A couple of videos on agriculture issues.

Energy policy- Back to the Future

In this video Cyrus mentions that the US wants Japan and South Korea to finance gas production in Alaska. The larger topic is China's emphasis on alternative energy sources, solar, battery tech, etc., vs US emphasis on fossil fuels.

US seeks world domination:

Jeff Rich general overview of outdated and overextended imperial strategy guiding US geopolitical decision making.

The coming collapse of China (not):

The myth of a coming Chinese demographic collapse due to aging population.

Is there a political opposition in Japan?

Tim Shorrock's new substack article on former Prime Minister Hatoyama's recent statements on Russia's RT network, and how Hatoyama's views reflect Japan's modern history, its relationship with the US, and current PM Ishiba's difficult situation "negotiating" with Trump before the Upper House elections in Japan July 20. Insightful articles in the English language on Japanese politics like this one, are relatively rare.

The Japanese Leader Who Said "No"

On June 30th, Moscow's RT posted an extraordinary interview with former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. A longtime fixture in Japanese politics, Hatoyama is one of the few opposition figures to lead Japan since 1955 and remains the only Japanese leader courageous enough to stand up to the United States and its relentless demands on Japan to abandon its peace constitution and remilitarize.

One quote stood out: "We should create a Japan without military bases," Hatoyama told RT. That suggestion would undo over 70 years of US military domination that began in 1952, when the United States imposed a separate peace on Japan that forced it to host US military bases into perpetuity. From that moment on, the Japanese archipelago has been America’s “unsinkable aircraft carrier” in the Pacific, as former PM Yasuhiro Nakasone confirmed in 1983.

The timing of the RT interview is notable, coming as Japan's current Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, is reeling from President Trump's demands that Japan expand its already formidable military budget to match NATO's increases, join the Pentagon in its war plans for China, and open it markets to US automobiles and rice if it wants to avoid massive tariffs that could destroy its fragile export economy.

The tensions came to a head a few days before the interview, when Ishiba's government cancelled top-level meetings with Washington after the Trump administration demanded that Japan boost its military spending to 3.5 percent of GNP, higher than its earlier request of 3 percent and three times greater than its historical levels. Ishiba tartly responded that other nations do not decide Japan's defense budget, only Japan.

And they’re off: Campaigns start for 125 seats in Upper House

US proposal to reduce forces in South Korea to 10,000. What a coinkydink! Most Korean analysts believe this is Colby's idea.

U.S. think tank proposes slashing USFK troop level to about 10,000 from 28,500

The think tank recommended cutting all ground combat units not tied to base security from South Korea, along with Army signal, intelligence, and headquarters units, and some of their associated support and sustainment units — a reduction that would remove most of the 2nd Infantry Division from Korea, including the rotational brigade combat team and Army combat aviation units.

It also said that the U.S. should cut airpower based in Korea, moving two fighter squadrons from U.S. bases in South Korea back to the U.S. and that about a third of air maintenance and other support units and personnel can also be returned stateside.

"In total, this would reduce the total U.S. military presence in South Korea by more than 50 percent, leaving about 10,000 personnel along with two fighter squadrons (including a larger super squadron) and support forces," the report said.

The anti-China angle:

The think tank called for the troop reduction, arguing that Seoul has not offered the U.S. "unrestricted contingency access" to use its bases for operations elsewhere in the theater during a conflict.

Lyle Goldstein, expert on Russian and Chinese military forces, in Real Clear Defense, cuts to the chase:

In many respects, these Asia-Pacific allies will be better off if they leave NATO security paradigms behind them. If Australia, Japan, and South Korea seek to mend their ties with China due in part to concerns over Washington’s more aggressive stance towards Beijing, so much the better for regional security. In fact, the Asia-Pacific may flourish in a more multipolar system that emphasizes pragmatic problem-solving and commerce over ideology.

Why fighting wars on multiple fronts is a bad idea-

Opportunistic Aggression in the Past and Lessons for Today: The Korean War

US favorite impeached president Yoon back in the slam- pending review

1/ Breaking: ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol is back in custody after a Seoul court granted a detention warrant at 2:07am, citing risk of evidence destruction. His second time behind bars since the martial law attempt, he will be held for up to 20 days. https://t.co/7DBZC535rd

— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) July 9, 2025

Work of the Special Prosecutor Team empowered by the National Assembly.

(edit: somehow I uploaded Rashid's older post on Yoon's detention hearing by mistake, the later one above shows that he can be held for as long as 20 days based on this most recent pre-trial detention hearing based upon the new indictment). I'm waiting to see further clarification on the procedural status of this case, and the detention order.