Latest video essay for @Reason.com (RSS Feed) about why it would make a lot of sense for Trump to finally pardon @npub1sn0w...jdv9 :

Any ghost gunners on here who’ve been subject to raids or other government actions in the past several months? DM me about a project.

Rainbows might be fleeting, but Nostr events are forever.

"If bitcoin has the potential to serve as the foundation for a new global monetary system, Nostr could do the same for communication and identity in the digital sphere..." - @gladstein

Gave a shoutout to Nostr near the end of this conversation with Glenn Greenwald about Brazil's ban of X, the Telegram arrest, and the looming global crackdown on online speech, encryption and privacy.

France really out there requiring cryptography licenses. What a joke country. http://at-ica.com

Kamala Harris' first concrete policy: Federal price controls on food. Related: I own some chickens and will accept sats for eggs.

Reason.com

Kamala wants price controls

The government meddling in the economy will not drive prices down, it will force firms to go out of business and consumers to experience shortages.

Is there a big European presence on Nostr yet? Curious if people are discovering it as a censorship-free alternative given the crackdowns and threats. Would love to read some commentary from accounts on here if they exist.

My reflections on the awful plea deal that Julian Assange was forced to take in exchange for his freedom and the threat it presents to freedom of the press. And the good news: Assange definitively proved that information does, indeed, want to be free.

The founders of Samourai Wallet have been indicted for "conspiracy to commit money laundering." We know why it's "conspiracy to commit" as opposed to just "money laundering." It's because what they did was provide a privacy tool that some people could use for money laundering. It is part of the government's ongoing war on privacy, specifically financial privacy. Those in power yearn for every transaction to be tracked, taxed and, if need be, frozen. The action against the Canadian truckers was the template, and CBDCs (programmable, instantly manipulated money) are the tool of control that they ultimately want. First, they must dismantle the privacy-centric alternatives so there's no viable exit ramp once CBDCs and the like are implemented. That's what we've been witnessing with the attacks on coin tumblers like Tornado Cash and today's attack on Samourai. They will point to bad people using these tools, just as they pointed out that Hamas raised some funds in various cryptocurrencies, without noting that a vast amount of money laundering happens with government-issued currency. It's the same kind of bad-faith argument the FBI made in the '90s when they tried to kill end-to-end encryption altogether. "Sometimes terrorists might use it." Ok, and? They also use pressure cookers. The internet as we know it today would not exist if they had succeeded. They are unlikely to succeed this time either, but unfortunately there will be casualties in the war on privacy, and those casualties will be those who openly thwart their ambitions of total surveillance. My 2022 video including an interview with a Samourai Wallet founder here:

Momentum is building to "child-proof" the internet by requiring social media age verification. It appears likely that a combination of legislative action and immense political pressure on tech companies over the next 2-3 years will lead to what amounts to a Digital ID for virtually any website where users interact with each other. Online anonymity will become vanishingly rare. This is one way Nostr becomes a final refuge for those seeking surveillance-free, unmediated communication.

Back from a long weekend in the semi-autonomous free zone of Prospera on the Honduran island of Roatán for the “Alternative Visions in Governance” conference hosted by Reason Foundation. Lots of stimulating discussion about “markets in governance” and the power of exit. A phrase that stuck with me as I contemplate the power shifts unfolding in the early 21st century: “Softening of sovereignty.” Will be sharing a recorded convo soon. Pic: Me in Prospera last year drinking coffee purchased with bitcoin earned on Nostr in front of Amity Age Bitcoin Education Center, which has helped ~60 of the island’s vendors set up payments.

Julian Assange published material exposing uncomfortable truths about America's wars, and the US charged him with violating the Espionage Act for it. @Liz Wolfe and I talked about his ongoing imprisonment with his wife Stella assange on this week's show.

Don’t let lazy media convince you Milei is “Argentina’s Trump.” He’s a hardcore libertarian and Austrian economist. Does that mean he’s a savior that will fix all that ails Argentina? Of course not. But at least understand what’s going on. Real analysis here:

How bitcoin saves the planet. New Reason documentary:

I learned so much from both Eduardo Marty and Gloria Alvarez in this episode about Milei. Eduardo’s description of life under massive inflation really stuck with me.

Any Argentinians who’d be interested in speaking with me about Milei?

Copium shortage in Brooklyn.

Being a father brings such richness, drive and focus to life. Sometimes it can hard, sure, but it’s often fun as hell. 10/10 would recommend. Happy Father’s Day, fellas.

Nic Carter taking Operation Chokepoint 2 electric boogaloo with #[1]