Category Archives: Infrastructure

Joker Geoeconomics and the Fight Over Global Ports

What are China’s options to prevent BlackRock-MSC/US takeover of 43 global ports? And how far will the US go to muscle its way out of its profitability crisis?

Abundance vs. Degrowth in a Time of Climate Catastrophe

While Trump’s Liberation Day policies might bring about accidental degrowth, Democrats embrace DOGE-style Abundance. Is there another way?

Accident or Attack? Explosion at Iran’s Busiest Commercial Port Will Reverberate Beyond Bandar Abbas Either Way

Explosion likely to exacerbate existing problems with the Iranian economy, which include high inflation that is hitting food prices particularly hard and weak economic growth due to sanctions

As Trump Administration Considers Retreat on Tariffs, Will It Resort to Usual US Fallback Option?

Washington’s focus on global chokepoints could see extra attention in wake of tariffs debacle.

Michael Hudson: Return of the Robber Barons – Trump’s Inverted View of America’s Tariff History

Trump’s slash and burn tariff policy is to shrink government, gut regulation and sell off public assets to pay for his tax cuts on super rich

The Middle East Logistics Wars

The US pursues the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor while attempting to kill other logistics corridors involving China, Iran, and Russia.

Why Is the Trump Administration So Obsessed with Shipping Lanes?

The case that it’s about preparing for conflict with China.

Coffee Break: End-of-the-Week Thoughts on Science and Other Matters Arising

Today’s Coffee Break: Research universities and science advances at risk, along with healthcare. And is AI for the artificially intelligent?

BRICS, Boers, and Preparing for Conflict With China in South Africa: Examining the US Pressure Campaign

In addition to Greenland and the Panama Canal, Washington is doubling down on efforts to “dominate” naval theaters in a conflict with China.

Who Is Driving the Global Privatization of Domestic Infrastructure?

An otherwise informative post about the extent and hazards of infrastructure sales misses who the real bad actors are.

NATO as the Fly in Russia’s Baltic Sea Soup

The West uses common, minor, and likely accidental damage to a few submarine cables to further militarize the Baltic Sea and harass the “shadow fleet.”

Actuaries and Scientists Warn Climate Shocks Risk ‘Planetary Insolvency’ as Power Struggles About How to Rebuild LA Begin

A new report shows a 50% GDP fall from 2070 to 2090 due to climate change. Los Angeles gives a taste of coming struggles about what to do.

America’s Infrastructure Crisis: Covid’s Role in a Ticking Time Bomb

How falling levels of infrastructure maintenance are somewhat, perhaps significantly, due to Covid deaths and disability.

Could Chinese Control Over Strategic Minerals Coupled with US Corruption Cripple the Sputtering US War Machine?

China tightens its grip on materials necessary for US military and its proxies as Washington turns to those who squandered American advantages to fix the problem — or profit from it.