Torr 🧵
@torrleonard.bsky.social
“If the coup is successful, Guinea-Bissau would be the latest African democracy to fall under military control.
Since the start of the decade, several democratically elected govts have been replaced by strongmen, w/ policymakers calling region Africa “coup belt.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Since the start of the decade, several democratically elected govts have been replaced by strongmen, w/ policymakers calling region Africa “coup belt.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
November 27, 2025 at 8:20 PM
“If the coup is successful, Guinea-Bissau would be the latest African democracy to fall under military control.
Since the start of the decade, several democratically elected govts have been replaced by strongmen, w/ policymakers calling region Africa “coup belt.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
Since the start of the decade, several democratically elected govts have been replaced by strongmen, w/ policymakers calling region Africa “coup belt.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/w...
“She gave teams a week to pick a manhole cover and paint a flower on it.
Now, Sac City sports 70 blooming creations, including entries from the Red Hats women’s group, the sheriff’s office—and the police.”
Now, Sac City sports 70 blooming creations, including entries from the Red Hats women’s group, the sheriff’s office—and the police.”
November 27, 2025 at 5:45 AM
“She gave teams a week to pick a manhole cover and paint a flower on it.
Now, Sac City sports 70 blooming creations, including entries from the Red Hats women’s group, the sheriff’s office—and the police.”
Now, Sac City sports 70 blooming creations, including entries from the Red Hats women’s group, the sheriff’s office—and the police.”
“In nearby Sac City, Crystal Hanrahan was watching the case unfold when she got an idea.
Hanrahan, head of the local chamber of commerce, pitched the mayor on holding a manhole-painting contest.”
Hanrahan, head of the local chamber of commerce, pitched the mayor on holding a manhole-painting contest.”
November 27, 2025 at 5:43 AM
“In nearby Sac City, Crystal Hanrahan was watching the case unfold when she got an idea.
Hanrahan, head of the local chamber of commerce, pitched the mayor on holding a manhole-painting contest.”
Hanrahan, head of the local chamber of commerce, pitched the mayor on holding a manhole-painting contest.”
“Brender said his friend made him a sign with a Venmo username written on it, but no one has stopped to use it, and he doesn’t even know how to access his account.”
November 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
“Brender said his friend made him a sign with a Venmo username written on it, but no one has stopped to use it, and he doesn’t even know how to access his account.”
"The US continues to lose manufacturing jobs—payrolls are down 94k over the last year, & another 6k jobs were lost in Sept.
Transportation (especially auto manufacturing) & electronics/electrical manufacturing are the biggest losers, but almost no subsectors are doing well."
x.com/JosephPolita...
Transportation (especially auto manufacturing) & electronics/electrical manufacturing are the biggest losers, but almost no subsectors are doing well."
x.com/JosephPolita...
November 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
"The US continues to lose manufacturing jobs—payrolls are down 94k over the last year, & another 6k jobs were lost in Sept.
Transportation (especially auto manufacturing) & electronics/electrical manufacturing are the biggest losers, but almost no subsectors are doing well."
x.com/JosephPolita...
Transportation (especially auto manufacturing) & electronics/electrical manufacturing are the biggest losers, but almost no subsectors are doing well."
x.com/JosephPolita...
"The global response to HIV is facing its most serious setback in decades as abrupt funding cuts and a deteriorating human rights environment disrupt prevention and treatment services across dozens of countries."
news.un.org/en/story/202...
news.un.org/en/story/202...
November 26, 2025 at 4:42 PM
"The global response to HIV is facing its most serious setback in decades as abrupt funding cuts and a deteriorating human rights environment disrupt prevention and treatment services across dozens of countries."
news.un.org/en/story/202...
news.un.org/en/story/202...
November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
“In US, UK & elsewhere, while costs of other forms of new energy have fallen, nuclear has become steadily more expensive, because of *requirements* that any savings made through technological improvements are reinvested in safety, meaning prices always go up”
2023 article:
ifp.org/nuclear-powe...
2023 article:
ifp.org/nuclear-powe...
November 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM
“In US, UK & elsewhere, while costs of other forms of new energy have fallen, nuclear has become steadily more expensive, because of *requirements* that any savings made through technological improvements are reinvested in safety, meaning prices always go up”
2023 article:
ifp.org/nuclear-powe...
2023 article:
ifp.org/nuclear-powe...
“To Meta’s disappointment, researchers found that "people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness & social comparison,” internal docs said.
Rather than take action, Meta buried the findings & called off research.”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
Rather than take action, Meta buried the findings & called off research.”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
November 24, 2025 at 4:21 PM
“To Meta’s disappointment, researchers found that "people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness & social comparison,” internal docs said.
Rather than take action, Meta buried the findings & called off research.”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
Rather than take action, Meta buried the findings & called off research.”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
“Zakaria: How Denmark’s left turned against immigration”
Denmark center-left party has anti-immigrant policies that would get them called right-wing if they were American.
As a result,they keep winning elections over a party that would be even worse to immigrants.
www.threads.com/@fareedzakar...
Denmark center-left party has anti-immigrant policies that would get them called right-wing if they were American.
As a result,they keep winning elections over a party that would be even worse to immigrants.
www.threads.com/@fareedzakar...
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“Zakaria: How Denmark’s left turned against immigration”
Denmark center-left party has anti-immigrant policies that would get them called right-wing if they were American.
As a result,they keep winning elections over a party that would be even worse to immigrants.
www.threads.com/@fareedzakar...
Denmark center-left party has anti-immigrant policies that would get them called right-wing if they were American.
As a result,they keep winning elections over a party that would be even worse to immigrants.
www.threads.com/@fareedzakar...
“The assemblies’ purview is also limited, naturally, to areas where the regional government has control, such as education and housing, rather than more divisive topics like the entry of immigrants which is overseen by the federal government in Brussels.”
November 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
“The assemblies’ purview is also limited, naturally, to areas where the regional government has control, such as education and housing, rather than more divisive topics like the entry of immigrants which is overseen by the federal government in Brussels.”
“More than 80% of the federal campaign spending by 100 wealthiest Americans in 2024 went to GOP.
Trump himself raised 15x as much from the 100 richest Americans in 2024 than he did during his first campaign in ‘16.
Harris raised 3x as much from the wealthiest in 2024 as Hillary Clinton did in 2016
Trump himself raised 15x as much from the 100 richest Americans in 2024 than he did during his first campaign in ‘16.
Harris raised 3x as much from the wealthiest in 2024 as Hillary Clinton did in 2016
November 23, 2025 at 3:37 AM
“More than 80% of the federal campaign spending by 100 wealthiest Americans in 2024 went to GOP.
Trump himself raised 15x as much from the 100 richest Americans in 2024 than he did during his first campaign in ‘16.
Harris raised 3x as much from the wealthiest in 2024 as Hillary Clinton did in 2016
Trump himself raised 15x as much from the 100 richest Americans in 2024 than he did during his first campaign in ‘16.
Harris raised 3x as much from the wealthiest in 2024 as Hillary Clinton did in 2016
I’ve been reporting this particular sidewalk issue to the city of LA for *13 years* and it still hasn’t been fixed.
One of these days, one of the many people who trips on it every day is gonna get injured and sue to the city and be awarded millions in tax dollars.
What a way to run a city!
One of these days, one of the many people who trips on it every day is gonna get injured and sue to the city and be awarded millions in tax dollars.
What a way to run a city!
November 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM
I’ve been reporting this particular sidewalk issue to the city of LA for *13 years* and it still hasn’t been fixed.
One of these days, one of the many people who trips on it every day is gonna get injured and sue to the city and be awarded millions in tax dollars.
What a way to run a city!
One of these days, one of the many people who trips on it every day is gonna get injured and sue to the city and be awarded millions in tax dollars.
What a way to run a city!
"Our cursed age of "self-optimisation" didn’t start with big tech:
As is often the case, the Victorians are to blame."
Diary-writers, this time....
aeon.co/essays/victo...
As is often the case, the Victorians are to blame."
Diary-writers, this time....
aeon.co/essays/victo...
November 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
"Our cursed age of "self-optimisation" didn’t start with big tech:
As is often the case, the Victorians are to blame."
Diary-writers, this time....
aeon.co/essays/victo...
As is often the case, the Victorians are to blame."
Diary-writers, this time....
aeon.co/essays/victo...
"MAGA flags and banners hang throughout Knox County.
Harstine, 70, a semiretired orchard packer, said he has noticed Hispanic men bicycling through the area.
Workers from Mexico and Central America will do jobs that many Americans won’t, he said, but the U.S. needs secure borders."
Harstine, 70, a semiretired orchard packer, said he has noticed Hispanic men bicycling through the area.
Workers from Mexico and Central America will do jobs that many Americans won’t, he said, but the U.S. needs secure borders."
November 22, 2025 at 12:01 AM
"MAGA flags and banners hang throughout Knox County.
Harstine, 70, a semiretired orchard packer, said he has noticed Hispanic men bicycling through the area.
Workers from Mexico and Central America will do jobs that many Americans won’t, he said, but the U.S. needs secure borders."
Harstine, 70, a semiretired orchard packer, said he has noticed Hispanic men bicycling through the area.
Workers from Mexico and Central America will do jobs that many Americans won’t, he said, but the U.S. needs secure borders."
"She also preferred her new state’s governor and politics."
[Wait. Arizona and California *both* have *Dem* Governors.
She probably doesn't even realize that, since Trump won Arizona, and she lives in a red area/county (Mohave).]
[Wait. Arizona and California *both* have *Dem* Governors.
She probably doesn't even realize that, since Trump won Arizona, and she lives in a red area/county (Mohave).]
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
"She also preferred her new state’s governor and politics."
[Wait. Arizona and California *both* have *Dem* Governors.
She probably doesn't even realize that, since Trump won Arizona, and she lives in a red area/county (Mohave).]
[Wait. Arizona and California *both* have *Dem* Governors.
She probably doesn't even realize that, since Trump won Arizona, and she lives in a red area/county (Mohave).]
Chart showing nations' estimated share of nuclear warheads:
November 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Chart showing nations' estimated share of nuclear warheads:
