Nonzero, 09/08/26
Source: bloggingheads.tv
“Israel’s Lobby | Robert Wright, Eli Clifton, and Ian Lustick.” (09/08/26)
Bypassing the grid won’t save us from having to build more of it
Source: Niskanen Center
by Rachel Levine
“The ‘co-location’ of power plants and large energy users on the same site is gaining traction as a way to provide electricity to data centers without raising household bills. It seems like a quick fix but is really a symptom of a grid that has struggled to anticipate and meet rising demand. While co-location may provide near-term relief for select industries willing to pay for it, it won’t scale to keep power reliable and affordable for everyone. To do that, we need interregional, high-voltage transmission to arbitrage power over long distances to serve load wherever it is.” [editor’s note: No, we need decentralized and localized generation. “The grid” is obsolete technology – TLK] 09/08/26)
https://www.niskanencenter.org/bypassing-the-grid-wont-save-us-from-having-to-build-more-of-it/
TX: Republicans gathering for “Trump-a-palooza” convention in Dallas
Source: SFGate
“Republicans are gathering in Dallas on Wednesday for a highly unusual midterm convention, a ‘Trump-a-Palooza’ that will put President Donald Trump at the center of this fall’s midterm elections — whether the candidates running like it or not. New financial disclosures show Trump gave sizeable cash gifts to Natalie Harp and several other top aides. A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the gifts were ‘entirely permissible under relevant legal and ethical standards’. And Americans are more skeptical of government information than they were a few years ago, with majorities now saying they have little or no trust in federal government information about elections and politics, foreign affairs or the environment, a new poll finds.” (09/09/26)
What Does a Streetcar System Cost?
Source: Show-Me Institute
by Patrick Tuohey
“Kansas City just spent over $100 million per mile for its Main Street streetcar extension, making it the most expensive system per mile in the United States. Last year, Randall O’Toole estimated that the average streetcar cost per mile is around $91 million. It’s worth looking at some recent examples to see if that number is accurate. Looking at recently opened systems (see table below), the cost per mile seems to be lower, at about $61.6 million.” (09/08/26)
https://showmeinstitute.org/article/corporate-welfare/what-does-a-streetcar-system-cost/
Train Crashes Destroyed Their Towns, Will Yours Be Next?
Source: In These Times
by Maximillian Alvarez
“Nearly 10 years before the train derailment and subsequent chemical disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec experienced one of the deadliest rail disasters in North America. On July 6, 2013, a runaway train derailed in the center of town, leveling buildings and dumping millions of tons of crude oil onto the surrounding area. 47 people were killed in the explosion. In July, Maximillian Alvarez and Dr. Nicole Fabricant sat down with a panel of guests from East Palestine and Lac-Mégantic to discuss what happens when your town becomes a sacrifice zone and how residents can join together to fight back against the corporations responsible.” (09/08/26)
https://inthesetimes.com/article/train-crashes-destroyed-towns-working-people-podcast-east-palestine
Google to invest $15.1 billion in AI infrastructure in Finland
Source: United Press International
“U.S. Internet behemoth Google announced plans Wednesday to invest at least $15.1 billion into artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland, its largest single investment in Europe to date. The funds are to be invested over the next two years, including new data centers and other supporting infrastructure, as well as partnerships in the Finnish cities and municipalities of Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, it said. Data centers will be constructed in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, while Google’s existing data center in Hamina will be expanded.” (09/09/26)
Scooter Downey on The Scott Horton Show
Source: The Scott Horton Show
“Scott interviews Scooter Downey, a producer at the Tucker Carlson Network, about his new documentary series on the Oklahoma City bombing.” (09/08/26)
Higher Ed’s Great Correction: ‘Necessity Is the Mother of Invention’
Source: Independent Institute
by Richard K Vedder
“The university establishment is getting an overdue education in markets, mission, and public trust.” (09/08/26)
US forces strike Iranian oil tankers, Tehran targets Jordan base, US warships
Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“The United States has attacked five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and near Kharg Island after accusing Tehran of launching ballistic missiles at a US warship twice in two days. Iran responded to Tuesday’s attacks by firing missiles at US forces stationed at the Al Azraq base in Jordan. It also claimed additional strikes on at least two US vessels and eight tankers in the region, saying the assaults caused ‘great damage’.” (09/09/26)
Stop Letting Politicians Milk 9/11 For Their Own Benefit
Source: Garrison Center
by Thomas L Knapp
“As of September 8, Forbes reports, more than 100,000 people have signed a petition asking organizers of New York City’s 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony to ‘carefully consider whether [New York City mayor Zohran] Mamdani’s participation would align with the intention of the ceremony and the expectations of the families most directly affected by the tragedy.’ Coming from family members of people who died in the 9/11 attacks, the petition deserves a respectful hearing, whether the claims about Mamdani’s sentiments, sympathies and past actions ring true or not. They’re the people who lost loved ones. The ceremony is, or should be, for them. Unfortunately, some less deserving people compulsively run to the front of parades that aren’t about them. One such person is former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.” (09/08/26)