Thursday, March 13, 2025

Neoliberalism and a Healthy Population Are Incompatible

It can’t be said often enough that neoliberalism is unhealthy for children and other living things.

Trump Tariffs Plunge Local NYC Businesses Into Uncertainty

A look at the damage being done by Trump tariffs, though the eyes of small business operators in New York City.

So Much for Trump’s Peace Deal with Russia: US Backs Zelensky with Pre-Rejected-by-Russia Ceasefire Scheme

After the (arguably deserved) humiliation of Zelensky after an Oval Office row, the negotiation plan agreed in Jeddah is a big win for him

Links 3/12/2025

Politico-Scientific Responses to the Current Pandemic: An Update Based on a Retrospective by Anthony Fauci and Gregory Folkers

Anthony Fauci and Gregory Folkers take a stab at delineating what HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 have taught us about pandemic responses

The Perceived Costs of Business Cycles and Inflation

Quelle surprise! People really hate the uncertainty that comes with business cycles. This bodes ill for the Trump regime.

Trump’s Address to Congress, Lame Democrat Proposals, Highlight the Absence of Opposition

On the total flaccidity of what passes for opposition to Trump.

Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – The Rise of the Drones

Our warfare-focused Coffee Break: Drone technology’s dramatic impact on current warfare, its rapid evolution, and the danger of its unrestricted development

Labour Is Becoming the Enemy of the Vulnerable and the Disabled

Labour goes all in for cutting social spending, first for the disabled, almost certainly with the excuse that it’s needed to fund rearming.

Links 3/11/2025

BlackRock’s Takeover of Panama Canal’s Two Main Ports Is First Major Victory for Trump’s “Americas First” Policy

But what could it mean for China’s trade relations with Latin America, in particular the US’ largest trade partner Mexico?

Under Trump, Social Security Resumes What It Once Called ‘Clawback Cruelty’

Yet more punishing the poors, here in the form of unduly punitive clawbacks of accidental Social Security overpayments.

Charting the Uncharted: The (Un)intended Consequences of Oil Sanctions and Dark Shipping

An estimate of the magnitude of dark-shipped oil suggests that removing sanctions would raise, not lower, oil prices.

Coffee Break: Across the Pond

This week’s Europe/UK focused Coffee Break: German and Romanian election chicanery, UK snooping, why Western pols believe Ukraine can win.

DOGE: Chaos, Damage, Drama Not Enough to Cover the Stench of Corruption

DOGE is up to even more no good than you imagined.