I’ve said to a few people this past week – it was a week like no other – and a lot replied that they aren’t really seeing it, but honestly, they’ll make a movie about this week one day! From the President speaking as no President has before, in a way that was essentially saying: hang onto your hats, nuclear war is on our doorstep, only to pullback with hours to go…
Then again, you might not have had that impression, because it was never presented in the media that way. What else can total civilizational destruction mean but nuclear war? It really was so close to the unthinkable.
I know a lot of people think we just had another TACO moment, but can we rely on that? With someone whose mental capacity is being deeply questioned yet again? All I know for sure is, I didn’t sleep well Monday night. I don’t think many people did.
Was he using the “Madman Theory”? That’s the claim, but here’s the problem, none of us really know what’s going on in his head, do we? None of us really know what he is capable off either. And a psychopath experiencing narcissistic injury (which is essentially a blow to the ego), while leading the most powerful military on earth is a danger to us all.
Have a listen to this if you want to get more insight on the “Madman Theory” Trump’s “Madman Theory” Is on …–On the Media – Apple Podcasts.
The problem is, no matter what he does, the powers in the US seem incapable of doing anything about it. It’s bizarre. Maybe they know something we don’t know – which is always a possibility – but every sane person on earth can see we’re not heading in the right direction as a global society, right?
Sure, we see calls like this – Raskin calls for Trump to take cognitive test in wake of Iran threats as Democrats question president’s fitness | CNN Politics – but honestly, everyone seems to be playing from an established rulebook that has long ago been ripped up by Trump and co. It’s time to get the gloves off and play the game of our new reality. And we better get moving – because, you know, nuclear winter and all.
As Jitske Kramer says in this interview, the archetype of the Trickster has a role in society, but they should never EVER get power!
Worth a read from this week
(and I know, there is a lot, but these are some of the important ones)
The Last Temptation of Trump at the End of a Failed War – New Lines Magazine – two sections from this:
- The pathway to the unthinkable runs not through a single dramatic decision but through the incremental normalization of the unacceptable: civilian infrastructure targeted, international law dismissed, each escalation framed as strength rather than desperation, until the next step seems less like a crossing of civilizational boundaries and more like a continuation of what has already begun
- A leader who entered a war he did not understand, in pursuit of objectives he had not reconciled, and who now confronts a situation in which every available exit diminishes the political narrative he has staked his identity on, is a genuinely dangerous figure to place at the apex of nuclear decision-making. He has made a catastrophic mess of this confrontation and appears to care only about his own self-image. That is, in the end, what makes this moment different from other moments of great-power recklessness: not the structural pressures, which are real enough, but the character of the man they are bearing down upon
- With Threat to Wipe Out Iran’s Civilization, Trump’s Rhetoric Goes Beyond Bluster – The New York Times
- How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran – The New York Times
- Don’t bluff someone who can’t fold – Arnaud Bertrand
- ‘Seems like losing’: What the US hasn’t won in Iran – POLITICO
Not satisfied with the war in Iran, the great Imperial Power is now going after the Catholic Church. Did you see this? The Pentagon Threatened Pope Leo XIV’s Ambassador With the Avignon Papacy. I am loving Pope Leo at the moment. He’s not backing down at ALL!
Hungary goes to the polls
If you didn’t see it, Hungry is having elections and let’s hope Orban gets his reckoning, but it’s not guaranteed. The whole system has been manipulated to make it hard for anyone other than him to win. A model the GOP are applying in the US.
- Viktor Orbán Showed Trump And MAGA How To Consolidate Power
- Why Hungary’s Election Could Swing on Roma Votes – The New York Times
AI news of the week
This was the big AI article this week, and the word sociopath is used. Guys, I think it’s high time we focus on getting ALL dark triad personalities out of power (government, business, media, tech, etc…) if we want to have a chance at a future – Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted? | The New Yorker.
Here’s the “qualities” of dark triad personalities – anything look familiar?
Planetary crisis
You know the term the polycrisis? Well, we have a war in Iran, which is impacting energy supplies, and that means every country is running out of fossil fuels, and guess what else is happening? Food shortages will come a bit later (expected impact 3 – 18 months), medicine will be sooner, but even more urgent than that for those of us here in Asia – we are being told to turn off our aircons and use fans to save energy, but it’s the hot season, and I mean, really hot.
To illustrate, here’s an alarming example from Thailand – Bangkok Post – Experts warn of health risks from Super El Niño. Wet bulb temperatures are predicted to hit 59°C. The impact?
Exposure to such conditions may raise people’s core body temperature to 40C within 10–15 minutes. Staying outdoors for 45 minutes could cause heat-regulation failure, red, dry skin, and unconsciousness. Prolonged exposure of one hour may lead to neurological collapse and even death.
One hour outdoors and you could die? Think of all the people who live in tin shacks, workers camps, slums, and even basic housing?
More on the heat – we have NO IDEA how many people are already dying, none – ‘Non-survivable’: heatwaves are already breaching human limits, with worse to come, study finds | Climate crisis | The Guardian.
Why is this happening now? Well, because we didn’t listen to the scientists, and now we have an El Niño brewing, which is going to kick our ARSE in every way, not just heat! – A powerhouse El Niño event appears to be brewing for 2026-27 » Yale Climate Connections. Stay informed, get prepared, energy independence from the grid is critical now.
At least people in this region get it, but then we’re on the front lines, so not surprising – Climate risk, power rivalry: South-east Asia’s top concerns – The Business Times.
Here’s a few more beauties
- Tropical cyclone Narelle struck three major reef systems in one epic trek
- Scientist use DNA in efforts to help species adapt to climate change | AP News
- Glaciers rapidly declining, with extreme losses in 2025
- Thawing permafrost may release more greenhouse gases – Earth.com
Sorry it’s not all sunshine and roses, but how can it be? If you ever want to know how I keep sane paying attention to all the grimness of the world week after week, happy to share that insight. It’s a pretty peaceful place to be, but it’s not 100% successful. Some days and weeks just suck. This was one of them.
But it’s not fear or despair, it’s incredulousness, witnessing the absolute idiocy of world leaders right now. Yet many do not see it. Boggles the mind.
Start a garden, build your local community, and get grid independence. All good moves, no matter where you are right now.
Friends content and my own
It was terrific having Andy Lopata on the show this week. We discussed networking, building community and asking for help as professionals, and then expanded it to the bigger issues in the world. It’s always a bonus when our guests deliver professional value AND have an interest in world issues. Thanks for joining us my friend.
A little snippet from Andy Lopata this week, build those networks of support, and “dig your well before you’re thirsty!”
Dig into the news
The world news page is updated daily, so check in whenever it suits you. It covers news and thought leadership across all issues relevant to the polycrisis, as well as some light stuff, because we can’t be serious all the time. To get to the news, click through on the image below, and a reminder, this goes 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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The Sh*t Show
The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world’s most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show.
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