Russia’s BRICS Sherpa Debunked Speculation About It Turning Into A Security Bloc
Yet another example of BRICS boosters being way out over their skis.
Read more...Author Archives: Yves Smith
The Myth of the West: Democracy and the State
Per Thomas Neuburger ‘Democratic’ life began millions of years ago. It died with the birth of the city-state.
Read more...Would Raising Taxes on the Richest New Yorkers Drive Them Away?
What might happen if New York City Mayor Mamdani delivers on increasing income and corporate taxes to the next level?
Read more...Links 2/18/2026
Twin Cities Unions Planning ‘Largest US Rent Strike in 100+ Years’ as ICE Occupation Drives Eviction Crisis
Renters in Minnesota who’ve been afraid to go to work due to ICE thuggery and allies in labor plan a historic rent strike
Read more...One Affordability Battle After Another: What To Do About the AI-Fossil Fuel Industrial Complex
Voters rebel against AI data centers’ electricity costs and fossil fuel pollution, water use, and job loss damage.
Read more...Iran Regime Change Tout Spews NSFW, Misogynistic Abuse When Asked Merely to Stop Spamming
A backer of Iran regime change efforts asked to have his ugly, misogynistic exchange with me published, and I am complying with his wishes.
Read more...Why Does Economics Refuse to Acknowledge John Ruskin’s Illith, as in Harmful Activity?
Why the economics discipline has ignored John Ruskin’s seminal concept of illith, as in destructive activity.
Read more...Urban Slums: Stepping-Stone for Some and Traps (or Shields) for Others
A study in Brazil found that urban slums can offer upward mobility due to access to public education. But how true is that around the world?
Read more...War With Iran to Accelerate Trump’s Golden March to Ruin
The decision to go to war with Iran appears to have been made, and how that will sink Trump’s already failing rule and risk nuclear war.
Read more...Ralph Linton (1936), Identity Politics, and the Concept of Ascribed Status
Ralph Linton, arguably the father of what we now call identity politics, had some impressive insights as well as blind spots.
Read more...Links 2/14/2026
Trump’s Concentration Camp Build-Out Includes Nearly $40 Billion for Warehouse Conversions
Disclosure to a GOP governor confirms that Trump plans to devote nearly $40 billion to one element of his concentration camp plan.
Read more...Germany’s “Two-Speed Europe” Proposal Is the EU’s Adaptation to Great Power Geopolitics
Germany, following the European Commission’s lead, is moving forward a plan for the biggest members to impose decisions on the others.
Read more...When War Weakens Democracy
Wars often undermine democracy, but it appears that that result is not baked in but operates in particular circumstances.
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