Success ✅
I've found somewhere in budget (again!), in a great location, and close to some green space (for the sunshine ☀️). I'm very grateful to everyone who helped me search the last two weeks! And to Sciences Po for very generously letting me extend my research time 🙏

Thanks to the @oecd-ocde.bsky.social for hosting me today! Always nice to be reading Marshall Plan papers in the Marshall Building. And reading so much about global balance of payments was not the plan, but it was the outcome!

Dimanche ensoleillé ☀️

This is the Friday feeling in the final PhD stages 😅

I do not wish digitizing historic German elections data at the ortsgemeinde level upon my worst enemy, but at least the data visualizations are super cool and worth it!

And more short-term: Post-Ankara, will NATO be more than a bureaucracy and purchasing club?

Many of these points in the FT this morning were reflected in last night’s discussion. The question for Europe is “how do you protect Europe [alone]?” The question for the US is “have you thought through the societal/security implications of Europeans buying non-US weapons?”

Nato in ‘turf war’ with EU over defence spending At the heart of the dispute is buying US weapons with EU money

NATO “has long opposed Brussels taking on defence powers. But the US president’s demands on allies to invest more in their own militaries have forced an overhaul of arms production policy — an area where the EU has greater expertise than NATO.” www.ft.com/content/00ea...

Asking French people “Cubs or White Sox?” is an experience 😂

Ikr!! Gotta teach the French the proper way

Complete with mini-hot dogs!! You guys know how to make a Chicago girl feel at home 😊. And nice to meet fellow transatlanticists who have made the Midwest their home at one time or another!

Thanks to the University of Chicago for a stellar event in Paris on the future of NATO! An important exchange between 🇺🇸🇫🇷🇪🇺 officials and beyond

Post offices in 🇫🇷 > post offices in 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇮🇹

I am searching for a room or apartment to stay in Paris from June 1-26. Somewhere to write, see some sunshine, sleep, and repeat! Any recommendations, tips, or connections appreciated 🙏🏻💜✨

Dancing on the Danube as challenger Magyar topples Orbán | Euractiv Victorious Magyar pledges to mend Hungary’s fractured ties with the EU and unite a divided nation

“We are the successors of the freedom fighters of 1956.” 💪🇭🇺🇪🇺 www.euractiv.com/news/dancing...

My hot take: there are many excellent and highly dedicated Hungarian analysts and journalists. Follow them beyond these elections.

Local experts provide the bedrock of our understanding of the world (says as a hardcore non-local analyst). They should be heard more in the international discourse.

🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺

Ungheria: esperto Demény, 'Magyar può vincere, vero rischio è dopo voto' A due giorni dal voto, l'analista Richárd Demény del Political Capital Institute di Budapest traccia gli scenari. Tisza favorita ma la soglia dei seggi è decisiva, Orbán punta sulla 'psicosi di guerra' con scarso effetto. Il vero rischio si apre dopo le urne, tra leggi blindate,

Qui trovate un riassunto completo delle elezioni ungheresi 🇭🇺⤵️ www.adnkronos.com/internaziona... 2/2

Tra il voto e il 12 maggio..."[p]ossono rendere le cose il più difficile possibile per il nuovo governo", avverte Demény..."Questo periodo di transizione non è quello di una tipica democrazia liberale. Questa è un'autocrazia dell'informazione. Questo è un regime illiberale" 1/2

Link to Making Global Norms (open access!) 📚: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

It was great to see @akentikelenis.bsky.social present @sciencespo-cee.bsky.social his new co-authored book on how individual expertise affects negotiated norms in international organizations (complete with emojis). Very timely to discuss historic IMF decision making before the Spring Meetings!

Ajay Banga on the World Bank Group’s jobs agenda and global development YouTube video by AtlanticCouncil

Thanks to the Atlantic Council for letting me ask Pres. Banga a question from Paris! And thanks to Pres. Banga for his answer and focus on small/medium and small island countries!! (From min 37.00) www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeyO...

I find it increasingly hard to imagine German Commerzbank customers receiving similar Italian paperwork from UniCredit and being happy about it. Then again, maybe Italian paperwork will involve less faxing? Boh

Commerzbank clashes with UniCredit over failed takeover talks German bank hits back after Italian lender accused it of failing to engage

A loooot happened in the UniCredit-Commerzbank saga over Lent. As someone who's own Italian bank is merging with another next week and dealing with the paperwork to figure out my new account number, if my card stays open, whether/where I can access ATMs, etc...
www.ft.com/content/74e4...

Wait, you got a new job since I was last online!! Congratulations Chris!!! 🇺🇦 No one better for that position, they are lucky to have you!

🫶🏻🥺

E anche Buona Pasquetta! I enjoyed Easter Monday at Le Jardin du Luxembourg with just about everyone in Paris. Finally some sunshine and warmth after two freezing weeks 🌷

Happy Easter! I’m back online after a very special Easter Sunday. Attending Gregorian mass at Notre Dame in the first row will always be a special memory. And brunch with new and old friends lasted past 6 PM, so you know it was good company! 🐣🌸

My annual post that I'm logging off for Lent 👋 . See everyone at Easter, and I wish you a reflective and meaningful season 🙏

Mon bureau cet après-midi ! 🤗😊🇫🇷