I am once again begging American conservatives who have Big Thoughts on how European leaders should tackle populists to pay attention to what is *actually happening* on migration policy, rather than meme themselves into seeing US '23 conditions everywhere all the time
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/o...
L’Orient Today (18 April 2026): “Israeli army systematically destroys neighborhoods in border villages, from Khiam to Naqoura After midnight, the Israeli army demolished residential neighborhoods in Khiam (repeatedly) and Qantara (Marjayoun district), as well as in Shamaa and Naqoura (Sour district) and in the town of Bint Jbeil. Powerful explosions were heard across the regions of Sour, Nabatieh, Hasbaya, Iqlim al-Kharroub, Jezzine and Saida. Witnesses told our correspondent that "the ground was shaking, like during an earthquake."”
Needless to say, Israel did not actually stop waging war on Lebanon.
Israel’s “centrists” are bashing Netanyahu for not committing enough war crimes. It should really tell us something about Israeli society that the opposition sees their way to a majority in painting Netanyahu as weak on war.
"Rescue workers are seen administering aid [...] when an Israeli strike smashes into the vehicle [...]. The camera shakes, and the medic who was treating his colleagues screams in pain. The video then shows a third team arriving to help the others before being attacked."
"Following the initial strike, several rescue vehicles arrived at the scene and were in turn targeted by Israeli fire."
"Unsere Demokratie"? Der ganze Post liest sich wie ein Statement eines deutschen Politikers.
Just one quick addition, the initiative would not force the Commission to propose legislation (the mechanism only gives the right to *request* legislative initiative). But I think we likely will get a vote in the Council as the Commission already supported a partial suspension in 2025.
Would not surprise me if, between Meloni losing her referendum, Trump completely losing his mind and Orbán losing power, we’ll see this government recalibrate some of its positions. Today’s suspension of the security memorandum with Israel might be a first indicator of that.
This is what’s left of Khiam village in South Lebanon after Israel detonated it all
Khiam is where Israel ran their notorious torture site during the first occupation
Italian FM Tajani: “Lebanon is a brotherly nation that holds a special place in our hearts. That is why I have come to Beirut today to express Italy’s solidarity with President Aoun following Israel’s unacceptable attacks on the civilian population. We will strengthen our humanitarian commitment in Lebanon through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ cooperation initiatives. My mission aims to encourage dialogue with Israel based on a necessary and lasting ceasefire. As part of our military and training support for the Lebanese Armed Forces, I offered President Aoun Italy’s assistance in combating illicit financing of terrorism and preventing further attacks by Hezbollah. The government will do everything possible to achieve peace and put an end to the suffering of the Lebanese people. We must avoid at all costs another escalation like the one in Gaza.” Translated with DeepL. Original: “Il Libano è un Paese fratello che abbiamo nel cuore. Per questo oggi sono venuto a Beirut a portare al Presidente Aoun la solidarietà dell'italia dopo gli attacchi inaccettabili di Israele contro la popolazione civile. Rafforzeremo il nostro impegno umanitario in Libano attraverso le iniziative di cooperazione del Ministero degli Esteri. La mia missione serve a incoraggiare il dialogo con Israele sulla base di un necessario e duraturo cessate il fuoco. Nel quadro del nostro impegno militare e di formazione alle Forze Armate libanesi, ho offerto al Presidente Aoun l'aiuto dell'Italia per contrastare i finanziamenti illeciti al terrorismo e scongiurare anche nuovi attacchi da parte di Hezbollah. Il Governo farà il possibile per raggiungere la pace e mettere fine alle sofferenze del popolo libanese. Bisogna evitare a tutti i costi un'altra escalation come a Gaza.”
By contrast, this is Italy’s Foreign Minister yesterday. Not that words alone solve anything, but writing Israel’s attacks out of public diplomatic statements is effectively supporting them. @germany.diplo.de
One could not tell from this post that Israel launched an operation called “Eternal Darkness” on Lebanon, that it deliberately targets rescue workers, flattens entire villages, cleanses South Lebanon of its Shia population and has announced a plan of indefinite occupation of Lebanese land.
Average GOP Congressman: We err...uhhh...don't uh need uh...oversight of the DoD because uh...we trust the President to decide what's best
Donald Trump: I AM JESUS CHRIST RETURNED TO EARTH THE POPE ISN'T MAGA AND HE'S WEAK ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS I AM GOING TO BUILD A HOTEL ON THE MOON
So will this be enforced with or against the US?
2010: massive Orbán win
2014: massive Orban win
2018: massive Orban win
2022: massive Orban win
2024: Goodwin visits, starts promoting Orban regime
2026:
💥🇭🇺🗳️First results of the Hungarian parliamentary elections are in: with 14.72% counted, the opposition leads with mandates nearing a two-thirds majority.
Everything points to Viktor Orbán’s defeat and Péter Magyar becoming Hungary’s next prime minister.
If it comes to a vote in the Council it’s qualified majority. If Israel attacks Italian peacekeepers some more (and Meloni actually already announced support for sanctions at the UNGA last September), Germany might become irrelevant. It’s more likely after today than 24 hours ago.
How plausible is it that Israel attacks Hezbollah’s intelligence command centers, targeting infrastructure and elite combat units more than one month into an ongoing war? Vs. the alternative of gratuitous attacks on civilians to punish Lebanon?
Not fully convinced that the country that's rolling out the red carpet for "Tommy Robinson" will welcome Zack Polanski with open arms...
Reminiscing about my time living in DC. If you've lived in DC or spent time there, especially in the Cap Hill area, let's look at some of the places you could be killed for being in range of the blast radius of a Mk 84 2000lb bomb dropped by the USAF or Israeli Air Force on a legitimate target
Lebanon’s medics and hospitals are coming under fire as Israel accelerates its war against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Doctors say the attacks on Lebanon's health system remind them of similar tactics used in Gaza.
CNBC: KEY POINTS Iran and Oman are drafting a protocol to “monitor transit” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. Tanker traffic through the key global oil transit route “should be supervised and coordinated” with the two countries, said Iranian official Kazem Gharibabadi, according to the report. U.S. stock indexes, which were trading sharply lower after President Donald Trump’s national address on the Iran war, suddenly turned higher following the report.
I see a lot of people wondering whether info from the Iranian regime is to be trusted more than statements from Trump, but it appears markets already made their decision.
Tweet by Sean Leahy @thepunningman: "The bond's Name. James Name" Pleased to... what? "Bond Name's the james" Are you alright? "Bames Nond's having a stronk, call a Bondulance"
I like this one.
"The responsibility for this situation lies with Hezbollah."
The Israeli government publicly states its intention to occupy Lebanon. Would it have been Israel's responsibility if Hezbollah occupied northern Israel in response to Israel's numerous violations of UNSCR 1701, documented by UNIFIL?
Do we really know that though? When Trump’s cognition meets geography it could also be Belgium, or Ireland, or…
“All of those countries that can’t sell oil and gas because of the Strait of Hormuz, like my good friends in the GCC, which were very obliging in letting me use their territory in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you…”
Sounds like a hodgepodge of elites trying to thwart the will of the people alright.
“All hail the Emperor (penguins)…”
Oh. Well, that’s one way of weaning yourself off of American military subsidies…
Is there a simple explanation for how a party with a very likeable (and apparently popular) premier can still be struggling so hard at the federal level? I get the tactical voting in 2025 to prevent a Con PM, but iirc the NDP wasn’t polling great before Trump either?
