Meet Maple: Former K-9 now beekeeper at MSU WKAR
They led police on a wild L.A. car chase, then managed to get away. Who helped them escape? Los Angeles Times
Our Culture is Addicted to Validation Freddie deBoer
Mouse Farm Orion Magazine
Climate/Environment
Smoky summers are Michigan’s new norm, experts say Bridge Michigan
Retail investors fight for right to bet on natural disasters FT
Inequality Worsens Planetary Heating Challenging Development+
Pandemics
Pathogens accelerate features of human aging: A review of molecular mechanisms Aging Research Reviews. Commentary:
1/ BREAKING: Infections can be major drivers of Aging Processes, new PolyBio review paper delineates
A new scientific review written by PolyBio’s core team challenges the long-held assumption that human aging unfolds in a sterile environment. The authors argue that lifelong… pic.twitter.com/hhHFnPZtJ7
— PolyBio (@polybioRF) August 13, 2025
SC state senator resigns after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease The State. “After seeking medical care for what I believed were long-Covid symptoms, I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.”
Japan
The Future that Never Was Unpopular Front
China?
Exclusive-US embeds trackers in AI chip shipments to catch diversions to China, sources say Reuters
American officials want to ban Chinese investment in US businesses and land. They shouldn’t bother. Kevin Walmsley
China accuses US of using ‘lies as pretext for seeking control’ of Panama Canal South China Morning Post
China seeks to bolster demand by subsidising interest costs on consumer loans South China Morning Post
Africa
On Zambia’s cost of living crisis Ntazana Siame Kaulule
Syraqistan
In southern Lebanon, IDF chief says he has approved plans for ‘conquest of Gaza’ Times of Israel
🚨At least 100 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, including at least 37 aid seekers, medical sources have told Al Jazeera.
Among today’s death toll, 61 were killed in Gaza City.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defense,… https://t.co/uiUx0wutnL pic.twitter.com/AftF9AZHNg
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) August 13, 2025
By Netanyahu’s logic, the Holocaust never happened, because millions of Jews survived and it took six years. https://t.co/FI4L5SOBkt
— Afif Aqrabawi (@AjAqrabawi) August 13, 2025
IDF Brags of ‘In-Depth Review’ That Confirms Israel Is Starving Sick Children to Death Common Dreams
The West is in panic as Israel’s plan for ‘full control’ of Gaza heralds a new Nakba Jonathan Cook
Criticizing Israel? This definition of antisemitism will take care of that. Responsible Statecraft
Thyssenkrupp allowed to deliver submarine to Israel Taz (machine translation)
All Talk, No Action: Why Doesn’t the West Intervene in Gaza? Haaretz
Recognising Palestinian state must not distract from ending Gaza mass deaths, UN expert says. The Guardian. Francesca Albanese.
Former Irish president says US is the ‘most complicit’ in Gaza genocide Middle East Eye
Lindsey Graham: “If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us.”
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) August 13, 2025
***
Iran: EU leaders threaten snapback sanctions over nukes DW
Iran executes nuclear scientist, charges son of ex-spy chief as crackdown intensifies Amwaj
The Next Israel-Iran War Is Coming Foreign Policy
Old Blighty
Will UK’s populist surge challenge support for Ukraine? Responsible Statecraft
After Captain Tom Tribune
European Disunion
Iron Rhine strategic railway chugs back to life to counter Russia Politico
New Not-So-Cold War
Trump to present minerals deal to Putin in Alaska The Telegraph. Silly. Access to minerals in regions that are controlled by Russia and have voted to become part of Russia? Russia also not hurting for minerals:
Perhaps the point of The Telegraph story:
Involving Alaskan resources in a deal with Russia draws in clashing interests from various American businesses and factions. It increases the likelihood of resistance in the US itself
— Alexander Clarkson (@APHClarkson) August 13, 2025
SITREP 8/13/25: Pokrovsk Breakthrough Continuation Simplicius
Trump vows ‘ very severe consequences’ if Putin doesn’t agree to end war Anadolu Agency
Short Report on Russian Economy Karl Sanchez
Ahead Of Trump-Putin Talks, Russia Readies World’s 1st Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile — 9M730 Burevestnik: Reports Eurasian Times
Zelenskyy says Trump ‘ready’ to provide Ukraine with security guarantees Anadolu Agency
Scraping the Barrel: Attrition and Cannibalization Big Serge
The War Goes On… Julian MacFarlane
The Caucasus
Seyed M. Marandi: New U.S. Frontline Against Iran & Russia? Glenn Diesen
South of the Border
U.S. MQ-9 Drone Just Flew A Mission Deep Into Mexico The War Zone
Spook Country
Hundreds of Former Israeli Spies Are Working in Big Tech, Database Shows Drop Site
Trump 2.0
Trump revokes Biden-era order on competition, White House says Reuters. The DOJ Statement: “The Division will use this opportunity to continue its work to recalibrate and modernize the Federal approach to competition policy to suit the needs of our dynamic and innovative economy.”
Proponent of Medicaid cuts set to brief House Republicans as they plot another megabill Politico
Democrats en déshabillé
WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF ABUNDANCE IN HEALTHCARE? LPE Project
Establishment Struggles to Maintain Control of California American Prospect
Mamdani
As Hindu Supremacists Seek Influence in US, Liberal Deference Paves the Way Truthout
AI
Suetopia: Generative AI is a lawsuit waiting to happen to your business The Register
Relying on AI in Colonoscopies May Erode Clinicians’ Skills MedPage Today
AI Job Loss Hype Could Serve as Smokescreen for Trump Recession FAIR
How ‘Altman’s Pause’ Could Knock the AI Industry Off Course WaPo
Police State Watch
Trump to seek ‘long-term’ extension of federal control of DC police ABC News
Man who threw sandwich at officer in DC charged with felony The Hill
LAPD Eyes ‘GeoSpy’, an AI Tool That Can Geolocate Photos in Seconds 404 Media
Healthcare?
Eli Lilly accused of bribing providers to prescribe GLP-1RA drugs Yahoo! Finance
Imperial Collapse Watch
This is, without exaggerating, one of the most extraordinary things a US Treasury Secretary ever said.
It should be mandatory viewing for all citizens of US “allies”, Europeans first and foremost.
What Bessent is saying is that the US will now treat US allies’ wealth as an… pic.twitter.com/IdNFMW33P7
— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) August 13, 2025
Over 80 countries are now engaged in conflicts outside of their borders. Most since WW2.
— David Roth-Lindberg (@RothLindberg) August 13, 2025
98-Year-Old Pianist Who Survived World War II Determined to Keep Playing Schumann’s ‘Traumerei’ for Those Who Died Yomiuri Shimbun
Accelerationists
How the unraveling of two Pentagon projects may result in a costly do-over Reuters
Groves of Academe
Lumps of Cram LRB
Class Warfare
Private Equity Managers Are Primed to Pounce on Your 401(k) Racket News
When Utility Regulators Despise Their Constituents Economic Populist
Clairton Coke Works, site of Monday’s explosion, has a history of problems WESA
Threadbare 3 Quarks Daily
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
