Is ambient music bad? The Blackbird Spyplane
The San Andreas fault is eerily silent. Scientists are afraid when it finally captures the Los Angeles Times
Private equity buys Canada’s crisis economy. Consumers will suffer with the Globe and Mail
The James Webb Space Telescope discovers how black holes feed Space.com
Climate/Environment
Holy Smoke! Charges, Fines, and Threatening Letters, Oh My! The Trade Off
The biggest fire in Norway in recent times after destroying more than 100 AP homes
Hundreds have been evacuated as a wildfire burns 13,000 hectares in Spain’s National Post
It is now estimated that nearly 400,000 acres have burned from lightning-triggered wildfires in Oregon and Washington.
This is a live view of the Akawa Butte Fire this afternoon in Jefferson County. This shows more active wildfires throughout the PNW, as warming and… pic.twitter.com/ExRYXUY1tN
— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 19, 2026
The Pantanal, home to the world’s largest wetland and flooded grasslands:
A huge fire is burning in the Pantanal region near Bolivia and Brazil, thick smoke is visible across the river and may reach the Chaco Central region of Paraguay. pic.twitter.com/qvJ0Whpb7R
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) July 18, 2026
Heavy rain causes flooding and flooded streets across #NewYork City.
NYC streets turning into ditches after one storm has become all too common. Stay safe there. pic.twitter.com/FR2vsAPIpj
— AugustinBrian🇺🇸 (@AugustinBrian3) July 20, 2026
Water
Multiple water pipes burst in Venice, Hollywood as Sunset Strip repairs enter day 4 Los Angeles Times
🚨BREAKING:
A 110 year old water line????
A major water break in West Hollywood Thursday morning with more than 17 million gallons of water, came from what CBS LA reports as a 110-year-old water main line dating back to 1916, as the case. pic.twitter.com/9AXwuuAToi— Conservative Dad (@AConservativeDa) July 18, 2026
China?
China prepares to hit an asteroid using a projectile with a speed 26 times the sound of interesting engineering
Beijing steps in to stem China’s $8.9b stock market slump in state buyout of South China Morning Post.
Rice that grew only on paper Pekingnology
India
India shuts down Parliament march with ‘Cockroach’ activists, The Straits Times is close. Live updates.
Syracistan
‘Gaza is ours,’ said Ben Gvir as he joined Israeli ministers in a march demanding the return of the settlements.
Israel legalizes Ben Gvir’s plan to surround Palestinian prisoners with crocodiles Cradle
Israel issues an eviction order, and orders for the demolition of Palestinian homes north of East Jerusalem Anadolu Agency
US Military Casualties Stack As Iran Goes to Town on US Bases Simplicius
Lavrov Warns Of Western Weapons And Ammo Being Shipped From Ukraine To ISIS-K In Afghanistan Andrew Korybko
Uncle Sam’s Ultimatum: Why is Washington forcing the KDP and PUK to merge their Peshmerga forces? Burhan NS JAF
The reported deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically under the US-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement. Riyadh will sign the 123 agreement, but apparently without accepting the additional IAEA Protocol.
— Nicole Grajewski (@NicoleGrajewski) July 19, 2026
The breakup of Europe
EU faces eroding support for new Russia sanctions FT
The former Hungarian government quietly invested almost EUR 300 million in the development of Rheinmetall tanks DailyNewsHungary
Thousands of Italian soldiers and police march on Rome for pay and pensions Euronews
Africa
US military veteran and mystery Boeings flying on Sudanese war routes Reuters
O Canada
Blueprint for Canada’s food future Canada News
Old Blighty
Burnham to announce plans for BBC’s new North Sea oil and gas drilling rig
Burnham to ditch digital ID to focus on cost of living in BBC’s first major policy pledge
Britain’s Big Brother circuit is already here – we haven’t noticed Jonathan Cook yet
The New Cold War
Apparently Trump’s top experts have not made the connection between Trump allowing US intelligence on Ukraine’s deep offensive to Russia, and Russia providing Iran-targeted intelligence on American sites. Slow learners.
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 18, 2026
Russia has many logistics ports. Ukraine has only one.
If Odessa continues to suffer heavy damage, Kievs ability to get critical supplies from partners, and South African troops could have a big impact.
— Zagonel (@Zagonel85) July 19, 2026
Ukraine accelerates privatization drive with sale of strategic industrial assets Intellinews
The disruption in the Azov Sea puts Black Sea logistics of wheat under pressure Miller Magazine
Kazakhstan will ban the import of wheat outside of six months – the order of the Ministry of Agriculture APK-Inform. Including members of the Eurasian Economic Union. Almost 100% of Kazakhstan’s wheat imports come from Russia.
Trump 2.0
Introducing the New COINTELPRO for the 21st Century Caitlin Johnstone. Following the left while, according to Lavrov’s statement from above, arming ISIS-K in Afghanistan with fascists in Ukraine.
Trump treads lightly with China despite election claims dominating The Hill
TrumpRx promised a cheap drugstore but delivered boutique NPR
The GOP Funhouse
‘Cancer Doesn’t Care What Party You’re In’: Toxic Water Is Changing This Rural District Bluer Politico
Democracies are simple
Shah steps down, paving the way for Jackson to win Maine Morningstar’s US Senate nomination
I’m Considering Running For Congress Against AIPAC Ivey Sam Husseini
Brooklyn Reformers Prepare to Fire Controversial Democratic Party Chairman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn City Reporter
Abdul El-Sayed nominates Haley Stevens, but super PACs dominate Senate race Bridge Michigan
Police State Watch
ICE shared Medicaid data it shouldn’t have with Palantir NPR
Inside ICE’s Plan to Stop Renting Detention Centers and Begin Building the Salt Box Project
Big Brother is Watching You
Due to Bad Backlash, Herd Cancels Horror Soundtrack Feature Futurism
Apple Has Reportedly Started Recording and Briefing AI Interviews at Genius Bar Gizmodo
Academe qualifications
TEXAS SCHOOLS, DETENTION IS A PROBLEM FOR 10 YOUNG CHILDREN Texas Observer
The Accelerationists
Exclusive: California Forever loses $3.2 billion shipyard contract as defense startup picks Texas San Francisco Chronicle
Imperial Collapse Watch
New $500M Artillery Shell Factory Fails to Produce Any 155mm Parts Battlefield
Drugs as energy technology Hakan Illatiksi
The AI
Using AI makes people less likely to admit they don’t know something Register
Politicians Are Trying to Change What Chatbots Say About Them New York Times
Amsterdam activists throw acid at the Microsoft datacenter project The Register
Our Famously Free Press
Fergie Chambers’ Case Falls and Falls
You’re Taken for a Ride
Zoox issues software recall after robot gets confused by heavy smoke TechCrunch
The Robotaxi passengers fell asleep, prompting the emergency services to call Bloomberg
Cybersecurity risks posed by over-the-air technology in vehicles have CNBC analysts concerned
Five ways to be a happy skeptic Skye Cleary
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s links and the Antidote du Jour here.
