DAGR Weekly Reader W3-FEB
"He who saves his country violates no law." ~ Napoleon Bonaparte, before his exile to St. Helena’s, retweeted by Donald Trump, Feb. 2025
Visit the remote island where Napoleon spent his final years
A new airport brings tourists—and change—to wild, windswept St. Helena. Its soil coloration reflects its volcanic origins. Its steeply mountainous terrain leaves little space for a golf course. A four-hour flight from South Africa, its new but difficult Class-C airport can only accommodate about 70 passengers a day. Perfect!
Emma Thomson, National Geographics, Feb 20, 2020
No One Knows How This Will End (But I Do Not Think It Will End Well for Them)
The respected activist/essayist examines the hubris and lack of awareness shown by Trump, Vance and Musk. Their gaffes of the months are put into historical context with other would-be autocrats who failed resoundingly.
Rebecca Solnit, Meditations in an Emergency, Substack, Feb 16, 2025
The Man Madison Warned Us Against
Historical Perspective vs ‘Malicious Piffle’: Mainstream media seems to be trying to normalize Trump’s overreach by claiming other presidents in the past have done the same thing. This is historically inaccurate as well as detrimental to a continuation of American democracy.
Harold Meyerson, This American Prospect, Feb 21, 2025
What’s Behind US Interest in Ukraine Rare Earths, Minerals?
Ownership of half Uke’s lithium and graphite to sell our industries for batteries and chips? Oh, you mean Trump’s not just a disinterested pacifist looking to bring peace to the troubled border that American and NATO hawks stirred up? Really?
Washington Post, Feb 18, 2025 GIFT LINK
A Letter from Ukraine
David Pepper shares the translation of a hugely insightful Facebook post by a Ukrainian activist and analyst, on living in the new reality. He titles it “[B]eing destroyed from both sides” Read the text for the deep look at Ukraine in the brave, new Trump-Putin world, or listen to the short 5-min podcast.
Pepperspectives, Substack, Feb 20, 2025
As Trump Slashes Federal Jobs, Alabama’s ‘Rocket City’ Braces for Impact
In Huntsville, a city fueled by defense and aerospace, there is anxiety but also cautious optimism that federal investment may still come its way. Alabama’s two GOP senators know how to pass a resolution to flatter the ‘program-slasher-in-chief.’
Eduardo Medina & Emily Cochrane, New York Times, Feb 15, 2025 GIFT LINK
“I’m Suffering:” Holiday Massacre of Federal Workforce Is a Rude Awakening
It’s a rude awakening for rural Westerners, the park rangers, biologists, maintenance crews, wildfire prevention people—all fired arbitrarily. Hope they’ve saved up a nest egg on their $22/hr salaries. Park visitors and those hoping wildfires don’t take their homes will also hurt. And then there are the wild species.
High Country News, reprinted in Mother Jones, Feb 18, 2025
JFK Library Closed Until Further Notice
Former congressman Joe Kennedy III reacts to the sudden closure of the JFK library being closed until further notice due to federal cuts.Video 9 mins.
CBS Boston, Feb 19, 2025