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.
