Odds and Ends — 30 December 2025

@preparedwombat 78

11 days ago

oddsandends

“So many books. So little time.” — Frank Zappa

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

Grayscale sees regulation, not quantum fears, shaping crypto markets in 2026

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/2005749642030354480

Is Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle broken — and if so, where to next?

Coronavirus and Public Health:

Pregnant Women Hospitalized for COVID-19, and Their Newborns, Have Higher Complication Risk

Politics:

MAGA Is Eating Itself

Fighting among conservative influencers reveals broader rifts within the Republican Party…
The strain on MAGA has been growing for months, accelerated by Kirk’s murder and the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files. The disputes may seem like petty recriminations among a MAGA media elite that is much more comfortable in opposition than in power.
But they also reveal a broader fight within the Republican Party. As the right begins to look past Mr Trump and debate the party’s future, they are brawling over how big the conservative movement’s tent should be.

https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/2005716309510606869
https://twitter.com/RubenGallego/status/2005706266484572585

https://twitter.com/acnewsitics/status/2005708828688670981

Trump Claims Netanyahu Will Be Pardoned

President Donald Trump said Israeli President Isaac Herzog informed him that he plans to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu amid the Israeli prime minister’s long-running corruption trial ‒ a claim that Herzog’s office quickly denied.
Said Trump: “I spoke to the president, and he tells me it’s on its way.”
The Israeli president’s office, however, denied that any decisions have been made and claimed Herzog and Trump have not spoken to each other in the weeks since Netanyahu on Nov. 30 formally requested a pardon for his bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges.

———— Gaza ————

https://twitter.com/allenanalysis/status/2005133350928089119

———— Venezuela ————

https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/2005817574185963772

Venezuela Starts Shutting Oil Wells

Venezuela started shutting wells in a region that holds the world’s largest deposits of oil in the face of a blockade by the Trump administration meant to financially squeeze the nation.
The decision signals a reality check for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who throughout the blockade has attempted to maintain exports that are at the core of the South American country’s economy. Disabling wells is seen as a last resort because of the operational challenges and high costs to restart.

This whole pantomime is not a ‘nothingburger’ or anything like that. It is a very effective con that has gone on for almost a year, which has provided protection to Putin/Russia and strung along Europeans and Ukrainians. Moreover, it is a pantomime that Trump will keep going as long as possible…
The great tragedy (once again) is that innocent or not so innocent fools keep falling over and over again for this deception. Yesterday’s talks did not bring us closer to peace, they were not a sign of the US and Ukraine agreeing a common position, and they were not a success. They were just another example of how the US is now helping Russia.
Not admitting the truth of this is a sign that Trump has won.

https://twitter.com/kimsmithholmes/status/2005613960842850711

https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/2005401295348265055
https://twitter.com/MarkHam80780803/status/2005607402767581290
https://twitter.com/sumlenny/status/2005719386884313348
https://twitter.com/RobBfromDerby/status/2005743363543425111

———— Hegseth on the Rocks ————

https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/2005688711066116443

———— Mors Imperii ————

States Step Into the Breach on Obamacare Subsidies

At least a dozen states are working to shield people from soaring health insurance costs following Congress’ failure to extend Obamacare subsidies for tens of millions of Americans.
The efforts, which include actions taken by state leaders in California, Colorado and Maryland, in nearly every case come with a major caveat: They will only be able to help a portion of the people whose health insurance will be too expensive without the enhanced subsidies that Congress opted not to renew before leaving Washington for the year.

https://twitter.com/Daractenus/status/2005695460053508490

https://twitter.com/naretevduorp/status/2005725703619170353