Ivo Vegter
@ivovegter.bsky.social
South African. Columnist at The Daily Friend (http://dailyfriend.co.za/author/ivo/).
I advocate classical liberalism, free markets, science and reason. I oppose authoritarianism, socialism, nationalism, and prejudice.
I advocate classical liberalism, free markets, science and reason. I oppose authoritarianism, socialism, nationalism, and prejudice.
Pinned
Denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” is neither correct nor constructive - Daily Friend
Peace in the Middle East will not come through slogans or indictments. It will come through the hard, patient work of diplomacy, institution-building, and trust.
dailyfriend.co.za
Denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” is neither correct nor constructive
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/05/d...
(As South Africa's Parliament prepares to mull criminalising support for "apartheid", here's my 7,500-word essay questioning the use of that term to describe Israel.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/05/d...
(As South Africa's Parliament prepares to mull criminalising support for "apartheid", here's my 7,500-word essay questioning the use of that term to describe Israel.)
Denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” is neither correct nor constructive
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/05/d...
(As South Africa's Parliament prepares to mull criminalising support for "apartheid", here's my 7,500-word essay questioning the use of that term to describe Israel.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/05/d...
(As South Africa's Parliament prepares to mull criminalising support for "apartheid", here's my 7,500-word essay questioning the use of that term to describe Israel.)
Denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” is neither correct nor constructive - Daily Friend
Peace in the Middle East will not come through slogans or indictments. It will come through the hard, patient work of diplomacy, institution-building, and trust.
dailyfriend.co.za
December 5, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Denouncing Israel as an “apartheid state” is neither correct nor constructive
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/05/d...
(As South Africa's Parliament prepares to mull criminalising support for "apartheid", here's my 7,500-word essay questioning the use of that term to describe Israel.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/05/d...
(As South Africa's Parliament prepares to mull criminalising support for "apartheid", here's my 7,500-word essay questioning the use of that term to describe Israel.)
Climate mitigation runs out of steam
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/03/c...
(My latest column. The annual climate change jamboree, COP30, produced little of any significance, but signalled a shift from mitigation to adaptation.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/03/c...
(My latest column. The annual climate change jamboree, COP30, produced little of any significance, but signalled a shift from mitigation to adaptation.)
Climate mitigation runs out of steam - Daily Friend
Construction projects prepare the tropical city of Belém, Brazil for more than 50,000 delegates to this year’s big Climate Conference. Photo: Rafael Medelima for COP30.
dailyfriend.co.za
December 3, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Climate mitigation runs out of steam
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/03/c...
(My latest column. The annual climate change jamboree, COP30, produced little of any significance, but signalled a shift from mitigation to adaptation.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/12/03/c...
(My latest column. The annual climate change jamboree, COP30, produced little of any significance, but signalled a shift from mitigation to adaptation.)
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to/investigatin...
(Great story, if awfully depressing.)
thelocal.to/investigatin...
(Great story, if awfully depressing.)
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 30, 2025 at 8:24 PM
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to/investigatin...
(Great story, if awfully depressing.)
thelocal.to/investigatin...
(Great story, if awfully depressing.)
Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump Prove That There Are Two Paths Toward Socialism
reason.com/2025/11/26/z...
"The shared collectivism of socialism and nationalism... is why 'we frequently find the conservatives joining hands with the socialists against the liberals.'"
reason.com/2025/11/26/z...
"The shared collectivism of socialism and nationalism... is why 'we frequently find the conservatives joining hands with the socialists against the liberals.'"
Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump prove that there are two paths toward socialism
As fans of horseshoe theory point out, the political extremes might differ on details, but they have a lot in common.
reason.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump Prove That There Are Two Paths Toward Socialism
reason.com/2025/11/26/z...
"The shared collectivism of socialism and nationalism... is why 'we frequently find the conservatives joining hands with the socialists against the liberals.'"
reason.com/2025/11/26/z...
"The shared collectivism of socialism and nationalism... is why 'we frequently find the conservatives joining hands with the socialists against the liberals.'"
UAE unveils $1 billion plan to supercharge AI development across Africa
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...
(A: $1bn will not "supercharge" AI. It's hardly a blip on the throttle. OpenAI burns that in a month. B: Africa needs basic infrastructure and good governance, not homegrown AI slop.)
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...
(A: $1bn will not "supercharge" AI. It's hardly a blip on the throttle. OpenAI burns that in a month. B: Africa needs basic infrastructure and good governance, not homegrown AI slop.)
UAE unveils $1 billion plan to supercharge AI development across Africa
The UAE has announced a $1 billion investment to enhance AI infrastructure and services across Africa
africa.businessinsider.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:46 AM
UAE unveils $1 billion plan to supercharge AI development across Africa
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...
(A: $1bn will not "supercharge" AI. It's hardly a blip on the throttle. OpenAI burns that in a month. B: Africa needs basic infrastructure and good governance, not homegrown AI slop.)
africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...
(A: $1bn will not "supercharge" AI. It's hardly a blip on the throttle. OpenAI burns that in a month. B: Africa needs basic infrastructure and good governance, not homegrown AI slop.)
Groenewald stands firm on reviving corporal punishment
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/28/g...
(This was going to be an easy column to write: call Groenewald a brute. Then a well-argued essay on the ethics of judicial corporal punishment by @olemmoen.bsky.social challenged all my long-held beliefs.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/28/g...
(This was going to be an easy column to write: call Groenewald a brute. Then a well-argued essay on the ethics of judicial corporal punishment by @olemmoen.bsky.social challenged all my long-held beliefs.)
Groenewald stands firm on reviving corporal punishment - Daily Friend
A lone voice, the minister of correctional services, Pieter Groenewald, again expressed support for reintroducting corporal punishment.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 28, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Groenewald stands firm on reviving corporal punishment
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/28/g...
(This was going to be an easy column to write: call Groenewald a brute. Then a well-argued essay on the ethics of judicial corporal punishment by @olemmoen.bsky.social challenged all my long-held beliefs.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/28/g...
(This was going to be an easy column to write: call Groenewald a brute. Then a well-argued essay on the ethics of judicial corporal punishment by @olemmoen.bsky.social challenged all my long-held beliefs.)
Unicorns may exist, according to RFK Jr.
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/25/u...
(My latest column. The statement “unicorns do not exist” is not “evidence-based”. Neither is the statement “broccoli does not cause cancer”. Let’s get sciency, RFK-style!)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/25/u...
(My latest column. The statement “unicorns do not exist” is not “evidence-based”. Neither is the statement “broccoli does not cause cancer”. Let’s get sciency, RFK-style!)
Unicorns may exist, according to RFK Jr. - Daily Friend
The statement “unicorns do not exist” is not “evidence-based”. Neither is the statement “broccoli does not cause cancer”. Let’s get sciency, RFK-style!
dailyfriend.co.za
November 25, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Unicorns may exist, according to RFK Jr.
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/25/u...
(My latest column. The statement “unicorns do not exist” is not “evidence-based”. Neither is the statement “broccoli does not cause cancer”. Let’s get sciency, RFK-style!)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/25/u...
(My latest column. The statement “unicorns do not exist” is not “evidence-based”. Neither is the statement “broccoli does not cause cancer”. Let’s get sciency, RFK-style!)
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
(It has not measurably shrunk goverment expenditure, either.)
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
(It has not measurably shrunk goverment expenditure, either.)
www.reuters.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 AM
DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
(It has not measurably shrunk goverment expenditure, either.)
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
(It has not measurably shrunk goverment expenditure, either.)
When wildlife has value, it lives – when it does not, it dies
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/22/w...
(Excellent article, which goes into more detail than I was able to provide in my column.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/22/w...
(Excellent article, which goes into more detail than I was able to provide in my column.)
When wildlife has value, it lives – when it does not, it dies. - Daily Friend
Over the past few days, while there was speculation on whether Dion George should be replaced as the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment,
dailyfriend.co.za
November 22, 2025 at 5:01 AM
When wildlife has value, it lives – when it does not, it dies
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/22/w...
(Excellent article, which goes into more detail than I was able to provide in my column.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/22/w...
(Excellent article, which goes into more detail than I was able to provide in my column.)
Elon Musk's Grokipedia cites a neo-Nazi website 42 times, researchers say
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
(Quelle surprise!)
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
(Quelle surprise!)
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia cites Stormfront — a neo-Nazi forum — dozens of times, study finds
An analysis by researchers at Cornell University is the first comprehensive look at Grokipedia since Musk launched his project last month.
www.nbcnews.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Elon Musk's Grokipedia cites a neo-Nazi website 42 times, researchers say
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
(Quelle surprise!)
www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-mu...
(Quelle surprise!)
China has trumped America on trade
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/21/c...
(My latest column. In a trade war, there are only losers, but the biggest loser is turning out to be the US. Politicians should never try to fight the market.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/21/c...
(My latest column. In a trade war, there are only losers, but the biggest loser is turning out to be the US. Politicians should never try to fight the market.)
China has trumped America on trade - Daily Friend
In a trade war, there are only losers, but the biggest loser is turning out to be the US. Politicians should never try to fight the market.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 21, 2025 at 4:23 AM
China has trumped America on trade
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/21/c...
(My latest column. In a trade war, there are only losers, but the biggest loser is turning out to be the US. Politicians should never try to fight the market.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/21/c...
(My latest column. In a trade war, there are only losers, but the biggest loser is turning out to be the US. Politicians should never try to fight the market.)
Why Dion George had to go
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/18/w...
(My latest column. The new environment minister, Willie Aucamp, is the right person to regulate wildlife conservation and environment-adjacent economic activity.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/18/w...
(My latest column. The new environment minister, Willie Aucamp, is the right person to regulate wildlife conservation and environment-adjacent economic activity.)
Why Dion George had to go - Daily Friend
The new environment minister, Willie Aucamp, is the right person to regulate wildlife conservation and environment-adjacent economic activity.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 18, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Why Dion George had to go
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/18/w...
(My latest column. The new environment minister, Willie Aucamp, is the right person to regulate wildlife conservation and environment-adjacent economic activity.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/18/w...
(My latest column. The new environment minister, Willie Aucamp, is the right person to regulate wildlife conservation and environment-adjacent economic activity.)
A significant list of ways weaselly researchers talk about non-significant results to make them sounds significant.
mchankins.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/s...
mchankins.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/s...
Still Not Significant
What to do if your p-value is just over the arbitrary threshold for ‘significance’ of p=0.05? You don’t need to play the significance testing game – there are better methods…
mchankins.wordpress.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:11 AM
A significant list of ways weaselly researchers talk about non-significant results to make them sounds significant.
mchankins.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/s...
mchankins.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/s...
Trump repeals tariffs on some foods as Americans face high grocery prices
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
(And yet he said food prices were way lower than under that despicable communist moron Biden. 🤷)
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
(And yet he said food prices were way lower than under that despicable communist moron Biden. 🤷)
Trump repeals tariffs on some foods as Americans face high grocery prices
President rolls back import levies on beef, tomatoes, coffee and a host of other agricultural goods after administration officials signaled coming changes aimed at addressing consumer complaints about...
www.washingtonpost.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Trump repeals tariffs on some foods as Americans face high grocery prices
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
(And yet he said food prices were way lower than under that despicable communist moron Biden. 🤷)
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
(And yet he said food prices were way lower than under that despicable communist moron Biden. 🤷)
Oxfam doesn’t fight poverty; it fights wealth dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/14/o...
(My latest column, on Oxfam's dubious claim that a majority of South Africa's dollar millionaire actually want to pay more tax.)
(My latest column, on Oxfam's dubious claim that a majority of South Africa's dollar millionaire actually want to pay more tax.)
Oxfam doesn’t fight poverty; it fights wealth - Daily Friend
The local chapter of British multinational lobby group Oxfam has released another dubious report to demonise wealth rather than alleviate poverty.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Oxfam doesn’t fight poverty; it fights wealth dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/14/o...
(My latest column, on Oxfam's dubious claim that a majority of South Africa's dollar millionaire actually want to pay more tax.)
(My latest column, on Oxfam's dubious claim that a majority of South Africa's dollar millionaire actually want to pay more tax.)
The cranks now rule the world
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/12/t...
(My latest column. One crazy conspiracy theory after another is being rehabilitated in the mouths of high-profile, mainstream figures. The inmates have taken over the asylum.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/12/t...
(My latest column. One crazy conspiracy theory after another is being rehabilitated in the mouths of high-profile, mainstream figures. The inmates have taken over the asylum.)
The cranks now rule the world - Daily Friend
One crazy conspiracy theory after another is being rehabilitated in the mouths of high-profile, mainstream figures. The inmates have taken over the asylum.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 12, 2025 at 4:28 AM
The cranks now rule the world
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/12/t...
(My latest column. One crazy conspiracy theory after another is being rehabilitated in the mouths of high-profile, mainstream figures. The inmates have taken over the asylum.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/12/t...
(My latest column. One crazy conspiracy theory after another is being rehabilitated in the mouths of high-profile, mainstream figures. The inmates have taken over the asylum.)
No credible tie between Tylenol use and autism/ADHD, huge study finds
newatlas.com/adhd-autism/...
(Too late. Morons-in-Chief have spoken, and Texas morons are already suing. Moron jurors will have the last word.)
newatlas.com/adhd-autism/...
(Too late. Morons-in-Chief have spoken, and Texas morons are already suing. Moron jurors will have the last word.)
No credible tie between Tylenol use and autism/ADHD, huge study finds
Despite high-profile advice to avoid Tylenol when pregnant and a potential warning-label change to highlight risk, a comprehensive umbrella study of existing reviews has found no credible link between...
newatlas.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
No credible tie between Tylenol use and autism/ADHD, huge study finds
newatlas.com/adhd-autism/...
(Too late. Morons-in-Chief have spoken, and Texas morons are already suing. Moron jurors will have the last word.)
newatlas.com/adhd-autism/...
(Too late. Morons-in-Chief have spoken, and Texas morons are already suing. Moron jurors will have the last word.)
Alienated American voters dream of socialism
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/07/a...
(My latest column. The consequence of ruling like a crazed sociopath is that it makes the radical socialist opposition look sane and inviting.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/07/a...
(My latest column. The consequence of ruling like a crazed sociopath is that it makes the radical socialist opposition look sane and inviting.)
Alienated American voters dream of socialism - Daily Friend
The consequence of ruling like a crazed sociopath is that it makes the radical socialist opposition look sane and inviting.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 7, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Alienated American voters dream of socialism
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/07/a...
(My latest column. The consequence of ruling like a crazed sociopath is that it makes the radical socialist opposition look sane and inviting.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/07/a...
(My latest column. The consequence of ruling like a crazed sociopath is that it makes the radical socialist opposition look sane and inviting.)
The West needs more immigration, not less
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/04/t...
(My latest column. Across the developed world, populist politicians are riding a rising wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. It will sink the West.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/04/t...
(My latest column. Across the developed world, populist politicians are riding a rising wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. It will sink the West.)
The West needs more immigration, not less - Daily Friend
Across the developed world, populist politicians are riding a rising wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. It will sink the West.
dailyfriend.co.za
November 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM
The West needs more immigration, not less
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/04/t...
(My latest column. Across the developed world, populist politicians are riding a rising wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. It will sink the West.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/11/04/t...
(My latest column. Across the developed world, populist politicians are riding a rising wave of anti-immigrant sentiment. It will sink the West.)
U.S. poised to strike military targets in Venezuela in escalation against Maduro regime
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
(Mr "I don't start wars, I end them" is being awfully adventurous.)
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
(Mr "I don't start wars, I end them" is being awfully adventurous.)
U.S. poised to strike military targets in Venezuela in escalation against Maduro regime
The Trump Administration has made the decision to attack military installations inside Venezuela and the strikes could come at any moment, sources with knowledge of the situation told the Miami Herald...
www.miamiherald.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
U.S. poised to strike military targets in Venezuela in escalation against Maduro regime
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
(Mr "I don't start wars, I end them" is being awfully adventurous.)
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
(Mr "I don't start wars, I end them" is being awfully adventurous.)
Three minutes that tells you all you need to know about Joe Rogan, and why I'll never listen to him. He's rude, ignorant, arrogant and gullible.
youtu.be/naIegDE5JxU
youtu.be/naIegDE5JxU
Joe Rogan vs Primatologist on the Bondo ape - w/ subtitles
YouTube video by Mystronox
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Three minutes that tells you all you need to know about Joe Rogan, and why I'll never listen to him. He's rude, ignorant, arrogant and gullible.
youtu.be/naIegDE5JxU
youtu.be/naIegDE5JxU
An ode to the rich
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/31/a...
(My latest column. It is easy to hate the rich. Entire economic systems are based on it. Yet we should cherish the rich, instead of always trying to tax their wealth away.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/31/a...
(My latest column. It is easy to hate the rich. Entire economic systems are based on it. Yet we should cherish the rich, instead of always trying to tax their wealth away.)
An ode to the rich - Daily Friend
It is easy to hate the rich. Entire economic systems are based on it. Yet we should cherish the rich, instead of always trying to tax their wealth away.
dailyfriend.co.za
October 31, 2025 at 4:32 AM
An ode to the rich
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/31/a...
(My latest column. It is easy to hate the rich. Entire economic systems are based on it. Yet we should cherish the rich, instead of always trying to tax their wealth away.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/31/a...
(My latest column. It is easy to hate the rich. Entire economic systems are based on it. Yet we should cherish the rich, instead of always trying to tax their wealth away.)
Trump cuts fentanyl tariffs on China to 10%, says U.S. reached rare earths deal with Beijing
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/30/t...
(So he's fine with fentanyl after all. He just wants magnets. 🤷)
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/30/t...
(So he's fine with fentanyl after all. He just wants magnets. 🤷)
Trump cuts fentanyl tariffs on China to 10%, says U.S. reached rare earths deal with Beijing
Trump said he will be going to China in April, followed by a trip by Xi to the U.S. without specifying a timeline.
www.cnbc.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Trump cuts fentanyl tariffs on China to 10%, says U.S. reached rare earths deal with Beijing
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/30/t...
(So he's fine with fentanyl after all. He just wants magnets. 🤷)
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/30/t...
(So he's fine with fentanyl after all. He just wants magnets. 🤷)
Argentina’s libertarian experiment gets electoral boost
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/29/a...
(My latest column. Critics were eagerly anticipating the fall of Javier Milei, but a timely intervention by Donald Trump means he lives to fight another day.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/29/a...
(My latest column. Critics were eagerly anticipating the fall of Javier Milei, but a timely intervention by Donald Trump means he lives to fight another day.)
Argentina’s libertarian experiment gets electoral boost - Daily Friend
Critics were eagerly anticipating the fall of Javier Milei, but a timely intervention by Donald Trump means he lives to fight another day.
dailyfriend.co.za
October 29, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Argentina’s libertarian experiment gets electoral boost
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/29/a...
(My latest column. Critics were eagerly anticipating the fall of Javier Milei, but a timely intervention by Donald Trump means he lives to fight another day.)
dailyfriend.co.za/2025/10/29/a...
(My latest column. Critics were eagerly anticipating the fall of Javier Milei, but a timely intervention by Donald Trump means he lives to fight another day.)
US gov't uses Halo images in a call to 'destroy' immigration
www.pcgamer.com/games/us-gov...
"Comparing immigrants in the US to a parasitic alien life form that infects and annihilates advanced societies is not [just] deeply offensive, it's also rooted in the worst of human history."
www.pcgamer.com/games/us-gov...
"Comparing immigrants in the US to a parasitic alien life form that infects and annihilates advanced societies is not [just] deeply offensive, it's also rooted in the worst of human history."
US government uses Halo images in a call to 'destroy' immigration, Microsoft declines to comment
The social media posts also included an image of US president Donald Trump dressed up as Master Chief.
www.pcgamer.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:55 AM
US gov't uses Halo images in a call to 'destroy' immigration
www.pcgamer.com/games/us-gov...
"Comparing immigrants in the US to a parasitic alien life form that infects and annihilates advanced societies is not [just] deeply offensive, it's also rooted in the worst of human history."
www.pcgamer.com/games/us-gov...
"Comparing immigrants in the US to a parasitic alien life form that infects and annihilates advanced societies is not [just] deeply offensive, it's also rooted in the worst of human history."