Wednesday Afternoon Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Julia Steinberg writes about Donald Trump's attempt to impose cataclysm capitalism on the U.S. - and the need for strategic organizing to stop it. And David Dayen discusses how Trump's new precedent of pardons for corporate criminals will only foster more (and more extractive) monopolies. 

- Charles Pierce writes about the numerous and deep ties between Pierre Poilievre and the radical corporatists at the centre of the Trump regime. Martin Lukacs reports on Poilievre's plans to eviscerate public services, while Desmond Cole takes note of his obsession with cruelty in punishment as a substitute for public safety. And Max Fawcett observes that there's a massive gender gap among Canadian voters - with women rightly having little interest in what Poilievre is peddling. 

- Michael Le Page reports on new modeling showing a real danger that global warming could reach 7 degrees Celsius by 2200 even if carbon pollution is merely "moderate". Saidrasul Ashrafkhanov discusses how fossil fuel executives are incentivized to do as much damage to our living environment as possible for as long as possible in order to goose short-term profits. And Umair Irfan discusses how the effects of the climate crisis include worse allergy seasons. 

- Finally, the Missing Middle Initiative examines how southern Ontario's housing affordability crisis is worse than ever. And Verity Stevenson discusses the possibility of a wartime-style investment in affordable housing - while recognizing that tax breaks on expensive new homes and subsidies to developers will do little to solve any problem compared to investing in the homes needed by the working class. 

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Observant cat.

Tuesday Afternoon Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Seth Abramson previews the foreseeable paths toward the breakdown of U.S. civil society in light of Donald Trump's intention to ignore both judicial and constitutional limitations on absolute power. David Roth comments on Trump's culture of sadism, while noting that there's still every need to imagine and build toward something better. And Lisa Needham and Stephen Robinson note that no amount of money (nor willingness to grovel) will ever make anyone safe from the MAGA protection racket, while Robert Reich warns that Trump is bullying far too many people into fearing dissent. 

- Meanwhile, Melanie McFarland discusses how the U.S. needs libraries and other "third places" which encourage learning and the development of community.

- Graham Redfearn reports on new modeling finding that global warming of 4 degrees Celsius will slash standards of living by 40%, while Corbin Hlar surveys reports from multiple big banks which both predict and signal an intention to contribute to carbon pollution which would drive us toward that catastrophic outcome. Austyn Gaffney reports on new data showing global sea ice at record low levels. And Thor Benson reports on Trump's attempts to spin the climate breakdown as a plus - in tandem with both his own patron in Vladimir Putin, as well as petropoliticians like Danielle Smith and Scott Moe. 

- Finally, Andrew MacLeod argues that Canada's political parties should be focusing on building our country for the long term, rather than limiting their vision to tax baubles. Alexandra Mae Jones notes that Canada can be a magnet for researchers and academics fleeing the U.S. Karen Foster et al. point out that a self-sufficient domestic food system is a must from the standpoint of national security. And Cherise Burda discusses how investment in non-profit housing can provide an immense economic boost. 

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Paul Krugman examines the reality that the Trump regime is bad for business (as it is for people as well). But that doesn't mean it's not bent on allowing the wealthy few to take a larger proportion of a shriking economic pie - as Elizabeth Dwoskin et al. report on DOGE's plans to turn government operations into profit centres, while Jake Pearson reports on the dismantling of any work by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to ensure scammers and rent-seekers can exploit people without any pushback.

- Meanwhile, Mather Iantorno points out some of the options available to ensure the Canadian public doesn't bear the brunt of Trump's tariffs - with the NDP's proposals for price caps and antitrust enforcement both ranking as key tools. 

- Ethan Phillips highlights why we can't count on markets alone to diversify our trade flows. And Fred Wilson and Robert Chernomas discuss the need to make use of public investment options to fund economic development, rather than trying to prod corporations who would rather use their already-massive cash reserves on buybacks and bonuses to pursue capital spending in the public interest. 

- Finally, Charlie Angus writes about Danielle Smith's choice to take Trump's side over Canada's (and Pierre Poilievre's willingness to let her). Eric Wickham reports on the MAGA fanatics who have thrown their support behind Poilievre because they see him as willing to impose Trump's agenda in Canada. And Simon Enoch weighs in on the tech companies looking to impose a DOGE north of the border under a Con government.