How Bad is AI for the Environment?
A tally of the great planetary damage expected to result from AI growing use, thanks to its insatiable hunger for power.
Read more...Author Archives: Yves Smith
Iran War: US Doubles Down on Claim Iran Agreed to IAEA Inspections, Ballistic Missile Limits After Iran Denial; Dispute Over Food for Frozen Assets; Lebanon Ceasefire Holds as US Presents Withdrawal Plan; More on Looming Oil Cliff, Diesel and Lubricants Shortages
Today’s Iran war update: The big struggle is on the narrative front, as Iran swatted back JD Vance claims as the oil cliff keeps approaching.
Read more...Links 6/24/2026
After the US President Ordered the British Prime Minister Out of Office, What’s Left of the Anglo-American Special Relationship?
Why the Trump Administration is set to be able to push around incoming British Prime Minister Andy Burnham even more than with Kier Starmer.
Read more...Links 6/23/2026
Good Riddance, Alan Greenspan
Cataloguing some of the less-well recognized ways that Alan Greenspan did tremendous harm to the financial system and citizens at large.
Read more...Iran War: Brief Update – JD Vance Acting in Bad Faith, Israel Stressed Even as It Doubles Down on Intent to Stay in Lebanon
Today’s Iran war news: Despite media cheerleading, JD Vance’s repeated displays of dishonesty do not bode well for getting the “deal” ‘done.
Read more...Keir Starmer Resigns: Can Anyone Survive as Prime Minister in Today’s Britain?
Starmer post-mortems raise questions about what next for what passes for UK leadership.
Read more...What Would Happen if the UK Tried to, or Did, Repay Its National Debt?
The leadership contest in the UK is set to produce yet more flogging of bad neoliberal tropes, so this post provides a needed counterpoint.
Read more...Iran War: Iran Snubs US, Walks Out of Direct Talks Due to Trump Threats; Israel Still Refusing to Exit Lebanon; Strait of Hormuz Transits Expected to Stay Low Due to Scrapping
Today’s Iran war post: Ugly antics by Trump led to hard pushback by the negotiators, boding ill for fast progress the US so badly needs.
Read more...Links 6/20/2026
Iran War: Iran Insists on All “Deal” Sequencing, Above All Israel Exit of Lebanon, as No Date for Talks Set; Israel Immediately Violates New Lebanon Ceasefire; Strait of Hormuz Open or Not?
Today’s Iran war news: The situation is particularly unsettled, so we will limit ourselves to bigger issues.
Read more...Michael Hudson and Radhika Desai: Iran Defeated The US Empire. What Happens Next?
A discussion of the plusses and minuses from the US loss against Iran, including possible major changes in the US.
Read more...The Mathematical Secrets Hidden at the Heart of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família
Is Gaudi’s tremendous Barcelona cathedra, the Sagrada Família. fractal? Or simply mathematically stylized?
Read more...People Are Marrying Holograms and Making Friends with Chatbots. But Can AI Bring True Happiness?
How AI companions enable the junk-food version of happiness sold by materialistic, externally-oriented societies.
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