Max CROWE

Hypothetical question: If a President of the USA is a secret Russian asset, what would he do to help Russia? ChatGPT: Interesting thought experiment—and a useful way to think about incentives and power. If someone in that position were secretly acting in another country’s interest, the key wouldn’t be dramatic, obvious betrayals. It would be subtle, deniable, and cumulative. First, they’d likely undermine alliances quietly. The United States’ biggest strategic advantage is its network—especially NATO. So instead of openly pulling out, they might question its value, delay commitments, create distrust among members, or signal unreliability. Even small cracks weaken collective defense. Second, they could shift foreign policy in ways that benefit Russia without looking extreme. That might mean softening sanctions, slowing military aid to countries Russia opposes (like Ukraine), or reframing conflicts to reduce U.S. involvement. None of that needs to look like “helping Russia”—just “putting America first.” Third, damage internal cohesion. A divided country is less effective abroad. Amplifying polarization, discrediting institutions (courts, elections, intelligence agencies), or constantly creating internal crises reduces the ability of the U.S. to act strategically. That’s something adversaries historically benefit from. Fourth, reshape leadership and bureaucracy. Appointing people who are inexperienced, loyal over competent, or sympathetic to certain narratives can gradually shift how decisions are made. Over time, that changes policy outcomes without needing explicit orders. Fifth, control the narrative. Public opinion matters in democracies. Repeating talking points that align with Russian interests—questioning support for allies, portraying adversaries of Russia as corrupt or unworthy—can steer public sentiment in a favorable direction. Finally, they’d avoid anything blatantly illegal or provable. The whole strategy would depend on plausible deniability. If it’s obvious, it fails. The big picture: influence at that level isn’t about one shocking act—it’s about slowly tilting the system so that, over time, outcomes consistently benefit the other side.

Project 2025 called for gutting the EPA's scientific research office. In under a year, the Trump Administration has done exactly that, taking a division of more than 1,500 scientists down to 124, reassigning doctors and epidemiologists to finance offices and hazardous waste permitting desks that have nothing to do with their expertise.       For more than 50 years, that office produced the independent science behind every major clean air and clean water protection this country has. It existed specifically to be free from political interference.       The scientists who remain answer to Trump appointees, and their work must now conform to the Administration's agenda.        No other institution in the United States can replace what's being lost. Once that expertise is dismantled, it doesn’t come back in a year or a decade. It’s a generation of progress erased, deliberately, methodically, and exactly according to plan.   nytimes.com/2026/04/27/cli…

En 2008, dos argentinos sin presupuesto hicieron un cortometraje de animación de 6 minutos. Sin diálogos. Sin palabras. Solo imágenes pintadas a mano con acuarela. Se llama "El Empleo". Y se convirtió en el cortometraje de animación más premiado internacionalmente de ese año. 106 premios internacionales. ¿Qué muestra? Un hombre que se despierta. Se viste. Sale a trabajar. Pero en este mundo, las personas no usan objetos. Las personas SON los objetos. La lámpara es una persona. La silla es una persona. El felpudo es una persona. Y el protagonista los usa sin pestañear. Hasta que llega a su trabajo. Y descubre que él también es un objeto para alguien más. El corto no critica el capitalismo con pancartas. Lo muestra. En silencio. Con humor negro. Con una brutalidad tan cotidiana que duele. Sus creadores son Santiago "Bou" Grasso y Patricio Plaza, dos animadores independientes argentinos que tardaron años en hacerse conocidos fuera de su país. Hoy su obra se estudia en universidades de todo el mundo. La pregunta que deja el corto no tiene respuesta fácil: ¿Tú usas a la gente para llegar a algún sitio? ¿O tú eres el felpudo de alguien? Busca "The Employment" en YouTube. Son 6 minutos que no vas a olvidar.

Ricky Gervais Drops Truth Bombs on Stephen Colbert in Epic Religion Debate 🔥 “There are about 3,000 gods. You believe in one, so you don’t believe in 2,999 gods… and I don’t believe in just one more.” And on science vs religion: “If we took any holy book or any fiction and destroyed it, in a thousand years it wouldn’t come back just as it was. Whereas if we took every science book and fact and destroyed them all, in a thousand years they’d all be back, because the same tests would give the same results.” Colbert’s reaction? “That’s good… That’s really good.” Ricky is brilliant, always calm and explains his points so well. Respectful debate done right. 👏🏻

To not even to begin to try to sell the war in Iran to the American people is a betrayal to the foundational parts of our democracy.

Trump has joined with Russia and China to oppose a resolution that called Putin's invasion of Ukraine an act of "aggression." Now why would Trump be worried about condemning aggression? trib.al/THIJtTz

The monumental Iz Kamakawiwo'ole

Absolute bombshell. Rep. Jason Crow exposes how Pete Hegseth secretly appointed Donald Trump's private campaign lawyer as a Navy Commander and Senior Advisor without Senate confirmation. He doesn't even know if the lawyer has a security clearance! The corruption is staggering.

This is not a Black Mirror Episode

“El trabajo te confiere dignidad, por eso hay derechos concretos que se tienen que respetar. El trabajo es con derechos o es esclavo. Y decir esto no es comunismo, es el centro del evangelio”. - Papa Francisco Feliz día a todos los trabajadores.

Do not normalize this

@Acyn Yeap, I guess he would know.

Trump says anyone running for president should take a cognitive exam because you could end being stuck with a moron for years. “I mean, you get a guy who gets in there, he's got a good line of crap. He gets in and all of a sudden you're stuck with a man who's a moron”

Most reasonable explanation yet

Designan a cuñado del ministro Chapman en Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores laestrella.com.pa/panama/naciona…

Un hombre cegado por una bandera que le tapa los ojos. No ve que avanza hacia el vacío. Banksy ha captado la esencia de la ultraderecha en el mundo. Es un maldito genio.

This exchange between @SenBlumenthal and Trump’s judicial nominees is utterly astounding. If you can watch this and still think this country isn’t falling into authoritarianism and fascism under Donald Trump, then you are not being honest with yourself.

John Marck refused to answer Senator @ChrisCoons's question of whether President Trump is eligible to run for president in 2028. This isn’t a trick question – it's in the Constitution. If you can’t say a president can’t serve a third term, you shouldn’t be a federal judge. 🚩

Last night, the Russians once again waged war against ordinary apartment buildings in Odesa – as of now, five people are reported injured and fires have broken out in two buildings. In Kryvyi Rih, one person was also injured as a result of a drone strike. In the Kharkiv region, railway infrastructure was attacked, including traction substations. There was damage and railcars caught fire. Thousands of families were left without electricity due to shelling. Strikes were also carried out against the Sumy region and the Zaporizhzhia region. Russia continues to attack our energy sector, critical infrastructure, and civilian facilities. Over the course of the night, there were 210 strike drones, around 140 of them “shaheds.” Such daily attacks demonstrate the need for increased pressure on Russia. The aggressor must be weakened to ensure greater security for Europe. Sanctions policy must continue, along with the synchronization of all our sanctions with those of our partners. Our long-range sanctions are bringing the Russians back to reality. This is entirely justified and, most importantly, limits the Russian Federation’s ability to prolong this war. If Russia does not want to move to diplomacy voluntarily, it must be forced to do so. And I am grateful to everyone who is helping us achieve this.

Based on the results from April, our long-range sanctions have reached a new level across three components: reducing Russia’s oil revenues, as well as the range and intensity of sanctions. It is important that not only is the target itself reached, as defined by the operational objective, but that the downtime of the target is increased or, at the very least, its operations are significantly reduced. According to the most conservative estimates, since the beginning of the year, the aggressor state has lost at least $7 billion solely as a direct result of our precise sanctions against Russia’s oil industry and refining sector – due to direct hits, downtime, and delays in shipments. I am grateful to all our warriors of the Defense Forces of Ukraine who, together with the Security Service of Ukraine and our intelligence agencies, are delivering these results. We will scale up our long-range systems capabilities. Decisions are being prepared. Glory to Ukraine!

I resigned as U.S. Ambassador Ukraine when Trump kept siding with Putin over our democratic partner. Now, my successor is doing the same. I knew I had to speak out and run for office because siding with dictators is just not who we are.