The Hole Story: How Woodpeckers Make Homes For The Rest Of The Forest All About Birds
Climate/Environment
Closed nuclear power plant in N.J. on ‘round-the-clock watch’ as nearby wildfire rages NJ.com
Pure chaos as the Jones Fire in New Jersey rips through neighborhoods. The fire was last estimated at 3,200 acres. This is insane Fire behavior for New Jersey, or just about anywhere.
Good luck to anyone in there trying to fight that thing. This is just crazy. pic.twitter.com/XEFpDmyzpJ
— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) April 23, 2025
Microplastics: What’s trapping the emerging threat in our streams? Phys.org
Pandemics
New agreement geared toward universal avian flu vaccine CIDRAP
MN Republicans introduce vaccine criminalization bill drafted by Florida hypnotist News from the States
Bhattacharya Discovers the Beetle’s Dilemma Pandemic Accountability Index
Water
Everyone cheering Klaus Schwab’s exit from the @wef should be careful what they wish for.
His replacement is none other than Peter Brabeck-Letmathe — ex-Nestlé CEO, supporter of the 4th Industrial Revolution, food supply poisoner, and the guy who said water isn’t a human right. pic.twitter.com/kyXR3Jk5Bb
— Dr. Simon Goddek (@goddeketal) April 22, 2025
India
India Expels Pakistani Military Attachés, Downgrades Ties, Pauses Indus Water Treaty The Wire
China?
NETIZENS CHASTISE CHINESE STATE MEDIA FOR “MOCKING YOUR OWN PEOPLE” IN TRADE WAR RESPONSES China Digital Times
“DIFFERENT ARMIES, SAME HOLE”: HANGZHOU JOBSEEKERS COMPARED WITH TERRACOTTA WARRIORS China Digital Times
BYD Workers Lead Mass Strikes to Challenge Wage Cuts and Broken Promises China Labour Bulletin
China’s manufacturers feel the tariff pinch Seatrade Maritime
China to allow overseas investors access to more sectors Business Times
Old Blighty
Let Ed Run It Doomberg. “The British steel industry’s final days devolve into a cynical game of blamestorming.”
Syraqistan
After meeting with “senior Republicans” at Mar-a-Lago, Itamar Ben-Gvir said: “They expressed support for my very clear position on how to act in Gaza and that the food and aid depots should be bombed.” pic.twitter.com/51QGqxu28I
— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) April 23, 2025
Bombing plants, severing pipelines: Israel pushes Gaza water crisis to the brink +972 Magazine
Israel’s Exports of Violence Séamus Malekafzali
Trump to stop research funding to anyone who boycotts Israel The New Arab
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Rubio says Iran can pursue civilian nuclear program if it abandons enrichment Anadolu Agency
What Air Defenses Do The Houthis In Yemen Actually Have? The War Zone
Africa
Africa’s membership to the World Trade Organization has been a disaster Grieve Chelwa
European Disunion
EU won’t decouple from China as condition for reaching trade deal with Trump Euronews. But it will continue “de-risking” instead, and Commission spokesperson refuses to say China is “off the table” in negotiations with the US.
European Parliament in ‘final stages’ of talks with China to remove sanctions on lawmakers South China Morning Post
Europe hits Meta, Apple with €700M in fines for flouting DMA The Register
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Banning Alternative für Deutschland eugyppius: a plague chronicle
Populist BSW contests German election result after missing 5% hurdle DPA
Springs of war — on memory, repetition and resistance Maike Gosch
Tensions rise in Bosnia after reports of failed arrest attempt of Serb separatist leader AP
New Not-So-Cold War
Setback For U.S. ‘Ceasefire’ Deal In Ukraine Moon of Alabama
Russia’s Response To Trump’s “Peace” Ultimatum The Real Politick with Mark Sleboda (video). “Meet Our Demands Or We’ll Take Them On The Battlefield.”
THE REAL TRUMP DEFAULT IS EUROPEAN WAR WITH RUSSIA SO THE US CAN ESCALATE WAR WITH CHINA – THE CASE OF THE ARMS SUPPLY LINE FROM RZESZOW TO KIEV Dances with Bears
Kremlin warns NATO of response to Finland build-up RT
Estonia Plans Military Base in Narva – Just Steps Away From Russia Kyiv Post
The US cavalry isn’t coming: How Europe moves its armies without American assistance Politico
Seoul comes looking for Europe’s rearmament cash Euractiv
“Liberation Day(s)”
White House Considers Slashing China Tariffs to De-escalate Trade War WSJ. Building on previous day’s reporting on Bessent’s comments at a private investor summit in Washington hosted by JPMorgan Chase.
China says no ongoing trade talks with the U.S., calls for canceling ‘unilateral’ tariffs CNBC
How Monopolies Could Exploit the Tariff Shock BIG by Matt Stoller
Beyond Tariffs: What the U.S. Can Learn from China’s Industrial Playbook RAND
Trump 2.0
Trump’s Latest Executive Orders Target Accreditation, Foreign Gifts Inside Higher Ed
Scoop: Musk vs. Bessent dispute erupted into West Wing shouting match Axios
DOGE
DOGE preps to shutter Millennium Challenge Corporation The Hill
Elon Musk Cuts Funding for Internet Archive Futurism
On Take Your Child to Work Day, DOGE-led GSA is hosting an AI workshop for kids of federal employees threatened with layoffs Blood in the Machine
MAHA
FDA pauses milk quality testing amid Health and Human Services cuts; lab transfer planned USA Today
RFK Jr.’s autism study to amass medical records of many Americans CBS News
Democrats en Déshabillé
How Democrats Changed Their Social Base to Defend Their Neoliberal Program Left Notes
Immigration
‘It is time for you to leave’: DHS mistakenly sends notices to U.S. citizens Los Angeles Times
SignalGate
Hegseth had Signal messaging app installed on an office computer WaPo
Hegseth orders makeup studio installed at Pentagon CBS News
Is a Military Coup Unfolding at the Pentagon? Ken Klippenstein
Police State Watch
Labor Department Official Warns That Staff Who Speak With Journalists Face “Serious Legal Consequences” ProPublica
None of This Is a Distraction Discourse Blog
Imperial Collapse Watch
Bearing Witness In The Age Of Atrocity ¡Do Not Panic!
The End? Aurelien, Trying to Understand the World
AI
California Bar Reveals It Used AI For Exam Questions, Because Of Course It Did Above the Law
Healthcare?
Study Links Economic Hardship and Family Trauma to Teen Mental Health Issues Mad in America
UnitedHealth Group’s $9.1 Billion First Quarter Wasn’t Enough to Keep Wall Street Happy HEALTH CARE un-covered
Eli Lilly Sues 4 GLP-1 Telehealth Startups, Escalating War on Knockoff Drugs Wired
What It’s Like Being a Nurse in New Orleans How Things Work
Antitrust
“A Lot of Emotion”: The Rocky Marriage of Instagram and Facebook Big Tech on Trial
Groves of Academe
Yale pro-Palestinian group stripped of status after protesters pitch tents to oppose appearance by Israeli security minister New Haven Register
Our Famously Free Press
Pope Francis Obits Omit Focus on Palestine FAIR
Class Warfare
What happens after a homeless person is arrested for camping? Often, not much Cal Matters
The Curious Surge of Productivity in U.S. Restaurants National Bureau of Economic Research
Put Your Butt in the Chair: Inside the Simple Alchemy of Making Art Lit Hub
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
