a Better Bubbleโ„ข

Kevin Drum ๐Ÿ•ธ

The Nord Stream pipelines were destroyed by six unknown people of unknown nationality

3 weeks 2 days ago
The explosion that shut down the Nord Stream pipelines is suddenly back in the news. According to the New York Times: New intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, a step toward determining responsibility for an act of sabotage that has ...continue reading "The Nord Stream pipelines were destroyed by six unknown people of unknown nationality"
Kevin Drum

How things work on the Wall Street Journal editorial page

3 weeks 2 days ago
Here's the latest from the Wall Street Journal editorial page: If I were Tim Trevan I'd be pissed. Nowhere in his op-ed does he say that scientists got the lab leak theory wrong. He says only that a lab leak is "a possibility" that's "self-evidently plausible." Trevan does accuse some unspecified "others" of trying to ...continue reading "How things work on the Wall Street Journal editorial page"
Kevin Drum

Our national shame โ€” Q3 of 2022 edition

3 weeks 3 days ago
A year after Obamacare passed we had reduced the uninsured population from around 17% to 11%. Since then, aside from a few small wobbles during the pandemic, it's stayed almost completely flat. There's no excuse for this. The correct number is 0%.
Kevin Drum

Health update

3 weeks 3 days ago
This isn't really a health update per se, but I did just return from a bone marrow biopsy in preparation for my CAR-T treatment next month. This procedure draws bone marrow from a hip bone and is short but painful. This time, however, it was very, very painful. Apparently my bone marrow was too soft ...continue reading "Health update"
Kevin Drum

Lunchtime Photo

3 weeks 3 days ago
Poppy season has begun. It's not widespread yet, but there are a few patches of California poppies here and there. In a couple of weeks we're likely to have a superbloom, but due to past transgressions The Man has closed off all access this year: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said law enforcement will take ...continue reading "Lunchtime Photo"
Kevin Drum

The French public is woker than you think

3 weeks 5 days ago
Emmanuel Macron wants to raise the retirement age in France from 62 to 64, and the French people are not happy about it. Rokhaya Diallo explains why: If it is adopted, Macron’s reform would disproportionately hurt more vulnerable populations: low-income workers, women and citizens from the French overseas territories, who are overwhelmingly people of color. ...continue reading "The French public is woker than you think"
Kevin Drum

We have nothing to fear but (conservative) fear itself

3 weeks 6 days ago
Tyler Cowen today: Recently I discussed the connection between high neuroticism and left-wing politics. In passing I mentioned that the right-wing had its own problems, leading a few of you to ask what those were. The classic response would be to accuse (credit?) conservatives as being low in empathy. Whether or not you agree historically, ...continue reading "We have nothing to fear but (conservative) fear itself"
Kevin Drum

War profiteering? How about pandemic profiteering?

4 weeks ago
Inflation is usually blamed on higher prices for commodities, which in turn raise the prices for finished consumer goods. Add in higher labor costs and you get the dreaded spiraling inflation. But Reuters reports that European central bankers are finally waking up to something else: Huddled in a retreat in a remote Arctic village, European ...continue reading "War profiteering? How about pandemic profiteering?"
Kevin Drum

Lunchtime Photo

4 weeks ago
This is the Capitol Building in our nation's capital. As you are reading this, America's legislators are carrying out their solemn duty to promote the general welfare with no thought for themselves. Let us all thank them for their selfless service to our nation.
Kevin Drum