fired-cameron-hamilton
- EU takes aim at US planes, autos in €100B counterstrike against Trump tariffs
Source: Politico
“The European Commission Thursday upped the pressure in talks with U.S. President Donald Trump by putting forward retaliation worth nearly €100 billion of imports — including big-ticket items like aircraft — that could get tariffed. The catalog includes passenger cars, medical devices, chemicals and plastics, and a slew of agricultural products. Also back on the list are bourbon and other spirits, after wine-producing nations France and Italy pressured the Commission to remove them fearing Trump’s wrath.” (05/08/25)
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-ready-fresh-100-billion-counterstrike-donald-trump-tariffs/
- CA: LDS church agrees to “settlement in principle” of more than 100 sex abuse lawsuits
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has agreed in principle to settle more than 100 childhood sexual abuse lawsuits filed against it last year in San Diego and across California, according to recent court filings in the cases. Attorneys for the plaintiffs and the Utah-based LDS church, often referred to as the Mormon church, have filed joint motions in dozens of cases in recent weeks informing judges that they ‘reached a settlement in principle’ during a private mediation session on April 10. Each of the filings assert that the ‘proposed settlement includes global resolution of over one hundred other claims.’ The terms of the proposed settlement were not disclosed and may never be released publicly. Unlike settlements involving government agencies, which are a matter of public record, private organizations such as the LDS church can keep settlement agreements confidential.” (05/08/25)
- FBI Probes New York AG James Over Mortgage Fraud Allegations, Media Reports
Source: US News & World Report
“The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who President Donald Trump has publicly targeted because she pursued legal action against him. James has joined attorneys general from other states in challenging Trump’s second-term agenda. After Trump’s first term in office, she brought a civil fraud lawsuit against him that resulted in millions of dollars of penalties. Trump has called for the prosecution of James and New York State Justice Arthur Engoron, the judge who oversaw that case. Last month, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte, a Trump appointee, sent a letter to the U.S. Justice Department alleging James ‘falsified records’ to obtain favorable loans on a home she purchased in 2023 in Virginia and Brooklyn, the New York Post reported.” (05/08/25)
- Palestine: Dozens of Gaza Communal Kitchens Shut as Supply Runs Out, Worsening Hunger
Source: US News & World Report
“Dozens of community kitchens in Gaza shut their doors on Thursday due to a lack of supplies, closing off a lifeline used by hundreds of thousands of people in a further blow to efforts to combat growing hunger in the enclave. The move followed hours after the U.S.-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) charity announced that it had run out of the ingredients necessary to provide much-needed free meals and had been prevented by Israel from bringing in aid. Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) in Gaza, told Reuters that most of the enclave’s 170 community kitchens had shut down after running out of stock due to Israel’s continued blockade on Gaza. Shawa said the decision by the WCK, announced late on Wednesday, and the closure of community kitchens on Thursday would cause a drop of between 400,000 to 500,000 free meals per day for the 2.3 million population.” (05/08/25)
- Bill Gates pledges his remaining fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will close in 20 years
Source: Associated Press
“Bill Gates says he will donate 99% of his remaining tech fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will now close in 2045, earlier than previously planned. Today, that would be worth an estimated $107 billion. The pledge is among the largest philanthropic gifts ever – outpacing the historic contributions of industrialists like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie when adjusted for inflation. Only Berkshire Hathaway investor Warren Buffett’s pledge to donate his fortune — currently estimated by Forbes at $160 billion — may be larger depending on stock market fluctuations. Gates’[s] donation will be delivered over time and allow the foundation to spend an additional $200 billion over the next 20 years.” (05/08/25)
https://apnews.com/article/bill-gates-foundation-996819a2c13c58f0c7c658a58374f236
- Palestine: Israeli occupation forces close UN-run schools in East Jerusalem
Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“Armed Israeli security forces have forced the closure of three schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem. Hundreds of Palestinian students were sent home from the schools in Shuafat refugee camp just after classes began on Thursday morning. Unrwa’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, said Israeli authorities were denying children their basic right to learn and accused them of ‘a blatant disregard of international law.’ An Israeli ban on Unrwa took effect earlier this year and Israel accuses the agency of being infiltrated by Hamas. Unrwa denies this claim and insists on its impartiality. Videos showed girls in uniform hugging each other outside one school in Shuafat following the arrival of Israeli forces outside.” (05/08/25)
- US weekly jobless claims fall more than expected
Source: Reuters
“The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, suggesting the labor market continued to chug along, though risks are mounting from tariffs.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 228,000 for the week ended May 3, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 230,000 claims for the latest week.” (05/08/25) - North Korea: Regime launches flurry of short-range ballistic missiles
Source: United Press International
“North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea between Korea and Japan on Thursday morning, Seoul’s military said, in what officials characterized as a potential weapons test ahead of export to Russia. In a text message to reporters, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of multiple short-range ballistic missiles of various types from the Wonsan area, on the peninsula’s east coast, between 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. KST. The missiles flew roughly 500 miles before landing in the East Sea.” (05/08/25)
- NY: Times Square touts new statue of 12-foot-tall hefty black woman
Source: Fox News
“New York City’s Times Square installed a statue of a 12-foot-tall [b]lack woman in casual clothing that its creator hopes will encourage people to reflect on ‘greater cultural diversity.’ New York-based Times Square Arts recently put up the new statue display, titled ‘Grounded in the Stars,’ by artist Thomas J Price, along with his ‘Man Series’ animated billboards, both of which are temporary, but causing a stir online. The Times Square website states, ‘Price’s multi-channel presentation on the screens and sculptural installation on the plaza below forms a two-part takeover in Times Square that foregrounds the intrinsic value of the individual and amplifies traditionally marginalized bodies on a monumental scale.'” (05/08/25)
- Report: Trump’s policies under fire as more businesses blame US than China for trade war
Source: South China Morning Post [Hong Kong]
“The United States is facing greater reputational damage than China in the ongoing trade war, as many global business leaders point to the current US administration’s policies as a principal cause driving the conflict, according to a recent survey. A poll conducted by the Sandpiper Group in April, covering 3,050 business leaders across 27 markets, found that nearly three-quarters of respondents blame the White House’s approach to trade for the escalating dispute. … The US has imposed 145 per cent tariffs on [American buyers of] most Chinese imports, pushing the effective rate to roughly 156 per cent. In response, Beijing has raised its own levies on [Chinese buyers of] US goods to as high as 125 per cent.” (05/08/25)
- Turkey: X blocks access to Erdogan opponent’s account at regime’s request
Source: Seattle Times
“Access to jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu ’s social media account on X has been blocked in Turkey, officials and reports said Thursday, the latest move against a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Engelli Web, a website that that tracks and reports internet censorship in Turkey, X restricted Imamoglu’s account in Turkey complying with a legal request by Turkish authorities who cited national security and public order concerns. There was no immediate comment from X but a notice on it says Imamoglu’s account — which has 9.7 million followers — has been ‘withheld in TR in response to a legal demand.’ The account remains accessible outside of Turkey.” (05/08/25)
- Denmark summons US ambassador over Greenland spying report
Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“Denmark’s foreign minister says he will summon the US ambassador to address a report that Washington’s spy agencies have been told to focus on Greenland amid Donald Trump’s threats to take over the island. ‘It worries me greatly because we do not spy on friends,’ Lars Løkke Rasmussen said, responding to the report in The Wall Street Journal. According to the newspaper, US spy agencies were told to focus efforts on the semi-autonomous country’s independence movement, and American goals to extract mineral resources there. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused the Journal of attempts to ‘undermine President Trump by politicizing and leaking classified information’. While not denying the report, she accused the newspaper of ‘breaking the law and undermining our nation’s security and democracy’. Rasmussen, who was attending an EU ministers meeting in Warsaw, said the report was ‘somewhat disturbing’.” (05/08/25)
- Nintendo forecasts sales of 15 million Switch 2 consoles as it gears up for launch
Source: CNBC
“Nintendo said Thursday that it expects to sell 15 million units of its new Switch 2 console in the fiscal year ending March 2026. It is the first forecast for sales from the Japanese gaming giant since it announced the successor to its successful Switch device, which is due to go on sale in June. … Market research firm Omdia expects Nintendo to sell 14.7 million Switch 2 units in 2025 alone, which would be about 10% ahead of the original Switch’s debut year.” (05/08/25)
- EU scientists: This April was world’s second-hottest on record
Source: Politico
“Last month was the world’s second-warmest April on record, European scientists found. This past April was 1.51 degrees Celsius hotter than the pre-industrial average, continuing the now nearly two-year-old trend of months breaching the symbolic barrier, the European Union’s Copernicus climate monitoring agency said in its latest monthly bulletin published Thursday.” (05/08/25)
https://www.politico.eu/article/this-april-was-worlds-second-hottest-on-record-eu-scientists-say
- 23andMe, on brink of shutdown, gives workers layoff notice
Source: SFGate
“23andMe, the Bay Area company whose recent bankruptcy filing prompted concerns about its vast store of customers’ genetic data, has officially placed the specter of layoffs over its staff. The genetic testing company is in the throes of bankruptcy litigation and, per Bloomberg, is expecting multiple bids for the company’s DNA data bank and other assets. In a WARN document filed with California officials on May 1, as generally required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act in the event of mass layoffs, 23andMe wrote that it is remaining active through its sale process and that it ‘hopes’ someone will buy up the entire business, in which case it could keep everyone employed. But the company gave a few reasons why workers might fear layoffs instead.” (05/07/25)
https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/23andme-threatens-layoffs-bankruptcy-deadline-20315252.php
- Waltons launching STEM university in former Walmart headquarters
Source: Axios
“Heirs of Walmart founder Sam Walton plan to launch a private university focused on science and tech — located on the company’s old HQ campus near downtown Bentonville. The future university would provide students pathways to jobs in automation, logistics, biotech and computing — fields crucial to Northwest Arkansas’ future. Building talent in those areas is a priority for the U.S., China and other countries racing to compete in the global economy. Of 15,400 active area job listings in February, roughly 10% were STEM-related (science, technology, engineering and math), according to data from the Northwest Arkansas Council.” (05/08/25)
https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2025/05/08/waltons-stem-university-bentonville-walmart
- Lithuania: Parliament Approves Exit From Landmines Treaty Amid Russia Threat
Source: US News & World Report
“The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday voted in favour of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines amid concerns over the military threat posed by neighbouring Russia. All five European Union and NATO countries which border Russia – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Finland – have said they plan to exit the international treaty due to the military threat from their much larger neighbour. The Lithuanian vote follows the one in Latvia, where the parliament in April approved the withdrawal.” (05/08/25)
- Trump Admin “Reviewing” Visas After Arrest of Dozens of Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Columbia
Source: Common Dreams
“The New York Police Department arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian protestors on Columbia University’s campus on Wednesday evening—prompting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to announce on X that the federal government is reviewing the visa status of those involved in the action. On Wednesday afternoon, masked protestors, many wearing keffiyehs, gathered in Columbia’s Butler Library. Video of the protest posted to social media shows demonstrators inside the library chanting ‘free Palestine!’ Columbia has been under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration in recent months over the school’s alleged failure to protect Jewish students. Critics say the administration is weaponizing antisemitism to attack Palestinian rights advocates. In March, the school faced backlash for making policy changes in line with demands from the Trump administration following the administration’s decision to freeze $400 million in federal grants for the school.” (05/08/25)
https://www.commondreams.org/news/columbia-protestors-arrested-marco-rubio
- Documentary uncovers identity of Israeli soldier who murdered American journalist
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“Filmmakers behind a new documentary on the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces say they have uncovered the identity of the soldier who pulled the trigger. Who Killed Shireen?, a 40-minute investigative documentary released on Thursday by Washington, DC-based media company Zeteo, identifies the killer as a 20-year-old Israeli soldier who was on his first combat tour in the occupied West Bank and lifts the lid on attempts by the United States to avoid holding ally Israel accountable for the murder. Dion Nissenbaum, the executive producer of the documentary, told Al Jazeera that its makers had set out to uncover exactly who was behind the killing – a secret closely guarded by Israel up to now, according to Zeteo – and that they hoped the findings would lead to further investigations by the US.” (05/08/25)
- US judge says deporting migrants to Libya would “violate” court order
Source: France 24 [French state media]
“A US judge said on Wednesday that any effort by the Trump administration to deport migrants to Libya would ‘clearly’ violate a prior court order barring officials from swiftly deporting migrants to countries other than their own without first weighing whether they might face persecution if sent there. The order from US District Judge Brian Murphy came after Reuters was first to report on Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s administration may deport migrants to Libya for the first time this week, according to three US officials, despite Washington’s previous condemnation of Libya’s harsh treatment of detainees.” (05/08/25)
- CA: Newsom says his controversial hemp THC ban is “99.7% effective”
Source: SFGate
“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office says the state has essentially eradicated hemp-derived THC products from alcohol sellers after it instituted an emergency ban in September. In a Thursday news release, Newsom announced that state officers have found almost 100% of businesses visited by inspectors were in compliance. Newsom issued the immediate ban on hemp-derived THC last year, saying the widespread sales pose a public health risk. Hemp-derived THC is an intoxicating compound found in cannabis plants but sold outside of the state’s regulated dispensaries, often in drinks or vape cartridges. Many stores were still selling hemp THC products after the surprising ban went into effect, according to an SFGATE investigation at the time. Store owners said they were unaware that it had become illegal to sell intoxicating hemp vape pens and drinks. That now appears to have changed, according to the release.” (05/08/25)
https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/california-hemp-thc-ban-20316164.php
- Venezuela: Regime denies that opposition members left country under international rescue operation
Source: ABC News
“Venezuela’s government on Wednesday acknowledged for the first time that members of the country’s opposition left the Argentine diplomatic compound where they had sheltered for over a year, but it denied that their arrival to the United States occurred under an international rescue operation as characterized by the political faction and the U.S. State Department. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said the group’s movements were negotiated with the government and further alleged that one of the six people who entered the Argentine ambassador’s residence in March left the compound in August, contradicting earlier statements from the opposition. Cabello’s statements came roughly 24 hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on social media that the opposition members were on U.S. soil after a ‘successful rescue.'” (05/07/25)
- Trump Announces New Surgeon General Choice
Source: New York Times
“President Trump announced Wednesday he planned to nominate Dr. Casey Means to serve as his surgeon general after he withdrew the nomination of his previous choice, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat. … Mr. Trump said Dr. Nesheiwat, a former Fox News contributor, would work with Mr. Kennedy ‘in another capacity’ at the health and human services department. Dr. Nesheiwat was scheduled to appear before the Senate health committee on Thursday, but her nomination ran into trouble on two fronts. Laura Loomer, a conservative activist whom Mr. Trump has listened to on other personnel matters, called for a new surgeon general nominee, arguing Dr. Nesheiwat ‘is not ideologically aligned’ with the president. Reports have also raised questions about the veracity of Dr. Nesheiwat’s résumé.” (05/07/25)
- Trump electoral “kiss of death” is just more Democrat wishful thinking
Source: New York Post
by Miranda Devine“It didn’t take long for a gleeful new anti-Trump narrative to grip the global media after elections in Canada and Australia delivered upset defeats to conservative parties. ‘Trump Effect’ headlines blared all over the world, blaming the American president for failures far from home. Donald Trump as the kiss of death for conservative parties was the claim in most election post-mortem analyses. It is a convenient excuse for the lackluster right-of-center Liberal-National Coalition in Australia rather than facing the reason for its historic wipeout at the hands of voters last week. And it’s a comforting theory that gives Democrats hope that Trumpism will collapse in on itself at home, relieving them of any need to reform their policies or find electable leaders who aren’t weird or senile or corrupt.” (05/07/25)
- Too Much Bombing, Not Enough Brains: The Real Evil Empire May Surprise You
Source: TomDispatch
by William J Astore“Forty years ago this month, I was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. I would be part of America’s all-volunteer force (AVF) for 20 years, hitting my marks and retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2005. In my two decades of service, I met a lot of fine and dedicated officers, enlisted members, and civilians. I worked with the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps as well, and met officers and cadets from countries like Great Britain, Germany, Pakistan, Poland, and Saudi Arabia. I managed not to get shot at or kill anyone. Strangely enough, in other words, my military service was peaceful. Don’t get me wrong: I was a card-carrying member of America’s military-industrial complex. I’m under no illusions about what a military exists for, nor should you be.” (05/08/25)
https://tomdispatch.com/the-real-evil-empire-may-surprise-you/
- The Heroic ACLU
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger“Every American who cares about liberty should be grateful to the American Civil Liberties Union for the fantastic job they have been doing to protect civil liberties, especially during the past few months. In case after case all across the country, ACLU lawyers have been filing suits and securing favorable judicial rulings in the defense of civil liberties, especially the vital concept of due process of law, a principle of liberty that stretches all the way back to the Magna Carta in 1215. Their efforts have been truly heroic and have also entailed some absolutely excellent lawyering.” (05/08/25)
- DOD clinging to empty properties for money is “out of hand”
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Nick Cleveland-Stout & Gabe Murphy“What’s worse than the Pentagon spending taxpayer dollars on golf courses? Spending taxpayer dollars on golf courses that nobody uses. Even as the Department of Defense renovates some of its 145 golf courses, the Army acknowledged in a new Pentagon study on excess capacity that it owns at least six facilities labeled ‘Golf Club House and Sales’ that almost no one uses. … the problem goes far beyond golf courses. The Pentagon oversees some $4.1 trillion in assets and 26.7 million acres of land — a sprawling network of military installations across the United States and the globe. Wasted space and resources in that network could be squeezing taxpayers out of billions of dollars. … the Pentagon has a phantom infrastructure problem made up of empty storage warehouses and training facilities that collect dust. The only thing real about them is the cost, brought to you by the U.S. taxpayer.” (05/08/25)
- What Trump Misunderstands About William McKinley
Source: Libertarian Institute
by Patrick Carroll“It’s no secret that one of Donald Trump’s favorite U.S. presidents is William McKinley, who led the country from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. Indeed, Trump recently changed the official name of Denali back to Mount McKinley in honor of the late president. In recent months, Trump has particularly emphasized McKinley’s protectionist policies, which Trump believes were a key part of America’s economic progress in the McKinley era. … The idea that tariffs historically helped spur American prosperity has become a common refrain for many in the Republican Party. And at first blush, it certainly seems plausible — the McKinley era witnessed a fair amount of protectionism alongside considerable economic growth. But there is a fatal flaw with this view, which has been pointed out most explicitly by Ludwig von Mises and his fellow Austrian economists.” (05/08/25)
https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/what-trump-misunderstands-about-william-mckinley
- Trump vs. Big Bird
Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob“For decades, taxpayers have been forced to fund PBS and NPR, and with them any political tilts that we disagree with. For decades, some lawmakers have nominally agreed that taxpayers should be liberated from this unchosen obligation. But nothing has changed. Now, however, President Trump has issued an executive order to simply end ‘Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media.’ … I say we have a right that our tax dollars not be used at all to fund public broadcasting. And that, also contrary to the text of the order, the government is not ‘entitled to determine which categories of activities to subsidize.’ It should have no authority to pay for any activities unrelated to the proper functions of government. I will, however, accept the result of the executive order, defunding of public broadcasting. If we do get this result.” (05/08/25)
- The Libertarian Tech Bros’ Weird, Dystopian Plan for Guantánamo Bay
Source: The New Republic
by Laurie Clarke“The radical libertarian city builders of the tech-bro set have an audacious new proposal: They want to convert Guantánamo Bay, host to the infamous prison, into the high-tech charter city of their wildest imaginations, which will double as a ‘proving ground’ for migrants seeking to enter the United States. The Charter Cities Institute, or CCI, which has lobbied the Trump administration on setting up so-called freedom cities in the U.S, suggests the president take advantage of Guantánamo’s special legal status to convert the controversial detention camp into ‘a beacon of 21st-century prosperity.’ … Charter cities have long been a fascination of Silicon Valley’s libertarian right. Tech billionaire Peter Thiel was an early investor in ‘seasteading,’ the dream of seaborne libertarian enclaves floating beyond sovereign jurisdiction.” [editor’s note: As soon as she invokes Thiel, it becomes obvious that Clarke doesn’t know what the word “libertarian” means – TLK] (05/08/25)
https://newrepublic.com/article/194515/freedom-city-guantanamo-bay-prison
- By Dropping Enforcement Actions, Trump Is Putting Corporations First
Source: OtherWords
by Rick Claypool“‘Corporations First’. That, and not ‘America First’, is the slogan that would truthfully describe the Trump administration’s approach to law enforcement. A new investigation by my organization shows that the Trump administration is dropping investigations and enforcement actions against corporations that showered money on Trump’s inauguration earlier this year. Seventy-one big businesses, which were facing at least 102 ongoing federal enforcement actions at the time of Trump’s inauguration, collectively gave a whopping $57 million to the Trump-Vance inaugural fund, we found. And many may now be collecting special favors. Trump’s inaugural haul from corporations facing investigations and lawsuits alone is comparable to the total amount raised for the inaugurations of former Presidents Barack Obama in 2009 ($53 million) and Joe Biden in 2021 ($62 million). And it’s just a third of the record-breaking $239 million Trump collected overall, $153 million of which came from corporate donors.” (05/08/25)
- 500,000 Robotaxis To Hit China’s Streets By 2030
Source: Cobden Centre
by Tyler Durden“China’s robotaxi revolution is moving along at an accelerated rate when compared to any other country. By the decade’s end, Goldman analysts forecast that half a million autonomous robotaxis will be operating across ten major cities. … This is wild. So what about a humanoid robot to load luggage? … Meanwhile, in the U.S., robotaxi operations have been lagging behind China, primarily due to regulatory fragmentation, a slower pace of infrastructure adaptation, and cautious public sentiment. … What’s becoming very clear is that automation is set to displace hundreds—if not millions— of transport jobs globally by 2035, as robotaxis, autonomous trucks, and drones become cheap enough to be deployable for the mass market.” (05/08/25)
https://www.cobdencentre.org/2025/05/500000-robotaxis-to-hit-chinas-streets-by-2030/
- Let’s Not Kill All the Lawyers
Source: Washington Monthly
by Linda Charnes“Using and misusing quotations from Shakespeare’s characters is a perennial problem. (The Bard didn’t hate attorneys.) Kudos to Judge Beryl Howell, in the Perkins Coie case, for getting it right.” (05/08/25)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/05/08/lets-not-kill-all-the-lawyers/
- Medieval Relics in a Democratic Age
Source; Law & Liberty
by Michael Burger“There is a battle over the university. Consider ‘DEI’ programs, long embedded in university life, or the fight over whether faculty should be permitted to ‘teach divisive concepts,’ or universities’ responses to the war in Gaza. But these are skirmishes. The real battle is over who runs the university anyway. One side claims that universities are independent, and so are free to determine for themselves whether to stay on the DEI trail, and so on. The other claims that universities are responsible to the societies that support them, especially financially. Accordingly, society’s elected representatives can and should actively determine what universities do or teach (e.g., by prohibiting campus DEI programs or mandating certain curriculum). To understand these arguments better, it’s best to step back, far back, to the Middle Ages.” (05/08/25)
- Popular Resistance to Trump Is Working
Source: The Bulwark
by Jonathan Blanks“When the administration claims a power without the force of law, the law remains available to those who would resist. Case in point: Trump issued an executive order to force states to take specific steps to prove citizenship to vote in federal elections even though the Constitution gives the power of setting terms for federal elections to Congress and leaves the regulation of those elections to states. The order has already been partially blocked in court for exceeding executive authority. To take another example, Judge Beryl Howell struck down Trump’s executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie, which, unlike so many of their competitors, chose to fight the administration in court. What’s more, because these fights are maximally public, significant downstream effects will result from today’s acts of resistance or capitulation.” (05/08/25)
https://www.thebulwark.com/p/popular-resistance-to-trump-is-working
- End It, Don’t Mend It
Source: The Dispatch
by Ilya Shapiro“There’s no ‘right’ way to do DEI.” (05/08/25)
- Canada Our 51st State? Say Hello to House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries
Source: Town Hall
by Larry Elder“Mark Carney, the new prime minister of Canada, called the idea of Canada becoming America’s 51st state ‘crazy’. This assumes President Donald Trump was serious, as opposed to Trump taking a whack at former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In his acceptance speech, Carney said, ‘The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country … if they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.’ As to the Canadian way of life, a 2023 poll by the Canadian Angus Reid Institute found Canadians for the most part embrace it: ‘Overall, four-in-five Canadians (78%) say their country is a caring society, just one-in-three Americans say the same (36%). Nine-in-ten north of the 49th parallel say they live in a safe country (89%), while half as many — two-in-five (43%) — say this to the south. Further, 62% in Canada say their country contributes positively in world affairs, while 39% of Americans say this.'” (05/08/25)
- Trump’s Inevitable Betrayal of His Supporters
Source: The Atlantic
by Yair Rosenberg“Throughout his 2024 run, the president promised Americans a return to the prosperity of his pre-COVID first term. ‘Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again, to bring down the prices of all goods,’ he told a Montana rally in August. ‘They’ll come down, and they’ll come down fast,’ he declared days later in North Carolina. But at the same time, Trump also promised to impose steep tariffs on consumer goods …. These two pledges could not be reconciled, and once elected, Trump was forced to choose between them. … On issue after issue, whether domestic policy or foreign affairs, the president made incompatible assurances to rival camps on the campaign trail …. Now that Trump is in office, the bill for these guarantees is coming due, and he is making decisions that will inevitably alienate one of his constituencies.” (05/08/25)
- How America built a House that won’t hold the president in check
Source: Washington Post
by Philip Bump“When President Donald Trump opened his second term in office with a barrage of attacks on his opponents and the structure of the federal government, it became immediately obvious that a clash with the judiciary loomed. How, for example, would the president respond when his efforts to block congressionally mandated funding were inevitably rejected by the courts? Would he listen and pare back his efforts? Or would he simply press the issue, forcing the country to ponder the uncomfortable question of how the nation’s most powerful politician could be held to account? Because one thing was very obvious: The Republican-controlled Congress wasn’t going to do a single godforsaken thing.” (05/08/25)
- The Dark Side of Denmark’s Welfare State
Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Alyssa Serebrenik“For the past three months, I’ve been living in Denmark, and I genuinely loved it. The streets are clean, the bike lanes immaculate, and the sense of public trust is unlike anything I’ve experienced in the US. It’s no wonder people romanticize this place — ‘free’ healthcare, university stipends, and a government that many believe works well. But the longer I stayed, the more I started noticing cracks. They weren’t always visible at first—more like patterns in conversation, stories from international friends, or the quiet discomfort that settled in certain moments. Coming from the United States, where diversity and individualism are more overtly woven into everyday life, I couldn’t help but notice how the very system that offers so much comfort in Denmark comes with a cost.” (05/08/25)
https://fee.org/articles/the-dark-side-of-denmarks-welfare-state/
- Trump’s WWI Victory Day Is a Bad Idea
Source: The American Conservative
by Doug Bandow“The president should instead reiterate his message against endless U.S. wars.” (05/08/25)
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/trumps-wwi-victory-day-is-a-bad-idea/
- Phones Down: The Negative Effects of the Internet on Student Learning
Source: Show-Me Institute
by Cory Koedel“In the early days of the internet, it was widely seen as a gateway to opportunity. Many believed that the wealth of information available at the click of a button would enhance student learning. However, reality has not lived up to those expectations. A growing body of evidence shows that as students become more connected to the internet, they learn less, especially when their connectivity is facilitated through smartphones. … The research shows exposure to 3G networks caused significantly lower test scores in math, reading, and science. Students also reported greater difficulty making friends and a weaker sense of belonging. For many parents and educators, these results likely confirm what they already know, or at least strongly suspect: smartphones and the constant connectivity they allow are taking a toll on both the academic performance and well-being of our children.” (05/07/25)
- Can We Build a World of Sanctuary Cities?
Source: Common Dreams
by Robert C Koehler“As U.S. President Donald Trump and friends claim control over the country, celebrating their war on migrants (‘the enemy’ of the moment, whom they’ve created and dehumanized) much of America writhes in shock and irony as it looks on. The president who hates criminals is also our criminal-in-chief. But fortunately (for him), he’s above the law! Court rulings don’t apply to him, not when he’s busy keeping America safe from the boogeymen. To be an exalted leader, you need to keep a serious percentage of the populace in a state of simple-minded fear: The enemy are very, very bad people. They belong to gangs. They eat our pets. But I will protect you. I’ll reopen Guantánamo. I’ll reopen Alcatraz. And the electorate can sigh with a sense of relief and safety. He’s bringing back our greatness, that is to say, our racist certainty.” (05/08/25)
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/world-of-sanctuary-cities
- Trump’s Hollywood tariff proposal would crush streaming
Source: Orange County Register
by Zoltan Kesz“Donald Trump’s latest policy stunt, a proposed 100% tariff on all foreign-made films, is designed to appear as a patriotic gesture at first glance. Trump frames the issue as a “national security” concern, claiming that Hollywood productions are ‘betraying’ their home countries when they organize filming in Canada, the UK, or even my native country, Hungary. He is wrong. The MAGA spirit is all about America being more self-sufficient, a political message that has swept Europe and the US, only this time it’s not about the usual industries of steel, oil, and cars. It’s about entertainment, culture, and creativity. Oddly, it’s a protectionist play for an industry and zip code most hostile to President Trump’s agenda. … In the era of streaming, smaller productions churned out at an exceptionally high rate are the lifeblood of platforms like Netflix, Paramount, HBO, and Hulu.” (05/07/25)
- Toys, Pencils, and Poverty at the Margins
Source: Cato Institute
by Scott Lincicome“Tariffs’ biggest cost comes not from buying pricier stuff but buying nothing at all.” (05/07/25)
https://www.cato.org/commentary/toys-pencils-poverty-margins
- Politics and the Age of Politicians
Source: RealClearPolitics
by Froma Harrop“Democrats are deep in debate over the age of their older leaders. Some need replacement, according to younger Democrats who want to replace them. And in some cases, they are right. But these arguments turn toxic when they equate age with capability. Ageism is bad politics, especially when you look at the age of the electorate. … About 52% of registered Democrats are 50 and older. In the overall electorate, about 60% of voters are at least 50. They are not necessarily oblivious to the physical and mental toll time can take, but many, if not most, have felt the sting of age discrimination in employment and other arenas. Throwing age at a candidate for reasons of one’s career advancement will not play well.” (05/08/25)
- US Officials Are Responsible for More Immigrant Deaths
Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Jacob G Hornberger“It is the federal government’s immigration-control system that gives rise to a black market in illegal smuggling and transportation of immigrants. If their federal immigration-control system didn’t exist, immigrants would be free to enter the United States like human beings by walking or driving across an international bridge or other official crossing point. By making it illegal for immigrants to freely do that, immigrants seek other ways to enter the United States to work, with the aim of saving or improving their lives and the lives of their families, including their children. That’s how black markets operate. Make a peaceful activity illegal and immediately unsavory people who don’t give a hoot for the welfare of their customers come into existence to offer their services.” (05/07/25)
https://www.fff.org/2025/05/07/u-s-officials-are-responsible-for-more-immigrant-deaths/
- Trump Wants to Make Alcatraz Great Again. That’s a Big Red Flag For America
Source: The Daily Beast
by John Mac Ghlionn“Alcatraz isn’t being revived because it works, but because it intimidates. It has nothing to do with criminal justice, and everything to do with narrative control.” (05/07/25)
- We, Robots
Source: Persuasion
by Kate Epstein“AI is remaking us in its own image. Students are on the front lines.” (05/07/25)
- You might not like the solution to the debt crisis, but here’s how to fix America’s spending problem
Source: Fox News
by Ted Jenkin“Let’s not sugarcoat this: the national debt is out of control. We all know it, but nobody wants to budget on how to really fix it. We’re staring down the barrel of almost $37 trillion dollars in debt and an annual deficit projected to be north of $2 trillion dollars a year. Interest payments alone are projected to exceed $1 trillion a year, more than we spend on the defense budget right now. And that means one thing: the American house is on fire, and we can’t keep pretending it’s just a warm fireplace. As a proud fiscally responsible money guy for the past thirty years, I believe in free markets, personal responsibility, and limited government. But I also believe in arithmetic, and the math is telling us something must give.” (05/08/25)
- Ayn Rand Was Right. Sort Of.
Source: The Bulwark
by Jonathan V Last“There is a class of looters who contribute little to society. And a class of heroic people who keep everything functioning.” (05/08/25)
- The Enemy of My Enemy
Source: Consent Factory, Inc.
by CJ Hopkins“One of the most effective thought-terminating clichés is ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ It is particularly effective because it works on both people who are, let’s say, not extraordinarily intelligent, and on more intelligent people, people who you wouldn’t expect to fall for such simplistic tricks. It is especially effective in hyper-polarized sociocultural environments, like the one we’re in currently, where people feel like they need to be on one or the other side of whatever.” (05/07/25)
https://consentfactory.org/2025/05/07/the-enemy-of-my-enemy/
- Why We Need a Reconstruction of the Liberal Public Sphere
Source: Liberal Currents
by Adam Gurri“How media systems work, how ours came to be, and where we go from here.” (05/07/25)
https://www.liberalcurrents.com/why-we-need-a-reconstruction-of-the-liberal-public-sphere/
- The “Darth Vader” tribunal speaks to our hyper-fragile times
Source: spiked
“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far less sensitive, it was possible to have some banter with a colleague without it being deemed an act of workplace discrimination. Yet today, in 21st-century Britain, merely being likened to Darth Vader has been deemed hurtful enough to warrant a £30,000 payout from an employment tribunal.” (05/08/25)
- Influencer Press Briefing Turns Into Trump Lovefest — But Maybe That’s a Good Thing
Source: Chasing Liberty
by Jeff Charles“Perhaps when the media is more honest about its bias, the American public will benefit.” (05/07/25)
https://www.libertychasers.com/p/influencer-press-briefing-turns-into
- Stop sending boys to college
Source: Sex and the State
by Cathy Reisenwitz“The Trump admin is about to restart garnishing wages for some of the five million Americans currently defaulting on their student loans. This is happening at the same time that the value of going to college is going down. Now I’m going to do that thing that everybody loves and say ‘I told you so.’ Well, what I actually said was that not everyone should go to college. That, and student loans should be dischargeable in bankruptcy. And that the federal government should get out of the student lending business. What I’ve learned in the meantime is that boys, especially, may want to reconsider borrowing money (and devoting time) to get a four-year degree.” (05/07/25)
https://cathyreisenwitz.substack.com/p/stop-sending-boys-to-college
- Private Equity and Hospitals: Have They Finally Gone Too Far?
Source: Racket News
“Private equity has made significant investments in for-profit hospitals over the last 15 years. Perhaps it’s time to stop them.” (05/08/25)
- Is A Negative Net International Investment Position Cause for Concern?
Source: EconLog
by Jon Murphy“No. The Net International Investment Position (NIIP) is a simple accounting concept. It is the total value of foreign assets owned by Americans in other countries minus the total US assets owned by foreigners. A positive number means that the value (but not the returns) of US-owned foreign assets is greater than the value (but not the returns) of foreign-owned US assets.” (05/07/25)
https://www.econlib.org/is-a-negative-net-international-investment-position-cause-for-concern/
- The Fifth Column, episode 504
Source: The Fifth Column
“N-Bombs and Real Bombs.” (05/08/25)
- The Charles C.W. Cooke Podcast, 05/08/25
Source: National Review
“Why Charles Should Be Religious.” (05/08/25)
- Political Theater, 05/08/25
Source: Roll Call
“Still vulnerable, even while batting .400.” (05/08/25)
https://chrt.fm/track/D3F8DG/traffic.megaphone.fm/FISCAL2435252905.mp3?updated=1746678296
- Ron Paul Liberty Report, 05/08/25
Source: Ron Paul Liberty Report
“Did Congress Kill DOGE?” (05/08/25)
- Advisory Opinions, 05/08/25
Source: The Dispatch
“Actual Animus.” (05/08/25)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/advisoryopinions/actual-animus/
- The Opinions, 05/08/25
Source: New York Times
“How Three Democrats Who Saved the Party Before Would Do It Again.” (05/08/25)
- Politico Playbook Audio Briefing, 05/08/25
Source: Politico
“Trump lands a trade deal.” (05/08/25)
https://traffic.megaphone.fm/POLL1755594065.mp3?updated=1746685018
- The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent, 05/08/25
Source: The New Republic
“Trump Erupts as GOPers Quietly Ice His US Attorney Pick, Enraging MAGA.” (05/08/25)
- Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp, 05/08/25
Source: Antiwar.com
“IDF Lists Hostages as Least Important Goal, Yemen’s Houthis Launch Drone Attack on Israel, and More.” (05/08/25)
- The Chris Hedges Report, 05/07/25
Source: The Chris Hedges Report
“The Dark Money Game (w/ Alex Gibney).” (05/07/25)
https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-dark-money-game-w-alex-gibney
- System Update, 05/07/25
Source: System Update
“Christopher Rufo: On Civil Liberties, the American Founding, Academic Freedom, and More.” (05/07/25)
- Zooming In, 05/07/25
Source: The UnPopulist
“Why DOGE Should Scare Even Advocates of Small Government: A Conversation with Julian Sanchez and Noah Kunin.” (05/07/25)
https://www.theunpopulist.net/p/why-doge-should-scare-even-advocates
- Show-Me Institute Podcast, 05/07/25
Source: Show-Me Institute
“The Final Weeks of the 2025 Session.” (05/07/25)
https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/state-and-local-government/the-final-weeks-of-the-2025-session/
- The David Frum Show, 05/07/25
Source: The Atlantic
“The Most Corrupt Presidency in American History.” (05/07/25)
- Serious Trouble, 05/07/25
- Capital Record, episode 234
Source: National Review
“Protectionism vs. Free Enterprise.” (05/08/25)
https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/capital-record/protectionism-vs-free-enterprise/
- NPR Politics Podcast, 05/07/25
Source: National Public Radio [US state media]
“How Trump is reshaping U.S.-Canada relations.” (05/07/25)
https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/1249592920/trump-carney-us-canada-politics-podcast
- The Learning Curve, 05/07/25
Source: Pioneer Institute
“Harvard Law’s Amb. Mary Ann Glendon on In the Courts of Three Popes.” (05/07/25)
- Reason Interview: Steven Pinker
Source: Reason
“The Harvard psychologist discusses recent gains for free speech at Harvard, growing political and ideological threats to academic freedom, and the importance of shared knowledge in sustaining truth and progress.” (05/07/25)
https://reason.com/podcast/2025/05/07/steven-pinker-can-harvard-be-saved/
- The Good Fight, 05/07/25
Source: Yascha Mounk
“Rutger Bregman on How to Live a Moral Life.” (05/07/25)
https://yaschamounk.substack.com/p/rutger-bregman-on-how-to-live-a-moral