Loyal Defender: Interesting Links From August 2026

Todd Blanche Sends Chilling Message to Every U.S. Attorney | The New Republic (“Every other U.S. attorney around the country is watching what happens to Pirro, because the message from Trump and Blanche is to follow orders, whether they make legal sense or not. Otherwise, you’re fired.”)

Is ‘Cancel Thanksgiving’ Really a Winning Message for Democrats? | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics

It’s time to go back to Sunday School | WORLD

Reggie B. on X: "Tucker Carlson: "Trump failed. He's selling Truth Social posts. He's made $3B as president. It's so bonkers. Do we need a law against getting rich as president? You can't use the office to enrich yourself or your family. Any president who uses the office for personal enrichment https://t.co/sIpUpcXxZE" / X

Michael MacKay on X: "Trump was given an opportunity to say it is wrong for russians to attack Ukrainian civilians with ballistic missiles. He refused to do so. Trump has the power to stop the russians killing Ukrainians. He refuses to do so. Trump is a russian asset. Trump is a monster." / X

Michael McFaul on X: "This can’t be true. Right. Right? If it is, Trumps war against Iran will go down in history as one of our worst military losses ever That’s why I can’t believe it’s true. Standing by for more facts." / X

August 8

James F. Love IV on X: "Trump is intentionally allowing Ukrainians to die in nightly missile attacks hoping to force Ukraine to give up their land so he can secure business deals with Russia. There, I said it out loud." / X

James Talarico Headlined Pride Event Alongside 11-Year-Old Child Drag Queen 'Kween Kee Kee': 'Absolute Cutest and Youngest of Our Drag Performers'

Critical Munitions Stockpiles: Can We Get a Straight Answer? | National Review

Trump Better Hope Supreme Court Buys His Ballroom Malarkey

Prosecutor fired over blogposts critical of Trump sues US justice department | Trump administration | The Guardian

How Roy Cohn Taught Donald Trump Everything | The New Yorker

Jeanine Pirro berated Doug Burgum. But Interior staffers have been angry at him for months. - POLITICO

America Is Running Out of Easy Economic Exits

In Trump era, this border library highlights US-Canada relationship

Baptist pastor released from Syria after 2 weeks in detention | World

Tucker Carlson Releases 10-Point Manifesto for America - The American Conservative (reportedly considering creating a new political party)

Senate votes to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general | CNN Politics

AI And War Is Being Oversold Right Now (“The USA, reportedly a superpower and the technologically dominant force of its day, had lost the war in record time, had exhausted supplies of vital munitions that it could not replace for many years, and was now haggling over the terms of its own defeat. Though I did not have time to go into it then, it also made the early Pentagon boasts about how the US was fighting amongst the most ill-considered statements in history. We heard for months about how the US was imposing itself, obliterating Iranian military power, crushing Iran’s industrial base, etc,. All of it was nonsense”)

Opinion | Phone searches at airports set dangerous privacy precedent - The Washington Post

August 9

Weekend Update #197: Anatomy Of A Con:

Biblical Archaeology Confirms the Reality of Jesus, Pontius Pilate, and Caiaphas | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics

The typical gig worker is changing – and struggling more than ever to make ends meet

August 10

Phillips P. OBrien on X: "A quick lesson on winning and losing a war. If you start a war of choice, blow through masses of your weapons stocks so that you cannot escalate effectively, and find the country you attacked dictating negotiating terms while in a stronger strategic position... You lost." / X

August 11

One Year Past the Seminex Semicentennial – Old Lutherans

The Iran war outcome is even worse than most realise

The Mysteries of Butler - The American Conservative

Mike Pence: The Failed Creed Our Grandchildren Should Never Inherit