A finely tuned mess—how disorder can make networks more stable Northwestern University
How SpaceX Streamlined the Raptor Engine Construction Physics
UK mathematician debunks myth around Parthenon’s optical illusions The Guardian
Young people are confusing fandom for activism Who Broke It
Water
‘We Are Spending Our Reserves,’ WMO Chief Warns as UN Drops Global Water Report Common Dreams
The War for the Rio Grande Texas Monthly
The Colorado River crisis will be a defining moment in US history. The river supplies 40 million people; Mead and Powell, two of the nation’s largest reservoirs, are at record lows.
Filling them near full would take ~8 consecutive very wet winters, a statistical impossibility. pic.twitter.com/IfgsHex83n
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) September 17, 2026
Climate/Environment
The open houses at the edge of disaster HEATED
Earth’s water cycle has become more erratic and unpredictable Climate & Capitalism
’NGI’ will save us:
Natural General Intelligence Ryan Orbuch
Pandemics
Denial is a tactic for both the COVID-19 and climate crises The Sick Times
RFK Jr. Bolsters Vaccine Skepticism at Children’s Health Defense Conference MedPage Today
India
Does India Have Leverage Against the US and China? Takshashila Institution
Japan
Bank of Japan Raises Rates, Making U.S. Less Alluring for Tokyo Investors WSJ
How Bessent, America’s bond salesman, cornered Japan on big spending Reuters
China?
Days Before Xi Meets Trump, Huawei Unveils an Nvidia Challenger to Boost Beijing’s AI Confidence George Chen
Chinese Yuan Hits Strongest Level Since 2022 After PBOC Fixing Bloomberg
US Navy should target carriers in fight with China, report says Military Times
China presses Iran to help rein in Houthis after Saudi appeal, sources say Reuters
Today’s Decisions to Decide Future Strategic Balance in Region: Iranian FM Tasnim. From Beijing.
Iran’s FM discusses regional developments with Turkish, Pakistani officials IRNA. Called them from Beijing.
Syraqistan
War-Damaged Building in Gaza Collapses, Killing 21, as Gaza Remains Unlivable Truthout
***
Russian Satellites Reportedly Helped Iran Target US Bases, as Saudis Beg China to Intervene Simplicius
Trump tells Axios he’s approaching major crossroads in Iran war Axios
Targeted killings in Iran’s Sunni-majority areas raise fear of ‘plot’ to stir violence Amwaj
***
Those gifting Epstein Kaaba cover threaten Mecca, not Yemen: Al-Mashat Al Mayadeen
US clears $24.3 billion F-35 package for Saudi Arabia Al Mayadeen
Defence minister says time has come to implement Makkah pact amid Houthi attacks Geo News
Powerus and Pakistan: The optics problem with a Trump-linked deal Economic Times
Erdogan to sidestep Turkey’s constitutional term limits in early 2028 vote, adviser says France24
Old Blighty
London drug dealers are hijacking Google Maps London Centric
The Irish Kraken Awakens: British Interests After American Power Multipolarity
European Disunion
Europe’s Security Council plan hits a wall of skepticism Politico
German producer inflation accelerates to 4.6% in August, exceeding forecasts Anadolu Agency
Germany, US to expand shared production of Patriot interceptors, strike missiles Defense News
🇫🇷⛽️ Fuel shortages are now hitting gas stations in France, according to Le Figaro.
Approximately 10% of stations are struggling to supply at least one type of fuel, and government spokesperson Maud Bègues says the situation has grown increasingly complex in recent weeks.… pic.twitter.com/LqjQiCYbdd
— Military Summary (@MilitarySummary) September 16, 2026
European leaders rush to counter looming diesel price surge as Saudi pipeline attacked Euronews
Coalition Talks Begin in Sweden After Centre-left’s Elections Victory TeleSur
New Not-So-Cold War
Trump plans to sign Russia sanctions bill ‘soon,’ White House source says Kyiv Independent
Trump Wants Putin to End the War. He May Offer Russia Business Deals First. New York Times
US set to approve 10 Patriot interceptors for Ukraine from Germany, records show Kyiv Independent
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk today publicly disclosed that the Ukrainian armed forces are suffering 27,000 battlefield casualties a month.
This number is expected as Budanov had recently stated that the Ukrainian armed forces need 30,000 mobilized men a month to maintain… https://t.co/15RUjx01Cv
— ayden (@squatsons) September 18, 2026
The Russian Military Campaign Against Europe: Defining the Threat Institute for the Study of War
West actively prepares for war against Russia, spreads myth of Russian threat — Lavrov TASS
Polish premier says Russia could stage ‘accidental’ strikes on NATO’s eastern flank Anadolu Agency
Trump says US making ‘major progress’ in opening Army base in Poland The Hill
Pentagon weighs pulling nearly a third of U.S. forces from Europe NBC News
South of the Border
Venezuela nears deal to move $4bn gold reserve to New York FT
Trump Allies Secure Venezuela Resource Concessions as ExxonMobil Eyes Return Venezuelanalysis
USA’s Venezuela takeover comes with bonus exposure to Chinese AI surveillance tech The Register
Argentine judge orders suspension of ‘Sea Lion’ Malvinas oil project Buenos Aires Times . “The plaintiffs sought to block Britain’s Rockhopper Exploration and Israel’s Navitas Petroleum from the so-called ‘Sea Lion’ oil field, located about 220 kilometres (137 miles) from the [Falkland] islands.”
Trump 2.0
Trump Aides Are Prepping an AI Takeover of Government Services Washington Sun. Important.
Trump says rising gas prices are ‘small price to pay’ for Iran war USA Today
Pentagon No. 3 frustrates senators in closed-door briefing on Iran war, Trump defense strategy The Hill
Democrats Suck
Democratic advisers are warning their candidates not to go too hard at AI Politico
AI
Liability, regulation, and AI’s new false dichotomy Gary Marcus
Imperial Collapse Watch
Rehearsals of American Energy Dominance: How Washington’s New Secondary Sanctions on Russia Threaten Global Trade Energy Geopolitics & Statecraft
U.S. Plans Resumed F-16 Orders After 22 Year Pause: Can the F-16G Make Up for F-35 Cuts? Military Watch
Lockheed Martin gets first batch of Patriot interceptor parts from General Motors Reuters
Does the US need a culture shift to create a workforce for the defense industrial base? Defense News
America’s troops must prepare now for warfare on moon, top general saysStars and Stripes
Enshittification
Historicising Enshittification Disjunctions
The Bezzle
So I arrived in Austin and decided to take a robotaxi ride into work..
The Robotaxi arrived… and then couldn’t get out of the hotel parking lot. There was construction in one lane.. but it couldn’t see the other open lane. It drove back and forth 4 times and then stopped and… pic.twitter.com/101F04Al9n
— PK (@paul_k_0907) September 15, 2026
Class Warfare
Canadian Walmart Workers Make History: A Union Contract Labor Notes
For the Love of Money The Baffler
NYC deploys robotoilets. The public bathrooms have a strict 10-minute time limit. Gothamist
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.
