Odds and Ends — 31 July 2025

@preparedwombat 78

3 days ago

oddsandends

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

Algeria Bans All Crypto Activities, Including Ownership and Mining

https://twitter.com/SpencerHakimian/status/1950655636590694741

China Factory Activity Unexpectedly Worsens

China’s factory activity unexpectedly deteriorated in July to a six-month low despite a tariff truce with the US, as early signs emerge exports are slowing and weak domestic demand persists.

Coronavirus and Public Health:

https://twitter.com/yaneerbaryam/status/1950662723265814532

Politics:

https://twitter.com/cturnbull1968/status/1950562718739566664

No One Is Defying Trump Like Brazil’s President

Faced with threats of 50 percent tariffs and demands to end a criminal case, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he wouldn’t take orders from President Trump.

https://twitter.com/preparedwombat/status/1950580979145523689

———— The Epstein Coverup ————

https://twitter.com/moorehn/status/1950327348961644961

https://twitter.com/realTuckFrumper/status/1950532471939797306

———— Emil Bove————

https://twitter.com/NormOrnstein/status/1950369524244762945

The Quickest Route to a Plum Judicial Appointment

Emil Bove has demonstrated that total sycophancy to the president can be a fantastic career move.

———— Autocracy R Us ————

The Rule of Law Is Dead in the US

The rule of law presupposes that there are rules that provide a consistent, repeatable, and knowable set of outcomes. That’s no longer the case.

https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/1950324794383098291

David Ellison Thrust Into Trump’s War on the Media

David Ellison’s $8 billion takeover of Paramount, approved last week by Donald Trump’s media regulator, capped a year-long pursuit and vaulted the movie producer into the top tier of Hollywood power.
But what should have been a triumphant corporate coup has instead pulled the son of Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison into a political storm, as the U.S. president seeks to assert control over the country’s media.

The Media Capitulation Index

Thirty five of the largest and most influential media organizations in the United States get a rating for their relative independence or lack thereof. The ratings, which come with explanations, range from a star (signaling independence) up to five chickens (signaling propaganda). As you’ll see, there are enough chickens in these ratings to start a good-sized poultry farm.

———— Blatant In-Your-Face Corruption ————

Why Sec. Noem’s Failure to Disclose an $80,000 Payment From a Conservative Dark Money Group Matters

“We have no idea where the money truly came from or the conflicts of interest it might have created."

———— Putin&Krasnov vs. Ukraine ————

Russia Rejects Trump’s New Deadline

Kremlin officials decisively rejected President Donald Trump’s new deadline for Russia to negotiate an end to its war against Ukraine and reiterated Moscow’s interest in continuing the war.

https://twitter.com/EerikNKross/status/1950790753778651278

———— Smoot-Hawley 2.0 ————

Tariffs for Everyone

President Donald Trump has torn up the WTO’s rule book and unilaterally raised tariffs on almost everyone.

https://twitter.com/TheMaineWonk/status/1950693834800664952

Trump’s imaginary story about these events nine years ago might be considered trivial compared to his lies about pressing topics like inflation and the war in Ukraine. But it’s part of a pattern – a long line of similarly fabricated tales from the president about his own history and world history.
And the pattern has a purpose. Trump’s stories serve to exaggerate his foresight about and knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs, embellish his biography and record in office, and diminish his political opponents.
The stories tend to be colorful even though they’re fake. Trump’s historical fiction is sprinkled with vivid details and make-believe quotes, all the better to make it seem authentic and get it to stick in the minds of voters.

https://youtube.com/shorts/oaNJ48SP998?feature=shared

Serendipity:

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1950627869362667884

A Drug You’ve Never Heard of Is Killing Hundreds

Fentanyl fueled the worst drug crisis the West has ever seen. Now, an even more dangerous drug is wreaking havoc faster than authorities can keep up.
The looming danger is an emerging wave of highly potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes, which often pack a far stronger punch than fentanyl. Nitazenes have already killed hundreds of people in Europe and left law enforcement and scientists scrambling to detect them in the drug supply and curb their spread.
The opioids, most of which originate in China, are so strong that even trace amounts can trigger a fatal overdose. They have been found mixed into heroin and recreational drugs, counterfeit painkillers and antianxiety medication. Their enormous risk is only dawning on authorities.