Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Links 5/19/2026

Iran War: Trump’s Latest TACO on Iran Strike Pits Gulf States Against Israel; Bond Market Tremors Add to Hard-to-Deny Signs of Economic Stress

Today’s Iran war update: Has seemingly irresistible force Israel met immovable objects in the form of Gulf states and the bond markets?

US-Israeli Plan to Neo-Colonise Latin America Hits Resistance in Bolivia

The surname of Bolivia’s president, Rodrigo Paz, translates as “peace”, as does the name of Bolivia’s capital city, La Paz. But there is nothing peaceful about Bolivia right now. Elected in October on a platform of alleviating Bolivia’s worst economic crisis in decades, Rodrigo Paz is already in serious trouble. After weeks of unrest, his […]

Seasonal Patterns that Farmers Trusted for Generations Have Suddenly Turned Unpredictable

Intense rains, extreme heat, and unstoppable pests are wiping out crops and farmers’ livelihoods as climate change scrambles the weather.

Coffee Break: Primaries, Redistricting Reveal American Political Fault Lines

A series of primary races and the national partisan fight over mid-decade redistricting are revealing the deep fault lines dividing both American political parties.

Macroeconomics of Tariffs with Global Production and Finance Networks

A new model that incorporates more real world factors than standard approaches finds that tariffs can do more damage than previously thought.

Links 5/18/2026

Iran War: Trumps Makes New Threat as Buildup Continues; Middle East Data Centers, Key to US Military, at Risk; More Recognition of Risk of Shortages Like Impact of Scarce Diesel

Today’s Iran war update: Trump again bares his teeth and makes escalatory moves as the global economy starts to bleed out.

Covid and Public Health Establishment Work Together to Make Next Pandemic More Likely

Public health continues to rely on failed Covid response as it also ignores how Covid has weakened immune systems and made other outbreaks more likely. 

Trump Admin Claims of Cuban Plans for Drone Attacks Denounced as ‘Ludicrous Pretext’ for War

“Like any country, Cuba has the right to defend itself against external aggression,” said the Cuban embassy. “It is called self-defense, and it is protected by International Law and the UN Charter.”

Breaking: Ukraine Fires Hundreds of Drones at Moscow

Zelensky tries to show some muscle in a large drone attack on Moscow. Will Putin finally drop the hammer?

Links 5/17/2026

The Sunday Morning Movie Presents: Dersu Uzala (1975) Run Time: 2H 21M Bonus: Bizarre New Band!

Dersu Uzala is a movie about deep friendship and high adventure.

Interpreting Lavrov’s Proposal That India Mediate Between Iran & The Gulf Kingdoms

Russian Foreign Minister offers reminders of BRICS inability to be counterweight to US geopolitical order. 

Iran War: More Speculation that US Will Restart War, Along with Possible UAE Operation Against Key Iran Island, Big Explosion at Israel Weapons Factory; Yet More on Imminent Real Economy Damage

Today’s Iran war news: Rumors on Trump to decide on restarting war, possible UAE action, Israel explosion, plus info on real economy damage