Is ambient music evil? Blackbird Spyplane
The San Andreas fault has gone ominously silent. Scientists fear when it finally snaps Los Angeles Times
Private equity is buying up Canada’s disaster economy. Consumers will suffer Globe and Mail
James Webb Space Telescope discovers how black holes feed themselves Space.com
Climate/Environment
Holy Smokes! Tariffs, Sanctions, and Threatening Letters, Oh My! The Trade Off
Massive fire becomes Norway’s largest in modern times after destroying more than 100 homes AP
Hundreds evacuated as wildfire scorches 13,000 hectares in Spain National Post
It’s now estimated that nearly 400,000 acres have burned due to the wildfires caused lightning across Oregon and Washington.
This is the live view of the Akawa Butte Fire this afternoon in Jefferson county. This mirrors many active wildfires across the PNW, as a warming and… https://t.co/7hwdWvmLbJ pic.twitter.com/ExRYXUY1tN
— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 19, 2026
Pantanal, home to world’s largest tropical wetland area and largest flooded grasslands:
Large wildfire is burning across the Pantanal region near Bolivia and Brazil, with thick smoke visible from across the river and potential to reach Paraguay’s Chaco Central area pic.twitter.com/qvJ0Whpb7R
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) July 18, 2026
Heavy rain is causing flash flooding and flooded streets across #NewYork City.
NYC streets turning into canals after one storm is becoming way too familiar. Stay safe out there. pic.twitter.com/FR2vsAPIpj
— AugustinBrian🇺🇸 (@AugustinBrian3) July 20, 2026
Water
More water pipes burst in Venice, Hollywood as Sunset Strip repairs enter day 4 Los Angeles Times
🚨BREAKING:
110 year old water line????
The West Hollywood water main break Thursday morning of over 17 Million gallons of water, was from what CBS LA is reporting as a 110 year old water pipe line from 1916, as the culprit. pic.twitter.com/9AXwuuAToi
— A Conservative Dad (@AConservativeDa) July 18, 2026
China?
China prepares to hit asteroid using projectile with 26 times the speed of sound interesting Engineering
Beijing steps in to stem China’s stock market decline with US$8.9b in state purchases South China Morning Post
The rice that grew only on paper Pekingnology
India
India bans march on Parliament by ‘Cockroach’ activists, standoff looms Straits Times. Live updates.
Syraqistan
‘Gaza is ours,’ says Ben Gvir as he joins Israeli ministers in march demanding return of settlements First Post
Israel clears legal path for Ben Gvir’s plan to surround Palestinian detainees with crocodiles The Cradle
Israel issues eviction, demolition orders for Palestinian homes north of East Jerusalem Anadolu Agency
US Troop Casualties Pile Up as Iran Goes to Town on US Bases Simplicius
Lavrov Warned That Western Arms & Ammo Are Being Sent From Ukraine To ISIS-K In Afghanistan Andrew Korybko
Uncle Sam’s Ultimatum: Why Washington is forcing KDP and PUK to unite their Peshmerga forces? Burhan N.S JAF
The reported deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically under a U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement. Riyadh would sign a 123 agreement, but apparently without first adopting the IAEA Additional Protocol. https://t.co/G4X66hJRAq
— Nicole Grajewski (@NicoleGrajewski) July 19, 2026
European Disunion
EU faces crumbling support for new Russia sanctions FT
Hungary’s former government quietly invested almost EUR 300 million in Rheinmetall’s tank development DailyNewsHungary
Thousands of Italian military and police personnel march in Rome over pay and pensions Euronews
Africa
The US army veteran and the mystery Boeings flying Sudan’s war routes Reuters
O Canada
A blueprint for Canada’s food future Canadian Affairs
Old Blighty
Burnham to announce plans for new North Sea oil and gas drilling BBC
Burnham to scrap digital ID to focus on cost of living in first major policy pledge BBC
Britain’s Big Brother state is already here – we just don’t realise it yet Jonathan Cook
New Not-So-Cold War
Apparently Trump’s super sleuths still haven’t made the connection between Trump approving US target intelligence for Ukraine’s deep strikes into Russia, and Russia providing target intelligence to Iran on US sites. Slow learners. https://t.co/AldbWgod6W
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 18, 2026
Russia has many logistics ports. Ukraine has just one.
If Odessa sustains further serious damage, Kievs ability to receive critical supplies from partners, and resupply troops in the South could be severely impacted. https://t.co/F9WS1MSGtN
— Zagonel (@Zagonel85) July 19, 2026
Ukraine accelerates privatisation drive with sale of strategic industrial assets Intellinews
Azov Sea disruption puts Black Sea wheat logistics under pressure Miller Magazine
Kazakhstan to ban wheat imports for six months – Agriculture Ministry order APK-Inform. Including from Eurasian Economic Union members. Nearly 100% of Kazakhstan’s wheat imports come from Russia.
Trump 2.0
They’re Launching A New COINTELPRO For The 21st Century Caitlin Johnstone. Going after the left while, per Lavrov’s statement from above, arming ISIS-K in Afghanistan via fascists in Ukraine.
Trump treads lightly with China despite sweeping election claims The Hill
TrumpRx promised a supermarket for cheaper drugs but delivered a boutique NPR
GOP Funhouse
‘Cancer Doesn’t Care What Party You Belong To’: Poisoned Water Is Turning This Rural State Bluer Politico
Democrats Suck
Shah drops out, clearing Jackson’s path to winning U.S. Senate nomination Maine Morningstar
I am Thinking of Running for Congress Against AIPAC Ivey Sam Husseini
Brooklyn Reformers Set to Oust Embattled Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn The City Reporter
Abdul El-Sayed outraises Haley Stevens, but super PACs dominate Senate race Bridge Michigan
Police State Watch
ICE shared Medicaid data it wasn’t supposed to have with Palantir NPR
Inside ICE’s Plan to Stop Renting Detention Space and Start Building It Project Salt Box
Big Brother Is Watching You Watch
In Light of Overwhelming Backlash, Flock Cancels Creepy Audio Surveillance Feature Futurism
Apple Has Reportedly Started Recording and AI-Summarizing Conversations at the Genius Bar Gizmodo
Groves of Academe
IN TEXAS SCHOOLS, A CRISIS OF ARRESTS OF KIDS AS YOUNG AS 10 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 Plant Failed To Produce Any 155mm Parts The War Zone
Drugs as a technology of power Hakan Illatiksi
AI
Using AI makes people less likely to admit they don’t know something The Register
Politicians Are Trying to Change What Chatbots Say About Them New York Times
Amsterdam activists throw acid at Microsoft datacenter project The Register
Our Famously Free Press
The Case of Fergie Chambers Decline and Fall
Taken for a Ride
Zoox issues software recall after a robotaxi got confused by heavy smoke TechCrunch
Robotaxi riders are falling asleep, sparking frantic emergency service calls Bloomberg
Cybersecurity risks posed by over-the-air tech in autos has analysts concerned CNBC
Five ways to be a happy skeptic Skye Cleary
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
