Friday, February 14, 2025

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Anne Applebaum discusses how the actual regime change under Donald Trump involves the replacement of any public service with a system devoted exclusively to patronage, while Lee Morgenbesser argues that state capture is the best description of Elon Musk's abuses so far. Christina Pagel classifies Trump's actions in a few more distinct categories - though the dismantling of government and systematization of corruption do make up the majority of them. Mike Brock writes that the potential for courts to reverse some of the most flagrantly unconstitutional actions of Trump and Elon Musk doesn't provide a meaningful response to a coup in progress. And Larry Elliott writes that Trump's insistence on imposing tariffs ultimately reflects weakness in lacking any other mechanism to project power. 

- Geoffrey Johnston writes that Canada has effectively stood up to Trump's bullying so far. Aisha Ahmad discusses why any U.S. attempt to annex Canada would be expected to backfire (particularly in a context where Trump is simultaneously picking other fights and undermining the U.S.' own military). And Aaron Wherry notes that Trump's threats are turning the impending federal election into a review of what Canada can control, while Cam Holmstrom makes the case for a big-table response. 

- Brett McKay reports on Samara's new research showing how "power abusers" on social media were a major force in the UCP's retention of power in 2023. But Charles Rusnell examines the emerging connection between the UCP's health services corruption and the misuse of police authority, while Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean writes that Danielle Smith and company have mostly gone silent as the truth comes out. 

- Justin Ling implores Ontario voters not to allow Doug Ford yet another term in which to loot the province for his cronies' benefit. 

- Finally, Emma Beddington writes about the virtual impossibility of avoiding plastics even as their dangers have become readily apparent. And Sara Kirk and Lana Vanderlee discuss how Canada's food system makes unhealthy eating the default. 

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Jared Yates Sexton discusses the Trump-Musk plot to replace any remnants of U.S. democracy with an oligarchy. Josh Marshall examines the mechanisms put in place to give an unelected billionaire unprecedented control over the American government, while Marc Elias points out the plan for an immediate hollowing-out of the civil service to be replaced (if at all) with unabashed sycophants. David Lurie notes that Trump's direct attacks on the judiciary seem likely to remove any pretense of legitimacy. 

- Cynthia Miller-Idriss notes that Trump is consciously replacing any norm against racism with one of white supremacy. And Mehdi Hasan writes that repeated griping about diversity, equity and inclusion is the new N-word, intended to validate racism and bigotry as a systemic force. 

- Shawn Donnan, Joe Deaux and Daniel Flatley report that foreign aid is just one more area in which Trump is replacing funding for effective government agencies with a blatant giveaway to financial-sector cronies. David Dayen observes that Musk's plan to sell off publicly-owned real estate will likely cause a financial crash, benefiting nobody but the already-rich investors who can afford to swoop in and purchase at cut-rate prices. And Abrahm Lustgarten offers a warning as to how the climate breakdown which Trump is determined to exacerbate will destroy home values. 

- Finally, Steven High offers a reminder as to how worker-based collective action has saved industry from corporate predations before. And Martin Patriquin reports on the unfair labour practice complaint challenging Amazon's decision to close down warehouses to avoid recognizing a certified union. 

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way chart the likely road ahead in the U.S.' journey from democracy to authoritarianism, while Hamilton Nolan's interview with Stephanie Kelton includes the warning that it may be too late to salvage anything if a resistance movement limits its focus to electoral politics and timelines. Sam Freedman discusses how Elon Musk's influence - and the associated use of technology to seize unfettered power - is the main difference between Donald Trump's first term and his second. David Zipper notes that consumers have plenty of power to protest Musk's absues by making the choice to boycott Tesla as the main source of his current wealth. And Ed Zitron juxtaposes the promise of technology which could help improve people's lives against the reality that tech giants are exploiting us. 

- Anna Maria Barry-Jester and Bretty Murphy discuss the illegality of the immediate trashing of USAID. And Greg Sargent discusses how Pope Francis' response to the invocation of theology to excuse Trump's hatred has placed a spotlight on his administration's moral rot, while Sarah Newey reports on the first deaths directly traceable to the shutdown of its operations. 

- Paul Krugman writes that Trump and Musk have made it open season for scammers to steal money from the American public. And Liz Dye discusses how the destruction of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau represents a combination of spite and opportunism. 

- Dave Jamieson reports that large numbers of U.S. workers are joining unions in an effort to build collective strength against Trump. And Jon Milton notes that there's plenty Canadian governments can and should do in response to corporate union-busting, including Amazon's shuttering of its Quebec warehouse in response to an organizing campaign. 

- Steve Smethurst discusses new research about the threat of PFAs and other dangerous chemicals in sewage sludge which is used for agricultural purposes. And Andrew Gregory reports on a study showing that air pollution is responsible for upwards of a thousand annual cases of a single form of lung cancer in the UK, while Denise Balkissoon writes about the data gaps which limit our ability to identify similar threats in Canada. 

- Finally, Kim Pate discusses how Pierre Poilievre's draconian attacks on drug users would only exacerbate poverty and addiction. And Brett McKay reports on the 19-year difference in life expectancy between Indigenous people and other Albertans as a grim example of how discrimination and bigotry lead to severe health consequences. 

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Elevated cat.




Tuesday Morning Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Paul Krugman discusses how Donald Trump and Elon Musk are severing the U.S.' ties around the world. And Eamon James and Dan Mangan report that the one form of international interaction Trump is looking to bolster is the legitimization of bribery. 

- Lisa Needham writes that Trump isn't pretending to govern as anything but a dictator unbound by law or by accountability. Jason Stanley writes about the new Republican "Southern Strategy" seeking to make a constant war against minorities and their voting rights into a foundation for electoral dominance. David Dayen notes that the technological takeover of the U.S. government seems designed to impose to impose rule by capricious and malicious autopilot. Molly Jong-Fast calls out the second Trump administration's war on science, while Amanda Marcotte notes that Musk is going out of his way to destroy research and innovation after building his own obscene fortune on past generations' work. 

- The Guardian's editorial board notes that the real purpose of Trump's obsession with tariffs is to allow him to impose the most extreme program of systematic economic inequality the world has ever seen. Jason Leopold and Evan Weinberger highlight the blatant self-dealing involved as Musk shreds the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and seizes competitors' confidential information just in time to turn X into a financial services rent-seeker, while Kylie Cheung points out that existing creditors and banks are also looking forward to free rein to scam their customers. 

- Meanwhile, James Temperton and Murad Hemmadi report on Shopify's embrace of Nazi merchandise and causes - which is of course particularly important given Pierre Poilievre's desire to turn its principals into the Canadian version of Musk. Nora Loreto discusses the ethnonationalism behind Pierre Poilievre's new choice of slogans. And Jon Henler reports on new research showing that the far right spreads fake news far more than any other grouping on the political spectrum. 

- George Monbiot laments that Keir Starmer's Labour government is further dismantling the UK's machniery of government (and undermining its own stated goals in the process). And Chris Dillow points out how the fanatical belief in commodified markets as the solution to everything prevents governments from serving the interests of their citizens. 

- Finally, Adam King interviews Bryan Evans and Carlo Fanelli about the damage Doug Ford has done to workers in Ontario. And Canada Healthwatch points out that despite how one prominent poll has been framed, it's unlikely that health care will be the top issue for voters - making a full accounting for Ford's subservience to Donald Trump a must to ensure he can't hang on to power. 

Monday, February 10, 2025

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Carole Cadwalladr highlights the Elon Musk-led coup against democratic governance in the U.S., while Sarah Kendzior discusses how Musk and the rest of his toxic techbros are best described as strip-mining the future of humanity. Brian Barrett points out the obvious dangers of treating the civil service underpinning a functional society as a startup where "breaking things" is the primary objective. And Jonathan Martin notes that many American lives are at risk (along with far more from people in affected countries) due to the Trump administration's obliteration of USAID. 

- Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, Timothy Geithner, Jacob Lew and Janet Yellenall offer their warning that American democracy is in grave danger. Brian Beutler writes that U.S. Democrats have just enough levarage to face the choice between either standing up for representative institutions by insisting that government funding be conditioned on their effectiveness, or enabling Trump to take unfettered control. Jared Yates Sexton writes that it will ultimately take concerted collective action to win the existential fight against a Trump autocracy. And Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor points out how the fascist right's attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion have gained ground primarily because of policies which have fallen far short of their billing. 

- Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood offers a reminder of the need for Canada to fight back against economic warfare (among other attacks) from Trump. Dan Gardner writes about what might happen as historic alliances crumble - though I'd question his doomerist assumptions that Canada willl inevitably give in to Trump's demands and other countries will have no interest in developing alternative alliances. Charlie Angus points out that boycotts are already having a massive impact on U.S. tourism and other industries, while Anthony Rosborough discusses how a strengthened right to repair can help us break free of corporate shackles which could all too easily be commandeered by the Trump regime. And Steven High argues that we need to work on reversing the deindustrialization of Canada, while Ricardo Tranjan makes the case that we need a stronger safety net (similar to what we had with the CERB just a few years ago) to ensure people aren't cowed into submission by a risk of deep poverty. 

- Finally, David Moscrop argues that Ontario voters shouldn't reward Doug Ford for his combination of blatant corruption and implausible posturing against a regime for whom he's long proclaimed his unwavering support. And Carolina Aragao notes that Ford's track record also includes the lowest levels of well-being of any province. 

Friday, February 07, 2025

Musical interlude

Phantogram - Move In Silence


Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Alex Cosh discusses how our response to the new Trump administration needs to move beyond avoiding tariffs toward routing our international relations around a clear and present danger. And Ashleigh Stewart reports that Steve Bannon's plans to for "hemispheric control" go far beyond trade as well. 

- David Smith highlights how Trump is following in the footsteps of Viktor Orban (who is of course a model for Canadian Cons as well in his attacks on democracy). Paul Krugman writes that the key factor to watch for at this stage is the concentration of power via autogolpe. Moira Donegan writes about Elon Musk's effective control through shadow government mechanisms, while Robert Reich examines his minions' burrowing into government computer systems (which Charlie Warzel and Ian Bogost observe to be a terrifying reality according to the people who know those systems best),

- Meanwhile, Mark Frauenfelder highlights how Google's monetized reCAPTCHA system is simultaneously a means of tracking people in alarming detail, a profit centre and a massive waste of time for users. And Charlotte Cowles discusses the current reality of surveillance pricing. 

- Brittany Welsh and Julian Aherne report on a new study showing that Ontario's cottage country lakes aren't immune from the proliferation of microplastics, while Tik Root and Joseph Winters report on Exxon's plans to spend billions of dollars making the problem worse. Lorne Fitch notes that Alberta coal spokesflacks are pushing nonsense research to claim that selenium contamination is just fine for you, while Phillip Meintzer points out how four oil sands companies have signed on to endorse increased cancer rates for Indigenous communities. And Zoya Teirstein discusses how the smoke from California's recent wildfires is particularly toxic due to the large amount of plastic and chemical content. 

- Finally, the Climate Institute examines the importance of building new housing in areas which mitigate the likelihood of climate-related emergencies - rather than in ones which are particularly vulnerable to them (or already the sites of recent disasters). And Katya Schwenk reports on the greed and folly of real estate developoers pushing to be build developments in areas which are already running out of water. 

Thursday, February 06, 2025

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Tyler McBrien writes about the U.S.' state capture which makes it impossible to know who's making decisions which can have catastrophic effects (let alone allow for any democratic accountability). Gil Duran examines the techbro plan to install a CEO-dictator to control the U.S. in place of any responsive government, while Brian Merchant discusses the attempt to build an AI-based permission structure to allow that state of affairs to continue. Adam Gurri argues that Elon Musk is a greater threat to the U.S. public than Donald Trump. Jonathan Last notes that in addition to historic dictators, the apparent models for Musk's takeover of the U.S. include Batman villains. Mike Brock points out Musk's obvious conflicts of interest (and the utter impossibility of his being able to avoid them even if he wanted to). 

- Robert Reich details the coup in progress against the U.S. government. Don Moynihan discusses why Musk's takeover and manipulation of data is no less important than his seizure of the public purse. Mike Masnick points out the obvious risks of allowing a takeover of - and backdoor into - the U.S.' public payments system. 

- Frank Miroslav offers the hopeful view that Trump may be stupid enough to fall short of the damage he intends to inflict, while Hamilton Nolan notes that the corporate sector had also proven its own idiocy by supporting a chaotic regime which makes any predictable development impossible. Robert Kuttner writes that the U.S. needs a more effective opposition than a Democratic Party which is utterly supine in the face of corporate corruption, while Les Leopold points out the need for a political movement for working people. And Blair Fix highlights how Republicans have used populist messaging to further concentrate the wealth and power of plutocrats. 

- Marv Shaffer warns against limiting Canada's response to the protection of our own corporate class against tariffs when there's a need for massive international cooperation to fill a vacuum of influence and support, while Simon Enoch likewise notes that we shouldn't allow business lobby groups to turn our response into a profit centre and source of leverage against the public. Heather Mallick discusses the need for a wartime footing which includes focusing on necessities rather than conspicuous consumption. And Nora Loreto writes that one of the major challenges in assembling a principled response in the face of a threat is the dismantling of Canadian culture at the behest of corporate forces.

- Eric Wickham talks to experts about the need to become less dependent on the U.S. And the National Farmers Union highlights how to protect food sovereignty in the face of a hostile neighbour, while Charles Conten and Tia Hentra discuss how the electric vehicle industry can thrive regardless of what Trump does.  

- Finally, David Moscrop points out how Doug Ford's continued attachment to both Trump and Musk shows him to be absolutely unfit to hold power. And Shellene Drakes-Tull writes about the level of contrived naivete needed for Ford to express surprise that Trump would follow through on his threats toward Canada.

Wednesday, February 05, 2025

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Tim Snyder calls out the coup in progress as unelected lackeys take over major elements of the U.S.' government, while Jamelle Bouie rightly makes the case that the damage being done to the U.S.' constitutional order by the combination of a power-mad executive and fully compliant legislative branch is irreversible. Elizabeth Popp Berman discusses how unilateral control over government payments by an unelected political crony represents the end of any pretense of democracy, while David Dayen points out the flagrant illegality of Elon Musk's usurpation of that power. Jill Filipovic writes about the Trump administration's scheme to asset-strip the U.S. government. 

- Robert Reich writes that the point of Trump's trade posturing is to demonstrate a willingness to punish anybody who doesn't bow before him. Kaylin Hamilton discusses the futility of limiting opposition to demands for civility which ultimately serve only to further empower those already in control. And Greg Sargent interviews Andy Craig about the options that are available to meaningfully respond - including loud protest backed by every available action. 

- Paresh Dave and Caroline Haskins report that Google's place within the new authoritarian regime includes reversing a policy which previously prohibited its AI from being used for weapons and surveillance. Oliver Milman reports on the state of fear among scientists as all accurate information about climate change is purged from official sources. And Jeff Tollefson points out the impending clash between a regime insistent on pushing dirty fossil fuels to enrich a major donor group, and a transition to more affordable clean energy already in progress. 

- Pete McMartin discusses why Canada and other countries aren't about to ignore or forget the U.S.' bullying even if some immediate threats are being delayed, while Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean comments on the warnings we've received against future reliance on the U.S. Crawford Kilian's proposed resistance against Trump's extortion includes building closer international ties while treating collaborators' brands as toxic. Paul Wells makes the case for applying our own tariffs rather than letting Trump continue to make threats with apparent impunity. And Heather McPherson discusses what a principled and courageous foreign policy would properly include. 

- Finally, Gaby Hinsliff writes that no country can afford to appease or encourage a regime which is willing to wreck the world. And Andy Bounds reports on the EU's ability to target tech giants and intellectual property monopolies as part of an anti-coercion response. 

Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Angled cat.




Tuesday Afternoon Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Brian Beutler makes the effort to classify the crises created by the new Trump administration as well as the available responses. Jeet Heer discusses Elon Musk's coup against crucial parts of the U.S. state., while Nathan Tankus goes into detail about the dangers of his control over payments and financial information through the Treasury. And David Dayen reports on the shutdown of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for the offence of giving people a fighting chance against corporate abuses. 

- A.R. Moxon writes that any organized response will need to start at the popular level as the government apparatus is rendered incapable of responding to anything other than Donald Trump's fascist diktats, while the opposition in Congress refuses to meaningfully oppose an authoritarian regime. Jonathan Last points out the role money can play in forcing Trump's hand at times - with his reversal on tariffs against Canada in the wake of financial upheaval looking like an important example. 

- Seth Klein notes that any further threats against Canada will demand a response based on the U.S.' reliance on fossil fuels. And Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood and Marc Lee offer some additional creative suggestions.  

- Alex Himelfarb discusses how the conflation of austerity with "common sense" results in a meaner and less responsive form of politics. And Emma Paling examines the programs which are at the most risk if Pierre Poilievre ever gets the chance to impose his version on Canada. 

- Finally, Jen St. Denis talks to Avi Lewis about the prospect of a government that serves the interests of the general public - including by ending the sense of powerlessness that comes from leaving the availability of housing and basic necessities to corporate interests.

On guardrails

There seems to be a general (and rightful) consensus that Elon Musk's demand to eliminate all regulations as a baseline position is high on the list of his unauthorized plans, based solely on libertarian fervour and wilful ignorance, which stand to create catastrophic risks for the American public. 

But if we recognize that compulsive deregulation is one of the most obvious and dangerous symptoms of antisocial corporatist disease, shouldn't we also recognize that it's worth defending our governments' ability to enact protections in the public interest - rather than using Trump's administration as an excuse to subject ourselves to the same type of presumption that all regulations should be invalid in Canada? 

Update: See more from Chris Roberts and Stuart Trew, as well as Dougald Lamont

[Edit: fixed wording.]

Monday, February 03, 2025

Monday Morning Links

Assorted content to start your week.

- Jessica Wildfire discusses how the Trump/Musk administration is meeting or exceeding the most damning predictions, while Ian Dunt points out the similar pattern following from Brexit as the same anti-social right undermined the public interest in the UK. Timothy Snyder writes about the effects of government based on the logic of destruction, while Taya Graham interviews Stephen Janis about the acceleration of the U.S.' decline already in progress. And Ezra Klein highlights the dangers of trusting Trump's false claims to dictatorial authority, while Thom Hartmann rightly calls out the seizure of invented power as a form of treason.  

- Alex Kirshner interviews Ed Zitron about the dystopian future we'll face if tech tycoons get their way.  Caleb Ecarma and Judd Legum report on the pillaging of Americans' personal information in government data banks by Elon Musk and his incel cultists, while Mike Masnick notes that Musk is following the playbook which destroyed Twitter in dealing with the U.S.' state apparatus. 

- Stephen Marche writes that Trump's threats to conquer Canada will come to nothing (at least as long as we don't let his apologists dictate our response), while David Moscrop comments on the type of nationalism which will best defend Canada's identity as a country capable of recognizing and improving upon its own failings. Adam King argues that the lesson to be drawn from Trump is to confirm the longstanding need to become less tied to the U.S. Blayne Haggart notes that nothing that happens with the current round of tariffs will change the reality that the U.S. is an unreliable actor, while Stewart Prest sets out some principles to deal with that lack of trust and credibility (including the need for other countries to work together). Jennifer Robson discusses how the public response to the COVID-19 pandemic offers lessons in how to structure supports in the wake of a tariff war, with a key consideration being to support workers' livelihood rather than to funnel money to businesses. And in another analogy to the pandemic, Nora Loreto offers a warning that we can fully expect unscrupulous businesses to profiteer off of the imposition of tariffs. 

- Luke LeBrun reports on the labour movement's call to hit back hard against Trump's attack on Canada, while the Climate Action Network sets out a civil society response looking to put people first and build resilience. Taylor Noakes discusses how Canada's long-term defence is best served by investing in a climate army. And Evan Scrimshaw notes that the corruption of the Trump regime sets up opportunities for a targeted response against his cronies. 

- Finally, Lois Ross discusses how the Libs have chosen to allow for still more concentration of wealth and power in the agricultural sector through a corporate merger. And Maura Forrest reports on new research showing that Canadian preschoolers get more than half of their calorie intake from ultra-processed foods. 

Friday, January 31, 2025

Musical interlude

John Summit feat. CLOVES - Focus


Friday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to end your week.

- Michael Harris discusses how Donald Trump's taking power has reordered Canadian politics. But lest we be too confident of a united front in responding to attacks on our sovereignty and identity, Matthew Renfrew notes that Pierre Poilievre's constant anti-Canadian rhetoric is entirely unhelpful, while Liam O'Connor reports that Scott Moe has joined the Trumpist crew seeking to have us concede defeat. And Charlie Angus rightly criticizes our own parcel of rogues for trying to sell out Canada.

- Meanwhile, Andrew Potter writes that there's plenty we should be doing to build and defend our independence regardless of the the imminent threat posed by Trump. And Joseph Stiglitz worries that Trump may precipitate the end of progress around the globe - though Jeet Heer discusses how the U.S.' militaristic foreign policy was plenty harmful under the Biden administration as well. 

- Robert Reich discusses the causes and effects of Trump's seizure and freezing of every government funding mechanism he can identify. And Alan Elrod discusses the role of status anxiety as part of Trump's appeal to those looking to maintain privilege and self-entitlement.

- MercoPress reports on the success of Brazil's efforts to collect a fairer share of revenue from the super rich - though the Libs' decision to keep letting Canada's wealthy exploit capital gains rules makes for a lost opportunity to level the playing field at home. And Grace Blakeley talks to Li Andersson about the work being done by Finland's Left Alliance in offering an alternative to the bigotry and austerity of the alt-right.

- Finally, Anthony Painter points out the problems with relying on growthism as a substitute for security and well-being. And Jim Stanford discusses how Alberta workers are suffering the effects of a UCP government bent on further enriching the capital class at their expense. 

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Lesley Clark reports on the emergence of documents tying Exxon and its lobbying firm to the hacking of climate activists for the purpose of perpetuating decades of fraud on the public. Keith Stewart discusses the role Donald Trump, Pierre Poilievre and other petropoliticians play as enforcers for fossil fuel tycoons. And Brett McKay examines the timeline as to how coal lobbyists have controlled Alberta resource management policy in the face of consistent public and scientific opposition. 

- Meanwhile, David Climenhaga highlights how Danielle Smith is refusing to allow housing to be built in Jasper as anything other than a suburb which requires paving over part of a national park. And Lois Parshley notes that Donald Trump's obsession with Greenland fits with the apparent plans of his billionaire cronies to take over its natural resources. 

- Tax Justice UK argues that the threat billionaires pose to democracy and freedom can only be met by taxing them to ensure they can't exert financial dominance over the general public. And Seth Abramson discusses two recently-revealed letters which offer disturbing insight into Elon Musk's accumulation of both power and villainy. 

- Sarah Kendzior notes that while she and others have been warning of the corruption and disintegration of the U.S.' political and economic system, what ultimately matters most is taking action to change that course of events. Wajahat Ali discusses the need for a true political resistance to reinforce and focus the passion people have to preserve their country from an authoritarian regime. And Bruce McKenna and Jill O'Reilly point out that the most effective organizing needs to actually engage with people rather than merely marketing a political brand to them, while Will Stancil observes that U.S. Democrats have largely allowed a consultant class (relying on assumptions from a previous era) to purge that type of work from their party.  

- Finally, Cory Doctorow discusses the connection between monopoly positioning and the enshittification of social media services. And Ian Welsh notes that the degeneration of AI can be predicted based on the similar path followed by Google as a "state of nature" gave way to a system designed to manipulate users. 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Brian Beutler discusses how U.S. Democrats need to respond to Donald Trump's attempt to end democracy and human rights with something more than complaints about higher prices - a point which applies equally to other countries. Tom Scocca and Joe MacLeod note that Trump's power grab now includes trying to take sole control over the disbursement of public funds - even where the result is to deliberately leave people destitute or destroy vital institutions. And Adam Barnett maps out Trump's anti-environmental network seeking to keep carbon spewing and the planet burning. 

- Gil Duran writes about the "strict father" framework which represents the attempt to attach some (abusive) model of morality to Trump's actions. And David Moscrop offers some perspective and advice on carrying on dealing with the death of a seemingly vanished order.  

- Tom Parkin examines how Doug Ford is seeking to be rewarded for making life worse for Ontarians, while John Michael McGrath focuses in on the massive sums of public money Ford has wasted trying to get voters drunk. And Inori Roy points out how anti-immigrant policy is preventing Canada from making up ground in dealing with a housing deficit. 

- Finally, Claire Turner discusses new research showing the sustained cognitive and physical effects of long COVID. Heidi Ledford writes about some of the lessons COVID-19 has taught scientists about the immune system. And CBC News reports on the award of a $24 million grant to the University of Saskatchewan to research vaccines which could address multiple coronaviruses. 

Monday, January 27, 2025

Monday Afternoon Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Ryan Meili discusses how we should define Canada as a country through an ethic of care - rather than through opposition to any foreign actor. Matthew Mendelsohn examines how we can respond to the U.S.' defection from any good faith action, while Jim Stanford discusses how we can build a stronger and more independent society (though Geoff Dixon notes that complete self-reliance isn't a a practical option). And Charlemagne makes the case for Canada to join the European Union. 

- But Yves Engler writes that Canada's corporate oligarchs are eager to funnel resources into guns rather than necessities of life. And Craig Renney warns us not to make the same mistake as New Zealand in voting for right-wing populism which inevitably fails even on its own terms. 

- James Tapper reports on a new poll showing that a strong majority of Britons see the rich as having too much influence in politics. Nicolas Shaxson laments that the Starmer government is only making matters worse by stifling regulators in the name of growth, while George Monbiot notes that a developer-driven housing policy will do nothing to help people in need of an affordable and accessible home. 

- Finally, Brian Beutler discusses the importance of fighting for democracy in the face of actors who are eager to demolish it. 

Friday, January 24, 2025

Musical interlude

Tinlicker feat. Helsloot - Because You Move Me


Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Paul Krugman discusses how one of the top priorities of the second Donald Trump administration is to trash public health in the U.S. And CBC News reports that the Libs are cutting public health staffing even as COVID continues to circulate and new threats emerge while the U.S. vacuum undermines any international response.

- Hamilton Nolan writes that Trump's ascent makes for a painful political application of the Greater Fool Theory in action - and that the only path to reversing it is to engage in opposition rather than attempts to foist costs onto others. Thor Benson interviews David de Jong about the history of corporate oligarchs making common cause with fascists in order to entrench their wealth and power. And Nora Loreto writes that the rise of fascism can be traced to the displacement of democratic power by neoliberal capitalism.  

- David Climenhaga discusses Steve Verheul's recognition that Danielle Smith is looking to sell out Canada to benefit Trump, while Stephen Magusiak notes that Scott Moe and other right-wing politicians are joining the anti-Canada coalition. And James Magnus-Johnston writes that we can't take for granted that a US takeover is impossible when a substantial base of institutional power is perfectly willing to collaborate with it. 

- Noah Berlatsky writes about the need to support the people who dare to speak out against the abuses of the Trump regime, even as Parker Molloy points out the rage machine seeking to impose intolerable costs on anybody who does so. Grace Blakely discusses how only collective action will offer a viable alternative to the descent into authoritarianism, while Sam Pressler points out the dangers of thinking we can make progress without engaging people directly. And David Zipper notes that car-centric urban design has made it needlessly difficult for people to interact socially. 

- Finally, Jake Landau comments on the importance of providing refuge for trans people and others fleeing the U.S. But Emma Weller reports that the Libs are instead slashing our immigration resources while holding to the claim that there's no concern about anybody's safety. 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

On team cancers

Shorter Scott Moe:

Of course I'm on Team Canada! I just don't intend to contribute to it, and instead plan to interfere with its every move, and want to make clear to its opponent that I'm on their side!

Can anybody check how many of Moe's reputed wicked slap shots were directed at his team's own net?

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Damian Carrington reports on Antonio Guterres' latest warning about the dangers of perpetuating our fossil fuel addiction - even as Donald Trump and a growing number of Canadian conservative quislings push to exacerbate it. Joshua Lappen discusses how the U.S.' fossil gas infrastructure is doomed - with Los Angeles providing a preview of what's in store across the country. Ember Energy examines (PDF) the EU's progress in transitioning to cleaner energy, with solar power overtaking coal for the first time and gas continuing to decline. And Conor Curtis points out how to talk about the reality that a transition to clean energy would be a plus for Canada's sovereignty as well as for our living environment. 

- Andrew Nikiforuk reports on the public outcry resulting from Danielle Smith's decision to declare open season for coal mining in the Rockies. And Joel Dryden talks to a member of the UCP's own coal policy committee who's rightly outraged that fossil fuel tycoons' whims are being given precedence over the product of a public consultation. 

- Shimly Rajendrakumar examines the effect of microplastics on agricultural systems, with a wide range of plastic products resulting in adverse consequences for the health of soil, animals and consumers. 

- Matthew Trevithick reports on the beginning of what could be a massive U.S. exodus to Canada as people flee the Trump administration, while David Baxter discusses the push from refugee advocates to ensure transgender people are able to make asylum claims rather than being told they're completely safe in a country that denies their existence. But Elizabeth Thompson reports that the response from the Libs so far is to assume everything's fine and maintain the fiction that the U.S. is safe. 

- Finally, Dan Rather discusses the firehose effect - and the need to withstand Trump's attempt to shock, awe and overwhelm people into compliance. 

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Wednesday Afternoon Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Kathy Sheridan discusses why it's well past time to ensure billionaires pay their fair share of taxes, while Graeme Wearden and Heather Stewart report on a new poll showing that even a majority of millionaires view extreme wealth concentration as a threat to democracy. And Andrew Perez and Asawin Suebsaeng highlight how the U.S.' oligarchy is past putting even a facade of caring about anything other than its own concentration of wealth and power, while Filipe Campante and Raymond Fisman note that crony capitalism invariably produces worse results for everybody other than the few members of the regime's inner circle.  

- Meanwhile, Tom Parkin points out the stark difference between anti-tax rhetoric in theory and practice, as workers earning up to $150,000 pay less tax in British Columbia than Alberta while only the richest pay less under a right-wing government. 

- Nora Loreto discusses how our political and economic system has been designed to squeeze workers and remove supports in order to ensure people are easily exploited by the rich. And Emma Paling notes that the U.S. has been dictating the terms of Canadian politics for decades at the expense of our sovereignty and well-being. 

- Mihai Andrei writes about new research showing the connection between hard-right ideology and systemic misinformation even before the social media takeover by regressive forces. 

- Finally, Gordon Brown offers a warning to Donald Trump about the dangers of abandoning the World Health Organization when countries' interests in fighting disease are so closely aligned. 

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Lounging cat.




Tuesday Morning Links

This and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Paul Krugman discusses the importance of calling out misinformation rather than downplaying or legitimizing it - especially when it's being sprayed around by the wealthy and powerful for their own self-serving ends. And Jill Hopke warns that the spread of anti-environmental propaganda on corporate social media is only set to get much worse, while Katharine Hayhoe notes that there's no reason to cling to a position of "neutrality" as to whether we'll have a liveable planet. 

- Jennifer Rubin writes about the Trump administration's blatant declaration that it will consist of government of, for and by billionaires. Freddy Brewster points out the techbro plan to trash the U.S.' public finances and the Earth's living environment in one fell swoop by funneling massive amounts of public money into cryptocurrency. 

- Sarah Kendzior's suggestions in responding to Trump's taking office include focusing on anti-corruption which should be a common priority for everybody but Trump and his cronies, while Ruth Ben-Ghat emphasizes the importance of a political opposition which stands up to autocracy. Nathan Robinson discusses the potential for a second New Deal movement in response to the economic and social depressions planned by Trump and his inner circle. And Christopher Holcroft writes about the need to stand up to the Cons' attacks on diversity and inclusion - which I'd note should have an immense payoff as a strong majority of people are included in the groups sought to be pushed further out to the margins. 

- Noah Berlatsky and Ilana Gershon discuss how authoritarian workplaces have laid the groundwork for similar patterns in culture and governance. And Briarpatch examines the reality of economic violence against workers.  

- Finally, the Missing Middle Initiative offers a set of guiding principles and goals to ensure young people have something to strive for. 

Monday, January 20, 2025

On litmus tests

Plenty of Canadian political figures seem to have reacted to the announcement that we won't face tariffs just yet with a sigh a relief, and an apparent view that we don't need to worry about what's happening to our south until such time as profits are immediately affected. 

Others will note that Trump's first day included attacks on the personhood of trans people and the protection of minorities, as well as the existence of anybody who might be perceived as an immigrant - and work on ensuring that people threatened by the new administration aren't trapped by it. 

When assessing who's resisting Trump in solidarity with the people most in need of help as opposed to looking out only for the interests of capital, there shouldn't be much doubt which we should want our leaders to be. We'll find out very soon who falls into which category.

Monday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material to start your week.

- Julia Kollewe reports on Oxfam's latest data on inequality showing that the wealth of billionaires grey by over two trillion dollars in 2024, with the prospect of multiple trillionaires looming as an imminent posibility. And Seamas O'Reilly discusses how tech oligarchs are making life objectively worse for the general public, while Philip Moscovitch talks to Ed Zitron about the spread of the rot economy. 

- Katherine Rempel reports on the reaction of businesses to Trump's tariff threats - which understandably involve routing import supply chains around the tariffs to the extent possible rather than building a new manufacturing sector from scratch. Gabriel Zucman makes the case for Europe to develop a trade regime managed to counter carbon pollution and wealth accumulation. And Christo Aivalis discusses how Canada's response should involve a move toward public ownership and economic planning, while Cory Doctorow suggests that Canada focus on developing alternatives and workarounds to rent-seeking in tech and consumer goods. 

- Meanwhile, Heather Stewart writes about a new paper on the importance of cohesion and trust to produce both economic and social success.  

- Finally, Joan Westenberg discusses the need to work on building rather than falling into cynicism and inaction. And Charlie Warzel notes that the internet can and should be a source of support and engagement, rather than merely a source of material for doomscrolling. 

Friday, January 17, 2025

Musical interlude

Elderbrook - Afters


On defectors

For the most part, discussions as to how to respond to Donald Trump's various threats ranking from tariffs to annexation have focused on the contrast between a population (PDF) and set of political leaders mostly united to oppose them, and Danielle Smith's place as the main figure publicly looking to sell out Canadian solidarity for the sole benefit of the oil sector.

Unfortunately, I don't think we can safely presume the list of parties willing to undermine Canada's position is limited to the UCP. And the other ones worth worrying about are (mostly) more conspicuous by their silence than any public statements so far.

By way of background, let's note that there's a long history of debates as to questions of sovereignty vis-a-vis the U.S. And the traditional camps have generally involved public support for Canada's self-determination, lined up against business interests seeking a combination of market access, deregulation and general erosion of democratic decision-making.

The former set of voices have been the most prominent in responding to Trump so far, helping to give the impression of near-unanimity. But the latter have become accustomed to getting their way over a period of decades. And main business group which led the charge for corporate free trade in the past has been conspicuously silent in objecting meaningfully to Trump's posturing, with its public messaging going out of its way to defer to Trump and his apologists, while also flogging the tired hobby horse of mythical interprovincial trade barriers.

At most, the business lobby has shown some willingness to participate in voluntary consultation processes which may play a role in developing direct responses to Trump. 

But both inside and outside those groups, there's a significant risk that corporate voices will be pushing a radically different set of priorities than the ones assumed to be agreed to be those of any Team Canada. And the usual conflict between corporate priorities and popular ones may be even more stark than usual based on the U.S.' slide into corporate-dominated politics and gangsterism in government. 

Trump's obvious plans to make cronyism the main factor in his administration's decision-making will tempt those focused on short-term profits to sell out the rest of us to get on his good side. And laissez-faire ideologues may be perfectly happy to tie us as tightly as possible to a system where unlimited corporate money in politics has led to a SCOTUS-driven prohibition against effective regulation.

As a result, we can't take for granted that the corporate sector is on board with the Canadian public's desire to maintain our independence. And we'll need to both keep an eye out for, and be prepared to apply immediate pressure against, any businesses who are looking to play both sides - or worse yet, pledge their loyalty to team Trump. 

Friday Morning Links

Assorted content to end your week.

- Ed Hawkins offers a visual indication of the unprecedented global warming experienced in 2024 - as well as the paths forward depending on whether we take rapid action to limit the effects of the ongoing climate breakdown. Damian Carrington reports on new data showing that carbon pollution levels are also both higher than ever in human history, and far higher than the targets set to avert the climate crisis. Alexandra Mae Jones reports on a new study into the increasing severity and length of droughts. And Gaye Taylor reports on the warning from Craig Stewart that Canadian losses from extreme weather are becoming uninsurable. 

- Dharna Noor reports on the calls from Los Angeles residents to have the fossil fuel industry provide compensation for its contribution to the ongoing wildfires. And Edward Donnelly reports on the failure of a massive CCS project in Norway to capture anywhere close to the quantity of emissions promised. 

- Meanwhile, Cristen Hemingway James reports on an analysis showing that nearly a third of U.S. residents drink water laden with unergulated chemical contaminants. 

- Alex Hemingway and Danny Oleksiuk write that one of the easiest means of both reducing infrastructure costs and alleviating the housing crisis is to enable the building of apartments. And Raphael Rashid discusses how Seoul's transformation of a highway into a mid-city stream resulted in a far more liveable city. 

- Finally, The Lancet comments on the dangers of the spread of health disinformation - and the need to treat it as another public health scourge to be eradicated for the general good. And Brian Beutler points out the importance of pre-butting Donald Trump, rather than allowing his predictable lies and fabrications to define the boundaries of political discussion. 

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Thursday Morning Links

This and that for your Thursday reading.

- Sandra Laville reports on a new actuarial study showing that the shocks expected on our existing path of climate breakdown could result in half of the world's economic activity disappearing before the end of the century, while Nikhil Venkatesh argues that anybody caring about long-term welfare needs to incorporate challenges to the capitalist forces which threaten it. And Sharon Kelly maps out the echo chamber used by the oil, plastics and agrichemical industries to try to prevent us from perceiving any option other than destruction as usual. 

- Rebecca Shaw expresses surprise only at how embarrassing our corporate overlords are in seeking approval while destroying the planet, while Felix Salmon discusses how the wealthiest few now feel empowered to impose their worst impulses on everybody. And Amanda Marcotte discusses how Donald Trump's populist con job has given way to strictly-enforced oligarchy, while Marc Lee points out how Pierre Poilievre is yet another cynical politican pretending to speak for the working class in order to better serve his corporate masters.  

- Grace Blakeley offers a reminder that the only viable response to concentrated wealth and power is collective action. And Andrea Pitzer discusses the need to move beyond worrying and speculating to shape the course of events. 

- Noelle Allen writes that Canada doesn't need yet another "pro-business" prime minister when it's deference to corporate interests that has trapped so many people in precarity and despair to begin with. And John Clarke discusses how neoliberal austerity has fed the rise of the alt-right.

- Suzanne Rent interviews Scott Santens about the value of a basic income in giving people the ability both to say "no" to exploitation, and to say "yes" to causes worth pursuing. 

- Finally, Simon Enoch points out how public libraries which are perpetually starved for funding serve far more people (and perform far more important functions)  than the major event venues which are regularly showered with public money. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Wednesday Morning Links

Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Isabella Weber points out the key elements in common between the governments which have survived the anti-incumbent trend over the past year - with both price controls on essentials and progressive tax policy serving as key elements in assuring voters that they weren't being sacrificed to corporate interests. Erica Ifill laments that the Libs appear to have decided their problem is a failure to concede to the Cons' racism and bigotry rather than a lack of action to address citizens' material conditions. And Aloysius Wong, Valerie Ouellet and Rachel Houlihan report on immigrant workers seeking to help provide care in Canada are being scammed by recruiters. 

- Ben Turner reports on China's developing plans to effectively end energy scarcity with a solar power array in space. And the foreseeable development of that type of energy source makes it all the more unconscionable that Danielle Smith and the UCP are putting oil industry profits ahead of country, including by using public money to guarantee oil producer profits and avoid any Canadian (but not American) tariffs. 

- Clare O'Hara reports on another record year of Canadian insurance losses from natural disasters in 2024, as well as the reality that more regions are becoming uninsurable. But Katya Schwenk discusses how developers in California (and elsewhere) have blocked any efforts to direct development out of harm's way. And Tom Perkins reports on the oil industry's attempt to stifle any legislation which would require it to pay a dime toward the damage it's inflicted on everybody else through wildfires, floods and other climate-connected disasters. 

- Finally, Evert Lindquist reports on one Nova Scotia plant trying to salvage some use out of garbage - though the plan to use material sources laden with plastics and other hazardous waste to produce fertilizer in particular seems sure to do more harm than good. And James Hannay writes about the need for an inclusive farm economy to replace the corporate-controlled monoculture that's become the current norm. 

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Tuesday Night Cat Blogging

Couched cat.



On humanitarian concerns

Jagmeet Singh has taken comfortably to the task to dealing with the economic aspects of the new Trump administration - both in pressing other leaders on their determination to respond in kind to any Trump tariffs, and in highlighting the potential to focus on critical minerals as a form of pressure. (That latter prospect appears particularly important for a couple of reasons: it signals that Canada won't willingly feed crucial resources into a manufacturing supply chain which is being manipulated to otherwise cut us out, and helps to ensure that resources which may be critical to clean energy development aren't diverted to an administration determined to squelch anything of the sort.)

But it's worth a reminder that the issues arising out of Trump's presidency go well beyond bilateral economic policy. And there may be even more important work to be done in the areas which are thus far being neglected in favour of the economy.

Even before Trump takes office, there are protests developing in the U.S. to oppose the prospect of mass deportations - even as one of his most appalling cabinet nominees leaves open the option of ordering American troops to shoot peaceful protesters in the streets. 

Whether or not Pete Hegseth is ultimately confirmed, there can't be much doubt that Trump's plans include atrocities against vulnerable groups and anybody who would seek to protect them. And it's doubtful that the consensus on responding to tariffs will hold up when the damage caused by his administration is measured in human rights rather than corporate profits. 

With that in mind, a defence of Canada and its values will ultimately need to extend beyond the pocketbook issues which are generally given a place of prominence in political messaging. And in the absence of reason to think any other party is interested in doing that work, there will be both an opportunity and a moral imperative for Singh to lead the cause.