Breaking Down: Collapse

Anecdotes about rising anti-intellectualism and how conspiratorial thinking seems increasingly normalized. Discussion of possible causes like COVID, media influence, lead exposure, and denial as coping. Tales of climate skepticism tied to strange weather and claims of weather manipulation. Reflections on how ignorance, inequality, and political capture block collective solutions.

Coverage of attempts in Texas to strip civil protections from Muslims and challenges to same-sex marriage rulings. Reports on eminent domain for ICE detention, online safety legislation, and student loan court reversals. Investigation into FBI counterintelligence staff cuts before strikes on Iran. Alarms about federal agents at polling places, political no-bid contracts, and mishandled user data in tech depositions.

Coverage of a widening US–Iran conflict and recent strikes that are expanding into civilian infrastructure. Discussion of terrorism risks and sleeper-cell retaliation across the globe. Analysis of economic shocks from disrupted oil markets, possible Strait of Hormuz shutdown, and supply-chain cascades. Exploration of the chances for US ground action and long-term regional destabilization.

Researchers stumbled upon the discovery of a glacier collapse in East Antarctica, which was determined to be the fastest glacial collapse every recorded. It spells trouble for other (larger) glaciers in similar situations. Antarctica just saw the fastest glacier collapse ever recorded | ScienceDailyPlease join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the things I fear most about collapse is that there's so much we don't understand, and that inevitably means there will be consequences we can't predict. Today I go through a couple of recent findings that weren't necessarily expected by the scientific community, and therefore not accounted for in climate models.Antarctic warming is altering atmospheric stability: New evidence from the 1950s to the presentVolcanism-induced collapse and recovery of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation under glacial conditions | Science AdvancesReduced Vegetation Uptake During the Extreme 2023 Drought Turns the Amazon Into a Weak Carbon Source - Botía - 2026 - AGU Advances - Wiley Online LibraryBrazil’s growing water crisisPlease join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some new research has come out showing that for every .1C rise in temperature, there's a 7.2% loss in marine life.Chronic ocean heating fuels ‘staggering’ loss of marine life, study finds | Marine life | The GuardianLong-term warming reduces fish biomass, but heatwaves shift it | Nature Ecology & EvolutionClimate ReanalyzerScientists Thought Antarctic Ice Melt Helped Fight Climate Change. It Doesn’tPlease join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussion of a sharp rise in foreclosures and the mounting pressure on homeowners. Exploration of tiny apartments under 400 sq ft and how shrinkflation is reshaping urban housing. Examination of proposed policy fixes like ultra-long mortgages and tapping retirement savings for down payments and why they can backfire.

Odds have risen sharply for a breach of the minimum power pool level as soon as July (worst case) and December (most probable) of this year. On top of that, it's been revealed that structural limitations to the dam itself might mean that MPP is the lowest level at which any water can be reliably delivered downstream.The coming failure of Glen Canyon Dam - High Country NewsNo deal forces Colorado River crisis to continue | Western Colorado | gjsentinel.comThe Colorado River rift abides - High Country NewsLake Powell forecast plummets toward critical lows, study saysBig Decisions Loom for a Rapidly Shrinking Lake Powell - Circle of BluePlease join us on Patreon for weekly bonus content and to join our Discord community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New research warns multiple climate tipping points could be crossed before global warming hits 1.5°C. They compare short overshoots versus high peaks and highlight fast and slow system responses like reefs versus ice sheets. The discussion covers cascading feedbacks from deforestation and permafrost, the narrow window to act, and the daunting limits and risks of large-scale carbon removal and geoengineering.

Discussion of rising home insurance premiums as a sign of growing disaster risk. Exploration of lengthening job searches, shrinking savings, and pressure on everyday budgets. Coverage of Social Security’s approaching funding shortfall and the housing emergency pushing people into RVs. Contrast between corporate windfalls in crises and questions about the ethics of common investing practices.