Max Roach on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Vinnie Sperrazza
How the frog meat trade helped spread a deadly fungus worldwide Science Daily (Kevin W)
Scientists sent viruses to space and they evolved in surprising ways Science Daily (Kevin W). I gather these scientists are too old to have read The Andromeda Strain
Killing deer not the answer to reducing Lyme Disease, says HSPH scientist Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Bob H)
Shrimp with a side of cancer? Radioactive contamination is real. The Hill (Kevin W)
Trump supporters and insecure men more likely to value a large penis, according to new research PsyPost (Dr. Kevin)
#COVID-19/Pandemics
“We analyzed lymphocyte subset data from 40,537 patients across three phases: pre-COVID, mass infection, and post-COVID..
During mass infection [with SARS-CoV-2], T cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, NK cells, and B cells dropped significantly.
Even 20 months post-infection, CD8+…— Hiroshi Yasuda (保田浩志) (@Yash25571056) January 17, 2026
Post 73 — H5N1: when viral adaptation meets the market
H5N1 trajectory from its detection in poultry in China in 1996 to the current global panzootic is not only a story of mutations and spillover, but also of increasingly visible ecological, health, and economic impacts. 1/11 pic.twitter.com/bCOiOTOkgv
— Dr Fabrício Campos (@camposfabricios) January 19, 2026
Climate/Environment
Climate Change Has Already Shrunk US Salaries By 12% ZMEScience (Dr. Kevin)
China?
China’s Trade Surplus, Part III Paul Krugman
China’s population falls for fourth year amid economic woes Asia Times (Kevin W)
Japan
15 years after Fukushima, Japan prepares to restart the world’s biggest nuclear plant Guardian (Kevin W)
Southeast Asia
Asean will not certify Myanmar election or send observers Reuters
Cambodia raises annexation fears over Thai land seizures Nikkei. From a friend: “Thailand’s emergency phone test shocked the bejeezus out of me.” I didn’t get it, so I must not be worth protecting 🙂
O Canada
Trump is reportedly turning his attention to Canada and focusing on its ‘vulnerability’ Independent (Dr. Kevin)
European Disunion
🚨 CONFIRMED: Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has acknowledged Trump’s letter is real.
The letter reportedly ties Norway’s Nobel Peace Prize decision to Greenland, questions Denmark’s “right of ownership,” and declares the world isn’t secure unless the U.S. has… pic.twitter.com/c6lRJxS4qO
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) January 19, 2026
Why Trump will get Greenland Wolfgang Munchau, Unherd
Mentality of a rapist: Danish Lawmaker Exposes Stephen Miller’s Imperial Greenland Claim Egberto
‘Make America Go Away’: spoof Maga caps soar in popularity amid Greenland crisis Guardian (Kevin W)
Military Exercises and NATO’s Loss of Purpose: The EU’s Reaction to US Claims to Greenland TASS via machine translation (Micael T)
On Greenland, the Monroe Doctrine, USA expansion and aggression towards Europe Jeff Rich. Important
Rumours first circulated last month Europe and UK had threatened to liquidate US Treasuries as a ‘nuclear option’ if Trump does a deal with Putin to end the Ukraine war against European interests. The rumour is back as potential retaliation for invading Greenland.
If true, it… https://t.co/ouNUeAZwSH
— Kathleen Tyson (@Kathleen_Tyson_) January 19, 2026
⚡️🇩🇰🇺🇸BREAKING:
A grassroots boycott of U.S. products is spreading fast in Denmark after Trump renewed claims over Greenland.
European media say this may go EU-wide.
100,000+ Danes have joined a boycott group, dropping brands like Coca-Cola, Heinz, U.S. wine, and canceling… pic.twitter.com/iYNg1rckjj
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws1) January 19, 2026
* * * What it means to live as an Arab in Germany today Mondoweiss (guurst)
Old Blighty
US considering asylum for British Jews Telegraph
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 01:37 AM EST 01.20.26
Shockingly, our “brilliant” NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. There is…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 20, 2026
Israel v. The Resistance
Mossad-backed rioters attacked the Palestinian ambassador’s home in Tehran and tried to murder her
While compatible leftists like Owen Jones market this rampage as a “freedom movement,” and Western media whitewashes its violence, Israeli media cheers its anti-Palestinian nature https://t.co/qzvhbS06fv
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) January 18, 2026
“We take responsibility for what happens (in Gaza), impose military rule, and, with god’s help, complete the mission… The time has come to dismantle the (US) headquarters in Kiryat Gat, to expel from there countries like Egypt and Britain…”
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s… https://t.co/fGI27XxUQV pic.twitter.com/VREUKlYXWI
— B.M. (@ireallyhateyou) January 19, 2026
The Unbreakable Nael Barghouti Dropsite
Imagine future generations learning about how we punished the people asking to stop a genocide, instead of the people committing it. https://t.co/Gprx7K6YQ5
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) January 18, 2026
Phase farce: No way ‘Board of Peace’ replaces reality in Gaza Responsible Statecraft (resilc)
* * * Trump to POLITICO: ‘It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran’ Politico. resilc: “much more here in uSSa uSSa.”
Alastair Crooke : Trump’s Iran Blunders — and False Hopes Judge Napolitano, YouTube
U.S. Bolsters Israel’s Offensive Air Capabilities with More F-35 Fighters as Tensions with Iran Mount Military Watch
Trump balked but war is inevitable: Will Iran attack first? The Cradle
Syraqistan
Syria’s military has seized swathes of Kurdish-held territory. Here’s what we know CNN
New Not-So-Cold War
German Foreign Minister Wadephul stated that Witkoff will soon fly to Moscow to put pressure on Putin.
‘For us, there’s no doubt: only when the pressure on the Kremlin becomes strong enough, can we expect Putin to be genuinely ready for negotiations. By the way, this assessment… pic.twitter.com/GrVhKno0d4
— Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) January 19, 2026
Just yesterday Donald Trump invited Vladimir Putin to join his “Board of Peace.” Hours later, the Russia leader ordered missiles and drones to strike Ukraine’s capital and its critical infrastructure amid one of the harshest winters in recent memory. https://t.co/1Nt9w8ABFa
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 20, 2026
Putin’s “Self Deception”? Julian Macfarlane
Theodore Postol: The Secrets of Russia’s Oreshnik Missile Glenn Diesen, YouTube
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
The Orbital Challenge China Economic Indicator
Imperial Collapse Watch
The Navy spent $13 billion on an aircraft carrier and can’t get the toilets to work Boing Boing. resilc: “No shit? Not a surprise.”
Former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura says US has become a “third world country” YouTube (resilc)
Why Aren’t All the Americans Protesting? Kathleen Wallace
John Mearsheimer on Trump and why Iran isn’t Venezuela and Venezuela isn’t Panama South China Morning Post. Money quote: “It’s Not Great Power Politics. It’s Old-Style Imperialism.”
The United States spends more on defense than the next 9 countries combined Barry Ritholtz (resilc)
From Kissinger’s Nightmare to European Quagmire: Divide et Impera in U.S. Foreign Policy Global Affairs (Micael T)
Economic Dogma Blocks Pragmatic Policies Jomo Kwame Sundaram
Trump 2.0
Hispanic voters sent Trump back to power. Now some are souring BBC. resilc: “SOMEEEEEEEEEE?????????? What kind of moron Lation would support him now unless Cuban ‘white asses’?”
Trump suffers major losses in his war on offshore wind Politico (Kevin W)
Trump’s Confabulations are More Serious than Just a Response to a Bruised Ego Larry Johnson. IM Doc has identified confabulation as the key marker of white matter disease. He pointed to Trump probably having that publicly last July.
Meet the Americans so desperate to flee Trump they’re now living in filthy Dutch REFUGEE camps Daily Mail
ICE Rampage
“Imagine the chaos” https://t.co/Hvp7cMHBPw pic.twitter.com/shHCN3kQ43
— Nicole Foy (@nicoleMfoy) January 19, 2026
Not AI, see press story:
ICE Chases Protestor in Minnesota 😂🛁🏃♂️ (Bathtub Viking Escape) #Minnesota pic.twitter.com/M1M4JceNE0
— Ijaz Malik (Ejaz Hussain) (@Ijazmalik101) January 17, 2026
Why are federal agents gunning down Americans in the streets? Noah Smith (resilc). From last week, still germane. I am not a fan of Noah Smith but this is a very good piece.
ICE’s Facial Recognition App Misidentified a Woman. Twice 404 Media. “ICE has said the app’s results are a “definitive” determination of someone’s immigration status.”
Immigration
‘Maybe my talent is big boobs’: How I got an O-1B as an internet model The Times (resilc)
Tariffs
Americans Are the Ones Paying for Tariffs, Study Finds Wall Street Journal. Quelle surprise!
Liberation Day 2.0 Brian Romanchuk
Supremes
Justice Gorsuch and the Anarchy of Judicial Textualism Philip Pilkington
Legislative Standing and/After Bost Steve Vladeck
Mamdani
Mamdani Said He’d Make Buses Faster and Free. Now It’s This Guy’s Job. New York Times
Our No Longer Free Press
White House press secretary tells CBS ‘we’ll sue your ass off’ if it edits Trump interview Guardian
Economy
IMF warns global economic resilience at risk if AI falters Financial Times
AI
AI Completely Failing to Boost Productivity, Says Top Analyst Futurism
Is the Possibility of Conscious AI a Dangerous Myth? Noema
The Bezzle
More US States are Putting Bitcoin on Public Balance Sheets CNBC
Spotify Just Got More Expensive Again, In Case You Didn’t Dislike Them Already Metal Injection (Micael T)
Class Warfare
Oversocialization, the Shackles of the Millennial Generation Freddie deBoer. This explains much.
Ford CEO warns there’s a dearth of blue-collar workers able to construct AI data centers and operate factories: ‘Nothing to backfill the ambition’ Fortune (Kevin W). How about paying more, FFS?
Antidote du jour (via):
And a bonus:
The rescue is just incredible. pic.twitter.com/aKEygFeytK
— The Best (@Thebestfigen) January 18, 2026
A second bonus:
Seals love to jump on the bows of ships and rest there
— Science girl (@sciencegirl) January 20, 2026
And a third:
Dolphins have one of the largest brains relative to body size, second only to humans. Watch this naughty one put it to full use 🐬 pic.twitter.com/QaWSeQymiF
— Nature Unedited (@NatureUnedited) January 19, 2026
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
