Eli Friedman

Israeli map showing all of southern Lebanon in red with yellow arrows pointing to north of the Litani river

The IDF just ordered the *entirety of south Lebanon* to be forcibly displaced.

They are emptying the land of its population, creating a massive crisis, and will now proceed to further annihilate large parts of Lebanon.

The very nation state of Lebanon is being destroyed.

Multi-hemispheric isolationism

The War on Iran (Monologue). Image shows one of the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

I just released a long solo episode on the Israeli-US war on Iran and what it might mean for Iran, Lebanon and Israel - on @thefirethesetimes.com

On all podcast apps

Also available on thefirethesetimes.com/2026/03/03/t... and www.patreon.com/posts/tftt-2...

Same vibe except Xi will actually be able to accomplish it

The national myth is under Mongol and Manchu rule the radiance of Han culture was so dazzling it seamlessly absorbed neighboring societies. Using the coercive power of the state for forced assimilation today belies a deep insecurity: they're worried minorities don't want to become Chinese (i.e. Han)

China prepares landmark law curtailing minority language rights Bill to ‘promote ethnic unity’ by mandating Mandarin use would hasten decline of other cultures, critics say

Straight up fascist behavior

Ugh 2023 flashbacks

Also, respect to PM for this font choice

My mom's new book on organizing is available for pre-order! It's a profound source of wisdom, insight, and inspiration, Bernie knows what's up:

"I’ve known Ellen David Friedman for many years. She knows what it takes to organize and give people real hope.”
—‎Senator Bernie Sanders

India's solar sector set for first shakeout as capacity balloons New emphasis on upstream components benefits vertically integrated makers

"India is repeating exactly the past that happened in China with overcapacity."

Anyway it's clear lots of admins think they can outsource language teaching to a machine and we need to make it very clear that this is not the case

UK universities turn to Duolingo to test foreign students’ English Try questions from the test used by more than 50 UK higher education institutions

"More than 50 UK higher education institutions... accept an online test from the American tech company — whose mascot is a lime-green owl — as proof that undergraduate students can cope with studying in a foreign language."

FT going for the jugular

Huh I wouldn't have guessed. But I suppose if you count Canadians playing in the US and Americans playing in Canada (+ Europeans) that number would be quite high

Pressestatement von Kanzler Merz in Peking | Bundesregierung Kanzler Merz bekräftigte nach dem Gespräch mit Staatspräsident Xi Jinping, dass man die Partnerschaft mit China stärken wolle. Lesen Sie hier das Statement.

Taiwan:

I therefore made it clear to my interlocutors that Germany's One-China policy remains unchanged, but any effort toward reunification or unification between China and Taiwan can only be achieved peacefully and not by military means."

www.bundeskanzler.de/bk-de/aktuel...

Baseball always made out to be the most reactionary sport outside of NASCAR, which it may be, but it's also the only one where speaking Spanish, Japanese and Korean is a normal part of clubhouse life. Fewer black players in MLB, but it's more racially diverse than the other sports

As a baseball fan I am willing to swallow this tough pill. But just noting that MLB almost certainly has the highest % of non-citizen players, presumably their political views are somewhat better

In 2025, Taiwan was Singapore's largest trading partner.
www.singstat.gov.sg/modules/info...

Poor Hong Kong, couldn't keep even a trace of its manufacturing sector

The president of St. John's University's announcement that the school will no longer recognize its two faculty unions is a shameful union-busting move. SJU faculty have been working for 236 days without a contract.

Please sign the petition below to demand a return to the bargaining table.

FATHER SHANLEY: HANDS OFF ST. JOHN’S FACULTY UNIONS! We are shocked by President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P.’s recent attack on the two faculty labor unions at St. John’s University. On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Father Shanley informed faculty via em...

Petition against union busting by St. John's @aaup.org

MAGA can't stop cribbing notes from Chinese gov 传播正能量

Anduril Ends “Tech Talk” After Just Seven Minutes Amid Student Protest The defense technology firm Anduril ended an on-campus “Tech Talk” just seven minutes in on Thursday after student protestors packed the room.

Cornell students out there doing the Lord's work

The Town of Dryden just banned data centers. Here’s why. - The Ithaca Voice DRYDEN, N.Y. — Dryden officials believe they are the first town in the state to ban data centers. The decision, which also bans cryptocurrency mines, comes after a local 18-month […]

Small town America doesn't want data centers

I graduated from Bard and I agree, he needs to go

Japan: soooo about that $550 billion in investment we promised, turns out the thing is

Just to keep score, the feds' position is that saying "free Palestine" is antisemitic discrimination worthy of withholding billions in funding but banning Chinese people based on their nationality is our patriotic duty

Amid Trump crackdown on Chinese students, one US university appears to block them altogether Purdue says no ban on Chinese students exists, but reportedly rescinded dozens of offers after warnings from legislators

"'Because there’s nothing in writing, there’s no policy I can point to,' another faculty member told the newspaper. Purdue has since warned faculty against speaking with the media."

Fight authoritarianism, get it in writing

Normal boss behavior

HungryPanda delivery drivers say police contacted family back home Riders embroiled in a dispute over pay and conditions with food delivery company HungryPanda in Sydney say Chinese police have asserted pressure back home to stop them protesting.

I've seen the Chinese gov engage in all kinds of grotesque repression of labor activism, but this is a new level of absurdity.

Solidarity to the Hungry Panda workers!

Labor Action Tracker 2025

📣 The Labor Action Tracker 2025 Annual Report is officially here, courtesy of ILRLaborAction, CornellILR, and LER_Illinois! Check out the link below for the full report, or take a look at the overview in the following thread! www.ilr.cornell.edu/faculty-and-...