The drugs of the future are in the animals of the past Sequencer Mag
Black Holes: Not Destroyers but Protectors SciTech Daily
New tech that converts urine to water could finally ditch astronaut diapers ZME Science
Climate/Environment
Droughts, desertification, heatwaves: the climate crisis hits Sicily hard Euronews
‘The sea has taken everything’: How Italy’s coast was reclaimed Al Jazeera
HUNGER WAS ALREADY BAD ENOUGH. THEN BERYL HIT. Texas Observer
Unexpected severe drought plagues parts of NC, withering crops Carolina Public Press
Pandemics
Bird flu hasn’t affected overall milk production or prices — but that could change Harvest Public Media
***
International study highlights large and unequal life expectancy declines in India during COVID-19 Phys.org
Biden Resigns While Sick With Covid, Says We Overcame Covid ¡Do Not Panic!
‘Are you serious?’: Hawaii Island mayor in disbelief after 3rd vehicle drives into harbor Hawaii News Now.
Africa
Turkey, Niger agree to enhance energy, defence cooperation Reuters
Turkey eyes Niger’s uranium for nuclear power expansion Business Insider Africa
Japan
Five Trump 2.0 nightmares for Japan Asia Times
China?
China surprises with cuts to key rates to support fragile economy Reuters. Commentary:
4/4
to weaken demand even further. Some people argue that lower deposit rates will reduce the short-term incentive to save, spurring increases in consumption spending, but this seems more an article of faith than anything seen in the Chinese data.— Michael Pettis (@michaelxpettis) July 22, 2024
***
Philippines says reached deal with China to avoid disputed shoal clashes Al Jazeera
Syraqistan
Netanyahu Thinks Joe Biden Is Already a Lame Duck Politico. “It seems likely Netanyahu and his inner circle figure they can basically run out the clock until Trump gets back to the Oval Office in January”
Cease-fire. The Only Way to Prevent a Polio Epidemic Among Gazan and Israeli Babies Haaretz
Israeli construction signals ‘long-term’ occupation of Gaza-Egypt border The Cradle
Israel Is Reviewing a Proposal to Install a “Moderate Muslim” Puppet Regime in Gaza Drop Site
***
Ben Gvir urges PM to threaten the US with collapsing PA if far-right ministers are sanctioned Times of Israel
2 American activists injured in attack by illegal Israeli settlers in West Bank Anadolu Agency
Israeli army demolishes Palestinian commercial establishments in Jerusalem Anadolu Agency
***
Yemen gears up for ‘long war’ against Israel The Cradle
Security forces thwart Hamas terror plot directed from Turkey Jewish News Syndicate
Turkey rejects Israeli accusations of arming Hamas as ‘lies’ Al Arabiya
European Disunion
The eurozone’s recovery is losing momentum, according to poll bne Intellinews
O Canada
Companies Ask Court To Keep Their Israel Export Details Secret The Maple
Old Blighty
Fears grow over rise of ‘under the radar’ all-night slot machine halls in UK The Guardian
New Not-So-Cold War
Kremlin reacts to Biden dropping out of US presidential race RT
Chairman of the State Duma: Biden has created problems in the world and in his country The State Duma. “Realizing that he will not be re-elected, he runs away not waiting for the elections. He should be held responsible for the war unleashed in Ukraine, the destruction of the economies of European states, and the sanctions policy against Russia and other countries. He has blood on his hands.”
European leaders look like absolute fools having followed Biden into war with Russia. It finally dawns on them that they will be left with the mess. Time for a u-turn in Ukraine. Accept defeat and make peace with Russia. Let Zelenskyy and NATO walk hand in hand into the sunset 👋🏻
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) July 22, 2024
Speaking of that mess:
There is a whole AZOV-Batalion in Europe now, to recruit soldiers here in Western Europe. They are now in Belgium, and coming to the Netherlands, Rotterdam this week it’s outreageous !Cannot understand why, why, why ? https://t.co/SdjuKxivU1
— 🇷🇺 RainDance™ 🇷🇺 🇸🇾 (@RealRainDance) July 19, 2024
Europe doubles down on protracted war in Ukraine Responsible Statecraft
Causality, Moral Responsibility, and the NATO-Russia Ukrainian War Gordon Hahn, Russian & Eurasian Politics
What a Ukraine peace treaty brokered by Trump might look like Gilbert Doctorow
Poland calls on EU to stress ties with US to counter Russian ‘disinformation’ Euractiv
***
Russia says its jets prevented US bombers violating border over Barents Sea Euractiv
Biden
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024
The result:
It’s official. In terms of the 2024 presidential race, Dem voters have had no say whatsoever in anything
— Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) July 21, 2024
GOP Response:
If Joe Biden doesn’t have the cognitive function to run for re-election, then he certainly doesn’t have the cognitive function to remain as Commander-In-Chief.
How can any Dem pushing him to drop out of the presidential race, argue in good faith that he should stay on as POTUS?
— JD Vance (@JDVance1) July 19, 2024
Lest we forget:
Biden is one of the worst war criminals of this century who has spent the last 9 months aiding a genocide in Gaza without batting an eye. A person who actively supports the mass slaughter of children is not a “good” or “decent” person.
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) July 21, 2024
2024
Obama endorses open nominating process while Clintons endorse Harris Politico. Full Obama statement. Commentary:
#Election2024 Hillary & Bill Clinton endorsing Harris. But Obama suggesting obliquely that Dem convention should determine candidate. The Split in the Dem party will likely deepen between now and Nov. Are Dems on the way to implosion?
— Dr. Jack Rasmus (@drjackrasmus) July 21, 2024
***
What happens next now that Biden has dropped out? Politico
Delegate tracker: Harris gets quick start on road to 1,986 The Hill
Vice President, Kamala Harris, releases statement on Biden’s withdrawal WSPA
Trump says Kamala Harris will be easier to defeat than Biden Reuters
Biden’s Campaign Funds: What happens if he steps down CNBC. From July 11, still germane.
Kamala Harris gets fundraising boost after Biden drops out of race Axios
***
No endorsements from Pritzker, Durbin, Duckworth after Biden drops reelection bid Capitol News Illinois
Michigan Gov. Whitmer issues statement after Biden drops out of 2024 race. Click on Detroit. Does not endorse Harris.
Gretchen Whitmer joins campaign call with Harris for President staff Politico. Privately endorsed Harris on the call according to “a person familiar with the conversation.”
Josh Shapiro throws support behind Harris after Biden drops out The Hill
California pollster makes case for Gavin Newsom Semafor. Shortly after: California Gov. Gavin Newsom endorses “fearless” Kamala Harris Axios
US Senator Manchin eyes presidential bid as Democrat Anadolu Agency
Harris
Tougher tone on Israel, steady on NATO: how a Harris foreign policy could look The New Arab
Trump
Chartbook 300 Vance, Trump and the shifting coalitions behind Republican economic policy Adam Tooze, Chartbook
The Violent Promise of Vance-Politik Un-Diplomatic
The Supremes
Facing Dem Scrutiny, Alito Benefactor Paul Singer Donates $10 Million to GOP Sludge
AI
Meta is training its AI with public Instagram posts. Artists in Latin America can’t opt out Rest of World
Commentary: Whether you like it or not, AI chatbots are coming for your phone Channel News Asia
LAPD warns residents after spike in burglaries using Wi-Fi jammers that disable security cameras, smart doorbells Tom’s Hardware
California officials say largest trial court in US victim of ransomware attack AP
Crowdstrike
Crowd strikes out Michael Roberts blog
Boeing
Despite fraud charges, Boeing secures deal with USAF to supply E-7 aircraft Interesting Engineering
Imperial Collapse Watch
The meaning of freedom and security Alex Krainer’s TrendCompass
Police State Watch
TEXAS’ PLANTATION PRISONS: INSIDE A 200-YEAR HISTORY OF FORCED LABOR SHROUDED IN SECRECY Texas Observer
Court Upholds Mississippi’s Jim Crow-Era Lifetime Voting Ban Bolts
Our Famously Free Press
Times reporter was leaked list of problem deputies. The Sheriff’s Department investigated her Los Angeles Times
The Bezzle
Class Warfare
The Techies Who Lunch The Baffler
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
KAMALA MAY WANNA
(melody borrowed from Lady Madonna by The Beatles)
Kamala’s on a
Primed ejection seat
Thinking that she’s finally in a ringside seat
She served on one knee
As Vice President
Never saw a penny of his Ten Percent
Voters never carried her to first base
Back room intrigues barely have begun
Now that Biden’s pulled off an about-face
She has to run
A prima donna
Yet to pass the test
So far major donors lookin’ unimpressed
(musical interlude)
Cue hit-and-run . . .
Kamala may wanna
Rouse and raise the dead
All she has to sell is circuses and bread
Donors are so cold and unrelenting
They know that the game is zero-sum
Kamala’s in need of reinventing
Can this be spun?
Kamala’s on a
Primed ejection seat
Thinking that she’s finally in the ringside seat
Ok, I’ll say the obvious…. literal history-making moment and Joe/Jill announces it on Twitter using a letter that looks like it was written by an AP English student—no letterhead, no “1600 Pennsylvania Av,” no nothing.
Geesh. Even Tricky Dick had the honor to tell something directly to the country’s face via the cameras.
(the behind-the-scenes footage of LBJ’s announcement was fascinating too—but alas I can’t find it again due to youtube’s awful search function with the results polluted by yesterday’s Biden news.)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nixon+resignation+speech
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lyndon+johnson+won%27t+run+1968+behind+the+scenes+
Thanks, Louis Fyne. I made a comment earlier on Conor Gallagher’s post about conventions (great post!) as to how amateurish this bye-bye note is.
Yes, it is worthy of the College Board’s marketing department.
With nukes, unfortunately. And an evident contempt for meaning.
LBJ’s announcement he’s not running again. It came in the last 2 minutes of a much longer speech about foreign and domestic issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJeLoMCF6Jo
It’s possible B isn’t up to making the statement on camera because this was not his idea.
Thanks for that. I was watching as a kid with a neighbor who was a player in the state D apparatus. It came as quite a surprise. I heard language!
On another topic, I will be donating more to this site, beyond usual. The next four months are going to be wild, and this is one fine place to learn about what is going on. I suspect the work levels will be even more intense than ‘usual’. Thanks .
They took his drugs away.
Maybe, unlike when Nixon left, there will be a whitewash at the White House this time.
Could Biden deliver an address like this on camera? Or any address at all? Even at his recent best, he hasn’t been good, but now he has another case of COVID on top of that. Performance aside, there would have to be fear of a scene stealing “gaffe” or angry Biden going off script (“they won’t have Joe Biden to kick around anymore!”) Heck, the letter was probably written for him and Dr. Jill just held the pen in his hand long enough to sign it.
Over 30 years ago Bill Greider published “Who Will Tell the People”. Among other things it chronicled the corrosive impact of money on the process and the results we obtained from elected officials.
One chapter dealt with the prohibitions of felons dealing with federal contracts. At that time it was GE, who repeatedly defrauded the DoD. Now it’s Boeing. The more things change the more they stay the same.
A couple of sour notes in the Doctorow discussion of the shape of a DJT-brokered resolution of the Ukr/RF conflict:
> “To be sure, the Russians will give up their territorial claims to the entirety of the 4 provinces they have already incorporated into the Russian Federation but never fully conquered.”
I have no independent knowledge of the underlying facts, but it has been repeatedly asserted by Alexander Mercouris that the RF constitution contains provisions that forbid surrender of RF territory. Kherson and Zaporozhia oblasts have been incorporated into the territory over which RF is sovereign and cannot be dealt away in a peace negotiation. I have the impression that from a constitutional perspective, regions of these two oblasts that are still under Ukrainian control are legally considered by RF to be Ukrainian-occupied RF territory and will be liberated before any peace can be agreed. VVP said as much in a recent statement, that a condition for cessation of hostilities was UAF withdrawal from the parts of the 4 oblasts that they still occupy.
More likely, perhaps, is that RFAF will advance further into territory beyond the 4 oblasts to occupy portions of what remains to Ukraine and that this will be returned as a face-saving concession in peace negotiations.
> “Throughout the interview, Grenell takes as his point of reference the unsupportable 37 trillion dollar national debt, which must be cut back, not added to in the years of a future Trump administration. This can only be realized by ending the wars that Washington is fueling NOW.”
The annual US Federal deficit is structural due to US trade deficit and the inability or unwillingness of the private sector to significantly net dis-save (the Sectoral Balances Identity). Ending pointless wars is desirable from the standpoint of wiser utilization of real resources, but likely will not itself dramatically reduce the annual deficit (and certainly will not reduce the cumulative deficit, which would require an annual surplus). Changes in trade policy that significantly reduce US trade deficit could significantly reduce the annual Federal deficit, though I suspect that attempts to make very rapid changes (for example through imposition of punitive tariffs on imported products) would have significant negative consequences (inflation, for example, given that US imports a lot of consumer products).
Election machinations are an amazing high-steaks sport to watch but Biden’s lame duck officially began yesterday and for the next 4 months and until inauguration the 51st state massacres Gazans and takes the West Bank and soldiers are dying for Biden’s proxy war.
What a Ukraine peace treaty brokered by Trump might look like Gilbert Doctorow
German reporter: “What do you think Europe will think of a America under a Trump Administration?” Grenell: “I don’t care what Europe thinks of America. This is about what is good for America.”
And…Uh oh…Doctorow: “Letting go Kherson and Zaporozhie would return to Ukraine valuable Black Earth land which is essential to ensure the economic viability of the rump state.”
Someone pushes back on this with fact based reasons drowning in very current experience not to mention centuries of Western hostilities directed at Russia, and Doctorow responds “The logic of your argument is that we will have a forever war and forever will last till the nuclear exchanges 4 months or so from now.”
Maybe, but how is that different from the last century if not more, and not because of Russia. Because The West and her centuries long aggression and recent unending escalation.
I hope I am mis-understanding Doctorow.
Doctorow is responding with similar discredited logic (think Minsk and Minsk II) sometimes found here, that Russia defending herself = Russia starting nuclear war. This of course is 100% false, and this was recently proven to false logic when Russia told the US that Russia will shoot down surveillance drones used to kill Russians, and the US stopped. Because Russia told the US it must stop, or else. More of this, please.
Well, he seems to be thinking in terms of what Trump can sell to the US public as a “good deal”. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem to ponder at all what the Ukrainian or Russian public would accept at the moment.
I assume he’s genuinely horrified with the possibility of a nuclear war between USA and Russia as a result of Ukraine conflict, so he’s willing to entertain any solution that could end the war in more congenial terms.
Me, being both more optimistic and cynical, thinks that Trump can only affect the flow of money and weapons to Ukraine, the rest is to be dictated by Russia when Ukrainians figure they’ve had enough.
He seems to be wishful thinking. The whole Western civilization do.
Re the Crowdstrike crash, here is a good technical explainer (Warning – heavy IT wonk language):
https://youtu.be/wAzEJxOo1ts?si=6rgdyBgiDHObY6Yn
Alex Krainer nails it on the meaning of freedom. Well worth reading.
Liberalism isn’t really a political theory because it’s irrelevant to you if you don’t have the basics covered and feel physically and financially secure. This shows us how Western societies will fall apart. You can’t for long hoodwink people with stories of your superior freedom, democracy and human rights when they can’t pay for housing, education, health care or food for their family while those extracting the rents, interest and fees that impoverish them flaunt their privilege.
I suspect that the USA’s decline and that of its vassals will persuade residents in less “democratic” countries that the Western model isn’t necessarily so hot.
Brilliant! I cackled all the way through…
That grizzly looks like he’s found the perfect spot to nurse that hangover. Too many fermented berries will always get you.
A game-changer? Send the prototype to Zelensky pronto, so he can test it on his next piss summit.
Why not? I would wholeheartedly recommend all their supporters to join, and get a free holiday on the Krinky shore.
I like this idea. A visit on the glorious shores of Krynky should be mandatory for the members of EU Commission and Parliament who insist on “standing with Ukraine”.
The office of the Vice President is like a warm bucket of spit…just heard that phrasing from a Democrat Senator, Lamont from Connecticut. Hooray for Harris, our Madame VP is now ready for the glare and stare of Americans across the country. Wonder what the scrutiny reveals? Wonder what gets concealed also…
I look forward to even the unhelpful stories getting proper coverage….from our not compromised at all major outlets. Only the best and glowing terms to support our next leader. I see reports she is already raking in donations and grassroots fund raising has started well.
Climate article on drought conditions across multiple counties in North Carolina. A couple of photos of withered corn stalks says all anyone should know. Maybe those family farms can gain some advantage from anything that’s available at a state or federal level, that would be in addition to their crop insurance. Looks to be some level of agency assistance from a county office, in the worst situations.
Kinda surprised to read that tobacco, yes that ignoble plant for cigars and cigarettes, is ranked 3rd behind pork, and broiler in the state’s agricultural exports. Still recall the smell of the large warehouses storing tobacco, late July into early August. Hog farms have a decidedly much different aroma!
Here in Outer Pentagonia the County sent out word that we must conserve water for the server farms. I immediately turned the sprinklers on. Civil disobedience!!
Nursery products are important in NC as well, being the 3rd or 4th largest national producer of shrubbery, etc. NC is situated well to condition plants to be shipped North and South.
A week of nonstop breaking political news stumps AI chatbots — WaPo
No spywall!
«For the past week, we’ve tested AI chatbots’ approach to breaking political stories and found they were largely not able to keep up with consequential real-time news.»
“What am I supposed to say now??”
A wild thought, but why not a Democratic nominee outside of the usual suspects?
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Andrew Cuomo. He has weathered sexual harassment charges, has a record of Covid kills, and is rested and ready. Sure he has been exploring a return to politics via the NYC mayoral primary, but why not a return to the original plan. He has been running for President longer than Newsom.
Might as well.