Author Archives: Yves Smith

Why Washington Underwrites Violence in Ukraine

The ranks of Ukraine and US hegemony believers are starting to thin. But not soon enough.

“Lessons for a Pandemic”

Lessons learned, and not, from a pandemic that isn’t over.

The Grid Needs A $20 Trillion Upgrade To Support Energy Transition

Inadequate grid capacity all over the globe raises doubts about the viability of green energy plans, at least at scale.

Amid Global Debate, UN Plastics Treaty at Risk of Falling Short

The war on plastics has put recycling in its crosshairs.

Our Disappearing Shoreline

A brief look at the process of shoreline erosion.

Mood-Altering Mushroom Sales Bloom Despite Safety Concerns

upposedly psychoactive mushroooms are now widely availalble in the US, with no supervision of potency or purity.

Links 5/31/2023

The Wars We Are Discouraged From Seeing

How the media anesthetizes the American pulblic to our role in wars and their costs.

No Bargain: Big Money and the Debt Ceiling Deal

What is the real reason Democratic party leaders go along with the debt ceiling ritual?

How Declining Population Growth Might Portend a Future of Increasing Resource Scarcity

Slowing and stallling population growth could actually increase resource demands.

Links 5/30/2023

Ukraine: Bleeding Out

A plea to analysts and commentators with access to information: when Ukraine runs out of materiel will be decisive.

Here’s Why Oil Flows Can Only Be Redirected, Not Stopped

At least over the time frame of the sanctions against Russia, oil demand had looked inelastic.