Ray Collins
@eraycollins.bsky.social
The future has arrived - it's just not evenly distributed yet. - William Gibson Do you boogie-woogie? https://youtu.be/-y_YM1ikva0?feature=shared
The grand total, for all seven big tech companies, is $US671.9 billion in outstanding debt. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
Wall Street debt binge could end in tears — and lost billions
Credit default swaps for US big tech companies are soaring to record highs. It means investors are fearful of a major Wall Street company collapse.
abc.net.au
McColl told the Austin Free Press that rectifying...untreated mental health conditions & suicide among nurses requires a system change. “Support cannot be limited to telling nurses to practice self-care. Nurses need systems that make wellness realistic,” she said. austinfreepress.org/medical-emer...
Medical emergency: Suicide rate for female nurses twice the rate for all U.S. women
Nurses face suicide rates higher than the general population. Experts say burnout, stigma and system failures are driving the crisis.
austinfreepress.org
Immunity Deal Support editorial cartooning—follow my work and accompanying written commentary on Substack: nickanderson.substack.com @contrariannews.org
Bonds and Budget, August 4th The schedule for a November bond election is so tight that the mayor reversed the order of the council agenda and started with that item to give city staff a little more time to prepare for the August 6th council meeting. open.substack.com/pub/raycolli...
Bonds and Budget, August 4th
According to his own comment, the mayor was all about process at this meeting.
open.substack.com
And here we are. Many things happen to the economy, many things happen to society that are outside the control of the guy in the White House. Many bad things aren't really the fault of the party in power. This is absolutely, totally Donald Trump's fault. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/an-explosi...
An Explosion of Misery
Making American hungry and uninsured again
paulkrugman.substack.com
Observers note that the story of Trump wanting immunity from IRS audits and the revelation that his bank activity mirrored that of money launderers might well be the same story.
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 23h agoAugust 4, 2026
Musk is going to spend on the Talarico v Paxton US Senate race. I'm expecting more doorknockers telling me beautiful lies, but there are lots of other ways for him to hide his money in support of MAGGATS. There is no going back for the Paypal mafia, they are embedded with our First Felon.
Ray Collins@eraycollins.bsky.social · 2d agoBut that’s not what is happening this time: instead, oligarchs are doubling down on MAGA. An analysis by the Washington Post finds that megadonors have already spent more than $1.6 billion on the November midterms. Here’s how that spending breaks down: paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-oligar...
But that’s not what is happening this time: instead, oligarchs are doubling down on MAGA. An analysis by the Washington Post finds that megadonors have already spent more than $1.6 billion on the November midterms. Here’s how that spending breaks down: paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-oligar...
Keep your nose to the ground. If you get a whiff of Musk, alert your family, friends, neighbors, and associates. If they’re even slightly uncertain about whom to support, the Musk test should convince them.
Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social · 3d agoElon Musk will be spending $100 million to $120 million in at least eight states to help elect Republicans in November, according to The New York Times. But Musk’s money shouldn’t be viewed as a problem. It’s an opportunity. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-stink-of-musk
Trump has given Republican senators little reason to give him cover. He has been openly feuding with Republican senators over things he wants Congress to do for which Republican leadership can’t find enough votes.
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 2d agoAugust 3, 2026
Todd Blanche Follow my cartoons and accompanying written commentary on Substack: nickanderson.substack.com For @contrariannews.org
Powers, Processes, & the City Budget, July 30th After two focused budget meetings on July 16th and 22nd, those on the 28th and 30th have become protean. The agendas for August 4th and 6th are published so it is safe to say that this is a trend. open.substack.com/pub/raycolli...
Only a few months ago SCOTUS warned lower courts to assume the truthfulness of government lawyers. That's when I knew.
Ray Collins@eraycollins.bsky.social · 3d agoThe degradation of the Department of Justice, which is charged with defending the rule of law for the American people, into an instrument of Trump’s political wrath has been illustrated in the fight over the confirmation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to attorney general.
The disintegration of U.S. power was well underway before Trump started his war on Iran, but the pace of decline has accelerated sharply since the magnitude of our defeat started becoming apparent. /1 paulkrugman.substack.com/p/how-china-...
How China Won the Iran War
Trump has shattered American power, and Beijing is picking up the pieces
paulkrugman.substack.com
The degradation of the Department of Justice, which is charged with defending the rule of law for the American people, into an instrument of Trump’s political wrath has been illustrated in the fight over the confirmation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to attorney general.
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 3d agoAugust 2, 2026
The Reflecting Pool saga tells you everything you need to know about the current occupant of the White House. follow my cartoons and accompanying written commentary on Substack: nickanderson.substack.com
Even as reality makes it clear that his claims are a fantasy, Trump continues to spin his yarns, seeming to have little else to convince voters to support him.
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 4d agoAugust 1, 2026
ICE spokesperson manages to cram an impressive number of flat-out lies into this statement: www.texasobserver.org/ice-car-chas...
For his part, Trump appears to be addressing concerns about future prosecutions, whether by the ICC or at U.S. courts, by keeping control of the government after the midterms.
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 5d agoJuly 31, 2026
But for the past six months, revenue from oil sales has been going into an American bank account, controlled by the US. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08...
How the Trump administration runs Venezuela and takes its money
Amid the fallout of devastating twin earthquakes Donald Trump says the US has been taking "billions and billions of dollars from Venezuela". So who is running the country and what is happening with th...
abc.net.au
Regarding whether Eloise House’s forensic exam services may be salvaged, she [Jennifer Palermo] said “It’s possible, but people are going to have to push City Hall to do it.” austinfreepress.org/pilgrimage/
Pilgrimage: Protecting SAFE Alliance
Buddhist walkers marched to Austin City Hall to support SAFE Alliance as funding cuts threaten survivor services and the future of Eloise House.
austinfreepress.org
So it’s clear that the bond market reaction wasn’t a judgment on the rate decision itself. It was, instead, a judgment on Warsh. In other words, Warsh’s remarks on Wednesday led the market to distrust his commitment to fighting inflation. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-bond-m...
The Bond Market Doesn’t Like Bullshit
Why Kevin Warsh just bombed
paulkrugman.substack.com
He noted that FDR at the time called the Social Security Act “a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but it is by no means complete.” ― LBJ
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 6d agoJuly 30, 2026
Stunning stat: In Texas, around 22% of federal student loan borrowers were in default as of March. That's around 878,000 Texans, per KERA. Context: The Department of Education considers borrowers to be in default if they miss payments for nine months. www.axios.com/local/dallas...
Defaults on student loans are soaring in Texas
Around 22% of federal student loan borrowers in Texas were in default as of March.
axios.com
ICE would clearly like to be an American Stasi, policing any deviation from the party line, but it’s not able, so far, to arrest members of Congress who express skepticism about the president’s claims. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/reality-is...
Reality is a Communist Plot
Of MAGA and the totalitarian mindset
paulkrugman.substack.com
Laura Wise, a scholar of peace and conflict resolution at the University of Edinburgh, told Renner that the process of ending the war has been complicated by the fact American negotiators seem focused on “getting a deal rather than making peace.”
Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR)@hcrichardson.bsky.social · 7d agoJuly 29, 2026
Very much recommend subscribing (either free or paid subscription) for up to date analysis of fortcoming next-generation COVId vaccines.
Hilda Bastian@hildabast.bsky.social · last wk.... There are lots of new features at the free-standing Tracker. Subscription to the usual update post is free — with additional new analyses & features for paid supporting subscribers. I hope you'll check it out and spread the word! vaxtracker.wordpress.com
Grocery shopping may be unavoidable, but overpaying doesn’t have to be. 🛒 A new report ranks the stores where Texans can stretch their budgets the furthest. 👀 bit.ly/4pN64wo
