Author Archives: Yves Smith

The Inevitable Militarization of Space?

A high level review of the US efforts to project power in space and the actions/reactions of Russia and China.

The Sad (Very Familiar) New York Times and Its Mamdani Hit Piece

The hit parade, as in the hit piece parade, on New York City mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani, is still in high gear.

Links 7/9/2025

Trump Just Gave a Huge Gift to China’s Economy

The GOP’s huge new tax and spending law will make it even harder for U.S. companies to compete in clean technologies.

“The Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened”: Von der Leyen Faces Impeachment Risk

EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen is (finally) in some trouble. How much of a sweat does she need to break to survive?

Will Russia Greatly Accelerate Its Ukraine Tempo to Facilitate Responding to Turkiye-Azerbaijan Threat to Iran?

Will Azerbaijan turning against Russia, perhaps supporting an attack on Iran, force Russia to move faster than it might otherwise in Ukraine?

Links 7/8/2025

AI, Antitrust & Privacy: When More Competition Makes Things Worse

Increased AI competition worsens surveillance, manipulation, and disinformation—threatening privacy, autonomy, and democracy.

Trump’s Self-Destructive Fight with the Fed for Low Interest Rates: His “Fiscal Dominance” Game of Chicken

Trump is fighting another war he can’t win: trying to use interest rates to counter the inflation created by his yawning fiscal deficits.

The UK Aims to Entrench Its Influence in Estonia in Order to Lead the Arctic-Baltic Front

The UK’s clever scheme to enlist rabid chihuahua Estonia to harass Russia in the Baltic theater.

Links 7/5/2025

Why UK [and US] Governments Are Never Dependent on Financial Markets

As Mr. Market idelivers a big raspberry in response to Trump’s big beautiful bill, remember it won’t affect the ability to keep spending

Global Carbon Emissions Reach Record High Despite Green Efforts

So much for “green energy will save us” hype. Carbon emssions keep rising.

How Global Value Chains, Much Hyped by Development Experts, Slowed Growth and Preserved Inequality in Middle Income Countries

Tackling a pro-multinational development canard which looks to have made the so-called middle income trap worse.