J.K. Rademaekers

'Swinging into action:' The Saudi Arabian pipeline designed to bypass Hormuz Saudi Arabia is pumping oil to the Red Sea, but this new route will not address fuel shortages and puts the Houthis back in play

www.middleeasteye.net/news/swingin...

Fair. I agree with most of the IRA in principle. Two critiques: 1) Dems did a poor job selling it and its benefits to the public; and 2) relies too much on big grant actions rather than direct spending on critical projects.

They don't seek innovative ideas at all. When they get in power, they hire consulting groups and think tanks staffed by the same old names that sell them outdated and overpriced fixes that ultimately fail.

Republicans pretend the problems we face do not exist because they have no solutions. Democrats identify the problems and campaign on them, but once elected, have mostly bad/sloppy fixes that backfire and return Republicans to power.

How do we elect Democrats with SMART solutions to problems?

The Quintessential Epstein Files Email - The American Prospect Jeffrey Epstein and his friends standing up for Mary Jo White against Elizabeth Warren tells you everything about the class war at the heart of the files.

Worth a read: prospect.org/2026/02/17/e...

We're going to have a lot of work to do once we get adults back in the room in 2028.

Classic!

Thanks for the share @tompantazes.bsky.social

In three years there will be a new POTUS and we can begin to repair much of the damage wrought, but America's reputation will be permanently tarnished for generations to come.

I am pleased to announce that I have commandeered my neighbor's home. This home will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, to ensure it is used to benefit my neighbor and me! Thank you for your attention to this matter!

IMO, a hallmark of the 2020s has been the cultural normalization of avarice.

Refusal and rebellion are rational responses to AI

Declaration of an AI Boycott Day after day, more companies are announcing plans to cut human workers in favor of AI “assistants”. To cut out human artists and replace…

Jeffrey Seathrún Sardina's "Declaration of an AI Boycott" and AI List jeffrey-sardina.github.io/Boycott-AI/

medium.com/@jeffrey.sar...

#AI

Trump signs executive order for single national AI regulation standard, limiting power of states President Trump's executive order, which limits the power of states in regulating AI, is a win for big tech companies that have lobbied for a federal standard.

Executive Order tries to limit States' ability to regulate AI development. Must be challenged.

www.cnbc.com/2025/12/11/t...

Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban Australia on Wednesday became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access in a move welcomed by many parents and child advocates but criticised by major technology com...

Cheers to #Australia for having courage, common sense, and protecting their youth. The evidence of SMU harm on young people is substantial. Doing nothing is unacceptable. www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...

Teachers' union AFT slams crypto market bill, warns of 'profound risks' for America's retirement plans American Federation of Teachers is urging senators to reconsider its crypto market structure bill which the union says will put Americans' retirement at risk.

“This legislation pretends that crypto assets are stable and mainstream, and they are not. Rather than just being silent on crypto, this bill strips the few safeguards that exist for crypto and erodes many protections for traditional securities"
- Weingarten

www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/a...

41 crew over at my house 🤔

Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger taking a selfie together

Good morning to these future governors!

I spent many beautiful summers in trades work in rain and sun: erecting fences, mixing concrete, tarring roofs, laying patios, hanging sheetrock, painting. The soundtrack on most of those days was always Pierre Robert on #WMMR #pierrerobert. Rest in peace.

The Autumn Birches - by Scottish watercolour artist, David E.Johnston - whose landscape paintings I love!

More here - mearnsartist.com

#watercolour #art #landscapes #autumn

Just read the article so thank you for sharing! My interpretation of the argument is not that the Liberals should "appeal to popular prejudices" It's that liberals are losing ground to MAGA because they are exclusionary rather than inclusionary. Dems must be more inclusive w/o appealing to prejudice

Hell yeah. Great response from DC, and exactly what every major publisher should be saying.

I don't truly know what I "think" until I have a chance to research and write about it.

I write to think, to share what I think, and to participate in those prickly dialectical tensions.

#WHYIWrite #WHYIWriteWCU

It's NCTE's National Day on Writing. Every year, we reflect on why we write.

#WhyIWrite: So that the running dialogue in my head isn't the only one I'm having.

I will concede the convention of Title Case if we can all agree to ditch the convention of double spacing.

Almost as bad is the idea that government subsidy means "something is not working." Yes--the MARKET is what's not working. If the market provided affordable healthcare there wouldn't need to be subsidies. If the market didn't prop up combustion engines, we wouldn't need to subsidize EVs.

The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World  - CFEC

Well written and timely essay this morning. centreforearlychildhood.org/news-insight...

How Iowa can learn from Minnesota's water protections Environmental activists say laws in Minnesota could also help Iowa's water quality.

www.axios.com/local/des-mo...

U.S. States with highest rates of violent crime per population:

1. New Mexico
2. Alaska
3. Tennessee
4. Arkansas
5. Louisiana
...
28. Illinois

Source: FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program

Looks like the youngens have scooped one of my favorite [formerly] lesser known B sides in Billy Joel's "Vienna." I always looked forward to the back side of The Stranger for that tune. I've just learned that it's trendy on TikTok. Next year they'll be coming for Jackson Browne's "Rosie."