Wednesday Night #2258

Iran-Israel-U.S
Heather Cox Richardson summarizes the historical context and recent events of the conflict in lengthy Letters from an American of 23 and 24 June (see Long reads below).
Does anyone else suffer from the same dilemma as we do? Much as we dislike everything that Trump stands for and do not wish to see him succeed in any of his (mostly misguided) efforts; and much as we loathe Netanyahu and his following, we must rejoice that so far, the ceasefire seems to be holding (Trump says US and Iranian officials will talk next week as ceasefire holds)
As Donald Trump headed for the NATO summit [Trump gets a NATO victory lap, but U.S. leadership is on shaky ground], the question being asked was whether the rest of the world would go along with his attempt to script the perfect ending to the war in Iran.
Of course, all depends on the terms -and success- of the ceasefire talks.
And will there be regime change – if only it were in the US.

NATO clinches defense spending deal in big win for Trump
NATO allies on Wednesday agreed to unleash an avalanche of new defense spending in a show of unity aimed at keeping U.S. President Donald Trump on board and Russian leader Vladimir Putin at bay.
The trick to getting there? Handing Trump what he called “a great victory.”
In a carefully stage-managed summit [Secretary-General Mark] Rutte made a point of flattering Trump, praising him for pressing other countries to boost their defense spending and underscoring his commitment to the alliance.
Rutte even called Trump the “daddy” for intervening in the fighting between Israel and Iran. UGH!
Playbook PM: Trump tallies wins as he leaves NATO summit
Footnote: Not much (any?) credit given to Qataris for their role in bringing about the ceasefire.

Israel massacres in Gaza, locks down West Bank as attention shifts to Iran
As the world focused on Israel’s war with Iran, violence against Palestinians scaled up in the occupied territories. On Wednesday (25 June) Israeli attacks killed at least 78 people in the Gaza Strip since dawn, including 14 Palestinians who were waiting near aid distribution centres, even as United States President Donald Trump said “great progress” was being made to bring an end to the war.

In case you were so focused on the Iran-Israel-US situation that you missed it, Prime Minister Carney continues to fulfill his promises. On Monday, after participating in the Canada-EU summit in Brussels, he announced that the new security and defence agreement signed with the European Union opens the door for Canadian companies to participate in the $1.25-trillion ReArm Europe program and thus help build Canada’s industries while securing the country’s territory.
At home it is increasingly evident that the Carney government is in a hurry and will not tolerate laggards. Carney ready to dismiss top bureaucrats unable to meet his expectations

US Immigration (ICE) & national security
Heather Cox Richardson June 24, 2025 gives a round-up of most recent ICE actions, and Stephen Miller’s financial interest in Palantir, one of ICE’s most prominent contractors. The corruption in this administration never ends!

The U.S. is cutting billions from science. Canadian researchers say it’s time to step up
The U.S. is cutting billions from science. Canadian researchers say it’s time to step up
A long, thought-provoking CBC Radio Quirks and Quarks episode that includes an interview with Frédéric Bouchard, Chair of the Advisory Panel on the Federal Research Support System, who says says the turmoil in the U.S. means a greater responsibility for Canada to assert its scientific sovereignty.

Pablo Rodriguez can’t treat Anglos ‘as the party wallet’ | The Corner Booth
In the aftermath of the QLP leadership vote, Jennifer Crane, founder of Connexion Quebec Public Affairs, and political analyst Raphaël Melançon, founder of Trafalgar Stratégies make some good points about the strength of the Meillard vote and the narrowness of the Rodriguez win.
Listen and file for future reference.

Judy Roberts is celebrating her birthday with a trip to Paris to see friends, just in time to see the first of the Giant statues to return to Notre Dame’s spire in latest stage of restoration
The copper-coated figures, each weighing almost 150kg, escaped the blaze because they were removed from the Parisian landmark for renovation just four days before flames consumed the roof and destroyed the spire. On Monday evening [23 June], after a blessing from the archbishop of Paris, the statue of Saint Thomas will be returned to the reconstructed spire.

‘It put the fear of God in the audience’: the incredible story of how Jaws changed Hollywood
Jaws, whose release 50 years ago on 20 June marked a turning point in both the history of cinema and public perception of sharks, was the movie that in effect invented the summer blockbuster, paving the way for Star Wars, Jurassic Park and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It cast sharks in the role of monsters to be feared and killed – but also stimulated interest in marine conservation.

The never-ending AI debate
The Entire Internet Is Reverting to Beta
The AI takeover is changing everything about the web—and not necessarily for the better
AI products…may not be wrong frequently enough to be jettisoned, but they also may not be wrong rarely enough to ever be fully trusted. For now, the technology’s flaws are readily detected and corrected. But as people become more and more accustomed to AI in their life—at school, at work, at home—they may cease to notice.
Not only students’ retention affected?
ChatGPT Used In Early Writing Could Dull Students’ Brains, Reduce Memory Retention: MIT Study
Students that relied on ChatGPT, struggled to recall their own sentences or quote material they had just written, when switched to ‘use brain-only’ writing.

Sustainability and Overtourism
As an avid reader of Donna Leone‘s wonderful books about Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti, we have great sympathy for these citizens of Venice.
Venetians plan to march in the streets, swim in the canals to disrupt Jeff Bezos’s wedding
He is marrying journalist Lauren Sanchez in a lavish, three-day wedding extravaganza in Venice, and while some Venetians welcome the lavish party, others see it as a symbol of inequality and over-tourism.
Long read
Oh dear, just when we thought we were not hearing anything about them
Sold to the Trump family: one of the last undeveloped islands in the Mediterranean
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner have spent more than $1bn on an Albanian island that will be a luxury resort – once the unexploded ordnance has been removed

Andrew Caddell‘s column Let’s all be ambassadors this summer –Simple little gestures, showing friendship and respect, might be the most ‘Canadian’ way of approaching domestic tourism this summer– is not about overtourism, but good advice for Canadian tourists and their hosts this summer – and always.
“Canadians have decided collectively to avoid travelling to the United States. The anecdotal accounts are being borne out in statistics: Canadian travel to the U.S. is expected to drop 40 per cent, taking a $12.5-billion bite out of their economy. Places like Old Orchard, Maine and Cape Cod, Mass., are seeing cancellations, and our “neighbour” states like Vermont and New York are doing everything to woo Canadians back.
… For Canada’s domestic tourism industry, it’s shaping up to be the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And for places like Kamouraska, Que., an invasion of tourists will be good for our many restaurants, boutiques, and B&Bs. We are prepared, both logistically and psychologically. But good fortune has its challenges: while tourism is the bread and butter for favoured destinations, it can cause resentment.” …

Long reads
Heather Cox Richardson: June 24, 2025
Trump’s victory lap seems designed to be the finale to a triumphant storyline that can convince his loyalists he has scored an enormous victory before reality sets in. According to a new CNN poll, Americans disapprove of the U.S. military strikes against Iran by a margin of 56% to 44%.
Further,…CNN reported today that according to early assessments by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) of the damage caused by the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the strikes did not destroy the main parts of the Iran’s nuclear program and probably set it back by only a few months. …

The Middle East War Enters a New Phase
Richard Haass
It takes only one side to start a war, but it takes all parties involved to end one. In this latest crisis in the Middle East, initiative has passed from Israel to the US and now to Iran, which now must decide if the US attack is the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning.

June 23, 2025
In a timeline of Trump’s decision to drop 12 of the reportedly 20 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs the U.S. military possessed on Iran, New York Times reporters confirmed what Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo judged from the beginning: Trump wanted in on the optics of what seemed to be Israel’s successful strikes against Iran.
Andrew Perez and Asawin Suebsaeng of Rolling Stone reported conversations with administration officials who confirmed there was no new intelligence to suggest Iran was on the brink of producing nuclear weapons.