Doug Saunders
@dougsaunders.bsky.social
International-Affairs Columnist, The Globe and Mail. Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy. Author of Arrival City, The Myth of the Muslim Tide, Maximum Canada, etc. http://dougsaunders.net
As for me I’m spending the week babysitting this kitten (who’s already larger than his brother, a full-grown cat)
December 31, 2025 at 6:49 PM
As for me I’m spending the week babysitting this kitten (who’s already larger than his brother, a full-grown cat)
For the first time in 15 years, my end-of-year essay strikes an optimistic note -- not for the year that's ended, which was catastrophic, or the one ahead. But I observe that our condition will necessitate an era of great growth, invention, employment...
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e33036f...
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e33036f...
Dear Gen Z: You’re not watching the world end – you’re about to build a new one
Despite older generations’ doomsday prophecies and belated apologies for the state of the world, today’s young people are now on the brink of leading the greatest era of rebuilding and growth this cen...
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:55 PM
For the first time in 15 years, my end-of-year essay strikes an optimistic note -- not for the year that's ended, which was catastrophic, or the one ahead. But I observe that our condition will necessitate an era of great growth, invention, employment...
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e33036f...
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e33036f...
Reposted by Doug Saunders
A dad-intelligent coffee maker would let you put in the number of beans you want but then tell you it would have used more (or less) but that’s ok, do it your way.
December 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A dad-intelligent coffee maker would let you put in the number of beans you want but then tell you it would have used more (or less) but that’s ok, do it your way.
See, here's the difference between current LLM tech and actual intelligence, which remains elusive. An actually intelligent trivet or coaster would perform some sophisticated thinking and realize that the ideal place to position itself is WHERE I GODDAMN PUT IT BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO BE THERE
Also, this just in -> the latest bizarre AI fever dream is AI-controlled trivets, staplers, and coffee cups on wheels. So we'll be chased around by inanimate wheeled objects clamoring for our attention.
![Real news story headline: "Robot Coffee Cups? Self-Driving Trivets? AI Researchers Made It Happen. [sub-title] Scientists found a way to animate everyday objects and predict your next move, so your stapler is always nearby when you need it."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wstpte2vzb4ra2iqtnw2d2ef/bafkreibbhk46utcdzm3qb2u2muehbhrndu6x47k5a4v64ef44xdpbgh42u@jpeg)
December 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
See, here's the difference between current LLM tech and actual intelligence, which remains elusive. An actually intelligent trivet or coaster would perform some sophisticated thinking and realize that the ideal place to position itself is WHERE I GODDAMN PUT IT BECAUSE I WANTED IT TO BE THERE
Reposted by Doug Saunders
Well clearly they're doing this to screw up mail-in voting.
As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.
USPS Announces Changes to the Postmark Date System
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has adopted a final rule (FR Doc.
share.google
December 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Well clearly they're doing this to screw up mail-in voting.
Reposted by Doug Saunders
An optimistic piece by @dougsaunders.bsky.social. Yet, recent events echo more closely the 1910s and 20s than the 1930s and 40s. It feels more like the Hoover years than the Truman years. Gen Z may become a great generation but not for the reasons supposed.
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
Dear Gen Z: You’re not watching the world end – you’re about to build a new one
Despite older generations’ doomsday prophecies and belated apologies for the state of the world, today’s young people are now on the brink of leading the greatest era of rebuilding and growth this cen...
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
An optimistic piece by @dougsaunders.bsky.social. Yet, recent events echo more closely the 1910s and 20s than the 1930s and 40s. It feels more like the Hoover years than the Truman years. Gen Z may become a great generation but not for the reasons supposed.
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
Reposted by Doug Saunders
"The big question is whether we have a sane majority."
Geez, @dougsaunders.bsky.social
A gift link for my friends here:
Geez, @dougsaunders.bsky.social
A gift link for my friends here:
Dear Gen Z: You’re not watching the world end – you’re about to build a new one
Despite older generations’ doomsday prophecies and belated apologies for the state of the world, today’s young people are now on the brink of leading the greatest era of rebuilding and growth this cen...
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:23 PM
"The big question is whether we have a sane majority."
Geez, @dougsaunders.bsky.social
A gift link for my friends here:
Geez, @dougsaunders.bsky.social
A gift link for my friends here:
Reposted by Doug Saunders
We had congressional hearings when parents just suspected heavy metal was leading some kids to suicide.
i don’t see how any of the benefits of chatgpt and other consumer-facing LLMs can possibly outweigh their incredible ability to induce suicides
Adam Raine’s life hurtled toward tragedy soon after he began talking with ChatGPT about homework. Analysis of his ChatGPT account shows how the chatbot became a confidant as he planned to end his life.
December 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
We had congressional hearings when parents just suspected heavy metal was leading some kids to suicide.
Reposted by Doug Saunders
Un appel à la génération Z, "Ne perdez pas espoir, écrit Doug Saunders. Vous n'assistez pas à la fin du monde, vous êtes sur le point d'en construire un nouveau"
Traduction d'un article du Globe and Mail, 2025.12.27
www.gillesenvrac.ca/carnet/appel...
Traduction d'un article du Globe and Mail, 2025.12.27
www.gillesenvrac.ca/carnet/appel...
Un appel à la génération Z
Par Doug Saunders, chroniqueur au Globe and Mail. 27 décembre 2025 Traduction de A plea to Gen Z Article cadeau ! aux non-abonnés Ne perdez pas espoir, écrit Doug Saunders. Vous n’assistez pa…
www.gillesenvrac.ca
December 27, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Un appel à la génération Z, "Ne perdez pas espoir, écrit Doug Saunders. Vous n'assistez pas à la fin du monde, vous êtes sur le point d'en construire un nouveau"
Traduction d'un article du Globe and Mail, 2025.12.27
www.gillesenvrac.ca/carnet/appel...
Traduction d'un article du Globe and Mail, 2025.12.27
www.gillesenvrac.ca/carnet/appel...
Reposted by Doug Saunders
What we used a Tomahawk cruise missile to accomplish in Northwest Nigeria (which is *not* where Christians have been attacked):
"A farmer’s hut had been set on fire, but nobody was hurt, [the resident] said. He added that he did not know of any terrorist camps in the area"
"A farmer’s hut had been set on fire, but nobody was hurt, [the resident] said. He added that he did not know of any terrorist camps in the area"
December 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
What we used a Tomahawk cruise missile to accomplish in Northwest Nigeria (which is *not* where Christians have been attacked):
"A farmer’s hut had been set on fire, but nobody was hurt, [the resident] said. He added that he did not know of any terrorist camps in the area"
"A farmer’s hut had been set on fire, but nobody was hurt, [the resident] said. He added that he did not know of any terrorist camps in the area"
Speaking on behalf of all the haters, I believe we did indeed have a happy Christmas
December 26, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Speaking on behalf of all the haters, I believe we did indeed have a happy Christmas
France is still pretending that legal weed is a “medical” thing, and will continue to do so for three more months
En France, le sujet du cannabis thérapeutique n’avance pas. L’expérimentation en cours est prolongée jusqu’à mars 2026.
Expérimentation prolongée, remboursement pas encore décidé : la généralisation du cannabis thérapeutique toujours à la peine
Les parlementaires ont voté en 2023 des mesures permettant la légalisation de ces médicaments. Mais la Haute autorité de santé n’a toujours pas statué sur la possibilité de prise en charge par l’Assurance maladie.
www.liberation.fr
December 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
France is still pretending that legal weed is a “medical” thing, and will continue to do so for three more months
You do love to see it, but unfortunately these Muskian ridiculosities have badly set back the mass adoption of electric vehicles for private transportation in the most populated countries, which is by far the most important development to prevent a climate disaster
joining the "cybertruck owners only" group on fb is one of the best decisions i've ever made. every so often when i'm scrolling through fb getting pissed off, i get to see a little treat like this
December 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
You do love to see it, but unfortunately these Muskian ridiculosities have badly set back the mass adoption of electric vehicles for private transportation in the most populated countries, which is by far the most important development to prevent a climate disaster
Reposted by Doug Saunders
For those of us who are observing, with some dismay, the ideological splintering of Nepal’s “Gen Z” movement into centrist, populist, & right-wing factions, a hopeful note on what this generation can—and must—get done globally, by @dougsaunders.bsky.social. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
Dear Gen Z: You’re not watching the world end – you’re about to build a new one
Despite older generations’ doomsday prophecies and belated apologies for the state of the world, today’s young people are now on the brink of leading the greatest era of rebuilding and growth this cen...
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
For those of us who are observing, with some dismay, the ideological splintering of Nepal’s “Gen Z” movement into centrist, populist, & right-wing factions, a hopeful note on what this generation can—and must—get done globally, by @dougsaunders.bsky.social. www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/b6403fe...
I failed to understand the business model behind this place, which as its name suggests contains wooden bins of random stuff. Want some fuel-tank senders? Packs of thermal tape? Well it was Wednesday so they’re $5.99. Are the same things 99 cents on Friday, or do they sell different stuff each day?
December 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I failed to understand the business model behind this place, which as its name suggests contains wooden bins of random stuff. Want some fuel-tank senders? Packs of thermal tape? Well it was Wednesday so they’re $5.99. Are the same things 99 cents on Friday, or do they sell different stuff each day?
Reposted by Doug Saunders
Everyone gather 'round the fireplace, Bluesky. It's Christmas story time!
Let me tell you of a heartwarming incident while I was in my heyday journalist years. It'll guarantee a laugh.
Let me tell you of a heartwarming incident while I was in my heyday journalist years. It'll guarantee a laugh.
December 24, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Everyone gather 'round the fireplace, Bluesky. It's Christmas story time!
Let me tell you of a heartwarming incident while I was in my heyday journalist years. It'll guarantee a laugh.
Let me tell you of a heartwarming incident while I was in my heyday journalist years. It'll guarantee a laugh.
There’s actually a strong case for *raising* property taxes on paid-off SF houses, to incentivize the huge number of single elderly people living in 4- or 5-bedroom houses to sell down to more appropriate housing snd allow those homes to become multiple-family
While this website’s lack of algorithm can be boring, I will happily take it over the Threads algo that shows me some variation of “Agree or disagree: people over 65 with paid-off houses should not have to pay property taxes!” post literally every time I open the app.
December 24, 2025 at 5:14 PM
There’s actually a strong case for *raising* property taxes on paid-off SF houses, to incentivize the huge number of single elderly people living in 4- or 5-bedroom houses to sell down to more appropriate housing snd allow those homes to become multiple-family
Reposted by Doug Saunders
Imagine interviewing a victim of torture and independently confirming the details of his torture and then being told you can’t broadcast it because the people who ordered the torture wouldn’t give their side of the story.
December 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Imagine interviewing a victim of torture and independently confirming the details of his torture and then being told you can’t broadcast it because the people who ordered the torture wouldn’t give their side of the story.
Reposted by Doug Saunders
Russian "liberation"...
💔 Toretsk. Another ghost town in Donbas that no longer exists. The war brought the most terrible destruction of cities in Europe since World War II.
December 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Russian "liberation"...
Reposted by Doug Saunders
The arc of the Bari Weiss story spiking thing is wild. From spike to leak and making the story a much more massive, viral thing (versus just another horrible part of Trumpism). She's had this job for what, a month, and already the hubris is melting her wings in such high profile ways.
December 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The arc of the Bari Weiss story spiking thing is wild. From spike to leak and making the story a much more massive, viral thing (versus just another horrible part of Trumpism). She's had this job for what, a month, and already the hubris is melting her wings in such high profile ways.
The fact that he has uttered this sentence basically renders it untrue
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The fact that he has uttered this sentence basically renders it untrue
Reposted by Doug Saunders
Not only is the head of US intel aping Russian propaganda, it doesn’t make a lick of sense.
NATO/EU want to pull the US into direct war with Russia?!? The US is in NATO. The Russia-Ukraine war has been going for nearly 4 years. NATO could’ve gone to war but didn’t. If anything, been quite cautious.
NATO/EU want to pull the US into direct war with Russia?!? The US is in NATO. The Russia-Ukraine war has been going for nearly 4 years. NATO could’ve gone to war but didn’t. If anything, been quite cautious.
It’s impossible to overstate how much conspiracism drives the Trump regime’s agenda.
Here Tulsi Gabbard, the head of ODNI, claims that “NATO and the EU really want…to pull the United States military directly into war with Russia.”
Which is a Russian talking point, spread by conspiracy sites.
Here Tulsi Gabbard, the head of ODNI, claims that “NATO and the EU really want…to pull the United States military directly into war with Russia.”
Which is a Russian talking point, spread by conspiracy sites.
December 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Not only is the head of US intel aping Russian propaganda, it doesn’t make a lick of sense.
NATO/EU want to pull the US into direct war with Russia?!? The US is in NATO. The Russia-Ukraine war has been going for nearly 4 years. NATO could’ve gone to war but didn’t. If anything, been quite cautious.
NATO/EU want to pull the US into direct war with Russia?!? The US is in NATO. The Russia-Ukraine war has been going for nearly 4 years. NATO could’ve gone to war but didn’t. If anything, been quite cautious.
If we want to improve our economy’s productivity— and we should — we’d be better off learning from Western and Northern Europe than from the United States.
(Though we have to infer ours from “northern North America” in this)
(Via @adamtooze.bsky.social)
(Though we have to infer ours from “northern North America” in this)
(Via @adamtooze.bsky.social)
December 20, 2025 at 10:46 PM
If we want to improve our economy’s productivity— and we should — we’d be better off learning from Western and Northern Europe than from the United States.
(Though we have to infer ours from “northern North America” in this)
(Via @adamtooze.bsky.social)
(Though we have to infer ours from “northern North America” in this)
(Via @adamtooze.bsky.social)
Reposted by Doug Saunders
I wrote about why AI is a useless novelist, and also thank you for buying a book this year www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Elizabeth Renzetti: To be a soldier in this war, your words are the weapon. Here’s how to use them
Creating is a process - one that can’t be done by a human being in under five minutes. Nor should we want it to
www.thestar.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I wrote about why AI is a useless novelist, and also thank you for buying a book this year www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
I enjoyed their album with the Visigoths
December 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I enjoyed their album with the Visigoths