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Vivek Ramaswamy spoke Wednesday to the Cato Institute about the future of the U.S. administrative state. Ramaswamy argued that some in the National Conservative movement, with its emphasis on capturing the executive branch and using federal agencies to advance conservative policy goals, are fundamentally mistaken both about the nature of those agencies and the substance of national excellence. The beginning of the event was interrupted by a number of climate protestors, who jumped onto the stage with a banner accusing Ramaswamy of being a parasite. The protestors chanted “climate conman” for several minutes before being removed from the event.  Ramaswamy took advantage of the interruption, however, to add to the discussion. Referring to the debate over whether the Federal Trade Commission should block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel, he pointed out that the primary shareholder of U.S. Steel stock is Blackrock, a company which has repeatedly pressured companies to implement DEI initiatives, damaging climate policies, and other ESG-oriented measures. He argued that using the FTC to block the acquisition would be empowering bureaucrats that are opposed to conservative goals, including economic freedom, to use their power to the benefit of Blackrock and climate protestors like those who had just been ejected from the room.  “That doesn’t make any sense even on the substance advancing a conservative agenda,” he said. “Anytime that you are going to expand the scope of a three-letter agency, what you are actually doing is digging the grave you will fall into tomorrow.” Throughout the event, Ramaswamy leveled criticisms at some National Conservatives both for their belief that the administrative state can and should be used to advance a conservative agenda and their advocacy for protectionist economic policy.  While noting that the “blind neoliberal consensus” pre-Trump had failed, particularly by making America more dependent on China, Ramaswamy asserted that a decoupling from China necessitates not protectionism but more trade with friendly countries like Japan and the Philippines. The future direction of American conservatism, he said, needs to be sovereignty, not the blind maximization of economic gains nor the protection of the interests of a narrow class of workers. Ramaswamy argued that American sovereignty in the fullest sense requires a radical revision of the relationship between the various branches of government and the administrative state—America can be sovereign if and only if the government is run by the people we elect to run it. I think [the administrative state] is the vestige of pre-revolutionary America under England and King George. The old view was that we, the people, could not be trusted to self-govern… We had to be overseen by the enlightened elite… I think if there’s one basic idea that unites all Americans, it’s that we believe in every person’s voice and vote counting equally as a citizen in a free marketplace of ideas… if we’re not able to govern ourselves that way, I think we’ve lost the essence of why we fought the American Revolution in the first place. Ramaswamy’s proposed solution is a drastic reduction in both regulations and staff in federal agencies, which he argues can be unilaterally implemented by a strong executive. Citing several recent decisions by the Supreme Court, including Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, he suggested that the president could appoint constitutional lawyers to each agency who would review regulations and rulings for compliance with the Major Questions Doctrine. Regulations not in compliance could be struck by executive order, vastly reducing the total regulatory reach of the government. Simultaneously, federal bureaucracies could be trimmed without the need to deal with Civil Service protections by arbitrary mass layoffs—for example, firing all employees of executive agencies whose Social Security ID ends in an odd number. When asked about the political feasibility of his proposal, Ramaswamy responded that it would depend on the courage of conservative leadership: I think we live in one of the moments where we require leaders to show the people what they actually need… We’re seeing a little bit of that with Argentina. What Javier Milei has done—in a much smaller country, much less complicated circumstances—but it’s shown what’s possible in cutting the unimaginable, and actually, at least so far, showing results in a positive direction for the people as a result. The post Ramaswamy Breaks With Some NatCons at Protest-Disrupted Event appeared first on The American Conservative.

Arundhati Roy’s 1997 novel was a groundbreaking bestseller that solidified her as an important voice on the global stage. Here’s what you should know.

Attentive drivers will notice more than one kind of typeface during their travels.

Musical sibling trio Biko's Manna, hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, has already taken the internet by storm with outstanding covers of “Stand By Me,” “What Was I Made For,” “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and much, much more. The group’s viral fame even got them a spot on “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” where they sang “I Say A Little Prayer,” and played their first stand alone concert and the DC Jazz festival. And now, the talented trio has made their way to the “America’s Got Talent” stage, where they performed "Clearly" by Grace VanderWaal.Biko’s Manna might have made their claim to fame with casual performances in their living room, but man, they know how to fill a stage. Between the big sister Biko (aka BikoStar)’s crystal clear angelic vocals, middle brother Manna (aka MannaHero)’s guitar playing and harmonies, and youngest brother Mfundo (also aka TauLion)’s dance moves which are a whole vibe, it’s easy to see why folks are impressed. But it’s also their contagious joy and undeniable chemistry that keeps people coming back.Though it’s hard to pick a favorite moment, Mfundo jamming with maracas and shouting “it’s gone, so gone!” during the chorus is definitely up there. Watch: - YouTube www.youtube.com Biko previously shared that “music is in her blood,” and was inspired at an early age by singer and songwriter India Arie (yep, that checks, she’s definitely got an Arie vibe to her voice). Not long after she started learning guitar, Manna and Mfundo joined in, and thus "Biko's Manna” was formed. Nailing it one the head, judge Simon Cowell told the group, “there’s something really authentic about what you do. You have the ability, which is rare, just to make everyone feel amazing when you perform.” “I couldn’t stop smiling,” Howie Mandel echoed. “What you do is contagious and wonderful and just makes us happy.”In response, Biko sweetly said, “The love that we have for each other, we are so grateful to spread it to the world cause all we really need is love.”What a beautiful sentiment. The ability to spread love, joy and happiness is quite possibly the greatest talent of all. Continue following this amazon trio’s journey on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

School is now in session. And for many families, it’s the first time ever waving their little ones (and the chapter of parenthood when they’re home 24/7) goodbye. And before you know it, they’ll be doing it all over again just before college! Gone forever! Needless to say, it can be an emotional time. This was the bittersweet situation a mom named Tavia Wade found herself in as she was sending her twin daughters to kindergarten. But whatever worries Wade might have been dealing with, those were soon put at ease when her daughters’ kindergarten teacher gave her a note so touching it made her “ugly cry.” In a video posted to TikTok, Wade shows the pink slip of paper along with some tissues (clearly this teacher was thorough) handed to her that very morning. On the slip was a lovely poem, which read: I give you a little wink and smile as you enter my room today, For I know how hard it is to leave and know your child must stay.You’ve been with them for many years now, and have been a loving guide, But now, alas, the time has come to leave them at my side.Just know that as you drive away, the tears down your cheeks may flow; I’ll love them as I would my own and help them learn and grow.So please put your mind at ease and cry those tears no more, For I will love them and take them in, when you leave them at my door. @taviawade It needed to be heard ♬ original sound - Tavia Wade Though she was able to recite it with a straight face, Was admitted that“My husband and I couldn’t even lift our heads until we were, like, halfway home; we live, like, a block away from the school. We were both uncontrollably crying.”Wade’s video quickly racked up 200,000 views and tons of comments—most from teachers who couldn’t help but share their own sentiment. Here’s a small sampling:“We really do love your babies as our own, I promise ?” “I mean it with my entire soul when I say I love my students like they’re my own. Good day, bad days I don’t care, I love each and every one of them.”“I do this every year. I truly just want parents to know how loved their child is going to be ❤️”“Teacher here….every word is true! And enjoy every school aged moment…dropping them off at college (sophomore year starts next week) is ???.” Many even shared that they would be doing the same thing for parents the following year. So perhaps we are witnessing a very wholesome trend in the making!Either way, it’s lovely to see a teachers who put so much care to make their students—and their students’ parents—feel loved and comforted during such big transition.

Flirting with flawlessness. The post Pete Townshend discusses the one perfect moment achieved by The Who first appeared on Far Out Magazine.