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Self in Society Roundup 75
Immigration brutality, socialists left and right, political ignorance, and more.
by Ari Armstrong, Copyright © 2026
Immigration Watch
Lawlessness and Disorder: Seth Klamman: "New legal filings allege federal immigration agents operating in Colorado have acted illegally and violently at times amid a summer surge in arrests—including one recent incident where an 18-year-old's face was repeatedly slammed into the pavement in a 7-Eleven parking lot." CPR: "Lawyers accuse Colorado ICE agents of brutality, abuse in immigration arrests and detentions."
Undermining Our Future: Jessie Gómez: "As his family self-deports, this teen is leaving behind his friends, his church, and his education dreams." Soon enough we will be begging for immigrants.
A Cultural Sickness: Megan Henry: "A 20-year-old Haitian college student died in an apparent suicide . . . which his father said came after the student was forced to wear an ankle monitor by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. [The student] reportedly walked in front of a semi-truck on Interstate 70 on Monday after being bullied by his classmates for wearing an ankle monitor, according to his family." Obviously there was more going on here than the ankle monitor. Still, that our government forced the young man to wear the device for no good reason, and that some people apparently hassled him about it, reveals a deep sickness in parts of our national soul.
Hired Thugs: AP: "ICE whistleblower warned of 'unprecedented lowering of standards' during hiring spree."
Milo Yiannopoulos Deported: The right-wing agitator was deported for alleged visa violations. He said he was "ashamed" of his previous support for Trump, and he said of his arrest by ICE, "I didn't really understand the physical reality of how institutionalized the brutality is in America."
Quick Takes
Somin on 'Democratic' Socialists: Ilya Somin: "Democratic socialism is a terrible ideology. If implemented, its agenda would cause grave harm and imperil democracy itself. And in seeking massive state control of the economy, today's socialists ironically have much in common with the MAGA nationalists they claim to oppose."
Somin on Property: Ilya Somin: "Property rights were central to the origins of the liberal political tradition. . . . In addition to their inherent value as a vital element of liberty and autonomy, bolstering them is essential to uplifting the poor and disadvantaged and boosting prosperity and innovation."
Lindsay Clancy Case: Michael Huemer: The conspiracy mongering about the Clancy case and "the amount of support that Clancy has received" illustrate a "sickness of our culture."
MAGA Socialism: Eric Boehm: "Trump's Venezuela Oil Deal Sells Out Democracy and Free Markets."
McAleavy's Feminism: Much of Emma McAleavy's agenda for feminism is about protecting women's rights.
Our Ignorant Republic: Cato: "While 77% know George Washington was the first president, 58% don’t know what the main purpose of the US Constitution is, and 57% don't know the reason we declared independence from Great Britain and created our government with limited powers."
Politicized Mail: Trump meddling with USPS delivery of mail ballots illustrates nicely why the federal government ought not be involved with the mail. What government runs government can abuse. See Walter Olson.
Trapped by the Algorithm: Jon Ronson tells the story about a man so self-trapped by the YouTube algorithms that he ended up posting bizarre videos of himself and his two daughters dressed up and acting as babies. Ronson's new book, The Castle, is more broadly about crises among men.
Cowen as Social Butterfly: Jeff Holmes (September 3, 2026, email): After Tyler Cowen invited Rick Rubin onto his podcast, the two "became text buddies, and within a few months Tyler was beckoned to Rick's Tuscan villa, a now-regular occurrence. . . . On one of his visits, Tyler apparently ended up playing Woody Harrelson in chess." A peculiar sort of economist!