Musical interlude

Nine Inch Nails - As Alive As You Need Me To Be

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Toby Buckle writes about the role of reactionary centrists in greasing the skids toward fascism, while Owen Jones discusses how that process is playing out in the UK as a nominally centre-left government uses every available opportunity to spread reactionary themes and talking points. And the Canadian Anti-Hate Network points out how white supremacist demands around "remigration" are being smuggled into Canada's political conversation. 

- Meanwhile, Scott Martin rightly questions why Mark Carney appears eager to give the architects of Donald Trump's regime direct access to his government. And Christopher Holcroft argues that Canadians should have a say in any major deal with the U.S. - assuming Carney is foolish enough to think such a thing is worth negotiating.  

- Matthew Hughes is rightly exasperated by the absence of consequences for tech giants' gross abuses of law and public trust. And David Dayen discusses the glaring gap between a court's findings of illegal monopoly activity by Google, and its failure to so much as require it to stop. 

- Daniel Eisenkraft Klein and Arianna Schouten discuss how Canada's position on access to medicine has tended to use the language of equity as a means of allowing big pharma to profiteer off of vital medications. 

- Finally, Bethany Hastie and Keegan Nicol write about the Libs' arbitrary nullification of the right to strike. Isaac Phan Nay reports on the NDP's work to stop the suppression of collective action through ministerial order, while Marina von Stackelberg reports on the determination of unions and workers to fight for their rights. And Saumya Kalia discusses how the gig economy has largely suppressed organizational activity. 

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Nils Gilman discusses how a transition to a clean and sustainable economy will require a fundamental change in existing power dynamics - meaning that any attempt to accomodate entrenched fossil interests is futire. 

- Dan Kraker reports on Minnesota's approval of a large-scale battery system which will enable the clean energy transition. Mitchell Beer talks to Seth Klein about the potential for a Youth Climate Corps to fill gaps in service and employment opportunities for young workers. And Nick Logan points out the potential of balcony-based solar power - but also notes that Canada has placed needless barriers in its way. 

- But Murad Hemmadi reports on the UCP's regressive plans to push for massive data centre development coupled with incentives to use dirty fossil gas as a primary power source. Wendi Thomas discusses how Elon Musk's plan for AI servers depends on a corporate push to shred environmental regulations and endanger the lives of people already facing health risks from highly polluted neighbourhoods. And Bryan McMahon highlights why the apparent corporatist plan of assuming an all-powerful AI which can solve all of our problems (shared by the Trump regime and Carney government alike along with their tech industry buddies) is likely doomed to failure. 

- Finally, Barry Saxifrage charts the realities of Canada's wildfire crisis, while Michelle Gamage offers some reminders about smoke protection as the 2025 wildfire season looks to extend into the fall. And Alex Boyd discusses how the anti-social mindset stoked to end public health protections against COVID-19 is now being converted into violent hostility toward basic fire safety. 

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- David Lurie writes about the Trump regime's Potemkin populism - as well as the increasing speed with which his fabrications are coming undone. Sarah Kendzior discusses the importance of finding meaning and purpose in ways that can't be undermined by a mafia state. And Sam Bagenstos highlights the importance of a plan for what comes after the civil service has been destroyed.

- Meanwhile, George Monbiot points out the continued failure of centrist parties and politicians to offer any hope when that's exactly what stands to motivate citizens who don't see anybody working toward anything better. And Andrea Houston talks to Linda McQuaig about Mark Carney's betrayal of voters who expected a defence of progressive Canadian values rather than a collaborationist Conservative government in Lib clothing. 

- Oliver Milman and Dharna Noor report on the work done by dozens of top climate scientists to refute the denialist propaganda of the Trump regime. And Alexandra Keeler warns that while our research system may not have been wholly hijacked for political purposes, it's still under threat from fake science. 

- Kevin Anderson, Chris Jones and Gaurav Gharde discuss the deep failures of climate policy in the UK which are only being exacerbated by a spate of dirty energy-based policies. Jonathan Watts highlights Tzeporah Berman's work on a fossil fuel phaseout treaty to stop every dirty energy producer from insisting it will be the last to stop. Russel Norman writes about the rise of insurance costs in New Zealand due to the ongoing climate breakdown. And Nina Lakhani reports on the rise of indoor heat deaths in Arizona as a result of extreme heat, while Marc Fawcett-Atkinson notes that tree-planting efforts which are pitched as emission mitigation measures haven't been able to keep up with the effects of wildfires.

- Josh Robertson, Michael Slezak, Jack Fisher and Mark Doman report on the decades-long cover-up of a massive methane leak from a major Australian gas project. And Martha Pskowski and Mark Olalde report on Texas' reflexive approval of greenhouse gas releases. 

- Finally, Richard Larouche discusses how the safety and freedom of children has been sacrificed in the name of prioritizing cars over bike lanes. Trevor Goodyear points out the UCP's attacks on the safety of LGBTQ+ children and other marginalized youth based on the theory that kids are nothing more than parents' property. And Dave Cournoyer writes that Alberta's teachers are standing up for children's well-being and education as the Smith government looks to undermine their classroom conditions and access to books.

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Couched cat.

Tuesday Morning Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Dan Kennedy weighs in on the effect of two-tiered pricing which effectively freezes the working class out of mass culture. Vass Bednar discusses how microloans have layered more debt onto consumers in order to make even minor purchases, while Alexandra Petri comments on the end of the U.S.' free trial period. And Lindsay Ellis and Aaron Zitner report on polling showing deep pessimism about both the state of the U.S.' economy generally, and the prospect of improving one's position within it. 

- Mark Kreidler reports that California has been able to buck the trend of declining rates of unionization through both more favourable public policy and determined organizing efforts. And Jon Milton notes that while the cabinet-driven mechanism habitually relied on by the Libs is a new one, the history of Canadian federal governments breaking strikes is long and galling - but also points out the importance of defiance in response. 

- Meanwhile, Edward Keenan highlights how Mark Carney is similarly following in a shameful tradition of slashing resources for immigration and refugee settlement. Mark Bourrie offers a look at Carney's imposition of corporate culture on federal governance - even as his own track record trying to achieve positive social outcomes by playing along with business is one of abject failure. And Justin Ling implores Carney to stop playing nice with the Trump regime. 

- Finally, Sophia Harris reports on the lack of consequences for grocery giants who have been falsely applying Canadian branding to food imported from the U.S. And Frances Willick examines the prospect of a national co-operative alternative. 

Monday Afternoon Links

Miscellaneous material for your Labour Day reading.

- Alec Rhodes studies the immense lifetime returns on a unionized career. David Dayen exposes how anti-union firms are encouraging unscrupulous employers to engage in illegal union-busting to avoid having to bargain on even terms with their employees. And Erik Loomis rightly questions why many unions are themselves being alarmingly quiet in the face of concerted political and legal attacks from the Trump regime.

- Meanwhile, Andrea Hill discusses how AI is replacing entry-level jobs - resulting in both reduced opportunities for younger workers, and a more fragile economy. And Craig Spencer reports on the virtual certainty that increased use of automation will entrench inequities in health care (and other service areas).

- Nesrine Malik writes that there's nothing to be gained by giving in to exclusion and bigotry, as demagogues will always find some new group to target. But Nora Loreto warns that the Carney Libs are buying in to the U.S.' anti-immigration mindset rather than respecting the human rights and well-being of immigrants.

- Finally, Jason Abbruzzese reports on new studies showing that the choice of online platforms to promote hatred is allowing its perpetrators to monetize their prejudice.