Reading List

The most recent articles from a list of feeds I subscribe to.

Trump’s for-profit presidency

“Victory” cologne and perfume. “Crypto President” watches. Limited-edition “American Eagle” guitars. T-branded golf shoes and “Fight Fight Fight” high-top sneakers.  These are just a sample of the many products licensed to bear President-elect Donald Trump’s brand, including some that he has promoted on his social media site Truth Social just weeks before his inauguration. If […]

What’s up with all these drone sightings?

Multiple states on the East Coast and beyond have fielded reports of mysterious drone sightings in the last few weeks, spurring questions and conspiracy theories about what they are, their purpose, and who might be operating them.  Details, so far, suggest many cases of misidentification — and no signs of risk. In a statement Thursday […]

The danger of Trump’s promise to pardon J6 defendants

President-elect Donald Trump has been talking for years about pardoning the people who took part in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, and he could do so on day one of his second term. In a March post on his social media network Truth Social, he said he would “Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully […]

How Trump could gut the refugee program

President-elect Donald Trump has promised to halt refugees from coming to the US in his second term — a promise that will largely be within his power as president to keep. Trump has said he plans to “suspend refugee admission, stop the resettlement, and keep the terrorists the hell out of our country” on his […]

How China could try to strangle Taiwan without firing a shot

TAIPEI, Taiwan — When most people imagine what war in the Taiwan Strait might look like, scenes out of eastern Ukraine in 2022 or even Normandy in 1944 tend to come to mind.  Picture transport ships from China facing incoming anti-ship missiles; missile strikes blowing holes in airfields and key military installations; hilltop-to-hilltop fighting over rugged […]