Tobita Chow
@tobitac.bsky.social
US-China, climate, politics, imperialism and world economy
Chicagoland | immigrant | he/him
Chicagoland | immigrant | he/him
Reposted by Tobita Chow
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
November 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
BANGLADESH: A decade after Rana Plaza, workers still die for fast fashion, Amazon can change that, but won’t maktoobmedia.com/opinion/a-de...
A decade after Rana Plaza, workers still die for fast fashion, Amazon can change that, but won’t
A Bangladeshi garment worker-leader invokes the deadly Rana Plaza collapse to demand that Amazon end its refusal to sign the legally binding Bangladesh Accord and ensure safe, fair, transparent, union...
maktoobmedia.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:57 PM
BANGLADESH: A decade after Rana Plaza, workers still die for fast fashion, Amazon can change that, but won’t maktoobmedia.com/opinion/a-de...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
It’s always a good test of this rhetoric to see how it would have applied to 1850 Ireland.
“No magic transformation occurs when failed states cross borders. At scale, Irishmen and their descendants recreate the famine, and papism, of their broken homeland.”
“No magic transformation occurs when failed states cross borders. At scale, Irishmen and their descendants recreate the famine, and papism, of their broken homeland.”
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
It’s always a good test of this rhetoric to see how it would have applied to 1850 Ireland.
“No magic transformation occurs when failed states cross borders. At scale, Irishmen and their descendants recreate the famine, and papism, of their broken homeland.”
“No magic transformation occurs when failed states cross borders. At scale, Irishmen and their descendants recreate the famine, and papism, of their broken homeland.”
This is so bad progressive.international/blueprint/cb...
Building Whole-Process People's Democracy in China
For Building the Future, a research collection on contemporary socialist construction, Paweł Wargan and Jason Hickel look at the concept of “whole-process people’s democracy” in China, a complex syste...
progressive.international
November 28, 2025 at 1:55 AM
This is so bad progressive.international/blueprint/cb...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
China’s commerce ministry voices serious concerns over Malaysia-US reciprocal trade deal – Xinhua
China voices serious concerns over Malaysia-U.S. reciprocal trade deal
english.news.cn
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 PM
China’s commerce ministry voices serious concerns over Malaysia-US reciprocal trade deal – Xinhua
Reposted by Tobita Chow
My Trade Secrets today. Funny* thing about Trump's tariffs: they're really unpopular and he's retreating from them even before most of the bad effects have come through. God knows what will happen when they do.
*By funny I mean both unexpected but also very amusing.
on.ft.com/4p5NUVy
*By funny I mean both unexpected but also very amusing.
on.ft.com/4p5NUVy
The hot air of Trump’s tariffs is approaching a ceiling of cold reality
[FREE TO READ] Even before their full effect has hit, the duties are doing real damage
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
My Trade Secrets today. Funny* thing about Trump's tariffs: they're really unpopular and he's retreating from them even before most of the bad effects have come through. God knows what will happen when they do.
*By funny I mean both unexpected but also very amusing.
on.ft.com/4p5NUVy
*By funny I mean both unexpected but also very amusing.
on.ft.com/4p5NUVy
Reposted by Tobita Chow
“.. Japanese officials said the message was worrying: the president didn’t want friction over Taiwan to endanger a detente reached last month with Xi, which includes a promise to buy more agricultural products from American farmers ..”
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
November 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
“.. Japanese officials said the message was worrying: the president didn’t want friction over Taiwan to endanger a detente reached last month with Xi, which includes a promise to buy more agricultural products from American farmers ..”
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
It's not just that the United States has stopped trying to promote liberal democratic ideas internationally. It's that the United States is actively trying to promote the contrary. It's trying to turn more countries into Hungary.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
U.S. to Press Europe and Other Allies on ‘Mass Migration,’ Document Says
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:06 AM
It's not just that the United States has stopped trying to promote liberal democratic ideas internationally. It's that the United States is actively trying to promote the contrary. It's trying to turn more countries into Hungary.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable in which Rubio orders diplomats in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to press for immigration limits and cite crime. They’re also told to report on governments that are pro-immigration. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
U.S. to Press Europe and Other Allies on ‘Mass Migration,’ Document Says
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:28 PM
NEW: The New York Times got a State Dept. cable in which Rubio orders diplomats in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to press for immigration limits and cite crime. They’re also told to report on governments that are pro-immigration. Our story: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
China is among parties interested in bidding to build two new ports on the Panama Canal, its administrator said Tuesday, despite U.S. talk of retaking control of the vital trade route.
China Likely to Bid on Building New Panama Canal Ports
China is among parties interested in bidding to build two new ports on the Panama Canal, its administrator said Tuesday, despite U.S. talk of retaking control of the vital trade route. U.S. President ...
chinaglobalsouth.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:37 AM
China is among parties interested in bidding to build two new ports on the Panama Canal, its administrator said Tuesday, despite U.S. talk of retaking control of the vital trade route.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
National Guard soldiers didn't sign up to be deployed as local police indefinitely as part of someone else's political stunt.
They're not set up to be local police, they never should have been deployed.
They're not set up to be local police, they never should have been deployed.
November 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
National Guard soldiers didn't sign up to be deployed as local police indefinitely as part of someone else's political stunt.
They're not set up to be local police, they never should have been deployed.
They're not set up to be local police, they never should have been deployed.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two National Guard members have been shot in Washington, D.C., and their condition isn't known, AP source says.
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two National Guard members have been shot in Washington, D.C., and their condition isn't known, AP source says.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Tobita Chow
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant fire in 1971 (featured in the Noble House mini series starring Peirce Brosnan) was one of the worst fires in Hong Kongs history, completely reforming fire safety in the city after leaving 34 dead.
At least 34 people have now died in the Tai Po fire.
At least 34 people have now died in the Tai Po fire.
Online Hong Kongers are saying that the management was cutting massive corners in the renovation, there was no fireproofing around the scaffolding, and workers were openly smoking.
There's a big reddit thread on r/hongkong
There's a big reddit thread on r/hongkong
November 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant fire in 1971 (featured in the Noble House mini series starring Peirce Brosnan) was one of the worst fires in Hong Kongs history, completely reforming fire safety in the city after leaving 34 dead.
At least 34 people have now died in the Tai Po fire.
At least 34 people have now died in the Tai Po fire.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
The leaks from Tokyo begin -- Trump, contrary to reports, was not 'mediating' between China and Japan. He said nothing about Taiwan to Takaichi other than briefing her on what Xi told him. Nervousness in Tokyo rising.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
Amid fight with China, Japan wary of where Trump stands | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
U.S. President Donald Trump did not convey any concerns about the current Japan-China feud in a telephone call with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Nov. 25, sources said.
www.asahi.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The leaks from Tokyo begin -- Trump, contrary to reports, was not 'mediating' between China and Japan. He said nothing about Taiwan to Takaichi other than briefing her on what Xi told him. Nervousness in Tokyo rising.
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...
“Several companies have begun selling their crypto stockpiles in an effort to fund share buybacks and shore up their stock prices, in effect putting the crypto treasury model into reverse.”
Nice
on.ft.com/4ilBq9z
Nice
on.ft.com/4ilBq9z
Crypto hoarders dump tokens as shares tumble
‘Digital asset treasury’ craze sours amid $1tn rout in cryptocurrency market
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
“Several companies have begun selling their crypto stockpiles in an effort to fund share buybacks and shore up their stock prices, in effect putting the crypto treasury model into reverse.”
Nice
on.ft.com/4ilBq9z
Nice
on.ft.com/4ilBq9z
Reposted by Tobita Chow
When Xi raises Taiwan forcefully, Trump leaves it out of his readout.
1. Trump does NOT want Taiwan to define 🇺🇸–🇨🇳 relations.
He wants trade, deals, optics, and political wins.
2. He does not want to be boxed in by allies’ expectations.
Especially Japan’s new security posture under Takaichi.
1. Trump does NOT want Taiwan to define 🇺🇸–🇨🇳 relations.
He wants trade, deals, optics, and political wins.
2. He does not want to be boxed in by allies’ expectations.
Especially Japan’s new security posture under Takaichi.
November 24, 2025 at 11:13 PM
When Xi raises Taiwan forcefully, Trump leaves it out of his readout.
1. Trump does NOT want Taiwan to define 🇺🇸–🇨🇳 relations.
He wants trade, deals, optics, and political wins.
2. He does not want to be boxed in by allies’ expectations.
Especially Japan’s new security posture under Takaichi.
1. Trump does NOT want Taiwan to define 🇺🇸–🇨🇳 relations.
He wants trade, deals, optics, and political wins.
2. He does not want to be boxed in by allies’ expectations.
Especially Japan’s new security posture under Takaichi.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
An important contrast from @polgreen.bsky.social, calling into question basic assumptions driving the US foreign policy establishment.
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
November 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
An important contrast from @polgreen.bsky.social, calling into question basic assumptions driving the US foreign policy establishment.
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
But instead of self-reflection, we’ve mostly seen denial, defensiveness, and compensatory fantasies of geopolitical bloc formation.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Last week Yoram Hazony, far-right Israeli theorist & leader of National Conservatism, sat down with NYT columnist Ross Douthat to explain why he was surprised there's now an antisemitism crisis in the MAGA movement. Nobody else was surprised. My latest: bit.ly/HazonyAntisemitism
November 24, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Last week Yoram Hazony, far-right Israeli theorist & leader of National Conservatism, sat down with NYT columnist Ross Douthat to explain why he was surprised there's now an antisemitism crisis in the MAGA movement. Nobody else was surprised. My latest: bit.ly/HazonyAntisemitism
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
Reposted by Tobita Chow
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
November 24, 2025 at 6:19 PM
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Yesterday my partner and I counted all the ads along Chicago's Brown Line for "Friend," a company selling an AI chatbot pendant, and tallied how many of those ads were defaced.
Still working on a longer piece on this, but here's the quick and dirty: we counted 104 "Friend" ads total, 42 defaced.
Still working on a longer piece on this, but here's the quick and dirty: we counted 104 "Friend" ads total, 42 defaced.
November 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Yesterday my partner and I counted all the ads along Chicago's Brown Line for "Friend," a company selling an AI chatbot pendant, and tallied how many of those ads were defaced.
Still working on a longer piece on this, but here's the quick and dirty: we counted 104 "Friend" ads total, 42 defaced.
Still working on a longer piece on this, but here's the quick and dirty: we counted 104 "Friend" ads total, 42 defaced.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
"A Chinese immigrant was found dead in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, with his hands and feet tied behind him, an attorney has alleged."
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
Man detained by ICE found dead, hanging with hands and feet tied—attorney
The Chinese national died in Pennsylvania in August, but his family's requests for answers from DHS have gone unmet.
www.newsweek.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:15 AM
"A Chinese immigrant was found dead in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, with his hands and feet tied behind him, an attorney has alleged."
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
www.newsweek.com/ice-detainee...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.