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January 22, 2025

Welcome to The Lighthouse ([link removed]) , the weekly email newsletter of the Independent Institute covering politics, economics, current events, and everything in between.

Dear Readers,

Yesterday, Donald Trump was officially inaugurated as president, marking the beginning of his second term in office after four years out of office. He is now one of the only presidents to achieve this feat, alongside Grover Cleveland. Trump has set out to sign an unprecedented number of executive orders. In his inauguration speech, he once again commented on the Panama Canal, claiming that it does not treat Americans fairly and is controlled by China. Over the weekend, TikTok had briefly suspended service as the ban went into effect on January 19th. While the outgoing Biden administration had instructed the Justice Department not to enforce the penalties associated with the ban, the language was not strong enough for TikTok and application platforms to continue operations. Trump's assurance prior to being sworn in, followed by more specific language setting a grace period, appears to have provided enough of a guarantee for TikTok and service providers Google and Apple to resume operations.

In this week’s articles, Alvaro Vargas Llosa dispels the concern about the Panama Canal, addressing claims about its ownership and operation. Michael Makovi rebuts the right-to-repair letter written by senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkely (D-OR), and Josh Hawley (R-MO). Scott Semet explains the fascination over Greenland. Lastly, Lawrence McQuillan points to the transformative power of private initiative where governments fail.

Enjoy!

Jonathan Hofer
Managing Editor

Top picks this week
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** Setting the Record Straight About the Panama Canal ([link removed])
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** by Alvaro Vargas Llosa
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The U.S. government has many problems, but the Panama Canal is not one of them.
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** Automakers and the Right-to-Repair Battle ([link removed])
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** by Michael Makovi
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Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) wrote a letter encouraging major automakers to cease their opposition to right-to-repair legislation. However, their assertions are misleading and inaccurate.
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** The Great Game Heats Up in the Arctic ([link removed])
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** by Scott Semet
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Denmark has consistently stressed that Greenland is not for sale, and the people of Greenland have shown no interest in trading one colonial power for another. An ideal alternative would involve collaborative efforts in the Arctic…
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** When Governments Fail, Private Initiative Is the Solution ([link removed])
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** Lessons from Uvalde, Phoenix, New Orleans, and Lahaina ([link removed])
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** by Lawrence J. McQuillan
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When local governments withhold critical services, the results are destruction and death. Gaining control from these governments will be challenging and slow, but each success can deliver better services free from the ineffective status quo, fostering a culture of private initiative.
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** FEATURED BOOK - COMING SOON!
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** Race & Liberty (Updated Edition) ([link removed])
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** The Essential Reader ([link removed])
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** Edited by Jonathan J. Bean
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With new contributions from Thomas Sowell, Coleman Hughes, Thomas Chatteron Williams, Kenny Xu, David Bernstein, and Ilya Somin—as well as a plethora of primary source evidence from recent landmark US Supreme Court decisions—Bean champions the values of colorblindness, freedom, and equal constitutional protection for all individuals—regardless of race. It’s a message that couldn’t be more timely.
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