Daily reminder that Paul Deighton is the chairman of The Economist.

https://www.economistgroup.com/esg/board

This individual has stolen millions of pounds from taxpayers through PPE fraud.

From the New York Times:

Waste, Negligence and Cronyism: Inside Britain’s Pandemic Spending

To shine a light on one of the greatest spending sprees in Britain’s postwar era, The New York Times analyzed a large segment of it, the roughly 1,200 central government contracts that have been made public, together worth nearly $22 billion. Of that, about $11 billion went to companies either run by friends and associates of politicians in the Conservative Party, or with no prior experience or a history of controversy. Meanwhile, smaller firms without political clout got nowhere.

The procurement system was cobbled together during a meeting of anxious bureaucrats in late March, and a wealthy former investment banker and Conservative Party grandee, Paul Deighton, who sits in the House of Lords, was later tapped to act as the government’s czar for personal protective equipment.

Lord Deighton helped the government award billions of dollars in contracts –– including hundreds of millions to several companies where he has financial interests or personal connections.

Dozens of companies that won a total of $3.6 billion in contracts had poor credit, and several had declared assets of just $2 or $3 each. Others had histories of fraud, human rights abuses, tax evasion or other serious controversies. A few were set up on the spur of the moment or had no relevant experience — and still won contracts.

Lord Deighton, who was once a Goldman Sachs executive, remains involved in business and has financial or personal connections to at least seven companies that were awarded lucrative government contracts totalling nearly $300 million, the Times has learned.

Many companies and business people, often better qualified to produce P.P.E. but lacking political connections, had no access.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/17/world/europe/britain-covid-contracts.html

Why is he still chairman of The Economist?

The issue is that americans vote on identity. They don’t vote about policies.

Look at Arkansas.

A freaking Nuclear Engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) came up a solid plan to improve Arkansas. He visited all 75 counties.

He lost by double digits against Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She barely campaigned.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Arkansas_gubernatorial_election

The issue is that many americans simply vote on identity. They don’t vote about policies.

The issue is that americans vote on identity. They don't vote about policies.

Look at Arkansas. A nuclear engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) came up a solid plan to improve Arkansas. He visited all 75 counties. He lost by double digits against Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She barely campaigned.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Arkansas_gubernatorial_election

The issue is that many americans simply vote on identity. They don't vote about policies.

Sure, they might agree with individual policies. But when it comes to voting for candidates, (most) americans ultimately vote based on their perceived identity.

Pour comprendre le personnage.

Nice et ses relations avec Israël. Deux de nos confrères, Christian Chesnot, journaliste au service international de Radio France, et Georges Malbrunot, grand reporter au Figaro, viennent de publier un livre aux éditions Michel Lafon.

Dont un chapitre est consacré aux relations entre la France et Israël. Plus précisément, ils reviennent sur les liens entre Christian Estrosi et l'État Hébreux en matière de sécurité, de cybersurveillance. Le titre de cet ouvrage : "Le déclassement français. Elysée, quai d'Orsay, DGSE : Les secrets d'une guerre d'influence stratégique".

Dans ce livre les auteurs pointent l'admiration du maire de Nice pour les techniques de cybersécurité israéliennes : Christian Estrosi est fasciné par Israel "il y a eu l'application Reporty, développée par la start-up de l'ancien premier ministre Ehoud Barak testée en 2018 à Nice, l'objectif était pour les utilisateurs témoins d'incivilités de filmer la scène, et d'envoyer les images au centre de supervision urbain." indique Christian Chesnot.

Mais ce n'est pas tout. Après avoir été réfréné par la CNIL, Commission informatique et liberté, le maire s'est essayé à un tout autre dispositif "l'expérimentation reconnaissance faciale lors du Carnaval 2019, avec la technologie israélienne Anyvision." précise l'auteur.

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/international/deux-journalistes-publient-une-enquete-qui-revele-les-liens-entre-nice-et-israel-en-matiere-de-1642585641

On peut aussi lire l'excellente enquête du site Les Jours :

https://lesjours.fr/obsessions/thales-surveillance/ep1-nice-safe-city/

Dem Governor Vetoes Ban on Surprise Ambulance Bills in Shocking Move

I said "Jared Polis. Colorado." without even even opening the article.

Then I opened the article.

It was actually Jared Polis.

I'm not surprised at all...

https://prospect.org/labor/2025-05-19-democrats-union-busting-governor-polis-colorado/

https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/gov-polis-vetoes-colorado-union-bill-that-would-have-eased-union-formation/

He is a pretty smart guy. I agree with many of his policies. But electing a filthy-rich businessman wasn't perhaps a great idea. He has vetoed some good bills.

Les automobilistes font véritablement peur aux politiciens francais.

En 2014, l’écotaxe fut à l'origine de la révolte des Bonnets Rouges. En 2018, la hausse du prix des carburants précipite la crise des Gilets Jaunes.

Ils ont retenu la lecon. Quand Emmanuel Macron déclare "Moi, j'adore la bagnole", il faut bien comprendre que des experts lui ont expliqué que beaucoup de francais périphériques ont une relation profonde avec l'automobile.

Pour citer un membre de l'élite francaise :

On le voit au Parlement avec les ZFE : il y a, en particulier dans les classes populaires, un rejet d’une écologie qu’on vit comme la négation méprisante d’un mode de vie. Il alimente le populisme. Un examen de conscience s’impose au moment où les barbares sont aux portes.

https://xcancel.com/GerardAraud/status/1927997517905449202