Russia Says NATO Has Declared WarRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that NATO and the EU have declared war on Russia by using Ukraine as a proxy and directly participating in the conflict. The proclamation comes amid heightened tensions as Russia continues to accuse Western powers of having strategic interests in Ukrainian territories and planning military actions in the region. Again, we continue to stress that there does not appear to be an opportunity for de-escalation between Russia and the West, and if things continue this way, then we may need to move toward more aggressively labeling ongoing conflicts for what they are, which is the beginning of WWIII. Our concern is that the proxy conflict will facilitate the erosion of peaceful international relations and kick off the type of global conflict that threatens human coexistence.
Shooting at ICE Facility Leaves One Dead and Two Wounded additional sourceA sniper attacked a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, resulting in one detainee dead and two critically wounded, with the shooter dying from a self-inflicted wound. The ammunition left behind bore anti-ICE messages, indicating a targeted attack motivated by opposition to immigration enforcement. Terrorism is the type of political activity that undermines the potential for the rule of law to remain in place and therefore is deeply concerning, as extremism increasingly threatens stable governance and societal order in an already deeply fractured republic.
UK to Require All British Citizens to Have Digital IDBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced mandatory digital ID cards for citizens and permanent residents to control immigration and access public services like health care, set for implementation before the 2029 election and provided free of charge. This plan revives a contentious Blair-era proposal abandoned due to opposition over privacy and liberty concerns, with civil rights groups criticizing potential risks to personal information despite assurances that carrying or showing the ID won’t be routine. Mandatory digital IDs present a quagmire because, on the one hand, they are clearly a recipe for dystopian totalitarian governance as the government would have nearly unlimited surveillance power under such a mandate, while at the same time, the digital revolution is clearly unstoppable so we have to become comfortable with the increasing need for cohesion through digitization. Our time is in part defined by the tension between technological progress and societal cohesion versus privacy and totalitarian risks.
U.S. Rejects Israeli Plans to Annex West BankPresident Trump declared he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, conveying this stance to leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations during a United Nations General Assembly meeting. Trump’s position should be understood in the context of increasing recognitions of Palestinian statehood, with now 157 of 193 countries in the United Nations recognizing the state of Palestine and increasing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Israeli officials to expand Israeli borders in a way that would diminish prospects for a Palestinian state. While Trump’s push against Israeli plans here is laudable, it remains unclear that the United States has any meaningful influence on the decision-making of Israeli officials.
Supreme Court Rules That Presidents Have Significant Control Over Independent AgenciesThe Supreme Court permitted President Trump to fire Democratic FTC commissioners without cause, including Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, challenging the 1935 Humphrey’s Executor precedent and potentially extending to Lisa Cook’s removal as a Federal Reserve governor. The court’s decision grants the president greater control over independent agencies, eroding their nonpolitical status despite dissents from several justices warning that undermined independence erodes important checks on executive power. While we should always be vigilant to combat authoritarianism, what has gone on in this country over the last fifty years stems from Congress’s inability to be functional, which has led to the absurd growth of “independent” agencies, but these agencies fall under the authority of the executive. For better or worse, we have a president that doesn’t act like these agencies are beyond reproach, and those actions are now causing a panic among those who were hoping these agencies would increasingly shape governance as bureaucratic bodies.
Former FBI Director James Comey Has Been IndictedA grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of making a false statement and obstruction of a congressional proceeding, amid President Trump’s push for justice despite federal prosecutors’ doubts about the case’s validity. The indictment reflects ongoing political tensions, with details explained by a New York Times reporter covering the Justice Department and FBI. It does appear to us that the intelligence agencies were so determined to ensure Trump did not return to the presidency that they were willing to engage in unscrupulous and possibly illegal behavior. Comey must be held accountable for this to set a precedent that the intelligence agencies are not autonomous and above the law.
Pennsylvania Threatens to Leave America’s Largest Power GridPennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro threatened to withdraw the state from PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. power grid, unless reforms address surging bills from AI data center demand and inaccurate forecasts. In fact, governors from multiple states are pushing for voting power in PJM’s operations to tackle connection delays and economic impacts, following record capacity costs of $16.1 billion, and I cannot underscore enough just how important energy will be in the coming decades. Between energy production and demographic collapse, we have the most significant challenges of our era.
Ecuadorian Indigenous Groups Denounce $47 Billion Oil Project Seven Indigenous groups in Ecuador’s Amazon have criticized the government’s plan to auction 49 oil and gas projects valued at over \)47 billion, arguing it overlaps with their ancestral territories without prior consultation and violates constitutional rights. The Noboa administration’s decisions, including dismantling the Environment Ministry and supporting private management of conservation areas, have sparked national strikes and legal challenges, with Indigenous leaders vowing resistance amid ignored court rulings and a referendum against drilling in Yasuní National Park. Modern nation states have to come to terms with the actual sovereign existence of indigenous nations if we are to truly move beyond the age of conquest and want to dismantle the mechanisms which allow for imperialism and colonialism.
Nevada No Longer Considered Sanctuary State by DOJNevada signed an agreement with the Department of Justice to collaborate on immigration enforcement, removing the state from the federal “sanctuary states” list under Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo’s leadership. The agreement commits the state to using National Guard and FEMA funds for ICE operations, counters potential sanctuary policies, and builds on efforts to align with federal immigration laws amid rising arrests and political debates, where the federal structure requires that states cooperate with federal agencies. This is at least one example of relationships between a state and the federal government normalizing so that federal law enforcement doesn’t create chaos and fear at the neighborhood level.
