What Christmas Tamales Taught Me About Cooking Together Pax Culinaria
What rules apply to Hallmark Christmas movies? Follow Stephen
Amateur codebreaker may have solved Black Dahlia and Zodiac murders Los Angeles Times
Climate/Environment
New ACEAS explainer highlights risks of slowing global ocean circulation reversal Australian Antarctic Science Center for Excellence
The Department of Defense is stockpiling critical minerals that could power the transition to clean energy
Information on Washington State’s minor breach concerns, and further consideration of how current federal realities do not support Balanced Weather.
Washington state authorities warn toilet rats after flooding: ‘Please remain calm’ The Guardian
Very concerning high-resolution model data has arrived showing more than 20 inches of rain will fall in the mountains of Southern California over the next 48 hours.
This could lead to potentially catastrophic flooding, which is exactly why a rare high risk for flash flooding has been issued by the government. @NWSWPC. pic.twitter.com/JMAnCUgRt2
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) December 23, 2025
pandemic
The need for masks was raised a century ago Pandemic Page
China?
From Alsatians to autonomy: China seeks national advantage in police dogs The Straits Times
China imposes first penalties for use of Starlink in territorial waters
China fears AI threatens party control and seeks to tame it WSJ
Construction of China Warwick Powell
syrakistan
Israeli Defense Minister vows not to completely withdraw from Syria-occupied Gaza Anadolu Agency
Israeli settlers rampage across the West Bank as New Arab Army attacks intensify
Libyan military chief dies in Turkish plane crash, Türkiye Minutes
Africa
Propaganda focuses on the devastating consequences of the global war on terror in Africa
old blighty
Protests matter Jeremy Corbyn, Tribune Magazine
BREAKING NEWS: Greta Thunberg has been arrested under terrorism laws for holding up a placard that read “I support Palestinian prisoners of war. I oppose genocide.”
She was held in a Palestinian prisoner of war action by London’s Aspen Insurance, the insurance company for Israeli arms company Elbit Systems. pic.twitter.com/3qBt3iRi9e
— Palestinian Prisoners (@Prisoners4Pal) December 23, 2025
discord in europe
US expels former EU commissioners over social media regulations DW
Welcome to the EU dictatorship! Andrea Choc
A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson explained the new EU fascism as follows: pic.twitter.com/xEwbskgApQ
— Thomas Fudge (@battleforeurope) December 23, 2025
Germany’s far-right party AfD accused of collecting information from Kremlin Politico
The rapid change in rhetoric toward Russia signals an impending breakup of Europe.
First, President Macron refused to support the European Commission’s decision to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, and now the Finnish president has admitted that Russia does not threaten Europe. pic.twitter.com/ceiwFDSnsz
— Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) December 23, 2025
Finland raises reserve age to 65 YLE
A new war that’s not so cold war
“What has changed in Germany’s Minister of Defense? Why has it changed so quickly?” Moon in Alabama
Russia wins on the battlefield in Ukraine, Europe instigates new war with Russia, and the US wins the war for global supremacy Oliver Boyd-Barrett
***
Archive lawsuit opens President Vladimir Putin Memcon/Telcon national security archive
Including classics that are still hits: pic.twitter.com/HWHLwU7hgW
— Dmitri Stefanovich (@KomissarWhipla) December 23, 2025
south of the border
US blockade of Venezuela becomes reality as coast guard tracks rebellious tanker Bela 1 Reuters
US sends special operations aircraft and troops to Al Mayadeen, Caribbean region
Venezuela accuses the US of extortion. Russia, China criticize Washington’s actions Channel News Asia
Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo named Halliburton as one of the U.S. companies looking to expand into Venezuela and “help” the people by drilling for oil.
The planned takeover has been described as an effort to impose a “capitalist model” on Venezuela.
In 2003, Halliburton… https://t.co/X0FNR4Vzt1
—Wyatt Tree13 December 24, 2025
Lafaire Epstein
Incredible Wexner Silence in Congress: Was MAGA a Mega Joke? Sam Husseini
Newly released Epstein files include references to Donald Trump
FBI claims Epstein’s letter to Larry Nassar is fake The Hill
Anyone attempting to speak for Michael Tracy at this point needs to be vigorously interrogated by the chain-smoking Stasi Epstein Affairs Officers until we root out whether they are useful idiots or intentionally working as Epstein nexus occluders. They support the judgment… pic.twitter.com/xAZxlylEYw
— ParaPower Mapping (@KlonnyPin_Gosch) December 24, 2025
TikTok users discovered they could read the contents by simply copying and pasting the “edited” text from a PDF of Epstein’s files. pic.twitter.com/eboS6kOsqE
—Mike Randle (@flyosity) December 23, 2025
Trump 2.0
Donald’s Deadly Sin: Premonition of the End
Supreme Court blocks President Trump’s effort to deploy National Guard to Illinois Politico
Trump administration to begin garnishing payments for delinquent student loans in January CNBC
Why President Trump supports Bayer in the fight against Roundup herbicide cancer DW
“Liberation Day”
Wall Street buys potential Trump tariff refund for $1 Reuters
US postpones announcement of chip tariffs on China until 2027 The Straits Times
Deshabille Democratic Party
Doing ideology the right way (pretending you don’t have one) https://t.co/27pADsF4Ov
— Matthew Sitman (@MatthewSitman) December 24, 2025
I can’t stress enough that Democrats have appointed this person to write their version of Project 2025, which is supposed to be the North Star of their future policy priorities. And they did it *this year* https://t.co/8jaIlH16uS
— Lindsay Ballant (@lindsayballant) December 23, 2025
our famous free news agency
60 minutes of “Inside CECOT” Unpopular Front
imperial collapse watch
Chart Book 421: The end of American soft power? From coca colonization to fantaization Adam Tooze
Trump and his National Security Strategy: Is he trying to turn the United States into a new East India Company? First post
Maha
HHS aims to accelerate adoption of healthcare AI Becker’s Health IT
America’s food safety could be headed for disaster STAT
MAHA base is on the verge of collapse as its plans waver
sports desk
Kansas City Chiefs sign most lopsided stadium deal in NFL history
Mr. Market
S&P 500 index rises to record close as tech stocks rally CNBC
economy
Consumer confidence declines in December as negative economic outlook continues Yahoo! Finance
Consumer spending drives fastest US economic growth in two years Semafor
A.I.
Two Thoughts on AI and America’s Future Gary Marcus
Will the AI bubble burst in 2026? Ed Zitron
Technology group moves $120bn of AI data center debt off balance sheet FT
antitrust law
Judge rejects LinkedIn antitrust settlement over serious flaws JD Journal
class war
Don’t cancel the sewerage system Socialism Labor politics
Sanders slams private equity’s Scrooges for cutting off paid leave for Walgreens employees: A common dream
Oh (sigh) Christmas Tree Stevie Brooks
Antidote (via):
Click here for yesterday’s link and Antidote du Jour.
