Trump’s View of Everything in the World - Robert Reich | Substack

Exhibit AFriends, He’s Exhibit A on why billionaire wealth should be taxed, why we have to get big money out of politics, why billionaires shouldn’t be allowed to buy up major media, and why our government shouldn’t give them huge military contracts. I’m talking about Elon Musk, of course. Yesterday, former Ukrainian defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov thanked Musk for restoring his Starlink satellite’s vital high-speed connectivity: “Thank you, @elonmusk. We hope for your continued support.” (Connectivity had slowed after Musk posted Saturday that “Zelensky has gone too far.”) But who gave Musk authority to slow his satellite service in the first place — or, for that matter, to publicly comment on Ukraine President Zelensky? (Musk says Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government, and that “any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.” But if that’s the case, why did Fedorov thank Musk?)Every time I list another of Musk’s outrages, someone says, “Yes, but he’s an innovator!”He’s not. As is made clear in Alex Gibney’s smart new documentary, “Musk,” Elon didn’t invent Tesla. He didn’t invent X. He didn’t invent SpaceX.

As the pioneering minimalist composer turns 90, Sean Kitching offers ten points of entry into his back catalogue, and wishes him a Happy Birthday. Portrait by Carolyn Cole A trailblazing contemporary composer with a career spanning over six decades, Steve Reich’s field of influence extends considerably beyond the classical sphere. Considered to be one of the founders of musical minimalism, Reich’s work has been an inspiration to the likes of Philip Glass, John Adams, the ensemble Bang On A Can and Max Richter, as well as to numerous pop and electronic musicians. Talking Heads, The Feelies, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Owen Pallett, Jonny Greenwood, Battles, Bryce Dessner of The National, Richie Hawtin (Plastikman), DJ Spooky, Aphex Twin and William Basinski – to list some of the more prominent names. Horse Lords’ most recent album, Demand To Be Taken To Heaven Alive!, which reached number 22 in The Quietus mid-year chart, owes his work a clear debt. Whilst Bill Orcutt’s 2024 mash up of Reich’s Four Organs and Richard Berry’s ‘Louie Louie’, Four Louies, offers an example of one of the more playful uses of Reich-inspired composition.

Friends, Welcome back to class. Today, I introduce issues that continue to be vigorously debated: the effects of globalization and technological change on widening inequality. In case you missed them, here are the classes that have been released so far: Class 1, Class 2. For Class 3, just double-click on the video below, and you’re in the third week of class. Some background: Many policymakers regard both globalization and technological change as “inevitable” forces that improve economic efficiency — and that should not be altered by political decisions. I remember discussions in the Clinton White House leading to NAFTA and China’s ascension to the World Trade Organization in which administration officials described both as “necessary” to the evolving global economy. New technologies such as supersonic jets, AI, and facial-recognition software have also been assumed to be beyond political debate or control. But neither globalization nor the path of technological change is inevitable. Government decides on timing (how quickly should we globalize or should a new technology be introduced?).

What researchers uncovered through lab testing and surveillance footage, prosecutors said, was a plot by his fellow graduate student to intentionally poison him.

Omar’s legal team says the search violated safeguards designed to protect constitutional rights of members of Congress. Lawyers for Democratic United States Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota have demanded the return of property seized in a federal raid of her Washington, DC home, accusing the US Department of Justice of conducting a politically motivated investigation and failing to follow judicial instructions during the search. “The political motivations behind this pre-election investigation and search are clear as day,” Omar’s lawyers wrote in a letter sent to federal prosecutors on Friday and obtained by The Associated Press news agency.