Author Archives: Yves Smith

Plans for More Intense Censorship if US Joins Israel Attack on Iran?

A Twitter post gives a credible forecast of the intensification of censorship that is in store if the US directly attacks Iran.

Laith Marouf on Iran’s Escalatory Path and Its Expectations of a Long War

Lebanon-based jouranlist Laith Marouf provides some granular detail on Iran’s and Israel’s operations and what might come next in the war

Links 6/17/2025

‘Not Accountable to Anyone’: As Insurers Issue Denials, Some Patients Run Out of Options

Health insurers are behaving even more badly, yet advocates do not seem to be pushing for the remedy of external appeal for denials.

Does TACO Have Predictive Value? Pressures on Trump With Respect to Joining Israel in its Iran War

The war situation with Iran is not necessarily developing to the advantage of Israel, and Trump has to decide what to do.

The Economics of Undyed Hair Roots

Monitoring a recession indicator: hair salon visits, or more accurately, their reduction.

Links 6/14/2024

Forcible Removal of US Sen. Alex Padilla Signals a Dangerous Shift in American Democracy

Trump’s war against the Constitution, Congressional oversight powers, and legislation escalates with the man-handling of Senator Padilla

Those Who Would Be King

Trump’s June 14 spectacle is an exploitation of the military for personal and political gain. Will No King protests make a dent?

Yanis Varoufakis: The Economics of Europe’s Descent into Warmongering

The long path that has led Europe to see big defense spending will be a lifeline, hence the need to stoke war fever.

Israel Launches Attacks Against Iran; Iran Begins Retaliation

Parsing emerging information on the Israel campaign against Iran, and Iran’s initial response.

Kennedy’s HHS Sent Congress ‘Junk Science’ To Defend Vaccine Changes, Experts Say

More on RFK, Jr. making shit up but attempting to wrap it in the mantle of science.

Climate Adaptation and Inequality: Lessons from Cape Town’s Drought

Cape Town’s drought illustrated that when climate crises become acute, the rich care for themselves irrespective of bigger effects.

Rob Urie: Why Retaliation Rhymes with Negotiation, US – Russia Edition

On not-well-known elements of the US-Ukraine-Russia conflict, the fecklessness of the left, and the abject stupidity of Western leaders