February 2025 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

Chew on this: The United Kingdom will slash billions in aid spending to fund a larger military. [Devex]
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Chew on this The United Kingdom *will slash billions in aid spending to fund a larger military*. [Devex <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POkUJbvhdB-rcJAedzEdXIbTS49vf-cnb…> ] Nearly 12,000 seed samples from 19 genebanks — including climate-resilient crops from war-affected Sudan — *are being deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault this week* to safeguard biodiversity against conflict, disasters, and climate change. [CropTrust <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4cB7RTLdIK4_gmBepKd040ma8oap3UqLOQx…> ] *Food insecurity in Somalia is set to worsen from April to June* this year, with 4.4 million people, or 23% of the population, expected to face crisis-level hunger due to poor rainfall, high food prices, conflict, and flooding. [IPC <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4cB7RZr_266w4LQjC6d_-pEX1CT-tPGUk5a…> ] *Médecins Sans Frontières suspended operations in Sudan’s Zamzam camp* due to escalating violence, forcing the closure of its field hospital, which was critical in addressing malnutrition in an area where famine had previously been declared. [MSF <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4cB7RZLAGkQ-1yLBOefRqyLasN2sKj_UxY4…> ] *Burundi has expelled two WFP officials*, after saying that a staff message advising food and supply stockpiling was alarmist, amid escalating conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. [SOS Media Burundi <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4cB7RSLzbFC1XD_WKMQb52XF7YsVcAnGFYd…> ]

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Fire me twice, shame on ... you: They were also given a lengthy description of all the things they can't bring to the pickup. This included nunchucks, swords, cattle prods, billy clubs, and brass knuckles.
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

*Fire me twice, shame on ... you* [image: Recently fired USAID staff leave work during a send-off by former USAID staffers and supporters, outside USAID offices in Washington, D.C.] <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POvzH3swM6Q6GXNxHDq_SipMpIjPNAHWw…> Thousands of USAID employees were let go on Sunday — but less than 48 hours later, some received a second email terminating them immediately <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POvzH3swM6Q6GXNxHDq_SipMpIjPNAHWw…>. The notice, signed by Kenneth Jackson, USAID’s assistant to the administrator for management and resources, stated simply that *their firing was “in the best interest of the U.S. Government.”* The chaotic purge has left staff scrambling for answers, especially since earlier communications suggested they’d have time to wrap up their work. The exact number of second firings remains unclear, and the State Department isn’t offering explanations, writes Elissa. Meanwhile, *appeals seem like a dead end* — staff were told they could contest their termination on discrimination or whistleblower grounds, but the process comes with “limited rights” and little clarity. To make matters worse, *the head of the department responsible for handling appeals was fired* earlier this month. For those caught in the turmoil, the confusion — and the fallout — only continues. USAID staff members were also told to come pick up their personal belongings from the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. They will have 15 minutes to do so <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbMeW3UNwb2W…>, they must bring their own boxes and tape, and they won’t be reimbursed for transport or parking costs. “It’s going to be emotional,” one USAID staff member tells my colleague Sara Jerving. “*Fifteen minutes is nowhere near enough time to pack up* over a decade with the agency, never mind to shred and destroy documents, as needed. It’s, of course, part of the mental game of telling us that USAID is dead.” They were also given a lengthy description of all the things they can't bring to the pickup. This included nunchucks, swords, cattle prods, billy clubs, and brass knuckles. *Read:* Previously fired USAID staff dismissed again — this time, immediately <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POvzH3swM6Q6GXNxHDq_SipMpIjPNAHWw…> *Plus:* USAID staff given 15 minutes to pick up belongings from headquarters <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POlEl9RSRUZlYbrmNpaBWzbMeW3UNwb2W…>

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Disinformation age; U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently attacked European leaders for using these terms to silence political opponents, arguing “the Trump administration will do precisely the opposite.”
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Disinformation age Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing to scale back the U.N.’s commitment to women in peacekeeping <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POiKRGbNY2OKC42jxnUn9zvqXkTWpMxh_…> and erase efforts to combat disinformation against the U.N. Blue Helmets — *moves raising eyebrows in diplomatic circles*. In closed-door talks, U.S. diplomats proposed scrapping references to gender and inclusion, replacing “international law” with “relevant legal obligations,” and *gutting language supporting women’s roles in peacekeeping*. They also want to remove U.N. Resolution 1325, a landmark policy promoting women’s leadership in conflict resolution, writes Devex Senior Global Reporter Colum Lynch. This aligns with the administration’s broader crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives, which Trump officials call “woke” policies undermining merit. In a World Food Programme <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4R5eEMvb-rE7d7kpVIMaHRknvFFkgnsURC5…> meeting, the U.S. declared: “U.S. funds will not be used to promote gender ideology, and all references to and work to that end should cease immediately.” But it’s not just gender policies at risk. The U.S. is also pushing to *strip out U.N. peacekeeping efforts to counter misinformation* and disinformation, a stance mirroring Russia’s. U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently attacked European leaders for using these terms to silence political opponents, arguing “the Trump administration will do precisely the opposite.” *Scoop:* Trump admin opposes UN commitment to broaden women's peace role <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POiKRGbNY2OKC42jxnUn9zvqXkTWpMxh_…> *ICYMI:* The Trump administration takes war on DEI and gender global <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POrHUo-5KRfbBK_1WFNkKZUKKctC9f51B…>

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I guess you didn’t Keir; Save the Children UK: “A betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children.”; Bond network CEO Romilly Greenhill: “A reckless decision that will have devastating consequences.”
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

I guess you didn’t Keir In a move that left members of the United Kingdom Parliament reeling, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to *slash U.K. aid spending to 0.3% of national income* — breaking a key manifesto promise. Why? To fund a bigger defense budget <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POkUJbvhdB-rcJAedzEdXIbTS49vf-cnb…> and prove to Trump that the nation is serious about standing up to Russia. The plan: Aid spending will drop in 2027, *just as defense funding jumps to 2.5%* — with a long-term goal of hitting 3%. In Starmer’s words, “hard choices” had to be made, even if it wasn’t a decision he “wanted to take or that I’m happy to take.” But critics aren’t buying it. NGOs, members of Parliament, and aid groups are *calling it reckless, short-sighted, and a betrayal*, warning it will hurt the world’s most vulnerable, damage the U.K.’s global reputation, and even weaken national security. Some of the strongest reactions: - Global Justice Now <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4R5eEGUv7vQUk60WVhPCBFHlsJ33hIG0mqY…>: “A day of shame for Britain.” - Save the Children UK <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4R5eEIlfYt3WUpiLzz6wdFlEPHlX_k-2U2y…>: “A betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children.” - Bond <https://t.devex.com/Njg1LUtCTC03NjUAAAGY4R5eERCDWmJgEKnLuPR3WgjMjzBuxPbPAZe…> network CEO Romilly Greenhill: “A reckless decision that will have devastating consequences.” Even U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy had previously called similar aid cuts *“a big strategic mistake”* — yet now, the U.K. is following Washington’s lead, writes my colleague Rob Merrick. What’s next? *Parliament will need to approve the rollback* of the U.K.’s legal 0.7% of GNI aid commitment, setting up a major political showdown. And with backlash mounting, Starmer may soon find himself facing more “hard choices” than he bargained for. *Read:* UK will slash billions in aid spending to fund larger military <https://t.devex.com/dc/kyXVoDpAY__Vu56MNr4POkUJbvhdB-rcJAedzEdXIbTS49vf-cnb…>

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Trump Isn’t Playacting When He Invokes Napoleon
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Trump Isn’t Playacting When He Invokes Napoleon https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-02-18/trump-is-serious-abou… President Donald Trump invoked Napoleon over the weekend, inspired, it would appear, by Rod Steiger’s portrayal of the military dictator and reformer in a 1970 film, Waterloo (shot in part, by the way, on location in Ukraine and jointly produced with the Soviet Union). Trump, possibly on the verge of abandoning Ukraine amid his own joint production with Vladimir Putin’s Russia, took to his social media account on Saturday to note: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” The origins of the quotation aren’t clear, but the closest proximity is a similar Steiger line from Waterloo. I can’t imagine a book inspired the post. Trump doesn’t read. But he’s an avid movie fan who thinks about himself cinematically — and he also shared another post featuring the quotation and an image of Napoleon. Regardless of the quotation’s provenance, its message was clear: A little authoritarianism in the service of renewal and rescue is just fine, regardless of what the law says. And Trump has been on a roll since his inauguration. He and his team are defining the US presidency and its powers in the most imperial of ways while taking a cudgel to federal agencies without congressional consent or constitutional grounding. There is a good argument to be made that the only way to remake a bureaucracy as sprawling as the federal government is with a sledgehammer. Congress moves slowly, presidential mandates lose steam, and the race is won by the fleet of foot. Trump’s inaugural address last month offered a portrait of an America so unraveled that only someone with a divine mandate — someone like him — could heal its wounds. He slipped into the presidency with 49.9% of the popular vote to Kamala Harris’ 48.4% while painting the Electoral College and Congress red. That’s as much of a mandate as the polarized US election system is capable of giving these days, and Trump’s voters want the president to do what he promised — take on centralized government, the economy, immigration, foreign affairs, institutionalized expertise and the culture wars. The only surprise in what Trump is engineering is that anyone is surprised. His supporters are gratified. They’re sick of Democrats carping, clueless about Trump’s magnetism and what they see as his good works. His critics are relying on the legal system for protection, the only potent bulwark given that the GOP is supine, Democrats are flailing and voters just had their say. We are in uncharted waters, with the American experiment in play. For his part, Trump is still doing what he began doing when he rolled down the escalator in Trump Tower in 2015 to declare his candidacy. He’s challenging Americans to decide what they want out of a president, their government and one another. When we talk about remaking the government, what are we really talking about? When we talk about a strong executive branch, what do we really mean? If you don’t have a working definition for either, and no idealized view of how you might prefer them to be, you better get busy — because Trump is speeding past you and scooping up whatever powers and opportunities he can while you make up your mind. Many already have made up their minds, of course. Trump is bringing change and they like it. The Trump Show is must-see and must-support TV. Beyond the performance art, though, is a refashioning of political power that Trump’s advocates may not have to wrestle with until it’s already arrived, when he is fully fashioned as Donald Rex, master of all he surveys. Trump isn’t just tilting at bureaucracy, after all. He’s also *undermining* the rule of law, countenancing the idea that *courts can’t restrain* his actions, and giving sway in his government to *conspiracy theorists*, *incompetents*, *loons* and an unelected *phalanx* of *Muskovites*. He’s also *making coin*, *literally*, off of his *presidency*, *unconcerned* about and *unimpeded* by *long-standing* financial *conflicts* of interest that his predecessors wouldn’t dare entertain. Seismic change is afoot. Context is everything, however. The southern border is a porous mess that Democrats tolerated for far too long. But *immigration* is the *lifeblood* of the US economy and Trump plans to squeeze that resource dry. Government is big and routinely inefficient, but federal workers represent *less than 2%* of the national workforce, and labor costs represent only *about 6.6%* of federal spending. Tackling *government spending* means tackling entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and the great untouchable, defense outlays. Everything else *except federal debt payments* is peanuts compared with that quartet. Trump has said little about all of that, and he is pining for a tax cut anyway — a surefire way to make sure the government’s revenues don’t support its outlays. Besides, the federal government usually oversees endeavors that aren’t inherently profitable or involve intangible or very long-term payoffs — like defense, public health, public works, public safety, research, disaster relief and the like. These are projects the private sector either can’t or won’t take on. And government and many of the talented people it employs do a lot of that very well (as this ambitious *Washington Post series* spelled out). Besides, the federal government usually oversees endeavors that aren’t inherently profitable or involve intangible or very long-term payoffs — like defense, public health, public works, public safety, research, disaster relief and the like. These are projects the private sector either can’t or won’t take on. And government and many of the talented people it employs do a lot of that very well (as this ambitious *Washington Post series* spelled out). Too much government is, indeed, bad. So is too little. Finding the balance may require wielding both a scalpel and a sledgehammer. That’s not a discussion much of the American public is having right now. They like Trump and his sledgehammer, including when he’s also amped up with boundaryless tariff, national security and foreign policy powers. Some consequences of this free-for-all will play out well past Trump’s current term. Others are likely to land sooner. The Trump team, for example, is dismantling a core part of the federal public health apparatus as the *bird flu virus* appears to be gaining traction and the Covid-19 pandemic fades from memory. Its tariff postures, if fully embraced, will be inflationary (and inflation helped end Joe Biden’s presidency). Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem *said recently *in a CNN interview that she’d like to dismantle the Federal Emergency Management Agency “as it exists today” because local agencies know best how to deploy disaster relief resources. Maybe. But it also begs the question of why all those localities look to FEMA when disaster arrives, even in red states that routinely decry big government. The next disasters will offer rich tutorials, perhaps, on how much we rely on the federales. Much of this is performative, to be sure. Trump is demonstrating that he can move quickly and break things. It’s also usefully distracting. Trump isn’t fawning over historical figures like Napoleon and contemporary strongmen like Putin just for laughs. He’s fascinated by them. He wants to be like them, and he’s paving his path. While Americans fret over his dance moves, he’s amassing power and sabotaging institutions. Republicans, the courts and voters wouldn’t tolerate this in a Democratic president. But Trump — a convicted felon who has survived two impeachments, an election defeat, decades of investigations and enough professional and personal debacles to fell an oak — is a special case. And he knows it. Unfortunately Trump is not an actor playing at being an authoritarian, and he has put the country on a slippery slope.

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UN Webcast Producion Reel, Gunnar Larson, LarsonG@UN.org, 212-963-4662 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/164bwBR1dv/
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/164bwBR1dv/ UN Webcast Producion Reel, Gunnar Larson, LarsonG(a)UN.org, 212-963-4662

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Atlanta Says 'Cop City' Completion Moots Public Vote
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Atlanta Says 'Cop City' Completion Moots Public Vote <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/2302512?nl_pk=0fbf612f-…> By Chart Riggall The city of Atlanta has told the Eleventh Circuit that the recent completion of its controversial "Cop City" police training center should render moot a lawsuit by noncity residents who had hoped to force a long-stalled public vote to roll back the city's approval of the project. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/2302512?nl_pk=0fbf612f-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/2302512?nl_pk=0fbf612f-…>

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Chancery Likens Claims To Recycling Losing Lottery Ticket
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Chancery Likens Claims To Recycling Losing Lottery Ticket <https://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/2302823?nl_pk=9f0ef0c6-df48-47ce-8…> By Jeff Montgomery A more than eight-year court battle over a never-triggered dry eye drug development milestone award ended Tuesday with a Delaware vice chancellor's nearly $810,000 fee shifting order against the LLC seeking the payout, while leaving open a potentially unprecedented shift of fees to the nonparty drug's inventor. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/2302823?nl_pk=9f0ef0c6-df48-47ce-8…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/delaware/articles/2302823?nl_pk=9f0ef0c6-df48-47ce-8…>

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Ex-Privacy Board Members Sue Trump Over Firings
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

Ex-Privacy Board Members Sue Trump Over Firings <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2302203?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…> By Jared Foretek Two Democrats who had served on Congress' privacy watchdog over the executive branch's counterterrorism policies are suing the Trump administration, claiming they were illegally fired from the nonpartisan board to deny it a quorum and end its oversight. Complaint attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2302203?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/technology/articles/2302203?nl_pk=b6acf8b6-b37c-4b07…>

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IBM Gets UK Green Light On $6.4B HashiCorp Buy
by Gunnar Larson 26 Feb '25

26 Feb '25

IBM Gets UK Green Light On $6.4B HashiCorp Buy <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/2302429?nl_pk=34b724c6-…> By Al Barbarino The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said Tuesday it has cleared IBM's planned $6.4 billion acquisition of HashiCorp Inc., but a review by U.S. authorities remains open after IBM's original anticipated close date for the transaction came and went. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/2302429?nl_pk=34b724c6-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/2302429?nl_pk=34b724c6-…>

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