Overfed Orange Cat Who Looks Like a Pumpkin Finds a Loving Home With SPCA Cincinnati’s CEO LaughingSquid (resilc). My mother’s cat Michael was 27 pounds but he was small pony sized.
Alan Greenspan dies aged 100 Financial Times. I am posting on Greenspan, since here it is required to speak ill of the dead.
Before the 1950s, clover was a STANDARD component of American lawns.
Seed mixes included it on purpose.
Then broadleaf herbicides were invented.
They killed clover along with “weeds.” So the chemical companies rebranded clover as a weed — to sell more herbicide.
That’s it.… pic.twitter.com/7HNfwrXiGV
— The Fourth Musketeer (@IV_Musketeer) June 19, 2026
Ebola
Ebola cases in the Congo are surging, with more than 1,000 confirmed cases and 250 confirmed deaths in the DRC. CBS News’ @RamyInocencio , who is in neighboring Uganda, reports the Africa CDC says tens of thousands of people have been in contact with Ebola, which has not been… pic.twitter.com/pYKJIaHKbK
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 22, 2026
🚨 Let’s put the current #Ebola outbreak into perspective:
Just one month in, reported cases are already about 5 times higher than the combined total from the 2007 Uganda and 2012 DRC outbreaks caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus.
This is already the largest BDBV outbreak ever… https://t.co/ok452pd8Kw
— Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA (@KrutikaKuppalli) June 23, 2026
‼️🇮🇱 BREAKING: The Ebola disease has started to spread in the “israeli” settler entity. The second case has been recently recorded.
Haaretz reported the first case yesterday.
— David Roth-Lindberg (@RothLindberg) June 21, 2026
#COVID-19/Pandemics
COVID-19 may occasionally leave behind more than fatigue and brain fog—it can trigger striking focal neurological syndromes.
➡️ Researchers describe a woman who developed painful tonic spasms—sudden, severe, involuntary posturing attacks—just two weeks after COVID-19. MRI… pic.twitter.com/LqMsFPQkYw
— Vipin M. Vashishtha (@vipintukur) June 23, 2026
⚡ A striking new clue to the mystery of Long COVID:
➡️ More than 80% of patients in this study showed evidence of central sensitization—a condition in which the brain and nervous system become hypersensitive, amplifying fatigue, pain, dizziness, brain fog, and other symptoms.… pic.twitter.com/KbY7JBRQnx
— Vipin M. Vashishtha (@vipintukur) June 22, 2026
Climate/Environment
Seal pups and seabird chicks are suffering in extreme weather. How can we protect them? The Conversation
Climate change may soon cause a catastrophic loss of global biodiversity Nature
A Missing Piece in Climate Models: Nature’s Own Emission Yale 360
Out-of-Control Icebergs Are Wreaking Havoc on the Oceans Futurism
🚨 Update: Niño 3.4 has continued its upward climb — now 29.37°C on June 18.
That is an extraordinary mid-June reading, with 2026 continuing to run above the entire historical pack in the NOAA OISST record.
El Niño is natural. But this is El Niño developing in a warmer ocean… pic.twitter.com/QJnfHJgpZJ
— The Global Warmer🔥🌏 🔥 (@TheGlobalWarmer) June 19, 2026
Britain facing ‘tropical night’ temperatures as extreme heat warning issued Sky
EXTRAORDINARY HEAT WAVE IN WEST ASIA
History is being rewritten with this deadly heat wave which broke WORLD RECORDS
of June hottest nights at high elevations
RECORDS
MINIMUM 30.2 Tehran IRAN 1200m 35.6N
MINIMUM 32.1 Ekezhe TURKMENISTAN
Maxes up to 52C next days ! HISTORIC pic.twitter.com/s6Js9zneJh
— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) June 22, 2026
‘Termination shock’: trust our expert warnings on geoengineering’s planetary risks Guardian
China?
China imposes trade curbs on dozens of U.S. firms in retaliation for Pentagon blacklist CNBC
DARPA needs new powerful batteries for the Department of War. But China just built them Kevin Walmsley
Transmission Dominance with Chinese Characteristics China Talk
Japan
Japan’s FX messaging keeps markets on edge over yen intervention risk Reuters
Japan’s FX interventions on the JPY are looking more and more like a cry for help than a show of force https://t.co/vJvUvlvthO pic.twitter.com/2J5GVMRnBE
— JustDario (@DarioCpx) June 23, 2026
Koreas
South Korea slams North Korea’s ‘intensified’ border fencing Anadolu Agency
Korean won hits weakest June level since 1998 crisis AJP
India-Pakistan
Pak Minister Threatens War Against India Over Water Security Amid Crisis NDTV
At least seven killed in twin roadside bombings in northwest Pakistan Independent
Southeast Asia
Thailand rejects Cambodia’s border claims, urges joint fact-finding to avoid escalation Nation Thailand
Africa
10,000 infected in major cholera outbreak in northern Nigeria Yahoo
Red Flags in the Red Sea Corridor as Sudan’s War Goes Beyond Borders BISI
South Africa’s second-biggest medical aid at risk of financial collapse Daily Investor
Ebola closure cuts off a lifeline between DRC’s Goma and Rwanda Aljazeera
Nigerian troops kill 18 terrorists in northeast operations, military says TRT
Not just a hideout: Sahel forests provide base for jihadists Agence France-Presse
As climate shifts, malaria gains ground in southern Africa Malaysian Reserve
Israel deployed troops to Somaliland after recognition, source says Middle East Eye
South of the Border
US strike on an alleged drug boat kills 2, leaves 6 survivors, in the eastern Pacific Ocean Independent
Trinidad’s Continuous State of Emergency BISI
Colombia’s escalating, brutal internal conflict is defining its presidential election BBC
Bolivian president declares state of emergency and deploys military to quell anti-government protests Guardian
European Disunion
ECB’s Chief Economist Sees Prolonged Period Of High Inflation Wall Street Journal
German farmers warn of liquidity crisis as prices fall and costs rise Yahoo
Zelensky’s Interview Poured Fuel On The Flames Of His Spiraling UPA Dispute With Poland Andrew Korybko
Thousands of staff at Czech public broadcasters strike over funding plans Guardian
Balkans
‘We want a new Albania’: protests against Jared Kushner-backed resort turn anger on government Guardian
Old Blighty
Burnham set for coronation Telegraph
I didn’t think I could hate a PM more than Blair and then came Starmer.
I didn’t think Burnham could be worse.
He’s determined to prove me wrong. https://t.co/cuPJsWrQuT
— Kathleen Tyson (@Kathleen_Tyson_) June 23, 2026
Starmer says new PM to take over mid July if Burnham unopposed, or by end of August if there’s election Guardian
Keir Starmer has gone — but we will never forget the role his government played in the greatest crime of our time.
Today, I re-presented my Bill for an independent inquiry into Britain’s complicity in genocide. pic.twitter.com/xuhNldAFai
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 22, 2026
Bank of England unveils Armageddon stress test scenario ‘more severe than the financial crisis’ City AM
Israel v. The Resistance
Report: Netanyahu ‘in panic’ over new US-Iran Lebanon oversight mechanism; US official denies Israel excluded Times of Israel
Israel sets ‘conditions’ for ending occupation of south Lebanon: Report The Cradle (Kevin W)
‘JD Vance put lipstick on a pig: Iranians have the upper hand ‘ in peace negotiations FRANCE 24
US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil RT (Kevin W). Note too often misreported. Only a 60 day waiver
US eases oil sanctions as Iran denies Vance claim on nuclear inspectors BBC. BBC for a change is accurate in its headline.
A vessel sailing off Yemen’s coast came under attack, the second such incident in less than two weeks, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday Shafaq
So…let me get this straight…the gReAtEsT mIdDlE eAsT wAr EvEr, that was TOTALLY won with high-precision, had only three candidates that US-Israel deemed as viable replacements for Ayatollah Khamenei…
1) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
2) Masoud Pezeshkian (the current president),…
— Brandon Weichert (@WeTheBrandon) June 23, 2026
The Iran War Dead-Enders Daniel Larison
New Not-So-Cold War
Russian attacks could cut Ukraine grain exports by a third Reuters
Sabotage at the bottom of the sea The Times. Micael T: “So now it is a porn star who blew up Nord Stream. This is just getting more and more silly.”
For those with strong stomachs: Anne Applebaum and Fiona Hill: Are the Autocrats Winning?” YouTube. Robin K: “In case you’re wondering about the state of the US neocon narrative on Russia-US-EU-Ukraine. Remember: this pair are two of our “best minds” on international affairs.”
Dispute over second world war army unit threatens to divide Poland and Ukraine Guardian
Imperial Collapse Watch
When Military Fellows Replace Hill Staff Antiwar.com (Kevin W)
Breaking Back into Reality Postliberal Order
Trump 2.0
‘Blatantly unlawful’: Judge blocks DOJ subpoenas aimed at Tim Walz Politico
🔵 House Democrats Attack Trump Over Iran Sanctions Relief
House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats assailed the Trump administration after the Treasury issued a 60-day license authorizing the sale of Iranian crude and oil products, the initial sanctions relief at the heart of… https://t.co/zJpbKLGZLG
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) June 23, 2026
Staggering amounts of fentanyl hit streets as the DEA watched and took no action, records show Associated Press (resilc)
Economy
‘Running off the cliff’: An explosion of household debt has put the US economy in a tough spot Yahoo
AI
GOP embraces speculation about China’s role in data center backlash The Hill
AI risks triggering ‘catastrophic’ phone network blackouts Telegraph
Trump’s Iran peace deal is suddenly wobbling. The AI bubble is, too Australian Financial Review
Have we officially entered an AI bubble? Just look at San Francisco’s bonkers housing market Independent
Guillotine Watch
Those of us on the academic and research side who have been warning of the threat of the billionaire class, and specifically the dark enlighten neo reactionary sect of techno fascists tried to tell yall this was how it was going to end.
They plan to murder humanity. https://t.co/X1fr4yJfpA pic.twitter.com/FlqLmKofVI
— K(sad trombone noise enthusiast) (@brainnotonyett) June 20, 2026
Apocalypse Early Warning System Kyle McDonald
Antidote du jour. Tracie H: “Saw this lovely Swallowtail hanging out between a Magnolia tree and this Lily of the Nile on this morning’s walk.”
A bonus (Chuck L):
I had a magical experience with a bumblebee yesterday. I saw her on the bike path and thought she was a goner, she couldn’t move her front legs but I still didn’t want her squished so I tried bringing her to a flower and she starting eating! But the coolest thing was… 1/ pic.twitter.com/gNhT5TywI5
— Danica Priest🦇🦎🦇🦎🍃💚🍃 (@DanicaPriest) June 20, 2026
A second bonus:
Cooling down.. 😊 pic.twitter.com/eycDJCTqc3
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) June 23, 2026
A third:
This would have been hard to believe if it hadn’t been recorded pic.twitter.com/S28TWW0V1T
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) June 22, 2026
And a different sort of bonus:
W Dad pic.twitter.com/YeLVjjHLko
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) June 18, 2026
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
