So how’s the post-literate society going?

Putin shows up for his end-of-year speech

Putin: So far, we do not see Ukraine’s readiness for peace.

A question from a Russian citizen to Putin on his end-of-year speech:

“Why do ordinary people live worse than Papuans?”

Putin to the West:

There won’t be any “special military operations” if you treat us with respect.

Putin: Are we going to attack Europe? This is nonsense.

Putin: If we were to join our efforts—Russia and European countries—our joint GDP would be higher than the US.

Putin:

The Europeans are counting on the midterm elections, and they hope that the situation will change in the US.

Their traditional allies will come back to power and continue their pressure on President Trump.

Putin to Rutte:

How are you aiming NATO at a war with Russia when the main founder of NATO does not believe Russia is the enemy?

China has secretly built a prototype EUV lithography machine, a key tool for producing the most advanced chips used in AI, phones and modern weapons, aiming to break Western dominance in semiconductor technology

- Shenzhen team completed a working prototype of a EUV machine in early 2025
- The lithography machine, built by former ASML engineers, fills a factory floor
- China's EUV machine is undergoing testing, and has not produced working chips
- Government is targeting 2028 for working chips, but sources say 2030 is more likely

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/how-china-built-its-manhattan-project-rival-west-ai-chips-2025-12-17/

The DOJ will miss Friday’s deadline to release all Epstein files, despite a law Trump signed requiring full disclosure within 30 days.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said hundreds of thousands of documents will be released now, with more coming in the following weeks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg9plrkl8no

Farmers drove tractors into Brussels on Thursday, blocking roads and clashing with police outside an EU leaders’ summit to protest a proposed free-trade deal with South American nations

Potatoes everywhere: Aftermath of European farmers protest in Brussels

NOW: Trump shows off his “Gold Card.”

“Green Card on steroids.”

NEW: U.S. Justice Department releases more records related to Jeffrey Epstein

https://www.justice.gov/epstein

📸 New photo from the Epstein files

Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson together, from the Epstein files