The War on Iran aims to break Tehran, curb a rising Sunni bloc, and secure Israeli hegemony in the Middle East. But it’s not working
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Democracy Depends on Broad-Based Taxation—History Is Clear About That
How governments raise revenue, as in taxation versus slavery or external extraction, determines their accountability to citizens.
Iran War: Trump Expects Hugs From China, Israel Still Bombing Lebanon
Today’s Iran war update: Trump claims he’s opened the Strait to Chinese shipping, Israel launches the most massive attack yet on Lebanon, U.S. stocks hit record high.
Jesus Christ! Xi Jinping Is Hugging Donald Trump on the Sidelines of Three US-Israeli Genocidal Wars
Trump tries muscling Xi. Let me know how that works out.
Satyajit Das: Book Essay: Walter Benjamin – Leftist Outsider, Man of Letters
An overview of the acutely observant, enigmatic and quixotic writer and thinker, Walter Benjamin
Coffee Break: AI’s Reputational Crisis Leads to Popular Backlash and Violence
AI’s reputational crisis is triggering a massive backlash against data centers including two attacks on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and another against an Indiana city council member.
Maine Gov. Mills Urged to Sign ‘Nation-Leading’ AI Data Center Moratorium
The Maine legislature wants to hit pause on data center buildouts. The governor’s silence says she needs a big push to do the right thing.
Iran War: Pervasive Misinformation About the (So Far Successful) US Blockade; Trump Keeps Up “Negotiations Soon” Hype; Markets Become Even More Unhinged
Today’s Iran war update: the information environment has become hopelessly populated, as reporting on the blockade attests.
Economic Questions: Guy Standing and the Rise of the Precariat
Guy Standing’s notion of the precariat, and his policy observations and prescriptions.
Armenia Relations with Russia Reach Crisis Point, Continuing Worrying Trend for Moscow
The Trump Route for Peace and Prosperity through Armenia increasingly appears guaranteed to bring conflict and devastation instead.
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – Eyes in the Sky that Cannot Hide
Airborne ISR has long been treated as a source of persistent, reliable battlefield awareness. But the conditions that enable this capability also create structural vulnerabilities. As sensor networks improve and contested environments intensify, ISR effectiveness becomes conditional rather than assured.
They Speak for the Trees: Meet the ‘Petal Protectors’ Guarding NYC’s Cherry Blossoms
Touching or shaking the fragile flowering cherry trees can harm them. Volunteers on Roosevelt Island make sure that doesn’t happen.
