A medieval court tried a murderous pig, and the record was stranger than fiction ZME Science
Artist builds fully stocked bird-sized bar to befriend local laughing squid
Lettuce suppliers may be the source of cyclosporiasis, investigators tell WaPo
Climate/Environment
Images and air quality numbers released from affected areas in Canada and the United States are shocking. I hope all my NC readers stay safe.
Wildfire smoke is a health hazard. Here’s how to prevent heart and lung damage Wired
Air quality in US cities is at its worst due to Canadian wildfires USA Today
Why the US continues to choke on Canadian smoke Colin McCarthy
“Just put out the fire!”
Have you seen the northern wildfires? I have. I was fighting them.
When a fire’s behavior becomes extreme, it becomes inaccessible.
The radiant heat from the crown fire is enough to melt your face from hundreds of meters away.
If you try to attack directly… pic.twitter.com/TfIr67Iz1C
— Kyle Brittain (@BadWeatherKyle) July 16, 2026
A major new wildfire outbreak is currently underway in the interior Pacific Northwest, and dozens (or more) of new wildfires have already started in eastern Oregon and Washington state after tens of thousands of lightning strikes in areas experiencing moderate to extreme drought. #ORwx #WAwx pic.twitter.com/t6dxb6fV9q
— Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) July 17, 2026
Floods in Texas…again (July 2026)! my weather corner
Strongest El Niño in history, climate on the brink
Sprinkling clouds with seawater could change Earth’s weather and prevent super El Niño events: grounded research
pandemic
The number of measles cases in 2026 is expected to exceed last year’s total. ABC News is the reason
ACIP vote on mixed meal vaccines could particularly impact high-need families CIDRAP
China?
AI diplomacy divides the world: US rallies with Pax Silica, China launches WAICO for the Global South George Chen
Why is Trump trying to start a new war with China?Larry Johnson
China’s ‘Great Green Wall’ will curb desert growth, but scientists warn the battle is not over Associated Press
Liu Shijin: China saves too much and cannot grow domestically
India
Manufacturing Rebellion, New Left Review
syrakistan
Israeli military commander tells Pentagon that occupation forces will remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza
It is clear psychology that Vance is throwing dirt on Israel and promoting fantasies of a division between Israel and the United States. In fact, this is the clearest sign that the US is about to embark on a major escalation with Israel. Perhaps the decision to start a larger war and… https://t.co/L4JKMVLuWb
— Alon Mizrahi (@alon_mizrahi) July 16, 2026
Shahid Bakhei Hospital, a pediatric cancer treatment center in Ahvaz, was evacuated last night after a US attack nearby.
This barbaric attack was reminiscent of Israeli atrocities against medical facilities and caused severe distress and anxiety among the population. pic.twitter.com/xv3W7SY2X9
— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) July 16, 2026
They also pressured Carter to invade Kharg Island. he didn’t. responsible national strategy
US Navy deployment to Iran exposes empire stretched to its limits Al-Mayadeen
Ansarallah vows to block Saudi access to Bab al-Mandab after Sanaa drop point attack
US approves nearly $2 billion in arms sales to Saudi Arabia as Yemeni anti-war protests intensify
Africa
Why is it so difficult (and prohibitively expensive) to fly within Africa? Ken Oparo
About heroes and hero worship? Some Thoughts on the First Chapter of The Big Conservation Lie by John Mbaria and Mordecai Ogada African Political Economy Review
old blighty
Opposing imperialism will soon be illegal Nate Baer
discord in europe
EU draws inspiration from Trump to set banking rules Politic
Musk supports Le Pen’s presidential bid, raising concerns about foreign influence in France Radio France International
Meloni upset over Alliance flagship reform Intellinews
A new war that’s not so cold war
Political crisis in Kiev as popular Defense Minister Simplicius is ousted in Zelenskiy’s retrenchment
Scott Ritter vs. Gilbert Doctorow: Did Russia Lose the War? Natilly’s Place
imperial collapse watch
Watters: Women on base, you better watch out. All ports of call, Asian women, please be careful. These guys are wild animals so you better be careful. pic.twitter.com/R95gFpYEmA
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2026
US Navy launches ‘experimental explosion’ off the coast of Florida Inside the Magic
south of the border
Defense official considers military options for Cuba CBS News
In other words, US military invasion of Venezuela https://t.co/RnLi2pMCxO
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) July 17, 2026
Trump 2.0
President Trump declassifies intelligence agency alleging Chinese interference in 2020 US election France 24
‘Trump is trying to end our democracy’: Warning over president’s election attacks ahead of midterm elections A common dream
We’ve seen Trump’s dangerous and insane speeches, so you don’t need to look. Here are the moments you should know about.
-He laid the groundwork for openly contesting the midterm elections. He claimed our elections were “in jeopardy” and clearly set out the legitimacy for tampering with the results… pic.twitter.com/5Qg3yzU3jJ
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) July 17, 2026
***
Miller labels left-wingers a ‘cancer’ that the world should ‘eradicate’ the truth of fascist speech
Stephen Miller said NSPM-7 would lead to the debankment, defunding and disruption of left-wing “political terrorists operating in our country.” pic.twitter.com/f8149D3r52
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) July 16, 2026
Marco Rubio said Antifa receives direct support from Iran and Cuba through an extensive international network that seeks to attack Western countries with terror and propaganda.
“They despise the West because the West is great.” pic.twitter.com/20o7JSLdKY
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) July 16, 2026
Code Pink founder’s husband investigated under federal foreign agent and tax laws, CBS News
***
Exclusive: Truth Social licenses its data to Wall Street Axios
President Trump’s Teleprompter Operator Takes Vacation After Betting on President’s Speech HuffPost
Democrats are the worst
Performative voting: Vote ‘no’ on aid if Prime Minister Netanyahu says he doesn’t want it – Sam Husseini
A.I.
The really big ones Business Insider
Softbank CEO says people who believe the AI bubble is the real future are too stupid to understand what’s going on
AI News Heist Boondoggle
Book publisher sues Google for copyright infringement over Gemini AI training The Guardian
accelerationist
Secretive Silicon Valley startup is trying to quash interviews, but says it’s clearly not committed to futuristic growth of brainless “organ bags”
sports desk
What VAR says about AI Blood in the Machine
Can you score a World Cup penalty kick? Many men say yes
FIFA, not the US economy, is the previous World Cup winner Forbes
Wildfire smoke threatens World Cup final in New York TeleSur
our famous free news agency
Anatomy of a Struggle Session Matt Taibbi
How disconnected from reality is Matt Taibbi’s “Anatomy of a Struggle Session” article. dissident
“Maha”
Inside RFK Jr.’s bid to dismantle decades of U.S. vaccine policy CNN
She was blown away: CDC director candidate Tank holds MedPage hearing today in Senate
Nation Casino
Kalsi withdraws from contract to cancel scheduled flight Fortune
class war
Globalization of Markets and Localization of Hunger Anne Pettifor
Savage Mind Beyond the Interregnum
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