December 28, 2025

Let's talk about Climate Advisories being deleted and your next house.... - Belle of the Ranch

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about climate advisories being deleted and your next house.

This happened pretty quietly, but it says a lot about the world we live in right now. Zillow, which is one of the biggest real estate platforms in the country, removed climate risk data from its home listings. Now, don't trash Zillow for this. They got complaints about it hurting sales and realistically, from what we've heard, this was a move to cover themselves legally. And while the data is gone from their site, it looks like it's been replaced by a link to First Street, which provides incredibly similar data. Nice.

But this situation tells us far more about money, incentives, and how people actually respond to climate change than most political debates ever will. Because here's the reality, if climate change stayed theoretical, distant, and abstract, it would be easier for any market to ignore. But the moment climate risk starts affecting property values, insurance costs, and investment decisions in real time, well, suddenly it becomes super inconvenient to those with the money. And inconvenient information often doesn't survive long in systems built around profit.

Reporting says the complaints didn't come from scientists. They didn't come from insurers. They came from the real estate industry itself. Agents, brokers, regional listing services. So, in other words, the people whose paychecks depend on sales volume and price stability. That's how these things usually work. This isn't really about Zillow. Zillow is just the latest pressure point where climate reality collided with economic incentive. Because see, we've built an economy where enormous amounts of wealth are tied to assets that assume environmental stability, coastal property, wildfire prone suburbs, river flooded developments, desert cities reliant on shrinking water supplies. If full climate risk were baked honestly into prices tomorrow, a lot of balance sheets wouldn't look very good the next day.

So instead, the risks get delayed, softened, deferred, buried behind optimism and marketing language and vague reassurances about resilience. Again, I'm not even talking about Zillow. I really like the link out to First Street. That's a pretty solid move considering the situation. But this is why climate change is so hard to address systemically. Not because people don't understand it, not because the data is unclear, but because acknowledging it fully would force a massive repricing of reality. And you know, that threatens people who currently benefit from the way things are priced now.

It's much easier to argue about whether sea level rise is really that bad than it is to explain why a million-dollar home might be worth far less in a decade. It's much easier to dispute wildfire projections than to explain why an entire region may become effectively uninsurable.

Here's the uncomfortable part. When climate risk gets hidden, it doesn't disappear. The buyer becomes the risk sponge. The homeowner becomes the last one holding the bill when insurers pull out when disaster relief runs thin and when repairs become unmanageable. And it tells us something else even more uncomfortable about how this phase of the climate era is going to look. The science will keep getting louder, the disasters will keep getting more expensive, and the systems built on short-term profit will keep trying to turn the volume down. Not because the danger isn't real, but because the price of admitting it has become too high.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

December 28, 2025

Harry Enten: Donald Trump is far underwater with independent voters - CNN

CNN's Harry Enten and Manu Raju's "Inside Politics" panel unpack the first year of President Trump's second term.

0:00 CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten takes stock of the first year of President Trump's second term
3:41 CNN chief national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny discusses Trump's second term so far
5:38 NPR senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith looks at Trump's rallies and his second-term activities
7:15 Bloomberg US economy & government managing editor Mario Parker discusses Trump's falling poll numbers on affordability, immigration, and other issues
8:41 Manu Raju and Jeff Zeleny discuss the pace of Trump's executive orders

December 28, 2025

I'm busy and focused on winning the House for the Democrats' in 2026: Pelosi - ABC News

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl interviews Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on “This Week.”

December 28, 2025

New Czech long-range missiles rewrite Ukraine's deep-strike capability - RFU News

Today, the biggest news comes from Ukraine.

Ukraine is about to receive what can reasonably be described as the best Christmas present of the war so far. At a moment when Russia believed the limits of Ukraine’s long-range strike capability were already fixed, the Czech Republic is delivering a weapon that effectively rewrites those assumptions and turns Christmas into a perfect gift for Ukraine.

Prague has confirmed that it will supply Ukraine with its newly developed MTS Narwhal long-range cruise missile for real combat testing, with the first missiles scheduled to arrive between January and February 2026. According to Czech and international reports, these initial deliveries are not symbolic, as the missile is expected to enter serial production as early as March 2026, provided that battlefield trials validate its performance.

The Narwhal is a jet-powered cruise missile developed by the Czech company LPP. It has a stated range of 680 kilometers, a top speed of roughly 750 kilometers per hour, and a 120 kilogram warhead, placing it firmly in the deep-strike category rather than among conventional tactical battlefield weapons. Its most important technical feature is its navigation architecture. This combines inertial guidance with visual terrain-matching systems designed to remain effective under heavy Russian GPS jamming, a defining feature of the current war. In practical terms, this places Narwhal closer in philosophy to the German Taurus missile than to the American ATACMs. Taurus similarly emphasizes low-level penetration and guidance resilience, while offering a range of roughly 500 kilometers compared to ATACMs’ 300 kilometers. Compared to Taurus, however, the Czech missile is lighter and carries a smaller warhead. This points to an infrastructure-disabling role rather than deep bunker destruction, placing it in the same strategic strike niche as ATACMs. At the same time ATACMs relies on GPS-aided inertial guidance and follows a ballistic path, while Narwhal trades kinetic speed for survivability against electronic warfare. It does so by flying low and navigating independently, filling a new role in Ukraine’s strike planning, forcing Russia’s air defenses around Narwhal and ATACMs targets to adapt to two entirely different strike profiles.

The impact is significant because a 680-kilometer range dramatically expands the list of Russian rear-area targets that Ukraine can threaten from well inside its own territory. This range is sufficient to place major strategic command facilities under constant risk, forcing Russia to either disperse assets or invest heavily in additional air defense. The 120-kilogram warhead is large enough to destroy aircraft on open ramps, ignite fuel and ammunition storages, and cripple infrastructure critical to sustaining frontline operations, which directly translates into operational pressure for Russia; much of it still placed out in the open as bunker construction efforts have stalled. Most importantly, the missile is built around the reality that Russia’s strongest defensive tool is no longer air defense alone, but layered GPS jamming, and Narwhal is explicitly designed to keep flying when satellite navigation is degraded or denied.

Ukraine’s willingness to accept the Narwhal for combat testing is not a coincidence, as Ukrainian forces have repeatedly demonstrated that they are prepared to test new Western systems while actively defending in the full-scale war against Russia. From long-range rockets and cruise missiles to air defense and frontline systems, Ukraine has shown that real battlefield feedback can compress years of development into months, revealing weaknesses that no test range can simulate. By agreeing to trial the Narwhal in real combat, Ukraine will employ the missile against Russian targets to generate feedback for Czech developers. Once the missile enters production, some of it may go to Ukraine in return for its invaluable contribution, while allowing the system to be continuously improved as it is produced.

Overall, this delivery stands out as the best Christmas present, in the form of a long-range missile built for the kind of electronic warfare environment Russia relies on, with Ukrainians looking to test it against the most valuable targets to generate feedback for its developers. Its arrival effectively means that a Czech ATACMs and Taurus equivalent has entered the war, giving Ukraine a new deep-strike...

December 28, 2025

Let's talk about another Trumpian shutdown on the horizon.... - Belle of the Ranch

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about another Trumpian shutdown on the horizon.

The US has just sort of returned to normal after Republicans created the longest shutdown in American history so they could raise the cost of health care for millions, which was really just about avoiding admitting the one Big Beautiful Bill abandoned the working class. But another shutdown could be right around the corner. As part of the deal that ended the last shutdown, Congress has until January 30th to pass the remaining appropriations or pass another continuing resolution. The last deal only actually contained three of the 12 required appropriations bills. Democrats have a little leverage here, but not much and they haven't laid out their potential asks or positions.

That's led to this question. Belle, I know not to expect much, but I'm starting to wonder if the Democrats are even going to try to get anything in the negotiations. I've seen nothing saying they're going to even try. What gives?

Well, it's been a long time since we saw a normal appropriations package negotiation, but sometimes silence in the run-up is a game of chicken between the parties. Nobody wants to stake out their position first because what if the other side was going to give up their request for free, but now that they know your side wants it badly, they'll try to extract a concession for it. So sometimes silence is normal. But again, we haven't seen that in a while and that's not what's happening now. But it does help understand what is happening.

What if the other side is arguing amongst themselves and they don't even know what they want yet? They're still arguing over their position. You don't want to telegraph yours yet. That's what's happening.

The Republican party, yes, the majority party, hasn't figured out what their position is. Just last week, the House and Senate Appropriations leads announced they'd agree on topline numbers. If you're not familiar with this process, that's literally step one. The appropriations bills that have to be passed by the end of next month haven't even had their first draft written yet.

Johnson recently told his side in the House that he really wanted to get this through by the deadline. With some Republican factions demanding no spending increases and some demanding more, there's a feeling on the Republican side of the aisle that meeting the deadline is aspirational at best. So, the short version here is that Democrats are not staking out their position yet because they don't want to give something away for free or let Republicans know what they want until Republicans decide their position amongst themselves.

If Democrats demanded a 5% increase, and Republicans had already decided behind closed doors on a 2½% increase, Republicans would walk out and say no spending increases and then later give a concession of 2½%. So, it looks like Republicans negotiated, but they really just got their way. I know there's an expectation that Democrats will drop the ball here. If you've bet on that, don't worry. They have plenty of opportunities, but they haven't done it here.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

December 28, 2025

What Russia's Economy Will Look Like in 2026 - The Global Gambit - Pyotr Kurzin

Russia is heading toward a far more unsettled moment than the Kremlin is prepared to admit — and 2026 may be when the pressure becomes impossible to ignore.

In this clip, we look ahead to what is likely to define Russia internally over the next year: rising inflation driven by sustained money printing, continued pressure on the ruble, and a growing sense of public fatigue after years of war and economic strain.

We explore why economic hardship is becoming harder to conceal, how everyday life is being affected by currency devaluation, and why political discontent is increasing even without a clear tipping point for mass protest. As veterans return from the war in Ukraine, social tensions are likely to intensify — adding another layer of stress to an already fragile system.

This episode focuses on the internal dynamics shaping Russia’s future: economic pressure, shifting public sentiment, and the growing risk of elite and political infighting as resources tighten and patience wears thin.

December 28, 2025

China Industry Collapsing - Joe Blogs

The official figures published by China's National Bureau of Statistics show that China’s economy is still growing strongly and any slowdown is considered to be temporary. However a very different picture is starting to emerge.

In this video, I break down the latest data showing that China’s industrial profits have fallen by around 13% year-on-year, one of the sharpest declines in years. For an economy built on manufacturing and industry, that’s a major red flag.

We then look at what’s been happening to producer prices, which have now been falling for roughly three years. Persistent producer price deflation is a clear sign of overcapacity, weak demand, and intense pressure on company margins.

I also examine domestic demand, using retail sales data to show how consumer spending has softened over the past 12 months, before turning to exports, which are also losing momentum as global demand weakens and supply chains continue to diversify away from China.

Finally, I look at new research from the Rhodium Group, an independent economic research firm founded in 2008, which argues that China’s official growth figures have likely been overstated for several years. According to their analysis, China’s true growth rate may be closer to around 3%, with growth in 2026 potentially slowing further to between 1% and 2.5%.

Taken together, the data suggests China isn’t just experiencing a short-term slowdown — it’s going through a painful economic right-sizing that could have major implications for global markets, trade, and investment.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
2:15 INDUSTRIAL PROFITS
4:51 PRODUCER PRICES
7:06 RETAIL SALES
9:41 EXPORTS
10:50 GDP
12:30 RHODIUM
16:02 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

December 28, 2025

Let's talk about Trump semiconductor tariffs and the reshoring fantasy.... - Belle of the Ranch

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Trump's semiconductor tariffs and the reshoring fantasy.

If you remember back in August, Trump laid out his plan to bring jobs and semiconductor production back to America by using tariffs. His exact words in the Oval Office were, "We're going to be putting a very large tariff on chips and semiconductors, but the good news for companies like Apple is if you're building in the United States or have committed to build, without question, committed to build in the United States, there will be no charge."

So, in other words, we'll be putting a tariff of approximately 100% on chips and semiconductors. But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge. That's super clear, right? It's honestly one of the most clear economic policies Trump has ever outlined. Clear numbers, clear targets, clear goals, 100% tariff or build in the US.

So what happened when this promise intersected with reality? It collapsed faster than Kennedy Center ratings. The administration filed the plan recently. “Appropriate responsive action includes taking tariff action now on semiconductors from China with an initial tariff level of 0%. Increasing in 18 months on June 23rd, 2027 to a rate to be announced no fewer than 30 days prior to that date.”

That's right, 0% tariffs until 2027. and that eventual rate is to be determined later. This is being read by most as just an attempt to put some distance between his promises and the eventual capitulation. There might eventually be some more semiconductor production in the US, but it'll be limited and it'll be mainly automated and jobless.

This will end up working out a lot like Trump's visa restrictions meant to open up tech jobs in the US for Americans. What happened while he was tightening the rules and instituting massive fees? 32,000 jobs were reportedly created in India. The big tech companies added 32,000 jobs to the workforce there this year and they're currently hiring 3 to 5,000. The big tech companies being discussed in the reporting are Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, and Google.

This isn't the 1930s and the age of battleships. People don't have to work where the company is based. Come on. We have doctors conducting surgeries on patients via a robot in another city. Instant communication between various parts of the world means it's generally more cost effective for a company to build a workforce overseas. The big tech companies are building out the workforce there. And it's not just the jobs themselves, but the facilities they work at being present there will boost the local economy. The cleaning services, the landscaping, the office supplies, and so on. It's all over there.

It's worth noting that we don't have a direct statement saying Trump's policies caused these decisions, and odds are we'd never get one. But the workforce based in India grew by 18% year-over-year. It's going to be hard to tie that growth to anything else other than maybe better education. Trump's policies once again have a clear loser, the American economy.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

December 28, 2025

Something Is Going Seriously Wrong For Russia At Pokrovsk - Jason Jay Smart

Russia’s winter offensive was supposed to crown Kupiansk as its greatest victory; instead, the city has become the site of Moscow’s most humiliating collapse. Ukrainian forces have not only halted the Russian advance but have shattered the northern flank of the entire Donbas front. This is not just a tactical retreat—it is a strategic disaster for the Kremlin. Kupiansk is the logistical heartbeat of the region, the rail hub that feeds ammunition and fuel to the Russian war machine. By retaking it, Ukraine has effectively choked off the supply arteries for every Russian unit attempting to push south, forcing generals in Moscow to rethink their entire campaign.

While panic-mongers focus on the calculated withdrawal from Siversk, the real story is happening here: Ukraine is trading rubble for survival, sacrificing empty towns to secure the industrial hubs that will decide the war’s outcome. This victory exposes the critical exhaustion of Russia’s manpower and artillery reserves, proving that Putin’s "infinite" resources are a myth. The failure to hold Kupiansk destroys Moscow’s leverage in any future peace negotiations. If the front lines freeze today, Russia is left with broken brigades and lost leverage, while Ukraine holds the keys to the east. The dream of a Russian Donbas is collapsing under the weight of its own failed logistics.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Pokrovsk Is Not Finished
01:00 Russia’s Northern Wedge Explained
02:05 The Wedge Starts to Crack
03:00 Three Points Decide Everything
03:45 Sukhetsky Falls Into Contested Ground
04:30 Rudinsky And The Coal Belt Hold
05:25 Suvorovaya The Killing Field
06:15 Why Pokrovsk Rail Still Matters
07:05 Coal, Steel, And Ukraine’s Survival
08:10 Russia’s Real Objective Revealed
09:00 Peace Talks And Frozen Lines
10:00 What Happens If Russian Lines Break
10:40 Final Assessment Pokrovsk Holds

December 28, 2025

Rudy Giuliani's Cheat History! The Best Town Hall Protest? - Have I Got News For You US

NEW never-before-seen clips from HIGNFY Season 3 with guests: David Gelles, Mae Martin, Joy Reid, Lewis Black, Gianmarco Soresi, Julia Ioffe, Jennifer Welch & Max Chafkin.

Rudy Giuliani revealed WHAT family secret at a press conference? You want THIS man at all of your town hall meetings, Rosie O'Donnell's happy hobby and Lewis Black is the spokesperson of which country? All of this and more!