Links 12/29/2025 | naked capitalism

Wolf escapes enclosure at Tokyo Zoo, visitors flee Anadolu Agency

Those Curious Naturalists Wild Information

I No Longer Think GLP-1s Are the Answer MedPage Today

French cinema legend Brigitte Bardot dies at 91 France24

Climate/Environment

‘Ghost resorts’: as hundreds of ski slopes lie abandoned, will nature reclaim the Alps? The Guardian

‘When you plant something, it dies’: Brazil’s first arid zone is a stark warning for the whole country The Guardian

Twenty Years Into Fracking, Pennsylvania Has Yet to Reckon With Its Radioactive Waste Inside Climate News

US shale oil production has turned negative yoy for the first time in history

That matters.

Oil bull markets are born when depletion overwhelms new supply. Once new production can’t offset decline rates, prices do the work.

Every cycle looks different… but the trigger is… pic.twitter.com/jOfnOSk88Y

— Lukas Ekwueme (@ekwufinance) December 27, 2025

Pandemics

“Harvesting” https://t.co/DKiQVHHW3w pic.twitter.com/1IlLTXJq3g

— Davos Safety (@DavosSafety) December 29, 2025

China?

China strikes a pressure point Julian MacFarlane

🇨🇳🇺🇸🇯🇵 People said China was “too soft” during Pelosi’s visit.In reality, Beijing turned her stunt into Taipei’s long-term chokehold.

Even Jake Sullivan now admits it:• The visit forced China to permanently recalibrate the Taiwan Strait, pushing PLA operations closer than… pic.twitter.com/BvOmzYqceQ

— 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 (@OopsGuess) December 26, 2025

🧐China’s entire Neo industrial policy post 2020 depends on exporting goods that have significant silver content (aka EVs, adding to solar panels and other electrical goods).

I find it amusing that the key narrative going around is that the silver spike is somehow indicative of… https://t.co/EsV1IjqZHd

— Izabella Kaminska (@izakaminska) December 28, 2025

China to hold ‘Justice Mission 2025’ drills around Taiwan Dec. 30 Al Mayadeen

Syraqistan

Israel continues shelling parts of Gaza, accelerates West Bank assaults New Arab

They Cry Out as They Rape You to Death Kevin Barrett

The plane carrying Netanyahu to the US flew over the airspace of three ICC member states—Greece, Italy and France—despite the ICC arrest warrant, before reaching the Atlantic – @anadoluajansi pic.twitter.com/nx8k1z6TM9

— Rabia İclal Turan (@iclalturan) December 28, 2025

Italy arrests 7 accused of raising millions for Hamas AFP

Yemen’s leader warns of military action against any Israeli presence in Somaliland Press TV

***

The Russia-Israel partnership in West Asia – with Deep Dive Perspective Vanessa Beeley

Iran Acknowledges It is at War With the West… Putin Puts the West on Notice Larry Johnson

Iranian hacker group ‘Handala’ says it breached Netanyahu chief of staff’s phone The Cradle

Moscow sends three Iranian satellites into space in second launch since July Firstpost

Africa

Fear and confusion in Nigerian village hit in US strike, as locals say no history of ISIS in area CNN

It will not be easy for Israel & the secessionist regime in Hargheisa to asses their control over the territory they claim (Somaliland).

But what we can fear is that a new conflict will ignite in this region. https://t.co/ucupOvyRdE pic.twitter.com/CUYMH4YiWS

— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) December 28, 2025

Washington’s “America First” health push in Africa Geeska

European Disunion

Europe’s largest defence groups set to return $5bn to shareholders in 2025 FT

Poland “ready to defend western border” with Germany, says president Notes from Poland

New Not-So-Cold War

After Talks With Zelensky, Trump Says Territorial Issues Still Not Settled Antiwar

Brussels and Moscow Have Reached a Point of Clarity, and It Is Bleak Russia in Global Affairs

Russia-Ukraine war: Why Europe risks another bleak year in 2026 Middle East Eye

Shaping of the Next End-of-Year Narrative Begins: Russia Faces “Exhaustion” in 2026 Simplicius

Humiliating retreats Events in Ukraine

New corruption scandal erupts in Kiev RT

Oreshnik in Belarus?Pavel Podvig

IAEA announces start of repairs near Zaporizhzhia power plant amid local ceasefire Anadolu Agency

South of the Border

Trump Might Not Invade Venezuela Yet, but What He Is Doing Is Worse Venezuelanalysis

The nerve… Oil services company and embodiment of evil Halliburton is launching international arbitration proceedings to extort money from Venezuela. There are no documents available yet, but reports speak of losses under US sanctions that forced the company to leave Vzla pic.twitter.com/7iN503ho3H

— Venezuelanalysis (@venanalysis) December 28, 2025

L’affaire Epstein

Miami Herald investigative journalist long on the Epstein story:

Does somebody at the DOJ want to tell me why my American Airlines booking information and flights in July 2019 are part of the Epstein files (attached to a grand jury subpoena)? As the flight itinerary includes my maiden name (and I did book this flight) why was the DOJ… pic.twitter.com/m1mgP6pdgk

— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) December 28, 2025

Spook Country

Why is Susan Miller Doing Media? Larry Johnson

U.S. Intelligence Agencies Have Not Aged Well Lawfare

Trump 2.0

Trump promised to lower food prices, but they’re still going up Investigate Midwest

Starving the Safety Net Dollars & Sense

2028

JD’s 2028 plotting: Vance’s next moves Axios

Immigration

‘A Demographic Ticking Time Bomb’: Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Comes for Seniors’ Caretakers NOTUS

FBI Investigating Alleged Fraud Scheme In Minnesota, Kash Patel Says Amid Attacks On Somali Population Forbes

MAGA World zeroes in on Minnesota over fraud scandal The Hill. E.g.:

🧵THREAD🧵

The legacy media didn’t miss the Minnesota Somalian fraud story.

They actively dismissed it as made up, racist, or xenophobic.

Before the stories are quietly edited, I’ve got screenshots. ⤵️

— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) December 28, 2025

Imperial Collapse Watch

A Gilded Navy for Imperialist Conflict Un-Diplomatic

Accelerationists

As the Sun Sets on Sand Hill Road, Andreessen Awaits His Caesar Notes from the Circus

California tech founders unload on a proposed state wealth tax that already has some billionaires preparing an escape. ‘I am screwed for life’ Fortune

The 420

How Trump Became the Unlikely Champion of Easing Marijuana Restrictions WSJ

JFC… I just found Black Rock and Vanguard have their grimy little hands in on the cannabis industry too and hold significant investment holdings in fucking Curaleaf. My dispensary of choice.

What at this point in this country isn’t owned or controlled by private equity firms?! pic.twitter.com/ujSBc3oBNU

— Southern Fried StoNerD (@southernstonerd) December 28, 2025

Economy

Mass layoffs deepen across US economy as job cuts in auto, logistics and tech continue into 2026 WSWS

AI

Big companies aren’t making plans to hire in 2026: ‘Everybody’s afraid for their jobs’ The Independent. Commentary:

Just as covid served as a facilitating device for companies in concentrated industries to raise prices in coordination—a conspiracy against consumers—AI is now serving as a facilitating device for employers to freeze hiring in coordination—a conspiracy against labor. I suspect… pic.twitter.com/VGGUEdeq22

— Hal Singer (@HalSinger) December 28, 2025

OpenAI is hiring a new Head of Preparedness to try to predict and mitigate AI’s harms Engadget

Writing Music in an Age of Streaming AI Slop Boondoggle

TIM COOK POSTS AI SLOP IN CHRISTMAS MESSAGE ON TWITTER/X, OSTENSIBLY TO PROMOTE ‘PLURIBUS’ Daring Fireball

Christianity grapples with the rise of an AI Jesus Salon

Abortion

Florida may send bounty hunters after women and doctors Seeking Rents

The Bezzle

Days After Mass Bricking Event, Waymo Fleet Shuts Down Again Futurism

Class Warfare

What happens when disaster recovery becomes a luxury good Grist

The Good News Is People Are Realizing We’re On Our Own Charles Hugh Smith

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.