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June 17, 2026

Dear Readers,

There’s no shortage of thought-provoking reading in this week’s roundup. From contested questions about history and public symbolism, to regulatory failures in health policy, to the institutional framework of the final frontier—you won’t want to miss these sharp contributions to public discourse.

First, Jane Shaw Stroup writes on land acknowledgments, which have faced criticism across the political spectrum. Stroup argues that while critics often make important points about the politics of the matter, the acknowledgments nevertheless have value.

K. Lloyd Billingsley highlights a new documentary that covers the shocking hostility the government’s medical establishment leveled against dissenting scientists.

Then, in a pair of articles, Raymond J. March explains why the FDA flounders in assessing the risks of treatments and medical devices—including the innocuous sunscreen.

Finally, in the wake of news of SpaceX’s initial public offering, Scott Beyer discusses the regulatory environment of outer space, the next frontier, and how it importantly differs from other sectors of the economy.

Happy reading.

Jonathan Hofer
Managing Editor

Top picks this week
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** The Dual Nature of Land Acknowledgments ([link removed])
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** by Jane Shaw Stroup
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The historical role of American Indians is often considered peripheral, a mere way station on American settlers’ journey to the “manifest destiny.” But surely there’s more to it than that?
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** Unmasking the Consensus ([link removed])
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** The Lockdown Dissidents, a new documentary, follows the story of censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic. ([link removed])
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** by K. Lloyd Billingsley
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Instead of debating medical scientists, the government’s medical establishment attacked any and all dissenters, as a new documentary shows.
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** The FDA Can’t Manage Its Own Risk Problem ([link removed])
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** by Raymond J. March
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The fact that the FDA struggles to provide effective risk-management guidance is a feature—not a bug—of its being a government agency.
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** FDA Allows New Sunscreen, but Consumers Are Still Being Burned by Cronyism ([link removed])
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** by Raymond J. March
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Better sunscreen is a step forward—but it is being introduced in a market that has long been damaged by corruption.
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** The Significance of SpaceX ([link removed])
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** This and other companies are shifting outer space from a territory for government military aggression to one of private enterprise. ([link removed])
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** by Scott Beyer
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Like the American West or the early days of the Internet, the openness of space has encouraged risk-taking and bold visions, with SpaceX being today’s example.
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“Most academic journals talk only to themselves. The Independent Review talks to everyone. … This collection highlights the best of the best from three decades of great scholarship. A real treasure.”

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