I’m watching commentators celebrating the Bromance breakdown between Trump and Musk with glee. I get it. Both have done much harm and created a LOT of suffering, but we are constantly missing the bigger story at play here – a story that is finally getting mainstream media attention, however, most lack the imagination about what’s really going on.
Musk is not done. The world’s richest man is so integrated within governments, not just in the US but across the world; that he’ll be just fine (see past Weekend Reads for references on that). Many are saying the world’s richest man versus the world’s most powerful man – perhaps we should consider the webs created by Musk actually make him the most powerful man?
While reading and listening to the commentary over the last 48 hours or so, it was this tweet that caught my attention.
Definitely a possibility, and it’s a very real one I’ve been talking about for some time now. Here’s a graphic I posted BEFORE the election. From all I’m seeing in the background (aka not the stuff that’s designed to distract us) the show, and the puppet, is Tump.
Now, of course, Musk could also be doing what he’s doing to get back in the good graces of all the people who now despise him. That could be his intention, but regardless, this show IS going to be messy.
The conspiracy theorists think it’s all a game of 5D chess – Conspiracy World Thinks the Musk-Trump Breakup Is a ‘Psyop’ | WIRED.
And Jim Stewartson suggests Trump should Impeach JD Vance to get ahead of things, because it is the tech bros that got Vance elected, and maybe this is a play to make their Sovereign Networks a reality?
Musk is part of what Carole Cadwalladr refers to as the Broligarchs, building the Techno-Authoritarian Surveillance State. You can learn more here.
One of Musk’s buddies is Peter Thiel, of Palantir fame, who’s also part of this group of tech overlords worth paying attention to, and the reason Vance became VP. Palantir is another company getting it’s tentacles in everywhere across the world.
Read: Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans – The New York Times.
The Philosopher aka Curtis Yarvin is another one finally getting mainstream media attention. While he sounds like an absolute nonce, keep an eye out for news on him. It definitely sounds ridiculous, but he’s not hiding anything. It’s really quite remarkable, because the goal of this group is ALL in the public domain, and because of that, very few are paying attention. It’s such an effective strategy.
- Curtis Yarvin’s Plot Against America | The New Yorker
- Curtis Yarvin is inspiring a new generation of MAGA. He believes the US should be ruled by a monarch | CNN Politics
It’s a BIG, messy complicated story, and what happens next is anyone’s guess. I predict the arrogance and disconnect from society of the techbros will be their downfall, but we wait and see. When it comes to American politics, who knows what’s going to happen, but we are certainly in for a continuing shit show, and the impacts will ripple out and consume the world.
One thing I do know, the road ahead will not be smooth.
The planetary crisis
While all this cock swinging is going on, there is a much more urgent crisis happening and it’s accelerating fast now. Here’s a selection of recent news and research, across many aspects of the planetary emergency.
This is a very powerful and sobering read. The ripple effects beyond insectageddon is alarming too – ‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects | Insects | The Guardian
It’s getting hotter, and 2°C of warming is expected before the end of this decade. That is catastrophic for humanity and all life on this planet. Please understand, you are not “used” to heat. Wet bulb temperatures are deadly AND cause organ damage. Learn about this and behave accordingly – Half of world’s population endured extra month of extreme heat due to climate change, experts say – ABC News
Did you know that wind is causing both heating and melting in different parts of the world? Two new studies:
- New Study Reveals Mysterious Jet-Like Winds Accelerating “Doomsday” Glacier Meltdown
- Unprecedented heat in the North Atlantic Ocean kickstarted Europe’s hellish 2023 summer. Now we know what caused it
A must-watch from Johan Rockström
Food security and inflation will continue, with extreme weather impacts on agriculture becoming the norm around the world. It is going to get worse.
- Dry spring takes toll on UK crops as yield prospects shrink – FarmingUK News
- More than 40% of Europe slides into drought, including pockets of Greece, southern Italy and Spain | Science, Climate & Tech News | Sky News
- Almost 40% of world’s glaciers already doomed due to climate crisis – study | Glaciers | The Guardian – no water, no crops
I live in the Tropics. It’s wet and streamy, but that could all be about to change. Can you even imagine the impacts? Not just to those living here, but ecosystems, all life, agriculture, etc.. – 2 billion people could face chaotic and ‘irreversible’ shift in rainfall patterns if warming continues | Live Science.
Climate denial in politics will result in harm. An honest perspective from a meteorologist with decades of experience.
And it’s going to be intense this reason. Interestingly Andrea is a name for a hurricane this year. I hope she’s gentle – National Hurricane Center warns this is the chance of an above-normal season.
When people are stuck right in the middle of the impacts, they still can’t admit what’s going on – it’s bizarre to me – Conservatives continue to deny the direct link between increased wildfires and climate change.
Amazing natural event in Australia, which hasn’t been witnessed in more than 100 years. I wish I could see it!
From a societal perspective, did you appreciate that seven billion people lack full civil rights? And if we keep moving to the extreme right, believing strong men can solve our problems, this number is sure to rise – ‘Restricted’: Nearly 7 billion people worldwide lack full civil rights | Freedom of the Press News | Al Jazeera.
And finally, beer is already on the chopping block due to climate change impact on crops – like wheat and barley. However, many beers also have shocking levels of forever chemicals too. Might want to make sure your tipple is Pfas free huh? – Pfas detected in US beers in new study, raising safety concerns | US news | The Guardian.
Alarming? You betcha. Time to do something about it? Yep!
Why not start at home and recruit everyone you know to reduce their energy and material consumption by 70%? We need one billion people imperfectly changing, and that billion then need to recruit 3-4 people each to also change, and from there, we’ll significantly reduce our overshoot of planetary resources, and hopefully, collectively have the ambition to solve the greatest crisis the world has ever known.
We can do it, but we must start now!
Favorite memes, cartoons, Tweets, etc…
I’ve been collecting funny Taco memes this week, but honestly, that’s almost faded into the background. Maybe the whole Bromance fall-out is simply the strategy to get people to stop calling Trump TACO man? It’s not a crazy thought!
In the meantime, Ukraine, KAPOW!!
Have you been keeping an eye on the news about RFK Jr and MAHA? Unbelievable really.
The popcorn shortage memes have been a bit of fun.
And to all in the LGBTQIA+ community, I will forever stand with you. Happy Pride Month.
My content and my pals
We launched The Sh*t Show this week, combining both The Know Show and Climate Courage together, with Joe Augustin, Dr David Ko and Richard Busellato as my co-hosts. The goal of the show is to untangle the polycrisis, which is the simultaneous occurrence of several catastrophic events all happening at the same time.
This is a visual I use to explain it.
If you didn’t listen live, you can tune in anytime. If you want to join us on the show, reach out. We are always looking for great guests, and that is anyone with engaging insights on any aspect of the polycrisis.
Dig into the news
Plenty more to read, listen to or watch, so do click through to the reads at the image below, and a reminder, this platform has articles going back weeks, so have a scan and read/watch/listen to whatever jumps out at you.
Let me know what caught your attention? Or share with me what has your attention now? There’s a lot going on, which means none of us can cover everything. Besides, it’s always great to get feedback so I know I’m delivering something of value.
Cheers
Andrea
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Uncommon Courage: an invitation
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You can read the reviews, including a new five-star review on Book Commentary, another five-star review on ReaderViews, a review on BookTrib, and three more on Booklife, another on Book Commentary and Blue Ink Reviews. I’m also collating reviews on my Website too. Have a look and grateful to everyone who has written or recorded one.
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18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile
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