Politics of Planet Color Noema
How IVF led to record numbers of single mothers in their 40s NPR
Best States to Raise a Family in 2026 StudyFinds
Collection agent: crunching numbers on a calculator Collector Discreet consumption
The oil problem isn’t Iran or Russia — it’s too much oil Oil prices
Innovative imaging of black holes aims to prove they are not ‘bad vacuum cleaners’
Climate/Environment
Scientists create the best map of Antarctica’s subglacial terrain, good news for climate change ZME Science
Chile declares state of catastrophe over wildfires TeleSUR
Davos
World Economic Forum opens today in Davos as President Trump reshapes world order Firstpost
Insularity threatens Davos goals Semafor
pandemic
Since the pandemic began, the SAT has collapsed. Every catastrophe reboots society. The current situation is a desperate attempt to get people back to their previous routines, ignoring public health.
The old status quo was still broken. I see this “checking out” in every part of my life. pic.twitter.com/MhSfyDC2Aa
—Henry Madison (@RageSheen) January 18, 2026
The school driving force behind the flu and coronavirus — and why clean air for children is the missing public health tool TACT
A request to those who no longer wear masks for M (Is) who have coexisted with the new coronavirus for a long time
South Korea
Cheese-flavored spicy noodles support South Korean food exports, reaching record high CNBC
Japan
Takaichi’s popularity increases as Japan shifts to the right East Asia Forum
China?
China’s fourth-quarter GDP growth slows to three-year low, full-year pace meets official target Business Times
Bridge Michael McNair in the heart of the Pentagon. About Elbridge Colby and his China strategy.
China Commission Report China Talk. Here are some surprising comments from Leland Miller, co-founder and CEO of China Beige Book, who was appointed by Chairman Mike Johnson to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission:
A potential nightmare scenario is that China first breaks quantum cryptography, achieves AGI, or makes other major advances in AI. Imagine they cure cancer. There will be a shock to the system that we have never seen before – our approach will fail… We want someone to treat cancer, but we don’t want China to control that treatment pipeline.
***
What the US-Taiwan deal means for Taiwan’s ‘Silicon Shield’ CNBC
Taiwan’s silicon shield was sold out by President Lai
Taiwan’s greatest strategic asset was not its navy, air force, or even its alliances. It is the silicon shield, the TSMC-led semiconductor industry that connects the global economy and Taiwan’s economy. pic.twitter.com/IuwUug9uQE
— Ignis Rex (@Ignis_Rex) January 19, 2026
syrakistan
President Trump: Asks countries to pay $1 billion to join Gaza Peace Council, Telegraph
Is Israel a bankrupt colony? Framing Globe News
oh!
At the Israel-American Council, Miriam Adelson is asked how she gains influence over American politicians.
Realizing that it was probably not wise for her to talk about this openly, she hesitantly answered:
“Can you please not answer?…I would like to…” pic.twitter.com/gOGXm8xMDR
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) January 18, 2026
***
Trump tells Politico: ‘It’s time to find a new leader for Iran’ Politico
Any attack on Khamenei’s “full-scale” war with the Iranian state: Presidential Press TV
oh. Mahdi Mohammadi, strategic advisor to the Speaker of Iran’s parliament, said:
“We know that we are facing a regime change war. The only way to achieve victory is to make credible the threats that were prepared during the 12-day war but never got the chance…
— Sharmin Narwani (@snarwani) January 19, 2026
Anti-Iran human rights bazaar “Al Mayadeen”
***
Syrian army seizes major oil and gas fields in al-Mayadeen, eastern Syria
Syria agrees ceasefire with SDF, receives ‘significant concessions from Kurds’ The Cradle
Africa
Nigeria attack comes under new scrutiny as activist data reveals anti-war sentiment
discord in europe
‘The time has come, it must end’: Trump steps up attack on Greenland after EU joint statement rejects threat
Psychological stakes in Greenland Simplicius
🇩🇪🇬🇱 Fifteen German soldiers sent to Greenland suddenly left the island today without any explanation, Bild newspaper reported.
The same media captured footage of German troops departing from Nuuk. According to Bild newspaper, the repatriation order was issued early in the morning and all meetings were held… pic.twitter.com/AXebfPyfjo
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 18, 2026
Regarding Greenland, he said, “Peace through strength. If we make it part of America, there will be no conflict, because America is now the hottest country in the world and the strongest country in the world. The Europeans project weakness, and America projects strength.” pic.twitter.com/NQYuvNpsC3
— Aaron Looper (@atrupar) January 18, 2026
China and Russia are definitely having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies.
If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this within NATO.
Tariffs risk making Europe and America poorer and undermining our shared prosperity.
We too…
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 17, 2026
Will President Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on Europe cause a financial crisis? Larry Johnson
At least 21 killed in high-speed train crash in southern Spain The Guardian
old blighty
Trump administration’s UK demands adoption of US standards in trade talks Politico
A new war that’s not so cold war
Europe is already at ‘war’ with Russia, says central banker FT
Military intelligence infiltrates Congress Events in Ukraine
Ukraine is at war with money. Europe doesn’t have Ian Proud.
Germany refuses entry to Baltic Sea port for shadow fleet tanker Tabian in unprecedented move
White House Archives — What President Vladimir Putin Confessed to President George W. Bush and What He Wants to Say Now John Helmer
south of the border
US aviation authorities warn of ‘military activity’ over Mexico, South America Al Jazeera
Weekend reading: Did this cyber weapon pave the way to Caracas? After-action report
police state surveillance
President Trump orders active-duty troops to prepare for deployment to Minnesota Politico
YIKES: If this is true…I doubt it until I see the local reports. But no.
The warning to the 11th Airborne was a clear sign of the invasion of Greenland, which I wrote about a year ago.
Minnesota would be a good place to tentatively place these forces in the bottom 48th. … https://t.co/AfLMvQ2urP
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) January 18, 2026
The FBI has launched an investigation into the Minneapolis shooting. No longer exists, the Department of Justice says WaPo
Lawyers claim Homeland Security is refusing to provide lawyers to Minnesota detainees ABC News
Minneapolis AFL-CIO calls for general strike Friday as movement spreads to other cities Payday Report
This is the current state of Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities pic.twitter.com/RhbZ3xDhfQ
— Aaron Looper (@atrupar) January 19, 2026
Deshabille Democratic Party
All House Democrats have voted against defunding some CIA departments. dissident
Harris’ similarities to 2028 candidate Axios exposes divisions in the Democratic Party
imperial collapse watch
Imperial adjectives in the undiplomatic liberal imagination
Trump vs. the Penguins or what happened to America? Marat Khairullin Substack
Where is the world heading? Nuclear war, World War III, or just plain old global capitalism taking over resources? Vanessa Beeley and Fiorella Isabel
accelerationist
Why Silicon Valley is serious about exiting California (not 5%) TechCrunch
guillotine watch
Billionaires’ wealth to reach record in 2025, Oxfam warns of ‘dangerous’ political risks ahead of Davos meeting France 24
The Edge of Democracy: Elite Overproduction Simon Pearce
basil
More than half of all crypto tokens have failed and most will disappear in 2025 CoinDesk
Alien reveal could cause Bitcoin rush, former Bank of England analyst tells Gizmodo
A.I.
A man who bought Meta’s AI glasses ended up wandering the desert in search of an alien future.
Experiments suggest that AI chatbots can save insurance agents as much as 3 minutes per day.
Sequoia invests in Anthropic, breaking taboo on VCs backing rivals: FT TechCrunch
The real AI talent war is for plumbers and electricians Wired
Google’s AI claims next year is not the future of 2027
shape of time ion
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