Odds and Ends — 24 June 2025

Cryptocurrency, Investing, Money, Economy, Business, AI, and Debt:

Chainlink, Mastercard Tie-Up to Let Nearly 3B Cardholders Buy Crypto On-Chain

Japan proposes reclassifying crypto, paving way for ETFs and lower taxes

Coronavirus and Public Health:

Minnesotans are still dying more than they were before COVID. Why?

Politics:

https://twitter.com/JamesTate121/status/1937249233826119918

Senate parliamentarian rejects offshore oil, gas drilling provisions in GOP megabill

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1937144191257059446

Mamdani’s victory would signal seismic shift in national politics and test for socialist movement

Israel and Iran agree on ceasefire to end 12-day war, Trump says

https://twitter.com/acnewsitics/status/1937277758180397209

https://twitter.com/Angry_Staffer/status/1937300585973534823

https://twitter.com/gtconway3d/status/1937300093482217506

Well, that didn’t take long.

“We basically, we have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.” — Donald Trump

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1937474106611405234

Attacking Iran Without Congress’s Blessing Leaves Citizens With No Recourse

Recall the last time that the United States began a war this consequential: George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq. Prior to invading, on October 10, 2002, Bush secured an authorization to use military force from Congress by wide margins in both chambers.
Even though the Iraq invasion was a mistake—something I have long believed—American democracy was better off for those votes, and not just because the Constitution assigns the war power to Congress. Debating the matter in the House and Senate helped educate lawmakers and the public about the arguments for and against the war, and left a record of who made claims that later proved incorrect. Prior to the vote, citizens could lobby their representatives, allowing for more participation in the process. And afterward, citizens could hold members of Congress accountable for their choices, not only in the next election but for the rest of the careers of everyone who cast a vote.

Trump Violated the War Powers Act

In addition to violating the Constitution, the air strikes also violate the War Powers Act. Section 3 of that legislation requires that ‘the President in every possible instance shall consult with Congress before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances.’
There was no such advance consultation here, even though it was obviously ‘possible’ to do it (US strikes against Iran have been under consideration since Israel began its air campaign on June 13, if not before).

https://twitter.com/leftcoastbabe/status/1937038419328176134

https://twitter.com/SundaeDivine/status/1936730978677891475

‘Everybody Knows Khamenei’s Days Are Numbered’

A well-placed group of Iranian insiders considers a future without the supreme leader.

https://twitter.com/thecyrusjanssen/status/1936939653879439617

https://twitter.com/GregTSargent/status/1937099961373483269

ICE Agent or Just Some Person?

There’s a dress code to help you make that determination.

https://twitter.com/notcapnamerica/status/1937186940685828319

SCOTUS Removes Due Process Requirement On Deportations to Third Countries

https://twitter.com/TheTNHoller/status/1937278064586559634

https://twitter.com/c4nc/status/1937183718331810254

https://twitter.com/joncoopertweets/status/1936895533932507407

Hegseth struggles with meaning of ‘deterrence’ and ‘open-ended’ after strikes on Iran

We’ve become a failed nation-state in 150 days

https://twitter.com/jefftimmer/status/1936929893977309501

https://twitter.com/colinabwallace/status/1936923489979818465

Serendipity:

https://twitter.com/RAZ0RFIST/status/1936871805404524838

LEGO doc source

Tomorrow I will strike… source

^{Want a free Hive account? Join Hive using my referral link.}