The Brass Blades are Lolorito's personal army. He pays them, hence why all the Blades turned on us during the Parting Glass incident.

There is known to be at least one newspaper in Eorzea, the Mythril Eye. Various seasonal quests deal with it, as well as the Lightning event and the ARR Hilidbrand line.

The rest... I'm not too keen on. I'm more a philosopher than a politician or economist.