Fearless commentary on finance, economics, politics and power

The MSM covered the name-calling at TPUSA, but ignored the MAGA vs MIGA subtext driving the conflict between Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson.

On the debate over the life of the historical Jesus.

NATO is trying to have it both ways: escalating against Russia via a naval/tanker campaign while pretending they are not directly at war.

More on a part of the MAHA con, that of regenerative farming, which is simply a rebrand of factory farming.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday, however you celebrate it!

For more than a century, the Philippines has been afflicted by recurring internal conflict—colonial rebellion, communist insurgency, separatist war, Islamist militancy. This article argues that these episodes are not discrete failures but manifestations of a persistent condition of managed instability, structurally conditioned by the country’s incorporation into U.S. grand strategy beginning in 1898. From counterinsurgency as governance to modern access agreements, the Philippines has been treated less as a sovereign project to be completed than as a strategic position to be held—an approach whose risks are now sharpening under renewed great-power competition.

Unpacking why the US military is so expensive and even if it were less pork-driven, would still be unduly costly for society at large.

“Politicians have now discovered that people are using VPNs to protect their privacy and bypass these invasive laws. Their solution? Entirely ban the use of VPNs.”

The US campaign against Venezuela takes a new turn as a Chinese tanker so far has successfully run away from the US Navy.

More on American resignation and hypocrisy about gun crimes.

Democratic Party leadership is sending signals that they intend to coast on anti-Trump sentiment rather than serious self-examination, open primaries, and vigorous policy debate. The ‘Blue MAGA’ cult behavior of Dem voters means they’re probably right.

A new climate sighting plus AI fakery.

Cost-effective ways exist to improve your indoor air quality that will reduce your COVID and flu risk, lower your cancer and lung disease risk, and eliminate headaches and sleepiness caused by poor ventilation.