Climate change made LA fires far more likely, study says

“Human-caused climate change made the Los Angeles-area fires more likely and more destructive, according to a study”

“The study — from an international group of 32 climate researchers — shows how climate change fits into the myriad factors that made the multiple blazes one of California’s most destructive and expensive wildfire disasters on record.”

“The scientists found that low rainfall from October through December is now more than twice as likely compared to the climate that existed before humans began burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas for energy.”

“the LA fire season is becoming longer, with “highly flammable drought conditions” lasting about 23 more days now than during the preindustrial era.”

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/la-fires-cause-climate-change-more-likely

Brooks and Marcus on political reaction to Trump officials using app to discuss Yemen plan

Brooks and Marcus on political reaction to Trump officials using app to discuss Yemen plan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGZXP3k8Q_k

Five Questions for Stephen Kotkin: Advice for the New Administration (and the Rest of Us)

NATO was a defensive alliance of pacifists with small military budgets. It was not a threat to Russia and not Putin’s reason for invading Ukraine.

If Nixon really did make the comment about the madman theory referring to a part of his strategy in Vietnam…it didn’t work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8wTBy_tgKo

About that 2022 “technical recession”

“Remember two years ago, when GDP was reported as having shrunk for two consecutive quarters, and there was an entire exhausting discourse about whether it qualified as a recession? Turns out it was a statistical illusion.”

“The Commerce Department published on Thursday morning revised GDP data for the past several years based on more complete information. One of the adjustments: GDP is now estimated to have grown in the second quarter of 2022 at a 0.3% annual rate.”

“The revisions also point to more robust GDP growth throughout the post-pandemic expansion, with 2021 GDP growth revised up by 0.3 percentage points, 2022 up 0.6 points, and 2023 up 0.4 points.”

“GDP growth numbers for the second half of 2023 were revised down, pointing to some deceleration of activity heading into 2024.”

https://www.axios.com/2024/09/26/2022-recession-gdp-revision

Vance & wife get UNWELCOME SURPRISE in Greenland

Trump is ruining our relationships with Canada and Greenland. Countries don’t like it when you say you’re gonna annex them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78LIqJG4wxE

‘Modest stagflation’ risk climbs for Trump as inflation jumps

“Inflation climbed in February as consumers braced for the potential onslaught of higher prices from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

The Commerce Department reported Friday that prices rose at a higher-than-expected annual rate of 2.8 percent last month, excluding food and energy items, a signal that prices could spike even further in the coming months.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/28/stagflation-risk-inflation-trump-economy-tariffs-00256500

Senior Republican joins Dems in raising alarm over White House’s flouting of funding bill

“The senators made clear that spending bills approved by Congress and signed into law by the president must be regarded as law, not an optional recommendation to the executive branch: “Just as the President does not have a line-item veto, he does not have the ability to pick and choose which emergency spending to designate.”
They said they are “concerned” about “sudden changes to OMB’s interpretation of long-standing statutory provisions,” adding it could be “disruptive to the appropriations process and make it more difficult for the Appropriations Committee to work in a collaborative fashion with the Administration.”

They also scolded Vought for not bringing this issue to them directly: “Collaboration will become even more challenging when the Committee is first informed of such developments through the press, rather than notified through official channels, as was the case here.””

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/03/27/congress/senate-appropriators-raise-alarm-over-trump-administration-not-adhering-to-stopgap-spending-bill-00254259