I genuinely feel sorry for government officials and politicians who have to engage with the Americans on the "merits" of the issue. How do you refute someone's deliberate fantasy where facts don't matter at all? It's like the Haitian cats and dogs thing all over again.

Mostly I think it's great that SA is, to substantial extent, avoiding getting sucked into this quagmire of nonsense. Perhaps a sign we're maturing. But does mean most of the "discussion" is led by grifters, morons and white nationalists (these categories not mutually exclusive)

www.newyorker.com/culture/cult...

Coördinates 😎

Of course there were both pros and cons to doing my PhD in the US, but until recently I almost always strongly recommended it to people. Incredible to me that in the space of a few months I now have real reservations about it and just don't know what to think.

Like, seriously???

Tbh setting up institutional social media accounts is not my favourite use of my time... if we have to start over again (and then risk being flagged again!) maybe we just forgo @bsky.app as a social media channel...

(yes we will verify via our own webpage, but university IT stuff to navigate first)

Ofc in such a wide ranging piece there are going to be things which I personally am a bit unsure about. Key among them being perhaps overstating the elite-driven aspect of land expropriation politics. But a truly exceptional piece; also something all interested SAns should read.

If you’re only going to read two things, then also read this, by Will. It’s truly brilliant.

jacobin.com/2025/02/musk...