An update on the hard-fought battle between foreign states trying to regulate social media platforms and the broligarchs.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Coffee Break: End-of-the-Week Thoughts on Science and Other Matters Arising
Today’s Coffee Break: Scientific research on chronic and infectious disease in jeopardy; recent advances in evolutionary biology
Medicine Is Under-Politicised in the UK
A further discussion of how societal problems that impact medicine and health policy are largely kept out of political discourse.
Moody’s Heaps Further Pressure on Mexico’s Economy by Changing Outlook of Banking System to Negative
This time, it’s not just Wall Street banks that should be worried about the contagion risks of a full-blown banking crisis in Mexico. So, too, should their European counterparts.
Judge Blocks DOGE ‘Fishing Expedition’ in Sensitive Social Security Data Systems
A small win for Social Security beneficiaries in the battle against destruction by DOGE.
The Structural Transformation of the Public Space: High Street Changes and Populism
An intriguing connection between retail districts and populism.
Fed Not Buying Trump Administration Economic Snake Oil but Stands Largely Pat While Depicting Higher Inflation, Lower Growth Prospects
The Fed has noticed that Trump’s policies are chilling growth while stoking inflation, but is not yet ready to react strongly.
Replacing Foreign Aid: A Macroeconomic Plan B for Ukraine (and Europe)
Some Serious Economists make an analytically desperate justification of Europe providing big-ticket economic assistance to Ukraine
How an Israeli-US Startup Wants to Make Geoengineering Profitable
Forget contrails. Here’s a geoengineering initiative that should give cause for pause.
Is the Endgame with Iran About to Begin?
An update on US escalatory noises about Iran.
Will Russia Expand Its Ground Campaign Into Sumy, Dniepropetrovsk, and/or Kharkov Regions?
Where might Russia take the Ukraine conflict next?
A Strange “Peace” in the South Caucasus and the Encirclement of Iran
What to make of the proposed deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan as preparations for war continue and the West looks to destabilize Iran.
