Friday, October 17, 2025

Coffee Break: Politics and Science and Politics, a Coral Catastrophe, Mamdani, and the New ICE Age

Part the First: Politics and Science.  It will be s surprise to no one that autism is somewhere nearby: Inside FDA, career staffers describe how political pressure is influencing their work.  The inquiry came in August and struck scientists at the Food and Drug Administration as highly unusual.  The leader of the center that regulates […]

‘We’re Not Going to Forget’: Pritzker Warns Trump Enforcers Miller, Homan, Bovino That Immunity Not Forever

Governor Pritzker has gotten out of bed to threaten Team Trump over ICE abuses. But this still amounts to a wet noodle lashing.

Links 10/17/2025

The Trump-Putin Phone Call: US Makes Process Concession to Russia and Trump Softens Stance on Tomahawks.

A reading of the Trump and Kremlin statements shows that most commentators are out over their skis as to what the Trump-Putin phone call portends.

How a One-Man Grassroots Campaign Scuppered the EU’s Latest Plan to Suffocate Online Privacy (For Now)

Could this campaign serve as a template for others aimed at preventing similar dystopian measures from becoming law in other ostensibly democratic jurisdictions?

Data Centers Spark Bipartisan Fury As Energy Costs Soar

Voters are waking up to the fact that their soaring electricity costs represent a big subsidy to data centers. What happens next?

Afghanistan–Pakistan Clashes in Middle East Context

Nothing exists in a vacuum. This is especially true when trying to understand the Middle East. There is no event that happens in this region that isn’t related to its overall direction. The recent clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan should be read in that light. When asked to explain what is happening between these two […]

What Does New High in US Stock Market Margin Debt Portend?

Looking at the significance, or not, of a record high in stock market margin debt.

Links 10/16/2025

Trump Plans to Use Men With Guns as Part of IRS Campaign Against “Left-Leaning” Groups

Trump, in particular his key deputy Steve Miller, is gearing up to launch his war against political enemies, above all Soros’ Open Society

Winning with Misinformation: New Research Identifies Link Between Endorsing Easily Disproven Claims and Prioritizing Symbolic Strength

A new study probes attitudes that are correlated with receptivity to more extreme misinformation claims.

Drug Price Wars: What Can Really Tame Big Pharma?

What’s really driving Big Pharma’s price gouging — and why have Federal efforts to rein it in made so little progress?

Coffee Break: Russell Vought, Stephen Miller, and Eric Trump Trio of the Week

A Trump Trio stood out in news coverage of the administration this week: Russell Vought, Stephen Miller, and Eric Trump.

Financial Institution Leaders Issue More Warnings of Equity Market Froth, Dodgy Debt Bombs

Financial firm heads are making admissions against interest. Further discussion of apparent and potential risks.

Links 10/15/2025