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 […]
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Friday, October 17, 2025
Coffee Break: Politics and Science and Politics, a Coral Catastrophe, Mamdani, and the New ICE Age
Topics: Coffee Break, Doomsday scenarios, Dubious statistics, Global warming, Health care, Science and the scientific method, Species loss
Posted by KLG at 2:00 pm | 1 Comment »
‘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.
Topics: Globalization, Guest Post, Income disparity, Legal, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 21 Comments »
Links 10/17/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:58 am | 93 Comments »
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.
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Europe, Politics, Russia
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:54 am | 47 Comments »
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?
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nick Corbishley at 6:45 am | 5 Comments »
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?
Topics: Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Technology and innovation, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:27 am | 18 Comments »
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 […]
Topics: Coffee Break, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Curro Jimenez at 2:00 pm | 5 Comments »
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.
Topics: Credit markets, Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Investment outlook
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 14 Comments »
Links 10/16/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 135 Comments »
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
Topics: Banana republic, Legal, Politics, Ridiculously obvious scams, Social policy, Taxes
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:30 am | 36 Comments »
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.
Topics: Dubious statistics, Guest Post, Media watch, Pandemic, Politics, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 1:30 am | 13 Comments »
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?
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 12:21 am | 13 Comments »
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.
Topics: Guest Post
Posted by Nat Wilson Turner at 2:00 pm | 25 Comments »
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.
Topics: Banking industry, Credit markets, Doomsday scenarios, Dubious statistics, Economic fundamentals, Federal Reserve, Politics, Regulations and regulators, Risk and risk management, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 29 Comments »
Links 10/15/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 126 Comments »