Is ambient music evil? Blackbird Spyplane
The San Andreas fault has become alarmingly quiet. Scientists worry about what will happen when it finally shifts Los Angeles Times
Private equity firms are acquiring Canada’s disaster economy, leading to potential consumer hardships Globe and Mail
James Webb Space Telescope reveals how black holes sustain themselves Space.com
Climate and Environment
Holy Smokes! Tariffs, Sanctions, and Threatening Letters Abound! The Trade Off
In Spain, hundreds have been evacuated as wildfires decimate 13,000 hectares National Post
It is now estimated that nearly 400,000 acres have been scorched by wildfires ignited by lightning across Oregon and Washington.
This is the current view of the Akawa Butte Fire in Jefferson County, reflecting many ongoing wildfires throughout the Pacific Northwest, as warming conditions persist… https://t.co/7hwdWvmLbJ pic.twitter.com/ExRYXUY1tN
— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 19, 2026
Pantanal, known for the world’s largest tropical wetland and flooded grasslands:
A significant wildfire is raging in the Pantanal region, near Bolivia and Brazil, with dense smoke detectable across the river and the possibility of reaching the Chaco Central area in Paraguay pic.twitter.com/qvJ0Whpb7R
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) July 18, 2026
Severe rainfall is leading to flash flooding and inundated streets throughout #NewYork City.
NYC streets are reminiscent of canals after storms that have become far too frequent. Stay safe! pic.twitter.com/FR2vsAPIpj
— AugustinBrian🇺🇸 (@AugustinBrian3) July 20, 2026
Water
New water main breaks are reported in Venice, while Hollywood’s Sunset Strip repairs extend into their fourth day Los Angeles Times
🚨BREAKING:
A 110-year-old water line!
The West Hollywood water main break on Thursday, releasing over 17 million gallons, was caused by what CBS LA reports as a century-old pipeline from 1916. pic.twitter.com/9AXwuuAToi— A Conservative Dad (@AConservativeDa) July 18, 2026
Global Updates
China
China is gearing up to strike an asteroid with a projectile traveling at 26 times the speed of sound Interesting Engineering
Beijing intervenes to halt the decline of the Chinese stock market with US$8.9 billion in state purchases South China Morning Post
The rice that only flourished on paper Pekingnology
India
India prohibits a march on Parliament by “Cockroach” activists, signaling potential confrontation Straits Times. Live updates.
Syraqistan
Eviction and demolition orders for Palestinian homes have been issued by Israel in northern East Jerusalem Anadolu Agency
US troop casualties mount as Iran intensifies actions against US bases Simplicius
Lavrov cautions that Western arms and ammunition are being transferred from Ukraine to ISIS-K in Afghanistan Andrew Korybko
Uncle Sam’s Ultimatum: The reasons Washington is pressing KDP and PUK to unify their Peshmerga forces Burhan N.S JAF
The rumored agreement would permit Saudi Arabia to domestically enrich uranium under a US-Saudi nuclear cooperation framework. Riyadh would sign a 123 agreement but without first adopting the IAEA Additional Protocol. https://t.co/G4X66hJRAq
— Nicole Grajewski (@NicoleGrajewski) July 19, 2026
European Disunion
The EU is experiencing diminishing support for new sanctions against Russia FT
Hungary’s previous government covertly invested nearly EUR 300 million in Rheinmetall’s tank project DailyNewsHungary
Africa
The enigma of Boeings operated by a US Army veteran flying routes through Sudan’s conflict zones Reuters
O Canada
A strategic plan for the future of food in Canada Canadian Affairs
Old Blighty
Burnham set to unveil plans for new oil and gas extraction in the North Sea BBC
Britain’s surveillance state has already become a reality, often unnoticed Jonathan Cook
New Not-So-Cold War
It seems that Trump’s super sleuths have still not made the correlation between Trump approving US target intelligence for Ukraine’s deep strikes into Russia and Russia relaying target intelligence to Iran for US locations. They’re slow learners. https://t.co/AldbWgod6W
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 18, 2026
Russia has several logistics ports, while Ukraine possesses only one.
If Odessa incurs further significant damage, Kyiv’s capability to receive essential supplies from allies and resupply troops in the South could be gravely compromised. https://t.co/F9WS1MSGtN
— Zagonel (@Zagonel85) July 19, 2026
Ukraine speeds up its privatization efforts with the sale of key industrial assets Intellinews
The disruption in the Azov Sea is placing significant strain on Black Sea wheat logistics Miller Magazine
Kazakhstan plans to implement a six-month ban on wheat imports – Agriculture Ministry directive APK-Inform. This ban includes imports from Eurasian Economic Union members. Nearly all of Kazakhstan’s wheat imports originate from Russia.
Trump 2.0
They’re initiating a new COINTELPRO for the 21st century Caitlin Johnstone, targeting the left while, per Lavrov’s remarks, supplying arms to ISIS-K in Afghanistan through Ukrainian fascists.
Trump interacts cautiously with China despite bold election assertions The Hill
TrumpRx promised a marketplace for economical drugs but ended up being more exclusive NPR
GOP Funhouse
Democrats Suck
Shah withdraws, paving the way for Jackson to secure the U.S. Senate nomination Maine Morningstar
I am contemplating a congressional run against AIPAC Ivey Sam Husseini
Brooklyn reformers are poised to challenge the embattled chair of the Democratic Party, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn The City Reporter
Abdul El-Sayed outpaces Haley Stevens in fundraising, yet super PACs hold sway in the Senate contest Bridge Michigan
Police State Watch
ICE shared Medicaid data it wasn’t authorized to possess with Palantir NPR
Inside ICE’s strategy to cease renting detention facilities and begin constructing their own Project Salt Box
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
Due to overwhelming public backlash, Flock cancels its controversial audio surveillance feature Futurism
Apple has allegedly begun recording and using AI to summarize discussions at the Genius Bar Gizmodo
Groves of Academe
A CRISIS IN TEXAS SCHOOLS: CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 10 ARE BEING ARRESTED Texas Observer
The Accelerationists
Exclusively: California Forever loses a $3.2 billion shipyard contract as a defense startup chooses Texas San Francisco Chronicle
Imperial Collapse Watch
A new $500 million artillery shell facility has failed to manufacture any 155mm components The War Zone
Drugs as a technology of domination Hakan Illatiksi
AI
Using AI leads individuals to be less inclined to acknowledge their knowledge gaps The Register
Politicians are attempting to influence chatbot responses about them New York Times
Activists in Amsterdam targeted a Microsoft data center project with acid attacks The Register
Our Famously Free Press
The Case of Fergie Chambers Decline and Fall
Taken for a Ride
Zoox has issued a software recall after a robotaxi malfunctioned due to heavy smoke TechCrunch
Riders in robotaxis are dozing off, causing a surge in emergency service requests Bloomberg
Analysts are concerned about cybersecurity threats arising from over-the-air technology in vehicles CNBC
Five methods to embrace skepticism for personal happiness Skye Cleary
Antidote of the day (via):
You can find yesterday’s links and the antidote of the day here.
