Jon Rauch

Grand jury refuses to reindict Letitia James in mortgage fraud case Before a Virginia grand jury’s ruling Thursday, a judge had dismissed an earlier indictment after finding that the prosecutor had been unlawfully appointed.

This is a stunning indictment...not of Letitia James but of DOJ and the Trump administration. Serious prosecutors and lawyers would be hanging their heads in shame. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Rob Shapiro: Trump has made the affordability crisis worse, and opened the door wide for Democrats to mount a populist campaign from the left. washingtonmonthly.com/2025/12/02/a...

Pete Hegseth Needs to Go—Now A man with such contempt for the military should not run the Pentagon.

Tom Nichols states the obvious...but let's please not forget that the first boat strike, which targeted civilians posing no imminent threat or hostility to the US, was probably as illegal as the second. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...

YouTube video by The Bulwark Why Populism Is Winning (w/ Francis Fukuyama)

"Conspiracy theories define what it means to be a conservative in America today. It used to be the Reaganite agenda of low taxes, deregulation, individual freedom. But it really is whether you believe in these weird theories that partake of a different reality." www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GDA...

How many people can the federal government lose before it crashes? | Brookings An in-depth look at how sweeping federal workforce cuts under Trump are straining government services and risking operational failures.

DOGE unleashed chaos in federal agencies. Many are rehiring after firing; key talent is gone. www.brookings.edu/articles/how...

The weakest US president in the past 100 years English original of article published in Italian by La Stampa this morning, on Trump's capitulation to America's old enemy, Russia, and Europe's moment of destiny

"The serious way in which to understand this American “peace plan” is that it shows that Trump is the weakest president to occupy the White House for 100 years." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...

YouTube video by Josh Szeps How Tucker Carlson Manipulates An Argument

I warmly recommend Josh Szeps's detailed analysis of why Tucker Carlson is the most talented and dangerous rhetorician on the right. youtube.com/watch?v=CURq...

Federal judge blasts potential ‘government misconduct’ in Comey case A federal magistrate judge excoriated the government’s handling of the case against former FBI director James B. Comey.

This is what it looks like to be laughed out of court. Humiliating for DOJ lawyers--the creme de la creme--to be treated this way. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

What Are We Living Through? Three ways to understand the Trump administration

Worth your time. www.execfunctions.org/p/what-are-w...

Would someone like to tell me why the Algorithm God is showing me ads for butt-enhancing pants? Better yet...don't.

Who owns America? Plus, utopian ideas for a fairer future

A social issue I never thought about...but should have. Land hoarding! open.substack.com/pub/kenilgun...

YouTube video by The Reformation Project Matthew Vines: Why Monogamy Matters

It's ironic that gays are called upon to make the case against polygamy, a standard heterosexual concept. Matt Vines does it brilliantly. youtu.be/ZzDh4XfFVN4?...

New poll from Buckley Institute finds the plurality of students support Cuban and Russian style socialism.

Right-Wing Critics of Antisemitism Keep Weirdly Mum About Trump But this fish rots from the head.

Good question. "How about asking Trump to stop spreading antisemitism via his associations and appointments?" www.thebulwark.com/p/right-wing...

Russia’s disturbing human ‘safaris’ Violating the laws of war, Russians have created a sick game of hunting civilians with FPV drones near the frontline. We take you behind the scenes, to the people most affected.

This is sick, if accurate (The Counteroffensive is a reputable outlet). Russians are using drones to "safari hunt" civilians in Ukraine. www.counteroffensive.news/p/russias-di...

"The president and vice president should explain to backers and all citizens that the Republican Party has no place for bigots, purveyors of vile conspiracy theories, and sycophants of blood-stained anti-American dictators." Yes, they should. Any minute now. www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...

Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet.

Here are some of the people being summarily executed at sea by the Trump Admin. They're mostly ordinary folks running drugs (to Europe, not the US) as a side gig. Their deaths will have zero effect on drug availability. apnews.com/article/trum...

Politics Keeps Driving Out the People Who Want to Reform It Jared Golden is the latest problem-solving politician to decide Congress isn’t worth the cost. And so the doom loop takes another turn.

Congress loses another good member. It's disgraceful that the problem of threats to MCs and judges isn't taken more seriously. leedrutman.substack.com/p/politics-k...

JB Pritzker Might Become the Face of America’s Resistance by Taking on Trump’s Authoritarianism By targeting Illinois, the president might have created his nemesis even as the national Democratic Party flails around for an effective message

Gov. Pritzker to Trump and DOJ: "Come and get me." www.theunpopulist.net/p/jb-pritzke...

Is Trumpism what you think it is? President Trump's supporters say he’s a heaven-sent savior, cracking down on bloated government and unauthorized immigrants. Critics call him authoritarian – targeting political opponents and using th...

What are Trump and MAGA doing to our government? A rollicking discussion with two top political scientists. Short answer: it's patrimonialism, stupid. www.wbur.org/onpoint/2025...

Trump’s Plan Is Now Out in the Open It’s getting ever harder to avoid connecting the authoritarian dots.

An urgent plea. The hour is late. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Trump Administration Backs Plan for New Nuclear Plants

This is welcome news. Hopefully breaks US curse of one-off nuclear projects that fail to sustain expertise and supply chains. Cost comes down only thru repeatability, and S.K. and China are already building in bulk. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/b...

Let's not lose sight of how abnormal it is for a federal judge to feel that she has to behave this way with a US official. Just amazing. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...

You Can’t Pursue Truth Without Viewpoint Diversity (opinion) This is what we wish critics of the concept on both the left and right would understand.

The case for viewpoint diversity in academia is stronger than ever...despite claims that it's a "MAGA plot." www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

Europe and America have both just given Putin the gift of time English original of article published yesterday in Italian by La Stampa

"This week Trump announced new sanctions that were supposedly aimed at hurting the oil exports that are financing Russia’s war effort, yet they were actually much less potent than Trump claimed." open.substack.com/pub/billemmo...

"Abuses of science, enlightenment, and academic authority discredit the abuser, not the thing abused." www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/202...

What Comes After Gender Affirmation? A growing group of psychologists wants to restore the therapeutic relationship.

Here's a thoughtful and well reported article on what comes after radical gender ideology and medical interventions as first-line treatment for gender dysphoria. www.thenewatlantis.com/publications...

Opinion | Here’s What Trump Could Unleash by Invoking the Insurrection Act

It's not too late to fix this dangerous law...the closest thing in the US to martial law. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/o...

History will record this moment as a travesty of the law. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/tria...

Why I no longer engage with Nature publishing group My response to a recent invitation to review a manuscript for Nature Communications

A research scientist stands up for merit and integrity. May many others follow! hxstem.substack.com/p/why-i-no-l...