The Five Dogmas of DEI

Source: Persuasion
by Joseph Heath

“The efforts of the Trump administration to purge DEI (‘diversity, equity and inclusion’) programs from the federal government bureaucracy have revealed an enormous amount of confusion about what DEI actually is (or was). In part this is due to the way it was sold by its practitioners, who often presented it as a straightforward extension of the ideas and principles that animated the civil rights movement of the 1960s. In reality, many of their claims were a lot more controversial. If there is any hope for resisting the full-fledged assault that is taking place, it should begin with a re-examination of these claims, with an eye to producing a more defensible body of doctrine.” (03/04/25)

https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-five-dogmas-of-dei

Scientists aiming to bring back woolly mammoth create woolly mice

Source: The Guardian [UK]

“A plan to revive the mammoth is on track, scientists have said after creating a new species: the woolly mouse. Scientists at the US biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences plan to “de-extinct” the prehistoric pachyderms by genetically modifying Asian elephants to give them woolly mammoth traits. They hope the first calf will be born by the end of 2028. Ben Lamm, co-founder and chief executive of Colossal, said the team had been studying ancient mammoth genomes and comparing them with those of Asian elephants to understand how they differ and had already begun genome-editing cells of the latter. Now the team say they have fresh support for their approach after creating healthy, genetically modified mice that have traits geared towards cold tolerance, including woolly hair. ‘It does not accelerate anything but it’s a massive validating point,’ Lamm said.” (03/04/25)

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/04/genetically-modified-woolly-mice-mammoth

Trump’s China policy: A complete unknown?

Source: Garrison Center
by Michael D Swaine

“Only one month in, the foreign policy moves of the Trump Administration in Europe, the Middle East, and North America indicate that radical, tumultuous change, marked most notably by major reversals in long-standing U.S. stances, could be the norm over at least the next four years. Following Trump’s threats to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland and absorb Canada, along with his apparent support for Russia over Ukraine and his bizarre offer to turn Gaza into the Riviera of the Middle East by removing the Palestinian population, one might ask what is in store for Asia, and China in particular. Thus far, Trump has said relatively little about the region other than to predictably threaten tariffs against China and others while offering the prospect of welcoming some forms of Chinese investment into the United States and dissing Taiwan. However, this is unlikely to remain the case.” (03/04/25)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-china-policy/

Putin’s Useful Idiots Ambush Democracy [sic]

Source: Common Dreams
by Steven Harper

“‘This is going to be great television.’ But it wasn’t great. It was tragic. U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment at the conclusion of his unprecedented public outburst directed toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked a milestone in a momentous week: Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda became ‘America Alone … with Russia.’ Trump and Vice President JD Vance shouted at Zelenskyy, a beleaguered wartime leader [sic] struggling to defend his democratic [sic] nation against Russia’s invasion. They scolded him for not thanking Trump, who slowed to a trickle the flow of American weapons to Ukraine. In rejecting Trump’s request, Zelenskyy joined Trump’s list of ‘enemies.’ To get even, Trump is now helping Russia negotiate what it could not achieve after three years on the battlefield: the conquest of Ukraine.” (03/04/25)

https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/trump-vance-putin

Turkey and Iran summon each other’s diplomats after Ankara criticizes Iranian support to militias

Source: ABC News

“Iran and Turkey have summoned each other’s diplomats for discussions, officials said Tuesday, after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized Tehran’s policy of supporting militias in Syria and elsewhere. On Monday, a top aide to Iran’s foreign minister met with the Turkish ambassador to Tehran and emphasized the need to avoid ‘inappropriate remarks and unrealistic analyses that could lead to disputes and tensions in bilateral relations,’ according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement. The Iranian official, Mahmoud Heidari, also told the Turkish ambassador that Muslim countries should focus their efforts on halting Israel’s ‘crimes and aggressions’ in the Palestinian territories and Syria. Turkey reciprocated on Tuesday by inviting the Iranian charge d’affaires for discussions.” (03/04/25)

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkey-iran-summon-diplomats-after-ankara-criticizes-iranian-119424741

Does the Government Keep Society Running in the Background?

Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Patrick Carroll

“When considering the prospect of a minimal or even non-existent state, many are understandably concerned about how society would function. Doesn’t the government provide vital services ‘behind the scenes’ that keep society running? Wouldn’t there be chaos and disorder without those services? These are legitimate apprehensions that are worth taking seriously. Leaping into a vastly different governing system could cause serious problems, so we need to be confident before we make the leap that we aren’t jumping into a dystopia. Fortunately, economic reasoning gives us good reasons to be optimistic.” (03/04/25)

https://mises.org/mises-wire/does-government-keep-society-running-background

Panama: BlackRock strikes deal to bring ports on both sides of canal under American control

Source: SFGate

“The Hong Kong-based conglomerate that operates ports near the Panama Canal has agreed to sell shares of its units that operate the ports to a consortium including BlackRock Inc., after President Donald Trump alleged Chinese interference with the operations of the critical shipping lane. In a filing, CK Hutchison Holding said Tuesday that it would sell all shares in Hutchison Port Holdings and all shares in Hutchison Port Group Holdings. The two units hold 80% of the Hutchison Ports group that operates 43 ports in 23 countries. The consortium, comprised of BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners and Terminal Investment Limited will acquire 90% interests in Panama Ports Company, which owns and operates the ports of Balboa and Cristobal in Panama, according to the filing.” (03/04/25)

https://www.sfgate.com/news/politics/article/blackrock-strikes-deal-to-bring-ports-on-both-20201812.php