Just saw an epic TV rant by Robert #Habeck on the state of the German economy from May 2019. He was very prescient, and basically everyone around the table thought he’d gone mad. There is a reason why Germany is in this mess.

Europa is helemaal niet zo’n watje tegenover Trump Mijn column in @nrc.nl www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...

Waarom populisme extreme economische schade veroorzaakt, en dat zich niet electoraal vanzelf rechtzet, m’n opinie: www.tijd.be/opinie/algem...

Striking stat from @kellycnbc.bsky.social on this: The rise in treasury yields since Trump’s tariffs were announced leads to an increase in US debt interest payments that is larger than all the DOGE savings.

Some thoughts on the strategic rationale behind the "Brandmauer” – the cordon sanitaire vis-à-vis the AfD – and the challenges associated with maintaining it. Seems pertinent, given that senior CDU/CSU figures regularly float the idea of ditching it and exploring avenues for closer cooperation.

Critical reactions on this. That’s fine I get it. Worth gauging and probing US intentions for Europe I’d say. US provides demand, China mainly supply, making the former despite everything a more logical dance partner for trade surplus EU…

My name is Bond. Eurobond.

For academics in the US: the University of Toulouse has quickly put together a program to help bring scholars to France whose work is under attack by the Trump administration. The priorities area are: humanities, climate sciences, health, and space research. en.univ-toulouse.fr/news/toulous...

On the one hand, the Trump administration says it wants Europe to spend more on defense. On the other hand, administration officials, including DC attorney nominee Ed Martin, back pro-Russian European politicians and parties who oppose defense spending www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

"We zitten in een polycrisis: begroting, veiligheid, wonen,... Is het wel de moment? Maar wat we aan het doen waren, die voorlopige regering, was erger." @willemsas.bsky.social. Is een minderheidsregering in Brussel de oplossing? Bekijk hier de #terzake reportage: vrtnws.be/p.j1Zeo9N6dGx

I have no inside knowledge of this but it sure looks like it was done to placate Trump. It won’t work and it’s shameful. www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...

‘It’s become almost the norm’: Misinformation ramping up during election, expert www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/alb... Me: "...if you feel like something is playing to your rage, playing to your grievances, those kinds of emotional responses should be a red flag to pause & to double check the veracity..."

He's now on to the Houthis, who apparently are horrible. The Houthis have to say "no mas". It's not explained why the Houthis would be speaking Spanish.

Femonationalism 101 "What about all the women being raped by migrants in your country?!" news.sky.com/video/marjor...

On that market response to Germany deploying fiscal policy and the plethora of obviously wrong market reads from Germany and the Netherlands. @rajakorman.bsky.social nails it here in the FT. The best part? 1/2

“76% of respondents believe the EU needs greater resources to effectively address future challenges.” www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

Architects of the EU’s landmark artificial intelligence act have urged Brussels in a letter to halt “dangerous” moves to water down the upcoming AI code of practice. With @melissahei.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/9051...

Hope that Merz and Co realise that Germanys core engineering sectors are not only rapidly losing market share to China’s subsidised and increasingly sophisticated competition in global export markets. But also in the truly indispensable European home market. 1/3

powerful detailed account of ICE captivity "To put things into perspective: I had a Canadian passport, lawyers, resources, media attention, friends, family and even politicians advocating for me...Imagine what this system is like for every other person in there" www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Last month I did a little experiment. I wanted to see how the exact same post would perform on both X (Twitter) and Bluesky. The results were...interesting... [Thread]

In case you missed, the Trump-aligned Heritage Foundation hosted a closed-door workshop in Washington last week to discuss the dismantling of EU institutions www.desmog.com/2025/03/14/h...

I wonder if Hirschman would call this exit, or (political) voice It surely isn’t loyalty :)

We also thought Hungary / Orban would not be so stupid to kill the country’s best University. Yet, it did chase CEU out of the country. Never underestimate zealots’ and idiots’ ability for self-harm, nor what a politician is willing to do to cement his power.

Thousands took to the streets of Hungary’s capital, Budapest, today in a massive opposition protest, demanding the resignation of pro-Russian PM Orbán. Opposition leader Péter Magyar declared that those who betray their own nation “should end up in the dustbin of history.”

European states should be rolling out the red carpet for all the brilliant medical and scientific researchers that Trump and Musk are making unemployed. If the US is intent on such self harm, Europe should take advantage. www.bbc.com/news/article...

In truth the greens should get a huge amount of credit. For pushing back against the original CDU/SPD candy-handout. For ensuring the spending also provides the future-oriented investments Germany so badly needs. And for ultimately agreeing despite not governing - putting country and the EU first.

Dutch parliament speaks out against joint borrowing at EU level to strengthen European defence. From frugal four to frugal one.

Even rustig afwachten. Wat CDU en SPD op tafel hebben gelegd als uitgaven was een gedrocht - pensioensverhogingen, snoepjes uitdelen, niks aan moderniserende investeringen (maar ja wel defensie). Goed dat de groenen er nog even druk op zetten (ja ze zijn ook boos over proces maar dat terzijde).

The Heritage Foundation is now planning to destroy the EU - with the help of Polish and Hungarian partners vsquare.org/heritage-fou...

I have missed another opportunity of making a fortune by shorting Lockheed Martin stock.

Here lies a monumental chance for European universities: recruit the best & brightest academics in America, axed by Musk - now! www.ft.com/content/64ad...

The difference between Keynesian stimulus Vs Liz Truss and the "moron premium" in a nutshell

Mancur Olson distinguished between stationary vs roving bandits. A roving bandit rapes and pillages then moves on. A stationary bandit takes the long view, cultivating the economy so they can maximize their extraction over the long-term. Mobutu eg was a roving bandit. I fear that's what we have now.

Trump has introduced the "nano-tariff:" a hefty tax imposed for a few hours, then lifted after shattering business confidence.

EU is ready to create a "coalition of the willing" to ensure "one country" cannot block support for #Ukraine - EC Vice-President @kajakallas.bsky.social at the Special European Council Summit in Brussels

Thanks Donald

Exciting news for tax evasion and money laundering!

This 100 % this.

The Russian-backed government of Serbia under pressure tonight as massive protests fill the center of Belgrade. It seems that only the US hasn't gotten the note that Russian-backed fascism just isn't cool anymore.

After the Oval Office disaster, let’s remember : Europe is wealthy, Europe is strong, If it wants to, Europe can deal with this. Demand EU leaders take action! How? 👇

Umberto Eco once wrote that Europeans are vaccinated by centuries of conflict on their continent. One of the most important things in today’s Europe is to call out those who doubt the efficacy of this vaccine. We have anti-democratic forces in our midst, now is the time to stand up against them.

Your dignity honors the bravery of the Ukrainian people. Be strong, be brave, be fearless. You are never alone, dear President Zelenskyy. We will continue working with you for a just and lasting peace.

I keep reading that Zelensky shouldn't have risen to the bait. The man is human. He's seen tens of thousands of Ukrainians murdered, their cities blown apart & their children stolen. He was sitting by a man who's looting his country's minerals & praising Putin. And for 40 minutes, he held it in.

Support for the Far Right is highest in countries with the least immigration. (Via The Economist)

The world is on fire and look what the Belgians talk about

“The EU wasn’t formed to screw anyone. Quite the opposite. It was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship. As simple as that.” Donald Tusk, Polish PM

If one attempts to fit a simple regression model for the AfD's gain since 2021, other predictors appear to be more robust than the GDP per capita of a constituency. Per capita disposable income also seems to be a weak predictor and quickly becomes insignificant when control variables are added.

Our leader on #Merz and the debt brake. Get rid of it, and do it now. www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

Waar komt onze staatsschuld vandaan, aan wie zijn we die verschuldigd, en wanneer is dat een probleem? Ik antwoordde op die vraag vorige vrijdag op @radio1vrt.bsky.social: www.vrt.be/vrtmax/luist...