A world run by strongmen: This is the best summary of the current geopolitical situation I have seen. Sir Alex Younger was head of MI6 between 2014 and 2020. Really worth watching. pic.twitter.com/XByVBAd5Ri — Nicholas Drummond (@nicholadrummond) February 21, 2025 I found that very interesting. If you can take 7 minutes to listen I think you’ll find it interesting too. And, I’m afraid I have to agree with him although I have zero faith that Donald Trump can see the forest for the trees. Younger’s description of what Trump did with Afghanistan is right on and since he is incapable of ever learning anything, I just can’t see how this ends up any better unless it’s by accident. I’ve been writing about the inevitability of a new arms race ever since Donald Trump won the election in 2016. It was clear that he was so stupid that he was prepared to tear up the existing world order without any thought for the future except his own ego being stroked. It’s happening now and these escalations almost always result in somebody deciding to use their toys. Here’s the whole interview:
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Trump wants those minerals and he wants them now. He believes he will be hailed as a big hero, the prince of peace, if he obtains Ukrainian natural resources as compensation for the U.S. military support and then forces them to surrender to the murderous dictator who invaded them. He really believes that. His latest “negotiating” tactic is to issue a threat to Ukraine that if it doesn’t turn these resources over, Trump’s personal executioner will cut them off: U.S. negotiators pressing Kyiv for access to Ukraine’s critical minerals have raised the possibility of cutting the country’s access to Elon Musk’s vital Starlink satellite internet system, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Ukraine’s continued access to SpaceX-owned Starlink was brought up in discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy turned down an initial proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the sources said. Starlink provides crucial internet connectivity to war-torn Ukraine and its military. The issue was raised again on Thursday during meetings between Keith Kellogg, the U.S.
I’ve been wondering about how many federal workers might be MAGA cultists who are helping the DOGE crew come in and destroy the government. It stands to reason there would be some. It turns out that it’s a good career move. Here’s one in the Social Security administration who was willing to break the law for DOGE and got a big reward for it: Leaders of the Social Security Administration had just opened an investigation into a career employee they believed was improperly sharing information with Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team when President Donald Trump elevated the employee this week to acting commissioner, according to three current or former government officials with knowledge of the events. The agency’s leadership team became aware in recent weeks that Leland Dudek, a data analyst working in a small anti-fraud office who had been unknown to many of them,was sharing unauthorized access to information with representatives of Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, according to the three, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe an internal matter.
TRUMP: The NCAA has complied immediately. That's good. But I understand Maine — is the governor of Maine here? JANET MILLS: Yeah I'm here TRUMP: Are you not gonna comply? JM: I'm going to comply with state and federal law T: You better do it bc you're not gonna get any… pic.twitter.com/TLaNe8se7Z — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 21, 2025 Thank you Janet Mills: TRUMP: The NCAA has complied immediately. That’s good. But I understand Maine — is the governor of Maine here? JANET MILLS: Yeah I’m here TRUMP: Are you not gonna comply? JM: I’m going to comply with state and federal law T: WE are the federal law. JM: I’ll follow the statutes T: You better do it bc you’re not gonna get any federal funding at all if you don’t. And by the way, your population, even though it’s somewhat liberal, I did very well there, your population doesn’t want men playing in women’s sports, so you’d better comply otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding JM: See you in court T: Good I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one.
VISION Australia is bringing its Seeing Eye Dogs roadshow to Coffs Harbour on 11 March. The free event includes informative sessions and trial walks with expert staff and Seeing Eye Dogs in training. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email...
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LIFELINE North Coast in Coffs Harbour will run a ten-week training course for Crisis Support volunteers from Thursday, 3 April. Through the work of these volunteers, the suicide support service has proven, overwhelmingly, to deliver life-saving assistance. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us –...
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THE first day of the new school year was a milestone in the journey of the Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School (GGFS). Its first high school students settled into their new classrooms to begin their studies. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981...
The post Start to school year goes ‘swimmingly’ for Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School appeared first on News Of The Area.
What it is ain’t exactly clear Axios reports that “some Republicans are privately brushing off a spate of raucous protests and town halls in their districts” in response to the Musk-Trump DOGE actions. The T-party, ostensibly riled about taxes (but really pissed off about having a black president) drew more coverage in 2009. One wonders what sort of media these protests against Musk-Trump will earn. Perhaps silly costumes would help? Republicans seem more afraid of MAGA than their other constituents. The question is can Musk-Trump’s opponents keep it up, remain loud enough long enough to matter? Staying power is the right’s strong suit. * * * * * Have you fought the coup today?Choose DemocracyIndivisible: A Guide to Democracy on the Brink
Chris York explores the mood in the capital as Ukrainians try to make sense of the US President’s support for the Kremlin
Use to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts. No vax/anti-vax.
A legendary activist is released, an arms race slows down, abortion providers get their license, and shoppers dump their toxic exes.
If I were more conspiracy-minded…. If I were more conspiracy-minded, I might suspect that the people running our executive branch don’t have American interests and global stability top of mind. The Trump-Musk axis is drowning an awful lot of our government competency in the bathtub, and now in the Pentagon, at a time when 1) NATO’s confidence is shaken, 2) Russia seems poised to annex more of Ukraine, and 3) China waits for Donald Trump to pull the U.S. even farther back from the world stage and leave Taiwan easy pickings. CNN Friday morning: An executive order issued by President Donald Trump this week that seems to give him huge power to interpret the law is raising concerns among legal experts that it could dissuade military commanders from refusing unlawful orders and allow the president to exert influence over the military’s legal processes.
by Patrick Honohan*, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland (2009-15) That politicians should leave it to central banks to set interest rates in such a way that price stability is maintained (and restored whenever it is lost), has been an article of faith with most economists, especially since the stagflation of the 1970s given […]
During an interview at Gallifrey One, former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat offered an example of how he would have written a sex scene.
Before the Prime Minister heads to Washington he must wake up to the fact that the UK's real allies may now lie elsewhere, argues UK diplomat Alexandra Hall Hall
Η Μεταπολίτευση ήταν καταδικασμένη να διαψεύσει τις υψηλές προσδοκίες ενός λαού που πίστεψε, εύλογα, ότι Ελευθερία και Ανάπτυξη βαδίζουν χέρι-χέρι. Καμία κυβέρνηση από το 1974 και ύστερα δεν μπορούσε να αποτρέψει την κρίση που, καθώς έπεφτε η Χούντα και επέστρεφε ο κοινοβουλευτισμός, ήδη κόχλαζε στα θεμέλια του ελληνικού καπιταλισμού. Όπως η παγκόσμια κρίση του 2008 […]
The post 1974-2024: Επισκόπηση μισού αιώνα του ελληνικού καπιταλισμού – Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.
Trump’s crusade against “wokeness” is co-opting the language of the civil rights movement to undo its legacy.
The post How Trump Twisted DEI to Only Benefit White Christians appeared first on The Intercept.
Η ομιλία στον Πειραϊκό Σύνδεσμο του Γραμματέα του ΜέΡΑ25 στην εκδήλωση της ενωτικής πρωτοβουλίας ΜέΡΑ25 – Ανατρεπτική Οικολογική Αριστερά. Θέμα: “Η Αντίσταση δρόμος για τη ζωή και τη δικαιοσύνη”.
The post Γιατί ΜέΡΑ25 σήμερα; Από την εκδήλωση στον Πειραιά 21η Φλεβάρη 2025 appeared first on Yanis Varoufakis.
Antisemitism shouldn’t be a contested issue, It’s racist hate and it’s on the rise, writes Mathilda Mallinson and Helena Wadia
A new teaser online lists April 12th as the premiere date for Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, and Varada Sethu-starring Doctor Who Season 2.
Turning tree ring science into art
The post The Language of Tree Rings appeared first on Nautilus.