In a speech before the United Nations General Assembly today, President Trump said climate change is a “con job” and climate scientists are “stupid people” — and he called green energy and immigration a “double-tailed monster” that is destroying Europe. 🧵 1/5

In my public television special “The Story of Fascism in Europe” (www.ricksteves.com/fascism), we learn from Europeans whose families lived through fascism that a strong democracy requires vigilant and engaged citizens. We are all participants, we are all responsible, and freedom isn’t guaranteed.

Happy travels!

For years, I've supported @sojo.net because they take my values into the political arena in a way that's true to my faith—emphasizing not power and nationalism, but God's call to justice. Starting today, I'll match every donation at www.sojo.net/ricksteves, dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 total.

I enjoyed a great interview with Ryan Knutson, host of @wsj.com's “The Journal” podcast, at this year's @cascadepbs.bsky.social Ideas Festival in Seattle. If you'd like a peek into my travelin' brain in these complicated days, check out the video here: www.cascadepbs.org/show/cascade...

5,000 travelers joined me live on Monday Night Travel this week as I shared photos & stories from my summer vacation in Italy with my favorite travel partner, Shelley. We were surrounded by Italian beauty: Venice, the dramatic Dolomites & my beloved Cinque Terre. Missed it? BYO wine & watch now:

Join me next Monday (Sept. 15, 6pm PT/9pm ET) for photos, stories & lessons learned from my two-week vacation surrounded by Italian beauty: Venice, the city they call “La Serenissima” (“The Most Serene”)...the dramatic Dolomites...and my beloved Cinque Terre. Register now at www.ricksteves.com/mnt

There is absolutely NOTHING like 🍃 and learning from @ricksteves.bsky.social. youtu.be/nxOrDbtdtDg

My family been fan of @ricksteves.bsky.social forever; I got his Travel as a Political Act book & DVD in a PBS pledge drive. I think it's a great time to check out his talk from last year if you haven't.. still highly relevant. I hope more people in USA travel more & learn more about the world

I lost my step dad Ian to prostate cancer and I deeply encourage everyone who has a prostate to get regularly checked, thanks for the important reminder Rick <3

Ever wonder how our guidebooks are updated? Rick and a team of researchers spend over 300 days a year in Europe living out book recommendations, scouting new ones, and chatting with locals to make sure our coverage is accurate, up to date, and helpful for travelers like you.

‪It's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and I’m asking our community of travelers to help me spread the word: the earlier prostate cancer is found, the better your chances are of beating it. Visit cancer.org/getscreened to learn more from @acscan.bsky.social & find a screening location near you.

Listening to this episode of the “This is Love” podcast was such a palate cleanser. Such a wholesome way of looking at travel we should all hold space for.

Omg l can vouch for this. Met up with Rick a couple of years ago to show him around Sevilla and we ended up going to SIXTEEN TAPAS BARS in one evening 😅

I’m a big fan of @nataliecompton.bsky.social, and she did a great job capturing the challenges and joys we have making our TV shows. Check out her @washingtonpost.com article at wapo.st/4oKkUTl — and join us behind the scenes as my crew and I film our London special, coming soon to public TV!

Do you know that good feeling you get, after you’ve shared a deep yet relaxing conversation that goes places you didn’t expect to go and connects you with memories and experiences that had fallen out of your world, but shouldn’t have? Phoebe Judge had me on her podcast, and she did just that.

A reminder from Rick Steves: funding for public broadcasting amounted to $1.60 per American every year — but Republicans cut it, gutting local NPR and PBS stations. Listen to more of our conversation about public media cuts here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFl0...

Traveling is intensified living with moments that are transformative experiences — we call them “wow" moments.   If you're ready for your own wow moment but aren't sure if a Rick Steves' Europe tour is right for you, watch Tours 101 on Aug. 20 at 6pm, PT. Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Hey, teachers and everyone, fantastic learning tool. Rick Steves is the bestest! The videos come will full transcripts btw.

@ricksteves.bsky.social has been to and studied countless countries that fell into fascism, and he says that Trump is consolidating power and taking from an autocrat’s playbook. Watch our full conversation at the link below or listen wherever you get your podcasts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFl0...

Awesome to see my local PBS stations (shout out to Cascade PBS) showing Rick Steve's "The Story of Fascism in Europe". Linking to Rick's @ricksteves.bsky.social site, where it is available for free: www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-l...

As we head into the school year, I’m as grateful as ever for our nation’s hard-working educators. If you agree, please let the teachers & homeschoolers in your life know about Rick Steves Classroom Europe—a free & ad-free library of 600 video clips covering history, art, music, culture & geography.

A great episode! @ricksteves.bsky.social

NEW POD: I talked with my good friend and travel writer @ricksteves.bsky.social about what Americans can learn from traveling around the world, cuts to foreign assistance and public broadcasting, and more. Watch below or listen wherever you get your podcasts! www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFl0...

I spent much of last weekend catching up on recent letters from fans. Kathleen included a link to a video she created that shows the joy of travel (from my often-goofy POV), and I just had to share it with all of you. It reminds me how much we travelers have to be thankful for. Happy travels!

PBS passport is the absolute best! When my son was born, I would get up in the early morning with him, and on the weekends, he would sleep in my arms while I sipped coffee and binged watch @ricksteves.bsky.social.

Also, if you need celebrity endorsements to encourage you, local legend @ricksteves.bsky.social (!) donated $30K. Thanks for sharing and especially for donating. I truly do appreciate it.

I’ve performed "A Symphonic Journey" with great orchestras across the country — and next, I’m bringing the show to North & South Carolina, Maine, Arizona, Michigan & Virginia. Ticket info is at www.ricksteves.com/where — or stream the concert for free on the @pbs.org app or at www.ricksteves.com/tv

Watch Now — My Summer Trip Report! This week on Monday Night Travel, I shared photos and stories from my three trips (so far) in 2025: filming in Rome & Istanbul, guidebook research in Barcelona, Prague & London, and back to London for more time on camera. I'm excited to share this recording:

Today only, the ebook edition of "On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer" is just $3.99: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rick-... Enjoy!

. @arlenedickinson.bsky.social - timely & touching, made me cry 🇨🇦 @ricksteves.bsky.social

I’m a hardworking, taxpaying, churchgoing, grandkid-raising American citizen. And if I work all day long and want to go home, smoke a joint & just stare at the fireplace for 3 hours…that’s my civil liberty. ‪ @sarapayan.bsky.social‬ reports on my mission to end America's prohibition on marijuana:

On his recent Best of Bulgaria tour, Rick Steves’ Europe team member Gabe Gunnink visited one of the country’s few gay bars. This Pride Month, he reflects on the local connections he made on the dancefloor and what Americans today can learn from the unsteady history of human rights in Europe.

John Yang recently flew to Edmonds to interview me for @pbsnews.org, and we had a wonderful time strolling through my hometown, participating in a little civil disobedience, unearthing my 1977 journal & sharing laughs as he artfully drilled into my travel philosophy. Got 10 minutes? Check it out!

Just finished listening to Rick’s ‘Travel as a Political Act.’ The chapter on his travels to Iran were moving and once again so relevant.

I used to teach about the beauty of Iran and the Persian people. I used this show in my class to highlight what life was really like, not the propaganda news tells you. Glad to see @ricksteves.bsky.social on Bluesky, reminding us that we're all just humans.

Before 1870, there was no Italy—just Italian-speaking states ruled by other powers and dreaming of independence. Verdi’s “Nabucco: Overture” stoked the Italian cry for statehood like a bugle call. Travel with me back to the Risorgimento in this clip from "Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey."

“I fear that the same swaths of our country that struggle to find nutrition in ‘food deserts’ will also find themselves in ‘media deserts’ if federal funding cuts make it impossible for stations to bring quality programming to rural and less affluent areas.“ - @ricksteves.bsky.social

Today's trending users: @bradlander.bsky.social @ricksteves.bsky.social @mollycranenewman.bsky.social @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social @teamsterbob.bsky.social source: @bluefacts.app

In the spring of 2008, I feared America was on the verge of war with Iran — and, believing that it’s good style to get to know people before you bomb them, I made “Rick Steves’ Iran,” a one-hour special that could (and would) only debut on PBS. Sadly, this special has become pertinent again today.

Edward Elgar’s stirring march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” expresses the grandeur and confidence of Britain at its peak… the first global superpower. Travel to mighty England with me in this clip from “Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey”:

Hurray for @ricksteves.bsky.social ! He’s so right about what’s happening in his home travel base under Trump….good piece

Was at the #NoKings rally in Edmonds, WA. Great turnout to hear @ricksteves.bsky.social , Sen. Marko Elias among others speak to the crowd. Keep up the pressure! Indifference is how we lose. Thanks to @snocoindivisible.bsky.social for organizing! #Dontlookaway

Smetana's “Moldau” honors the river that ties the Czech people together. At its 1882 premiere, it struck a chord with the Czechs, who felt its flowing melody evoked the struggle of their small nation surrounded by mightier neighbors. Czechs still get a lump in their throats when they hear it today.

In the 1860s, Germany was fighting a war for its place on the map, and Romantic-era music cheered it on. Hold on to your pretzel during this clip from “Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey” as we appreciate how Richard Wagner’s operas mixed Teutonic myths, medieval traditions & Christian themes.

The music of Johann Strauss II embodied the elegance & joie de vivre of Habsburg society at its peak. As you enjoy this mini-concert from “Rick Steves’ Europe: A Symphonic Journey,” imagine Strauss whipping audiences into a frenzy with his whirling hits, which were all the rage in late-1800s Vienna.

@ricksteves.bsky.social thanks for the tip on your podcast to spend a Sunday in Rome at the Aqueduct Park. On a warm morning, it was a great place to relax like a local and let our kid run around!

I’m about to kick off a series of mini-concert posts that will take us on a musical journey across 7 European countries, plus a grand Beethoven finale & a crazy encore with me conducting. This intro clip sets up the entire concert with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra & Conductor John Morris Russell.

Special shout out to my friend Tiffany Derry’s show The Great American Recipe, and @ricksteves.bsky.social , who I got to meet this year during his book tour (which surprisingly was like a radical punk show with an epic mic drop ending—go see him live!).

It was on Normandy's beautiful beaches at the crack of dawn on June 6, 1944, that the Allies finally gained a foothold in France, and Nazi Europe began to crumble. Freedom was at risk — and to defeat Nazism, 47 nations worked together, heroically, for an ideal much greater than any one country.