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From The Rest Is History at 2026-01-05 00:05:00 (unread)

632. Joan of Arc: Warrior Maid (Part 1) (GLT6592271090.mp3?updated=1766490918)

What are the origins of the legendary Joan of Arc, the famous French maid who saved France from the English during the Hundred Years’ War, dressed all the while in men’s clothes? Why is hers one of the most remarkable stories of all time? And, was she really under divine influence when, as only a teenager, she demanded to be taken from her humble French village to Charles of Valois, the would-be King of France, in order to save the French from the English - then on the verge of victory? Join Tom and Dominic as they launch into the life of one of the most extraordinary people in all medieval history: Joan of Arc, and trace her journey from humble peasant girl, to advisor to the King of France, to military heroine and saviour of the French, to despised heretic condemned to the pyre…  _______ Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editor: Jack Meek  Social Producer: Harry Baldwin Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude  Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Battle Lines at 2026-01-03 19:25:30

Trump captures Maduro and takes over Venezuela: 'Welcome to 2026, America is back' (media.mp3)

In the early hours of this morning, US President Donald Trump gave the order for the Pentagon to bomb Venezuela’s capital Caracas and capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, along with his wife. 


Trump has just given a press conference in Mar-A Lago sharing fresh details. 


In this emergency bonus episode of Battle Lines, Venetia is joined by The Telegraph's Chief US Correspondent Rob Crilly to cover everything we know so far about how it all unfolded, why Trump has done this, and what might happen next. 


Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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From More or Less at 2026-01-03 06:00:00

Numbers of the year 2026 (p0mp7mhc.mp3)

From record-breaking passenger numbers, to some more record-breaking numbers - courtesy of the Men’s football World Cup. We look forward to what 2026 might have in store for us - numerically of course.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Charlotte McDonald and Katie Solleveld Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2026-01-03 05:25:14

New Acquisitions: Tolkien and Éowyn Between Two Wars (PPP Moot Keynote)

Hey folks! I am working on finishing up some things this week, so I thought I would post the text of the keynote I gave at the Prancing Pony Podcast Moot earlier this December. I’ve made some minor edits to conform a bit more to the form of a blog post, but this remains very … Continue reading New Acquisitions: Tolkien and Éowyn Between Two Wars (PPP Moot Keynote) →

From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2026-01-03 05:01:00

Best of Risky Business: Life After Poker (with Vanessa Selbst) (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

We look back at Nate and Maria’s interview with former professional poker player Vanessa Selbst—the only woman ever to reach the number one ranking on the Global Poker Index. They discuss her experiences playing poker, her move into the world of finance, and why, at her first job after poker, she kept a giant bag of pennies underneath her desk.

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

The Leap from Maria Konnikova

Silver Bulletin from Nate Silver 

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From Schneier on Security at 2026-01-02 12:05:24

Flock Exposes Its AI-Enabled Surveillance Cameras

404 Media has the story:

Unlike many of Flock’s cameras, which are designed to capture license plates as people drive by, Flock’s Condor cameras are pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras designed to record and track people, not vehicles. Condor cameras can be set to automatically zoom in on people’s faces as they walk through a parking lot, down a public street, or play on a playground, or they can be controlled manually, according to marketing material on Flock’s website. We watched Condor cameras zoom in on a woman walking her dog on a bike path in suburban Atlanta; a camera followed a man walking through a Macy’s parking lot in Bakersfield; surveil children swinging on a swingset at a playground; and film high-res video of people sitting at a stoplight in traffic. In one case, we were able to watch a man rollerblade down Brookhaven, Georgia’s Peachtree Creek Greenway bike path. The Flock camera zoomed in on him and tracked him as he rolled past. Minutes later, he showed up on another exposed camera livestream further down the bike path. The camera’s resolution was good enough that we were able to see that, when he stopped beneath one of the cameras, he was watching rollerblading videos on his phone...

From School of War at 2026-01-02 10:30:00

Ep 262: Mark Jones Jr. on Special Air Operations and American Military Dominance (NEBM7501447816.mp3)

Mark Jones Jr., chief pilot of experimental flight test with the Honda Aircraft Company and recently retired U.S. Air Force test pilot and special operations commander, joins the show to talk about the nature of special air operations and the extraordinary air raid that kicked off Desert Storm. ▪️ Times 02:45 9/11  05:58 Test Pilot  11:52 Special Air Operations 17:54 Two Vastly Different Experiences  21:24 Kabul 24:18 Desert Storm 32:30 Harder to See, Not Invisible    34:46 Battle Damage 39:55 September 1990 42:21 Party In 10 45:05 Navigation Technology Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2026-01-02 09:00:00

The Business of Butterworth's, the Hottest New Restaurant in Washington DC (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

When the Odd Lots team was down in Washington DC earlier this year, we had a phenomenal meal at a restaurant called Butterworth's. As it turns out, the restaurant is one of the hottest hangouts for the MAGA crowd, with Steve Bannon and others frequently seen in its dining room. Of course, restaurants are difficult businesses in normal conditions, but in DC, you have the added factor that political cycles are changing all the time, and different bars and restaurants become associated with specific parties who go in and out of power. On this episode, we speak with Bart Hutchins, the chef-owner at the restaurant. We talk about everything from sourcing ingredients from small Amish farms, to acquiring beef tallow, and dining room logistics. We also talk about food costs, labor availability, and how the intense worker shortages and price inflation of the post-2020 period still affects how the restaurant is run today.

Read more:
A Former Soho House Executive Is Changing London’s Restaurant Scene
DoorDash Tests AI Social App to Help Users Find Restaurants

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From Battle Lines at 2026-01-02 06:00:00

Wargaming WW3: how and where the next global conflict could actually unfold (media.mp3)

From Taiwan to Estonia and Latvia, the prospect of World War Three feels closer than ever - that is unless you're one of those people who thinks it's already begun.


Peter Apps, Reuters' Global Defence Commentator, is not one of those people, but he does think there is a 30-35% chance of it erupting in the next decade. He talks to Roland and Venetia about what it might look like, where it might start, when and how to prevent it.


Peter is a British Army reservist and one of the most plugged in voices on modern warfare. He has reported from around the world, served in the British Army during the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine war, and has just written a new book, The Next World War: The New Age of Global Conflict and the Fight to Stop It.


Peter will be speaking about his book at the 2026 Oxford Literary Festival in partnership with The Telegraph. Tickets: oxfordliteraryfestival.org; Telegraph readers can save 20% with the code 26TEL20


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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From Net Assessment at 2026-01-01 10:52:00

Farewell 2025, Hello 2026 (Net_Assessment_-_January_1.mp3?dest-id=808287)

In this special bonus episode, the Net Assessment crew – Chris, Melanie, and Zack - looks back on the highs (and lows) of 2025, and makes a few predictions for 2026. Thanks all around to our listeners, the Stimson Center, and University FM for their fantastic production.

 

Show Links:

 

 

From Strong Message Here at 2026-01-01 09:45:00

Listeners' Strong Messages (with Stewart Lee) (p0mpp2fx.mp3)

It's New Year's day, so Armando and Stewart are dipping into the very real, physical listener's mailbag.

In an loose and end-of-term episode, with some adult humour, we talk about the misuse of the phrase 'bad apples', Stewart thanks Armando for his leadership, and are treated to unexpected, slightly fruity, film reviews of 'Who Dares Wins' and 'Cats'.

We also hear about Armando's ambassador for 'pace', Stewart's artistic skills, and some alternatives to the phrase 'fighting age males'.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

From Odd Lots at 2026-01-01 09:00:00

Tracy and Joe Answer All Your Questions (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

It's that time of the year. On this episode, Tracy and Joe answer questions from listeners that were submitted via voice note. We talk about everything from Chinese history to whales to whether or not we ever hold an episode without publishing it.

Only Bloomberg - Business News, Stock Markets, Finance, Breaking & World News subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at  bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-01-01 00:05:00

631. Wagner: LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall (GLT7214350401.mp3?updated=1766537584)

Was Richard Wagner a revolutionary artist who reshaped music forever, or an egotists mired in scandal, whose dangerous ideas were inseparable from the operas he created? How did the legendary worlds encapsulated in his bombastic music - featuring gods, heroes, and monsters - become entangled with politics and power? And, did Wagner inspire Hitler and the Nazis…? Join Tom and Dominic at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the renowned  Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Oliver Zeffman, as they play the music of Wagner live, as they delve into the life of one of the most controversial but famous figures in all of musical history: Richard Wagner. _______ Hive. Know your power. Visit https://hivehome.com to find out more.  _______ Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social Producer: Harry Baldwin Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude  Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Django weblog at 2025-12-31 20:42:35

DSF member of the month - Clifford Gama

For December 2025, we welcome Clifford Gama as our DSF member of the month! ⭐

Clifford contributed to Django core with more than 5 PRs merged in few months! He is part of the Triage and Review Team. He has been a DSF member since October 2024.

You can learn more about Clifford by visiting Clifford's website and his GitHub Profile.

Let’s spend some time getting to know Clifford better!

Can you tell us a little about yourself (hobbies, education, etc)

I'm Clifford. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Zimbabwe.

How did you start using Django?

During my first year in college, I was also exploring open online courses on EDx and I came across CS50's introduction to web development. After watching the introductory lecture -- which introduced me to git and GitHub -- I discovered Django's excellent documentation and got started on the polls tutorial. The docs were so comprehensive and helpful I never felt the need to return to CS50. (I generally prefer comprehensive first-hand, written learning material over summaries and videos.)

At the time, I had already experimented with flask, but I guess mainly because I didn't know SQL and because flask didn't have an ORM, I never quite picked it up. With Django I felt like I was taking a learning fast-track where I'd learn everything I needed in one go!

And that's how I started using Django.

What projects are you working on now?

At the moment, I’ve been focusing on improving my core skills in preparation for remote work, so I haven’t been starting new projects because of that.

That said, I’ve been working on a client project involving generating large, image-heavy PDFs with WeasyPrint, where I’ve been investigating performance bottlenecks and ways to speed up generation time, which was previously around 30 minutes 😱.

What are you learning about these days?

I’ve been reading Boost Your Git DX by Adam Johnson and learning how to boost my Git and shell developer experience, which has been a great read. Aside from that, inspired by some blogs and talks by Haki Benita, I am also learning about software design and performance. Additionally, I am working on improving my general fluency in Python.

What other framework do you know and if there is anything you would like to have in Django if you had magical powers?

I am not familiar with any other frameworks, but if I had magic powers I'd add production-grade static-file serving in Django.

Django libraries are your favorite (core or 3rd party)?

The ORM, Wagtail and Django's admin.

What are the top three things in Django that you like?

  • The community
  • The documentation
  • Djangonaut Space and the way new contributors are welcomed

How did you start contributing to Django?

I started contributing to Django in August last year, which is when I discovered the community, which was a real game changer for me. Python was my first course at university, and I loved it because it was creative and there was no limit to what I could build with it.

Whenever I saw a problem in another course that could be solved programmatically, I jumped at it. My proudest project from that time was building an NxN matrix determinant calculator after learning about recursion and spotting the opportunity in an algebra class.

After COVID lockdown, I gave programming up for a while. With more time on my hands, I found myself prioritizing programming over core courses, so I took a break. Last year, I returned to it when I faced a problem that I could only solve with Django. My goal was simply to build an app quickly and go back to being a non-programmer, but along the way I thought I found a bug in Django, filed a ticket, and ended up writing a documentation PR. That’s when I really discovered the Django community.

What attracted me most was that contributions are held to high standards, but experienced developers are always ready to help you reach them. Contributing was collaborative, pushing everyone to do their best. It was a learning opportunity too good to pass up.

How did you join the Triage and Review team?

About the time after I contributed my first PR, I started looking at open tickets to find more to work on, and keep on learning.

Sometimes a ticket was awaiting triage, in which case the first step was to triage it before assigning it to working on it, and sometimes the ticket I wanted was already taken, in which case I'd look at the PR if available. Reviewing a PR can be a faster way to learn about a particular part of the codebase, because someone has already done most of the investigative part of work, so I reviewed PRs as well.

After a while I got an invitation from Sarah Boyce, one of the fellows, to join the team. I didn't even know that I could join before I got the invitation, so I was thrilled!

How the work is going so far?

It’s been rewarding. I’ve gained familiarity with the Django codebase and real experience collaborating with others, which already exceeds what I expected when I started contributing.

One unexpected highlight was forming a friendship through one of the first PRs I reviewed.

SiHyun Lee and I are now both part of the triage and review team, and I’m grateful for that connection.

What are your hobbies or what do you do when you’re not working?

My main hobby is storytelling in a broad sense. In fact, it was a key reason I returned to programming after a long break. I enjoy discovering enduring stories from different cultures, times, and media—ranging from the deeply personal and literary to the distant and philosophical. I recently watched two Japanese classics and found I quite love them. I wrote about one of the films on my blog, and I also get to practice my Japanese, which I’ve been learning on Duolingo for about two years. I also enjoy playing speed chess.

Do you have any suggestions for people who would like to start triage and review tickets and PRs?

If there’s an issue you care about, or one that touches a part of the codebase you’re familiar with or curious about, jump in. Tickets aren’t always available to work on, but reviews always are, and they’re open to everyone. Reviewing helps PRs move faster, including your own if you have any open, sharpens your understanding of a component, and often clarifies the problem itself.

As Simon Charette puts it:

“Triaging issues and spending time understanding them is often more valuable than landing code itself as it strengthen our common understanding of the problem and allow us to build a consistent experience accross the diverse interfaces Django provides.”

And you can put it on your CV!

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I’m grateful to everyone who contributes to making every part of Django what it is. I’m particularly thankful to whoever nominated me to be the DSF Member of the month.

I am optimistic about the future of Django. Django 6.1 is already shaping up with new features, and there are new projects like Django Bolt coming up.

Happy new year 🎊!

Thank you for doing the interview, Clifford and happy new year to the Django community 💚!

From The Media Show at 2025-12-31 17:00:00

How to Make a Hit TV Show (p0mq3ycg.mp3)

Have you ever wondered how reality TV gets made? Why some shows become instant classics, while others vanish without trace?

In this special edition of The Media Show, four of the UK’s top creatives in unscripted television reveal their secrets. From The Traitors to Pointless, Hunted to Gogglebox, they discuss what makes a hit format, how casting decisions are made, how streamers and influencers are changing the landscape, and where the next big hit might come from.

Guests:  Tim Harcourt, Chief Creative Officer, Studio Lambert; Matt Bennett, Director of Programmes, Shine Television; Tamara Gilder, Joint MD, Remarkable Entertainment; Art Sejdiu, Head of Commissioning Development, Channel Four.

Presenters: Ros Atkins and Katie Razzall Producer: Dan Hardoon

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2025-12-31 16:00:00

798: Trust Dan, Not Fish (ba8b8dd8-eba2-454e-9e86-6d085d43a806.mp3)

Our most frequent panelists of the year join Jason to talk about their favorite stuff from the year gone by, and we also pause to recall some favorite Incomparable moments. Synergy!...

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-31 12:03:40

LinkedIn Job Scams

Interesting article on the variety of LinkedIn job scams around the world:

In India, tech jobs are used as bait because the industry employs millions of people and offers high-paying roles. In Kenya, the recruitment industry is largely unorganized, so scamsters leverage fake personal referrals. In Mexico, bad actors capitalize on the informal nature of the job economy by advertising fake formal roles that carry a promise of security. In Nigeria, scamsters often manage to get LinkedIn users to share their login credentials with the lure of paid work, preying on their desperation amid an especially acute unemployment crisis...

From More or Less at 2025-12-31 09:30:00

Numbers of the year 2025 (p0mpqdb2.mp3)

From the number of women in space and transistors on a chip to social media usage -we’re taking a look back the key numerical moments of 2025. We explore the woes of a big infrastructure projects. Plus, just how can you make sure your New Year’s Resolutions are successful? We’ve got statistics to help.

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeil Producers: Charlotte McDonald and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2025-12-31 05:01:00

Why Are Some Countries Happier Than Others? (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

Every year, the World Happiness Report comes out and the Nordic countries rejoice. Just kidding – sort of. Small, homogenous countries like Finland (2025’s happiest country) often top the list. But what does that really mean? Nate and Maria dive into the methodology of this research. As well as what it reveals (and doesn’t) about happiness.

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

The Leap from Maria Konnikova

Silver Bulletin from Nate Silver 

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From The History of Byzantium at 2025-12-30 16:04:59

Episode 334 - State Builders from the Steppe with Eric Halsey (media.mp3)

I talk to Eric Halsey about his new book State Builders from the Steppe: A History of the First Bulgarian Empire.


In it he chronicles the rise and fall of the Bulgars as they arrive in the Balkans and forge a state that would be a thorn in the Byzantine side.


I thoroughly recommended the book. It’s well researched, easy to read and it’s nice to hear about a subject so intimately entwined with Byzantine history from a different perspective.


Find the book on Amazon or check out the Bulgarian History podcast where Eric takes the Bulgarian story all the way to the present. 

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From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-30 12:02:01

Using AI-Generated Images to Get Refunds

Scammers are generating images of broken merchandise in order to apply for refunds.

From School of War at 2025-12-30 10:30:00

Ep 261: Behnam Ben Taleblu on the (Next!) Iran-Israel War (NEBM8538247095.mp3)

Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director (Iran Program) and Senior Fellow at FDD, joins the show to talk about how Iran has worked to reconstitute its missile program since the summer, and what the U.S. and Israel might do to stop it. ▪️ Times 01:43 Vessel Seizure  05:45 Making a Ballistic Missile  13:06 What Modern War Looks Like 17:19 Iran’s Missile Program 21:42 Evolving Assessment 26:24 Relevance for U.S. Defense Planning 30:00 Disconnected Victories   35:04 Lessons from the 10/07 War 39:31 Bad Choices for Iran Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-29 12:07:15

Are We Ready to Be Governed by Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) overlords are a common trope in science-fiction dystopias, but the reality looks much more prosaic. The technologies of artificial intelligence are already pervading many aspects of democratic government, affecting our lives in ways both large and small. This has occurred largely without our notice or consent. The result is a government incrementally transformed by AI rather than the singular technological overlord of the big screen.

Let us begin with the executive branch. One of the most important functions of this branch of government is to administer the law, including the human services on which so many Americans rely. Many of these programs have long been operated by a mix of humans and machines, even if not previously using modern AI tools such as ...

From Battle Lines at 2025-12-29 12:00:00

US vs China vs Europe: the race to build the fighter jet of the future (media.mp3)

This episode goes straight to the jugular of modern air power and asks a brutally simple question: has the last great manned fighter already been born?


Roland is joined by Tom Withington of Royal United Services Institute and Sophy Antrobus from King’s College London, two people who actually know what they’re talking about when it comes to fighter jets. They unpack the mystery and the hype surrounding the sixth generation fighters. These are not just faster jets with shinier wings. They are flying data centres, designed to hoover up information, evade the most lethal air defences on the planet, and command swarms of drones doing the truly dangerous work.


We cut through the fog of acronyms to explain what sixth generation really means, how it differs from the F-35, and why programmes in the US, Britain, Europe and Asia are racing ahead despite eye watering costs. This is air dominance, power politics and future war rolled into one. 


Picture credit: United States Air Force


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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From Odd Lots at 2025-12-29 09:00:00

Goldman's Hatzius and Snider on the Outlook for 2026 (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

2025 was an extraordinary year, with the real economy defying recession worries and equity markets putting up monster returns. So can this be repeated again in 2026? On this episode, we speak with two of the top minds at Goldman Sachs. Jan Hatzius is the bank's chief economist and head of research and Ben Snider is its chief US equity strategist. We review what really happened in 2025, talking about the impact of both AI and the tariffs, as well as how these factors will impact the real economy and stocks next year.

Read more:
Larry Ellison, Not Elon Musk, Was The Tech Titan Who Defined 2025
Why 2026 Is Poised to Be Another Rocky Year for Global Trade

Only Bloomberg - Business News, Stock Markets, Finance, Breaking & World News subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at  bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots

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From The Rest Is History at 2025-12-29 00:05:00

630. Tchaikovsky: LIVE at the Royal Albert Hall (GLT2445190309.mp3?updated=1766537673)

What are the complex origins of Russia’s most renowned composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky? What inner conflicts and private contradictions lay behind his romantic music, and how did these struggles shape it? And, what dark secrets lie hidden beneath Tchaikovsky’s sweeping, lyrical melodies…? Join Tom and Dominic at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the renowned  Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Oliver Zeffman, as they play the music of Tchaikovsky live, accompanying their journey into the life of one of the most mercurial but brilliant figures in all of musical history: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. _______ Hive. Know your power. Visit https://hivehome.com to find out more.  _______ Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social Producer: Harry Baldwin Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude  Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2025-12-28 00:10:37

Gap Week: December Holidays, 2025

Hey folks! Apologies for this coming out late – alas the pedant household has been struck by a nasty cold that has made keeping up with work this week quite challenging.  No post this week, on account of it being Christmas time. May you all have a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays or simply … Continue reading Gap Week: December Holidays, 2025 →

From More or Less at 2025-12-27 06:00:00

Numbers of the year 2025 (p0mp7lkb.mp3)

We look back at some stand out numbers of 2025. How significant were Trump’s import tariffs? China sets the pace for solar power installation across the globe. We also look upwards to a particularly speedy comet - 3i Atlas.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Charlotte McDonald and Katie Solleveld Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2025-12-27 05:01:00

The Big Short Companion from Against the Rules: How the Financial Crisis Broke Wall Street (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

We’re sharing another podcast we think you’ll enjoy, The Big Short Companion from Against the Rules, hosted by fellow Pushkin podcast host Michael Lewis. The Big Short is now 15 years old and to mark the occasion, Lewis narrated a new audiobook version of The Big Short and is looking back on how the 2008 financial crisis still affects the world today. To make sense of Wall Street’s hangover from the crash described in The Big Short, Lewis calls up Matt Levine, author of the Money Stuff newsletter for Bloomberg Opinion. He’s also a former investment banker who was working at Goldman Sachs during the market crisis of 2008. He and Lewis talk about Bitcoin, bank regulation, and new forms of risk-taking—all ways Wall Street has changed since the crisis.

Find The Big Short Companion from Against the Rules (00:45) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your Podcasts.

Find The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine (00:10) on Apple Books or wherever you get your audiobooks.

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From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-26 22:08:17

Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Camouflage

New research:

Abstract: Coleoid cephalopods have the most elaborate camouflage system in the animal kingdom. This enables them to hide from or deceive both predators and prey. Most studies have focused on benthic species of octopus and cuttlefish, while studies on squid focused mainly on the chromatophore system for communication. Camouflage adaptations to the substrate while moving has been recently described in the semi-pelagic oval squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana). Our current study focuses on the same squid’s complex camouflage to substrate in a stationary, motionless position. We observed disruptive, uniform, and mottled chromatic body patterns, and we identified a threshold of contrast between dark and light chromatic components that simplifies the identification of disruptive chromatic body pattern. We found that arm postural components are related to the squid position in the environment, either sitting directly on the substrate or hovering just few centimeters above the substrate. Several of these context-dependent body patterns have not yet been observed in ...

From School of War at 2025-12-26 10:30:00

Ep 260: Kevin Passmore on the Maginot Line and the Battle of France (NEBM9828227459.mp3)

Kevin Passmore, professor of History at Cardiff University and author of The Maginot Line: A New History, joins the show to talk about the most elaborate fortification system of the 20th century and why it failed. ▪️ Times 02:03 Attacking the Maginot Line 05:53 Fortifications and Warfare 11:48 Flexibility vs Depth 15:38 A Total Commitment to War 19:49 French Defensive Concepts 22:42 Living in the Line 27:31 Decision in Belgium  36:22 Breaking the Enemy’s Will  39:36 Ukrainian Fortifications Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-26 09:00:00

Merryn Talks Money: John Law, The Gambler Who Invented Modern Money (Part 1) (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

Hello Odd Lots listeners! As we take a break for the holidays we'd like to take a moment and bring you an episode by one of our sister shows here at Bloomberg Podcasts, Merryn Talks Money. 

In this special two-part series, John Stepek and Merryn Somerset Webb tell the extraordinary story of John Law: a fugitive Scots gambler who became the most powerful financier in France and helped invent the modern monetary system. From murder and exile to paper money, banking revolutions and spectacular collapse, Law’s life reveals why today’s financial system works the way it does—and why it sometimes blows up. It’s history, scandal and monetary theory rolled into one irresistible tale.

We used a range of sources for this podcast but two key books to read if you'd like to find out more are:
John Law: A Scottish Adventurer of the Eighteenth Century (2018), by James Buchan
John Law: Economic Theorist and Policy-Maker (1997), by Antoin Murphy

Like this episode? Listen and Subscribe to the Merryn Talks Money podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts

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From Battle Lines at 2025-12-26 06:00:00

No limits partnership: Why 2025 was China and Russia's year (media.mp3)

This has been a year when the world lurched from crisis to crisis at breakneck speed. Trump back in power. America wavering on Europe and Ukraine. China strutting with new confidence. Russia grinding on. Iran bombed. Gaza paused. If you feel dizzy you are not alone.


Venetia is joined by Adelie Pojzman-Pontay from Ukraine the Latest and Asia correspondent Allegra Mendelson to take a sharp eyed look back at the moments that mattered and the ones you may have missed but cannot afford to ignore. 


We focus on the three powers shaping everything China, Russia and the United States.


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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From Net Assessment at 2025-12-25 11:00:00

What Does the United States Want From China and Why Can't We Get It? (Net_Assessment_-_25_Dec_2025_v1.mp3?dest-id=808287)

In this episode, Chris, Melanie, and Zack look at U.S. policy toward China. What does the United States, that is Donald Trump, want from China? What should the Trump administration be willing to compromise on to get it? And what does Trump need that China would be willing to give up? Grievances for President Trump's tasteless social media post following the murder of Rob and Michele Reiner; for those who bet on war (and rig the maps to win); and for the Pentagon's attacks on Sen. (and retired Navy Captain) Mark Kelly for daring to suggest that people in the military shouldn't follow unlawful orders. Speaking of unlawful orders, attas to Sen. Kelly and others calling out the Trump admin's dubious case for striking boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific. Plus a shout out for reporters covering the Trump administration, who manage to break news despite the hurdles.

 

Show Links:

 

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-25 09:00:00

Scott Kupor's New Plan to Bring Tech Workers Into the Federal Government (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

If you're a high-skilled tech worker, then potentially huge fortunes await you working for a startup or one of our booming AI giants. But the government needs these types of workers too. And the government is not set up to pay commensurate salaries with the private sector -- particularly for these types of roles. This challenge has long been understood, and there have been numerous efforts over the years to infuse the government with high-tech talent. Scott Kupor is the director of the US Office of Personnel Management, which manages and coordinates recruiting of new government employees across the federal workforce. Scott was also previously one of the top partners at the famed VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. So he has a mind for bringing the recruiting practices of the tech world into DC. But of course, that's easier said than done. On this episode, we talk about how federal hiring works and doesn't work, and also his new endeavor called the US Tech Force, which aims to bring in top talent for a two-year stint of solving problems across the bureaus. We also talk about the DOGE initiative, and how he thinks about recruiting top talent at a time when the administration has been aggressive about shrinking the size of the overall federal workforce.

Read More: Federal Workforce’s Toll After a Year of DOGE and Trump: 317,000
USDA Lost a Third of DC Staff Even Before Relocation Effort 

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From The Rest Is History at 2025-12-25 00:05:00

629. WWI: The Christmas Truce (GLT5393732684.mp3?updated=1766065378)

Did the Christmas Truce - which saw a number of unofficial ceasefires between the combatants of the First World War, during the Christmas of 1914 - really occur, or has it all a myth? What is the real story behind this legendary event? And, did German and British soldiers really play football across no-man's land? Join Dominic and Tom as they delve into the history behind one of the most famous and moving events of the First World War. _______ Hive. Know your power. Visit https://hivehome.com to find out more. _______ Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com _______ For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to ⁠www.goalhanger.com⁠ _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-24 12:03:03

Urban VPN Proxy Surreptitiously Intercepts AI Chats

This is pretty scary:

Urban VPN Proxy targets conversations across ten AI platforms: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Grok (xAI), Meta AI.

For each platform, the extension includes a dedicated “executor” script designed to intercept and capture conversations. The harvesting is enabled by default through hardcoded flags in the extension’s configuration.

There is no user-facing toggle to disable this. The only way to stop the data collection is to uninstall the extension entirely.

[…]

The data collection operates independently of the VPN functionality. Whether the VPN is connected or not, the harvesting runs continuously in the background...

From More or Less at 2025-12-24 09:30:00

Were there really Three Wise Men? (p0mpq8lz.mp3)

The surprising things we learn when we count everyone - a tour of the UK census through time.

We also figure out just how many parking officers there are versus soldiers in the British army.

Who really does all the housework? Plus - 20 years of ‘Freakonomics’ with Stephen Dubner.

And finally - were there really three wise men who visited baby Jesus? And were they kings as the Christmas hymn would lead us to believe?

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Lizzy McNeil Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Nathan Gower and Katie Solleveld Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

From Battle Lines at 2025-12-24 06:00:00

Photographing war, disease and nuclear accidents with Simon Townsley (media.mp3)

What's it like to photograph M-Pox outbreaks, military morgues and famines in Sudan? On this week’s episode of Battle Lines Global Health Security, international photojournalist Simon Townsley joins Arthur and Sophie to share his most memorable photographs of 2025. 


This year, Simon has traveled to Sierra Leone, Guyana, Sudan, Chad, Zambia, Honduras, Kazakhstan, and Burundi for the Telegraph Global Health Security Desk. He reflects on how the world has changed in his nearly 40 years of work, and why now people often mistake him as Chinese. 


Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

Studio Operator: Meghan Searle


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From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2025-12-24 05:01:00

Best Of Risky Business: Lessons From The River (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

When Nate’s book “On The Edge” released in 2024, Maria interviewed him about why he wrote it and what we can learn from the enigmatic risk-loving community he calls The River.

Get your copy here

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

The Leap from Maria Konnikova

Silver Bulletin from Nate Silver 

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From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-23 12:02:32

Denmark Accuses Russia of Conducting Two Cyberattacks

News:

The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) announced on Thursday that Moscow was behind a cyber-attack on a Danish water utility in 2024 and a series of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on Danish websites in the lead-up to the municipal and regional council elections in November.

The first, it said, was carried out by the pro-Russian group known as Z-Pentest and the second by NoName057(16), which has links to the Russian state.

Slashdot thread.

From School of War at 2025-12-23 10:30:00

Ep 259: Christian Brose on Rethinking How We Fight (NEBM1284143870.mp3)

Christian Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Anduril Industries and author of The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare, joins the show to talk about American industry and the future of war. ▪️ Times 02:26 Erosion of Military Advantage 11:11 The Nature of the Problem 16:42 Consensus and Urgency 21:01 Learning the Right Lessons in Ukraine 25:32 Scaling Up for the Offense 31:23 Leveraging AI for Defense 38:07 Will Liberal Arts and Humanities Win? 41:56 Arsenal-1 47:31 Silicon Valley and Defense 52:24 Collaborative Combat Aircraft Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Dan Carlin's Hardcore History at 2025-12-22 19:01:31

Show 73 - Mania for Subjugation III (dchha73_Mania_for_Subjugation_III.mp3)

Attacking the largest empire the world had ever seen is a huge endeavor at any age, but try doing it at 21. Alexander, fusing the qualities of a Napoleon with a gladiator, aims for immortality. The Persians are just in his way.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-22 17:05:09

Microsoft Is Finally Killing RC4

After twenty-six years, Microsoft is finally upgrading the last remaining instance of the encryption algorithm RC4 in Windows.

of the most visible holdouts in supporting RC4 has been Microsoft. Eventually, Microsoft upgraded Active Directory to support the much more secure AES encryption standard. But by default, Windows servers have continued to respond to RC4-based authentication requests and return an RC4-based response. The RC4 fallback has been a favorite weakness hackers have exploited to compromise enterprise networks. Use of RC4 played a ...

From Battle Lines at 2025-12-22 12:00:00

From Afghanistan to Everest: the double-amputee Gurkha veteran who made history (media.mp3)

In this special festive edition of Battle Lines, Roland Oliphant and Dominic Nicholls cut through the tinsel to tell a story that actually matters.


In aid of, The Not Forgotten, a charity born out of the carnage of the First World War, they are joined by Hari Budha Magar, a Gurkha veteran who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan. From a remote village in Nepal to the battlefields of Afghanistan, Harry recounts the moment an IED changed his life and how he rebuilt it again.


Join Roland, Dom and Hari for dark humour, blunt honesty and genuine inspiration.


Read Jack Rear's profile of Hari Budha Magar: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas-charity-appeal/2025/12/02/first-double-amputee-to-summit-everest/


The Not Forgotten is one of The Telegraph’s four Christmas charity appeal charities, the others are Motor Neurone Disease Association, Prostate Cancer Research and Canine Partners. You can donate by visiting telegraph.co.uk/appeal2025 or call 0151 317 5247.


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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From Breaking History at 2025-12-22 10:00:00

A History of Tough Jews (CBS2785949998.mp3?updated=1766380551)

After October 7, Jews around the world were reminded of an old, unsettling truth: Governments do not always protect minorities when mobs turn violent. From Bondi Beach to New York synagogues, the promise of public order has looked increasingly fragile. In this episode of Breaking History, Eli Lake revisits the last time Jews in America confronted that reality head-on. In the 1930s, as Nazi sympathizers rallied openly and police often stood aside, Jewish gangsters led by Meyer Lansky took matters into their own hands, waging a quiet street war against the German American Bund. What does Jewish self-defense look like when the state fails—and why are there no Meyer Lanskys today? A history of tough Jews, broken illusions, and what happens when people decide they will no longer be easy targets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-22 09:00:00

Why Americans Are Falling Behind on Auto Loans At Their Highest Level Ever (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

By and large, American households are in a healthy economic position. Yes, unemployment has been rising, but it's still at fairly low levels. Consumer spending has held up well despite terrible sentiment. And many households are sitting on huge stock market gains and have a big home equity cushion. And yet, there are signs of trouble. Most notably, auto loan delinquencies have been surging to their highest level in history. It's the same with student loans, where delinquencies are far higher than normal. So what's going on? On this episode, we speak with Rikard Bandebo, the chief economist at VantageScore, which offers a consumer credit score that's different from the traditional FICO measures. He explains how surging prices, rising interests, and -- crucially -- rising insurance costs have created an auto squeeze. We also discuss what this means for broader consumer health and whether this auto delinquency phenomenon signals something broader about consumer stress.

Read more:
Rise of the ‘Zombie’ Loans
First Brands Asks Lenders for Fresh Cash of Up to $800 Million

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From The Rest Is History at 2025-12-22 00:05:00

628. Jack The Ripper: The Killer Unmasked (Part 5) (GLT3796910737.mp3?updated=1766065370)

Who are the prime suspects for the identity of Jack the Ripper? Why did he suddenly halt his hellish killing spree, and never strike again? And, once and for all, who really was Jack the Ripper…? Join Dominic and Tom as they reveal, with shocking melodrama, the true identity of one of the world’s most mysterious serial killers: Jack the Ripper… _______ Hive. Know your power. Visit https://hivehome.com to find out more.  _______ Give The Rest Is History Club this Christmas – a year of bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access, the private chat community hosted on Discord, and an exclusive t-shirt! Just go to https://therestishistory.supportingcast.fm/giftsAnd of course, you can still join for yourself at any time at therestishistory.com or on apple podcasts. _______ Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ ⁠https://nordvpn.com/restishistory⁠ It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ _______ For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Week in Westminster at 2025-12-20 11:00:00

20/12/2025 (p0mppgjr.mp3)

To discuss the major political stories and developments over the last twelve months, and what lies ahead for 2026, Ben Wright is joined by George Parker, the political editor of the Financial Times, Pippa Crerar, the political editor of the Guardian and Sebastian Payne, columnist and leader writer for The Times.

From More or Less at 2025-12-20 06:00:00

The shocking world of US health costs (p0mpny3s.mp3)

A loyal listener wrote in to question this claim made by neuroscientist Dr Daniel Levitin: "Here in the US valium in a pharmacy might be $3 that same pill in a hospital setting might be $750."

Our listener was shocked at how one pill can cost 250 x more in a hospital setting than in a pharmacy. But can it? Sort of.

We turned to Elisabeth Rosenthal to take us on a dive into the frankly shocking world of US Health costs.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Mix: Neil Churchill

From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2025-12-20 05:01:00

Best of Risky Business: Building a Championship Team (with Daryl Morey) (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

We’re closing out the year with some of our (and your) favorite episodes to date. First up: Nate and Maria’s conversation with Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey about bringing game theory and probabilistic thinking to the NBA.

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

The Leap from Maria Konnikova

Silver Bulletin from Nate Silver 

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From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-19 22:06:59

Friday Squid Blogging: Petting a Squid

Video from Reddit shows what could go wrong when you try to pet a—looks like a Humboldt—squid.

As usual, you can also use this squid post to talk about the security stories in the news that I haven’t covered.

Blog moderation policy.

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2025-12-19 17:00:00

797: Iceman Was Right (da308078-8d14-4e87-b803-1ce460e32d07.mp3)

Kilmas comes but once a year! This year we’re climbing into the cockpit and revisiting 1986’s “Top Gun,” starring some airplanes, Val Kilmer, and Tom Cruise. It’s a very subtle movie. Were Tony’s parents right in protecting his young mind from it? And most importantly, why do we remember Val Kilmer’s character being the villain when he’s actually the conscience of the entire film?...

From Ahoy at 2025-12-19 16:01:08

2001.

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ahoy Merch: https://ahoy-shop.fourthwall.com/ Soundtrack: https://soundcloud.com/xahoy/2001-soundtrack 00:00 Introduction 00:39 Nintendo 64 01:11 GameBoy Color 01:50 GameBoy Advance 03:30 PlayStation 04:50 Dreamcast 07:43 Third Party 10:30 PC 16:01 PlayStation 2 19:17 GameCube 21:26 Xbox 25:30 Conclusion

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-19 12:02:43

AI Advertising Company Hacked

At least some of this is coming to light:

Doublespeed, a startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) that uses a phone farm to manage at least hundreds of AI-generated social media accounts and promote products has been hacked. The hack reveals what products the AI-generated accounts are promoting, often without the required disclosure that these are advertisements, and allowed the hacker to take control of more than 1,000 smartphones that power the company.

The hacker, who asked for anonymity because he feared retaliation from the company, said he reported the vulnerability to Doublespeed on October 31. At the time of writing, the hacker said he still has access to the company’s backend, including the phone farm itself. ...

From School of War at 2025-12-19 10:30:00

Ep 258: Eric Cline on the Collapse of Civilizations (NEBM1760666471.mp3)

Eric Cline, professor of Classical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies and of Anthropology at The George Washington University and author of 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed, joins the show to break down the collapse of the Bronze Age civilization and why it matters today. ▪️ Times 02:57 Writing History for All 04:51 The Three Age System 10:32 Tin: The Oil of the Ancient World 11:37 Archeology in the Future 13:22 Bronze Age Society 21:02 The Beginning and End of History 26:07 The Sea Peoples 32:36 The Collapse  35:00 The Mystery of the Exodus 40:53 Resilience and Regeneration Post-Collapse Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-19 09:00:00

The Booming Business of Chinese Peptides (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

You probably already know someone doing peptides — the amino acids that form the basis of popular new drug treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy. Today there are peptides meant to help with everything from weight loss, to cellular regeneration, to improved eye contact while talking. In San Francisco, there are even organized “peptide raves.” Yet most of these underground peptides haven’t been approved by regulators for human use in the US. So where are they coming from? And how do they get here? On this episode, we speak with two guests who have seen this growing subculture up close, Jasmine Sun, an independent writer covering AI and San Francisco culture, as well as Zak David, managing partner of Pirsek Technologies, which runs a peptide supplier, Peptide Partners.

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From Battle Lines at 2025-12-19 06:00:00

‘Russia-Ukraine deal impossible while Putin is alive’: ex-UK ambassador to Moscow (media.mp3)

Former UK ambassador Laurie Bristow speaks to Roland and delivers a blunt and unsettling warning about the state of the world and Britain’s place in it. Drawing on more than three decades at the heart of the Foreign Office, including some of the most dangerous postings of modern times, he argues we are living through the most volatile and complex global moment of our lifetimes.


From war returning to Europe and the rise of China, to artificial intelligence, pandemics and the collapse of old assumptions about power, nothing is stable and nothing is simple. Speaking candidly about Vladimir Putin, he explains why the west misread Moscow for years and why there are no easy deals or quick endings ahead.


This is a forensic, unsparing account of a world in turmoil and a challenge to Britain to wake up before it is too late.


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor


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From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2025-12-18 23:46:22

Intermission: Battle Pulses

This week we’re going to take a brief break from our series on hoplites (I, II, IIIa, IIIb) to address a broader question in how we understand the mechanics of warfare with contact weapons, which is the mechanics of the concept of a ‘battle pulse.’ This notion, that front lines in contact might occasionally withdraw … Continue reading Intermission: Battle Pulses →

From The Django weblog at 2025-12-18 22:04:04

Hitting the Home Stretch: Help Us Reach the Django Software Foundation's Year-End Goal!

As we wrap up another strong year for the Django community, we wanted to share an update and a thank you. This year, we raised our fundraising goal from $200,000 to $300,000, and we are excited to say we are now over 88% of the way there. That puts us firmly in the home stretch, and a little more support will help us close the gap and reach 100%.

So why the higher goal this year? We expanded the Django Fellows program to include a third Fellow. In August, we welcomed Jacob Tyler Walls as our newest Django Fellow. That extra capacity gives the team more flexibility and resilience, whether someone is taking parental leave, time off around holidays, or stepping away briefly for other reasons. It also makes it easier for Fellows to attend more Django events and stay connected with the community, all while keeping the project running smoothly without putting too much pressure on any one person.

We are also preparing to raise funds for an executive director role early next year. That work is coming soon, but right now, the priority is finishing this year strong.

We want to say a sincere thank you to our existing sponsors and to everyone who has donated so far. Your support directly funds stable Django releases, security work, community programs, and the long-term health of the framework. If you or your organization have end-of-year matching funds or a giving program, this is a great moment to put them to use and help push us past the finish line.

If you would like to help us reach that final stretch, you can find all the details on our fundraising page

Other ways to support Django:

Thank you for helping support Django and the people who make it possible. We are incredibly grateful for this community and everything you do to keep Django strong.

From The Django weblog at 2025-12-18 18:50:00

Introducing the 2026 DSF Board

Thank You to Our Outgoing Directors

We extend our gratitude to Thibaud Colas and Sarah Abderemane, who are completing their terms on the board. Their contributions shaped the foundation in meaningful ways, and the following highlights only scratch the surface of their work.

Thibaud served as President in 2025 and Secretary in 2024. He was instrumental in governance improvements, the Django CNA initiative, election administration, and creating our first annual report. He also led our birthday campaign and helped with the creation of several new working groups this year. His thoughtful leadership helped the board navigate complex decisions.

Sarah served as Vice President in 2025 and contributed significantly to our outreach efforts, working group coordination, and membership management. She also served as a point of contact for the Django CNA initiative alongside Thibaud.

Both Thibaud and Sarah did too many things to list here. They were amazing ambassadors for the DSF, representing the board at many conferences and events. They will be deeply missed, and we are happy to have their continued membership and guidance in our many working groups.

On behalf of the board, thank you both for your commitment to Django and the DSF. The community is better for your service.

Thank You to Our 2025 Officers

Thank you to Tom Carrick and Jacob Kaplan-Moss for their service as officers in 2025.

Tom served as Secretary, keeping our meetings organized and our records in order. Jacob served as Treasurer, providing careful stewardship of the foundation's finances. Their dedication helped guide the DSF through another successful year.

Welcome to Our Newly Elected Directors

We welcome Priya Pahwa and Ryan Cheley to the board, and congratulate Jacob Kaplan-Moss on his re-election.

2026 DSF Board Officers

The board unanimously elected our officers for 2026:

  • President: Jeff Triplett
  • Vice President: Abigail Gbadago
  • Treasurer: Ryan Cheley
  • Secretary: Priya Pahwa
  • Jacob Kaplan-Moss
  • Paolo Melchiorre
  • Tom Carrick

I'm honored to serve as President for 2026. The DSF has important work ahead, and I'm looking forward to building on the foundation that previous boards have established.

Our monthly board meeting minutes may be found at dsf-minutes, and December's minutes are available.

If you have a great idea for the upcoming year or feel something needs our attention, please reach out to us via our Contact the DSF page. We're always open to hearing from you.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-18 16:41:14

Someone Boarded a Plane at Heathrow Without a Ticket or Passport

I’m sure there’s a story here:

Sources say the man had tailgated his way through to security screening and passed security, meaning he was not detected carrying any banned items.

The man deceived the BA check-in agent by posing as a family member who had their passports and boarding passes inspected in the usual way.

From The Briefing Room at 2025-12-18 16:00:00

Should we worry about America’s security strategy? (p0mpd237.mp3)

As both the year and the current series of The Briefing Room draw to a close, Europe and much of the world have been digesting a lengthy document outlining the Trump administration’s view of foreign policy. The National Security Strategy covers much of the globe but extra special vitriol was reserved for Europe with dire warnings that the continent is facing “civilisational erasure” partly due to immigration. At the same time the growing influence of “patriotic European parties” (those on the far right) is welcomed. But there’s more - the US wants to dominate the “Western Hemisphere” - the Americas and countries on its doorstep. It wants more trade with Asia and China, as well as the Middle East. But there are notable absences -there's no talk of a significant threat from either Russia or China. David Aaronovitch and guests discuss what all this means and ask how worried we, in Europe, should be about the current US view of the world?

Guests: Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor, The Economist Rebecca Lissner, Senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations and lecturer, Jackson School of Global Affair, Yale University. Dr Christoph Heusgen, Former Chairman Munich Security Conference and former German Ambassador to United Nations

Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Kirsteen Knight, Cordelia Hemming Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound engineer: Neil Churchill Editor Richard Vadon

From Strong Message Here at 2025-12-18 09:55:00

Words of the Year (with Natalie Haynes) (p0mpb5y6.mp3)

As the year comes to a close, Natalie Haynes joins Armando to discuss and dissect the words of 2025.

Looking at official lists, and conjuring up some of their own, they set about breaking down the language that defined another frenetic year. We find out what links all of the official words of the year, and why we can learn a lesson from Austria when choosing them. Armando also denies he writes Pete Hegseth's speeches, and Natalie denies she is in a parasocial relationship with Taylor Swift

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman and Giulia Mazzu Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-18 09:00:00

Meet the Politician the AI Industry Is Trying to Stop (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

The politics of AI are already exploding. Whether we're talking about data centers, electricity prices, labor displacement, water consumption, competition with China, or users of chatbots becoming psychotically obsessed, AI is already a major topic in elections. And since there's so much money at stake, the industry is already spinning up super PACs and lobbying arms. Last month, it was reported that a new $100 million AI-industry super PAC called Leading the Future would be directly targeting Alex Bores, a Democrat who is running for his party's nomination for New York's 12th congressional district. Why target Bores? Well, as an New York assemblymember, he has led the push for the regulation of AI at the state level. The industry, of course, views state-level regulation as an existential threat to their business. So on this episode we speak with Alex about how he views AI and the optimal approach to regulation. Alex also has a tech background, and so we talk about the technology more broadly, as well as other issues in contemporary politics.

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From The Rest Is History at 2025-12-18 00:05:00

627. Jack The Ripper: From Hell (Part 4) (GLT6270048402.mp3?updated=1765988289)

Why was Jack the Ripper’s final murder the most appalling of all? Who was the mysterious Mary-Jane Kelly, his unfortunate victim? And, what enduring impact would his crimes have upon the cultural climate of England, and the treatment of women? Join Tom and Dominic as they reach the nightmarish crescendo of Victorian London’s darkest days, as Jack the Ripper’s killing spree culminates with his most horrifying murder so far. Give The Rest Is History Club this Christmas – a year of bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access, the private chat community hosted on Discord, and an exclusive t-shirt! Just go to https://therestishistory.supportingcast.fm/gifts And of course, you can still join for yourself at any time at therestishistory.com or on apple podcasts. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Hive. Know your power. Visit https://hivehome.com to find out more. _______ Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway _______ Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory It's risk-free with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee ✅ _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-12-17 23:00:00

Are We Doing This Again? Andrew Ross Sorkin on “1929” and the GoodFellows on 2025 | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (GoodFellows_2025-12-16_-_Andrew_Sorkin_wip03_podcast_8iutv.mp3)

Nearly a century ago, after years of investors on a champagne high and warning signs ignored, a stock market crash led to a descent into a global depression. Andrew Ross Sorkin, a New York Times financial journalist and author of the bestseller 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History—and How It Shattered a Nation, joins GoodFellows regulars Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster to discuss how the events of 1929 resonate to this day, what’s misunderstood about the fabled crash, whether Herbert Hoover (only seven months into his presidency when disaster struck) gets a fair shake, plus what the future holds for Federal Reserve independence, the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, and Wall Street’s relationship with Washington. After that: The three fellows look back on 2025 with their choices for individual of the year, the most significant or ignored stories, what they learned in 2025, plus predictions and resolutions for the new year. Finally, a surprise visit by Hoover Institution visiting fellow Kris Kringle, who asks the panel for its holiday wishes (oddly enough, H.R. is never around when jolly old St. Nick shows up).      Subscribe to GoodFellows for clarity on today’s biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-17 22:22:33

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT image generator makes faking photos easy

New GPT Image 1.5 allows more detailed conversational image editing, for better or worse.

From The Media Show at 2025-12-17 17:17:00

Jeremy Vine’s legal battle, Bondi Beach attack coverage, , BBC charter renewal pressures, Trump’s $5bn lawsuit and microdramas (p0mp5vtl.mp3)

Ros Atkins on some of this week's biggest global media stories.

Jacqueline Maley of the Sydney Morning Herald talks us through the newsroom’s challenge in covering the Bondi Beach attack during a Hanukkah celebration - a story shaped by rapidly circulating bystander video, fraught community tensions and intense scrutiny over tone and verification.

Jeremy Vine reflects on his hard‑fought legal victory after sustained defamatory and harassing posts from former footballer Joey Barton.

Media correspondent Alex Farber of The Times examines the BBC’s newly launched charter renewal process, the debate around future funding models, and how all this intersects with President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the corporation over an edited Panorama clip.

And finally, Mengchen Zhangfrom the BBC’s Global China Unit explains the rapid global rise of the microdrama - the ultra‑short, phone‑first video dramas attracting huge investment and reshaping viewing habits around the world.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant Producer: Lucy Wai

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-17 15:25:25

Browser extensions with 8 million users collect extended AI conversations

The extensions, available for Chromium browsers, harvest full AI conversations over months.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-17 12:02:01

Deliberate Internet Shutdowns

For two days in September, Afghanistan had no internet. No satellite failed; no cable was cut. This was a deliberate outage, mandated by the Taliban government. It followed a more localized shutdown two weeks prior, reportedly instituted “to prevent immoral activities.” No additional explanation was given. The timing couldn’t have been worse: communities still reeling from a major earthquake lost emergency communications, flights were grounded, and banking was interrupted. Afghanistan’s blackout is part of a wider pattern. Just since the end of September, there were also major nationwide internet shutdowns in ...

From More or Less at 2025-12-17 09:00:00

Do we really have ‘superflu’? (p0mnzdjm.mp3)

The NHS is warning of an unprecedented flu season - we check what the numbers say.

Is there really a mass exodus of Brits leaving the UK due to Labour tax policies? We look at the latest emigration figures.

We take a look at the prison service’s curious habit of letting prisoners out early – or keeping them in for too long - is there a trend?

Plus - why the US economy can’t grow at 25 percent a year.

Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Nathan Gower Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Katie Solleveld, Lizzy McNeill and Tom Colls. Production co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound mix: Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon

From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2025-12-17 05:01:00

The Riskies! 2025 Edition (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

Nate and Maria give out their second annual awards for decision-making in 2025: Who made the best decision this year? Who made the worst? Who were 2025’s biggest nits and degens? And which host had the best poker year?

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

The Leap from Maria Konnikova

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From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-16 12:02:32

Chinese Surveillance and AI

New report: “The Party’s AI: How China’s New AI Systems are Reshaping Human Rights.” From a summary article:

China is already the world’s largest exporter of AI powered surveillance technology; new surveillance technologies and platforms developed in China are also not likely to simply stay there. By exposing the full scope of China’s AI driven control apparatus, this report presents clear, evidence based insights for policymakers, civil society, the media and technology companies seeking to counter the rise of AI enabled repression and human rights violations, and China’s growing efforts to project that repression beyond its borders...

From School of War at 2025-12-16 10:30:00

Ep 257: Elliott Abrams on the Venezuela Crisis (NEBM3882689732.mp3)

Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela and Iran from 2019 to 2021, joins the show to discuss events in the Caribbean. ▪️ Times 01:56 Venezuela Through Multiple Administrations  06:05 Maduro 11:53 Trump to Biden 17:56 U.S. Military Capabilities  24:05 Political Justifications  30:11 The Venezuelan Opposition 35:56 Machado in Hiding 41:27 Worst Case Scenarios Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-15 22:41:43

Merriam-Webster’s word of the year delivers a dismissive verdict on junk AI content

Dictionary codifies the term that took hold in 2024 for low-quality AI-generated content.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-15 21:15:55

Microsoft will finally kill obsolete cipher that has wreaked decades of havoc

The weak RC4 for administrative authentication has been a hacker Holy Grail for decades.

From The History of Byzantium at 2025-12-15 20:44:08

Episode 333 - The Bachelorhood of Basil II with Mark Masterson (media.mp3)

To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II.


My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world.


In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil's day which may shed light on his intimate life.


Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world.


Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire

Routledge (2022)


Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood

The Ohio State University Press. (2014)

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From Battle Lines at 2025-12-15 16:08:36

'The frontline is everywhere': 10 surprising conflict hotspots for 2026 (media.mp3)

Today, Britain’s MI6 chief delivered a chilling message: the frontline is now everywhere.


Look around the world and the evidence is overwhelming. From Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan, violence is spreading fast and growing more lethal by the month. New data from ACLED shows that Europe is now the most intense conflict zone on the planet - a fact that should shock anyone in the West still clinging to the idea that war happens elsewhere. Plus, with drone strikes now accounting for more than a quarter of all attacks worldwide, war is only a short flight away. 


This is not a bad patch, this is a dangerous new era. And next year will be even bloodier still. The warning signs are screaming at us. 


The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data organisation, known as ACLED, has been tracking all of this data and more. Venetia speaks to their CEO Clionadh Raleigh to find out more.


Read ACLED's report: https://acleddata.com/conflict-index-2026-watchlist


Producer: Peter Shevlin


Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


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From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-15 15:24:41

Roomba maker iRobot swept into bankruptcy

Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics, its lender and primary supplier, will acquire all of iRobot’s shares.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-15 12:02:15

Against the Federal Moratorium on State-Level Regulation of AI

Cast your mind back to May of this year: Congress was in the throes of debate over the massive budget bill. Amidst the many seismic provisions, Senator Ted Cruz dropped a ticking time bomb of tech policy: a ten-year moratorium on the ability of states to regulate artificial intelligence. To many, this was catastrophic. The few massive AI companies seem to be swallowing our economy whole: their energy demands are overriding household needs, their data demands are overriding creators’ copyright, and their products are triggering mass unemployment as well as new types of clinical ...

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-15 09:00:00

MeatEater's Steven Rinella on the Economic History of Hunting (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

When we think about America’s economic rise, we usually point to agriculture or the industrial revolution. But in the early days of colonization, one of the biggest economic drivers wasn’t crops or factories — it was animal products. Deerskins were a booming trade that pushed hunters into new frontiers. In the early 1800s, beaver pelts became a fashion craze. And of course, later that century, we nearly hunted buffalo to extinction in another frenzy of resource extraction. On this episode, we talk to Steven Rinella, author and founder of MeatEater, about this overlooked chapter in US economic history, plus how the hunting economy functions today.

Read more:
USDA Lowers Cattle Price Outlook After Tyson Beef Plant Closure
RFK Jr. Eyes Single National Standard on Food Labeling and Safety

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From The Rest Is History at 2025-12-15 00:05:00

626. Jack The Ripper: The Killer Strikes Again (Part 3) (GLT7980605076.mp3?updated=1765453887)

How did Jack the Ripper manage to strike twice in the same night without getting caught? Did he have an accomplice? And, what chilling clues did the police discover in the wake of the murder…? Join Dominic and Tom as they decode the next horrific phase of Jack the Ripper’s shocking killing spree, as they seek to reveal his identity once and for all. _______ Hive. Know your power. Visit https://hivehome.com to find out more.  _______ Learn more at https://www.uber.com/onourway _______ Visit auraframes.co.uk and get £35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frame by using promo code HISTORY at checkout. Terms and conditions apply. _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Assistant Producer: Aaliyah Akude Producer: Tabby Syrett Senior Producer: Theo Young-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-14 17:10:39

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

This is a current list of where and when I am scheduled to speak:

  • I’m speaking and signing books at the Chicago Public Library in Chicago, Illinois, USA, at 6:00 PM CT on February 5, 2026. Details to come.
  • I’m speaking at Capricon 44 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The convention runs February 5-8, 2026. My speaking time is TBD.
  • I’m speaking at the Munich Cybersecurity Conference in Munich, Germany on February 12, 2026.
  • I’m speaking at Tech Live: Cybersecurity in New York City, USA on March 11, 2026.
  • I’m giving the Ross Anderson Lecture at the University of Cambridge’s Churchill College on March 19, 2026...

From The Week in Westminster at 2025-12-13 11:00:00

13/12/2025 (p0mn993z.mp3)

Radio 4's assessment of developments at Westminster

From More or Less at 2025-12-13 06:00:00

RCP 8.5: Why did the climate change model get it wrong? (p0mn8xfg.mp3)

Whether we like it or not, global warming is happening. The global temperature has already gone up, and it’s going to go up more, because the atmosphere is already full of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and we’re continuing to add to that stock. Quite how much it will increase by is a very important question for all of us. Until relatively recently, during much of the 2010s and into the 2020s, many scientists claimed that if we kept on going down the path we were on, if we just kept on with business as usual, then by the end of the century global temperatures would increase by almost five degrees centigrade. This projection was based on something called RCP 8.5, a statistical scenario used by scientists to model the future of the climate. You can still find scientific papers published in 2025 that make the same claim. However, there’s a good case that RCP 8.5 should never have been used as the business-as-usual scenario. And in hindsight it doesn’t look like an accurate vision of the future at all. So what’s going on? Dr Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist and the climate research lead at Stripe, explains the argument. Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Donald MacDonald Editor: Richard Vadon

From Risky Business with Nate Silver and Maria Konnikova at 2025-12-13 05:01:00

What’s In Store With Self-Driving Cars (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=eb5e885e-6644-4680-aec4-b15c0150ffc0)

Nate has ridden in a Waymo, and it was like stepping into the future. Maria’s never been in one, but she’s been stuck behind a lot of autonomous vehicles… They swap human-driven car horror stories and discuss some of the risks and benefits of a future full of self-driving cars.

From the New York Times: The Data on Self-Driving Cars Is Clear. We Have to Change Course.

For more from Nate and Maria, subscribe to their newsletters:

The Leap from Maria Konnikova

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From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2025-12-13 01:23:48

Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part IIIb: A Phalanx By Any Other Name

This is the second half of the third part of our four-part series (I, II, IIIa) discussing the debates surrounding ancient Greek hoplites and the formation in which they (mostly?) fought, the phalanx. Last week, we discussed the development of hoplite warfare through the Archaic period (c. 750-480). Our evidence for that early period of … Continue reading Collections: Hoplite Wars, Part IIIb: A Phalanx By Any Other Name →

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-12 22:16:42

OpenAI built an AI coding agent and uses it to improve the agent itself

"The vast majority of Codex is built by Codex," OpenAI told us about its new AI coding agent.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-12 22:00:30

Friday Squid Blogging: Giant Squid Eating a Diamondback Squid

I have no context for this video—it’s from Reddit—but one of the commenters adds some context:

Hey everyone, squid biologist here! Wanted to add some stuff you might find interesting.

With so many people carrying around cameras, we’re getting more videos of giant squid at the surface than in previous decades. We’re also starting to notice a pattern, that around this time of year (peaking in January) we see a bunch of giant squid around Japan. We don’t know why this is happening. Maybe they gather around there to mate or something? who knows! but since so many people have cameras, those one-off monster-story encounters are now caught on video, like this one (which, btw, rips. This squid looks so healthy, it’s awesome)...

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2025-12-12 18:00:00

796: Grape Juice Plus (a4a428fd-a66f-4dc4-8b37-cd699ab586af.mp3)

Our Ape Club reconvenes to celebrate the holidays with a viewing of 1971’s “Escape from the Planet of the Apes!” Is this an ape movie or an episode of “Mannix”? What happens when you change lanes on the Freeway of Time? Why is Zira the smartest of all creatures, ape or human? And was Dr. Cornelius framed by big government? Apes smart, humans dumb!...

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-12 12:00:47

Building Trustworthy AI Agents

The promise of personal AI assistants rests on a dangerous assumption: that we can trust systems we haven’t made trustworthy. We can’t. And today’s versions are failing us in predictable ways: pushing us to do things against our own best interests, gaslighting us with doubt about things we are or that we know, and being unable to distinguish between who we are and who we have been. They struggle with incomplete, inaccurate, and partial context: with no standard way to move toward accuracy, no mechanism to correct sources of error, and no accountability when wrong information leads to bad decisions...

From School of War at 2025-12-12 10:30:00

Ep 256: Nadia Schadlow on Strategic Depth (NEBM1087131053.mp3)

Nadia Schadlow, former Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy and senior fellow at Hudson Institute, joins the show to breakdown what strategic depth is and why the concept remains relevant. ▪️ Times 02:37 Unhinged, Frenetic Times 03:36 What is Strategic Depth? 07:50 A Lack of Space 12:50 Territory and War 14:55 How to Increase Time 23:18 Allies and Forward Defense 30:29 How Do You Get Freedom of Choice? 36:57 Keeping and Maintaining Strategic Depth Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2025-12-12 09:00:00

D.A. Wallach Explains Why Biotech VC Is So Different (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

Most people think of venture capital as funding software startups or, these days, some new AI tool. But VC also plays a major role in developing new medicines and treatments. That’s the world of D.A. Wallach — though he didn’t start there. Before becoming a biotech investor, Wallach was the lead singer of the indie rock band Chester French. So how did he make the leap from music to venture capital? How does he spot promising biotech opportunities? What does it actually take to bring a new drug to market? And how does biotech investing differ from traditional VC? We talk to the co-founder of Time BioVentures about all of this — plus we get his thoughts on AI’s impact on music and a special performance.

Have a question for Joe and Tracy?  Now's your chance to be the perfect guest  - record a voice memo with your name, age, location and question and email to oddlots@bloomberg.net for a chance to be included in the holiday AMA episode.

Read More:
Big Pharma’s Patent Cliff Puts China Front and Center
Novartis Strikes Deal With UK Biotech for Up To $1.7 Billion

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From Battle Lines at 2025-12-12 05:00:00

The ex-Royal Marine Commando kicking Britain's armed forces into shape (media.mp3)

Britain's military has seen better days - that much everyone can agree on.


Enter ex-Royal Marine Commando Colonel Alistair Scott Carns, aka Wee Al, the UK's brand new Minister for Armed Forces. Part of the fresh batch of Labour MPs who entered Parliament in 2024, he has risen quickly through the Ministry of Defence and is considered "one to watch".


Carns sat down with The Telegraph's associated defence editor Dominic Nicholls to talk about his plans to get the military into shape, the UK's commitment to Ukraine, and the ongoing Ajax debate.


Plus he shared his views on Reform leader Nigel Farage and the legacy of Stakeknife in Northern Ireland.


Read Dom's profile of Al Carns: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/d/dk-do/dominic-nicholls/


For backgrounders on the tensions between Trump and Venezuela: 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/24/is-trump-about-to-invade-venezuela/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/11/17/trump-builds-case-for-venezuela-war-as-worlds-biggest-aircr/


Listen to Venetia's dispatch from Sweden's Gotland Island: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/17/the-tiny-swedish-island-regiment-tasked-protecting-europe/


Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells


► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor


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battlelines@telegraph.co.uk 

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@RolandOliphant

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From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-11 21:27:18

OpenAI releases GPT-5.2 after “code red” Google threat alert

Company claims new AI model tops Gemini and matches humans on 70% of work tasks.

From Schneier on Security at 2025-12-11 17:06:05

AIs Exploiting Smart Contracts

I have long maintained that smart contracts are a dumb idea: that a human process is actually a security feature.

Here’s some interesting research on training AIs to automatically exploit smart contracts:

AI models are increasingly good at cyber tasks, as we’ve written about before. But what is the economic impact of these capabilities? In a recent MATS and Anthropic Fellows project, our scholars investigated this question by evaluating AI agents’ ability to exploit smart contracts on Smart CONtracts Exploitation benchmark (SCONE-bench)­a new benchmark they built comprising 405 contracts that were actually exploited between 2020 and 2025. On contracts exploited after the latest knowledge cutoffs (June 2025 for Opus 4.5 and March 2025 for other models), Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and GPT-5 developed exploits collectively worth $4.6 million, establishing a concrete lower bound for the economic harm these capabilities could enable. Going beyond retrospective analysis, we evaluated both Sonnet 4.5 and GPT-5 in simulation against 2,849 recently deployed contracts without any known vulnerabilities. Both agents uncovered two novel zero-day vulnerabilities and produced exploits worth $3,694, with GPT-5 doing so at an API cost of $3,476. This demonstrates as a proof-of-concept that profitable, real-world autonomous exploitation is technically feasible, a finding that underscores the need for proactive adoption of AI for defense...

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2025-12-11 16:43:30

Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI, licenses 200 characters for AI video app Sora

Three-year deal lets users create AI videos of Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader, and more.

From The Django weblog at 2025-12-11 15:19:22

Django Code of Conduct Transparency Report 2025

The Code of Conduct working group received 4 reports and met 12 times in 2025. This transparency report is a brief account of how those reports were handled. This year’s number is lower than previous years in part because of the formation of the Online Community Working Group which handles moderation on our official spaces and has been able to act directly on smaller scale infractions. In some cases we received additional reporting while investigating initial reports, but have not counted those as separate instances.

This working group conducts business in several ways. It has online meetings, typically once per month. It also discusses issues in a Slack channel, but most cases are handled in the meetings. The group welcomed three new members this year: Ariane Djeupang, Natalia Bidart, and Priya Pahwa. Natalia was selected by the new Online Communities Working Group as their liaison to the Code of Conduct Working group; Ariane and Priya were elected by the working group. The group also saw Jay Miller step down this year. We all want to thank Jay for his continued role in our community and for all the work he did with the Code of Conduct group.

It was the group’s intention to work with a consultant to update our Code of Conduct and processes. We reached out to two consultants to help with that work, but unfortunately we weren’t able to engage either to get that work completed. We hope to progress with that in 2026. In the meantime, we made a few internal process tweaks - creating up a new “ask CoC” channel with key stakeholders to discuss moderation and CoC enforcement, and having our team set up as moderators in GitHub until we find a better model.

Two reports from late 2024 carried into this year. Two reports resulted in suspensions from the relevant platforms. Another was shared with local event organizers.

Finally, this section provides a brief summary of the kinds of cases that were handled:

  • One case involved repeated violations of the Discourse rules about self promotion. The working group recommended a suspension from the forum.
  • One case involved repeated behavior across several platforms that discouraged participation and created problems for others. The working group recommended a suspension from all relevant platforms and working groups.
  • One case involved an incident at a PSF-sponsored event. The information was passed on to the local organizers.

From The Briefing Room at 2025-12-11 15:08:00

Why are early career doctors angry? (p0mmyv58.mp3)

In a few days time resident doctors -who used to be known as junior doctors - were meant to be going on strike. This would be the 14th strike by the doctors’ union since March 2023. The ostensible reason was pay but now the dispute may be over without more increases to salary levels. The Government has instead made an offer to do something about the other big issue for early career doctors - working conditions and specialist training places. David Aaronovitch and guests discuss what's going on and ask what the problem is with the way we in Britain train our doctors?

Guests: Hugh Pym, BBC Health Editor Sir Andrew Goddard, Consultant Gastroenterologist Professor Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Mark Dayan, Policy Analyst, Nuffield Trust.

Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Kirsteen Knight, Cordelia Hemming Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineers: Michael Regaard, Gareth Jones Editor: Richard Vadon