141: Why Western ideas crash and burn in the Middle East, with Simon Sebag Montefiore

In 1938/9, the British rejected two states in Palestine, instead proposing a single state, putting strict limits on Jewish immigration, and restrictions on land sales from Arabs to Jews. The Palestinian Arab leadership rejected it because they wanted immediate independence and the complete and immediate cessation of all Jewish Immigration. So, the Arabs living in Palestine, were offered a single Arab majority state with strict limits of Jewish immigration, and still rejected it. It’s possible they rejected it because, influenced by both Nazi ideology and Islamism, they wanted the Jews eliminated from the land, so the British offer wasn’t good enough.

From the end of WWII to today, elites in some Middle Eastern states reluctantly support dictatorships because the other options that would likely take over if not for the dictatorships are Islamists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiIvGICLla8

Why is Argentina reigniting the Falklands dispute? | Inside Story

Argentina raising their emphasis on the Falkland islands is caused primarily by two things: domestic politics where Melei wants to look tough compared to his political opponents, and Trump indicating that he may more support Argentina’s claim compared to America’s previous position. Trump makes such statements, seemingly not realizing the real world consequences they may have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9-28b9mNyI

The story of how a Greater India was shattered into 12 modern states | Sam Dalrymple | UNAPOLOGETIC

India could have stretched from Yemen to Burma. Some of the divisions led to mass refugees and massacres. Some of these nationalisms and national identities were relatively new. The actual history of much of this, is underplayed in all countries involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLxYD9Rs5k4

The Wolf-Krugman Exchange: Power, plutocracy and political economy

A study found that due to Brexit, UK GDP per capita is 6-8% lower than it would be if the UK never left the EU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSQ7LY0ca0o

More Age Verification Fallout: Artist Blogs Blocked, Porn Data Leaked, Traffic Boosts for Noncompliant Sites

“Some porn websites have complied with the Online Safety Act by requiring U.K. visitors to upload an ID or submit to a facial scan. “But some of the biggest porn sites that disregarded the ‘scan your face’ rule entirely have been rewarded with a flood of traffic,” the Post found. “Some have doubled or even tripled their audiences in August compared with the same time last year.”

When sites do comply with rules like these, they risk putting people’s privacy and cybersecurity at risk. The more times you have to submit a copy of your driver’s license or a picture of your face for identification, the more likely you are to find yourself in a data breach.”

https://reason.com/2025/09/03/more-age-verification-fallout-artist-blogs-blocked-porn-data-leaked-traffic-boosts-for-noncompliant-sites/

The U.K.’s Roundabouts Free Drivers From the Tyranny of Traffic Lights

“The law demands a motorist come to a complete stop at a stop sign, no matter if any cars are coming. Traffic lights can offer an advantage: Some use magnets to detect traffic loads, but others run on timers, switching to red even if there’s no traffic going the other way. In either case, traffic lights can malfunction, turning into a de facto stop sign the same way a broken escalator becomes an expensive staircase. Besides, frequently stopping, starting, and idling wastes time, wastes gas, and puts unnecessary wear and tear on your brakes.

But at a roundabout, motorists keep driving through the intersection so long as it’s safe to do so. This sounds risky, but since everyone slows down a little bit and every car is constantly turning, roundabouts significantly lower the risk of high-speed impacts. “The net result of lower speeds and reduced conflicts at roundabouts is an environment where crashes that cause injury or fatality are substantially reduced,” according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

Further, roundabouts are perhaps the least infantilizing form of traffic control. Red lights are just crossing guards for adults, and stop signs require you to wait your turn even if you’re the only one waiting. Roundabouts are more efficient because they let drivers rely on themselves, not an inert piece of infrastructure.”

https://reason.com/2025/08/14/swindon-united-kingdom/