Few countries are more acutely aware of the dangers posed by a resurgence in US military adventurism than Mexico.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
A Fiscal Crisis Is Looming for Many US Cities
US cities, which enjoyed a renaissance after the flight of the 60s and 70s reversed, now face a world of budget hurt.
Blackouts Are Becoming the Norm—Can the U.S. Power Grid Be Saved?
The US future of more erratic power supplies comes nearer as officials dither over what to do about a creaky grid.
2:00PM Water Cooler 2/20/2025
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, Syndemics; The goddamned Democrats; Mask ban in MD; Why is grayscale taking over? ~
Guantánamo, Donald Trump’s “Immigrant Problem,” and the Rest of Us
Trump’s methods for dealing with immigrants with less than solid visa status are often cruel. That is almost certainly a feature, not a bug.
Musk Is Lying About Waste and Fraud in Social Security to Have an Excuse to Kill It
Musk wants to cut your Social Security benefits and then have Congress use the savings to give himself a gigantic tax cut.
EU Consumers Don’t Trust US Goods: A Look into Trump’s Trade Deficit Claims
Why trade deficits can’t always be solved by price, as in tariffs or currency manipulation.
Charles Kindleberger, the Dollar System, and Financial Crises
On Perry Mehrling’s Money and Empire: Charles P. Kindleberger and the Dollar System, including how some of his key ideas have been borne out.
2:00PM Water Cooler 2/19/2025
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, Syndemics
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The Bazooka Diplomacy of Trump’s Tariffs
A look at theory and practice as far as tariffs are concerned, and what that means for Trump’s threats and plans.
BRICS, Boers, and Preparing for Conflict With China in South Africa: Examining the US Pressure Campaign
In addition to Greenland and the Panama Canal, Washington is doubling down on efforts to “dominate” naval theaters in a conflict with China.
“What Is the Mainstream Media Missing About Elon Musk? He Is Instituting Technocracy”
A discussion of the regime that Elon Musk and his tech bros are in the process of implementing.
