Rip’s Newsletter
September 18, 2026
Compiled and Edited
by
Jim Reynolds
Articles in This Issue
Victor Davis Hanson - Iran, the Midterms, and October Surprises
Kevin McCullough - What Do You Do With Hate?
Sofia Karstens - The Spindle-Proofing Business
Jim Reynolds - Why Cops Was Ordered Off the Air in 2020
Overview
I’m looking at a week where the same old pattern keeps showing up: fear is being used as a weapon, whether it’s Iran trying to rattle the midterms, activists and media trying to rewrite the police story, or the AI panic machine gearing up for more control.
The death threat story is a reminder that online hate is not abstract; it lands in real homes and forces real people to decide whether to answer as citizens or as parents. So far, Reynolds.com has only had to endure infrequent minor incidents.
What ties these pieces together is simple: power hates scrutiny, and it reaches for chaos, censorship, or intimidation when the truth starts cutting through.
Iran, the Midterms, and October Surprises
By: Victor Davis Hanson American Greatness
Date: 2026-09-17 · Words: 772
Democrats expect midterm gains and hope to curb Trump’s Iran war.
Iran’s regime may trigger October surprises to exploit electoral uncertainty.
Trump’s cryptic comments suggest the conflict could intensify after elections.
Iranian dissidents and Kurds may see a now-or-never chance to revolt.
The war’s damage, secrecy, and shortages make the next 50 days volatile.
This conflict could reshape Congress, Iran’s future, and America’s next moves.
🅱️ Hanson isn’t just reporting the news; he’s mapping the minefield. He connects the domestic political circus to the actual blood spilled on the ground, reminding us that while we play games in D.C., the world is actually on fire.
Read the full original article here
What Do You Do With Hate?
By: Kevin McCullough Townhall
Date: 2026-09-17 · Words: 1,093
The author received a Facebook death threat amid routine reader messages.
He first reacted as broadcaster, then as husband and father protecting others.
He rejected public shaming, calling it revenge disguised as accountability.
He saved, reported, and blocked the threat, affirming boundaries and safety.
He chose prayer and forgiveness, urging justice without vengeance or hatred.
The story matters because it frames Christian response to threats as truth, restraint, and redemptive grace.
🅱️ A heavy-hitter that refuses to trade its soul for a headline. It takes the high ground without looking down on the dirt, proving that you can hold a boundary and a Bible at the same time.
Read the full original article here
The Spindle-Proofing Business
By: Sofia Karstens Brownstone
Date: 2026-09-18 · Words: 1,982
The article argues current AI panic is a multi-actor convergence, not necessarily a single coordinated psyop.
It identifies incentives from researchers, companies, regulators, media, and politicians amplifying fear.
The author warns regulation can entrench incumbents, suppress competition, and convert anxiety into moats.
A 2025 PNAS study found existential AI fears increased without reducing concern about immediate harms.
The piece urges focusing oversight on human operators and incentives, not only the technology itself.
AI fear may be real, but the bigger story is who profits from turning it into policy and power.
🅱️ It’s a sharp look at the regulatory racket. She isn’t just chasing ghosts; she’s showing how the wolves use the ‘danger’ to build a higher fence around their own territory. A solid breakdown of how fear becomes a moat.
Read the full original article here
Why Cops Was Ordered Off the Air in 2020
By: Jim Reynolds www.reynolds.com
Date: 2026-09-18 · Words: 958
Networks pulled Cops, Live PD, and Body Cam in June 2020 amid anti-policing backlash.
The article argues these shows exposed policing’s messy reality, complicating anti-cop narratives.
It links Michael Brown, Jussie Smollett, and George Floyd to a broader mythmaking pattern.
Defund-the-police politics, it says, helped fuel crime spikes and institutional distrust.
The piece claims crime later fell as pro-police priorities returned, without accountability.
The story frames policing, media, and politics as a battle over what Americans are allowed to see.
🅱️ This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s an autopsy of a manufactured crisis. It connects the dots between the TV remote and the crime stats in a way that makes the ‘narrative’ look as hollow as it actually is.
Read the full original article here
You may also be interested in the following selected stories:
Strangers On Native Soil — Lars Moller, American Thinker
What Lessons Can We Learn from Wendell Berry? — Renaud Beauchard, Brownstone
The Apocalyptic Game: Panic and Opportunity — Sasha Gong, American Greatness
California Drags Pro-Lifers To Court For Crime Of ‘Offering Hope’ — Andrea Trudden, The Federalist
What Is An American? The Civic Nationalists Have No Idea — John Daniel Davidson, The Federalist
Quote of the day — Scott Johnson, Power Line
Thanks so much. I missed that, appreciate the direction.
Hello, All your work is truly appreciated.
There is so much to discuss, so many
articles, I wish, even if you only include one,
that you would print the whole article. Would
like to read all of Victor Davis Hanson’s
words, among others, not just a summary.
Thank you!