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
Trump says "something is gonna have to be done" about Mexico and President Claudia Sheinbaum in response to a question about whether the Venezuelan strike was a "message" to her government.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Trump says "something is gonna have to be done" about Mexico and President Claudia Sheinbaum in response to a question about whether the Venezuelan strike was a "message" to her government.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
ICYMI, Maduro just said he was ready to negotiate on drug trafficking and US investment in Venezuela's oil industry. Now we see the response. apnews.com/article/vene...
Maduro open to US talks on drug trafficking, but silent on CIA strike
Venezuela is open to reaching an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, according to President Nicolás Maduro.
apnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:08 AM
ICYMI, Maduro just said he was ready to negotiate on drug trafficking and US investment in Venezuela's oil industry. Now we see the response. apnews.com/article/vene...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
President Donald Trump said the US carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela, and has captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Trump Says Venezuela’s Maduro Captured and Flown Out of Country
President Donald Trump said the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and flew him out of the country with his wife after a series of airstrikes on the country.
bloom.bg
January 3, 2026 at 9:33 AM
President Donald Trump said the US carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela, and has captured its leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Global solar generation topped 540 GW in April, says Solcast #energysky -- via pv magazine global: www.pv-magazine.com/...
January 3, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Global solar generation topped 540 GW in April, says Solcast #energysky -- via pv magazine global: www.pv-magazine.com/...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Incredible. CBS Evening News announces five new “simple values” — instead of their “38-page handbook” — as they roll out Tony Dokoupil is lead anchor.
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
January 2, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Incredible. CBS Evening News announces five new “simple values” — instead of their “38-page handbook” — as they roll out Tony Dokoupil is lead anchor.
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
Reposted by Tobita Chow
DACUS: No more the drudge and idler ten that toil where one
EVERY BEASTIE BOY: REPOSES
D: But a sharing of life's glories Bread & roses bread &
EBB: ROSES
D: Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life
EBB: CLOSES
D: Hearts starve as well as bodies bread & roses, bread &
EBB: ROSES
EVERY BEASTIE BOY: REPOSES
D: But a sharing of life's glories Bread & roses bread &
EBB: ROSES
D: Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life
EBB: CLOSES
D: Hearts starve as well as bodies bread & roses, bread &
EBB: ROSES
January 2, 2026 at 7:59 AM
DACUS: No more the drudge and idler ten that toil where one
EVERY BEASTIE BOY: REPOSES
D: But a sharing of life's glories Bread & roses bread &
EBB: ROSES
D: Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life
EBB: CLOSES
D: Hearts starve as well as bodies bread & roses, bread &
EBB: ROSES
EVERY BEASTIE BOY: REPOSES
D: But a sharing of life's glories Bread & roses bread &
EBB: ROSES
D: Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life
EBB: CLOSES
D: Hearts starve as well as bodies bread & roses, bread &
EBB: ROSES
"Nokomis Center administrators say the suspects crawled through the hole they made and broke open office doors. Mohamed said documents including enrollment records, employee information and financial documents were gone." www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Somali child care providers report vandalism, threats after viral fraud video
Somali child care providers report threats and vandalism after a viral video alleged fraud at Minnesota centers, raising fears about safety and funding impacts.
www.mprnews.org
January 1, 2026 at 3:57 AM
"Nokomis Center administrators say the suspects crawled through the hole they made and broke open office doors. Mohamed said documents including enrollment records, employee information and financial documents were gone." www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
I am impressed by how bad the new Avatar movie is
January 1, 2026 at 1:56 AM
I am impressed by how bad the new Avatar movie is
Apparently there has been a wave of fighting about Stalinism over on Twitter. I miss out on all the fun here
January 1, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Apparently there has been a wave of fighting about Stalinism over on Twitter. I miss out on all the fun here
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states
Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states
Trump official says funds will be released ‘only when states prove they are being spent legitimately’
The Department of Health and Human Services is freezing all childcare payments to all states, an official for Donald Trump’s administration told ABC News in a report published Wednesday, just hours after department officials announced that they had frozen childcare funding to Minnesota.
States’ funds, the unnamed official said, will be released “only when states prove they are being spent legitimately”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Trump administration reportedly freezes all childcare payments to all states
Reposted by Tobita Chow
How Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s long alliance ruptured ft.trib.al/0OJl2Ub
How Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s long alliance ruptured
The longtime alliance between the Gulf’s heavyweights has descended into open confrontation
ft.trib.al
December 31, 2025 at 6:32 PM
How Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s long alliance ruptured ft.trib.al/0OJl2Ub
Reposted by Tobita Chow
"AIPAC knows their brand is toxic."
"AIPAC donors have supported its picks by giving to other dark-money groups."
"The candidates can say they received money from donors, not AIPAC, to avoid association."
#California #USA #Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Genocide #Military #Weapons #Voting
"AIPAC donors have supported its picks by giving to other dark-money groups."
"The candidates can say they received money from donors, not AIPAC, to avoid association."
#California #USA #Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Genocide #Military #Weapons #Voting
AIPAC Is Retreating From Endorsements and Election Spending. It Won't Give Up Its Influence.
The lobbying group is taking a quieter approach this midterms cycle, but it's still seeking to keep Congress in Israel's pocket.
theintercept.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"AIPAC knows their brand is toxic."
"AIPAC donors have supported its picks by giving to other dark-money groups."
"The candidates can say they received money from donors, not AIPAC, to avoid association."
#California #USA #Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Genocide #Military #Weapons #Voting
"AIPAC donors have supported its picks by giving to other dark-money groups."
"The candidates can say they received money from donors, not AIPAC, to avoid association."
#California #USA #Gaza #Palestine #Israel #Genocide #Military #Weapons #Voting
A scenario I’ve been entertaining: Dems do well in the midterms but mostly don’t change and in reaction the normie liberal base goes absolutely nuts in 2027
December 31, 2025 at 4:13 AM
A scenario I’ve been entertaining: Dems do well in the midterms but mostly don’t change and in reaction the normie liberal base goes absolutely nuts in 2027
Reposted by Tobita Chow
A maternity ward doctor donated his own blood during surgery to keep a pregnant patient alive.
One woman gained fewer than 10 pounds over her entire pregnancy.
Another collapsed and had seizures during labor.
One woman gained fewer than 10 pounds over her entire pregnancy.
Another collapsed and had seizures during labor.
What I Saw at a Maternity Ward in Kenya After the U.S. Cut Off Food and Foreign Aid
Photographs tell a story of two mothers determined to help their babies gain enough weight to leave the hospital — only to face little to no food again.
www.propublica.org
December 31, 2025 at 2:00 AM
A maternity ward doctor donated his own blood during surgery to keep a pregnant patient alive.
One woman gained fewer than 10 pounds over her entire pregnancy.
Another collapsed and had seizures during labor.
One woman gained fewer than 10 pounds over her entire pregnancy.
Another collapsed and had seizures during labor.
In addition to cutting off childcare payments to MN, the Trump admin is imposing additional reporting requirements and a snitch line that apply to childcare centers nationwide x.com/hhs_jim/stat...
x.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:12 AM
In addition to cutting off childcare payments to MN, the Trump admin is imposing additional reporting requirements and a snitch line that apply to childcare centers nationwide x.com/hhs_jim/stat...
MAGA might want to stop and think about how this is going to play out for them but alas they are incapable
Trump guys are about to Comet Pizza every third daycare center because they think they are all fronts for Somali money laundering. They're only doing this near cities with progressive mayors. This is straight up Government by LibsOfTikTok.
December 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM
MAGA might want to stop and think about how this is going to play out for them but alas they are incapable
"China and the US are ending a tension-filled year for trade relations with a truce still intact but plenty of issues making it hard to see how the ceasefire on tariffs holds through 2026." www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
US and China Head Into 2026 With a Fragile Trade Truce
Trump and Xi have brokered a ceasefire on tariffs, but tension is flaring up on issues like Taiwan and rare earths
www.bloomberg.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:19 PM
"China and the US are ending a tension-filled year for trade relations with a truce still intact but plenty of issues making it hard to see how the ceasefire on tariffs holds through 2026." www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
'AI-related borrowing now accounts for about 30 per cent of net investment-grade issuance, according to Goldman Sachs, and is expected to grow in 2026, despite concerns over the level of debt being taken on by the AI “hyperscalers”.' www.ft.com/content/faa3...
AI debt boom pushes US corporate bond sales close to record
Investment-grade borrowers have issued $1.7tn of bonds this year, closing in on 2020’s Covid debt rush
www.ft.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:15 PM
'AI-related borrowing now accounts for about 30 per cent of net investment-grade issuance, according to Goldman Sachs, and is expected to grow in 2026, despite concerns over the level of debt being taken on by the AI “hyperscalers”.' www.ft.com/content/faa3...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Today Taiwan faces record-setting military drills from the PRC. But, people in Taiwan will remain largely cool and unphased. Most won't even notice the threats. Why?
In my new book, I write extensively about why some types of PRC threats mobilize civil society and others do not:
In my new book, I write extensively about why some types of PRC threats mobilize civil society and others do not:
December 30, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Today Taiwan faces record-setting military drills from the PRC. But, people in Taiwan will remain largely cool and unphased. Most won't even notice the threats. Why?
In my new book, I write extensively about why some types of PRC threats mobilize civil society and others do not:
In my new book, I write extensively about why some types of PRC threats mobilize civil society and others do not:
Reposted by Tobita Chow
New episode! We spoke with Mingwei Huang about her book on Sino-African relations in Johannesburg and racial capitalism. We dove into how race configures Chinese capitalist processes in South Africa.
Listen on Apple: tinyurl.com/BRIMingwei
Listen on BuzzSprout: tinyurl.com/MingweiBuzzS...
Listen on Apple: tinyurl.com/BRIMingwei
Listen on BuzzSprout: tinyurl.com/MingweiBuzzS...
April 29, 2025 at 9:54 PM
New episode! We spoke with Mingwei Huang about her book on Sino-African relations in Johannesburg and racial capitalism. We dove into how race configures Chinese capitalist processes in South Africa.
Listen on Apple: tinyurl.com/BRIMingwei
Listen on BuzzSprout: tinyurl.com/MingweiBuzzS...
Listen on Apple: tinyurl.com/BRIMingwei
Listen on BuzzSprout: tinyurl.com/MingweiBuzzS...
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Q: Can you say any more about the explosion in Venezuela that you mentioned in a radio interview. Did the military do that?
TRUMP: Well, it doesn't matter. But there was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. We hit the area.
TRUMP: Well, it doesn't matter. But there was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. We hit the area.
December 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Q: Can you say any more about the explosion in Venezuela that you mentioned in a radio interview. Did the military do that?
TRUMP: Well, it doesn't matter. But there was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. We hit the area.
TRUMP: Well, it doesn't matter. But there was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. We hit the area.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
China's clean power capacity additions picked up in November, with 13GW of wind and 21GW solar. China has already added almost as much wind&solar in Jan-Nov as in the full year 2024, ahead of the end-of-year and end-of-five-year-plan spike expected in December.
December 27, 2025 at 10:40 AM
China's clean power capacity additions picked up in November, with 13GW of wind and 21GW solar. China has already added almost as much wind&solar in Jan-Nov as in the full year 2024, ahead of the end-of-year and end-of-five-year-plan spike expected in December.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
ICE raids appear to be 100% responsible for the current housing crunch in south Texas. Indeed, they have brought residential construction to an end.
South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have slowed work
More than 380 people attended an impromptu meeting that industry leaders in the Rio Grande Valley hosted to draw attention to the chilling effect ICE arrests have had on construction.
www.texastribune.org
December 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
ICE raids appear to be 100% responsible for the current housing crunch in south Texas. Indeed, they have brought residential construction to an end.
Reposted by Tobita Chow
Resistance to factory closures continues in China. These workers at a toy factory in Dongguan needed to fight for days, blockade a road, and their "victory" was getting half of what they were legally entitled to.
English video:
English video:
东莞玩具大厂倒闭，工人堵路抗议后获“0.5N”赔偿（2025.12.14-23）
YouTube video by 昨天
youtu.be
December 28, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Resistance to factory closures continues in China. These workers at a toy factory in Dongguan needed to fight for days, blockade a road, and their "victory" was getting half of what they were legally entitled to.
English video:
English video: