Author: Lone Candle

By Trump’s Logic, Biden Deserves Credit for a Dramatic Drop in Overdose Deaths

Posted on by Lone Candle

“When it became clear that overdoses had risen dramatically in 2020, experts surmised that it had something to do with the social and economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s response to it—an impression confirmed by subsequent research.

A 2024 study found that “volatile drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic was common, appeared to be driven by structural vulnerability, and was associated with increased overdose risk.” Another study pub­lished the same year concluded that “policies limiting in-person activities significantly increased” drug death rates.

If pandemic-related disruption drove the 2020 overdose spike, the return to normal life seems like a plausible explanation for subsequent decreases, although the death toll was still about 14 percent higher last year than it was in 2019. Last fall, University of North Carolina drug researcher Nabarun Dasgupta and his colleagues suggested other possible factors, including wider availability of naloxone, an opioid antagonist that quickly reverses overdoses.”

https://reason.com/2025/05/21/by-trumps-logic-biden-deserves-credit-for-a-dramatic-drop-in-overdose-deaths/

Top Historian: How the Ukraine War is Going to End

Posted on by Lone Candle

‘Already in 1993/1994, [Russia] had begun to make threatening language and gestures toward its neighbors. In 1994 the president of Estonia made a speech about how happy Estonia was to be a member of Europe and about the reemergence of a threat from Russia. He was already hearing language from Russia threatening Estonia sovereignty and whether Estonia was really an independent country. At this speech, the deputy mayor of Saint Petersburg, Vladimir Putin, walked out. The language of threat from Russia began in the 90s. In 2005 there was a large cyber attack on Estonia. This is why these countries wanted to join NATO, because they felt a reasonable direct threat from Russia.’

NATO is not a direct threat to Russia’s homeland, and it is only a threat to Russia’s interests if Russia has the intention of dominating its neighbors. Russia’s interest in Ukraine is not primarily defensive, but imperial.

There was almost no U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe until Russia stole Crimea with military force.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKdpLFvxJxg

How To Fix California’s Self-Inflicted Homeowner’s Insurance Crisis

Posted on by Lone Candle

“According to a 2023 paper from the International Center for Law and Economics, as of 2020, despite sky-high property values and well-known wildfire risks, Californians “paid an annual average of $1,285 in homeowners insurance premiums across all policy types—less than the national average of $1,319.” When insurers need to raise rates to reflect risks and costs, they can only do so after extended hearings and a government review process designed to please voters, not to reflect economic reality. Unsurprisingly, well before the Los Angeles fires, insurers were limiting coverage and leaving the state.

Even Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara admits insurers “don’t have to be here, and when we try to overregulate, we’ll see what happened after the Northridge earthquake, when the legislature came in and tried to overregulate, and they no longer write earthquake insurance in California.””

https://reason.com/2025/05/21/how-to-fix-californias-self-inflicted-homeowners-insurance-crisis/

The 3 FAA Failures Creating a Dangerous Mess in the Skies

Posted on by Lone Candle

“Today, more than 80 countries have air traffic control systems that are public utilities funded by user fees, allowing them to generate money quickly, issue revenue bonds, replace aging facilities, update their technology, and hire skilled staff while being directly accountable to customers. The U.S. is one of the few countries that hasn’t adopted this approach to air traffic control. The results are understaffing, outdated technology, and a lack of meaningful oversight—all combining to put travelers at risk.”

https://reason.com/2025/05/21/the-3-faa-failures-creating-a-dangerous-mess-in-the-skies/

Trump’s tariffs cloud the future of a medical wonder

Posted on by Lone Candle

“High-end medical devices, including those made by American manufacturers, may be especially vulnerable as many machines are built of components from a dozen vendors around the world. Some scanners cost millions of dollars and are so cutting-edge that hospitals publish a press release when they arrive.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tariffs-cloud-future-medical-232736304.html

ICE Helps Round Up Sex Workers in Florida

Posted on by Lone Candle

“A recent “human trafficking enforcement operation” in Polk County, Florida, led to 244 arrests—albeit none for human trafficking. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Polk County is far from alone in rounding up sex workers and their customers under the auspices of stopping human trafficking. And as is so frequently the case, the federal government had a hand in this operation, which authorities dubbed Fool Around and Find Out.”

…

“In addition to targeting adults for trying to consensually engage other adults in private sexual activity, immigration enforcement seems to have been a goal. A press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) notes that 36 of those arrested “are here illegally.””

…

“NFL Player Arrested, but No Human Traffickers”

…

“Toward the bottom of the press release, a quote from Sheriff Judd notes that “in addition to these 244 arrests, we also arrested 11 child predators who solicited who they thought were children online.” Judd seemingly wants to give the impression that Operation Fool Around and Find Out did more than just arrest people for wanting to engage in consensual adult activity.
But those 11 arrests were part of a separate operation, with its own name: Operation Child Protector VI. They appear to have nothing to do with the other 244 arrests.”

https://reason.com/2025/05/21/ice-helps-round-up-sex-workers-in-florida/

A Federal Judge Says New Mexico Cops Reasonably Killed an Innocent Man at the Wrong House

Posted on by Lone Candle

A story of police incompetence resulting in an innocent man killed.

“At that point, according to the complaint, the officers “finally announced themselves, and Kimberly Dotson told them that someone had shot her husband and requested their help.” She “did not realize even at that moment that the three police officers had killed her husband,” which she did not learn “until she was finally told eight hours later at the police station where she was detained.”

After the shooting, the lawsuit says, “the officers involved did not disclose to investigators that they were at the wrong address, which was the error leading to the tragic result and without which it would not have occurred.” The mistake “was discovered by other officers who arrived at the scene.””

…

“In Garcia’s view, the late-night visit at the wrong house that resulted in Dotson’s death did not amount to such recklessness. He is not alone in concluding that police cannot reasonably be expected to make sure they are in the right place when they approach or even break into someone’s home.”

https://reason.com/2025/05/21/a-federal-judge-says-new-mexico-cops-reasonably-killed-an-innocent-man-at-the-wrong-house/