I just saw someone use the term "slopulism" and it's a very good word. My proposed definition: "Junk policy aimed at populism-inclined voters which will go nowhere and achieve nothing but which strategists believe will win support."

In den Kommentaren unter der neuen @ronzheimer.bsky.social Folge sieht man sehr deutlich, wie weit faschistisches Gedankengut in Deutschland verbreitet ist und wird. Brachiales Lügen entgegen offenkundiger Beweise, Opferumkehr und das typische "tja, selber Schuld." Gerade Letzteres erinnert mich

No electricity or heating in Kyiv. No electric public transport. -10 °C.

Apropos of nothing: Rome survived 216 BC not just through military might, but because most of its socii stayed loyal. Rome’s alliance system—granting autonomy, rights, and integration—created bonds that Carthaginian tactical genius couldn’t break. Strategic tolerance trumped battlefield brilliance.

This will be a perfect opportunity for Trump to show just how much he is above any rules. He'll grab the Nobel and proclaim that it's his now. What is the committee going to do about it? He's all about imposing his will on the world, not caring about law, social norms or anything restraining, really

The Norwegian Nobel Prize committee has been forced to make a statement, declaring that the prize cannot be transferred. It's hard even to comprehend how stupid this has become

One cynical and depressing fact I know is that when the state begins to collapse and society breaks down, it is inadvisable to be the last person following laws that are no longer enforced justly and equitably

“Mr. Trump’s policies are helping ‘to create a world without America,’ said Robert Z. Lawrence, a professor of international trade and investment at Harvard. And ‘it’s not only in trade,’ he added.” Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/b...

Sounds like JD Vance. Odd.

📊Those 🇩🇪numbers are even more dramatic when looking at responses according to party preference, laying bare how much of an outlier AfD is. Excluding AfD voters, we get: 🇫🇷 93.5% trust in France 🇬🇧 89.75% trust in UK 🇺🇦 62.5% trust in Ukraine 🇺🇸 8.5% trust in USA ‼️ 🇷🇺 3% trust in Russia. Short 🧵

That's not why you have security guarantees. Believing and saying stuff like this also makes security guarantees completely useless, as any would-be aggressor immediately understands that he simply needs to pressure you sufficiently, and you will back down. Trump is signaling 🇷🇺 and 🇨🇳 his defeat.

Kyiv has awarded a bid to a group of investors to mine one of the Ukrainian state's most promising lithium deposits following a tender for a production sharing agreement launched in the summer, the New York Times reported on Jan. 8, citing two anonymous Ukrainian officials.

"Fucking bitch". First thing after they shot her.

Iran updates from BBC Persian:

Great thread.

As a member of the white community I would like to disavow this dangerous extremist and condemn both his racism and his attempts to provoke violent conflict in our democratic societies.

„Mr. Trump said in the Thursday interview that ,it would be a great honor‘ to accept the award, adding that it was ,a major embarrassment to Norway,‘ where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, that he had not been given the prize.“ www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...

How is that idea of "China does not have global hegemony ambitions" doing? The Chinese wait until they have maxed their chances to win a takeover fight to become the dominant global power. They continue to play the game very professionally with silent effort. We always underestimate the ambitions

Final stage "escalation management" against a bully with nukes. Unsure whether I want to cry or tear something apart.

US forces boarded the fifth tanker in their operation to enforce the blockade of Venezuela. It is the „Olina“. She got captured in the Caribbean Sea.

If the EU ever decides to respond to Trump’s sanctioning of Thierry Breton (a big if), this guy would be a good place to start www.arctictoday.com/trump-ally-w...

Kyiv's mayor encourage people to leave the city after Russian attacks on electricity, heating, water supplies. Russia will not win the war by terrorizing the Ukrainian people. But there will be less desire among Ukrainians to forgive Russians after Ukraine has won the war.

Schaut mal, wo ihr (wieder) sparen könnt. Für mich bedeutet das Heizung auf 1 und Warmwassernutzung weiter herunterfahren. Was die Ukrainer seit mehreren Jahren in viel schlimmerer Form ertragen müssen, können wir ganz kontrolliert locker durchstehen. ✌️

That's not why you have security guarantees. Believing and saying stuff like this also makes security guarantees completely useless, as any would-be aggressor immediately understands that he simply needs to pressure you sufficiently, and you will back down. Trump is signaling 🇷🇺 and 🇨🇳 his defeat.

Asked which was more important, the acquisition of Greenland or the preservation of NATO, he didn't answer

No Russia, no problem: European natural gas prices were lower in December 2025 than during most of the early 2010s. (inflation-adjusted prices, December averages, chart by @jkempenergy.bsky.social)

And so it begins.

Potentially momentous developments in Iran. "Video verified by the BBC shows thousands of protesters taking to the streets in Iran's capital, Tehran. Cars can be heard sounding their horns as they attempt to make their way through the crowds." www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cl...

Trump on Taiwan. If any other president of any party had said this, congressional Republicans would be flipping out.

#Iran government suppresses GPS signal in Tehran

Russia’s losing streak is not coming to an end and received another episode, this time in Iraq. The Iraqi government nationalized the stake of Russia’s Lukoil in regards to the West Qurna-2 oil field, which accounts of around 75%. This oil field produces 460,000 barrels of oil, daily.

That's why every fascist movement needs to build a victim identity for their peer group. Sound familiar?

After a massive Russian attack, #Dnipro is experiencing a total blackout. 📹Yan Dobronosov

That's why we have data privacy laws in Europe.

New: we've obtained material explaining how an ICE surveillance system, called Webloc, works. Draw shape on a map, see all phones available there, follow them home. All without warrant “This is a very dangerous tool in the hands of an out-of-control agency.” www.404media.co/inside-ices-...

Es bleibt das größte Medienversagen der Geschichte (und Grundlage für die potentielle Vernichtung des klassischen Journalismus), dass Nachrichten nicht mehr die Realität abbilden, sondern nur noch Akteuren hinterherlabern - besonders jenen, welche begriffen haben, diesen Fakt manipulativ zu nutzen.

Iran’s IPv6 networks have been fully disconnected from the global internet. An attempt by the regime to stop news of the protests spreading…and probably to cover any brutal clampdown.

Forensic analysis of objective video evidence. This is how you serve readers searching for clarity.

I wonder if anyone will revisit their charitable interpretations of Elon’s definitely-not-a-Nazi-salute

Europe and other US allies need to radically rethink their position on the US. The US behaves like an imperialist aggressor in the Western hemisphere and ICE has, it seems, begun murdering US citizens. We need to start treating the US government like Russia: start building a democratic alliance

Bitte, was?

Trump administration to exit 66 international organizations, WH memorandum constituting an impressive documentation of all the values (not only liberal!) and global problems the US officially no longer cares about, including: 1/5 www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

An unidentified group tried to set fire to an energy station near Wuppertal, Germany. As in the case of Berlin, there is a letter of confession. Supposedly, a leftist group is claiming responsibility - however, in the case of Berlin, there are mounting indicators that the first letter might not be

This might be true.

Danish soldiers are under standing orders to engage any hostile activity on Greenland, including unannounced US activity. The standing order of 1952 is confirmed to be in force by both Danish Defence Command and Ministry of Defence to news site @berlingske.bsky.social

Ret’d 🇫🇷 French Lt. General Michel Yakovleff (formerly SACEUR’s Vice Chief of Staff) says that if NATO collapses over Trump’s Greenland push, Europe would force U.S. troops out of Europe. 🔗 x.com/clashreport/...

Even more fundamental is the accompanying need to think through how Europeans would mount a defence without US support that plays to European strengths rather than tries to emulate US strategies designed for US capabilities.

The US South Command released footage of the boarding of another Russian shadow fleet tanker. The following statement was made:

Here we go!

It's not about values. It's about Trump getting a cut.