VivaBarnesLaw
Politics • Culture • News
The Barnes Brief: Friday, August 16, 2024
August 16, 2024
post photo preview
Art of the Day

Schedule: Past & Prospective

Closing Argument: Economic Tea Leaves

Book Recommendation: The Saga of Uncle Earl https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1150991.Earl_K_Long

Art of the Day: Fascinated with art and photography capturing water, bridges, windows, and doors, as expressing the possibility of life, the paths yet to pursue, the mysteries to be uncovered and the truths to be discovered, Monet’s water lilies and Japanese bridges always drew me in. A favorite museum of mine – like Frida’s house in Mexico City and Rodin’s in Paris – Monet’s in the French countryside attracted to visit the nearby lily pond he made famous and stand on that same bridge he spent so much time making immemorial. A place to get lost in thought as the archives of nature invite us into that window into our own soul, explore the water of the spirit, walk through that door into our inner world, bridging the nature around us to the soul inside, and it’s shared architect.

Wisdom of the Day: "The time is always right to do what is right." Earl Long. 

Introduction: Top 10 Headlines of the Week

  1. Trump team
  2. Housing woes
  3. Horrid current economy conditions
  4. Harris new plan
  5. Disney abuse
  6. Ukraine invades
  7. Perry death arrests
  8. Massive hack
  9. Biden crime admissions
  10. DNC tries to stop RFK on ballot

The Evidence: Top Ten Articles from The Barnes Library

  1. The promise of JD
  2. CRE troubles
  3. War on small business
  4. Price control debate
  5. Price control advocates
  6. Price control skepticism
  7. Price control criticism
  8. Price control doubts
  9. Price control queues
  10. Price control efficacy & equity

*Bonus: Aesthetic revolution

Homework: Cases TBD on Sunday

  1. Voter registration lawsuit https://mcusercontent.com/08cb3e52aa1308600f84d49ea/files/8827e8ea-0eb8-123c-23b9-5d39b2e8c0e4/1_2024_08_13_Complaint.pdf
  2. UAW charges Trump for Musk interview https://www.reuters.com/world/us/uaw-files-labor-charges-against-trump-musk-2024-08-13/
  3. EU threatens Musk https://x.com/lindayaX/status/1823052643733823640
  4. Pepsi class action https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ian-mccausland-v-pepsico-ruling-mtd.pdf
  5. Fourth Amendment victory https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/23/23-60321-CR0.pdf
  6. Scott Peterson innocence claim https://www.courthousenews.com/scott-peterson-makes-bid-to-clear-his-name-by-dna-testing-evidence-from-pregnant-wifes-murder/
  7. AI fake nudes https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/nudify-websites-lawsuit.pdf
  8. Big Tech battle https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/08/16/23-2969.pdf
  9. Facebook censorship https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2024/08/09/21-16210.pdf
  10. Bank seizure https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/sites/ca10/files/opinions/010111094414.pdf
  11. Legality of price controls https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2373&context=dlj
  12. Tik Tok ban https://sf16-va.tiktokcdn.com/obj/eden-va2/hkluhazhjeh7jr/2024.06.20%20-%20TT%20v.%20Garland%20-%20%5B2060743%5D%20Brief%20of%20Petitioners%20TikTok%20Inc%20and%20ByteDance%20Ltd.pdf

*Bonus: Arbitration abuse, ex. Disney

Closing Argument: Economic Tea Leaves

  • The Boston Tea Party manifested a political revolution rooted in an economic revolt. The economic tea leaves ever since signaled political change. 2024 tells a very interesting tale in the tea leaves of the economy.
  • Since its inception in the 1950’s, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment studies only dipped below 70 for extended time periods in the run-up to the 1980, 1992 and 2008 Presidential elections. In all three cases, the incumbent party lost the electoral college by 100+ vote landslides.
  • The current confidence index continues to trail in the sub-70s in the run-up to 2024. Amongst the working class, the current sub-60s confidence index only matches 2008 and 1980, two elections that didn’t end up competitive at any level come election day. The working-class negativity over the current economic conditions in the past year set a record low since the inception of the survey. Gallup’s aggregate economic confidence index follows the same path, with the lowest levels recorded since the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 and the recession of 1992.
  • A related concern focuses on the physical manifestation of the American dream: the family homestead. American’s confidence in their ability to buy a home currently sits at the lowest level ever in the history of the survey. Of note, similar data mirrors in American’s confidence to buy a car or significant household items.
  • This translates into other tangible ways beyond skipping vacations, meals out, a family night at the movies, that special gift on that special occasion, or a personal item of special interest – skipping meals and skipping medical appointments. A majority of working-class Americans report skipping on meals and medicine, as well as utilities like hot water, heat or air conditioning, in the last six months due to the inability of their income to keep with the cost of living in essential goods and services.
  • This is often compounded by a diminishing sense of security in their ability to retire, savings for emergencies, and rising debt levels, often borrowing from friends and family, loan sharks and payday lenders, high interest credit cards or high interest vehicle or furnishing providers. For younger Americans outside the affluent classes, this took on a double whammy as eviction delays ended, student loans came due, and stimulation checks disappeared.
  • This economic perception reflects their economic reality: food prices spiked 25% since Biden’s election, housing prices doubled in many markets, gas prices jumped 50%, and utility costs fled up, while access to credit shrunk, small businesses struggled and real wages and incomes fell. It’s a recipe no incumbent party has ever survived. Those that ignore it usually get their tea tossed. 
community logo
Join the VivaBarnesLaw Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
72
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
How to Read Fake News

Another installment out of Canada

00:09:43
We made it back safe!

Going to write a book review right now. Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it back safe and sound.

We noticed the car was vibrating yesterday. I thought it was wheel alignment issues.

This is what we saw we got home.

Thank goodness we did not have a problem on the highway! Chattanooga to Boca in one day.

The event was fantastic. It was great meeting everyone!

00:00:27
How cute is this dog!

We got caught in the rain at our gas station stop.

00:00:19
February 17, 2024
Appearance on Richard Syrette

I did a quick hit on Richard Syrette yesterday. Gotta keep Canadians apprised of the U.S. madness.

Appearance on Richard Syrette
The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023

Closing Argument: Birthright citizenship is deeply American, and wholly Constitutional.

The Barnes Brief, Podcast Format: Monday, July 17, 2023
Declaration of Independence

Audio podcast style.

Declaration of Independence

https://substack.com/home/post/p-209736196
Steve Kirsch's newsletter Aug 03, 2026

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) refuses to do ANY investigation whatsoever linking vaccines with autism

That's not science. That's a joke. The committee should be disbanded. I read through their entire 336-page strategic plan and the word "vaccine" was never mentioned. Not even once.

Steve Kirsch

post photo preview
Tyler Hansen on today’s show

Tyler is going to be on the show today.

If you haven’t seen his report on the Canadian border, give it a watch.

https://x.com/FrontlinesTPUSA/status/2082843665899163979/video/1?s=46

August 01, 2026
So far, so amazing

Getting to hang with Baris, the Alex’s and many more!

An amazing crowd.

Awesome people.

I’m speaking tomorrow :)

post photo preview
post photo preview
The Barnes Brief: Weekend of July 31, 2026
I. THE INTRODUCTION
 
A. Art of the Day 
  • My idea for a perfect Saturday brunch, sitting by an open window in Venice along the canals, fresh flowers gracing the table and balcony, the blue skies and 18th century buildings smiling back, gondoliers parked, an Italian meal awaiting, in this Atlantis of cultured living. 
 
B. Wisdom of the Day
  • Hubris infects the strong, not the weak; the clever, not the  knave; the smart, not the illiterate; the previously successful, not the prior failed. It’s what makes it so inviting, so tempting, and so destructive — precisely because it infects the very people who need to be most immune from it. 
 
C. Appearances
 
  • Judge Napolitano
  • Peoples Pundit
    placeholder
  • Dialogue Works
    placeholder
  • Daniel Davis
  • Going Underground
    placeholder
     
  • Mario/Brandon.
    placeholder
 
D. Daily Picks
 
E. Special Notices
  • Special discount on SportsPicks subscriptions. Get all the picks on elections markets, economic markets, events markets, sports markets, plus exclusive AMAs, Masterclasses, and the best value in prediction markets anywhere, for less than $1/day and more than 50% off the annualized price. Discount code: 1776 https://sportspicks.locals.com/post/8098900/huge-discount
 
II. THE EVIDENCE: BARNES LIBRARY
 
A. Food & Medicine
 
B. Economics
 
C. Politics
 
D. Geopolitics
 
E. Culture
  • The musunderstood Orca.
 
*Bonus: Board Post of Note
 

 

Read full Article
post photo preview
The Barnes Brief: Thursday, July 30, 2026
I. THE INTRODUCTION
 
A. Art of the Day 
  • The well worn wooden desk, the papers stacked, the lamp lit office, the window’s view to the outer worls, the chalkboard for inspiration, the books stacked, the deep leather chair, and a bottle of bourbon for the work’s end. A perfect office. 
 
B. Wisdom of the Day
  • “Hubris is the arrogance that just scrapes the stars as it falls fast and furious to the demise of its exhibitor.” 
 
C. Appearances
 
  • Judge Napolitano
  • Peoples Pundit
    placeholder
  • Dialogue Works
    placeholder
  • Daniel Davis
 
D. Daily Picks
 
E. Special Notices
  • Special discount on SportsPicks subscriptions. Get all the picks on elections markets, economic markets, events markets, sports markets, plus exclusive AMAs, Masterclasses, and the best value in prediction markets anywhere, for less than $1/day and more than 50% off the annualized price. Discount code: 1776 https://sportspicks.locals.com/post/8098900/huge-discount
 
II. THE EVIDENCE: BARNES LIBRARY
 
A. Food & Medicine
  • Fauci exposed
 
B. Economics
 
C. Politics
 
D. Geopolitics
 
E. Culture & History
 
*Bonus: Board Post of Note
 

 

Read full Article
post photo preview
The Barnes Brief: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
I. THE INTRODUCTION
 
A. Art of the Day 
  • The Venetian arched bridge above, the old walls of the city surround, the bricklaid road ahead, the dance of light against the alley, as the shadow makes us bigger than ourselves. 
 
B. Wisdom of the Day
  • “When we don’t put the brakes on our self-absorption, we have nothing stopping us from self-destruction.” Zeena Shreck. 
 
C. Appearances
 
  • Judge Napolitano
  • Peoples Pundit
    placeholder
  • Dialogue Works
    placeholder
  • Daniel Davis
 
D. Daily Picks
 
E. Special Notices
  • Special discount on SportsPicks subscriptions. Get all the picks on elections markets, economic markets, events markets, sports markets, plus exclusive AMAs, Masterclasses, and the best value in prediction markets anywhere, for less than $1/day and more than 50% off the annualized price. Discount code: 1776
 
II. THE EVIDENCE: BARNES LIBRARY
 
A. Food & Medicine
 
B. Economics
 
C. Politics
 
D. Geopolitics
 
E. Culture & History
 
*Bonus: Board Post of Note
 
 

 

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals