Stop the Idiocracy: The week that Vladimir Putin lost the plot. Or, at least we damn well better pray so

Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

To all the conspiracy theorists and Trumpists out there: I believe one can separate one's hate for the 'new world order' (or 'the left,' what f**king ever) and still recognize Putin is evil and nobody's friend. And that innocent people are victims of genocide. More and more, I'm thinking it's going to take a unified coalition of groups who are not amiable to each other to defeat this monster. Forget all the other non-sense for now, just work to stop Putin. He will destroy humanity, he is serious. Not hyperbole or panic, but reality.

Destroying ‘the world’s post-World War II intellectual and moral foundation.’ Insight into Vladimir Putin’s thinking from expert Ivan Krastev – essentially, never-ending grievance over Russia’s place in the world, and a superiority complex that reason cannot penetrate. Literally, insane (Der Spiegel 3/17)

'Ukrainian authorities said Sunday that Russia’s military bombed an art school sheltering some 400 people in the embattled port city of Mariupol, where Ukraine’s president said an unrelenting Russian siege would be remembered for centuries to come.' (AP 3/20)

Ten times the speed of sound: ‘Russia says it has launched a hypersonic missile attack on Ukraine for the second consecutive day, amid claims that thousands of people trapped in a besieged city have been "forcibly deported" to Russian territory’ (Sky News 3/20)

The German war machine is back. Only this time, it is on the right side of history: Germany set to build Europe’s biggest military force (BBC 3/18)

Price-gouging by the oil companies is happening, but we must remind ourselves to be realistic about immediate oil production capacities and various other factors affecting the price of gas (NPR 3/19)

Taiwan’s military tests new capabilities to deter China threat (Deutsche Welle 3/15)

Lead exposure may have lowered the IQ of half of Americans since 1940 (Science Alert 3/10)