Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Robert McCoy reports on new modeling showing that everybody besides the uber-rich will be worse off as a result of Donald Trump's economic policies (even leaving aside how his authoritarianism undermines any development). And Curtis Fric notes that the U.S. citizenry bearing the brunt of capitalist abuse is rightly turning against the system. 

- Dale Smith discusses the problems with Mark Carney's apparent willingness to treat "building things" as synonymous with "doling out corporate handouts". Charlie Angus rightly slams Carney for choosing to play nice with fascists rather than building resistance and alternative power structures, while Luke LeBrun writes that progressive voters who lent their support to Carney based on the expectation he'd stand up to Trump have every reason to be angry. And Matthew Miller and Leyla Soleymani make the case for investments in life sciences as one of the most important responses to the U.S.' abdication of any role in scientific progress. 

- The Financial Times reports on the imminent electrification of everything, while Peter Newman and Ray Wills discuss how the largest energy transition in history is well underway. And Micah McCartney points out that China is reining in its use of fossil fuels while positioning itself as the main beneficiary of a clean energy revolution. 

- Meanwhile, Anil Hira discusses how fossil fuels impose social costs that are consistently excluded from resource management decisions. Mitchell Beer reports on the scramble to try to wring short-term profits out of fossil gas both from U.S. producers generally and a Newfoundland development prioritized by the Libs in particular. And Drew Anderson reports on the rural Alberta residents who are fed up with the UCP's allowing oil and gas lobbyists to trample their rights and interests while leaving the public to clean up toxic messes. 

- Finally, A.R. Moxon writes about the glaring disparity in whose lives are seen as worthy of recognition in the U.S. And David Beers and Jen St. Denis report on the deliberate targeting of Rachel Gilmore by Andrew Scheer and other figures in Canada's alt-right for daring to point out the reality of right-wing violence. 

Musical interlude

Jerro - Mess It Up

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood writes about Mark Carney's disappointing list of priority "major projects" which reflect little apparent plan other than to serve capital at the expense of our climate. And in case there was any doubt whose influence pushing the Libs in that direction, Carly Penrose reports on the corporate money behind Canada 2020.

- Meanwhile, Willliam Bredderman and Aneela Mirchandani report on the Informing America Foundation as yet another shadowy source of reactionary propaganda. And Rachel Savage reports on new research from Outright International showing how anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has been taken up on dozens of countries. 

- Paul Brown reports on new research showing how even the best-case scenarios for carbon capture and storage show it having little impact on the climate breakdown, while Mingyu Li et al. point out the dangers of relying on hypothetical future carbon removal as an excuse to keep spewing carbon pollution today. 

- Javier Carbajal reports on new research showing that extreme heat accelerates the aging of the human body. Jane Burston discusses the urgent need to rein in air pollution as a priority to save lives and improve people's health, while RNZ points out the immense costs of poor indoor air quality which could be easily improved through investments in ventilation and filtration.   

- David Wallace-Wells highlights the intractable conflict between the two types of people who have identified themselves with RFK Jr.'s idea of "healthy". And David Nield reports on new research showing that a new COVID-19 nasal spray can significantly cut viral spread - as long as people don't operate in denial of a continuing public health threat. 

- Finally, Justin Holz, Ricardo Perez-Truglia and Alejandro Zentner examine the effects of tax evasion by the wealthiest - finding that it thankfully doesn't lead to systematic non-compliance by others even as they recognize the unfairness in the system. 

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Trevor Jackson's review of Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's Abundance cautions against treating deregulation as anything but a cover for increased corporate control, while Bruce Campbell warns of the dangers of the Libs' anti-regulatory posture. Jared Walker and Silas Xuereb point out that Mark Carney's cuts to public services are being chosen over collecting tens of billions of dollars in money being shifted to tax havens.  And Don Curren questions James Galbraith and Jing Chen's attempt to paint entropy as an economic goal to be pursued when it both spurs inequality and rewards Trump-style agents of chaos. 

- Jim Stanford discusses the importance of targeted industrial policy to build an economy that's both less dependent on the U.S., and sustainable past the impending fossil fuel cliff. And Jason Hickel points out how democratic control over production is essential to a transition to solve the climate crisis. 

- Daniel Otis reports on new research showing the disproportionate climate damage done by fossil fuel and industrial corporations. Euronews Green reports on a study showing how even modest changes are threatening Mediterranean ecosystems. Amanda Follett Hosgood and Zoe Yunker discuss a call from scientists to stop fossil gas expansion (even as Carney is determine to barge ahead with it). Daniel Melser, Antonia Settle and Franscesca Perugia point out that the insurance industry has far more detailed information about climate risks than the general public (and is drastically changing its actions as a result). And Kerrie Holloway notes that people already facing displacement from conflict stand to be among the most affected by climate disasters. 

- Finally, Jamelle Bouie writes that the primary culture war being fought by the Trump regime is the U.S. Civil War, as white supremacists seek to undermine the principle that members of outgroups are people entitled to human rights or participation in public life. 

Wednesday Night Cat Blogging

Backyard cat.

Wednesday Afternoon Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Ari Berman writes about the Republicans' less-than-subtle plan to ensure the 2026 U.S. elections are anything but democratic. Robert Reich rightly argues that U.S. Democrats should be more than prepared to accept the shutdown of a government apparatus whose power is being systematically abused. And Paul Waldman suggests at least they should be making substantive demands rather than making concessions - though it's hard to see what's to be gained asking for legislative concessions which the Trump regime will refuse to implement. 

- Iglika Ivanova points out that part of the lesson to be drawn from the effect of Trump's tariffs involves the importance of investing in people rather than hoping for prosperity to magically be granted by markets which can be dominated by multinational firms and hostile governments alike. And Rob Ferguson points out Doug Ford's callous disregard for young people facing grim employment prospects due to the choices of others.

- Meanwhile, Shawn Micallef calls out Ford's war on public safety on behalf of reckless drivers. 

- Naveena Sadasivam reports on the opportunists and scam artists who have turned wildfires and other natural disasters into profit centres. Matt McIntosh discusses how Ontario has fallen far short of ensuring that fossil gas operators fund the cleanup of their wells, leaving the public on the hook for massive liabilities. And Mark Poynting writes about a warning from scientists again using dangerous Arctic geoengineering as a substitute for cutting down on carbon pollution. 

- Finally, Charlie Buckley and Tammy Ibrahimpoor report on new research showing the adverse health effects of ultra-processed food. And Dylan Scott highlights how the harms of alcohol are being suppressed by the Trump regime. 

Tuesday Morning Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- David Sirota writes that the sources of America's descent into authoritarianism can be traced readily to the longstanding trend toward the consolidation of wealth and power. And Luke Savage discusses how elite "liberals" have facilitated rise of fascism both by reinforcing its themes of fear and dominance, and by failing to improve the well-being of the general public when in power. 

- Michael Mann discuss how weaponized disinformation aimed at attacking science represents a threat to humanity as a whole. And the Economist speculates that the decline of reading may be an important factor in the dumbing-down of politics. 

- John Woodside reports on the Carney Libs' push toward nation-building in batches based on political convenience and immediacy rather than any long-term vision for development. And Kenza Bryan reports on Greg Jackson's warning that the UK's plans to pour money into carbon capture and storage are ill-advised, while Lisa Schick reports that Saskatchewan scientists are pushing back against Scott Moe's determination to use public money to spew as mnuch coal pollution as possible. 

- Mark Lemley writes that a toothless order against Google even after a finding of an abuse of monopoly power confirms that competition law alone won't be sufficient to deal with the power of big tech. And Kelsey McKinney argues that any legal settlement which allows an AI company to steal first and turn over an amount it doesn't care about later falls far short of the mark. 

- Finally, Marc Trussler and Stephanie Perry report on polling showing massive gender and partisan gaps in Generation Z life priorities. And Erika Shaker discusses how "parental rights" spin represents a contrived effort to children as property and schools as profit centres. 

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Ezra Klein discusses why nobody in the U.S. can afford to pretend that the Trump regime is normal or acceptable, while Brittlestar calls out the wealthy tycoons going out of their way to normalize corruption and authoritarianism. Martin Pelletier discusses how the international economy has been distorted by the extreme wealth and power of a few obscenely large firms who have largely been the same ones protecting their position at the expense of the public. And Dean Baker points out that the elimination of accurate information won't do anything to reduce the harm Trump is actually causing, while Conor Sen notes that worker pessimism is now a deeply entrenched part of the U.S.' cultural and economic reality. 

- Sara Mojtehedzadeh reports on the calls for Canada to recognize the dangers to domestic violence refugees (and others facing dangers from the Trump regime) rather than pretending that normal asylum princples are remotely tenable. Rachel Gilmore reports on the disgust from within the Libs over Mark Carney's plan to platform one of the architects of Trump's abuses, while David Moscrop is right to note that the public is expecting Mark Carney to deliver more than he has (though it's far from clear why he thinks the expectation is "a deal with Trump" rather than "a defence of Canada"). 

- Frank Landymore writes that we're approaching irreversible ice loss, with little prospect of avoiding it without massive systemic change in the near future. Al Jazeera reports on a new World Meteorological Organization report warning that wildfires caused by the climate breakdown can cause far-reaching air pollution. And Andrew Gregory reports on new research showing that air pollution is creating an increase in heart risks for millions of Britons in affected areas, while Sandra Laville reports on the unmonitored carcinogens entering waterways from roads. 

- Finally, Steve Westlake discusses how the language of pragmatism serves as cover for climate denialism and delay. But in case we needed a reminder that some forces are unapologetically demanding climate vandalism, Rebecca Egan McCarthy reports on the Trump regime's insistence on keeping a gas plant open in Pennsylvania over the objections of everybody affected by it, while Oliver Milman reports on a similar requirement that a dirty coal plant be kept spewing pollution in Michigan. 

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.

Musical interlude

TWO LANES - No Feeling Is Final

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Daniel Ziblatt writes about the dismal history of past efforts to collaborate and negotiate with authoritarians. And Stuart Benson discusses how Mark Carney's lack of respect for workers at home has combined with his appeasance of Donald Trump to undermine public confidence. 

- Paris Marx warns against giving in to Trump's demands to allow tech giants to run roughshod over people's privacy and civil rights. And David Reevely examines how the AI being presented by the Carney Libs as a substitute for actual economc strategy is unfit for purpose, while Chris Lang discusses how former Microsoft employees are calling out the use of AI to exacerbate climate damage. 

- Calvin Trottier points out how stronger climate policy would allow Canada to better engage with countries around the world aside from Trump's band of environmental vandals. But Carl Meyer reports on the lobbying being carried out by oil insiders to undermine what little climate plan we still have on the books. 

- Meanwhile, Max Fawcett discusses how any increased oil sands production is being designed to avoid any benefit to workers. And Kyle Bakx reports on the skyrocketing orphan well liabilities being dumped on the Alberta public by oil barons who have extracted their profits and fled the scene. 

- Dean Blundell responds to the news of the U.S.' covert influence in Greenland by noting that its efforts to poison Canadian politics to have been far less subtle. 

- Finally, Daniel Currell discusses how worsening inequality and concentration of wealth have made the financial well-being of working-class Americans irrelevant to many major industries. Isaac Phan Nay reports on Statistics Canada's latest data showing Canada's wealth gap getting worse. Hana Kiros reports on the destruction of value and rank profiteering flowing from the Trump regime's gutting of USAID. And Gareth Hughes questions whether our current economic edifice can remain standing while insurance becomes unaffordable or unavailable due to the climate crisis. 

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Don Moynihan concludes that the U.S. has lost any pretense to being a functioning democracy. And Zachary Beau discusses how Donald Trump is being allowed to undermine any institutions which would provide a check on an out-of-control executive. 

- David Dayen writes about the need to judge Trump based on his actual policies and their consequences rather than some convoluted effort to validate them, while Paul Krugman warns that the apparent willingness of markets to tolerate Trump's arbitrary actions in the short term doesn't mean the eventual consequences won't be dire. Jason Koebler examines the U.S. impact of Trump's attack on small international trade, while Campbell McDiarmid reports on the Canadian retailers looking to route their business elsewhere. And Jon Henley reports on the numerous postal services which have simply decided to stop making parcel shipments to the U.S. 

- Meghan Bartels discusses the limited availability of COVID-19 vaccines this fall even as a new wave is set to surge. And Charlie McGill points out that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s priority seems to be to turn all citizens into data collection devices for corporate use, rather than paying any attention to the policies which would keep people healthy. 

- Nitasha Tiku, Will Oremus, Elizabeth Dwoskin report on the nine-figure propaganda campaign being assembled to avoid any meaningful regulation of AI in the U.S. And Joey Grostern discusses how AI is contributing to the generation of climate denialist slop.  

- World Weather Attribution examines how the climate breakdown is exacerbating wildfires in Turkiye, Cyprus and Greece even in the face of mitigation measures, while Nicole Mortillaro reports on new research showing that wildfires are resulting in worsening air pollution in Canada. And Dale Smith notes that increased droughts represent another key reason to pursue immediate climate action, while Rosa Galvez points out that any government with an iota of respect for the rule of law may soon have little choice. 

- But needless to say, the Trump regime is no such government - and Lisa Friedman reports on its attempts to bully the rest of the world into extending the use of dirty fossil fuels. And while Linda McQuaig points out that reliance on market forces has been a major problem in our climate policy to date, Tom Parkin highlights the absurdity of talking about additional oil export pipelines when the previous emission-increasing boondoggle is still far from full capacity. 

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. 

- Freddy Brewster reports on a new study finding that the corporate media has refused to mention the business class' greed and profit-taking as a major cause of increased consumer prices. And Sam Freedman discusses how many of the disastrous decisions of the past decade can be traced back to the 2008 financial crash caused by deregulation and financialization. 

-  Andrea Pitzer discusses the need to work on building a post-Trump world rather than focusing solely on reacting to the fire hose of immediate abuses. And Gina McCarthy implores us not to let Trump and other petropoliticians undermine the work of building a clean energy future. 

- Bloomberg notes that the U.S.' screeching halt to renewable development hasn't come close to turning the tide globally. And CBC News reports on the work being done to replace dirty and unreliable diesel fuel with solar energy in Canada's Arctic region. 

- Jonathan Watts reports on research showing that deforestation and associated temperature increases have been responsible for half a million deaths just over the past 20 years. And Freda Kreier examines how repeated exposure to heat waves can do as much damage to one's health as smoking or drinking, while Andre Picard writes that access to air conditioning may need to be treated as an essential medical intervention. 

- Finally, Taylor Noakes calls out Mark Carney for his appeasement toward the Trump regime. And Davis Legree reports on the work being done by progressive activists to build a movement to step in where Carney's promise of resistance has proven false.

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Beached cat.

Tuesday Morning Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Garrett Graff writes that the U.S. has fully tipped over into authoritarianism, even as far too many media and political voices cling to the pretense of normality. Robert Reich discusses how Donald Trump's invariable promotion of incompetent sycophants fits into the fascist project, while Arthur Delaney reports on a warning from remaining FEMA staff that the U.S. will be unable to respond to disasters as a result of its focus on politics over the public interest. And Paul Krugman writes that Trump's illegal pretense of firing Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook represents a crucial test of one of the few limits on arbitrary and unauthorized presidential power that hasn't been bulldozed by John Roberts. 

- James Pethokoukis notes that Trump's latest gambit of demanding corporate stock in exchange for policy action is one without any natural endpoint. And Oliver Darcy interviews Katie Drummond about the choice of tech giants to tie their future to the manipulation of government regulation and procurement rather than offering any services to the public. 

- But then, Henry Larweh, Rachana Pradhan and Rae Ellen Bichell examine how the red states which have rolled over in the face of Trump's manipulations have ended up worse off than blue states who have fought back. And Nia Law and Lindsay Owens note that there's no reason to buy the threat that wealthy people and corporations will follow through on threats to leave if they have to pay a fair share of taxes. 

- David Moscrop notes that while Canadian people are ready to fight for our identity and sovereignty, those in charge of our capital are still throwing money at the U.S. under Trump. And Tom Parkin points out that Mark Carney is letting Trump get away with violating terms of the CUSMA with auto, steel, aluminum and copper tariffs - even as the result is direct damage to Canada's auto industry. 

- Finally, Emma Graney reports on the fully captured Alberta Energy Regulator's decision to cancel public hearings if they could possibly result in anything but a cheerleading session for dirty coal, while the Energy Mix points out that the oil industry's increasing automation is ensuring that workers don't share in any further fossil fuel development. Andn Ian Verrender writes that Australia too faces a revolving door of fossil fuel lobbyists dictating policy. 

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Jason Sattler writes about the importance of working together to oppose fascism rather than acquiescing to its ends. Juse Joffe-Block and Shannon Bond examine the racist roots of the Trump regime's anti-immigrant memes. And Hamilton Nolan notes that Trump's imposition of white supremacy at the government level has turned commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion into a crucial indicator as to businesses' loyalties.  

- Tom McDowell discusses how Canada's federal and provincial governments alike are using the threat of U.S. fascism to eliminate consultation and democratic decision-making in favour of top-down corporate service. David Pugliese reports on the imposition of new secrecy rules against Canadian defence workers. And Juan Sebastian Pinto discusses how Palantir - which is being welcomed into Canada by Mark Carney while collaborating with the Trump regime - poses broad-based dangers to human rights around the globe. 

- University College London finds that air pollution caused by oil and gas is responsible for 91,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone. Mitch Anderson points out that any assessment not funded shows that dirty energy is headed for a decline within the next few years at the latest, even as our petropoliticians insist on perpetual expansion with no regard for either economic viability or environmental consequences. And Isobel Farquharson reports on the work by private actors to build an EV charging network in Canada. 

- Finally, Ken Chapman writes about the goals of the Forever Canadian movement which is providing a needed response to the UCP's separatist posturing.

Musical interlude

Garbage - Drive You Home

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- John Harwood discusses how Donald Trump's second term in office has been more harmful than even the most dire predictions anticipated. Donald Gutstein calls out Danielle Smith for promoting the twin U.S. interests of dirty energy and Alberta separation as her primary areas of activity. And Peter Zimonjic reports that Mark Carney is joining the corporate elites working on normalizing Trump's abuses, as he's removing a number of the targeted tariffs which had served as important pressure points against Trump's arbitrary actions.

- Meanwhile, for those looking for construction actions which Canada could and should be taking, Jon Milton and Nathaniel Denaro make the case for a vehicle production Crown corporation to ensure our existing industrial base isn't subject to the whims of the Trump administration and the U.S. automakers collaborating with it. And Brendan Haley points out the value of energy efficiency as a nation-building project. 

- Karl Nerenberg writes about Carney's immediate shift toward austerity and tax-cutting after he won power as the defender of a progressive Canada. Grant Robertson and Kathryn Blaze Baum report on the results of a federal investigation showing that existing reliance on algorithms to govern regulatory activity was a major cause of a deadly listeria outbreak - even as Carney seeks to replace even more government functions with AI vaporware. And Sophia Harris reports on the CRA's woeful lack of resources to answer public inquiries as well as ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share in taxes. 

- Finally, David Coletto and Eddie Sheppard discuss new polling showing that an increasing number of Canadians are slipping into exonomic anxiety and precarity. 

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Hamilton Nolan discusses the multiple crises facing labor in the U.S., as a failure to organize produces particularly catastrophic results in hostile political and legal environments.  The Star's editorial board calls out Mark Carney's attempt to nullify the labour rights of Air Canada workers contrary to overwhelming public opinion - though the ultimate result offers a lesson in the value of maintaining solidarity. And Nora Loreto points out that the systematic suppression of workers' bargaining power under a system intend to reflect a peaceful compromise of interests is virtually certain to lead to far stronger tactics. 

- Vitoria Barreto discusses Brazil's Pix instant payment system - which is naturally drawing fire from bankers and billionaires for providing people of all income levels with financial services without exploitation. 

- Will Noel details the immense amount of renewable energy which has been scrapped due to the UCP's attacks on wind and solar power. And Eugene Ellman reports that U.S. investors are recognizing there's no future in dirty energy despite the Trump regime's determination to try to keep extracting profits for his oil tycoon donors. 

- Finally, Euan Thomson reports on Alberta's sudden abandonment of a private mental health data harvesting app after news has started to emerge about its dangers. 

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- The Lever examines new research showing how private equity is systematically funnelling risk and underperformance to less wealthy investors. And Charlie Warzel discusses how the AI investment fad is based on mass delusion, while Rick Morton notes that it's also predicated entirely on the retroactive validation of systematic illegality. 

- Ned Resnikoff discusses how the Trump regime is determined to turn American cities into war zones - even as they were previously safer than they'd been in decades - as a pretext for his plan to exert military control over them. Adam Tranter notes that anybody actually concerned with people's lives and well-being would be pushing for low traffic neighbourhoods and people-friendly communities. And Trevor Melanson discusses how Chinese EV imports could give Canadians far more and better options for cleaner and safer transportation. 

- William Foege discusses how public health needs to fight back against the cynical misinformation of antisocial populists and scammers. And Nick Tsergas studies the growing body of evidence that COVID-19 has long-term effects on people's bodies whether or not they've been diagnosed with long COVID - making any avoidable transmission a wilful choice to make people sicker. 

- Finally, Jeremy Appel highlights how Air Canada's flight attendants were able to fight back against the exploitation of unpaid labour. Dale Smith examines the rise of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code which the Libs have taken to using reflexively to squelch strikes and allow employers to run roughshod in collective bargaining, while Verity Stevenson points out how workers' determination to stand up for themselves in the face of that interference should lead to questions as to whether it should be allowed in the first place. And Kim Siever offers a warning that surface friendliness from an employer is no guarantee of respect or job security. 

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Angular cat.

Tuesday Afternoon Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Tim Dickinson laments that so many corporations, universities and other entities with the resources to stand up to Donald Trump are instead choosing to enable his authoritarianism. And David Dayen offers a look at the U.S.' crumbling economy even as the Trump regime tries to destroy all the data sources which would allow people to recognize it, while Evan Williams notes that Canada has made substantial progress in rerouting its car purchases to avoid both tariffs and U.S. suppliers. 

- But lest anybody think all is hunky-dory in Canada, the Canadian Press reports on new Statistics Canada data showing that income inequality continues to get worse by the year. Jonathan Lambert highlights how cash support is among the most effective interventions to improve the health of infants. And Cat Hobbs discusses how public ownership could make rail and other transportation more affordable. 

- Trevor McFadyen writes that the Carney Libs' heavy-handed intervention against Air Canada workers shows their disdain for collective bargaining. And Peggy Nash's view that the flight attendant strike could be a turning point in defending the right to strike in Canada will hopefully prove prescient - as the workers' refusal to back down has led to bargaining wins which were supposed to have been ruled out by an employer-biased government. 

- Finally, Peter Brannen warns of the potential that the climate breakdown will lead to the Earth's sixth major mass extinction. Geoffrey Johnston writes that this has been a summer of the climate emergency (though surely only one among many to come). Sonal Gupta reports on the large number of First Nations affected by wildfires. And Ajit Niranjan reports on new research showing that the harms caused by wildfire smoke are far worse than previously known. 

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Amanda Marcotte examines the abusive father complex that somehow forms the basis for a large part of Donald Trump's support. Erica Green calls out Trump's highly selective view of criminal justice which includes absolute impunity for his cronies and arbitrary cruelty for everybody else. And Oliver Willis highlights how the right-wing information ecosystem has been trained to view cities as hellscapes (among other false and harmful assumptions). 

- Meanwhile, Don Slater warns that Alberta is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to the spread of the same disinformation and associated bigotry in Canada. And Prem Sikka discusses the need for the UK to fight back against the self-serving undermining of democracy by the corporate elite.

- Samantha Gross notes that Massachusetts' wealth tax proved even more lucrative than expected, showing that policies aimed at equality work. And Max Fawcett writes that an appeal to intergenerational fairness could make for a huge step in setting Canada up for the future.

- Jim Stanford offers a factbook on how Canada can build a soverign and sustainable economy if it focuses on the public interest rather than immediate corporate profits. And Arno Kopecky writes that the Trump regime's regressive energy policy offers a particularly promising opening to lead the way toward a clean economy. 

- But while it would be ideal to see Carney value the general public and the future over his own corporate buddies, his government's handling of Air Canada's labour dispute bodes poorly on that front - as Eric Wilkinson points out how it represents yet another attack on the concept of collective bargaining, while David Coletto notes that public opinion is very much on the side of the workers being ordered back to work. 

Sunday Afternoon Links

This and that for your Sunday reading.

- Naomi Klein discusses how Canada is failing the basic test of resistance to a fascist regime. 

 

- Meanwhile, Linda McQuaig recognizes that Canadians have every reason to be disappointed in Mark Carney's choice to veer to the right and into the U.S.' corporate orbit, rather than governing based on the "elbows up" message at the core of his campaign. And Dale Smith writes that it's long past time to stop pretending that there's any point in negotiating with Donald Trump.

- Mike Allen reports on the corporate loyalty ratings which have been developed to ensure that political favouritism is the defining principle in the Trump White House's decision-making. And Maximillian Alvarez warns that Trump and his corporate backers are turning the entire U.S. into a giant environmental sacrifice zone.

- Tammy Robert discusses how the Sask Party's standard operating procedure in dealing with agricultural approvals (among other choices) is similarly to hand favours out to cronies with no regard for the public interest.

- Finally, Steven Lewis notes that the choice to build the medical system around private physician practices has long limited the effectiveness of social-level health planning - and is at the heart of a failing primary care system today. And Kevin Jiang discusses how people facing long COVID rightly feel like they've been forgotten by the health care system (and by governments generally).

Musical interlude

Bob Moses - I Ain't Gonna Be The First To Cry

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Andrew Phillips discusses how the Trump administration is looking to rewrite history in dealing with North American trade. And Thor Benson interviews David Roberts about the absolute nonsense being relied upon as the U.S.' excuse for scrapping any climate policy, while Paris Marx points out the haze of misinformation obstructing Canada's ability to respond to wildfires. 

- Alexander Kaufman highlights how Trump's edict that nobody transition away from dirty power will cost the U.S. immense amounts of money in addition to leaving it as a technological laggard, while Rachel Melta notes that an investment in energy storage alongside a push toward renewables would save consumers billions in the central U.S. alone. And Katye Altieri and Dave Jones discuss why it's important that far too many governments are refusing to commit to developing clean energy, while Jo Lauder notes that China is one of the few major countries on track to become an electrostate in the near future. 

- Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood discusses how drought is becoming an increasingly regular and severe problem in Canada, with both the climate crisis and an obsession with data centres looming as obvious causes. And Ben Martynoga reports on new research showing that microbes being released by melting ice can exacerbate the effects of climate change in polar regions. 

- Finally, the Canadian Press reports on a new survey showing that over a third of Canadian renters are having to spend over half of their income on housing. And Simon Enoch calls out Scott Moe for his ideological refusal to consider rent controls as the Sask Party looks to serve landlords rather than workers. 

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Hamilton Nolan discusses how the Trump regime is going far out of its way to build the U.S.' economy on scams and corruption. And Lisa Needham discusses how the deployment of military troops to cities is plainly based at intimidating minorities rather than public safety (particularly as mass shootings and serial assassination attempts directed at public servants have been ignored), while Bill Kristol writes about Trump's pattern of giving the worst people the most power. And Lawrence Lessig highlights the dangers of complicity in the face of extortion. 

- On that front, Charlie Angus rightly warns Mark Carney not to play along with Trump's "golden shield" plans to tether us (at massive expense) to the U.S.' military even more tightly. And David Zipper discusses resesrch showing that Canada and the U.S. are headed in starkly opposed directions when it comes to traffic safety. 

- Damian Carrington reports on the record heat wave which hit Nordic countries in July as an example of the inability of anybody to escape the costs of a climate breakdown. And Alexandra Mae Jones reports on what continues to be the second-worst wildfire season on record in Canada - even as Kent Mundle points out the need for us to be prepared to take in climate refugees facing even worse around the globe. 

- Isaac Phan Nay interviews Jasmine Ramze Rezaee about the well-established flaws in Mark Carney's trickle-down theory. 

- Finally, Brian Shearer reports on Washington, D.C.'s success building large amounts of housing through direct public investment - in contrast to the Carney strategy of trying (at the behest of greedy developers) to hand freebies and concessions to rich people in the hope that they'll meet social needs rather than merely extracting more wealth for themselves. 

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Nick Turse highlights how Donald Trump's use of military force to control domestic civilians is unprecedented, while Asawin Suebsaeng and Ryan Bort warn that it stands to get far worse as it gets normalized. And Jamelle Bouie discusses why Trump wants to keep the U.S. in a state of perpetual crisis, while Marcy Wheeler points out that the basis for claiming the authority to rule by fiat is based on little more than blackmail and hostage-taking. 

- Meanwhile, Kelly Hayes discusses what needs to be included in the movement opposing to Trump's fascism - including the commitment to support and care for all of his victims. And Choose Democracy offers some suggestions for activists demonstrating their resistance based on Free DC's example. 

- John Michael McGrath discusses how even the most rabid anti-democratic zealots are having trouble pretending it's possible to get by without state capacity. And Jessie Blaeser examines the growing body of evidence that DOGE (which remains an example for Canada's right-wing politicians) has left a trail of destruction while utterly failing to save money. 

- The Guardian's editorial board writes that Mark Carney's attempt to tie climate progress to voluntary financial commitments has proven an utter failure, while Gillian Steward warns that Carney looks to be abandoning any interest in meaningful climate policy now that he holds power. And while Tim Palmer writes about the importance of basic research in responding the the climate crisi, Ryan Cropp reports that Australia's government is suppressing a study showing the dire consequences of the climate breakdown. 

- But Kristian Knibutat points out that for those willing to look at real data, clean technology has turned into both the safest and highest-upside investment. And David Fenton offers the framing of a "pollution blanket" as indicating both the reality of carbon pollution, and the possibilities for amelioration.

- Eric Wilkerson discusses the futility of trying to negotiate trade deals with a Trump regime which will neither bargain in good faith nor respect any outcomes. 

- Finally, Fred Wilson writes about the need for the Canadian labour movement to engage in mass organizing and systemic opposition to the capital class. And Emma Arkell highlights how legislative victories in British Columbia are translating into the ability to organize precarious workers. 

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Curled-up cat.

Tuesday Morning Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Chance Phillips is rightly outraged that the corporate media is letting the Trump regime hand immense power to white supremacists without even calling attention to that fact. And Paul Waldman highlights how Trump's systematic misogyny is exacerbating rather than remedying the sense of dissatisfaction which has been cultivated by the right. 

- Jessica Wildfire discusses how to approach the recognition of imminent social collapse. Brian Beutler points out the importance of fighting against injustice even where victory is far from assured - both due to the possibility of succeeding, and the need to build capacity for ongoing conflicts. Jonathan Last offers his take on how to make good trouble, while pointing out how it's succeeded in reversing some of the Trump regime's abuses. And Hamilton Nolan worries that the American labour movement is crumbling due to a failure to organize broadly.  

- Cory Doctorow highlights how it's impossible to fight enshittification at the individual level, but entirely possible to do so through collective policy choices. And Brian Merchant notes that GPT-5 (among other much-hyped AI releases) is purely bait for investors rather than anything which could possibly hold value for users. 

- Garrett Graff writes that Trump's anti-science bent is destroying a multi-generation culture of research that formed the basis for the U.S.' economic success. And Arcella Martin reports on the reuse of electric vehicle batteries for grid stabilization as an example of the type of innovation and responsible resource use that's possible when governments aren't actively obstructing progress.  

- Roy Edroso explains and calls out the right's war on cities as reflecting their distate for diversity and inclusion. And Bill Fulton points out that most households could thrive with one less vehicle than they're currently paying to operate and maintain. 

- Finally, Megan Rose and Debbie Cenziper report on both the U.S.' general acquiescence in the importing of medications from banned facilities, and the process resulting in its accepting drugs from one Indian supplier with a grim safety record.

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Stephen Marche writes that Canada is finding its voice in response to the U.S.' threats and bad faith under the Trump regime - at least as long as our corporate overlords don't insist on acquiescing. And Katia Dmitrieva and Philip Heijmans discuss how Donald Trump is making pay-to-play his government's standard modus operandi even where it's flagrantly illegal. 

- Devi Sridhar notes that the U.S.' elimination of vaccine research poses immense risks for people around the globe. And Robinson Meyer highlights how Trump's favouritism toward dirty energy donors is effectively handing the future of energy development to China.

- Campbell Clark discusses how the Libs are letting their promise of a foreign interference registry lapse even as our largest trading partner is operating as a protection racket. And John Woodside reports on their concurrent failure to appoint a Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise to deal with abuses by resource companies operating internationally. 

- Finally, Steven Henke reports on yet another basic income pilot project showing how recipients benefit in terms of housing stability, mental health, education and overall well-being. But Georgie Smith reports that instead of acting on the overwhelming body of research showing that a basic income produces benefits far beyond its costs, we're continuing to force people to fend for themselves - including by sorting trash in order to scrape by.