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Links 7/3/2025

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Plains viscacha: A rodent that builds vast underground cities and ovulates more than any other mammal Live Science

Scientists Catch Two Wild Orcas “French Kissing” And It Might Mean More Than You Think ZME Science

Can cheese turn your dreams into nightmares? NBC News

Gut microbes could protect us from toxic ‘forever chemicals’ Cambridge University

Scientists discovered microplastics in human semen and follicular fluid CNN

Climate/Environment

Extreme weather event attribution predicts climate policy support across the world Nature

Record heat in parts of Europe and Asia Balanced Weather

‘Completely unexpected’: Antarctic sea ice may be in terminal decline due to rising Southern Ocean salinity The Conversation

Pandemics

Doctors Blame Long Covid, Stress & Hidden Heart Issues As Young Adults Report Sudden Blackouts CNN-News18 (Video)

Cambodia Reports 4th H5N1 Infection In Siem Reap Province In Last 7 Days Avian Flu Diary

From coop to cave: Inside the high-tech hunt for H5N1 and Disease X The Telegraph

China?

China’s top leaders vow crackdown on price wars as deflation risks mount Reuters

China’s Consumption Is Not Nearly as Low as It Appears: CF40 Policy Brief Pekingnology

Yang Tao: China should develop a yuan-backed stablecoin ASAP The East is Read

Africa

Aggressors Unnamed in Rwanda-DRC “Peace Agreement” Black Agenda Report

Donald Trump’s Congo Venture: A Scramble for Minerals Under the Guise of Peace Black Agenda Report

Syraqistan

State Department approves $510m weapons sale to Israel JNS

Israeli military used 500lb bomb in strike on Gaza cafe, fragments reveal The Guardian. Made in the USA.

US ‘stands with Israel’ after calls by Israeli ministers to annex occupied West Bank Anadolu Agency

***

Report: Israel-Syria Talks Propose US Troop Deployment To Territory Israel Captured in Southern Syria Antiwar

Iran made preparations to mine the Strait of Hormuz, US officials say Jerusalem Post

US says its strikes degraded Iran’s nuclear programme by one to two years Al Jazeera

New Bill Would Give Israel Access to B-2s, Massive Bombs to Strike Iran Libertarian Institute (Kevin W)

Douglas Macgregor: America’s New Long War Glenn Diesen (Video)

***

UN Expert Exposes Companies Aiding Israel’s Genocide, Occupation in Palestine Truthout

Police arrest Jewish Voice for Peace protestors at Philly arms manufacturer All-Source Intelligence

‘Like a kidnapping’: How UK police are hunting pro-Palestine activists Middle East Eye (Kevin W)

The Best-Selling Apps Made By Israeli Spies Do Not Panic!

“Death to the genocide machine.” The Floutist

Old Blighty

Heathrow considering legal action against National Grid over fire BBC

Rachel Reeves probably cried because she can’t cut benefits but still has a proxy war to fund Ian Proud

New Not-So-Cold War

Trump allies caught off guard by Pentagon’s Ukraine weapons freeze Politico

Returning Tank Production to Soviet Era Levels: Russia Will Soon Be Building Over 3000 T-80s and T-90s Per Year Military Watch

Attacks On Russia Related Ships Smell Of British / Ukrainian Cooperation Moon of Alabama

Germany and Sweden Launch Joint Initiative to Monitor Shadow Fleet in Baltic Sea gCaptain

Trump lifts sanctions on Russia’s Rosoboronexport and banks amid Syria decision RBC Ukraine

Russia’s War Economy Is Heading To Recession. It Probably Won’t Slow Down The War. RFE/RL

The Caucasus

Baku blocking consular access to jailed Russians – Moscow RT

B-a-a-a-a-d Banks

Welcome Back, Wells Fargo! Racket News

“Liberation Day”

Trump announces Vietnam trade deal with 20% import tariff Business Times

Trump 2.0

House GOP advances Trump megabill after dramatic overnight vote The Hill

Federal Mortgage Regulator Bill Pulte Calls on Congress To Investigate Fed Chair Powell Realtor.com

Trump tells Powell to leave The Hill

INSIDE DOGE’S DANGEROUSLY HASTY IRS MODERNIZATION PLAN Notes on the Crises

***

THE WHIFF OF CORRUPTION: TRUMP’S NEW PERFUME HAS STRONG NOTES OF GRAFT The Intercept

I Don’t Know How to Explain to You That You Shouldn’t Buy Concentration Camp Merch Discourse Blog

Democrats en déshabillé

Maybe Team Blue can promise the “good billionaires” they’ll deliver it?

 

Hakeem Jeffries met privately with Silicon Valley donors in bid to ‘mend fences.’ Politico. From February, still germane.

***

On Zohran Mamdani and Taxi Drivers Zephyr Teachout

Former Obama Treasury secretary: Mamdani policies not ‘good for New York’ The Hill

RussiaGate

Obama’s Trump-Russia collusion report was corrupt from start: CIA review New York Post

MAHA

Insurers Aren’t Saying Whether They’ll Cover Vaccines for Kids if Government Stops Recommending Them Wired

Police State Watch

Welcome to the Age of Disappearance Hamilton Nolan

Kilmar Abrego Garcia describes ‘severe beatings’ and ‘psychological torture’ in Salvadoran prison Politico

AI

Freedom Cities

Tech Bro Wants to Use Federal Land at Alameda Point for ‘AI City,’ Drafts Sample Executive Order SFist

Starbase Texas Officials Silent Following Construction Equipment Accident at SpaceX Facility Technology.org

Inside Elon Musk’s Stellar Year at the Texas Capitol ProPublica

Brave New World

Elephant Trunk-Like Arm Turns Ordinary Drones Into Powerful, All-Purpose Flying Robots ZME Science

Swarms of tiny robots could go up your nose, melt the mucus and clean your sinuses ZME Science

Our Famously Free Press

‘Spineless Capitulation to Extortion’: Paramount Caves to Trump With $16 Million Settlement Common Dreams

The Bezzle

A Nebraska crypto company wants to get bigger. Landowners decry NPPD’s use of eminent domain that will help it grow. Flatwater Free Press

AI Training Load Fluctuations at Gigawatt-scale – Risk of Power Grid Blackout? Semi-Analysis

Van Gogh the Translator Liberties Journal

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.

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104 comments

    1. griffen

      Thinking myself more like a young Karate Kid, where young Daniel* learns at the very feet of his somewhat Quixotic trainer. Right circle, Left circle….Right circle, Left circle…

      Nevermind the labor involved since you will learn what teacher instructs. A recent AARP article featured Ralph who seems to be in his young 60s…he ain’t a kid no more.

    5. J

      flora,

      It actually reminds me an internet
      meme. Now, I can’t see anything
      else when I look at the photo.

      An internet search indicates that the
      guy in the photo is apparently Drake,
      and it”s referred to as the “Hotline
      Bling” meme. It would be impressive
      for the critter to pose for the second
      picture.

      J

      1. DD GE

        Exactly, first thing I thought when I saw it : Drake waving his hand as a “no thanks” gesture

  2. The Rev Kev

    ‘Secretary Kennedy
    @SecKennedy
    Wearables put the power of health back in the hands of the American people.
    We’re launching one of the largest HHS campaigns in history to encourage their use—so every American can take control of their health, one data point at a time.
    It’s a key part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again.’

    Isn’t this how it started for the Borg?

    https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Borg

  3. Mikerw0

    We live in Westchester County, NY, roughly 15 miles to Central Park in Manhattan as the bird flies. I cannot overstate the level of animosity, and perceived threat Mamdani is bringing out. Without knowing who he is, his positions, etc., I am getting unsolicited hatred and scorn on a regular basis.

    When I carefully probe, I think it’s simple. They see him as a threat to the neoliberal status quo and blame his supporters for their predicament. And, much of this from self labeled progressives.

    PS they feel the same about Sanders and AOC.

    PSS when asked how you solve cost of living issues for average citizens you get some palp about deregulation and the ability of private equity to come in and built housing, or some other nonsense. But, under no circumstances can millionaires taxes do anything but go down so they’ll stay here to help lead the City.

    1. Kurtismayfield

      Ask them if they want deregulation.. i.e. no zoning restrictions… in their neighborhood. Then they will say the truth.

      1. Camelotkidd

        Tech Bro Wants to Use Federal Land at Alameda Point for ‘AI City,’ Drafts Sample Executive Order
        We are hurtling towards a dystopian future that reminds me of Neil Stephenson’s Snow Crash

    2. pjay

      You present a nice snapshot of the Democrat/suburban/(neo)liberal constituency for the “resistance.” On the Republican/(neo)conservative/MAGA side you’ve got Trump and his Homeland Saviors screeching about Mamdani as an Islamic terroristic communist to scare off any potential allies among the white working class (According to Zephyr these scare tactics aren’t working among immigrant cabbies – I wonder how they’re playing with cops and firefighters?). The Westchester folks read Jack Lew, the cops and firefighters listen to Trump. I’d like to think someone like Mamdani could break through the usual divide-and-rule tactics of the right-wingers and also appeal to any real progressives among the Dems, but past experience doesn’t make me hopeful.

    3. thoughtfulperson

      I have a high school friend, ivy league lawyer now, who thought Sanders would be way worse than Trump back in 2020 (so supported Biden). I’m sure he’d fit right in with your contacts. As will most far right democrats.

    1. The Rev Kev

      Yeah, that list is probably out of date now. Lloyds use to be the gold standard but I bet that a lot of their business headed east, never to return. Add in increased risks for like the waters for near Yemen and also the Black Sea – and maybe soon the Baltic – and they must get pretty busy at those insurance companies these days.

      1. Colonel Smithers

        Thank you and well said, Rev.

        One of my best friends, a Lloyd’s broker and to whose children I’m godfather, says many brokers are for sale as business heads east and south. He, a former colleague from HSBC* days, and his wife are diversifying into emerging markets, especially Africa.

        *Samuel Plimsoll and we worked for the same firm.

    2. Mass Driver

      Maybe they could send U-boats to attack those convoys, just like in ze good old days.

  5. Wukchumni

    So, i’m thinking the Donkey Show will attempt a ‘suicide squeeze’ play with the batter Hakeem laying down a perfect bunt, with the only problem being there are no base runners, as the 3rd baseman throws out Jeffries @ first.

    1. KLG

      Thanks, Wukchumni! As a former baseball player, I needed that perfect image to help me get through the day, especially after reading yet another paean to Casey Means MD and her ridiculous continuous glucose monitoring scam. The scams, some more malignant than others, they keep on coming. Lily Tomlin, we need you now more than ever!

      1. Wukchumni

        Thanks KLG…

        The other alternative is that Hakeem is the head of the Peoples Judas Goat Front, and he and his followers threaten to smash their own kneecaps with a Louisville Slugger, if demands aren’t met.

        1. ChrisFromGA

          I wish Hakeem well in his filibuster attempt, but I suspect that he’s “catchin’ line drives without a mitt.”

        2. Jabura Basadai

          perfect metaphor for a simp with no praise or comment for Zohran Mamdani –
          https://www.agweb.com/news/livestock/beef/judas-goats-agricultures-bizarre-drug-addicted-masters-deceit-once-ruled-killing-floor

          leading the D’rats to the killing floor –
          the Electric Flag has an appropriate song with a good intro –
          for those too young that first voice is LBJ –
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq3NwCHm-4U

          damn i miss Mike Bloomfield – was fortunate to see the last show of the Electric Flag at the Fillmore East – he brought Jimi out after the encore for a jam till early hours –

        3. chris

          That’s Judas People’s Front Goats to you! Now write “progressive tributum ite domani” 100 times on the Brave Little Girl or you’ll be flogged in the morning…

  6. The Rev Kev

    “US says its strikes degraded Iran’s nuclear programme by one to two years”

    Probably said so that the whole subject will go on the back burner for that long. Anybody think that the Israelis will let him? But the Iranians are not cooperating and have cut all ties with the IAEA meaning no inspections, no cameras, no reports, just zip. Grossi is panicking and running around saying the Iranians are going for nukes so as to save his job. But the White House and Trump were, I think, surprised by Iran doing this. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce kinda flipped out and said-

    ‘It is unacceptable that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity. Iran must cooperate fully, without further delay.’

    https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-iran-nuclear-weapons-israel-2093852

    Somebody should tell the Iranians that Israel and the Pentagon still need their targeting data and to update their scientist assassination lists so that had better get with the program. Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, when asked for his thoughts, replied ‘Screw those guys if they can’t take a joke.’

      1. The Rev Kev

        I wonder why there? Norway is hardly neutral territory these days and you think that Iran would demand a venue in a place in Asia for example. Unless it is just a dialogue meeting rather than an actual negotition. No doubt the US delegation will demand, loudly, that Iran re-join the IAEA or else, uhhh, more sanctions or something. But if I were the Iranian delegation, I would start that meeting by placing a salt container on the table. And I would put the Iranian military on high alert for another attack.

        1. Jason Boxman

          CONTENT MODERATORS WERE asked to think like paedophiles while they trained Meta AI tools as part of their work for an Irish outsourcing company, The Journal Investigates has learned.
          Some staff members also had to spend entire work days creating suicide and self-harm related ‘prompts’ in order to regulate the responses now given by the Meta ‘Llama’ AI products.

          Sounds as bad as those moderators that actually have to look at that kind of content all day for YouTube, Facebook, and so on.

          And these foundational models are all trained on the best of 4Chan and other inspiring places, so I bet they come up with all kinds of fantastic replies to these kinds of prompts.

          And the only reason anyone would ever take and keep a job like this: Capitalism.

          1. Bugs

            Jeez, which Irish outsourcing company could that possibily be. I think there’s only one that services the big 3 socials and cashes in on it big time. Like free money. The CEO traded big time on the day right before the Musk downturn in February. Somebody might report on it sometime, but probably not.

  8. AG

    re: Sarah Leah Whitson

    Looking back:

    This was an interesting and revealing conversation on Oct. 17th 2023 with NONZERO Podcast about things we know today better (e.g. to show sympathy for Hamas in any form is “verboten”).

    She is director of DAWN
    https://dawnmena.org/experts/sarah-leah-whitson/


    Israel, Hamas, and the Laws of War (Robert Wright & Sarah Leah Whitson)
    Robert Wright

    Oct 17, 2023

    https://www.nonzero.org/p/israel-hamas-and-the-laws-of-war#details

    timestamps:

    1:37 Israel’s military plans for northern Gaza
    4:37 How does international law apply to Israel and Hamas?
    15:47 The first casualty of war is truth
    24:22 Do Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute ethnic cleansing?
    31:38 The evolving definition of genocide
    39:08 How the US and Israel helped Hamas seize power
    49:50 America’s ill-fated push for Arab-Israeli normalization
    52:49 The hazards of overreacting to Hamas’s attack
    1:00:58 How western media has covered the conflict so far

  9. ChrisFromGA

    The story on Trump’s henchman at FHFA attacking Jerome Powell is really awful. This guy Pulte is a total hack, and a walking conflict of interest. Of course he wants lower interest rates – so he can sell more bubble-priced homes and walk away with more money for himself and his shareholders.

    Did this crook step down as CEO of Pulte Homes and put all his assets in a blind trust before taking the job?

    Jay Powell seems like one of the few decent public servants we have, albeit he works for the Fed which is a questionable entity at best.

    1. The Rev Kev

      Having Jay Powell as Federal Reserve Chair must really stick in Trump’s craw. You could see that with his Cabinet – that he was recruiting people loyal to him personally and not their jobs. We saw what happened to Gabbard when she briefly did not follow the narrative. She got thumped hard. There is no doubt that Trump wants to replace Powell with some loyalist hack an maybe Pulte is the one. It’s not quite the Führerprinzip yet but it paves the way to it for others-

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BChrerprinzip

    2. griffen

      And fresh off the press the payrolls report this morning looking still quite solid overall. I’ve only listened to the headline announcements and then commentary is ongoing. Seems like to me at least, Powell wants to avoid being another Arthur Burns ala the Fed Chair from the mid 70s.

      Broadly speaking but yeah, many real estate people ought to shut their trap when it comes to making these demands to just lower interest rates on command. The bond market vigilante era would begin anew if it is, perhaps , a ” yes dear leader” replacement who follows Powell next year, and to add that presumes Powell is in that role until his term officially ends.

      1. Wukchumni

        The only thing that would propel the housing bubble to highfalutin heights would be hyperinflation, everybody wanting to get rid of almighty bucks, but don’t see that coming anytime soon, so…

        A basic garage mahal in a halfway decent area of LA is a million bucks…

        It’s a market that has priced itself out and not just in the City of Angles… could you imagine being a 30 year old with wife and kid, signing an agreement to pay $8k a month* on a 30 years to life sentence on the not so big house?

        * $133 a month in 1962 for my first home, a 1,200 sq foot beauty that somehow held 6 of us.

        1. ambrit

          My folks bought a “fixer upper” on Miami Beach in 1967 for $87 USD per month. Mom sold it after Dad died in the 1990s for an ungodly amount.
          It seems there is always lots of “dumb money” wanting to buy in Sodom By the Sea.

          1. Wukchumni

            In the 1880’s-1890’s housing bubble in LA, sharpies pinned oranges to non-citrus trees on the property to better upsell it.

  10. doug

    I recently visited with some friends who work in research for federal govt. Until then, I thought all those ‘probationary’ employees that were fired by DOGE were all new hires, which was bad enough.
    Wrong! Anyone promoted within the last year is on ‘probationary’ status. They lost a 23 year veteran who had been promoted to lead the group, and lost institutional knowledge. Perhaps this was explained and I missed it earlier, but I wanted to put it out there.

    1. t

      Worth repeating. The is a lot of time and money being spent convincing the rubes the Trump cuts and private sector job losses are new (and therefore by definition useless or DEI) or deadwood who will magically be replaced, if needed, by competent white employees. Also we stopped money laundering and waste fraud and abuse.

      If anything, a structure with the 1st year being “probationary” I’d one designed for corrections when needed.

      Also worth repeating that where know of a DOGE salary, it’s above normal for whatever level their shoehorned into – and sometime higher than the dept allows. Anytime those goober walk into a room, they’re the highest paid. That’s gotta engender even more good feelings!

  11. Wukchumni

    Heard Benedict Donald is thinking of an 80% tariff on those delicious Danish butter cookies that come in a metal tin that makes a great place to stick nicknacks on the verge of being called trash, after you’ve had that almost free lunch of 6 different varieties of sugar high, with a milk chaser.

    Some might claim such tactics of bullying them into handing over Greenland on account of not so big bickies is par for the course, but our Cartman in charge does what he wants.

    Will Teetotalitarian’s next move being a special tax on all danish sold in the USA, prompting sales of Bavarian creams to spike?

    Nuuk, nyuk nyuk nyuk

  12. upstater

    re. INSIDE DOGE’S DANGEROUSLY HASTY IRS MODERNIZATION PLAN Notes on the Crises

    Here is an example of flicking the IT switch on a mission critical system. The former Kansas City Southern railroad was acquired by Canadian Pacific 2 years ago. The legacy KCS freight car management system was converted to CP’s in a switch, not run in parallel in the field. Chaos resulted; tens of thousands of cars went missing, customers lacked cars, cars mis-routed, customers having to use trucking to avoid plant shutdowns, etc, etc. CPKC says the chaos will end in late July, 3 months after the switch.

    This is for tens of thousands of rail cars, not hundreds of millions of taxpayers.

    CPKC says service is on the mend in former KCS territory

    No doubt the CIO will still get his bonus…

    1. The Rev Kev

      Did you note how CPKC’s statements sounded like they had been ChatGPT generated?

    2. curlydan

      Just 2 days ago I was talking to a friend who was highly frustrated by recent train delays (30 minutes+) in Kansas City from trains stuck on the track while he was going to work.

  13. AG

    re: China aviation industry

    Andrei Martyanov with a short text-only entry on one of his favourite subjects, China and commercial aviation difficulties

    To Create The New System Of Standards …
    … you have to have those standards be among if not the best. For those people who still continue to reside in this La La Land of Chinese commercial aerospace–just signing some agreements is not enough.

    July 2nd
    https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2025/07/to-create-new-system-of-standards.html

    1. Polar Socialist

      I think he works in aviation industry, so he does have some insight in how difficult it is to create standards and enforce them. Don’t know if he’s just being rude towards certain “fanboys of Chinese aviation industry” or if he will actually short-circuit his brain stem when (inevitably) China will fly their first commercial airliner made completely of domestic parts according to domestic regulations.

      It has taken two and a half years for Russia to have their first “import-free” versions doing test and certification flights. Other than it being cheaper for the Chinese (for now) to use western engines and avionics, there’s really no reason for Chinese to come up with domestic alternatives once their CJ-1000 engine gets trough the certification process.

      At least in the next-next generation fighter development the Chinese seem to be making big advances.

      1. AG

        Thanks for weighing in.

        (I am indebted to Martyanov in so far as I haven´t paid attention to this kind of things before, of course also because it´s simply not part of my professional life but SMO upended many important habits there.)

      2. bertl

        If you don’t have a panel flying off the side, one of the doors suddenly opening in mid-air ,an engine bursting into flame or the landing gear not descending, preferably all occurring on the same flight, you can’t possibly compete with the Western duopoly. Its kler enuff, innit, as eny ful no?

        1. AG

          I “sounds” funny but it actually isn´t.
          I assume Chinese in this racist Western environment have to be doubly cautious and exact with the results of their engineering.

  14. Nikkikat

    You are correct Doug, my understanding is that long time employees also got the axe, these 15 year old game console players that know nothing about government were allowed to simply show people the door. This Medicaid/obamacare changes dumped on states will also be a disaster. There is no way you can have state workers do twice the number of evaluations of eligibility p, which is what they are mandating without massive hiring. They will have a number of people leaving too. This is just sad.

  15. The Rev Kev

    “I Don’t Know How to Explain to You That You Shouldn’t Buy Concentration Camp Merch”

    So maybe in a few years time, admitting ownership of an “Alligator Alcatraz” shirt will really become rank as the stories come out. But any stocks left over could have the words printed on the back to get them moving again saying “I Swear I Did Not now What They Did There”. That excuse did not work in 1946 and won’t work down the track. If you put your image on social media wearing one of those shirts, it is there forever.

    1. BillS

      It will be pretty hard to get that Persilschein during the coming denazification when you are all over the internet in your nazi regalia! “I was never a member of the Party! I swear!”

  16. ciroc

    >The Best-Selling Apps Made By Israeli Spies

    These investigations also reveal how Israel is foundationally reliant on being in a permanent state of dominance over the Palestinians, because the only thing of value the country produces are tech companies founded by ex-IDF. Without being able to train their citizens as spies and soldiers, and butcher Palestinians at will, Israel’s economy would collapse.

    This is why Israel must be destroyed. The two-state solution is a ridiculous pipe dream.

    1. John Wright

      Israel also has Vishay Semiconductor, Teva Pharma and a metal cutting tool company, Iscar.

      Iscar is 100% owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

      Israel has a diversified economy for a small population of around 9 million.

      1. Bugs

        Teva is mostly generics that it runs through Indian pure play fabs but supervises EU and FDA compliance. It doesn’t matter.

  17. The Rev Kev

    “Starbase Texas Officials Silent Following Construction Equipment Accident at SpaceX Facility”

    It occurs to me that if you lived next to Starbase Texas, that it would be like living next door to the Home Owner’s Association From Hell. They are rude, obnoxious, secretive and leave bits of blown up rockets strew over the neighbourhood. The only difference is that a HOA cannot get the State to declare eminent domain over your property to be handed over to them for their expansion plans.

  19. The Rev Kev

    “Trump announces Vietnam trade deal with 20% import tariff”

    I wonder if the Vietnamese here are buying themselves some time. Their whole economy was orientated to a partnership with China for the manufacture of goods to go to the US. But if they are going to diversify and re-orientate their economy, then they will need time to do so. Trump my think himself smart by getting a deal where the US can import goods for free into Vietnam while they are hit up with 20% shipping goods to the US. One of his ‘I-win-and-you-lose’ deals. But does Vietnam have the money or the desire to import a lot of goods from the US, especially the former? Other parts of the US government want to use Vietnam as a battering ram against China as they share a border. Probably China is helping Vietnam out of self-interest and the Vietnamese see what the US is doing to them so I do not think that they want to go there. But then right at the end of this article it had the classic Trump grift-

    ‘Officials in the country also touted the Trump Organization’s plans to develop a US$1.5 billion luxury resort complex, a project that will feature five-star hotels, golf courses and residential estates spanning more than 990 hectares. The president’s son, Eric Trump, attended a groundbreaking event for the project in May, where he was joined by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.’

    1. converger

      Vietnam does not trust China. There is zero reason for Vietnam to trust Trump. The existential task for Vietnam isn’t picking a side – it’s navigating a new era of global imperial ambition.

  20. micaT

    israel and planes.
    To allow israel to fly US B2’s would take a few years of pilot training. I suspect if the article is correct, which I doubt it would allow israel to request the bombing of iran. Which is that any different than now?

    And as to the fighter jets, if they are going after Iranian drones, they would be using air to air missiles, and not be carrying air to ground bombs. If you could point that missile at the ground it carries a very small payload, would be very inaccurate, is very expensive and it’s something they are running out of. So no I dont think the story is accurate.

    1. ilsm

      B-2 is a piloted drone.

      Sensors, GPS, autopilot, etc. Human is superfluous.

      The extraordinary accuracy claimed to put a 30000 pound iron on a 10 cm spot to take advantage of Iran’s straight line vent shaft is machine based control.

      There is no Maverick.

      IDF has qualified dial watchers, and the servicing is mostly contractor.

      They could fly lend lease tomorrow.

  21. Wukchumni

    Record heat in parts of Europe and Asia Balanced Weather
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Bunker buster bombs have been all the rage-real or imagined, while the answer to relentless heat waves is to build underground public bunkers meant for stays of short duration up to say a fortnight. An artificial cave requires no cooling system for the most part, if ventilated properly.

    You could also build your own bunker, pretty much along the lines of a 1960 model that your parents built in case the Russians decided to push the button down, but more of an escape from the heat these daze.

    Use the bunkers for something else in the ‘off-season’.

  22. JohnH

    ZME science piece on sinus clearing tech did not use the term “Neti Bots” and I am disappoint.

    1. jeff H

      These people can’t seem to understand the KISS principle. Never invest more effort into doing something than is required, otherwise you’re just wasting resources.

    2. chuck roast

      I read the headline and then started laughing like hell when it wasn’t The Onion.

  23. castilleja

    Regarding the article on the AI Tech Bro. wanting to gobble up VA land and a Nature Reserve for a regulation-free company town, it sure sounds like what Mike Lee seems to have meant when he referred to “Freedom Zones” in a Tweet trying, and failing, to battle opposition to his defeated public land disposal proposal in the Big Bad Bill. https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1937340623213985907

  24. Wukchumni

    Scientists discovered microplastics in human semen and follicular fluid CNN
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

    Her neon mouth with the blinkers-off smile
    Nothing but an electric sign
    You could say she has an individual style
    She’s part of a colorful time

    Secrecy of lady-fast fashion covered clothes
    You wear cause you have no other
    But I suppose no one knows
    You’re my microplastic fantastic lover

    Her rattlin’ cough never shuts off
    Is nothin’ but a used machine
    Her microplastic finish, slightly diminished
    Is the best I ever have seen

    Cosmetic baby plugged into me
    I’d never ever find another
    I realize no one’s wise
    To my microplastic fantastic lover

    The microplastic dust is starting to rust
    Her trapezoid thermometer taste
    All the red tape is mechanical rape
    Of the online doomscrolling waste

    Big Oil & Big HAL
    Science is mankind’s brother
    But all I see is drainin’ me
    On my microplastic fantastic lover

    Plastic Fantastic Lover, by Jefferson Airplane

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Hvp1Z10TI&list=RDm1Hvp1Z10TI

    1. Wukchumni

      He’s boring me to death, and I was on life support until I pulled the plug on his diatribe which seems to have 1 goal in mind…

      Jeffries has vowed to “take my sweet time” with the remarks, which are nearing five hours. The record for longest speech on the House floor is currently held by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) at 8 hours and 32 minutes.

      1. ChrisFromGA

        Hakeem is giving it the old college try, but he lacks the passion and delivery of a true orator.

        His line about Republicans praying on Sunday, then preying on the American people for the rest of the week, was pretty good.

        Too bad he can’t call in a pinch hitter – Dennis Miller would do a good job of roasting the scoundrels like Mike Johnson. Imagine Dennis slinging one-liners:

        “Mike Johnson is so boring he put a hooker on meth to sleep in a Motel 6”

        1. Wukchumni

          Were it not for the obvious scarcity of phone booths for Clark Kent to doff his Jesus Is Super, Man outfit, we’d be seeing a lot more of him exhibiting superhuman strength.

        2. Revenant

          A Welshman prays on his knees on Sunday and his neighbours the rest of the week.

          It’s as old as the hills (valleys!), that line!

    2. Neutrino

      In other news, Joe Biden decries the bill for undoing all of what he worked so hard for.
      If you survey Americans, two images are near the top.
      1. Joe asleep on the beach.
      2. Scores of people strolling across the border.
      Thanks, Joe. Go sit down for a nap.

    3. Jason Boxman

      What’s amusing in all of this:

      a) Congressional “votes” that leadership holds open until they get the outcome they want
      b) Liberal Democrat deaths and absences throughout the year further padding Republican advantage
      c) Biden and Co nuking Pandemic benefits from orbit, making these kind of cuts even deeper and easier than they might have otherwise been if liberal Democrats maintained or strengthened these programs
      d) Schumer refusing to use what little leverage he had earlier this year, to try to shield programs likely to be cut, at least SNAP and Medicaid, oh well, nicely done

      So these cuts are a furtherance of what Biden and Liberal Democrats were doing anyway, even if it was on a smaller scale.

      1. ChrisFromGA

        On point a) — the hold-outs were actors role-playing. “Please don’t throw me in that briar patch, B’rer Fox!”

        We knew that they would fold, and if they really had wanted to accomplish anything, they could have held out for another 24 hours and at least ruined a couple more vacations.

        Meanwhile, the BBPoS passed the House, 218-214. Massie and Fitzpatrick (PA) were the only GOP NO votes. Hakeem gets his Academy Award and everyone gets to go home and celebrate the latest mile marker on the road to the end of the U.S.A. as we knew it.

  26. pjay

    The NY Post on Russiagate, when read alongside the Writer’s Guild condemnation of Paramount for “capitulating” on the 60 Minutes lawsuit, strongly reinforces my feelings of the hopelessness of it all. The Post is completely correct about Russiagate, but for completely partisan reasons, and for a completely undeserving “victim” who does the same s**t or worse once back in power. The Writer’s Guild is completely correct in principle in their condemnation of Paramount, but for a completely undeserving “victim” that has used its own influence for partisan purposes and for pushing extremely dangerous warmongering propaganda for the Establishment.

    At least they all agree on the Evilness of Putin, so there’s that.

  27. Jason Boxman

    It’s worth noting that Paramount’s sale has been frozen, with any shares you own un-tradeable during this. So much for the much vaunted liquidity of America’s capital markets. Every couple of weeks, I get a notice from my broker that the buyout offer timeline has been “extended”.

    Paramount Global, Skydance Media merger deadline to get 90-day extension

    The companies are awaiting regulatory approval for the deal to close. If the merger is not finalized by April 7 and certain conditions are met, the agreement allows for up to two automatic 90-day extensions.
    The closing of the deal is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission.

    Gonna be awhile. Fun times if you need that money for anything.

  28. Wukchumni

    Happy Fourth of JulAI!

    th’ unanimous declaration o’ th’ thirteen Tortuga o’ the New World, when in th’ course o’ ‘uman events, it becomes necessary fer one people to dissolve th’ political bands which ‘ave connected them with another, an’ to assume among th’ powers o’ th’ earth, th’ separate an’ equal station to which th’ laws o’ nature an’ o’ nature’s god entitle them, a decent respect to th’ opinions o’ mankind requires that there they should declare th’ causes which impel them to th’ separation.

    we ‘old these ‘ere truths to be self-evident, that there all men be created equal, that there they be endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that there among these ‘ere be life, liberty an’ th’ pursuit o’ ‘appiness. –that to secure these ‘ere rights, governments be instituted among men, derivin’ their just powers from th’ consent o’ th’ governed, –that whenever any form o’ government becomes destructive o’ these ‘ere ends, it be th’ right o’ th’ people to alter or to abolish it, an’ to institute new government, layin’ its foundation on such principles an’ organizin’ its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety an’ ‘appiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that there governments long established should not be changed fer light an’ transient causes; an’ accordingly all experience ‘ath shewn, that there mankind be more disposed to suffer, while evils be sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishin’ th’ forms to which they be accustomed. But when a long train o’ abuses an’ usurpations, pursuin’ invariably th’ same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it be their right, it be their duty, to throw off such government, an’ to provide new guards fer their future security. –such been th’ patient sufferance o’ these ‘ere colonies; an’ such be now th’ necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems o’ government. Th’ ‘istory o’ th’ present kin’ o’ jolly britain be a ‘istory o’ repeated injuries an’ usurpations, all ‘avin’ in direct object th’ establishment o’ an absolute tyranny o’er these ‘ere states

  29. Jason Boxman

    The Data Breaches just keep coming; Got another one today, against a list of actors I don’t really even recognize. The “Fortra File Transfer Software Breach Website”. No idea what this even is.

    As is usual with these class action suits, you can also get “Credit Monitoring”:

    In addition to Cash Payment A or Cash Payment B, you may also submit a Claim Form to receive the CyEx Identity Defense Plus Dark Web Monitoring product. The Dark Web Monitoring product includes one year of: (i) real time authentication alerts; (ii) dark web scanning; (iii) high risk transaction monitoring; (iv) wallet protection; (v) victim assistance; and (vi) customer support.

    For an entire year! Because your personal information disappears from the Internets after one year! Magic!

  30. AG

    re: Obama’s Trump-Russia collusion report was corrupt from start: CIA review New York Post

    UndeadFOIA/Sleuthnews and Matt Taibbi differ in how important they see this:

    FOIA Undead/Sleuthnews
    CIA Report & More
    https://www.sleuth.news/p/cia-report-and-more

    “(…)
    There is nothing truly new in that analysis, but it did provide a little color on a few pieces. The analysis found that the major outlets (NYT/WaPo) were reporting a conclusion of the intelligence community before their work had even begun, based on anonymous leaks.
    (…)
    Nothing else about the analysis is particularly interesting to us. Check out Miranda Devine’s article here.
    (…)”.

    Taibbi (preview only)
    Explosive New CIA Report Details Russiagate Fraud
    Trump administration investigation affirms earlier reports by Racket and Public about use of “cooked” intelligence to launch the Russiagate frenzy
    https://www.racket.news/p/explosive-new-cia-report-details

    “(…)
    Miranda Devine of the New York Post, who broke the fateful story about Hunter Biden’s laptop, has struck again with an exposé on the origins of Russiagate that implicates former intelligence chiefs John Brennan, James Comey, and Jim Clapper in an elaborate fraud. From the story, which is centered on a new CIA report commissioned by John Ratcliffe:
    (…)
    However, this new report contains a wealth of new details. It’s not clear what this may or may not mean for any possible future criminal investigation, but Ratcliffe’s CIA investigation fills in a lot of blanks. Some key conclusions:
    (…)”

  31. kareninca

    If anyone needs concrete evidence that the NHS has lost its ability to function, this post today on reddit kidney disease will provide it:

    “Hello, I’m from the UK so this may be different from the US I’m female, I’m 26 years old. I was diagnosed with IgA last year after my GP ignoring my bloods since 2018. My GFR has declined everytime which is now 32, with increased serum urea, increased serum creatinine, and low bicarbonate levels. My nephrology is still telling me we don’t need to do anything? I am slightly concerned because my kidney function is trembling each test, I’m very symptomatic, I am on max dose of ramipril plus diuretics to help reduce the swelling I now have. I could itch my skin raw, I don’t have a brilliant appetite and when I do eat I feel very sick afterwards and I drank over 2000mls per day. Thank you”

    If you know anything about kidney disease, or even if you don’t but can piece things together, this is beyond terrible. People in developing countries often get better care. This young lady may not survive this neglect.

    1. IM Doc

      This is really not good medical care……

      It sounds to me with the nausea and itching that this patient has arrived at the time from her disease that she needs dialysis. The swelling is also a concern there.

      BUT – she is on max dose of ramipril and diuretics all at the same time – both of which are very hard on ailing kidneys and are really not the best choice.

      If this case was being presented to me on rounds, we would be having some very significant conversations about renal failure management. This is not acceptable.

      1. kareninca

        If I were her I would go online and get an online self-pay nephrologist (or even GP) to prescribe some steroids, just as a matter of survival. And then maybe this: “Case Report: Hydroxychloroquine Treatment Successful in Systemic IgG4-RD” (Rare Disease Advisor, January 14th, 2025). I’m not saying that this is the right thing to do (since it isn’t), but if she doesn’t do something she is going to end up on dialysis soon (if they even have dialysis now in Britain; this makes me wonder). It is bad enough when old people are neglected but this is leaving a 26 year old to die pointlessly.

  32. Wukchumni

    Scientists Catch Two Wild Orcas “French Kissing” And It Might Mean More Than You Think ZME Science
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    …wonder if whale porn would open up on a browser in Utah?

  34. chuck roast

    “China’s top leaders vow crackdown on price wars as deflation risks mount”

    I pictured the bones of Alfred Marshall contorting themselves and olde Alfred standing on his head in his coffin. I wonder if such a movement would be noted in Econ 102.

  35. Jason Boxman

    Trump Administration Asserted Sweeping Power in Seeking to Bypass TikTok Ban

    Attorney General Pam Bondi told tech companies that they could lawfully violate a statute barring American companies from supporting TikTok based on a sweeping claim that President Trump has the constitutional power to set aside laws, newly disclosed documents show.

    In a series of letters to companies like Apple and Google, Ms. Bondi wrote that Mr. Trump had decided that shutting down TikTok would interfere with his “constitutional duties to take care of the national security and foreign affairs of the United States.” As a result, she continued, she had concluded that the law banning the social media app “is properly read not to infringe upon such core presidential national security and foreign affairs powers.”

    Who needs laws anyway.

    1. ChrisFromGA

      Justice Benedict Donald, usurping the Article III powers expressly reserved for the courts.

      Don’t bother trying to file a lawsuit, either. Amy Coney-Barrett will just say, “you ain’t got standing, punk.”

  36. chris

    OMG, the Guardian didn’t even wait for President Trump to finish his victory speech in Iowa tonight before updating to share that Trump used an antisemitic slur in the speech, when he referred to bankers as Shylocks. Because, obviously, Trump was consciously making a reference to Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” in his speech. Obviously. Trump is truly an amazing figure. He’s capable of being a grotesque idiot, someone who doesn’t know anything about anything, and also alluding to a somewhat popular comedy written just before 1600 BCE, just to offend Jewish bankers. Because we all know Trump hates Israel, right?What a guy!

    Do these idiots in the MSM understand how stupid they sound? I look forward to future headlines such as “Trump overheard saying ‘Goddammit’ clearly indicating he has renounced the Lord and accepted Satan as his master”. Or, perhaps, “Trump overheard saying, I didn’t expect an inquisition, followed by 3 robed men bursting into the oval office. Experts say this is a sign of Trump aligning with the Pope and Trump’s intent to restart Torquemada’s torture chamber in the West Wing.”

  37. bertl

    The lesson I have learned from the Viner years at the Guardian is that reading it is more likely to result in the seriously underrated mental illness of pure f*cking ignorance than if one were to randomly scroll through social media for 20 hours daily, seven days a week. However, my attention has been drawn to this piece (and, yes, I have fact checked it, and so have all the people who have called me), and for once the Guardian has printed something worth reading and it is very good news for so many of us who fought in the trenches with Jeremy Corbyn prior to and during his leadership of the Labour party:

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/03/jeremy-corbyn-hints-at-launch-of-new-party-as-leftwing-alternative-to-labour

    As usual the headline is somewhat misleading. JC does more than hint.

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