The United States, through USAID, not only supplied a big chunk of the world's humanitarian aid, it also provided almost all of the logistical support for other aid organizations to deliver relief as well.
One thing to add: Russia will never concede, ever. Ceasefire deal? Even after any apparent Ukrainian defeat, Russia "will be back". To quote the terminator. Life as they know it must be restoration of the imperial Russian European Empire, nothing less. How long till we realize this is what Putin must have? Momentary Ukraine defeat will be only a stop along the way.
Message to tech CEO's, law firms, universities, industries and businesses of all types: you cannot individually withstand Trump 2.0 extortionist depredations. Only together, as a united front, can you collectively find relief. One for all, and all for one. Fighting alone is futile. I'm sorry, but this is the lay of the land.
I’m hardly on IG these days but I had to go find Anne Applebaum over there to see her wildflower pics. It’s a good reminder that yes, there is still beauty in this world.
It seemed trivial while listening to the problems of Sudan, which is why I didn’t comment before. What exactly did Putin mean when he said that “everywhere that there has ever been a Russian soldier”? Because Alaska has a long history with Russia.
We still have a lot of Russian culture here. It’s like the French Quarter in New Orleans, except that France isn’t invading other countries with the excuse that they speak French and are culturally French.
Unlike Louisiana, Alaska isn’t physically connected to the lower 48. We’re connected to Canada… who Trump is threatening to invade. Now Putin’s meeting with Trump in Alaska and it feels like it’s just asking for trouble. One of the guests on Stephanie Ruhles’ show on Friday 08/08 seemed to agree. If Putin tries to annex Alaska or if Trump tries to sell Alaska to Putin (because of course he could, it’s prime real estate and his business sense s*cks), would politicians actually do anything to prevent that from happening? They seem pretty flaccid right now. I’m kinda freaking out about this… it may be more than “kinda”.
I was just listening to the Knowledge Fight podcast #78 that aired on 08/29/2017. About 59 minutes in they start talking about the Russian Rodina (Motherland) party, which is an ultra far right party that believes in the restoration of the Russian empire including Russian-America (Alaska).
I haven’t looked up the Rodina party though, because I don’t trust most websites with information on Russia as a rule.
The Russians had a presence all the way down the Pacific Coast into Northern California. Hmmm, maybe we'll only have 46 states after the visit next Friday?
So Trump just slapped a 39% tariff on Swiss watches. That’s right — now your $10,000 Rolex can cost $14,000, plus shipping, taxes, and the smugness surcharge. This will supposedly “bring back American jobs,” but in practice it’s like setting fire to the factory to keep the office warm.
The irony? Small American watchmakers who already assemble their pieces here are about to get whacked even harder because they still rely on Swiss parts. It’s the kind of “strategic” thinking you get from a guy who thinks tariffs are just really aggressive coupons.
And then there’s Bill Cassidy, acting stunned that RFK Jr. turned out to be… RFK Jr. Senator, if you hire a pyromaniac to run the fire department, you don’t get to act surprised when the hoses are filled with gasoline.
But hey, at least the American people can still tell time — we just can’t afford to.
I heard on NPR this morning that the reason for Trump's focus on Switzerland is that, given the strict regulation and transparency of Swiss banking laws, citizens and companies looking to flee the growing corruption in the US might move their money to Switzerland. Trump does not want to make it that easy for people to evade his corruption.
Trump hit Switzerland with a surprise 39% tariff on exports, one of the highest in his trade reset. It covers watches, chocolate, machinery, and even gold, while pharmaceuticals are exempt. He’s framing it as “rebalancing trade,” but it looks more like another one of his blunt-force moves that creates chaos without a clear plan for the fallout.
Switzerland thought they were close to a 10% tariff deal, but after a tense call, Trump fixated on their $48B trade surplus and pushed for something far steeper. The result has Swiss officials scrambling into emergency meetings, considering everything from importing more U.S. LNG to trying to lure more U.S. investment — all to patch over damage caused by an avoidable escalation.
Sources: AP News, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times.
The constitution lays out clearly the framework of our government and the Republicans have willfully violated it at every turn, some examples:
- Dobbs unconstitutionally repeals a right, Article III, Section 2 states the the court's power is limited to "law and equity",
- Trump unconstitutionally places the executive above the law,
- Congress allowing Trump to unconstitutionally control departments created by law, fire people in those departments and acting such that those departments no longer comply with the law
- Congress allowing trump to unconstitutionally enact tariffs
Putin has never wanted peace. His whole economy is based on war. It would simply collapse and he would rapidly be removed from office—possibly feet first in a dead position as a Russian might say. And he wants a legacy. He is a very determined man who is getting quite old. He wants a lot, and he is running out of time. He wants the whole Russian/Soviet (whichever is bigger in any direction) to be his. That is a lot of area. He can’t get it all done in one or even three (original proposal for Ukraine takeover) days.
Anne's recounting of the situation in Sudan was horrifying, but I was heartened, both for Sudan and for us, when she talked about the people there who firmly believe their country can and will have a better future.
I'm always perplexed by people wondering, "Don't Republicans and their accomplices realise Democrats will go after them when they gain power?" Hello??? Mr Potato Head??? The Republicans are not planning on relinquishing power. You don't build an authoritarian government and then allow yourselves to be voted out of power. Not to mention the fact everyone, including Republicans, know Democrats (if they ever gain power again) are far too gutless to ever use these tactics against Republicans. Seriously, have y'all been watching Democrats the past few decades?
The redistricting arms race seems proof: they do not plan to relinquish power in 2026 and certainly not in 2028. They have begun constructing the tools to ensure this cannot be the electoral outcome. Texas redistricting being only one of many.
Cannot recommend her new article in The Atlantic more.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/09/sudan-civil-war-humanitarian-crisis/683563/
The hand that signed the paper
by Dylan Thomas
The hand that signed the paper felled a city;
Five sovereign fingers taxed the breath,
Doubled the globe of dead and halved a country;
These five kings did a king to death.
The mighty hand leads to a sloping shoulder,
The fingers' joints are cramped with chalk;
A goose's quill has put an end to murder
That put an end to talk.
The hand that signed the treaty bred a fever,
And famine grew, and locusts came;
Great is the hand that holds dominion over
Man by a scribbled name.
The five kings count the dead but do not soften
The crusted wound nor stroke the brow;
A hand rules pity as a hand rules heaven;
Hands have no tears to flow.
Thank you, Anne Applebaum, for the book recommendations— The Captive Mind was amazing.
One thing to add: Russia will never concede, ever. Ceasefire deal? Even after any apparent Ukrainian defeat, Russia "will be back". To quote the terminator. Life as they know it must be restoration of the imperial Russian European Empire, nothing less. How long till we realize this is what Putin must have? Momentary Ukraine defeat will be only a stop along the way.
Message to tech CEO's, law firms, universities, industries and businesses of all types: you cannot individually withstand Trump 2.0 extortionist depredations. Only together, as a united front, can you collectively find relief. One for all, and all for one. Fighting alone is futile. I'm sorry, but this is the lay of the land.
Have there ever been Russian soldiers in Alaska?
Yes, there have been Russian soldiers in Alaska. I have a comment two below yours with a lot of links to articles about it.
I’m hardly on IG these days but I had to go find Anne Applebaum over there to see her wildflower pics. It’s a good reminder that yes, there is still beauty in this world.
It seemed trivial while listening to the problems of Sudan, which is why I didn’t comment before. What exactly did Putin mean when he said that “everywhere that there has ever been a Russian soldier”? Because Alaska has a long history with Russia.
https://sites.kpc.alaska.edu/jhaighalaskahistory/timeline/
https://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/about-ahs/special-projects/150treaty/150th-resource-library/new-articles/the-legacy-of-sitkas-first-ten-years-under-the-american-flag-1867-1877/
https://akhistory.lpsd.com/articles/article.php?artID=200/
https://militaryhistorynow.com/2013/01/31/russian-indian-fighters-when-the-tsars-men-clashed-with-american-natives/
https://alaskahistoricalsociety.org/discover-alaska/glimpses-of-the-past/the-cold-war-years-1946-1991/
https://www.adn.com/politics/2022/03/16/a-russian-lawmaker-wants-alaska-back-good-luck-with-that/
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2024/09/21/us-troops-finish-alaska-deployment-amid-spike-in-russian-activity/
We still have a lot of Russian culture here. It’s like the French Quarter in New Orleans, except that France isn’t invading other countries with the excuse that they speak French and are culturally French.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/russian-easter-pascha-photography-old-believers-sect-russian-orthodox-church-smithsonian-journeys-travel-quarterly-180959440/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/alaska-russian-heritage-smithsonian-journeys-travel-quarterly-180959449/
https://tripmemos.com/ninilchik-alaska-russian-history/
https://www.alaska.org/detail/russian-old-believer-communities
https://alaskavillagetovillage.com/2017/09/10/what-russia-left-behind/
https://www.thealaskalife.com/blogs/news/eklutna-spirit-houses-the-blending-of-two-beliefs
Unlike Louisiana, Alaska isn’t physically connected to the lower 48. We’re connected to Canada… who Trump is threatening to invade. Now Putin’s meeting with Trump in Alaska and it feels like it’s just asking for trouble. One of the guests on Stephanie Ruhles’ show on Friday 08/08 seemed to agree. If Putin tries to annex Alaska or if Trump tries to sell Alaska to Putin (because of course he could, it’s prime real estate and his business sense s*cks), would politicians actually do anything to prevent that from happening? They seem pretty flaccid right now. I’m kinda freaking out about this… it may be more than “kinda”.
I was just listening to the Knowledge Fight podcast #78 that aired on 08/29/2017. About 59 minutes in they start talking about the Russian Rodina (Motherland) party, which is an ultra far right party that believes in the restoration of the Russian empire including Russian-America (Alaska).
I haven’t looked up the Rodina party though, because I don’t trust most websites with information on Russia as a rule.
The Russians had a presence all the way down the Pacific Coast into Northern California. Hmmm, maybe we'll only have 46 states after the visit next Friday?
TARIFFS ARE TAXES On these AMERICAN Trucks. https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.bsky.social/post/3lvhhv2ycvs2v Wake up, MAGA!
Blessed Be the Saints of Sticker Shock
So Trump just slapped a 39% tariff on Swiss watches. That’s right — now your $10,000 Rolex can cost $14,000, plus shipping, taxes, and the smugness surcharge. This will supposedly “bring back American jobs,” but in practice it’s like setting fire to the factory to keep the office warm.
The irony? Small American watchmakers who already assemble their pieces here are about to get whacked even harder because they still rely on Swiss parts. It’s the kind of “strategic” thinking you get from a guy who thinks tariffs are just really aggressive coupons.
And then there’s Bill Cassidy, acting stunned that RFK Jr. turned out to be… RFK Jr. Senator, if you hire a pyromaniac to run the fire department, you don’t get to act surprised when the hoses are filled with gasoline.
But hey, at least the American people can still tell time — we just can’t afford to.
I heard on NPR this morning that the reason for Trump's focus on Switzerland is that, given the strict regulation and transparency of Swiss banking laws, citizens and companies looking to flee the growing corruption in the US might move their money to Switzerland. Trump does not want to make it that easy for people to evade his corruption.
Trump hit Switzerland with a surprise 39% tariff on exports, one of the highest in his trade reset. It covers watches, chocolate, machinery, and even gold, while pharmaceuticals are exempt. He’s framing it as “rebalancing trade,” but it looks more like another one of his blunt-force moves that creates chaos without a clear plan for the fallout.
Switzerland thought they were close to a 10% tariff deal, but after a tense call, Trump fixated on their $48B trade surplus and pushed for something far steeper. The result has Swiss officials scrambling into emergency meetings, considering everything from importing more U.S. LNG to trying to lure more U.S. investment — all to patch over damage caused by an avoidable escalation.
Sources: AP News, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times.
The constitution lays out clearly the framework of our government and the Republicans have willfully violated it at every turn, some examples:
- Dobbs unconstitutionally repeals a right, Article III, Section 2 states the the court's power is limited to "law and equity",
- Trump unconstitutionally places the executive above the law,
- Congress allowing Trump to unconstitutionally control departments created by law, fire people in those departments and acting such that those departments no longer comply with the law
- Congress allowing trump to unconstitutionally enact tariffs
Trump and the GOP should hang for treason.
Anne A. Book Club reigns!
Putin has never wanted peace. His whole economy is based on war. It would simply collapse and he would rapidly be removed from office—possibly feet first in a dead position as a Russian might say. And he wants a legacy. He is a very determined man who is getting quite old. He wants a lot, and he is running out of time. He wants the whole Russian/Soviet (whichever is bigger in any direction) to be his. That is a lot of area. He can’t get it all done in one or even three (original proposal for Ukraine takeover) days.
Anne's recounting of the situation in Sudan was horrifying, but I was heartened, both for Sudan and for us, when she talked about the people there who firmly believe their country can and will have a better future.
The president is mentally ill. That explains it to me.
I'm always perplexed by people wondering, "Don't Republicans and their accomplices realise Democrats will go after them when they gain power?" Hello??? Mr Potato Head??? The Republicans are not planning on relinquishing power. You don't build an authoritarian government and then allow yourselves to be voted out of power. Not to mention the fact everyone, including Republicans, know Democrats (if they ever gain power again) are far too gutless to ever use these tactics against Republicans. Seriously, have y'all been watching Democrats the past few decades?
The redistricting arms race seems proof: they do not plan to relinquish power in 2026 and certainly not in 2028. They have begun constructing the tools to ensure this cannot be the electoral outcome. Texas redistricting being only one of many.
Agree. There will be elections but they won't be free and fair.
Yup. They vote in Russia and Hungary, too. Hopefully people will realize we're not voting our way out of this before 2029.
I want the Australians to educate trump about Pine Gap. Without that the US is blind.