Odds and Ends — 9 October 2025

6 days ago

A technical glitch? A sign of things to come? And who’s the genius who came up with tacking on that nine-tenths of a cent at the end?

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

Luxembourg sovereign wealth fund dips into Bitcoin ETFs with 1% stake

Bitwise and 21Shares Add Staking, Slash Fees in Latest Solana and Ethereum ETF Filings

Bitcoin Crash Off the Table as Four-Year Cycle is Dead: Arthur Hayes

Arthur Hayes argues that Bitcoin’s traditional four-year market cycle has ended, as current shifts in global monetary policy indicate expanding fiat liquidity.

Coronavirus and Public Health:

How vaping primes the lungs for COVID-19 damage

Politics:

Senate Rejects Effort to Curb Trump’s Power

A measure to stop President Trump’s strikes on alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean failed to advance the Senate on Wednesday, despite some Republican support.

So, Fetterman is the new Manchin.

Norway on Edge Ahead of Nobel Peace Prize Verdict

Norway is bracing for the aftermath of the Nobel Peace Prize announcement on Friday as the Nordic nation has faced increasing pressure from Donald Trump and his administration to award it to the U.S. leader.
His campaign has thrust Oslo into an uncomfortable spotlight, with media and observers worrying about the diplomatic and economic fallout should the Norwegian Nobel Committee snub him. Even so, there is growing indication that pressure has been, if anything, counterproductive.

———— Stark. Raving. Mad. ————

https://twitter.com/KristiNoem/status/1975970309338792276

———— Pam Bondi ————

Pam Bondi's Fake Orgasm

And she still made Epstein worse for Trump…
If shamelessness were an Olympic sport, the Attorney General just blew the landing, tore off her leotard, and flashed her tits at the judges hoping they wouldn’t notice how bad her performance was before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
It was the fake orgasm of committee hearing performances; loud, theatrical, sweaty, and meant to trick just one man into keeping her around by flattering his ego.

https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/1975926141275034026

https://twitter.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/1976061217899937817

———— The Trump Shutdown ————

Johnson Faces Growing Internal Revolt Over Shutdown

The longer the government stays shut down, the shorter House Republicans’ patience seems to be getting with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
Johnson’s decision to keep his chamber on an indefinite break in the middle of a government shutdown isn’t sitting well with some in his conference — and that could put pressure on the speaker to change course.

———— Plenary Authority ————

https://twitter.com/cwebbonline/status/1975784671054283070

https://twitter.com/piyushmittal/status/1975957840109179227

https://twitter.com/Mollyploofkins/status/1975930697731772423

https://twitter.com/maddenifico/status/1975899906545172607

———— Autocracy R Us ————

Trump Seriously Discussing Invoking Insurrection Act

White House officials have held increasingly serious discussions in recent days about President Donald Trump invoking the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th century law that gives the president the power to deploy active-duty troops inside the U.S. for law enforcement purposes.

https://twitter.com/RonWyden/status/1975678991886430361

Trump Calls for Jailing Chicago Mayor, Illinois Governor

President Trump escalated his battle with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, saying the Democratic leaders should be imprisoned for failing to protect ICE officers.

It’s almost as if Trump has never heard of Castle Rock v. Gonzales or Warren v. District of Columbia.

https://twitter.com/thematthill/status/1975782103133659208

https://twitter.com/Kasparov63/status/1975968159367901290

https://twitter.com/TrueFactsStated/status/1975913491380023526
https://twitter.com/MeachamDr/status/1975727904362537402

https://twitter.com/Mollyploofkins/status/1975889410324389959

https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1975936116013646001

https://twitter.com/Timodc/status/1975747670397403621

https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/1976018506354425965

The Pentagon has investigated nearly 300 Defense Department employees, including service members, civilian workers and contractors, for comments appearing online after last month’s shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The sweeping, ongoing inquiry, which has resulted in a smattering of disciplinary action so far, follows an extraordinary directive by the department’s political leadership to silence criticism of a prominent, polarizing figure who was unabashed in his views and fervent support for President Donald Trump.

The Civil-Military Crisis Is Here

The leaders of the U.S. military may soon face a terrible decision.

———— Mors Imperii ————

Inside Stephen Miller’s Secret Plan to Normalize Trump’s Dictator Rule

Stephen Miller has a theory about this political moment. As President Trump expands his lawbreaking and dictatorial rule, the powerful MAGA disinformation apparatus—at Miller’s direction—is supercharging public attention to the debate over Trump’s conduct in a way that’s designed to deeply polarize it.
That will force Americans to take a side in that standoff, Miller clearly believes, driving them to embrace authoritarian rule, though perhaps without understanding it in exactly those terms.
Do Democratic leaders broadly have their own theory about this moment? It’s unclear. But here’s what we can divine right now: Governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gavin Newsom of California do have one.

https://twitter.com/donwinslow/status/1976061228557680979

https://twitter.com/danpfeiffer/status/1976071978139386075