Notes in the Margin

The city's capture would represent Kiev's greatest setback on the front line since the fall of Avdiivka in February 2024.

The recent "protests" against Scheinbaum were astroturfed. Why? It may be that Scheinbaum's efforts against the cartels are upsetting the CIA which has long allied itself with drug lords. 

In the end, Fedgov will just print more money and raise taxes. Social security will be preserved by politicians to ensure that  elected officials don't lose the votes of pensioners. 

New WaPo piece is a tour de force of bad economics on the "dangers" of deflation. 

CBS: The cryptocurrency dropped more than 8% in the last 24 hours alone, falling to $84,096 as of 11:15 a.m. on Monday.

According to Australia's Sky News, Donald Trump told Nicolás Maduro in call he must leave Venezuela in order to save himself and his family.

Likely: if a tick "accidentally" escapes from the US lab, then the federal government will mandate mRNA vaccines for all US livestock. 

Steeper cuts [to prices] will come later ...  “It’s going to be worse.” Wright said she fears the government might be forced to step in as “the buyer of last resort.”

The worst bubble in human history is the government spending bubble, up from about 8 percent of GDP in 1900 to about 40 percent of GDP today. Column by Christopher Chantrill.

Realtors seem to think that rage-quitting the market will somehow make prices go up. Things won't go the way they hope.