Rod Alence
@ralence.bsky.social
Politics and political economy of Africa, based at Wits University in Johannesburg.
Xi goes up to eleven.
October 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Xi goes up to eleven.
Until the WH renovations are done?
Bullion markets breath sigh of relief after Trump says gold will not face tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would not impose tariffs on gold, a move welcomed by global bullion markets and which ended days of speculation that the yellow metal could be caught up in the ongoing global trade spat.
www.reuters.com
August 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Until the WH renovations are done?
CNN International ticker now reporting that a tremor off the Alaskan coast has "triggered a local tsunami about 5cm high." Slow news day?
July 17, 2025 at 6:26 PM
CNN International ticker now reporting that a tremor off the Alaskan coast has "triggered a local tsunami about 5cm high." Slow news day?
Proof that everything is more fun in pidgin -- a welfare analysis of tariffs, which asks the crucial question, "Why tariff still dey?" 1/3
July 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Proof that everything is more fun in pidgin -- a welfare analysis of tariffs, which asks the crucial question, "Why tariff still dey?" 1/3
50 years later, Ekeh's "two publics" reconsidered?
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
Real Nigerian #theme #song. How #nigerian are you?
YouTube video by NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY
youtu.be
July 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
50 years later, Ekeh's "two publics" reconsidered?
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
youtu.be/DkI3j4lGlII?...
Good work by the Ghanaian diaspora:
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
July 12, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Good work by the Ghanaian diaspora:
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
edition.cnn.com/2025/07/11/p...
Ackman-Sock drop first set in ATP Newport Challenger in 21 minutes.
July 9, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Ackman-Sock drop first set in ATP Newport Challenger in 21 minutes.
It says, "Your tariff has been raised to 25%. Thank you for your consideration."
July 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It says, "Your tariff has been raised to 25%. Thank you for your consideration."
An American classic for the Fourth -- going back to the good old days when X was just a letter and a band. (Maybe recorded at the Ark in Ann Arbor?)
Happy 4th! 🎆 We'll be listening to Dave Alvin's "4th of July," specifically the live version of him performing with The Guilty Ones back in 2013.
Watch the video here: youtu.be/n6N57snnJrA
Watch the video here: youtu.be/n6N57snnJrA
Dave Alvin - "4th of July" (Live)
#DaveAlvin #DeadTracksVol2 #YepRocRecords
youtu.be
July 4, 2025 at 4:46 PM
An American classic for the Fourth -- going back to the good old days when X was just a letter and a band. (Maybe recorded at the Ark in Ann Arbor?)
With Perricard and Diallo in the first two rounds, Taylor Fritz has to be wondering what a 5-seed is worth at Wimbledon these days.
July 2, 2025 at 9:23 PM
With Perricard and Diallo in the first two rounds, Taylor Fritz has to be wondering what a 5-seed is worth at Wimbledon these days.
Around the post, break point down in the deciding set of the men's doubles final at the French Open. Zeballos!
June 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Around the post, break point down in the deciding set of the men's doubles final at the French Open. Zeballos!
Here is an estimate of the effects of US cuts on my university -- Wits University in Johannesburg. groundup.org.za/article/wits...
![Wits has estimated that the funding cuts could reduce its overall research output — measured in publications, clinical trials, and other academic activities — by up to 30%. This will be felt across faculties, with research in health science the most affected. Of the Wits Health Consortium’s grant income of R3.5-billion [roughly $200 million], 42% comes from US government funded agreements.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:zw5raps4c52n5zlwanwlte2w/bafkreih5x7iceofx7gabaivxzgvgvjjzhlgmd2usbwjl5rbgt4kywi4wny@jpeg)
June 4, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Here is an estimate of the effects of US cuts on my university -- Wits University in Johannesburg. groundup.org.za/article/wits...
Alcaraz going full Jailhouse Rock at Roland Garros tonight.
May 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Alcaraz going full Jailhouse Rock at Roland Garros tonight.
Reposted by Rod Alence
To paraphrase Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya: we survived the "TV show" (Oval Office event) and went on to have a constructive bilateral meeting (private lunch) -- the latter being the primary objective of the SA delegation.
May 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
To paraphrase Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya: we survived the "TV show" (Oval Office event) and went on to have a constructive bilateral meeting (private lunch) -- the latter being the primary objective of the SA delegation.
Fact check
FACT CHECK | Donald Trump presented Cyril Ramaphosa with a collection of misinformation | News24
During an extraordinary meeting at the White House on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with a collection of misinformation.
www.news24.com
May 23, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Fact check
Reposted by Rod Alence
My initial reaction -- a diplomatic masterclass by Cyril Ramaphosa. Calm and calculated responses to a very difficult setting and meeting today
May 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
My initial reaction -- a diplomatic masterclass by Cyril Ramaphosa. Calm and calculated responses to a very difficult setting and meeting today
Alt text: Pope and Sinner.
Pope Leo XIV has apparently made peace with Jannik Sinner.
Pope meets Sinner: No. 1 player gives tennis fan Pope Leo XIV racket on Italian Open off day
Pope Leo XIV has apparently made peace with Jannik Sinner. The top-ranked tennis player visited the new pope on Wednesday, gave him a tennis racket and offered to play, during an off day for Sinner at the Italian Open.
bit.ly
May 16, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Alt text: Pope and Sinner.
Reposted by Rod Alence
Useful to note that despite repeated predictions of a mining boom across Africa total mineral production from the continent has been stagnant since the mid-2000s.
May 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Useful to note that despite repeated predictions of a mining boom across Africa total mineral production from the continent has been stagnant since the mid-2000s.
The Deputy Secretary's apartheid flag-color tie is jarring, especially on this occasion.
A really excellent outburst of late night righteous indignation from @timmiller.bsky.social, on Trump's "depraved" treatment of Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban and Venezuelans who've fled communism, compared to their unctuous welcome of white Afrikaners.
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-sic...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-sic...
Trump’s Sickening “Whites Only” Refugee Plan
Tim Miller calls out the press conference by Trump's Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau where he explains the decision to accept white South African refugees while rejecting others, particul...
www.thebulwark.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
The Deputy Secretary's apartheid flag-color tie is jarring, especially on this occasion.
Reposted by Rod Alence
"We'll plug her into the fast-charger and be back after the break."
May 10, 2025 at 7:30 AM
"We'll plug her into the fast-charger and be back after the break."
A left-wing/conservative electoral alliance that boycotts elections? I think there's a paper in there, #Polisky.
May 3, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A left-wing/conservative electoral alliance that boycotts elections? I think there's a paper in there, #Polisky.
Reposted by Rod Alence
I'm not generally in favor of voter suppression, but "no shirt, no service" might be in order here.
May 3, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I'm not generally in favor of voter suppression, but "no shirt, no service" might be in order here.
Reposted by Rod Alence
I like the focus on challenges posed by "endogenous policymaking shocks." Evokes "what to do when the guy in charge likes to lick the light socket, policy-wise."
What should the Fed do in the face of endogenous shocks, stemming from within the economic or political system, due to flawed or inconsistent policies? #EconSky
New post on my monetary policy blog 😊 : Exogenous vs. Endogenous Policymaking Shocks
open.substack.com/pub/eightate...
open.substack.com/pub/eightate...
April 28, 2025 at 12:00 PM
I like the focus on challenges posed by "endogenous policymaking shocks." Evokes "what to do when the guy in charge likes to lick the light socket, policy-wise."