The Rational Independent

https://www.businessinsider.com/newsom-wants-to-know-textbook-companies-are-caving-to-florida-2023-5?utm_source=reddit.com Gov. Newsom grasps for national relevance in advance of the 2024 presidential race. With President Biden’s advanced age, there’s always a chance that the Democratic Party will need someone to step in, and Gov. Newsom wants to be the one to do it.

Today’s article relates to a letter that the Governor sent to publishers of academic textbooks, demanding they provide records regarding their dealings with Florida. Long story short, Florida education authorities have enacted rules about what textbooks they will approve, and if a publisher submits a textbook that the Florida authorities object to, they could lose the business selling those textbooks to Florida schools. Gov. Newsom put his oar in the water, essentially threatening the publishers that if they abide by Florida regulation then California will not do business with them. I see it as a transparent attempt for a governor from a very blue state to raise his national profile. What makes it kind of gross is the blatant moral grandstanding within the letter. Moral framing of an argument isn’t actually an argument in and of itself, but as every good debater knows, if you let your opponent frame the conversation, you’ve already lost. 
Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/george-santos-arrested-employment-fraud-b2337319.html?utm_source=reddit.com Representative Santos was arrested for multiple counts of fraud this week. Arraigned and released he returned to Congress to vote on legislation. Are these the actions of a hardened con man, or an innocent man maligned by unfair prosecution? We discuss. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvjnqd/cnn-trump-town-hall?utm_source=reddit.com Vice News joins many other leftist voices condemning CNN for the audacity of giving President Trump a platform from which to speak. After all, if he says stuff we don’t agree with, he should be banished, right?

There’s an odd puritan bent to the modern left. I have some thoughts on why that is, but for now it’s enough to say that the modern left believes that the most moral way to handle political opponents is censorship. Needless to say, I think this position is arrogant, stupid, and more than a little evil. We discuss this today. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-accusers-rape-carroll-b2335629.html?utm_source=reddit.com The jury verdict in New York finding President Trump liable for sexual assault from an incident in the 90s is the latest Rorschach test served up to the American public. If you already hate Donald Trump, I expect you’re chortling in delight over this latest data point reinforcing your viewpoint. If you already hate the twisting of the media and the justice system so common in places like New York, you’re howling in frustration over this latest data point reinforcing your viewpoint. More and more we are a people who see only what we want to see, and too often fail to challenge what we are shown. Evidence unchallenged hardens into belief that is resistant to rational discourse. Whether Donald Trump is a monster who repeatedly assaults women or not, most people have made up their minds one way or the other. Since these allegations are (I expect) universally outside the statute of limitations, the primary purpose for airing them is to reduce Donald Trump’s chances in 2024. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

Parties and politicians on both sides of the aisle have abandoned any commitment to actual fiscal responsibility. This sets us on an unsustainable path. What can’t go on forever, won’t. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://jacobin.com/2023/05/bernie-sanders-chris-wallace-billionaires-tax-capitalism In a follow-up to our video earlier this week regarding Bernie Sanders calling for a wealth tax to eliminate billionaires from America, Jacobin does us the favor of saying the quiet part out loud and called for the destruction of the American economy. Jacobin described the American capitalist system as not ‘humane’. That’s a little rich given that Marxism and it’s spin-off ideologies murdered 100+ million people in the 20th century. It amazes me that we’re somehow still having this conversation, but I guess if evil is persistent, then we must be as well. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-harlan-crow-private-school-tuition-scotus The most recent narrative Rorschach test presented by the media is Justice Clarence Thomas. A long time member of the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas has long been famous for his ardent conservatism on the bench and his desire to adhere to ‘originalism’ as much as possible when crafting his rulings. Recently ProPublica has presented some in-depth reporting which details a variety of lifestyle gifts from a Republican donor to the Justice as well as to his family. Many on the left see this as signs of corruption and are beginning to call for his resignation. Many on the right want to hold the Justice harmless and explain away the gifts as innocent. For myself, the presence of wealth does not confirm the presence of corruption. If you take money in order to violate your principles, that’s corruption. If you take money and it doesn’t affect your rulings, is that necessarily corrupt? We also discuss the interesting timing of this call for resignation…just in time for President Biden to give the left an appointee more suited to their partisan goals. But I’m sure that’s just coincidence. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.advocate.com/crime/zooey-zephyr-girlfriend-swatted#toggle-gdpr Though the tactics have evolved over the years, harassing your political opponents has been going on since the founding of this country and even beyond. I’m no fan of harassment tactics, since they don’t really resolve any issues, just inflame tensions. I’m actively opposed to harassment tactics that endanger the lives of those involved, especially doxxing and SWATting. The irony in this situation is that the Montana State Rep Zephyr recently engaged in harassment tactics at the state house in an effort to further his agenda, but now claims victim status when the harassment is returned. Harassment doesn’t make you special, and it certainly doesn’t make you virtuous. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/02/bernie-sanders-interview-chris-wallace-tax-rich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee8GedvPmBU Bernie Sanders is one of the highest profile advocates for government redistribution of wealth, yet for some reason he is comfortable with his own wealth. We discuss some basic economics and why Rep Sanders’s call for confiscatory tax rates for billionaires is stupid, counter-productive, and probably unconstitutional. We also briefly mention his own personal hypocrisy. Good times for everyone! Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.businessinsider.com/gov-greg-abbott-immigration-status-cleveland-texas-mass-shooting-victims-2023-4?utm_source=reddit.com Today we discuss the senseless violence out of Texas over the weekend. Five people killed by a reportedly drunken SOB. Yet for some reason the reporting on this violence chooses to criticize Gov Abbot’s characterization of the victims as ‘illegal immigrants’. Standing on the graves of the innocent to push your political agenda just plain sickens me. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ron-desantis-guantanamo-bay-abuse-prison-b2328605.html False headline from the Independent. Ron DeSantis did not “blow up” at a reporter asking about Guantanamo Bay prisoner interactions. He disagreed with the reporter and contested the allegation. That’s the proper response. Other than trying to play on old feelings about the Iraq War and President Bush, I don’t see a lot of meat in this article. Yes, the US took prisoners and held them for years without a trial. Yes there were prisoners abused at Guantanamo. Yes there were prisoners force-fed during hunger strikes. Are any of those things to be laid at the feet of a junior JAG officer who was stationed there at the same time period? Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5yqbx/zooey-zephyr-montana-trans-punished?utm_source=reddit.com Activist Montana legislator uses inflammatory language, gets censured for lack of decorum, uses the censure to spark protests that interfere with House business, and unrepentantly claims they are making the ‘hard and moral choice’. An excellent encapsulation of the broader themes and strategies employed by gender deviance activists and their media allies. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ari-melber-on-msnbc-airs-bombshell-audio-showing-ted-cruz-scheming-to-steal-election Using an audio clip from a ‘whistleblower’, Daily Beast makes the case that Ted Cruz was trying to steal the 2020 election with a secret plan to act like a legislator. Except the audio reflects what Ted Cruz said on TV and the Senate floor at the time. So if it’s not news, why run through this mess again? Because for the left the audio clip presents an opportunity to refresh their narrative and stir up their base. Again. Also, thoughts on why well meaning people with similar principles find themselves on opposite sides of the partisan divide. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7ebag/texas-ag-transgender-dress-code-memo?utm_source=reddit.com Vice returns to accuse evil Republicans of making “gender non-conforming” people less safe by enforcing a dress code oriented towards biology. Apparently biology is an unacceptable guideline for institutional policy, yet the alternative appears to be completely unworkable. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-culture-war-disney-2024-1795841 Part of commenting on the leftist narratives that permeate the mainstream media reporting is that they are repetitive by design. “Repeat a lie loud enough and often enough and a portion of the people will begin to believe it.” We discuss the details of this article and then try to go a little big picture to discuss why this fight is important. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.newsweek.com/ann-coulters-abortion-compromise-ban-registered-republicans-only-1795472 Ann Coulter found her way back into the news by offering a sarcastic quip that manages to mock both sides of the abortion debate on-going in the wake of the overturn of Roe v Wade. GOP’s electoral success doesn’t lead to national prosperity, neither does Democrat electoral success. The two party tango leads us to inevitable destruction. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.commondreams.org/news/senate-finance-gop-rich-taxes Today’s article is typical proto-communist ‘evil rich people need to be corralled by the virtuous government’. It’s tiresome and doesn’t deserve a spot in a news section, the reporter sure engages in a lot of editorializing about his subject. Neither political party is serious about tax rates, constraining spending to a reasonable level, building financial responsibility into the government, etc. We’re hurtling towards the cliff, willfully blind to the economic destruction that awaits. Both parties are responsible for this situation. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/18/bidens-tax-returns-00092675 Politifact is telling you a bedtime story. Once upon a time we were ruled by honest politicians who shared with the people how much they earned for their ‘public service’ and how much they paid in taxes…paying their fair share as wonderful examples of civic engagement. Kinda made me throw up in my mouth a little bit just writing that out. Are you willing to doubt what you’ve been told? To test it to see if it is true? Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kxv8a/lobbyist-anti-trans-leaked-emails?utm_source=reddit.com Vice news reports on a recently released cache of emails from political strategists seeking to oppose the trans movement. According to the framing of this article, any opposition to ‘transness’ (their word) is ‘anti-trans’, ‘target trans people’, ‘anti-trans hate’, and ‘speaking hatefully against trans’. If you’re looking for a careful and considerate discussion of this sensitive topic that weighs input from all sides, this article isn’t it. In our video today, we discuss this article, the trans movement in general, and some of the broader societal implications. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tony-gonzalez-abortion-mifepristone-ruling-b2317303.html?utm_source=reddit.com Today’s article covers federal handling of the primary drug used in chemical (non-surgical) abortions, mifepristone. The FDA has approved it, a federal judge recently decided to ban it…there is another, nearly simultaneous federal court ruling that recently decided the other way, creating a potential “dueling judges” situation, likely necessitating the Supreme Court to resolve. In the midst of all of this, the journalist writing this article decided to reference a recent statement on CNN by a Republican Congressman where he flubbed his answer and looked like a doofus. The annoying thing is that the journalist referenced this flubbed answer six times in one article. When cable news gives you your soundbite, I guess you can’t miss the opportunity to hit it over and over. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/3939606-advocates-plan-for-battle-as-desantis-preps-dont-say-gay-expansion/ From the Hill we have a rare moment of honesty, probably unintentional, where reporters admit that they are critics of the legislation they are reporting on. I’m not mad that they’re critics, I just think it’s silly we were ever supposed to believe that journalism was unbiased. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-connected-energy-firm-first-beneficiaries-inflation-reduction-act I was hoping when I launched this channel that I would get a broadly representative sample of the political commentary by sampling from r/politics on reddit. Turns out that arena is dominated by leftists, so most of my resultant commentary has been critical of the left. In an effort to broaden the discussion and provide opportunities to critique the right as well I will be expanding my sampling base to include sites like foxnews and breitbart. This is a work in progress, os bear with me. Also, we discuss an article on Fox News that illustrates the three things that government is good at. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.newsweek.com/dianne-feinstein-resign-democrats-judiciary-committee-1794950 Brief discussion today on the evolution of congress into an octagenarian pit of corrupt fools and an idea on how to make it better. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ron-desantis-megadonor_n_643ceb4ce4b06695059b203a Today we discuss a 9 sentence article on HuffPost that is basically rage bait for the mob. A worthy prompt to discuss the reasons why direct democracy doesn’t work and the moderating effects of a representative republic. Like the video if you agree, comment if you don’t. Follow TRI on other platforms for livestreams and conversation. Twitter: @TRIDaily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TRIDaily Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRationalIndependent/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/rationalindependent