California joins the list of states trying to choke health industry profiteering via spending limits. Can it work?
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Battles Brew Over Radioactive Wastewater Discharge from Shuttered Nuclear Plants
New York State is trying to bar radioactive wastewater releases from out-of-service nuclear plants, as proponents insist they are safe.
2:00PM Water Cooler 6/4/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Biden’s interview with Time; carbon dioxide, viruses, and climate; Nabokov’s Pale Fire ~
‘A Monstrosity’: Biden Blasted Over Planned Executive Order on Asylum
Biden attempts to throw big bone to the right on immigration. But will he satisfy anyone?
Some Initial Thoughts on Mexico’s Genuinely Historic Election
Claudia Sheinbaum’s epic electoral victory would not have been possible without AMLO’s enduring — indeed, ripening — popularity. The question is: what will she do with her newfound power?
Scott Ritter Removed from Plane to Russia and Had Passport Seized with No Explanation
Scott Ritter was set to travel to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a major event, and make a presentation there. I am not clear on the details, but he also mentioned regularly on his various interviews that he was planning to visit many Russian cities and meet with Russians to promote better understanding between […]
Latin America: From the Struggle for Independence (1808) to the Great War (1914)
An overview of political and economic post-colonial history in Latin America.
2:00PM Water Cooler 6/3/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Trump’s conviction; unions can defeat the right (in Europe); Charlie Watts ~
Israel Boosterism Keeps Israel Bonds Afloat Even as Some Top Global Investors Exit
Israel bonds, an important element of Israel’s war financing, are coming under attack.
How Influencer Cartels Manipulate Social Media: Fraudulent Behaviour Hidden in Plain Sight
Influencer cartels can improve consumer welfare if they expand social media engagement to the target audience, but reduce welfare if they divert engagement to less relevant audiences. Rewarding engagement quantity encourages harmful collusion
Italy Pipes Up Against NATO Escalation as Court Ruling Could Cut Off Russian Gas Sooner Than Expected
Italy also faces major energy squeeze from Red Sea crisis. Will opposition to Project Ukraine solidify or will Rome go along as it usually does?
Ready Reckoner For Killing – The Raisi Assassination
Why the death of Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi looks more and more like an inside job rather than an accident.
The Twenty-First Century Executive Branch Is a Criminogenic Environment
Alexander Hamilton’s “energy in the Executive” has a downside.
