Common Sense 250

Starting a movement to reboot the American political system

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

@FirstSquawk Axios lies. Don’t even share this nonsense.

[Governor Cox @GovCox]

I’ve heard from a lot of Utahns over the past week about the proposed data center project in Box Elder County. Many are asking questions about water, air quality, energy, land use, and the long-term impact on rural Utah. Those are real concerns, and all Utahns should expect clear standards and accountability.

Industry is our state’s motto. And in our pursuit of economic strength, we must always ensure that development is thoughtful and in line with Utah values.

Based on conversations with residents, local leaders, subject matter experts, and project stakeholders, the following actions are now being taken regarding this project. 🧵

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

@GovCox That was a thoughtful post addressing enormous issues. Process and outcome both matter. Staging the project helps ensure legal compliance and proper resource utilization. Good concluding acknowledgements--about yourself, Utah, and all our neighbors who have great concerns.

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

@buckleycarlson Time for a new platform for citizens to generate reform. Come join us! Link: https://t.co/yZ2cvVTg3C

[Javier Blas @JavierBlas]

VIDEO EXPLAINER: Trump has given Iran an ultimatum — reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday mid-afternoon (Washington time) or else be attacked.

With the clock fast ticking, I’m re-publishing my recent @Opinion map explainer of Hormuz and the oil routes.

[Robert Barnes @barnes_law]

The future is with neither party.

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

A little common sense goes a long way!!!

[Joe Rogan Podcast News @joeroganhq]

Billy Bob Thornton: "Politically, I call myself a radical moderate. I’m like very strong in my opinions but my opinions don’t belong to any political party. I just look at what makes sense and I think we need a common sense party in this country."

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

An article with much to consider in light of the expanding regional war in the Middle East.

[Sohrab Ahmari 🇺🇸 @SohrabAhmari]

“The Americans imagine they’re the only ones who think. They forget that there is another actor who is equally capable of initiative, foresight, and planning.”

An Iranian-regime strategist tells me.

Read the full interview:

https://t.co/f80NWkzpU7

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

@beatmastermatt @KyleKulinski 🤣

[Cyrus Janssen @thecyrusjanssen]

An Iranian man left this comment on my YouTube channel. This is without a doubt the single best explanation of the reality facing Iranian people today👇

"As an Iranian, I can tell you the situation is no longer just political—it's existential. We are trapped between two collapsing structures: one internal, one external. On one hand, we face a deeply dysfunctional government, led by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic’s unelected institutions.

Decades of economic mismanagement, suppression of dissent, and brutal ideological control have alienated multiple generations. No one believes in reform anymore—because every attempt has either been co-opted or crushed. But here's the paradox: We are also terrified of regime collapse—because we've watched the aftermath of Western intervention in countries like Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan. Each was promised freedom; each descended into chaos, civil war, or foreign occupation.

So no, we don't trust the U.S. or Israel. Not because we support our regime—but because we know how imperial powers treat ‘liberated’ nations in the Middle East.

Freedom, in their language, often means vacuum, fire, and permanent instability. Right now, many Iranians live with three truths at once: The Islamic Republic is morally and politically bankrupt. The alternatives offered by foreign actors are not liberation—they’re collapse.

A bad government is survivable. No government is not. We are not silent because we agree. We are cautious because we’ve learned—too well—what happens when superpowers decide to "help." In a sentence: Iran is a nation held hostage by its own regime, but haunted by the fate of its neighbors. We are stuck in a house we hate, surrounded by fires we fear more."

[Rand Paul @RandPaul]

As yet another preemptive war is begun in the Middle East, John Quincy Adam’s words of wisdom still ring true:

“Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.”

Like most Americans I have sympathy for the plight of the Iranian people and all subjected people around the globe, from North Korea to Tibet.

But as Adam’s wrote, America:  “goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.

She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all.

She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.”

The Constitution conferred the power to declare or initiate war to Congress for a reason, to make war less likely.  

Madison wrote that “the Executive Branch is the branch most prone to war, therefore, the Constitution, with studied care, delegated the war power to the legislature.”

As with all war, my first and purest instinct is wish Americans soldiers safety and success in their mission.  

But my oath of office is to the Constitution, so with studied care, I must oppose another Presidential war.

[Forward Party of Utah @FWDUtah]

We were so happy to see all the smiling faces turn out at the 4th of July parade to represent Forward Utah. Thanks so much to everyone who showed up and cheered us on!

[Collin Rugg @CollinRugg]

Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan saved 165 lives in the Texas flash floods.

The 26-year-old, a former KPMG accountant, directed Army Blackhawk 60s and MH-65s to survivors and helped get them to safety, according to the New York Post.

“Ruskan spearheaded a high-risk rescue mission under the worst possible environmental conditions, which in the end saw 165 brought to safety,” the NYP reported.

“I’m just doing a job,” he told the NYP.

“This is what I signed up for, and I think that any single Coast Guard rescue swimmer or any single Coast Guard pilot, flight mechanic, whoever it may be, would have done the exact same thing in our situation.”

“That’s what we were asked to do and we’re gonna do it. Any one of us, if anyone else was on duty that day, they would have done the same thing as us.”

“We just happened to be the crew that got the case.”

[Jim Bianco @biancoresearch]

Something has broken tonight in the bond market. We are seeing a disorderly liquidation.

If I had to GUESS, the basis trade is in full unwind.

Since Friday's close to now ... the 30-year yield is up 56 bps, in three trading days.

The last time this yield rose this much in 3 days (close to close) was January 7, 1982, when the yield was 14%.

This kind of historic move is caused by a forced liquidation, not human managers make decisions about the outlook for rates at midnight ET.

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

Tons of common sense! A better use of AI than team Trump to make a reasonable argument grounded in global economic realities.

Push it up the chain! #TariffWar
#reciprocaltariff

[Bill Ackman @BillAckman]

How’s this for a simple approach?

We keep 10% across the board tariffs for the special privilege of doing business with the U.S. to compensate us for the investments we have made in global defense, health and otherwise, and to compensate our country for historically unfair trade practices that have contributed to our massive deficits and national debt.

We keep the pressure on China to resolve materially unfair trading practices, IP theft, currency manipulation, and other practices that have disadvantaged our nation.

We pause reciprocal tariff implementation for 90 days so we have time to engage in private negotiations with other countries, focusing first on those whose tariffs and practices have materially interfered with the competitiveness of U.S. manufactured goods in their markets.

Lastly, we consider that:

(1) it does not make sense to have balanced trade with countries that are smaller than us and that have fewer resources to spend on US goods, i.e., we will forever be buying more from Madagascar than they will buy from us,

(2) attempting to bring back jobs in low-wage manufacturing is not good for America, acknowledging, for example, that Bangladesh and Vietnam are better places to produce textiles and athletic shoes than here,

(3) U.S. ‘exports’ of software, IP, finance, and other services are high value and important sources of trade that are not reflected in traditional measures of exports and imports, and if included in the calculations would make the balance of trade statistics look much more balanced,

(4) our multinationals’ subsidiaries that sell services in foreign countries that are not counted in the balance of trade calculation, but generate profits, value and future dividends are good for America,

(5) a goal of generating a dollar of exports for every dollar of imports is not a useful one, particularly on a country-by-country basis in light of our massively higher standard of living, and having the largest economy in the world.

Lastly, the current trading system, while far from perfect or fair to the U.S., has served us extremely well so we need to be prudent in how we change it so as not to upset the world order in such a manner that it disadvantages our country over the long term.

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

@BillAckman Tons of common sense! You used AI much better than team Trump to make a reasonable argument grounded in global economic realities.

Push it up the chain!

[Common Sense 250 @commonsense250]

Great perspective…

[DataRepublican (small r) @DataRepublican]

I've had a change of heart on federal income tax. On the surface, it's just a way for the government to generate revenue—it has to get its funding from somewhere. But I now see that the method of taxation itself fundamentally alters the relationship between the government and its people.

When the government relies on taxing individual income, it shifts from serving its citizens to exploiting them as a revenue source. This dynamic creates an inherent friction, where the government no longer answers to the people but to the system that extracts from them. And if you look around, it's clear—whatever our tax dollars are funding, it’s not serving us.

This is what modern economists fail to grasp when they dismiss tariffs, sales taxes, or luxury taxes as harmful. The structure of taxation matters, not just the amount collected. The income tax distorts governance itself—and it needs to go.

[Secretary Kennedy @SecKennedy]

No stone will be left unturned in our effort to end chronic disease. The health of our children is a higher calling for all of us. Watch my message to America and join me in this effort to Make America Healthy Again.

[MAHA PAC🗽 @MAHA_PAC]

RFK Jr. held NOTHING back in his first speech as Trump’s HHS Secretary.

🔥“Nothing is gonna be off limits.”

The vaccine schedule will be investigated. SSRIs will be investigated. Electromagnetic radiation will be investigated.

Here is everything RFK pledged for HHS:🧵

[Anna Matson @AnnaRMatson]

Elon, to be frank- your platform hates original creators. You shared my content that someone else stole without crediting. Now they will see the fruit of my labor.

For full transparency, I received $900 for the past two weeks on this platform from receiving 100 million views. For reference, I’ve usually only seen $150 payout from X.

On TikTok, I am at $1600 for the month with 750k views. Crazy difference. I’ve been putting in the work and a share from you could be life changing for me. Yet, you shared content from an already big account that put zero effort to add some emojis. I’m just so disappointed in the treatment of small accounts.