I am trying to keep up with the news and failing more than I’m succeeding, but I’ll never give up, and hope this will give you some of the main stories to digest. One of the BIG issues in the US is the risk of a constitutional crisis, and that will happen if Musk/Trump ignore legal rulings against their executive orders. The idea it might happen is crazy, because of course they are going to ignore legal rulings and drive through the changes they want, so perhaps it’s time to just agree, it’s already a constitutional crisis.
The ramifications of that will start flowing out soon I’m sure – stay tuned for that – and in the meantime. here are just some of the articles/videos/podcasts worth your attention this week, covering many aspects of our new world under current US leadership:
- Trump’s Climate Blitzkrieg: How the 2025 Playbook is Unfolding—and What’s Next
- The Billionaire Plan to End America
- Tennessee private prison company CoreCivic expects ‘significant growth’ under Trump – monsters!
- The Empire Self-Destructs – The Chris Hedges Report
- Enjoying the Pinnacle of Power, Musk Holds Court on Trump’s Stage
- I wrote about this is last week’s Weekend Reads, maybe we’ll believe the amazing Carole Cadwalladr IT IS A COUP – by Carole Cadwalladr – The Power
- Southeast Asia’s recycled plastic market at risk amid Trump’s trade war – an example of what happens over there, has impacts over here
- Trump Killed a Major Report on Nature. They’re Trying to Publish It Anyway
- Gutting USAID Will Have a Monumental Effect on Combating Climate Change
- More Apocalypse, Less Optimism–Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations
- Is Trump’s Dept. of Government Efficiency Creating a Constitutional Crisis? | Amanpour and Company
- FBI agent writes anonymous letter warning Americans
George Monbiot’s take
A couple of countries responding in different ways
- Singapore is getting ready for a different future – Singapore must adapt to ‘new reality’ where US is no longer prepared to underwrite global order: SM Lee
- And Indonesia, why should we stick with the Paris Agreement when the US is pulling out? Paris Agreement no longer relevant for Indonesia, says envoy
JD Vance seems to be on a love tour in Europe – even the Pope doesn’t approve! There will be PLENTY of coverage about what he’s doing/saying, but I’d recommend this video as a starter.
Here’s Ian Bremmer’s quick take, if you value his thoughts.
Pete Hegseth seems to be on a love tour too – US no longer ‘primarily focused’ on Europe’s security, says Pete Hegseth.
No question, the EU is firing up, and let’s hope we finally see real unity and strength.
Following this link to another video that’s a worthwhile watch. We need to stop this drive towards war, that is NOT the direction our world needs to be taking right now. We are moving towards collective suicide – Yanis Varoufakis & Melanie Schweizer Expose the Truth Behind Europe’s War Agenda.
Who’s telling you the truth? Well apparently it’s not the right-wing media and influencer apparatus – Far-right populists much more likely than the left to spread fake news – study.
If we look beyond the geopolitical impact the US is having across the world, pollution is in the media, and it’s getting worse. Here’s a few examples:
- Air pollution causing 1,100 cases a year of main form of lung cancer in UK
- Thailand: 10 million sought treatment for pollution-related illnesses in 2023
- Lung cancer diagnoses on the rise among never-smokers worldwide
Plastic pollution is also finally getting the attention it deserves. When will we get this under control?
- UNM Researchers Find Alarmingly High Levels of Microplastics in Human Brains – and Concentrations are Growing Over Time
- Plastic Worsens Long-Term Environmental Damage After Wildfires
- Study finds microplastic contamination in 99% of seafood samples
And climate change… extreme weather has killed almost 800,000 people in 30 years, with Dominica, China and Honduras the countries most affected, as well as Spain, Italy, and Greece the worst impacted countries in Europe.
In Brazil, it’s really at the front lines of dramatic climate change, having seen a 460% increase in climate-related disasters since the 1990s.
And at the poles… it’s looking grim
- We think of methane as an issue in the North Pole and the tropics, nope – Massive methane leaks detected in Antarctica, posing potential risks for global warming
- Meteorologists on alert after record-breaking temperatures recorded in North Pole thermometers — The planet is changing
- Greenland ice sheet cracking open quicker than ever before, warn scientists
If we look at the third pole (the Himalayas), one of the most beautiful countries on the planet, Bhutan, is facing the impact of climate change, and it’s not the only country impacted in this region. Here’s another story about the melting glaciers near Ladakh. There are billions of people living below who rely on these glaciers for water. Please watch this video, such beautiful people.
Meanwhile, extreme weather events continue around the globe, from a Category 5 cyclone on the West Coast of Australia, floods on the East Coast, and extreme heat across the country. This story of Australia passing 50°C on the West Coast is alarming, because we are getting so close to unlive-able temperatures in many parts of the world now – Extreme heat: Where 50C temperatures could hit this week | SBS News
This is just revolting – Women kept as slaves on HUMAN egg farm: 100 victims are fed hormones and treated like cattle, with eggs removed and sold each month by gangsters.
This is devastating – More than 1,100 dead sea turtles washed up along southern India’s coastline
A final watch. I love Anonymous, and I really love what they do. Let’s hope this promise means something.
What do we do? Sit in fear and resign ourselves to the future these men (predominantly men) are driving us towards? Or do we come together and say NO, we do not accept that, then we take back control?
It’s time to step up, speak up and shake things up – on our terms, not theirs. Join the fight!
Favorite visual or meme
The news out of Europe regarding the US, Russia and Ukraine is outrageous!
Well, this is certainly on point
As is this!
My content and my pals
Climate Courage is back, and one of many reasons I appreciate co-hosting this show with Dr David Ko and Richard Busellato, is their deep knowledge on the global economy and how it relates to the planetary crisis. For those of us who don’t have this level of knowledge, it’s a real eye opener, and it always makes me step back before I draw easy and sweeping conclusions. If you listened, would love to know what you thought?
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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