"The United States, once the leader of a global system of security and economic cooperation, is now acting like a rogue state on the high seas." That's how Tom Nichols describes the recent use of military force to destroy small boats off the Venezuelan coast. Since Nichols is a professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, we should probably listen. "I taught the rules and theories that govern the use of force to military officers at the Naval War College for many years, and every summer for two decades to civilians at Harvard; I always reminded students that international law and traditions require states to show that they are acting in some form of self-defense, either in response to an attack or to forestall more violence. Moreover, American law does not permit the president to designate people as terrorists and then declare open season on them in defiance of international agreements and without any involvement from Congress. Perhaps Trump’s people are watching too many Tom Clancy movies, but he cannot legally send the Navy out onto the world’s oceans as though they are seagoing sheriffs with satchels full of death warrants. No one in the White House seems to care very much about the rules that govern killing people, at home or abroad, but these rules actually exist." Trump and Vance have made jokes about not going fishing in the area. The impoverished fishing communities in the region aren't in the mood to laugh. But this story could expand far beyond Venezuelan waters. "A more worrisome problem here is that Trump’s illegal orders to kill drug smugglers could acclimate the American public to the sinister idea that the military is the president’s personal muscle and that it must do whatever he says. Earlier this week, he declared 'antifa'—a loose affiliation of people who identify themselves as 'anti-fascists'—to be a 'major terrorist organization.' But because 'antifa' isn’t a single group with a headquarters and identified leaders, Trump could apply the label to anyone he thinks opposes him. The president has now claimed he can kill terrorists at will, and he has designated many of his American opponents as terrorists." The Atlantic (Gift Article): A Rogue Nation on the High Seas. 2Being There"About half of the panel’s members were appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this week. In a sign of how hastily the committee was put together, many of the members needed explanations of the usual protocol for these meetings, the design of scientific studies, and critical flaws in the data they suggested including. Many of the panelists also seemed unsure about the purpose of the Vaccines for Children program, which provides free shots to roughly half of all American children. Approving which vaccines the program should cover is a key function of the committee." NYT (Gift Article): Kennedy’s Advisory Panel Votes to Limit M.M.R.V. Vaccine for Children Under 4. (So far, we don't have a vaccine for self-imposed chaos and confusion, but if we did, Kennedy would spread falsehoods about it.) 3Mickey Mouse Clubbing"The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation ... Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.'" Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner Rips Disney Brass For Jimmy Kimmel Suspension. 4Weekend WhatsWhat to Binge: Prime describes its new series Girlfriend as a "juicy psychological thriller, Laura (Robin Wright) has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her prized son, Daniel. But her perfect life unravels when Daniel brings home Cherry (Olivia Cooke), a girlfriend who changes everything. Laura’s convinced Cherry is hiding something. Is she a manipulative social climber, or is Laura just paranoid? The truth is a matter of perspective." It could also be described as a show about a mom who is really into her son. Like really into him. It's a fun binge watch. 5Extra, ExtraLaw Fighting: "The U.S. attorney whose office has been investigating mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James has been told to resign or be fired, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday, amid a push by Trump administration officials to bring criminal charges against the perceived adversary of the president." All the good people are being forced out to make way for the bad people who will do one man's bidding. And that trend is not limited to late night TV hosts. US attorney whose office is investigating Letitia James is told he’s being removed. 6Feel Good Friday"As Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, leaders of Harvard University’s study of human happiness, wrote in their 2023 book: “If we had to take all eighty-four years of the Harvard Study and boil it down to a single principle for living … it would be this: Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period." WaPo(Gift Article): A dying man said he found the key to happiness. Science backs him up.
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Friday, September 19, 2025
Fire in the Whole
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