“The costs of this war will put added pressure on the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low and increase its purchase of Treasury bonds in order to monetize the federal debt. The pressure on the Fed will also increase as other countries reduce their purchase of US debt. These reductions will be motivated by concerns over the economic instability caused by the US government’s out of control spending and by resentment over the US government’s hyper-interventionist foreign policy. These factors could also accelerate the increasing rejection of the dollar’s world reserve currency status. A loss of the reserve currency status will cause a dollar crisis, leading to an economic crash worse than the Great Depression.” (03/09/26)
“When Americans initially hear the facts about the Emirates, most are incredulous. How can anywhere be 88% foreign-born yet remain a country? Isn’t ‘guest worker’ just a euphemism for ‘slave?’ But once you see the UAE with your own eyes, it’s hard not to scoff at these naive complaints. The UAE is totally a country, and no one buys plane tickets to become a slave. After Americans spend time in the UAE, their most sensible remaining critique is simply: ‘This immigration system works fine over in the Middle East. Maybe better than fine. But the American people would never tolerate the extreme inequality.’ … But are Americans really such egalitarian pearl clutchers?” (03/09/26)
“While we won’t know what’s in the files until their release, it’s possible to speculate a bit about the likely content based on the many past government disclosures on the subject. But the bigger mystery may be whether any released material could ever satisfy the public’s insatiable curiosity about the possibility of discovering or contacting lifeforms from beyond Earth.” (03/09/26)
“On the surface, everything between Vietnam and the United States looked better than it ever had. In September 2023, President Joe Biden and General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, elevating relations to their highest diplomatic tier. American officials toasted prosperity. Vietnamese leaders smiled for cameras. The messaging suggested a new chapter in a relationship once defined by napalm and body counts. Then, in early February 2026, a very different story emerged from behind the curtain.” (03/09/26)
“Global inequality has narrowed and the poor are gaining ground. If the system feels rigged, we should look to government policies that suppress competition and reward insiders.” (03/09/26)
“Country Joe McDonald, who formerly helmed Country Joe and the Fish, died Saturday. He was 84. The band announced the music artist’s death in Berkeley, Calif. on Facebook Sunday. The cause was listed as Parkinson’s Disease complications. … McDonald’s psychedelic rock band took to the stage before some 400,000 during Woodstock, The New York Times reported, performing ‘I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag,’ which criticized the Vietnam War. … McDonald ultimately branched off on his own, launching his solo career with Thinking of Woodie Guthrie.” (03/09/26)
