Just One Thing: Mass murder in Illinois
I used to live in Chicago. It's really not a city that you can compare to Denver in any important way. The geography, climate, people, and culture are wildly different from the Mountain West. So I can't really make a good comparison between Highland Park, IL and a place near Denver but if you force me to, I guess I'd say something like Castle Pines. Highland Park is about half an hour from the city (with no traffic, though there is always traffic) and it's a very upscale area (probably more wealthy than Castle Pines but you get the idea). That said, HP is about 3 times the population of Castle Pines and has a much greater Jewish population as well...like I said there isn't really a great comparison in the Denver area. I've been to HP a LOT. My uncle (who gave me my first trading job, right out of college) lives there. One of my former business partners lives there. My college roommate lives there.
Still, imagine a wonderful, joyous 4th of July parade in Castle Pines being turned into chaos and bloodshed by a(nother) deranged young man shooting random strangers from a rooftop with a rifle.
Information is still coming in but at this time it appears the shooter has been taken alive.
Highland Park shooting person of interest left online trail of violent imagery (nbcnews.com)
From long-time Chicago Sun-Times reporter Lynn Sweet, who was at the parade: Highland Park Fourth of July mass shooting: I was there. I saw the horror. - Chicago Sun-Times (suntimes.com)
My former business partner's youngest daughter was at the parade, one block from the mayhem. Part of his text to me when I asked if his family was OK: "They (his daughter and her friends) ran home crying hysterically once they realized what was happening. The girls are all traumatized in their own way. So f-ing depressing. This country is f-ed and that has nothing to do with today's shooting."
I don't think I have anything to add at the moment other than I wish I disagreed with him, but will have more to say on the show.
Today's Guests
KT McFarland was Deputy National Security Advisor to President Trump. She began a remarkable foreign policy career decades ago working with Henry Kissinger. Her book: "Revolution: Trump, Washington, and We the People" remains an important read as if's less about Mr. Trump than it is about what his election and presence say about America.
Revolution: Trump, Washington and "We the People": McFarland, KT: 9781642934045: AmazonSmile: Books
KT McFarland (@realKTMcFarland) / Twitter
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Brad Thor is one of the world's most successful thriller novelists. I just finished his latest, Rising Tiger, which I loved for a couple of reasons. First, a great writer has a plot basis that is plausible. Obviously the book was finished months ago, before the very recent headlines about North Korean displeasure with what they claim is the US interest in setting up something like an Asian version of NATO. And yet the plot line is based on a Chinese effort to stop just such an alliance. Very prescient, and it says a lot about Brad's research. Most of the book is set in India, which is a country I've been to three times and very much enjoy...although it's incredibly intense and I can't say I'd want to live there.
Anyway, for a really fun summer read, grab yourself a copy of "Rising Tiger", which is officially published today. (I love talking to authors on publication date!)
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Connor Boyack is president of the Libertas Institute, a free-market think-tank based in Utah. He's also the author of the tremendous "Tuttle Twins" series of books that uses fun illustrated stories to teach young kids about important concepts and principles like inflation, property rights, and the dangers of socialism. He's sold over 4 MILLION copies so far, an incredible achievement.
Connor's latest project is "America’s History: A Tuttle Twins Series of Stories" a 240-page storybook aimed at giving kids an introduction to American history without all of the leftist/woke propaganda that so deeply infects that particular field of study these days. The book is recommended for ages 7-13. If you have young kids or grandkids, please consider giving this book as a gift they'll thank you for forever. It comes with a 200-page companion workbook and a 6-hour audiobook...great for teachers or parents working with kids on learning history. For the book launch, it's currently 25% off the eventual price.
America's History - a Tuttle Twins Series of Stories - The Tuttle Twins
Other Stuff
Biden may do something right, but not really the best thing and not for the right reasons. Biden China Tariffs: President Nearing Rollback of Some Duties to Curb Inflation - Bloomberg
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Shouldn't she have gotten a medal instead of a prison sentence? Newsom pardons woman who killed man who abused, trafficked her | The Hill
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My favorite eBay listing of the day: ■1 LEFT SHOE ONLY■Hoka One Bondi 7 Shoe 1110530 Gray Men's Sz 10.5 2E Wide. $160 | eBay
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US Oil and Gas Association reminds Joe Biden that he (or his intern) is an economoron with no understanding of even the basics of how energy markets work.
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Just another bloody Chicago weekend: https://wgntv.com/news/chicagocrime/over-60-shot-15-fatally-in-violent-july-fourth-weekend-in-chicago
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We know this is true but it's worth being reminded of: The media bubble is real: Study shows massive disconnect between journalists, public | The Hill
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A happier story: 86-year-old woman named world's longest-serving flight attendant - UPI.com
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One more: 10-Year-Old Twins And Neighbor Use CPR They Saw In Movies To Save Dad Drowning In Pool (today.com)
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This seems like one of the worst maladies ever, at least among those that don't kill you quickly: Woman allergic to everything, even laughter (nypost.com)
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Her life is fine, even great, but boy is the headline (written by an editor as obvious click-bait) dumb: I'm so hot I get accused of lying about my construction job (nypost.com) (Not sure why I went along with the obvious clickbait...I think it's because I love that she's doing real work. We need more like that.)
Today's Video: the sounds of death
In recognition of the perished and wounded in Highland Park, IL, I'm not going to post a "light" video today. Instead, here is a difficult short video in which you can hear the shots during the July 4th parade. This lunatic was shooting as quickly as he possibly could. He was a deranged young man with every clue publicly available. He represents the perfect argument for why we need to do better keeping firearms out of the hands of people who clearly pose a risk to society. Shouldn't someone like this guy have been flagged so as to not be able to pass a background check, which it appears he did?
It's not just his stupid face tattoos. It's the fact that his music and social media postings glorified, perhaps predicted, mass murder. I completely understand the issue of protecting our Second Amendment rights. So how do we do this in the context of believing (as at least some do) that "the Constitution is not a suicide pact"? Robert Jackson | The First Amendment Encyclopedia (mtsu.edu)