Monday, August 18, 2025

Israel’s Atrocities Have Destroyed Its Reputation and Its Security

Netanyahu’s survival strategy, which now includes starving children, is putting Israel at risk in a big way.

Links 7/25/2025

Washington and Beijing’s Mexican Standoff

As Trump’s bumbling threats continue to alienate the US in Latin America, China is increasingly determined to hold its ground in the US’ so-called “backyard”.

A Pox on Optimism!

Why I have had it with optimism.

Thomas Neuburger: Rethinking Collapse

Your humble blogger has difficulty with the thesis of this post: “What if collapse is the road to more humane life?”

When Politics and Finance Merge, Truth Surpasses Fiction

In the West, politics and finance run separately; in the East, they merge. That’s why politics there matters more and political fictions are absent.

Financial Times and Stanford Business School Describe How Private Equity Investors Like CalPERS Act Like the Dumb Money They Are

More on how private equity investors like CalPERS willingly go along with their victimization.

Links 7/24/2025

Satyajit Das: Parsing President Trump’s Real Agenda

Divining the decision rules that guide Trump’s actions.

Adams Asks Feds to Probe Conditions at Designed-to-Evade Supervision ICE Lockup in Manhattan

ICE lawbreaking continues yet pressure on NYC Mayor Adams so far has elicited only a wet noodle lashing.

The Incredible Impact of Ozzy Osbourne, from Black Sabbath to Ozzfest to 30 Years of Retirement Tours

We depart from our usual programming to commemorate the death of Ozzy Osbourne.

Coffee Break: Gaza as Dress Rehearsal for War With China

The U.S. military legal establishment has big plans to use Gaza as a model for future large-scale conflicts, including with China.

How Can the Democrats Win Back the Working Class? Economic Populism

A new report finds that championing progressive economic policies can reverse the exodus of working class voters from the Democratic party.

Links 7/23/2025

“How Much Longer Can We Trust Our Economic Statistics?”

Trump budget whackage will further degrade the quality of official statistics. And that really does matter.