Francis Menton, at his “Manhattan Contrarian,” discusses Peggy Noonan’s claim that Trump is corrupt. Noonan begins her argument with, “Trump businesses have developed positions in industries over which the administration exercises power.”

The problem, according to Francis Menton, is government “exercises power” over every industry. Investors in essentially every industry view they are over-regulated by the government (less regulation would be an improvement in public policy). In almost every case, investors are right about that. So Trump deregulated the cryptocurrency industry and made money for himself off that. Independent of whether Trump made money personally on this, was deregulation of cryptocurrencies good public policy? Clearly, Trump thought it was.

According to Mr. Menton, the real question is not whether Trump is “corrupt,” but whether it is a good thing to have Presidents with interests in the private sector economy.

… the most recent Democratic Presidents — Clinton, Obama, Biden — have had no significant interests in the private sector economy, and indeed no real job in their lives other than “politician.” Is that preferable? To Menton, it is not.

Well then, continues Noonan,

Suppose a Republican president leaves office having established that a president can use regulatory powers against antagonistic institutions, exert pressures on companies needing government approval, and demand personal loyalty throughout the executive branch, all with no lasting repercussions. The next administration, disposed in other ideological directions, inherits the precedent’s.

Guess what? A president “can use regulatory powers against antagonistic institutions.” Furthermore, a president can exert pressures on companies needing government approval.”

At the time these powers were enacted, did anybody think that these things might be a problem? Did somebody really have the idea that the President and his subordinates were always going to be completely disinterested geniuses acting wholly in the public interest, with no personal or political motives of any kind? The whole idea is ridiculous. Ultimately, Noonan is not making an argument why Trump is corrupt, so much as she is making an argument in favor of more limited government. She just doesn’t recognize that, notes Menton.

Corrupt for a President to Demand Loyalty?

Mr. Menton recognizes employees (in an aspirational world) of the executive branch could have respectful disagreements with each other, leading to improvements in public policy. But then we find that in a world where loyalty to the President is not demanded from employees of the executive branch, we get people in the FBI and CIA cooking up the Russia collusion hoax, and initiating criminal investigations against the elected President on the flimsiest of grounds in the attempt to bring him down. Peggy Noonan thinks that trying to put a stop to this is corruption. It is not, confirms Menton. Unfortunately, we have learned that such a demand for loyalty is necessary for the government to be able to function at all, at least if a Republican gets elected.

Far worse, writes Francis Menton, back in the Clinton/Obama/Biden days, it was a different kind of corruption: passing out tens of billions of taxpayer dollars annually to Democrat-friendly institutions and NGOs, some percentage of which then gets kicked back as monetary or in-kind political contributions to keep Democrats in power. Mr. Menton thinks this is far worse, far larger type of corruption than Peggy Noonan attributes to Trump. Menton doesn’t recall Ms. Noonan writing about it at the time. And again in falls under the category of “politics is inherently corrupt,” rather than something that can be effectively criminalized.

Joe Biden specialized in taking millions from a corrupt Ukrainian business and in return using U.S. foreign aid as a lever to call off a prosecutor.

That was classic “quid pro quo” corruption, actually subject to criminal prosecution. See Menton’s tag “Bidens: Stone Cold Crooked.”

Francis Menton is not trying to stand up for everything Trump has done as completely free from corruption. “But again, politics is inherently corrupt.”

Overall, writes Menton, “I would far prefer a President with experience and interests in the private sector than someone without such experience or interests. If that means that the President can inherently benefit from some of his policy decisions, so be it.”

Start with Dodge

If we don’t like that, Menton’s best solution is to shrink the scope of the President’s responsibilities, as Trump attempted with “Dodge.”

The best way to reduce “corruption” is to shrink not only the scope of the President’s responsibilities, but the absolute scope and size of the overall government.

Government Interference
Debbie Young

“Weather turning a bit rainy,” he texted. Here’s more pictures from the road, a two-week BMW adventure tour.

• “Make Sure You Have Some Experience Before You…”
• Northern Lights

Action Line: Tell me about your retirement life. Email me at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com. And click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.

Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.

“Weather Turning a Bit Rainy,” He Texted
E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Lockheed Martin and Saildrone demonstrated how commercial unmanned surface vessels (USVs) can be rapidly adapted for naval combat missions during RIMPAC 2026 near Hawaii. A Saildrone Surveyor equipped with Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Dual Launcher and the Navy’s ARES system successfully conducted two live-fire launches against a surrogate high-speed surface target, operating with targeting data from the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group.

The team also demonstrated passive electronic warfare capabilities by detecting, classifying, and identifying a surrogate threat radar in coordination with an MH-60S helicopter. The demonstration showed that autonomous platforms can perform both kinetic and non-kinetic missions while working alongside traditional Navy forces.

The effort highlights the potential to quickly field proven defense technologies on commercially developed platforms. Lockheed Martin and Saildrone completed the integration in just six months and plan to expand these capabilities to larger platforms, including the Saildrone Spectre, which could support systems such as the Mk 70 launcher and SURTASS.

Lockheed Martin and Saildrone Advance Unmanned Naval Warfare
Steve Schneider

In Kim Strassel’s latest post in “All Things Considered” (WSJ), Kim speaks with Jeanne Allen about the progress made at the Office of Special Education Rehabilitation. Don’t forget, Jeanne reminds Kimberley Strassel, the Dept. of Education is “a check-writing machine.”

I mean, it is extraordinary how many people, even in good administrations that really liked our stuff, would write regulation because there was somebody telling them that’s what you did. Well, when they’re not around, they don’t have that job, they don’t do it. And when you put it in a Department of Labor and you say, workforce, makes sense.

Workforce, technical education, career education, elementary and secondary education, you go and manage that. They’re not spending hours and hours and hours and days creating new stuff. So the idea is right, and it has reduced the amount of oversight that these states are feeling, which is I think the other reason that things are percolating up.

It’s just Congress is not really happy. And so now I think they’re beginning to think about November and so they’re pushing back because they have school boards calling them. And I used to be a school board member and Republicans are as guilty of this sometimes as the Democrats.

Kim Strassel agrees with her guest, “We all need a little bit more courage on this front.” Kim also asks Ms. Allen to give her readers the “flavor” of her book, without revealing the names of the 12 avengers whom Ms. Allen highlights in her book.

The Heart of Human Flourishing

Ms. Allen tells Ms. Strassel that her picks have avenger names: Captain Potential, Captain Character, Lady Thrive, people who are avenging something.

And the reason I took that approach is truly because it’s a whole new crop of heroes. They’re not just creating things they think will make life better.

It turns out that as I started selecting them among many people who are supplying the next generation of students with something, I realized they were doing more than educating in very different ways. They were having an impact on the growth of community and how those students and those young people, and even the adults around them, dealt with life.

Kim and Jeanne also discuss how it’s different than the end of the day.

They were having an impact on the growth of community and how those students and those young people, and even how the adults around them dealt with life. And that is sort of the heart of all the human flourishing work out there. I’ve always been fascinated by the work that’s talking about how really at the end of the day, we create great societies again, great communities, great civic-minded when people have a sense of belonging and are thriving.

Peeling Back the Onion

When Jeanne picked and interviewed these people about why and what they did, she found that they all had their own story.

… how do we influence other people to do the same thing if you don’t know the conditions that will make somebody? By the way, conditions of adversity, a lot, very clear adversity. Conditions of apathy, conditions which were just normal everyday upbringing, that something sparked it. Someone in their life sparked something and they were able to now bring it full circle. And what’s happening in society that we really must wake up to and why it’s so important that kids are worth it. Because it’s scary when you start peeling back the onion, what the kids themselves are experiencing.

… talk about the great charter school, the great private school, the great different technology program, but when you hear people talk about the stuff that’s coming into their schools that those kids and families are fleeing from our kids are not protected anymore.

… what these Avengers are doing is literally assembling to tackle that hydra and the hydra has to go. And so I think they’re capable of doing this in force.

… I wanted to highlight why it is a fight and a battle that if you’re interested in understanding it, you have to understand it’s that serious.

Kim Strassel wraps things up by telling Jeanne Allen that she, KS, can’t wait to read her book when it comes out on 25 August. Kim then tells Jeanne that she is an education avenger before Kim thanks Jeanne Allen for coming on Kim’s show.

And if you, the listener, likes the show, hit the subscribe button.

The Education Avengers
Debbie Young

Happy Friday from Your Survival Guy. I hope you’re getting out there and enjoying life. The stormy weather is here, but that’s not keeping visitors away—far from it.

Last night, one of our favorite restaurants was packed with a mix of locals and visitors. Sure, I can complain about the traffic, but I have to admit it’s nice to see friends and families out having a good time.

Time flies, though.

Advice: If you want to slow it down, have kids or be a new grandparent staying with your grandkids. The days can be long, but the years fly by. It’s hard to believe we’re empty nesters—most of the time.

Want some relief? Tired of being whipsawed by the markets? Take a holiday. September is a great time to visit New England, but in my conversations with you, you’re telling me reservations are tough to come by. The secret is out about September being nice.

Action Line: Make sure you’re investing for your comfort level. As the late, great Jack Bogle would say, “Don’t just do something; stand there.” Easier said than done if you’re chasing your tail with no idea where you’re going. I’m here if you need me: ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com.

Holiday: Happy Friday from Your Survival Guy
E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

The Wall Street Journal argues that rising Treasury yields are not a sign that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh is failing, but that his plan to reduce the Fed’s influence on bond markets is working. Stronger economic growth, especially from AI investment, is pushing interest rates higher.

For years, the Fed kept borrowing costs low through quantitative easing and low rates, helping the government finance its debt cheaply. Now, as the Fed reduces its balance sheet, the government faces higher borrowing costs. The WSJ believes this could eventually force lawmakers to confront the true cost of government spending and rising national debt.

The End of Financial Repression
Richard C. Young

Castelion announced a $1 billion Series C funding round to accelerate production of Blackbeard, its low-cost, mass-producible hypersonic strike missile. The financing includes $800 million in equity and $250 million in committed credit, valuing the company at $13 billion.

The investment will significantly expand production at Castelion’s 1,000-acre Project Ranger facility in New Mexico, where the company plans to spend hundreds of millions more on manufacturing capacity. Castelion also plans to accelerate a longer-range precision strike system and develop lower-cost defensive systems using technology and manufacturing methods developed for Blackbeard.

Project Ranger is moving fast.

17 buildings built. 1.6 million cubic yards of earth moved. 300 workers on site.

Speed matters, and we’re doing our part to rebuild the Arsenal of Freedom. pic.twitter.com/ebiQCUqspT

— Castelion (@Castelion) July 29, 2026

Castelion says it has secured more than $500 million in U.S. military contracts over the past 18 months and moved Blackbeard from initial design to a program of record in less than four years. The company is targeting 2027 for fielding and says its broader goal is to produce hypersonic weapons at much higher rates and lower costs.

The funding comes as Castelion expands its role in U.S. defense manufacturing. In June, the company announced a $23.4 million Navy order for 50 Blackbeard prototypes, while a May framework agreement called for multi-year procurement of 500 weapons annually.

Whoever learns fastest wins over time.

That happens through rapid prototyping, testing, and iteration.

A responsive, capable machine shop makes that possible at Castelion. Here’s how. pic.twitter.com/CoXspi3zWZ

— Castelion (@Castelion) August 10, 2026

Castelion’s Hypersonic Power Play
Steve Schneider

Trump is unpopular. That is no secret. In RealClearPolitics, his average is 39%.

A season of political rallies won’t improve that. Less campaigning might, advises Karl Rove in the WSJ.

It is senseless to help Democrats to easily tie a Republican candidate to voters’ low opinion of Mr. Trump. Karl Rove thinks that Trump should be raising money at fundraisers instead of inciting “an already excited Democratic electorate and make it more difficult for Republicans to contrast themselves with their opponents.”

Karl Rove knows of what he speaks. In 2006, an unpopular President George W. Bush’s Gallup approval rating in November was 38%.

Mr. Bush gave Republicans a better chance to keep their fire focused on their Democratic opponents.

The public had soured on the Iraq war. So while he raised oodles of campaign cash at private fundraisers, his campaigning was limited.

Still, as is customary in midterms, Republicans lost—30 House seats that year.

The Unpopular Iraq War

Lesson #1 learned: Fewer campaign rallies and more presidential actions that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives could produce a better outcome this time.

Next lesson learned: Although the Iraq War was unpopular, President Bush was seen as “a strong and decisive leader.”

He defended his actions, patiently explained the stakes in the war on terror, and was consistent and steady. Some people who didn’t like the war still trusted him because they felt, as president, he might know more than they did.

The Problem Is Messaging

Trump’s team should stop the bluster and wild promises on the Iranian conflict, forgo crude insults of allies and even foes, and return to the war’s original rationale.

From Trump: The “number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon.”

Trump needs to remind voters that the Iranian leadership has said for nearly a half-century “death to America,” and with a nuclear arsenal, they could act on that threat. And for God’s sake, writes Rove, “don’t TACO. That would only add to his image as weak, with consequences for domestic politics and the world.”

Karl Rove has offered versions of this case for presidential prudence and restraint more times, he says, than he can count.

That it’s ignored doesn’t make it any less right. Because there are good Republicans on the ballot who don’t deserve to be defeated but will be unless the president and his advisers forgo needless and unhelpful political spectacles this fall.

Let George W. Bush Help Trump
Debbie Young

You told me one of the reasons you wanted to take the BMW motorcycle adventure trip of a lifetime—from Alaska to Oregon—was to see the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Now that you have, with pictures to prove it, it turns out you’re also having the time of your life. Who knew?

Action Line: Get out there and make memories. Because if you don’t, two things will probably happen: it will be more expensive next year, and you’ll be a year older.

NOAA – Northern lights prediction tool.

Northern Lights
E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Russia’s invasion has caused widespread destruction of Ukrainian libraries, books and publishing facilities, with Ukrainian officials reporting that 906 libraries have been damaged or destroyed since 2022. Reports also document books being confiscated and burned, particularly works on Ukrainian history, language and culture.

Major libraries in Kherson have been damaged or destroyed, while attacks on publishing and distribution facilities in Kharkiv have destroyed millions of books and school textbooks, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Ukrainian officials and cultural advocates say the destruction goes beyond physical damage, arguing that it represents an effort to erase Ukrainian identity and culture. Despite the losses, librarians, writers and publishers continue working to preserve the country’s written heritage.

Russia’s Attempt to Erase Ukrainian Culture
Richard C. Young