A huge problem with being addicted to paying attention to what is actually happening in the federal government right now is that it's impossible to explain to people who are normal why this information makes you seriously think about pouring a glass of straight gin at 8 in the morning.

Klo 17 alkaen faktantarkistajat kokoontuivat läpivalaisemaan faktantarkistuksen tilaa Suomessa. Puhujina Faktabaarin @mikkovsalo.bsky.social, @pipsahavula.bsky.social ja @joonasporsti.bsky.social sekä @afpfactcheck.bsky.social Anna Hollingsworth ja Black Bird Groupin @jjhelin.bsky.social. 3/5

I'll try to do better with cross-posting in the future. Might still re-post the thread just for future-proofing.

I'm currently working on a writeup about the goals of the Kursk operation and what it achieved, and if it managed to fulfil any of it's goals.

I'll remember to post that here as well.

Ukraine withdraws from Kursk SITREP 13.03.2025

Last Thursday I whipped up a SITREP for the Kursk salient.

I posted it on X, but completely forgot to do so on BlueSky, which I regret.

The thread would be slightly outdated, but a longer writeup of the situation and UA withdrawal can be found on our Substack.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

I was meant to post it here too but creating the graphics and writing the text on Substack took 12 hours and now I have forgot.

I must rectify this tomorrow.

Infantry can likely make it accross but heavy equipment is going to have a worse time.

This is in reference to the Ukrainian forces in Kazachya Loknaya and those on the eastern outskirts of Sudzha.

Those forces are separated from Sudzha and Ukraine by the Loknaya and Psel rivers.

Molly McKew on X: "A reflection on the madness, cynicism, selfishness, and absurdity A decade of information manipulation has left us a nation of cripples on our own psychological defense It’s nearing the end of the republic but we’re cheering for the pickled egg https://t.co/5lNWOu4OZK" / X A reflection on the madness, cynicism, selfishness, and absurdity A decade of information manipulation has left us a nation of cripples on our own psychological defense It’s nearing the end of the republic but we’re cheering for the pickled egg https://t.co/5lNWOu4OZK

“It’s nearing the end of the republic but we’re cheering for the pickled egg.”
A wonderful piece of writing from @mollymckew.bsky.social
x.com/mollymckew/s...

We have updated our map to reflect the situation in Kursk. In short, it's not looking good.

The areas east of the Loknya and Psel rivers will likely be lost within days or less. Large scale withdrawal is likely, but Ukraine may attempt to hold onto Sudzha for some time.

We have updated our map to reflect the situation in Kursk. In short, it's not looking good.

The areas east of the Loknya and Psel rivers will likely be lost within days or less. Large scale withdrawal is likely, but Ukraine may attempt to hold onto Sudzha for some time.

Oh, is that why it's called a curfew?

"The official said all US military equipment not currently in Ukraine would be paused, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit areas in Poland."

US has stopped military aid to Ukraine as per Bloomberg.

"The US is pausing all current military aid to Ukraine until Trump determines the country’s leaders demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace, according to a senior Defense Department official"

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

You know what they say:

"Barely functional is still functional".

It incidentally seems to be both my and the Trump administration's motto for 2025.

Only one of us seems to be succeeding.

And if I never stop I'll never have a hangover

There's a reason I turned to drinking on friday.

What coherent and intelligent commentary can you even have on national security or military affairs anymore?

Everything is just fucking stupid now. What are you even supposed to say besides just repeating over and over how fucking dumb every single decision is?

Trump take egg Trump take lumber Trump take oil Trump take nickel Trump take tomato Trump take avocado Trump take car Trump take steel Trump take laptop Trump take 401k Trump take natural gas Trump take cell phones Trump take t shirt Trump take tequila Trump take washing machines Trump take steel Tr

starting a business that just sells Canadian merchandise at US airports for Americans traveling abroad

Well that's a way to spend the friday night.

What a complete disaster. If someone still had illusions about the US being a reliable and moral foreign policy partner, this is the time to wake up.

Sadly I don't have high hopes.

This photo of Musk speaking at the AfD rally has an interesting composition.

I'm sure the AFP photographer had fun.

Basically a zoom call.

Elon Musk addresses German far-right rally by video link HALLE, Germany: US tech billionaire Elon Musk gave a video address to a campaign rally of Germany’s anti-immigration AfD party Saturday, his latest show of support ahead of the country’s election next...

Arab News also made a conscious choice here.

www.arabnews.com/node/2587806...

This photo of Musk speaking at the AfD rally has an interesting composition.

I'm sure the AFP photographer had fun.

Arvopohjainen suomettuminen @hs.fi

if you want a simple narrative of the last four years in cultural leadership: a bunch of 50-something men got mad about their buddies losing their jobs for sexually assaulting women, so they decided that sexism and racism were fine all along

Kash Patel, Trump’s FBI Pick, Sees Good in QAnon and Evil in the Bureau Kash Patel’s public comments on the QAnon conspiracy theory suggests he sees its adherents more as an audience to be courted rather than an ideology to follow.

It was only a matter of time before Trump gave us the first QAnon FBI director. Patel: “The Q thing is a movement a lot of people attach themselves to. I disagree with a lot of what that movement says, but I agree with a lot of what that movement says.” www.nytimes.com/2025/01/23/u...

Light Infantry Attacks – A Thread

Why does our @jjhelin.bsky.social keep rejecting the "human waves" narrative, instead calling the reported North Korean attacks in Kursk "basic infantry drills"?

Let’s dive into light infantry on the attack and why this distinction matters.

1/