Exploring Today’s Headlines: Key Insights and Developments
The current landscape of news is a tapestry of significant events spanning various domains, from health crises and debates on dietary guidelines to geopolitical tensions and societal transformations. Below is a collection of potent stories that encapsulates pressing issues demanding our attention.
A Powerful New Drug Is Creating a ‘Withdrawal Crisis’ in Philadelphia New York Times (resilc)
For Me, Postpartum Testosterone Decline Has Been Very Real Freddie deBoer
New study shows some plant-based diets may raise heart disease risk ScienceDaily (Kevin W)
Free pass or failing grade for saturated fats? Review sets off scientific and political debate STAT. The plural of anecdote is not data. However, my mother believed that butter was a food group and lived to be 94.
Huge Study Finds Very Worrying Results for Medical Marijuana Patients Futurism. Micael T: “Not surprising. Commercial interests drive the marijuana boom.”
#COVID-19/Pandemics
The UKHSA has started publishing this valuable resource again – but this year it’s even more beneficial as they’ve aligned it to a period of consistent testing.
This is critical as it further illustrates:
Covid infection increases vulnerability to other infections. pic.twitter.com/3uVls9MWbN— tern (@1goodtern) December 15, 2025
Researchers from Griffith University have discovered that COVID-19 can lead to long-term alterations in brain function for those infected. #covid #brain #research #griffithuniversity #queensland pic.twitter.com/GpAv3ipxbK
— 7NEWS Australia (@7NewsAustralia) December 15, 2025
⚠️ Australia 🇦🇺 is experiencing an unprecedented flu season, extending well into summer.
It has shattered all previous records:✴️ 481,502 cases to date.
✴️ More than DOUBLE the previous highest monthly counts in September, October, November, and December of this year. pic.twitter.com/2vU5jgQux6
— Dr Richard Hirschson (@richardhirschs1) December 15, 2025
Climate/Environment
Glaciers To Reach Peak Rate of Extinction In the Alps In Eight Years Guardian
China?
The Fusion Race: China Versus Outlaw US Empire Karl Sanchez
China’s Elite-Focused Schools Are Failing Most Students, Top Educators Say Caixin
Consumption in China: Is it really that bad? Asia Times (Norbert H). A reaction from PlutoniumKun by email:
Grasping the nuances of that article is challenging, as it presents a multitude of figures haphazardly.
While it is true that China historically underreported service contributions in its GDP figures (partly explaining exaggerated growth in the 1990s), this issue was substantially addressed by the 1990s and is largely a non-factor when evaluating overall trends. Moreover, it does not alter the perception of ‘real’ Chinese GDP compared to the US (though not necessarily against other nations).
The crux lies in the relationship between consumption and overall expenditure, and how it correlates to nominal GDP growth—which has lagged, suggesting an imbalance in the economy and a persistent domestic recession, masked by repeated credit booms.
Numerous reports signal extreme overbuilding—municipal incinerators sourcing from old landfills and vast, unused data centers. Energy output figures seem unaligned with overall production numbers. Reports suggest an expansion in the plastics industry is significantly contributing to the apparent increase in energy usage.
Ultimately, the decisive inquiries surrounding the Chinese economy are whether Beijing can manage the accumulated debts and if the lower-level economic structure will stagnate or face collapse. The total debt across both banking and shadow banking sectors now exceeds Japan’s levels in the late 1980s.
Japan
Ask China: Sanae Takaichi’s Remarks and the Renewed Tensions in China–Japan Relations China Affairs
The Antipodes
Here is everything the media is not telling you about the Bondi beach shooting Council Estate Media (resilc). Important.
Australian governments and media target anti-genocide protests following the Bondi Beach shooting WSWS. Micael T: “My first thought was what would happen after I heard about the shooting.”
‘It was a matter of conscience’: Ahmed al-Ahmed’s family reveals why he risked his life to disarm the alleged Bondi shooter Guardian. Reports indicate he sustained serious injuries that have, oddly, not received much coverage in the US.
Australia announces strict new gun laws: Here’s how swift action was possible NPR (Kevin W)
South of the Border
Venezuela Halts Gas Supply Deals With Trinidad and Tobago TeleSUR
US carries out strikes on three vessels in the eastern Pacific Anadolu Agency
European Disunion
It is now official: The EU is sanctioning retired Swiss Army Colonel and former NATO advisor Jacques Baud, who was studying neutrality. One of the most level-headed and well-informed analysts out there. Reason: Baud is accused of spreading Russian propaganda, according to the EU. It is… pic.twitter.com/admrd8HYmP
— Pascal Lottaz (@PLottaz) December 15, 2025
EU Sanctions Swiss Intelligence Expert Jacques Baud Moon of Alabama
EU state offers to cover costs incurred by Hungary for cutting energy ties with Russia RT (Kevin W)
The Political Theatre of Fredrich Mertz China Economic Indicator
Foreign takeovers across Germany German Foreign Policy. Micael T: “A good reminder that corporations are the first betrayers. None of the German industry associations have acted to halt Germany’s political economic self-sacrifice.”
Old Blighty
Britain caught in ‘space between peace and war’, says new head of MI6 Guardian (Kevin W)
UK unemployment rate rises to 5.1% The Times
Israel vs. The Resistance
Just look at the tents, Gaza! pic.twitter.com/sethAa9a87
— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) December 15, 2025
Israeli troops shoot settler suspected of attempted knife attack on soldiers Middle East Eye (resilc)
ICC rejects Israeli bid to block Gaza war crimes investigation Aljazeera
UN General Assembly adopts resolution supporting Palestinians’ right to self-determination Anadolu Agency
New Not-So-Cold War
Sitrep Ukraine and Russia Julian Macfarlane
Ukraine’s Energy Grid Reaching Final Tipping Point as Fears Rise Kiev May Face Total Blackout Simplicius
Brief Frontline Report – December 15th, 2025 Marat Khairullin
Incoming https://t.co/iHUxt4dpZ6
— — GEROMAN — time will tell – 👀 — (@GeromanAT) December 16, 2025
Round and Round and Round Oliver Boyd-Barrett
Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Appears To Be On The Brink Of Implicating Zelensky Andrew Korybko
Mafiosi commanders, expendable troops Events in Ukraine
The Bank of Russia demanded 18.1 trillion rubles from Euroclear Vzglyad via machine translation (Micael T)
Nord Stream: “The Russians are conducting the process through the ‘hands’ of the Germans” Overton via machine translation (Micael T)
Russia’s Logic of Long Rule: Continuity, Statecraft, and the Illusion of Regime Change Kautilya the Contemplator (Anthony L)
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
How a US Citizen Was Scanned With ICE’s Facial Recognition Tech 404Media
New identity checks reshaping US federal student aid BioMetric Update
Imperial Collapse Watch
The delegitimization of elites CocotteMinute
North Adams Worked the Weekend Fixing Water Line Breaks iBerkshires. resilc: “No infrastructure in small-town ‘merika, but troops in Syria…”
Trump 2.0
Fewer dolls and pencils: Donald Trump struggles to grasp the US’s cost of living crisis Financial Times
Energy bills in the US have surged 13% since Trump’s administration began, reports show ABC (Kevin W)
“Trump and ‘the end of history.’” Patrick Lawrence
How absolute loyalty to Trump has faded Telegraph (resilc)
Trump’s Failed Lackey ‘Diplomacy’ Daniel Larison
White House Refuses to Rule Out Summary Executions of Individuals on Its Secret Domestic Terrorist List Intercept (Robin K)
Trump claims Rob Reiner, a homicide victim, died of ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ The Hill. The underlying tweet. Critics suggest Trump is losing his grip on reality.
As I’ve repeatedly mentioned, he appears to exhibit symptoms of white matter disease. The absence of his MRI results raises critical questions about the situation.
This diagnosis does not align with standard dementia; it entails behavioral amplification of pre-existing personality traits.
Such individuals often express inappropriate remarks, reflecting on the past while disregarding present concerns. This is concerning for someone in his political position.
Tariffs
Health Care
Will Congressional Inaction Force Farmers to Choose Between Health Insurance and Their Farm Budget? AgWeb
House GOP moderates signal agreement with Johnson’s health strategy Politico
Mamdani
More Muslim candidates are seeking office as the ‘Mamdani effect’ takes shape The Hill
GOP Clown Car
Why Florida is ground zero for the impending ObamaCare crisis The Hill
We’ve heard much talk about young GOP extremists, but no one has documented the crucial factors in their lives until now. Here’s the first comprehensive overview of Paradox games and their unexpected political impact. https://t.co/SAn6KlFLYe
— ettingermentum (@ettingermentum) December 15, 2025
Our No Longer Free Press
Donald Trump files a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC Financial Times
Economy
Copper Prices Surge Toward $12,000 Due to AI Demand and Supply Disruptions OilPrice
Wall Street is anxious about a make-or-break jobs report…yet a crucial metric is missing for the first time in eighty years Daily Mail. When even the Daily Mail raises concerns…
AI
On the Fundamental Impossibility of Hallucination Control in Large Language Models aRxiv (fk). While this seems definitive, insiders say technologists are exploring symbol use to enhance LLMs and devise hallucination screening methods. ????
The AI Boom Is Causing Data Centers to Exceed Thermal Limits OilPrice
AI-Driven Chip Shortages May Increase Smartphone Prices in 2026, Research Reveals CNBC
How Much Did AI Spending Contribute to First-Half GDP? Insights on Q3 Michael Shedlock
The Bezzle
General Motors Leading the Charge with Innovative Ways to Undermine Consumer Interests YouTube (resilc)
Guillotine Watch
Streamer Sued for Assaulting a Robot of a Different Orientation Futurism. Micael T: “This is absurd! Now it’s illegal to resist against robots. Resistance must be futile.”
Class Warfare
Did the PA cops who arrested Luigi Mangione jeopardize NYC prosecutorial efforts? Gothamist. I’ve started watching civil rights videos. The generic response is “I do not consent to a search” in the absence of a warrant. However, such protections are often ignored at borders…
You are Klarna’s little asset. Aftonbladet via machine translation (Micael T)
Then as farce, now as tragedy: The resurgence of Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority CADTM (Micael T)
Daily Dose of Positivity: (via):
And a fun bonus:
Apparently, centipedes are deemed universally unacceptable 🤣 pic.twitter.com/QURqXZXYsJ
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) December 15, 2025
Another bonus:
Baby elephants hold onto their mothers while sleeping, not just nearby.
pic.twitter.com/kqRbQU73FV— Science girl (@sciencegirl) December 16, 2025
For additional insights, see yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
