New EU fiscal rules, touted as creating and economic growth, actually embody a dangerous agenda to shred social safety nets.
Saturday, December 27, 2025
2:00PM Water Cooler 4/5/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics and pandemics, Mandy bobbing and weaving, swing states update, the employment situation, and crocheting and knitting (with musical accompaniments). ~
China’s Local Government Financing Vehicles (LGFVs): Ponzi Finance on Steroids
How China’s local government financing vehicles (LGFVs) became China’s most complex economic challenge.
Is Justice Finally Catching Up to Ursula von der Leyen?
Prosecutors “could theoretically seize phones and other relevant material from Commission offices or in other European countries,” which would not be a good look for her reelection campaign.
Ukraine Plan of Crocus City Hall Attack to Start Ethnic Pogroms, Civil War in Russia
An in-depth discussion of the apparent Ukraine/Western plan to use the Crocus City Hall massacre to stoke ethnic hostilities in Russia.
Climate Engineering Carries Serious National Security Risks − Countries Facing Extreme Heat May Try It Anyway, and the World Needs to be Prepared
Like it or not, climate engineering is coming. What are some of the implications?
2:00PM Water Cooler 4/4/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, and politics, Kennedy and ballot access, Shanahan’s money, integers, walking ~
“On a Relative Scale, There’s a Strong Case that Financialization Is Worse in the PRC than the US”
On a relative basis, China is more financialized than the US which is not a pretty picture.
The Energy Transition: Technology Versus Political Backlash
A look at some of the reasons why the energy transition is running behind schedule.
A World Without Insurance: A Climate-Future Look at Property Values
Home insurance will become catastrophically expensive and may even vanish in some parts of the US. What happens then?
Paris Wants to Show Strength, but Faces Geopolitical Crisis in Africa
A status report on France losing its hold in Africa.
2:00PM Water Cooler 4/3/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, pandemics, Shanahan’s first marriage, Robert Frost, matter ~
Yellen Trip to China: Biden Administration Presumption and Cluelessness on Display
The US is at it again with China, despite acting like it wants to repair fractured relations.
