~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Saturday, October 12, 2024
With Shutdown Averted, Is Social Security Safe? Nope!
Tax breaks to the rich mean less revenue, higher deficits, and more calls to gut programs like Social Security that protect ordinary citizens
Are the Walls Finally Closing In on Ursula von der Leyen?
Creeping censorship, corruption, authoritarianism, economic decline and support for war: these are five of the defining characteristics of the Von der Leyen era. Is it any wonder that internal opposition is on the rise?
The Humanitarian Case for Another Arab Oil Embargo
Will the Gulf States again use an oil embargo to increase leverage against the US and Israel?
Using Opioid Settlement Cash for Police Gear Like Squad Cars and Scanners Sparks Debate
A look at how different communities are deploying opioid settlement cash. But no clear data on policing versus treatment.
A Ramble Through The Social Media World, Looking for Twitter’s Replacement
Going all the way around the barn to end up where I started.
2:00PM Water Cooler 10/23/2023
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Open Thread ~
The Future of Mining Is Deeper, Darker, and Riskier
As mining companies delve ever deeper into the Earth, new tools — from AI to metal-eating microbes — will guide the way.
“Effective Altruism” Network Infiltrates Congress, Federal Agencies to Create Silicon Valley Favoring AI Policies
How Silicon Valley has taken over the AI agenda in the Beltway, for fun and above all, profit.
The Art of the Mini-Trade Deal: 2,000 Missing Variables and Counting
EU trade policy also relies to a large extent on ‘mini-deals’. The scope and the legal nature of these mini-deals vary considerably, and while most are invisible, some of them may be quite important in terms of their impact on trade.
In Which Lambert Confesses He Stans for K-Pop, and Explains Why
“I wanna know, know, know, know”
Memo on the Final Solution for One State – Israel or Palestine
Why the war between Israel and Palestine is moving towards very bad outcomes.
