Links 1/24/2026 | naked capitalism

Metal Fans Unlikely To Cheat, Jazz Fans Are Boning Everyone According To A Study Metal in Action (Micael T)

Welcome to the wild world of skijoring Economist (Dr. Kevin)

A brain glitch may explain why some people hear voices Daily Science (Kevin W)

A (Really) Brief History of Knowledge Colin McGinn (Anthony L)

How type 2 diabetes quietly damages blood vessels Science Daily (Kevin W)

Climate/Environment

Climate change is pushing insurance to breaking point Fintech Global

For 50 years, global warming had a very consistent trend (+0.19 °C/decade) with a boring, predictable range of natural variations around it.

During the last three years, we’ve broken out above that range, suggesting the pace of change has quickened. pic.twitter.com/1piLBJQw0a

— Dr. Robert Rohde (@RARohde) January 20, 2026

Air pollution a major financial risk for companies and investors Air Quality News

Scientists reveal the impact of air pollution on the human body Independent

AUSTRALIA HEAT WAVE

Brutal heat today with temperatures up to 48C in South Australia with the heat expected to just get worse.Next week will compete with Jan 1939 for the hottest week ever recorded in New South Wales:‼️We can approach 50C https://t.co/MgJK4FwUfr

— Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) January 24, 2026

Next week the US will have the “relative” coldest air on Earth. But notice the mid-latitudes in general from the US to Europe to Russia feature of band of cold anomalies, whereas the Arctic is warm all around. That’s precisely why the cold is being displaced south. pic.twitter.com/nRgx6Ny26c

— Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) January 22, 2026

Biodiversity collapse threatens UK security, intelligence chiefs warn Guardian

Tidö removed the plastic bag tax: now use is increasing Klimatgrantskaren. Micael T: “Tidö = the Swedish government.”

China?

China likely to lower 2026 growth target as global slowdown weighs Investing Live

China’s rural banks struggle to sell seized properties despite hefty discounts Reuters

Climbing the Ziggurat London Review of Books (Anthony L). On Xi.

Japan

Sanae Takaichi and Lee Jae Myung: Two Warmongers met in Japan New Eastern Outlook (Micael T)

Japan’s Takaichi fast headed for a Liz Truss moment Asia Times (Kevin W)

Japan suspends world’s largest nuclear plant hours after restart BBC (Kevin W)

Africa

Sharp rise in malnutrition cases, preventable diseases in Somalia: MSF Aljazeera

South of the Border

Trump Muses About Asking NATO to Help Protect US Southern Border Bloomberg

Only a Fraction of Venezuela’s Oil Is Economically Recoverable OilPrice

European Disunion

Trump warns of ‘big retaliation’ if Europe divests from US stocks and bonds TRT World

Fearing Potential Future Monsters, Playing Nice for the Monster in the Backyard Olivier Boyd-Barrett

Why so quiet from the NATO huggers? Tidnengen Global via machine translation (Micael T)

US must have rights to Greenland’s resources as it defends its territory — vice president TASS (guurst)

Trump sparks anger over claim Nato troops avoided Afghanistan front line BBC (Kevin W)

Greenland Yes, Western Sahara No? The EU’s self-determination test WSWR (Micael T)

Germany’s dramatic China car trade slump tests Merz’s tough talk at Davos South China Morning Post

Old Blighty

Food price inflation rises unexpectedly ECIU

Frustrated farmers target ports in fresh protests FWI

We have formally challenged my draconian bail conditions imposed by the London Met Police.

Following my fourth arrest in under three months, they combined these restrictions:

1. Banned from Palestine events in London.2. Curfewed to live and sleep at one address.3. Must notify… pic.twitter.com/hJc5MnpPhD

— Dr Rahmeh Aladwan (@doctor_rahmeh) January 23, 2026

Starmer pulls Chagos bill after Trump backlash Telegraph

Israel v. the Resistance

Israel’s foremost political commentator, and a close Netanyahu ally, affirms what I have been saying in recent weeks: a new, Sunni Axis of Resistance is emerging in West Asia, and Israel is freaking out.

Soon, they will start using their influence in the US to tarnish the Saudi… https://t.co/3dG9LJfu38

— Alon Mizrahi (@alon_mizrahi) January 22, 2026

Israel Boosts Funding to Propagandize Americans American Conservative (resilc)

West Bank Monthly Snapshot – Casualties, Property Damage and Displacement | December 2025 OCHA (guurst)

💢NEW: Israeli forces have begun digging a deep trench along the so-called “Yellow Line” in Gaza to block Palestinian movement, according to i24NEWS. The outlet said at least 1.5 km has been excavated in southern Gaza, with additional digging in the north and artificial berms… https://t.co/nX9g865cZO

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) January 22, 2026

Art-of-the Deal Theatre or War? Ronen Bergman: ‘The Ayatollahs won the first round; Iranian regime not in danger’ Conflicts Forum

Syraqistan

US threatens Iraq with dollar crunch over Iran-backed militias Financial Times (Kevin W). No archived version yet.

New Not-So-Cold War

Meaningless Talks in Moscow Larry Johnson

Moscow has made an elegant diplomatic move in a subtle game with the United States Vzglyad via machine translation

A Method to his Madness Scott Ritter

The impotence of the people Events in Ukraine

* * *

We will let nothing pass’: France intercepts Russia-linked oil tanker in Mediterranean France 24

How to Stop Western Maritime Lawlessness Vzglyad via machine translation (Micael T)

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

TikTok US venture to collect precise user location data BBC (Kevin W)

Imperial Collapse Watch

Is parliament now post-literate?, beware declining superpowers, thankfulness, awe and wonder, and how AI destroys institutions James Marriott (Micael T)

The “rupture in the world order”—World Economic Forum dominated by inter-imperialist conflict WSWS (Micael T)

The End of New START Daniel Larison

China, Pakistan are winning big contacts to modernize air forces in Asia, Middle East, and Africa Kevin Walmsley

Trump 2.0

The consent of the governed has been withdrawn G. Elliott Morris. Today’s must read.

Judge warns Trump administration against changing immigration status of plaintiffs in case The Hill

Not Out of the Woods. Will the National Parks survive this administration? In the Public Interest

There Will Be a Nuremberg-Style Trial W.A. Lawrence

ICE Rampage

ICE SHOOTING: NEW Explosive Evidence – DOJ Blocks Investigation (New Video Breakdown) Kristy Greenberg, YouTube. See the section starting at 15:40, which has a new video from the New York Times giving a clear view of the cop shooter Ross’s actions

‘Enough Is Enough’: Hundreds of Minnesota Businesses Take Stand Against ICE New York Times (resilc)

Over 700 Minnesota Businesses Closed – 300 Solidarity Actions Nationwide – Pittsburghers Occupy a Target Mike Elk

What the Minneapolis General Strike Will Mean in DC Mike Elk

The White House has confirmed its official X account posted a fake image of a woman arrested in Minnesota after interrupting a service at a church where an ICE official appears to be a pastor. The White House image altered the actual photo to wrongly make it seem like the… pic.twitter.com/8sloiPu2Q9

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 22, 2026

Surveillance and ICE Are Driving Patients Away From Medical Care, Report Warns Wired

Democrats en déshabillé

Trump Is Proving Democratic Presidents Weren’t Powerless Jacobin

Mamdani

Mayor Mamdani’s first real test? A snowstorm. Gothamist

Economy

Keynes and Money, or Where Has All the Money Gone? Robert Skidelsky. On military Keynesianism

Fix Credit Card Competition with Market Improvements, Not Rate Caps Adam Levitin. The lady doth protest too much on the virtues of markets, but the substance is informative.

Mr. Market is Giddy

Gold, silver and platinum extend record‑setting rally Reuters

President Trump really, really wants lower interest rates, and the Federal Reserve and other tools of state power have tried to deliver them. The bond market isn’t cooperating. Axios

Guillotine Watch

UPDATE BELOW ON THIS STORY- 🚨🚨🚨UNITED HEALTHCARE CAUGHTPAYING OFF NURSING HOMES TO LET SENIORS DIE INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL

UnitedHealth falls on report it secretly paid nursing homes to reduce hospital transfers | Reutershttps://t.co/CJjFQ4cmpn…

— Boone Cutler 🦬🇺🇸 🦅 (@boonecutler) January 22, 2026

Musk becomes a Davos man Oligarch Watch

Class Warfare

You’re Not a Progressive. You’re a Constitutionalist Christopher Armitage

Banal but brutal: Career anxiety is a driving force behind authoritarianism University of Copenhagen (Paul R)

The Erasure Economy: How Survival Becomes a Crime in America William Murphy (Micael T)

Socioeconomic inequality in longevity is larger than we thought VoxEU

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