The Hungarian election is about Russian oligarchy and its support of the international far right. That’s why Vance is there. He is a node in that network.

What a bittersweet moment to watch astronauts push farther from Earth than ever—an awe-inspiring triumph of science and courage—only to peak during the dumbest time ever, on the watch of an illiterate buffoon.

#Space #Science #Artemis

Democracy for Realists Why our belief in government by the people is unrealistic—and what we can do about it

I can't imagine how anyone would understand Democracy without having read "Democracy for Realists" by Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels. The solution starts with knowing what's in that book.

press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

Given Trump’s Easter threats to carry out new war crimes in Iran, we should think one or two steps ahead about a coup attempt connected to the war. And then deter it. (1/17)

“The U.S. president went on to call NATO a "paper tiger" and said Vladimir Putin shares that opinion.”

The paper tiger that so viciously expanded to the borders of Russia and threatens it, you mean?

Europe did not become peaceful because it discovered the moral value of peace. It became peaceful because its empires collapsed. The EU is the world’s most successful post-imperial political project – an alternative way of organising power and prosperity without empire. @timothysnyder.bsky.social

That’s what one would call kompromat. Almost like the title of the book by @craigunger.bsky.social, winner of the 2026 I-told-you-so prize. It’s not too late to read “American Kompromat”.

More Epstein files released, numerous allegations against Trump. So we can expect the strikes against Iran any minute now.

🎯 🎯

Heading into an increasingly hostile future, Europeans have the choice between Federation or Failure

Anyone who tells you that a loose confederation of nation states will be able to prevail is a fool

Anyone who suggests a European Army without endorsing a European Federation is a fool

#european

Trump’s public confrontation of Europe over Greenland is the perfect incentive for Russia and China to increase military activities around Greenland in order to further divide NATO by creating a self fulfilling security-threat prophecy for Trump to use as an argument to double down.

Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "

I’m just glad the US military is finally focused on the real threats - Minnesota and Denmark.

If European leaders back down now when it comes to Greenland, what keeps Trump from aiming at Iceland next, applying the same logic. Then Svalbard? The Azores? Canada? It’s time to play a different game: raise the stakes for Trump personally, target his business interests and those of his cronies.

Yes, this was predictable. From October, 2024:
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

And on this kind of garbage hang the fates of nations

Merry Christmas to you and your Ewoks! 🐾❤️🎄

Hungarian investigation into a network of fake online profiles reportedly run by the Russian-backed Orban regime for developing artificial online consensus of support for the ruling party.

Post from Ukraine/YkpaïHa on X "November 20 Russian top general to Putin: "Kupiansk has been taken under control" December 2 Putin: "We invite foreign media to Kupiansk" December 12 Zelenskyy: Hello from Kupiansk" "

"Sorry Russian Propaganda, I can't hear you, repeat?"

From the @wsj.com chief foreign correspondent

Quote for today's negotiations:

"The aggressor is always peace-loving; he would prefer to take over our country unopposed."

Carl von Clausewitz in "On War," 1816-1830

Look what you made us do: How to realise a European-led NATO America’s gradual retreat from European security under the current Trump administration is reshaping NATO’s centre of gravity. To keep the alliance credible and united, Europeans not only need to…

"Europeans wasting the next four years hoping that America’s pivot from Europe—and Russia’s designs for the continent—will disappear into thin air would all but doom Europe’s collective security"

True. But the delusion persists, viciously.

ecfr.eu/article/look...

Graph by eurostat on basic information and data literacy skills, 2023

Net déck, Lëtzebuerg...

"Data literacy refers to the ability to articulate information needs, to locate and retrieve digital data, information and content, TO JUDGE THE RELEVANCE OF THE SOURCE AND ITS CONTENT, and to store, manage and organize digital data, information and content.

💯.

Europe’s summer of humiliation America knew the EU was weak. The rest of the world knows it now

Europe’s summer of humiliation. A sobering read by Marc de Vos on Europe’s self imposed capitulation

Graph showing that 65% of germans support higher defence expenditures to reach NATO’s 5% goal.

Absolutely striking numbers. 65% of Germans support Germany significantly increasing its defence expenditures to reach NATO’s 5%* goal.

*it’s a 3,5%+ goal, to be exact.

4/ A former pre-trial detainee named Vadim has posted a video in which he describes how the prisoners were treated. He says they were immediately tortured and had their living conditions made unbearable, before being presented with a dildo and an unsigned contract.

In American Kompromat, @craigunger.bsky.social sheds light on the secretive catholic connection that supported Trump’s & Vance’s political careers.
Interesting to see how Pope Leo XIV will affect this game, given that 3 out of his 5 tweets were anti-Trump/Vance.
Watching this with delight. 😄

In a nutshell:

We are universal problem solvers.
All problems can be solved.
There will always be problems.
If we stop solving problems, we are doomed.

#mostimportantbooks

“Growth of knowledge is a continual transition from problems to better problems.”
- David Deutsch