Part the First: Whalers in Brazil 5,000 Years Ago. Whaling rightly has become anathema in this modern world, except in certain, very limited, circumstances. But the historical origins of whaling remain an interesting question. It turns out that whalers were active in southern Brazil 5,000 years ago: Some of the oldest harpoons ever found reveal […]
Friday, January 30, 2026
Trump Support Negative Even Among White Working Class; Approval of His Agenda at Only 27%
Trump’s approval ratings continue to slide, even before polls register the effect of the ICE executions. But does that mater to him any more?
The US Is Making Moves in Latin America’s Southern Cone
“Argentina has become the centrepiece of the United States’ strategy for Latin America”: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Is Your Pension Safe?
An important reminder about how pensions work and the risks of various types.
The US Dollar: Not a Traditional Safe Haven
Why the dollar is more of a safe haven than it might seem, despite Trump’s persistent undermining.
Why Iran Must Be Broken to Build the U.S.–Israeli Vision for a “New Middle East”
The drive to remake the Middle East runs through Iran. Power shifts, oil markets, and hegemony explain why conflict is escalating.
Iran War Watch
The US is acting like it is hot for war with Iran. Trump is moving so many military assets that it will be hard to climb down. What next?
ICE Not Only Looks and Acts Like a Paramilitary Force – It Is One, and That Makes It Harder to Curb
Why it is important to recognize that ICE is a paramilitary operation. Among other things, they are harder to reform than traditional police.
Defeat of the West – Michael Hudson and Lena Petrova on Davos Panic, Destruction of the EU & Economic Collapse
Michael Hudson and Lena Petrova discuss the breakdown of the US-led order, Trump’s misguided efforts to maintain primacy, and what comes next
Satyajit Das: Book Essay – Measuring Progress
Carl Benedikt Frey traces the history of technological innovation. But does that constitute progress?
Coffee Break: Stephen Miller vs ICE Barbie & Corey Is a Distraction
The notion that Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and his allies may be falling out of favor with Trump is a delightful distraction, but we shouldn’t let palace intrigue take our focus off the looming civil conflict.
Population Growth Slows to Crawl, Net Migration May Turn “Negative”: Census Bureau’s New Population Estimates
Population stagnation or even shrinkage has major implications for prospects for housing, employment, and consumer spending.
