Independent thinking for complex markets and current events
Ukraine just lost €1.5 billion in EU aid. Not because of war. Not because of budget shortfalls. Because its government tried to gut the independence of its anti-corruption agencies. The European Commission confirmed the cut on July 25, 2025. Kyiv had requested €4.5 billion. Brussels approved €3.05 billion. The missing €1.5 billion is now frozen. …
Ukraine’s political center of gravity just shifted. On July 22, President Zelensky signed a law that removes the independence of the country’s two most trusted anti corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO. Their authority now flows through the Prosecutor General’s Office, which operates under the president’s direct command. The reaction was instant. Streets filled within hours. …
In the US, the ceding of free speech, anti-war and anti-corruption positions by Democrats to Republicans will go down as one of the worst political blunders of the 21st Century. Every person in this photo used to be a Democrat. https://imgur.com/a/all-former-democrats-CG7daTu h/t Alchemike
Politicians enter politics for the benefits, catering to lobbyists for insider trading advantages. The salary is secondary. After accumulating wealth, taxpayers sustain them indefinitely. BREAKING: Rep Ro Khanna is introducing his political reform & anti-corruption plan that: – Bans stock trading for Congress + spouses– Ban lobbyist & PAC donations– Ban members from becoming lobbyists …