Getting to Know the Know-It-Alls: On a new history of pedantry Hedgehog Review (Micael T)
Folk Influences on 20th-Century Classical Music Jim Samson (Micael T)
The Art of Looking The Culture Dump (Micael T)
What kind of language is Eridian, question? Linguistic Discovery (Micael T)
Immortality Jospeh Diaz (Micael T). Not quite right. I know three people who have had near-death experiences, and none of them is afraid of dying.
A Christian Case for Gossip JSTOR (Micael T)
#COVID-19/Pandemics
Scientists find immune cell linked to long COVID fatigue and symptoms Science Daily
Climate/Environment
Beavers can convert stream corridors to persistent carbon sinks Nature (Micael T)
Limiting global warming to 2C would not ‘rule out’ extreme impacts Carbon Brief
Another day, another preliminary record for the global sea-surface temperature, and so it goes.
What makes today interesting is that SSTs are once again above a 10,000,000-to-1 event, assuming no climate change.
The peak anomaly was 4,435,000,000-to-1, on January 9, 2024. pic.twitter.com/zfrlxu1a1m
— Prof. Eliot Jacobson (@EliotJacobson) March 25, 2026
Pakistan world’s most polluted country in 2025: Report Aljazeera
China?
The Man Ordinary Chinese Chose to Trust Pekinology
Write up of my visits to eleven Chinese humanoid robotics firms Chang Che (guurst)
South of the Border
Two humanitarian aid boats heading to Cuba have gone missing, Mexico says Guardian (resilc)
European Disunion
EU lawmakers support EU–US trade deal, with conditions attached Euronews (Micael T)
George Beebe: Iran War Weakens Ukraine & Europe Remains Irrational Glenn Diesen, YouTube
Germany Drafts Plan to Hit US Companies in Next Trump Clash Bloomberg. Micael T: “This is cute but you also need a spine and competence to implement such a plan. Of which contemporary German leadership have none.”
Germany’s Uniper warns EU methane rules will hit Europe’s energy supplies Financial Times
Prison prepares for 13-year-olds – warden buys weighted blankets to combat anxiety Arbetet via machine translation
Old Blighty
UK food supply at risk of ‘catastrophic failure’ by 2030, report warns Farming UK
More than 6m vapes and pods discarded weekly in UK despite single-use ban, study finds Guardian (resilc)
Israel v The Resistance
📍Wadi Shek
26.3.26 – 09:00
A., Palestinian shepherd who has been tightly persecuted by the occupation forces, was arrested again while grazing on private Palestinian lands he rents, within a so called "firing zone". A herd of settlers owned by Tzuri Lilenthal from the illegal… pic.twitter.com/db7TyVxEuq— Jordan Valley Activists نشطاء غور الأردن (@JVActivists) March 26, 2026
🧵"We'll bring down the authority of evil and terror known as the PA. We will erase the lines and definitions and the letters [A, B, C areas]. We'll settle our land in all its territory."
Last Sunday, at the funeral of Hilltop Youth Yehuda Shmuel Sherman, Bezalel Smotrich gave a… https://t.co/rJfzDG4s9X pic.twitter.com/Fp04yAS5le
— B.M. (@ireallyhateyou) March 27, 2026
From yesterday, still germane:
🇮🇱Tel Aviv was plunged into darkness without electricity and water. They experienced a terrifying night due to the complete failure of the Iron Dome defense system and the Iranian bombing of a power plant, which caused widespread power outages.☀🌚 pic.twitter.com/E5L2B7qKKM
— Mr. Hass 💛 (@Lassegaf_1) March 27, 2026
To End the Iran War, Trump Must Divorce Israel American Conservative (resilc). As Joe Kent has been saying….
Israel tries to inflict the Gaza treatment on Iran:
The attempt to destroy Iranian knowledge
Yesterday, March 26th, the Isfahan University of Technology was targeted. Today, the 27th, the Tehran University of Technology also came under heavy bombardment.
These events reinforce my previous point that one of the primary… pic.twitter.com/pNbdsD5883
— Patricia Marins (@pati_marins64) March 28, 2026
Why Trump only has a month left to end the war Telegraph. Word of the low stockpiles is getting out.
Hormuz Chokehold and Iran’s Strategy of Economic Coercion Valdai Club (Robin K)
The Empire versus Iran: Which Side Are You On? Counterpunch (resilc)
New Not-So-Cold War
Trump extends certain US sanctions against Russia for one year TASS (guurst)
Trump shares article on Ukrainian plot to fund Biden reelection RT
Zakharova Tore Apart Ukraine’s Response To India’s Arrest Of Its Mercenaries Andrew Korybko
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
NYPD says it’s tracking online radicalization after failed Gracie Mansion attack Gothamist
Imperial Collapse Watch
Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound Wired (resilc)
Nonfiction Publishing, Under Threat, Is More Important Than Ever New Republic (Micael T)
At Pentagon Service, Hegseth Prays for Violence Against Those Who ‘Deserve No Mercy’ Antiwar.com (Kevin W)
Trump 2.0
Trump Drops $1B to Kill 2 Wind Farms, Then Watches a Bigger One Go Online Gizmodo (Kevin W)
Defense Secretary Hegseth intervened to stop promotions of Black and female officers NPR (Kevin W)
US passengers enraged by hours-long lines and missed flights: ‘Absolutely insane’. Guardian. DHS blowback.
Immigration
Louisiana crawfish industry hampered by limits on foreign workers Associated Press (resilc)
Shortages
Panic buying prompts PM to reassure Australians over fuel supply BBC
Economy
Energy-Price Shock Hits a World Already Buried in Debt Wall Street Journal
US Winemakers and Beer Brewers Face an Existential Crisis: Plunging Alcohol Consumption Wolf Richter
Even wealthy Americans are souring on the economy as gas prices spike and stocks fall CNN (Kevin W)
Flights, fertilizer, mortgage rates: how the Iran war is raising more than just US gas prices Guardian
Mr. Market is Hypnotized
Finance Isn’t Prepared for an Iran Crisis. It Should Be Bloomberg. Official editorial.
US bond market shows signs of strain as Iran war sparks Treasury tumult Financial Times
The Next Financial Shock to Come From Trump’s War With Iran New Republic (resilc)
Antitrust
The Industry That Laughs at You | Live Nation Leaked Chats, Charlie Puth AI Deal, and Sony’s Royalty Robbery Vinyl Culture (Micael T)
AI
What Is Anthropic Thinking? Derek Thompson (Micael T)
Welcome to a Multidimensional Economic Disaster. The AI boom wasn’t built for the polycrisis Atlantic
The Pentagon’s AI Gatekeeper Holds Stock In Anthropic’s Rival Lever News (resilc)
Wittgenstein’s Apocalypse Commonweal (Anthony L)
Class Warfare
Class-warfare and Social Disorder in Wealth of Nations nesio13
Children’s screen time is a class issue Arbetaren via machine translation
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Facts Only
Scientists identified an immune cell linked to long COVID fatigue and symptoms.
Beavers can convert stream corridors into persistent carbon sinks, according to a study in *Nature*.
Global sea-surface temperatures reached a 10,000,000-to-1 event threshold, with a peak anomaly of 4,435,000,000-to-1 on January 9, 2024.
Pakistan was reported as the world’s most polluted country in 2025 by Aljazeera.
Two humanitarian aid boats heading to Cuba went missing, as reported by Mexico’s government.
EU lawmakers supported a conditional EU–US trade deal.
Germany drafted a plan to impose sanctions on U.S. companies in anticipation of a potential Trump administration clash.
Uniper warned that EU methane rules could disrupt Europe’s energy supplies.
A UK report warned of "catastrophic failure" in the country’s food supply by 2030.
Over 6 million vapes and pods are discarded weekly in the UK despite a single-use ban.
Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian shepherd in Wadi Shek, within a designated "firing zone."
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for dismantling the Palestinian Authority and expanding settlements.
Tel Aviv experienced widespread power and water outages following Iranian airstrikes and Iron Dome failures.
Iranian universities, including Isfahan University of Technology and Tehran University of Technology, were bombed on March 26 and 27, 2026.
Trump extended certain U.S. sanctions against Russia for one year.
The NYPD announced it is tracking online radicalization after a failed attack on Gracie Mansion.
Anduril, a defense tech company, faced setbacks in its efforts to dominate military AI and robotics.
U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth intervened to block promotions of Black and female military officers.
Louisiana’s crawfish industry faced labor shortages due to restrictions on foreign workers.
Panic buying in Australia led to fuel supply concerns, prompting reassurance from the prime minister.
Global debt and energy price shocks exacerbated economic instability.
U.S. winemakers and beer brewers faced declining alcohol consumption trends.
Financial markets showed strain amid the Iran conflict, with Treasury yields fluctuating.
Live Nation was accused of exploitative practices in the music industry, including AI deals and royalty disputes.
The Pentagon’s AI ethics overseer held stock in a rival firm to Anthropic.
Class disparities were highlighted in discussions of children’s screen time and social disorder.
Executive Summary
The article presents a diverse collection of global news and analysis, spanning environmental, geopolitical, economic, and social issues. Key highlights include extreme climate events, with sea-surface temperatures reaching unprecedented levels and Pakistan being named the world's most polluted country in 2025. Geopolitical tensions are prominent, particularly the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, with reports of attacks on Iranian universities and infrastructure, alongside broader regional instability. Economic strains are evident, with energy price shocks, debt burdens, and supply chain disruptions affecting multiple sectors, including food and fuel. Domestic issues in the U.S. and Europe are also covered, such as immigration challenges, labor shortages, and political maneuvering, including Germany's potential trade retaliation against the U.S. under a future Trump administration. The piece also touches on cultural and technological themes, such as AI development, class dynamics, and media manipulation.
The narrative is fragmented, reflecting the complexity of interconnected global crises. While some entries provide direct reporting (e.g., scientific findings on long COVID or climate data), others blend analysis with opinion, particularly in geopolitical and economic sections. The tone varies from factual reporting to provocative commentary, with some contributors explicitly critiquing leadership or policies. The inclusion of social media posts and opinion pieces adds layers of perspective but also introduces potential bias. Overall, the compilation underscores a world grappling with overlapping crises, where environmental, economic, and political pressures are intertwined, though the lack of cohesive framing leaves interpretation open to the reader.
Full Take
This compilation of global news and analysis presents a world in flux, where environmental, geopolitical, and economic crises intersect. The strongest version of this narrative is its portrayal of systemic fragility—climate anomalies, war, economic instability, and social unrest are not isolated but reinforcing. The inclusion of scientific data (e.g., long COVID research, beaver carbon sinks) grounds the piece in empirical reality, while geopolitical updates (Israel-Iran escalation, EU-U.S. trade tensions) highlight the precarity of international relations. The economic strain—from fuel shortages to debt crises—paints a picture of a system struggling under cumulative pressures. The piece also nods to cultural and technological shifts, such as AI’s role in military and media, suggesting these are not just background trends but active drivers of change.
However, the narrative’s fragmented structure risks overwhelming the reader with disparate crises without clear connective tissue. Some entries lean into provocative framing (e.g., "Germany’s plan to hit U.S. companies is cute but lacks spine"), which could be seen as emotional exploitation (ARC-0012) or exaggeration to absurdity (ARC-0021). The blend of hard news, opinion, and social media snippets also introduces potential distortion, as context is often stripped away (e.g., the Tel Aviv blackout tweet lacks verification). The piece’s reliance on multiple contributors—some identified, others anonymous—raises questions about authority games (ARC-0034), where credibility is borrowed without transparency.
At its core, this narrative reflects a paradigm of polycrisis, where interconnected systems (climate, economy, governance) are failing in tandem. The unstated assumption is that these crises are inevitable, with little agency afforded to institutions or individuals to mitigate them. This echoes historical patterns of decline narratives, where complexity is weaponized to induce paralysis rather than action. The implications for human dignity are stark: those already marginalized (Palestinian shepherds, foreign workers, Black and female officers) bear disproportionate costs, while elites (defense contractors, tech oligarchs) consolidate power.
Bridge questions: How might these crises be reframed as opportunities for systemic reform rather than inevitable collapse? What perspectives—particularly from Global South voices—are missing in this Western-centric compilation? Would evidence of successful resilience (e.g., renewable energy transitions, diplomatic breakthroughs) shift the narrative’s tone?
Counterstrike scan: If this were an influence campaign, the playbook would amplify despair (ARC-0005) by flooding the zone with crises, using emotional triggers (e.g., "catastrophic failure," "terrifying night") to erode trust in institutions. The actual content partially matches this pattern—especially in its selective focus on failures over solutions—but the inclusion of diverse sources and empirical data tempers the manipulation. The most concerning alignment is the lack of counter-narratives, which could leave readers feeling powerless. Still, the piece stops short of full-blown doom-mongering, instead presenting a mosaic of challenges that invite critical engagement.
Patterns detected: ARC-0012 Emotional Exploitation, ARC-0021 Exaggeration to Absurdity, ARC-0034 Authority Games
Sentinel — Human
This text shows signs of being likely human-written. While there are some stylistic variations, the presence of personal anecdotes and opinions suggests human authorship.
