hopebuilding
@hopebuilding.bsky.social
I read a lot and share stories, especially those focused on solutions. I blog at Hopebuilding.blog and on Substack at Seeing Like A Local.
Moscow keeps the country synchronized with cash and coercion. The cash flows down to buy loyalty, and the provinces send back the story the Kremlin wants to hear. However, today the cash is thinning fast and so the storytelling stops - and the charade begins to crack.
Russia is a Distressed Asset
From the collapse of the Black Sea Fleet to the bankruptcy of the provinces the gears of the Russian machine are finally slipping.
jasonjaysmart.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Moscow keeps the country synchronized with cash and coercion. The cash flows down to buy loyalty, and the provinces send back the story the Kremlin wants to hear. However, today the cash is thinning fast and so the storytelling stops - and the charade begins to crack.
Thinking inside Russia...
Reading Russia Weekend Extra
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Thinking inside Russia...
Climate breakdown is hitting the world's food supply now.....
Population growth and a global food crisis. Is there a plan?
YouTube video by Just Have a Think
youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Climate breakdown is hitting the world's food supply now.....
“They ask us to commit to the second phase while Israel did not commit to the first!” my uncle shouted at the TV while watching Witkoff.
Palestinians in Gaza doubt phase two of the ceasefire and Trump’s Board of Peace
The day after the U.S. announced the start of the next phase of the “ceasefire,” Israel killed at least 10 people in airstrikes on Gaza
prismreports.org
February 1, 2026 at 6:23 PM
“They ask us to commit to the second phase while Israel did not commit to the first!” my uncle shouted at the TV while watching Witkoff.
The impact on immigrant families has been especially devastating and wide-ranging—from parents worrying about heading out for work or shopping for essentials, to being afraid of even visiting a hospital during a medical emergency.
The children of Minneapolis grapple with ICE separating families
Some immigrant parents in Minneapolis are avoiding seeking medical care for sick children, while other kids worry about their friends’ safety
prismreports.org
February 1, 2026 at 6:19 PM
The impact on immigrant families has been especially devastating and wide-ranging—from parents worrying about heading out for work or shopping for essentials, to being afraid of even visiting a hospital during a medical emergency.
District Judge Fred Biery appended the famous picture to a blistering three-page ruling that accused the Trump administration of vast lawlessness and inhumanity in its deportation push.
Judge orders release of 5-year-old detained by ICE in Minnesota
The judge accused the Trump administration of inhumanity in its approach to deportations.
www.politico.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:13 PM
District Judge Fred Biery appended the famous picture to a blistering three-page ruling that accused the Trump administration of vast lawlessness and inhumanity in its deportation push.
Reposted by hopebuilding
Ocean Beach this morning… just wow!!
February 1, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Ocean Beach this morning… just wow!!
This year’s conference comes at a defining moment. World Without Exploitation (WorldWE) has been on the front lines leading a growing national movement to demand accountability, transparency, and survivor-centered justice.
WorldWE Conference: The Cutting Edge of Action: World Without Exploitation Conference 2026 in Washington, DC June 7-9, 2026
This conference will focus on action that moves the needle — turning courage into policy, strategy into law, and collective power into lasting impact.
www.worldwithoutexploitation.org
February 1, 2026 at 6:08 PM
This year’s conference comes at a defining moment. World Without Exploitation (WorldWE) has been on the front lines leading a growing national movement to demand accountability, transparency, and survivor-centered justice.
"Every country has to take care of itself," says Tony Stillo, director of Canada Economics at Oxford Economics, "and Canada's putting Canada first." Business Insider
Canada is having a moment — and the world is finally paying attention
As US-Canada relations grow rocky, Canada is rethinking its economy, its alliances, and its place on the world stage under Mark Carney.
www.businessinsider.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:57 PM
"Every country has to take care of itself," says Tony Stillo, director of Canada Economics at Oxford Economics, "and Canada's putting Canada first." Business Insider
Reposted by hopebuilding
💀 Russian Z-bloggers reported that Andrei Syrotyuk, call sign "Eagle," a battalion commander with the 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Division of the Russian Armed Forces, killed a group of his own soldiers with FPV drone strikes because they were too slow in their assault.
February 1, 2026 at 8:57 AM
💀 Russian Z-bloggers reported that Andrei Syrotyuk, call sign "Eagle," a battalion commander with the 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Division of the Russian Armed Forces, killed a group of his own soldiers with FPV drone strikes because they were too slow in their assault.
Reposted by hopebuilding
As Black History Month begins, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers who built this city into the “gorgeous mosaic” we call home.
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
February 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM
As Black History Month begins, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers who built this city into the “gorgeous mosaic” we call home.
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Qatar is intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional escalation as tensions rise between Iran and the West. Doha is coordinating closely with Egypt and Turkey to keep diplomatic channels open.
Qatar drives mediation with regional partners on Iran crisis
Qatar is intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional escalation as tensions rise between Iran and the West. Doha is coordinating closely with Egypt and Turkey to keep diplomatic channe...
www.euronews.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Qatar is intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional escalation as tensions rise between Iran and the West. Doha is coordinating closely with Egypt and Turkey to keep diplomatic channels open.
Ukraine's power grid is experiencing mass outages on Saturday after a "technical malfunction" caused electrical lines between Moldova, Romania and Ukraine to fail, Ukraine's energy minister said.
Mass blackout and water shortages hit Ukraine
The incident follows Russia's months-long campaign targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure, which has inflicted severe damage to the energy system.
www.euronews.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Ukraine's power grid is experiencing mass outages on Saturday after a "technical malfunction" caused electrical lines between Moldova, Romania and Ukraine to fail, Ukraine's energy minister said.
The MAGA crowd wanted isolationism. They mocked globalization as if trading with another country were a health hazard. Now half the world is behaving as though continuing business as usual with the United States is the real risk.
Three Economies, $252 Billion, One Clear Message to Washington
A Quarter-Trillion Dollars Just Voted Against the United States
www.theconcis.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:35 PM
The MAGA crowd wanted isolationism. They mocked globalization as if trading with another country were a health hazard. Now half the world is behaving as though continuing business as usual with the United States is the real risk.
All these elements combined to make this a rare case – perhaps even a turning point – in Trump’s decade-long effort to emulate authoritarian leaders who demonstrate their power by requiring citizens to accept lies as truth.
Trump’s post-truth agenda beaten back as Americans refuse to accept ICE lies
Effort to manipulate killing of Alex Pretti collapsed after footage torpedoed ‘domestic terrorist’ claim – could this be a turning point?
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM
All these elements combined to make this a rare case – perhaps even a turning point – in Trump’s decade-long effort to emulate authoritarian leaders who demonstrate their power by requiring citizens to accept lies as truth.
Even excluding all that, by August, the Presidential profiteering reached $3.4 billion. (You can review my judgments in the article, “The Number.”) And since then the First Family has kept busy.
archive.ph
February 1, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Even excluding all that, by August, the Presidential profiteering reached $3.4 billion. (You can review my judgments in the article, “The Number.”) And since then the First Family has kept busy.
The world body warned it would run out of money by July and have to close its New York headquarters if countries, namely the United States, did not pay annual dues that amount to billions of dollars.
U.N. Says It’s in Danger of Financial Collapse Because of Unpaid Dues
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:13 PM
The world body warned it would run out of money by July and have to close its New York headquarters if countries, namely the United States, did not pay annual dues that amount to billions of dollars.
The Trump administration has approved a massive new series of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion.
US approves major new arms sales to Israel worth $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion
The Trump administration has approved a massive new series of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion.
apnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:11 PM
The Trump administration has approved a massive new series of arms sales to Israel totaling $6.67 billion and to Saudi Arabia worth $9 billion.
Hundreds of Danish veterans, many of whom fought alongside U.S. troops, staged a silent protest Saturday outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen in response to the Trump administration’s threats to take over Greenland and belittling their combat contributions.
Danish veterans' silent protest in Copenhagen in response to US Greenland threat
Hundreds of Danish veterans, many of whom fought alongside U.S. troops, staged a silent protest Saturday outside the U.S.
apnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Hundreds of Danish veterans, many of whom fought alongside U.S. troops, staged a silent protest Saturday outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen in response to the Trump administration’s threats to take over Greenland and belittling their combat contributions.
Newly disclosed U.S. government files on Jeffrey Epstein have prompted the resignation of a top official in Slovakia and revived calls in Britain for a former prince to share what he knows with authorities about Epstein’s links to powerful individuals around the world.
Epstein files lead to resignation in Slovakia and calls in Britain for former prince to cooperate
Newly released files on Jeffrey Epstein have prompted the resignation of a top official in Slovakia and revived calls in Britain for a former prince to cooperate with authorities.
apnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Newly disclosed U.S. government files on Jeffrey Epstein have prompted the resignation of a top official in Slovakia and revived calls in Britain for a former prince to share what he knows with authorities about Epstein’s links to powerful individuals around the world.
A growing number of demonstrations are sweeping Israel as thousands marched in Tel Aviv late Saturday to demand action, while Arab communities have gone on strike, closing shops and schools.
Besieged by gang violence, Palestinian citizens in Israel demand more security
Protests and strikes are sweeping Israel over record levels of violence targeting the country’s Palestinian citizens.
apnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:04 PM
A growing number of demonstrations are sweeping Israel as thousands marched in Tel Aviv late Saturday to demand action, while Arab communities have gone on strike, closing shops and schools.
Reposted by hopebuilding
🌊 In the Kherson direction, Russian infantrymen were sent straight across a frozen river. One was dragged to the bottom by his bulletproof vest, another almost drowned, losing his weapon. Footage from the 34th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade.
February 1, 2026 at 4:54 PM
🌊 In the Kherson direction, Russian infantrymen were sent straight across a frozen river. One was dragged to the bottom by his bulletproof vest, another almost drowned, losing his weapon. Footage from the 34th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade.
At a time when many regional newspapers have become hollowed-out shells ... the Star Tribune has kept staffing relatively steady under billionaire Glen Taylor, who has owned it since 2014. It rebranded itself from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and committed itself to a digital transformation.
In Minneapolis, all-encompassing immigration story tests a newsroom in midst of digital transition
With the eyes of a nation upon it, the Minnesota immigration enforcement effort has tested a local newsroom in the midst of a digital transformation — and it hasn't left the local journalists overmatc...
apnews.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:59 PM
At a time when many regional newspapers have become hollowed-out shells ... the Star Tribune has kept staffing relatively steady under billionaire Glen Taylor, who has owned it since 2014. It rebranded itself from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and committed itself to a digital transformation.
Reposted by hopebuilding
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
February 1, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
In 2025, Trinity served more than 400 people over 98 “Code Blue” nights, including one night when 105 people stayed at the warming center.
New Jersey Church's Warming Center Is Both Shelter And Community | DailyGood
When temperatures drop below freezing in Monmouth County, New Jersey, the local sheriff’s office issues a “Code Blue” alert to activate warming centers fo
www.dailygood.org
February 1, 2026 at 4:52 PM
In 2025, Trinity served more than 400 people over 98 “Code Blue” nights, including one night when 105 people stayed at the warming center.