Fire in the Whole

America Goes Rogue, Weekend Whats

"The United States, once the leader of a global system of security and economic cooperation, is now acting like a rogue state on the high seas." That's how Tom Nichols describes the recent use of military force to destroy small boats off the Venezuelan coast. Since Nichols is a professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, we should probably listen. "I taught the rules and theories that govern the use of force to military officers at the Naval War College for many years, and every summer for two decades to civilians at Harvard; I always reminded students that international law and traditions require states to show that they are acting in some form of self-defense, either in response to an attack or to forestall more violence. Moreover, American law does not permit the president to designate people as terrorists and then declare open season on them in defiance of international agreements and without any involvement from Congress. Perhaps Trump’s people are watching too many Tom Clancy movies, but he cannot legally send the Navy out onto the world’s oceans as though they are seagoing sheriffs with satchels full of death warrants. No one in the White House seems to care very much about the rules that govern killing people, at home or abroad, but these rules actually exist." Trump and Vance have made jokes about not going fishing in the area. The impoverished fishing communities in the region aren't in the mood to laugh. But this story could expand far beyond Venezuelan waters. "A more worrisome problem here is that Trump’s illegal orders to kill drug smugglers could acclimate the American public to the sinister idea that the military is the president’s personal muscle and that it must do whatever he says. Earlier this week, he declared 'antifa'—a loose affiliation of people who identify themselves as 'anti-fascists'—to be a 'major terrorist organization.' But because 'antifa' isn’t a single group with a headquarters and identified leaders, Trump could apply the label to anyone he thinks opposes him. The president has now claimed he can kill terrorists at will, and he has designated many of his American opponents as terrorists." The Atlantic (Gift Article): A Rogue Nation on the High Seas.

+ But wait. Aren't there judge advocate generals, or JAGs, who are supposed to "advise commanders on the rule of law, including whether presidential orders are legal." Yes, of course. But Pete Hegseth doesn't like them. He has referred to them as jagoffs and his "campaign against the military’s traditional legal structure has been one of the most-significant but least-reported aspects of his tenure as defense secretary." Hegseth blew up the legal military guardrails before he blew up the Venezuelan boats (and whatever else is on the administration's target list). David Ignatius in WaPo(Gift Article): The chilling reason the military is silent now. "Military officers, current and retired, don’t like to speak out publicly about divisive issues, especially in a polarized time like this. But in nearly four decades of reporting and writing, I have never seen commanders so concerned about issues that could tarnish the U.S. military’s independence and standing. They swear an oath to the Constitution, not a president, and they don’t want to break it."

2

Being There

"About half of the panel’s members were appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier this week. In a sign of how hastily the committee was put together, many of the members needed explanations of the usual protocol for these meetings, the design of scientific studies, and critical flaws in the data they suggested including. Many of the panelists also seemed unsure about the purpose of the Vaccines for Children program, which provides free shots to roughly half of all American children. Approving which vaccines the program should cover is a key function of the committee." NYT (Gift Article): Kennedy’s Advisory Panel Votes to Limit M.M.R.V. Vaccine for Children Under 4. (So far, we don't have a vaccine for self-imposed chaos and confusion, but if we did, Kennedy would spread falsehoods about it.)

3

Mickey Mouse Clubbing

"The ‘suspending indefinitely’ of Jimmy Kimmel immediately after the Chairman of the FCC’s aggressive yet hollow threatening of the Disney Company is yet another example of out-of-control intimidation ... Maybe the Constitution should have said, ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, except in one’s political or financial self-interest.'" Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner Rips Disney Brass For Jimmy Kimmel Suspension.

+ Because of the choice made by the American voters last November, the brass at Disney didn't have an easy or simple situation on their hands. But ceding ground only leads to more ground being demanded. Trump suggests FCC could revoke licenses of TV broadcasters that give him too much 'bad publicity.'

+ Noted FOND (Friend of NextDraft) and creator of shows such as Lost, Watchmen, and and The Leftovers, Damon Lindelof pledged not to work with Disney until Jimmy Kimmel suspension is lifted. Is that alone going to be a difference maker for Disney? No. But public displays of courage and a willingness to take risks to defend what's right makes a hell of a lot of difference to all of us fighting the good fight.

+ I got a lot of responses about my take on the Kimmel matter yesterday. "Donald Trump is a values clarifier. He’s a living, breathing reminder of which values you cherish and what you’re willing to stand up for. We’ve spent countless hours analyzing the character of Donald Trump. But that’s a settled issue. The real character being tested is ours. We’ve seen that character wilt in our halls of Congress, our institutions, our universities, and our corporate boardrooms, as a parade of rapid-fire knee-bending has heralded in a new era of American exceptionalism—one in which we prove that no country capitulates to authoritarian tendencies faster than us. We’ve been let down over and over. But Jimmy Kimmel didn’t let us down." The Jimmy Kimmel Test.

4

Weekend Whats

What to Binge: Prime describes its new series Girlfriend as a "juicy psychological thriller, Laura (Robin Wright) has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her prized son, Daniel. But her perfect life unravels when Daniel brings home Cherry (Olivia Cooke), a girlfriend who changes everything. Laura’s convinced Cherry is hiding something. Is she a manipulative social climber, or is Laura just paranoid? The truth is a matter of perspective." It could also be described as a show about a mom who is really into her son. Like really into him. It's a fun binge watch.

+ What to Watch: The Studio set a new record for Emmys for a comedy last week. But Seth Rogen's other show on AppleTV, Platonic with Rose Byrne, might be even more fun.

5

Extra, Extra

Law Fighting: "The U.S. attorney whose office has been investigating mortgage fraud allegations against New York Attorney General Letitia James has been told to resign or be fired, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday, amid a push by Trump administration officials to bring criminal charges against the perceived adversary of the president." All the good people are being forced out to make way for the bad people who will do one man's bidding. And that trend is not limited to late night TV hosts. US attorney whose office is investigating Letitia James is told he’s being removed.

+ Showdown at the Not OK Corral: Senate rejects competing bills to fund government, increasing risk of shutdown. Will Senate Dems have the resolve to save key elements of the health care safety net? The so-called big beautiful bill has already lost a lot of public support (and it wasn't too popular when it was first passed.)

+ Ag Me With a Spoon: "Texas A&M University’s president will step down after facing criticism over his handling of turmoil over a children’s literature course that recognized more than two genders." Welsh actually fired the professor who taught the class, but apparently he's didn't fire her quickly enough or with enough enthusiasm. More from the Texas Trib: Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III to step down after a week of turmoil over viral classroom video. (Even high ranking military vets aren’t manly enough for the flock of social media chickenhawks.)

+ Putin Thumbs Nose at NATO: "Three Russian fighter jets violated Estonia’s airspace on Friday for an unusually long period, some 12 minutes, in what Estonia’s foreign minister called an 'unprecedentedly brazen intrusion' over the NATO country."

+ Having the Drug Pulled Out: "Drug Enforcement Administration officials advocated for a series of military strikes in Mexico earlier this year, alarming some in the White House and Pentagon and presaging the fraught debate underway in Washington over the legality of this month’s deadly attacks on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea." WaPo (Gift Article): DEA faced pushback at White House, Pentagon after urging Mexico strikes.

+ Dislodge a Complaint: "A complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective—not a protected platform to rage against an adversary. A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally or the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner." Judge Absolutely Trashes Trump’s Blockbuster New York Times Lawsuit. (Meanwhile, SCOTUS will be like, "Don't worry, we got you, bro.")

+ The Race to Solve Climate Change: "When an entry-level Volvo can get to 60 mph quicker than a Porsche 911, and in the same time as a Ferrari, electric car makers need a reset." Wired: EVs Have Gotten Too Powerful.

6

Feel Good Friday

"As Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, leaders of Harvard University’s study of human happiness, wrote in their 2023 book: “If we had to take all eighty-four years of the Harvard Study and boil it down to a single principle for living … it would be this: Good relationships keep us healthier and happier. Period." WaPo(Gift Article): A dying man said he found the key to happiness. Science backs him up.

+ A Virginia woman who won big playing the lottery is giving her winnings to charity.

+ Construction workers use trampoline to save boy from fire. (Luckily, he didn't bounce back into the building.)

+ A dog helped an injured wild crow. Now they’re best friends. (Or at least they were, until both signed up for social media accounts.)

+ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: no barrier too high for the 400m queen.

+ Fat Bear Week is here early, and the bears are fat and playful.

+ Dogs can learn and remember how toys work. (Give them enough treats and dogs can can learn and remember Algebra.)