Really hard following the US-EU fight… because the internet down is down in Silicon Valley on Christmas… because it’s raining.

Burgum a huge disappointment to me. For a Republican governor of a super-conservative state he was good — thoughtful on housing, transportation, and energy — and now this shit.

Undoing the harm caused by this administration - massive censorship & intimidation of media outlets at home, and transnational repression of international bodies & civil society abroad - is going to absorb a lot of time & effort in the next presidency. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Well said @ec.europa.eu “The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments” www.ft.com/content/c4e7...

The 60 Minutes debacle reminds me why I've enjoyed reading—and writing for—The Economist. We speak to all sides but are under no pressure to "balance" a credible source with some nut job. We don't write "experts say x" if it's patently clear that x is true. Looking for a good Xmas gift? Buy a sub.

This is the first time Macron has retaliated so angrily against the provocations of his alleged "friend" Donald Trump. The policy of appeasement and flattery is breaking down.

A first step to bolster the radical right in Europe would be to ensure their content can get out there. Hence, sanctioning and trying to create a chilling effect on content moderation efforts. Then the money pours in. I expect huge amounts of funding to pour into the far-right this year.

A transatlantic showdown over tech policy (as opposed to, say, net zero) could actually have a unifying & galvanising political effect within the EU. The union’s digital regulations are broadly popular and many voters actually want more, not fewer, controls on Big Tech. yougov.co.uk/technology/a...

The Trump administration attack on content moderation online may be intended to benefit right-wing trolls but, as I note in this @postopinions.bsky.social column, it will also benefit jihadist terrorist groups like ISIS that recruit online: wapo.st/4qrV8U5

It's not just Breton either, but also current directors of NGOs working on disinformation and to counter hate speech online in Europr. This will have a major chilling effect on European other NGOs and think tanks working in this space too. US admin showing the NSS means business.

The bend the knee strategy has not worked. Zero belief that the EU will punch back.

From a Norwegian perspective, I think the increased cooperation with the UK and France is already underway. This is perhaps most visible with the UK and also formalized with the new agreement, but the French have steadily been more present in recent years, especially in the naval domain.

Sweden. Where "After work" hours stretch from 3 to 6pm. Imagine the amount of GDP they could be generating instead of hanging out at the pub with their mates.

MAGA: Sweden is in the midst of civil war, on the cusp of civilisational erasure Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.

We continue to stand in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Any changes to that status are for Greenlanders and Danes alone to decide. (1/2)

My take on the coalition of the willing for @nupinytt.bsky.social. "There is a danger while attempting to demonstrate Europe’s seriousness that the Coalition of the Willing in fact does the opposite." www.nupi.no/en/publicati...

Though worth noting the French and Italians argue that in bouncing the Germans and Finns into accepting a path towards Eurobonds they have put EU Europe's geopolitical ambitions on a more sustainable long term footing

The Axis of Late Trains.

Instead of “coalitions of the willing” just do QMV for everything. The EU would be a hell of a lot more decisive that way. It solves the problem and avoids the institutional ad hocery caused by CoW. The push should be to drop unanimity.

"Not since the U.S. allied with Joseph Stalin during the Lend Lease Act has a White House official enjoyed such frequent, personal access to a Russian or Soviet leader. Witkoff has yet to visit Ukraine."

On the latest episode of Russian Roulette, @maxbergmann.bsky.social and @msnegovaya.bsky.social discuss the state of affairs in peace negotiations over Ukraine as we come to the close of 2025. Listen: www.csis.org/podcasts/rus...

And France.

imagining a future where it's normal to ask soccer players interesting questions and for them to answer them

"Why I welcomed getting punched in the face; the alternative was a kick in the bollocks". Incredible topspin, here.

The EU never gets praise even when it acts. There is so much constant EU negging that commentators struggle to praise when it delivers. The EU did what it needed to do. Take the win. Last night was a big step for Ukraine and the European project. First, the EU got the money for Ukraine 1/

Honestly, from an EU-wide perspective this could be the most significant thing about last night's decision:

Waking up to Eurobonds

Excellent thread.

In this context, the fact that Belgium keeps making windfall revenue on immobilized Russian reserves (via taxation of Euroclear) must be re-examined. Belgium should transfer all that corporate tax income, with retroactive effect starting March 2022, to Ukraine in a transparent manner. Now. (2/2)

The decision also introduces a precedent for flexibility in deciding on this kind of EU funding, namely the possibility of opting out for a few countries that don’t share the scheme’s objectives. This precedent is likely to be very useful in future EU decision-making. A strategic win. (4/5)

In 2022, financial support to Ukraine was led by the US with Europeans as followers. Now the EU is leading it, while the US has withdrawn from the financial front. As recently as a year ago, the dominant expectation was that the EU would have no choice but to follow a US financial withdrawal. (2/N)

A few quick thoughts about this morning's decision. Don't believe the spin from various Russians & others: it's a big deal. The EU has now unambiguously demonstrated that it is able and willing to provide the external financial support Ukraine needs, for as long and as much as it takes. (1/N)

Most important is that Ukraine gets the money. Huge deal for EU: 1) if you want to do EU foreign policy, you need EU resources and debt. #EUCO delivered 2) First time this EU debt was decided without unanimity as far as I can remember www.consilium.europa.eu/media/wqmkno...

Debt without unanimity… is that the long-term direction for common European resources? The NextGenEU fund runs out end of 2026. If a successor EU instrument cannot be established, an intergovernmental alternative (a coalition of states borrowing to invest together) should be on the table.

So we have the first Eurobond issuance built on unanimity (as it always requires) but then not with all member-states paying. Wild? Yes also novel - Lucas has got you. Also this is the first time I see enhanced cooperation and multi speed Europe on a key file. Hugely important precedent.

So what the hell just happened? Two things: Ukraine will get 90 billion euros. And Orbán did not veto that even though he could have. How so? Short thread:

The assets are still frozen. And the pressure will again increase to use them to plug the whole the loan will create in the EU budget, and in particular when it comes to repayment. This is what the conclusions also explicitly say: "the Union reserves its right to make use of them to repay the loan".

@maxbergmann.bsky.social, provides a digestible backgrounder of what is at stake today, as EU leaders meet to decide on key trade initiative and UA budget shortfall support via RU asset backed reparation loan. open.spotify.com/episode/19Ra...

Denmark comes out in support of EU borrowing. The “Frugals” as a concept have long ago cracked. Eurobonds for defense are such an obvious mechanism to finance both an Ukraine defense industry ramp up and to fill gaps in enablers left (potentially) by the US. www.dr.dk/nyheder/poli...

This is the obvious next step. Drop the "reparations loan" and just do Eurobonds. Frankly, it's way better for Ukraine. The rep loan effectively prevents the Russian assets from being used by Ukraine b/c now claimed by EU. Eurobonds+seizing RF assets is way better! www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...

They did it.

Those calling for Europe to act, to step up, etc, etc. need to get specific for what they are calling for. Is it really just about more national spending? The countries that back Ukraine the loudest are often the most reticent to empower Europe to take collective action (see Eurobonds, etc).

Just kinda shocked that they just said, f-it, and did the Eurobonds. It will hardly be covered but that’s hugely important for the EU and Ukraine. EU crossed joint borrowing rubicon. They can just do it again, and again. There aren’t enough Euros in debt markets.

Danish PM Fredericksen has had an incredibly impressive presidency of the EU. So much was done on energy, Ukraine, trade, climate, migration, and even capital markets Looks like a future EU President

Big win for all those calling for Eurobonds!

5/ This also means that Ukraine has more leverage in peace talks, not facing a huge financial shortfall. Despite not using the Russian assets, it's still a decisive move by the EU. (Assuming that the further steps go as planned, and there are no successful challenges to these laws in the EU courts)

A quick explanation of how this borrowing to assist Ukraine will work. "Enhanced cooperation" means EU law is being used, but some Member States opt out. The process has been applied a few times before, but never before re the EU budget. 1/

He’s right. Could be him. But European leaders should pick someone to be Europe’s interlocutor

All the EU leaders and reporters at the press conference at 4am look exhausted. But clearly up beat. There’s a “clear pathway” for Mercosur to VDL.

This is very good news, even better than using the frozen Russian assets for a reparations loan; because this signals that Europe is serious about supporting Ukraine, and politically willing to do what it takes. A much-needed clear message that we are taking control of our future. Finally!