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7-8 May 2026: Thursday 4:30 PM
NEWS NOTES FROM A CHILDLESS CAT LADY WORKING AWAY IN A SUB-BASEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK
Quotes:
· “It’s the most corrupt administration I’ve ever seen in my life.” David French on Nicolle Wallace, MS Now.
· “It’s a small price to pay…” for saving all those lives. (Not Your) Buddy Carter, District 1, Georgia talking about gas prices. Carter can’t even conduct a town hall. He is horrible. (5/8/26).
· “Donald Trump’s friend,…Putin…openly planning to kill Americans….scheming with Iranians to kill Americans.” Joe Scarborough, MSNow 5/6/26.
· “Donald Trump hates experts.” Joe Scarborough, 5/
News notes: Russia
· Russia has announced that it is “escalating the temporary transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children to participate in Russian-run summer camp programs in occupied Ukraine and Russia.” (quote from Institute for the Study of War, ISW).
· Russian Cossack organizations are “increasingly penetrating the school system in occupied Ukraine” (ISW)
· Artek International Children’s Center (sanctioned for its role in the forced transfer, deportation, and re-education of Ukrainian children) is “becoming increasingly involved in the production and provision of components for the Russian military.” (ISW)
· Ukraine has now survived four winters of systematic Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure. Kviv Independent.
· The Insider: Secret program which teaches hacking inside Bauman University. Instructor GRU. Also criticizing the Russian elite. There is disaffection with Putin.
·
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – Johns Hopkins Connective Tissues Disorder Clinic.
Media:
Morning Joe Gossip: Joe is driving everybody crazy, especially the dreadful Mika. I think she’s going to run away with the weatherman, Bernie Rayno.
News Notes: Russia (5/8/26)
News Notes: The Economist Russia and Ukraine
The Economist is reporting on a document indicating that Russia at one point offered to provide Iran with unjammable dromes to fight the United States.
· Economist: “Now a confidential document obtained by the Economist from a trusted source suggests that Russia has offered to provide Iran with unjammable drones and training on how to use them against American troops in the Gulf and perhaps elsewhere. Until now, …Putin’s government is tougt to have provided intelligence that enabled Iran to target American forces in the Middle East. This is the first evidence that it may also have offered to supply innovative weapons in large enough numbers to inflict many casualties on American and allied forces….The secret plan involves Russia providing Iran with 5,000 short-range fibre-optic drones of the sort used in the war in Ukraine, an unknown number of longer-range satellite-guided drones, and training to use both. It is contained in a ten-page proposal prepared by the GRU, the intelligence arm of Russia’s armed forces, for presentation to Iran.”
· “a remarkable document” Shashank Joshi, Defense Editor. “quite detailed”
· Joshi: The U.S. must realize its limits of leverage over Iran. The eventual plan will resemble the plan hammered out by Obama. Ramping up leverage through strikes has failed. Only 25% of millile launchers. Continued strikes represent “catastrophic consequences to the world economy.”
News Notes: Trump Administration
· The Washington Post is reporting that the national debt has taken a turn upward and Washington barely notice.
News Notes: Media: steve Bannonn 5/8/26
Bannon has Phillip Patrick, of the Birch Gold Group on his show going on about Biden and banks buying gold. They are also whining about the national debt, as if they had nothing to do with driving it into the sky.
Life notes: Hiram Bernard
· Hiram is rail thin and has stopped eating on his own. We are now back to feeding him through a tube in his stomach. He went downstairs when I fed the other cats and bowl-shopped their bowls even though he hadn’t finished his own. That’s a good sign. We have another appointment next week, but we are both depressed with the fact that he went back to having to be fed. We are not ready for him to leave us. He is such a precious soul.



Washington can’t reverse or control the consequences of losing this war.
— Read on www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/iran-war-trump-losing/687094/
Marxist website defending the ideas of Marxism as a tool for workers and youth today – by the Revolutionary Communist International.
— Read on marxist.com/podcasts/all-audio-and-video.htm
The war in Iran, which started as a reckless gamble on the part of Trump, is developing into a significant strategic defeat for US imperialism, which can have i
— Read on marxist.com/trump-s-defeat-in-iran-and-its-worldwide-consequences.htm
For over a month, Israeli and US strikes have targeted every major city and province across Iran. As of 13 April, the Iranian Red Crescent has confirmed 2,076 d
— Read on marxist.com/us-iran-war-the-reforging-of-the-islamic-republic.htm
Odds are you’ve heard about so-called “prediction markets.” While traditional casinos fleece workers with games of chance, platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi
— Read on marxist.com/prediction-markets-profit-from-us-imperialism.htm
“A lot of people are going to understand,” Chamel Abdulkarim reportedly told his girlfriend over the phone just moments after burning down the 1.2 million squar
— Read on marxist.com/united-states-all-you-had-to-do-was-pay-us-enough-to-live-warehouse-arson-vents-class-rage.htm
Against the Stream is back! Since our last episode, the world has been plunged deeper into crisis. With no end in sight for the Iran War.
— Read on marxist.com/podcast-how-to-destroy-us-imperialism.htm
It is undeniable that world capitalism is in a profound crisis. The Iran conflict is the latest hammer blow – following on from many – that has shaken the capit
— Read on marxist.com/a-very-british-catastrophe.htm
Born in 1868 into a poor family in Edinburgh, James Connolly was a genuine proletarian. His working life commenced at the age of ten. All his life he lived and
— Read on marxist.com/james-connolly-and-the-easter-rising.htm
“At this stage Micheál Martin is not in control. The people of Ireland are in control. They have every motorway blocked in Ireland. They have businesses shut do
— Read on marxist.com/ireland-fuel-protests-show-the-way.htm