Breaking News: Head of one of largest health insurance companies murdered at NYC hotel
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot in midtown Manhattan, official says | CNN
Just One Thing: All Hell to Pay
On Monday, president-elect Donald Trump said on social media that if the Gaza hostages, well he didn’t actually say Gaza but it seems clear that’s what he means, if they aren’t released before his inauguration, and I quote “there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity (sic).” Given that Trump, unlike the presidents immediately before and immediately after him, has demonstrated a willingness to use force, such as his decision to take out Qasem Suleimani, you’d have to think this is viewed by Tehran and maybe by the leaders of Hamas as a credible threat. I support Trump’s comment and approach while acknowledging that the risk is that Hamas executes hostages in response. Bring them home.
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One More Thing: Weaker marijuana and less alcohol
In recent years there’s been much notice taken of the increasing strength of marijuana including apparent (and not surprising) risks from ingesting the mind-altering THC at much higher concentrations than was available a generation or two ago. According to a 9News article, customers are pushing back against what producers had thought was in demand. And the producers may have been right for a while but one pot shop owner says “people aren’t looking for that completely blitzed-out feeling where they can’t get things done.” The industry hopes less potent offerings will boost flagging sales. (See that’s a flagging sail pun.) I also note that Gen Zers, the youngest cohort that has people old enough to drink, is consuming far less alcohol than prior generations did at the same age. Interesting trends for culture and business.
Markets adapt, and (most) people aren't idiots: Colorado dispensaries sell weaker marijuana to boost sales | 9news.com
I also note that this seems to mirror trends in alcohol: 7 Important Alcohol Industry Trends (2024 & 2025)
Today's Guests
Elizabeth Hicks is US Affairs Director at the Consumer Choice Center. We'll discuss the Denver City Council's renewed push to ban flavored tobacco products. Former Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed this sort of ordinance but current Mayor Michael Johnston has signaled support.
Elizabeth Hicks – Consumer Choice Center
Denver City Council revisits ban on flavored tobacco products after 2021 mayoral veto
Potential ban on flavored tobacco products moves forward in Denver City Council | 9news.com
SCOTUS Skeptical of an FDA Acting Arbitrarily Against Vape Products – Consumer Choice Center
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Leland Vittert is host of On Balance on News Nation at 5 PM MT weekdays. I highly recommend you subscribe (for free) to his daily newsletter (which is basically his notes for show preparation) at http://warnotes.com.
Other Stuff
I realize that most Americans won't even have heard this story and I don't know how many will care but since I like to bring listeners interesting and important news from around the world (and because I studied foreign policy in college and am fascinated by this stuff), I want to make sure you saw this remarkable news: Martial law reversed in South Korea after president’s surprise decree sent shockwaves | CNN
South Korean president faces impeachment after martial law debacle | Reuters
US has 'grave concern' as South Korea imposes, then overturns, martial law - ABC News
This occurred to me this morning: A lot of folks on the left talk about Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. The president of Korea just showed what a real threat to democracy looks like. The Defense Minister who sent troops into parliament after the president's declaration of martial law has offered his resignation. And it should be accepted at the same time that the president is impeached. It raises an interesting question, even though I don't share the "Trump as existential threat to democracy" concern: would American government/military officials obey a clearly illegal order from Donald Trump if he were to give one? I think most of them would not. South Korean defence minister offers to resign after martial law turmoil
SEE VIDEOS AT THE END OF THIS NOTE
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Retailers hate your returns, and especially the fraudulent ones. There’s a Wall Street Journal story entitled “Shoppers Fight Back as Retailers Crack Down on Returns.” The problem for retailers is not just that returns are very expensive to process, which they are, but also the stunning amount of return fraud, like people taking the Legos out of a $500 set…and when did it become OK for Legos to cost that much…and send the box back full of cereal. One e-commerce analysis says that in 2023, 5% of sales were returned, totaling $743 billion in value, of which about $100 billion was fraudulent. And there are lots of different scams including using fake receipts, returning a cheaper item than what was actually purchased, and more. I don’t blame retailers for making returns more difficult, and I also don’t blame shoppers for objecting.
Rising Online Returns Have Stores Tightening Policies and Raising Fees - WSJ
Return fraud: The $100 billion problem facing retailers - Ekata, a Mastercard company
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Remarkable: Judge in Hunter Biden federal case pushes back against Hunter’s demands that the charges not just be dropped but expunged. Here's the judge: gov.uscourts.cacd.907806.239.0.pdf
Sure, you often hear about presidents-elect preparing for their upcoming administrations but these days it feels remarkably close to Trump actually being president
Trump's shadow presidency clouds Biden's final weeks
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What's next for Pete Hegseth? I'm convinced that Pete Hegseth will withdraw from consideration to be Secretary of Defense within the next 10 days. What I wonder is whether he will still have a job at Fox News, especially with the sensitivity at that organization (because of millions lost in lawsuits) about having someone around with a known history (if you believe the stories) of misbehavior toward women.
Pete Hegseth’s Secret History | The New Yorker
Republican senators express growing concerns over Pete Hegseth misconduct allegations - ABC News
And now this: Trump Talks to DeSantis About Replacing Hegseth
And Hegseth responds: Pete Hegseth tears into 'smears' and 'BS stories' as he breaks silence on reports Trump is considering replacing him | Daily Mail Online
I'd note that hardcore Trump supporters will stand by Hegseth as long as Trump does (or longer) because the thing they value most is "a fighter" even if it's one who isn't fit for the job he seeks.
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Colorado is very prominent on this list: Top remote work cities: Boulder, Austin and Raleigh rank high
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Today the Supreme Court will hear a key case regarding transgender medical care: Pivotal gender-affirming care case reaches SCOTUS
My take: I find it very hypocritical of conservatives to say, in every other situation, that government must not behave as a replacement for parents...but in this situation to say the opposite. I do not believe the plaintiffs have a strong argument that the Tennessee law discriminates based on sex because it treats men and women identically. But they may have a strong case based on a more fundamental question of the legitimate powers of government. I don't think the state government has a strong case that this is a "public health" issue in that these situations are rare and are also not a form of communicable illness.
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Very bad people trying to brainwash and threaten your children on college campuses: How to ‘Make Your Campus Palestinian’ | The Free Press
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Have you heard of the "horseshoe theory" of politics? It's that the far left and far right end up much closer to each other than the moderate left and moderate right are. That's because the fringes on both sides are tyrannical and anti-liberty. Here's one amusing example (even though James Lindsay actually argues that the people he trolls are not the most extreme version of the "Woke Right").
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Wow, this is a terrible story. I think I had someone from this organization on the show years ago before the Colorado location opened: SeaQuest zoo/aquarium files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Idaho | abc10.com
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A pre-inauguration win for the Trump administration: Appeals court rules US can deport illegal immigrants despite local objections in win for incoming Trump admin
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What people will do for love: The Billionaire, His Mystery Wife and College Football’s Wildest Recruiting Saga - WSJ
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2000 Mules was always a lie. The only question is whether D’Souza actually believed/believes it or was just happily cashing checks from gullible people who believed this nonsense. D'Souza Media | Statement on 2000 Mules
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Controversial everywhere: British lawmakers give initial approval to bill allowing terminally ill adults to end their lives - CBS News
Unsurprisingly, faith leaders are opposed: The assisted dying bill: safeguards are essential to prevent suicide | Assisted dying | The Guardian
As are activists for the disabled: Statement on the Assisted Dying bill
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Pit bulls are legal in Aurora again: Amendment to pit bull ordinance passes in Aurora | FOX31 Denver
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Didn't get to this stuff last week:
I don't mind the idea of paying people not to use a scarce resource but when people seem so anxious to participate it makes me think the payment is too high: Colorado River program pays $28.6 million to cut water use
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This is cool: Hundreds More Nazca Lines Emerge in Peru’s Desert - The New York Times
or Hundreds more Nazca Lines emerge in Peru’s desert | The Seattle Times
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I don't blame retailers for making returns a little more difficult or expensive...and I don't blame (honest) consumers for being a bit upset:
Rising Online Returns Have Stores Tightening Policies and Raising Fees - WSJ
Return fraud: The $100 billion problem facing retailers - Ekata, a Mastercard company
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Because who doesn't need to see this face in the morning?
Today's Video
How the heck do you do that?
In Korea