When Will My Pornographic Shrek Christmas Ornament Arrive? 404 Media
Wild hogs wreak economic havoc for Mississippi agriculture Associated Press
Why Britain has a deer problem – leaving damage that costs millions BBC (Kevin W)
A new superconductor breaks rules physicists thought were fixed ScienceDaily (Kevin W)
A Myth for Understanding Modern Mental Chaos CocotteMinute
Conservative and Christian? US right champions psychedelic drugs Guardian (Kevin W)
How Dad’s Fitness May Be Packaged and Passed Down in Sperm RNA Quanta (fk)
This common food ingredient may shape a child’s health for life Science News (fk)
I’m a Pathologist: The “Biological Cost” of Ozempic and Mounjaro YouTube
‘Ozempic Teeth’: Another Effect of GLP-1 Agonists? MedPage Today. Not included in video above.
How weight-loss drugs are reshaping fitness gyms Axios
#COVID-19/Pandemics
‘Super flu’ sends NYC flu cases to highest level in a decade New York Post
How most of my conversations go:
Me: “Mild Covid causes cancer, immunodeficiency, permanent multi-organ damage, & premature death.”
Them: “No it doesn’t, you’re lying. Prove it.”
Me: Presents 6-years of confirmed science & data…
Them: “Liar. Blocked.”
— Laura Miers (@LauraMiers) December 26, 2025
Climate/Environment
Declared extinct in 2025: A look back at some of the species we lost Mongabay
Record fossil fuel emissions in 2025 despite renewables buildout, report says Mongabay
China launches satellite to aid in early extreme weather detection China Daily
A year under water: Record floods sweep Vietnam from megacities to tourist hubs in 2025 eVinExpress
In India’s desert state, global drinks giants grapple with water scarcity and local anger malaymail
Pablo Escobar’s Chital Deer: The New Biological Crisis Threatening Colombia’s Magdalena Medio Noticas Ambientales
Photos show California slammed with heavy rain, mudslides from storm USA Today
China?
China Industrial Profits Decline in November as Demand Cools Bloomberg
Revealed: the answer key to your year-end China-watching test Pekinology
HAINAN: THE $113 BILLION MISPRICING
On December 18, 2025, China executed the largest customs architecture change since WTO accession.
Wall Street coverage: Paragraph 17.
What actually happened:
Hainan became a separate customs territory.
74% of all tariff lines now enter at… https://t.co/OrIS9YeR3Q pic.twitter.com/TyL5BRtUbR
— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) December 26, 2025
Southeast Asia
Myanmar’s incomplete general election: 5 things to know Nikkei
Thailand, Cambodia halt fighting which killed dozens over 20 days Anadolu Agency
Thailand, Cambodia sign immediate ceasefire agreement Bangkok Post. Note:
The foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia both said on Saturday that they would visit Yunnan on Sunday and Monday to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks about border issues.
On Friday, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reaffirmed that Thailand would accept a 72-hour ceasefire but would not agree to resume border negotiations at positions held before the latest clashes, insisting that Thailand “cannot retreat” from secured areas.
Africa
Why bomb Sokoto? Trump’s strikes baffle Nigerians Financial Times
3 tomahawks failed to explode out of 12?
That’s pretty bad pic.twitter.com/OivQCQ70DD
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) December 27, 2025
South of the Border
Former CIA Venezuela chief is raiding clients from Rubio-affiliated lobbying firm while the US continues seizing oil tankers Jack Poulson (Dr. Kevin)
The Unexpected Winner of Rising American Tariffs Is Mexico Wall Street Journal. Lead story. No archived version yet.
‘Cocaine, gold and meat’: how Colombia’s Amazon became big business for crime networks Guardian
European Disunion
Italy and Spain shake off ‘periphery’ tag as borrowing premiums hit 16-year low Financial Times
Have Germans finally had enough of propaganda sold as expertise? Tarik Cyril Amar
Israel v. The Resistance
Inside the mind of Yossi Cohen: A Mossad chief’s adventure into the shadows – exclusive Jerusalem Post (resilc). Would be great if John Kirakou would comment on this.
a href=”https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-881293″ rel=”nofollow”>Israel ranks last in 2025 global Nation Brands Index Jerusalem Post (Dr. Kevin)
Arab countries condemn Israel’s recognition of breakaway Somaliland region Anadolu Agency
The newest Palestinian concentration camp, where they can die quietly, out of sight, no blame on Israel because it’s brown people killing brown people. https://t.co/2oufKy6jQb
— Kathleen Tyson (@Kathleen_Tyson_) December 27, 2025
Iranian navy seizes ‘foreign’ oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz Euronews (resilc)
Iran Captures American Ship To Avenge Venezuela Piracy? IRGC Drops Dramatic Visuals Of Oil Tanker Times of India
Iran just embarrassed Israel like we’ve never seen.
They’ve hacked into the former Israeli Prime Minister’s Phone, and exposed his secrets…
How will Israel respond to this? pic.twitter.com/lGAUWeHCTz
— Alex Barnicoat (@AlexBarnicoat_) December 26, 2025
New Not-So-Cold War
Zelensky plans to meet Trump on Sunday for talks on ending Russian war BBC (Kevin W)
Trump tempers Zelensky’s optimism on peace plan The Hill
Thousands without power in Kyiv after massive Russian attack BBC
Brief Frontline Report – December 26th, 2025 Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Popov
SITREP 12/26/25: AFU Flees Gulyaipole, as Russia Stumbles in Murky Kupyansk Simplicius
The Kupiansk infowar Events in Ukraine
Why Does the West Hate Russia? Larry Johnson
Another very important testimony on what happened in the now infamous Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in Türkiye, 6 weeks into the war.
This time by Jean-Daniel Ruch 👇, who was Switzerland’s ambassador to Türkiye at the time.
He confirms other accounts that it is the West -… pic.twitter.com/VTA9lTNeQj
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) December 18, 2024
Imperial Collapse Watch
They Spread Corruption And Call It Peace indi.ca (resilc)
Trump 2.0
Billboard campaign urging troops to disobey orders from Trump administration launches in Tampa WTSP (resilc)
Trump is literally selling pardons.
According to the WSJ, there’s an “official track” and a faster one where you corner him at Mar-a-Lago, say the magic words “unjust persecution,” and walk away clean.
Lobbyists quote prices up to $6M.
No process. No ethics. Just cash and… pic.twitter.com/Hdra7vuTKy
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) December 26, 2025
Trump, allies lean into religious messaging on Christmas The Hill. Larry Wilkerson sputtered about this on his latest talk on Dialogue Works
South Park Writer Snagged ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ Web Domains Months Ago Gizmodo (Dr. Kevin)
The Importance of Time Based Analysis: Getting Bethlehem Out of Christmas Sam Husseini
Immigration
Immigration lawyers say the H-1B chaos is forcing tough business calls Business Insider
L’affaire Epstein
Condensed my sub stream on Epstein Origins down to 4 hours so could post on X. It starts as an analysis of the shoddy New York Times attempt at answering the question before proceeding to answer the question ourselves. Enjoy the journey! pic.twitter.com/YjRj6cg86C
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) December 24, 2025
Our No Longer Free Press
Silicon Valley’s billionaire elite can’t engineer our consent Sydney Morning Herald (resilc)
Scoop: Journalist Glenn Greenwald exposes a shameful fact at the heart of StopAntisemitism's "Antisemite of the Year" award. pic.twitter.com/2WEg5mIn6O
— gato fumador (@KweenInYellow) December 27, 2025
Economy
How Americans are responding to the ‘affordability crisis’ CNBC. resilc: “Bombing Nigeria should fix this….”
Retreating from EVs could be hazardous for Western carmakers Economist
Trump Has a New Auto Loan Tax Break. Here’s Who Could Benefit. New York Times. resilc: “The trouble is ALL new cars have serious quality issues and are designed NOT to last the loan term.”
The Economic Divide Between Big and Small Companies Is Growing Wall Street Journal
AI
The AI bubble is all over now, baby blue Gary Marcus
Global Memory Shortage Crisis: Market Analysis and the Potential Impact on the Smartphone and PC Markets in 2026 IDC. Due to AI.
Both of these influencers are successful – but only one is human BBC (Kevin W)
Is an AI-Powered Toy Terrorizing Your Child? Futurism
Cursor CEO Warns Vibe Coding Builds ‘Shaky Foundations’ That Eventually Crumble Fortune
Palantir’s Palestine: How AI Gods Are Building Our Extinction BettBeat
AI data centers may soon be powered by retired Navy nuclear reactors from aircraft carriers and submarines — firm asks U.S. DOE for a loan guarantee to start the project Tom’s Hardware (resilc)
The Bezzle
The Gloves Are Off in the Fight for Your Right to Repair Wired (resilc)
European divergence. Stablecoin flows. Southern Air Transport. Hamas explained. Adam Tooze
Guillotine Watch
Champagne, Caviar Bumps, and Celebrities: Inside Aspen’s St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Vanity Fair (resilc). Ignacio remarked:
Snow polo is probably the most posh “sport” ever. There was even a World Championship which was celebrated in Tianjin (China) between 2011-2017. In St Moritz a snow polo Tournament has been running since 1985 very much in the posh style of the Aspen as reported by V.F. Vomitive in my opinion. Horses are adapted to snow and I believe the field is prepared so there is not ice below the snow which must have appropriate characteristics for these events. It is all about luxury, expensive meals, aperitifs, fancy snow clothing etc.
In 2026, Will Americans Finally Turn Against Oligarchs? Matt Stoller
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving New York Times (resilc)
Class Warfare
Goldman Sachs expects layoffs to keep rising—and says investors are punishing the stocks of companies that slash staff Fortune. A change from a trend that the Wall Street Journal, among others, had been flogging.
The great unchurching of America Axios
Damn this New York Times Analysis Garrett Baldwin
Antidote du jour (via):
And a bonus:
Cold days.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/BhwMEzMENF
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) December 26, 2025
And a second bonus:
There are 2 types of dog. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/eHTxNp0joQ
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) December 26, 2025
And a third:
Imagine coming home to this welcome everyday 🥺pic.twitter.com/9NYdWuQkmZ
— We don't deserve cats 😺 (@catsareblessing) December 25, 2025
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
“When Will My Pornographic Shrek Christmas Ornament Arrive?”
Nice to see that some things never change – like Rule 34. And if the author was prepared to pay forty-four bucks for two of them, it just goes to show you that he has more dollars than sense.
I’m hoping he made more than that for the article and can chalk it up as an expense.
The author got paid for the article. It’s business expense.
Re: Hainan
The author of that tweet and substack doesn’t seem to understand that for the past 3 decades or so, every business that has sought to sell in China, manufactures in China. Importing has always been a fraught business for any company in China, there are just too many bureaucratic obstacles for anything except raw materials imports. The move to offshore to Vietnam, Indonesia, etc., has been driven by exporters from China, not companies wishing to sell in China. Since it’s just a customs free area for China, it will almost certainly only attract investments from companies already within China, and already selling within China. There may be good regional development reasons for this, but in terms of overall growth, its not likely to generate any real investment – this is why (for example), the Tories proposed Freeports around the UK went nowhere.
Most likely, the justification is internal, specifically to complete the weakening of HK and Macau as economic powerhouses. Shanghai has already take up much of HK’s former financial role. There may also be a desire to create an alternative growth pole away from the traditional arc from the Yellow Sea to the Yangtze Delta. If it does indicate a strategic reset towards the western seaboard of China, then the Vietnamese in particular will be looking very closely at how to respond.
“Trump tempers Zelensky’s optimism on peace plan The Hill” links to an Axios article.
Here’s the correct link: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5663887-trump-zelensky-peace-plan/
From the Axios article:
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios on Friday that he hopes to agree on a framework with President Trump for ending the war when they meet on Sunday.
Zelensky also revealed he’s willing to bring that plan up for a referendum if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days”
They just keep playing the “ceasefire” broken record as if the Russians are somehow gonna fall for it if they repeat it long enough. I imagine now that they need a ceasefire to hold the referendum. True brain geniuses in the British government these days.
Thanks, fixing. I had considered linking to the Axios piece but its headline claim was bogus. Mercouris has already picked apart Zelensky’s offer that Axios depicted as new (adding the “60 day” specifier does not change the basic idea).
“Have Germans finally had enough of propaganda sold as expertise?”
The answer is probably no as German media is all in on the propaganda effort and everything that Germans say online is being watched like a hawk with punishment meted out from time to time. Plus alternate views are banned in Germany and the EU such as the Russian RT & Sputnik. I mean here, you may as well ask ‘Have Americans finally had enough of propaganda sold as expertise?’ or ‘Have the British finally had enough of propaganda sold as expertise?’ The answers to both questions would also apply to the Germans.
Indi Samarajiva, at it again. They Corrupt and Call It Peace.
Or, they are corrupt and what they deign to offer as peace is rotten.
An observation well known in Europe (although not acknowledged by most of the media outlets): “Von der Leyen failed upwards by A) doing corrupt defense deals on her phone and deleting evidence in Germany B) doing corrupt vaccine deals on her phone and deleting evidence for the EU. What mere mortals would consider ruinous scandals are really just a successful job application within White Empire.”
What Indi Samarajiva reports has been covered here at Naked Capitalism, but you should read the essay because it is compact, well argued, and spicy indeed.