Should US Homebuilders Emulate Sweden? Construction Physics
Are Some of Your Cells Not Genetically Yours — What Can They Tell Us About Life and Death? Nature
Did Fireworks on Champagne Bottles Ignite the Deadly Blaze in a Swiss Ski Resort Bar? Firstpost
Can Next-Generation Medicines Help Curb Opioid Addiction? Scientific American
Please Stop Sending Butt Plugs to Bahrain Boing Boing
You’re Not a Doomer: The Radical Rationale Against Positive News Nate Bear
Climate/Environment
Betting on the End of the World: 2026 Edition Watching the World Go Bye
High Risk from Coincidence of Extreme Heat and Particulate Matter in India IOP Science
Pandemics
This BMJ highlight on the shift from “immunity debt” to COVID’s direct impact on immune function is a significant development.
The evidence concerning T cell dysregulation as a secondary risk is accumulating, and it’s encouraging to see mainstream media addressing it seriously.
1/ https://t.co/ejM2euv0oT pic.twitter.com/YXcs3ayOZY— AJ Leonardi, MBBS, PhD (@fitterhappierAJ) January 1, 2026
Americans Prepare for the New Year Without Healthcare BBC
China
Taiwan’s President Lai Promises Strong Defense After Chinese Military Exercises Business Standard
US Claims Chinese Military Drills Near Taiwan Are Unnecessary Provocations Channel News Asia
Chinese Cargo Ship Adapted to Launch Advanced Combat Drones Revealed The War Zone
China Cuts Hundreds of Tariffs in a Strategic Trade War Move Asia Times
What’s surprising is not the considerable demand from Chinese tech companies for H200s (pending Beijing’s approval), but that their costs are reportedly only 15% lower than “grey-market alternatives.”
This suggests that access to chips wasn’t a major hurdle for larger corporations, assuming they’re destined for China-bound transactions.
— Kyle Chan (@kyleichan) January 1, 2026
Does Manufacturing still Matter? ChinaTalk
India
Data Center Surge in India as American Tech Giants Invest Billions Straits Times
Indian Army Localizes 91% of Ammunition Variants, Reducing Import Dependency The Hindu Businessline
Syraqistan
Israel Enters 2026 with Increased Violence Against Palestinians and a Ban on Gaza Aid Groups New Arab
Israel Takes Planning Powers Over Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque from Palestinians Middle East Eye
Israel and the US Progress with the Rafah ‘Green City’ Concentration Camp Plan.
——
Israeli Channel 14 reports that a consensus has been reached with the US to advance the so-called “Green City” project in Rafah, marketed as a solution for Gaza’s population but better characterized as…— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) January 1, 2026
Pro-Palestine March Attracts Over Half a Million Participants to Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day Anadolu Agency
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Closure of Aden Airport Worsens Saudi-UAE Tensions in Yemen Al Mayadeen
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What to Monitor in Iran’s Latest Protests Sina Toossi
Is Israel Exploiting Protests in Iran for Regime Change? The Dissident
Iran is under scrutiny: Economic protests and the US-Israeli strategy of destabilization.
The prevalent narrative in Western and Israeli media is familiar: Iran is nearing collapse, its society is turning against the state, and the regime is on borrowed time.… pic.twitter.com/1InNsB0TbN
— Ibrahim Majed (@ibrahimtmajed) January 1, 2026
The riots in Iran show a different pattern this time.
Organized groups in smaller cities are targeting key governmental buildings. These targets are easier to hit.
Smaller towns with varied ethnic backgrounds are the focus. Next, they might attempt to attack police stations to arm themselves.
There are…
— Soureh 🇮🇷🇵🇸 (@Soureh_design2) January 1, 2026
🇮🇷| Riot Saboteurs attempted to seize the police station in Azna, Lorestan province in Iran but were unsuccessful.
At approximately 6 PM today, a group of masked rioters targeted the section of the police station closer to the armory.
Several police vehicles caught fire during this incident… pic.twitter.com/Ksw9Nik6nE
— Arya – آریا (@AryJeay) January 1, 2026
Africa
‘Baseless Claims’: Somaliland Denies Agreed Absorption of Displaced Palestinians The Cradle
European Disunion
Ship Seized in Finland, Suspected of Cable Damage, Carrying Sanctioned Russian Steel Euronews
Bulgaria Adopts Euro Amid Political Turmoil and Protests TRT World
German Exporters Encounter Extended Slump in Key US and Chinese Markets Reuters
Financial Flow Dwindles, Germany Faces Increased Economic Strain The Duran
Germany’s Revised Military Strategy Considers Foreign Sabotage as Preparation for Conflict Politico
Germany Begins Production of TAURUS NEO to Enhance Deep-Strike Capabilities UK Defence Journal
Peter Magyar, a key opposition figure, delivered a haunting message on New Year’s Eve, just 100 days before Hungary’s general election 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/ytsFeaTCEx
— SzabadonMagyarul 🇬🇧🇭🇺🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@SzabadonMagyar) January 1, 2026
New Not-So-Cold War
Russia’s Defense Ministry reports that GRU Chief Igor Kostyukov handed over a recovered flight controller and decoded navigation data from a downed Ukrainian drone to a US military attaché in Moscow. The files allegedly demonstrate the UAV’s programmed route toward Putin’s residence in Novgorod… pic.twitter.com/6hOHIoDawU
— Brian McDonald (@27khv) January 1, 2026
Yes, the CIA is Deceiving About the Drone Attack on Putin Larry Johnson
The CIA (with Trump’s consent) has attacked Russian oil facilities and tankers during peace negotiations as well as during attempts to restore US-Russia relations. Trump, heralded as “the mediator,” has perpetuated the proxy conflict and significantly escalated tensions. https://t.co/wi0TjER73F pic.twitter.com/lk7pcTayBj
— Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) January 1, 2026
Did the CIA’s Covert Support of Ukraine’s Refinery Strikes Cause More Harm Than Good? Simplicius
Nicolai Petro: Chaos After Ukraine’s Collapse Glenn Diesen
🇺🇦 A torchlight procession honoring Bandera’s birthday is occurring in Lviv.
-> These individuals walk with torches and assault grandmothers speaking Russian…but they appear hesitant to join the war that is genuinely against them.
Russia claims it seeks to denazify you… pic.twitter.com/4Nzt5hYVy0
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 1, 2026
The Great Game
Increasing Border Insecurity Poses Risks to Chinese Interests in Tajikistan The Times of Central Asia
South of the Border
Venezuela Deploys Iranian Combat-Tested Long-Range Drones in Response to US Military Buildup Military Watch
Maduro Expresses Willingness for Dialogue with the US, Remains Silent on Dock Attack Al Jazeera
“To the People of the United States: You Have a Friendly People Here in Venezuela” Telesur
Congress Questions Who We Are Targeting at Sea. This San Diego Lawyer Has an Answer That No One Has Followed Up On After-Action Report
Trump 2.0
As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds with Defiance WSJ
TACO Strikes Again: Italian Pasta Becomes Latest Product to Have Tariffs Cut by Trump The Independent
White House Considering Denaturalizing Somali Americans Over Allegations of Fraud Telesur
Minnesota Fraud Distraction and Exposing Trump Tariffs: How Nationalist Capitalism Harms Workers Egberto Off The Record
Federal Judges Expose DOJ Deception: Over 35 Instances of Lies and “Sham” Evidence Allen Analysis
Here’s a partial list of individuals who defrauded the American public, US financial institutions, and taxpayer-funded systems out of billions through various forms of fraud.
They… pic.twitter.com/kEz6IFHZ9x
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 1, 2026
Wars Come Home
⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇱BREAKING:
Netanyahu Delivered a New Year’s Eve Speech to a Chabad Synagogue in Miami, Addressing “Fighting Anti-Semitism.”
“You Should Fight Back… You Should Attack Your Attackers!”
How is incitement of violence permitted in a synagogue in the US?pic.twitter.com/WIfHyRLjok
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) January 1, 2026
Immigration
They even stole the art. pic.twitter.com/lS2bXkCBXo
— Tracey Schulz (@TraceySchulz) January 1, 2026
Imperial Collapse Watch
The Harsh Reality of Modernity Warwick Powell
THE END OF A GLOBALIZATION THAT NEVER MATERIALIZED Comidad
US Seeks Unpaid Local Interns at Greenland Consulate Amid Annexation Threats Euractiv
The Speed of Financialization Collapse is Accelerating Ian Welsh
The Post-American Internet Cory Doctorow
Mamdani
New Mayor Mamdani’s Affordability Initiative in NYC Faces Economic Challenges in 2026 Gothamist
Tax the Wealthy, Proposes Mamdani, Sanders, and NYC Inauguration Crowd Common Dreams
AI
Accelerationists
Everything is laid out here from 15 years ago… how the PayPal Mafia planned to “escape” from politics — by creating an “alternate virtual reality.”
They succeeded; that’s why we’re diverting attention to “Somali fraud” instead of the Epstein files.
“The core idea was that we could never win an… pic.twitter.com/xnR33HV3YY
— Jim Stewartson, Decelerationist 🇨🇦🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@jimstewartson) December 31, 2025
Economy
Consumer Spending Drives the US Economy: A K-Shaped Recovery Will Challenge This Dynamic in 2026 Yahoo! Finance
Casino Nation
Bally’s Casino Jackpot Winner Claims He Hasn’t Received Any Payment Due to His Immigration Status CBS News
To Revitalize Las Vegas, Make the Strip Pedestrian Friendly Arbitrary Lines
Class Warfare
A Socialist Organizer’s Handbook for 2026 Left Notes
The Situation is Unraveling: Where to Seek Leadership? Ann Pettifor
One Last Thing to Consider. Working Class Storytelling
Antidote of the Day (via):
Bonus:
You’re observing a creature that has witnessed the continents drift apart. 🌍
The Feather Star (Crinoid) has existed for over 400 million years.pic.twitter.com/y239RtKFNR
— Curiosity (@MAstronomers) December 31, 2025
For yesterday’s links and Antidote of the Day, click here.
