Trump has just thanked FIFA for allowing USA to play 13 players against Belgium .

Last summer, my daughter spent two weeks in Brighton. She attended one of the many summer language schools that keep the UK's economy afloat. Since that time, she holds the inexplicable belief that baked beans and toast constitute a proper breakfast. Do not let this happen to your family.

Jared Polis is an odd duck and politically unreliable. He presents himself as a progressive on some issues while he is irrational on a topic like vaccines. He overrides his own clemency board and frees a convicted election denier who demonstrates zero remorse. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/u...

There are few things that beat a journey linking several of Scotland's magical west coast islands. In our latest article, sponsored by Calmac Ferries, we pick 10 of our own favourite walks from travels in the islands off Scotland’s west coast. www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/our-pic...

Not too shabby for a non-citizen, I think. I misplaced Ohio (apologies to @markdziak.bsky.social) and the Marquis de Lafayette, therefore staying below the 3-mistake limit. Flashback 250: I placed 23 events correctly 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟥🟥🟩 Play here: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

I can’t bring myself to be too celebratory. This should have been a 9-0 slam dunk. My main takeaway is that there are currently 4 votes to undo a longstanding constitutional guarantee that 15 years ago seemed beyond any serious question.

Vielleicht hätte Nuhr die Medien erst einmal richtig kennenlernen müssen, bevor er sich mit ihnen einlässt

I'm interested in workplace ethics and labour law. Some of the protections in the US, like inspectors general and MSPB, provided effective approaches to fight unlawful behaviour. It comes as no surprise that Trump dismantles these protections one by one. Gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/06/28/u...

100 Reasons to Love Mel Brooks Gift link www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

@katjaberlin.bsky.social So schön auf den Punkt gebracht. #TortenDerWahrheit

Eric

How's the ersatz train connection, Forest? Well, I'm in ICE 73 at F Hbf but @deutschebahn.com just cancelled RB26 in OG. No reason given. I'll have to take another regional train, adding to my delay. Did I mention that ICE 73 has been motionless in F for an extra 15 mins?

What did @deutschebahn.com do to you today, Forest? They stopped my B to FR ICE in F w/o any explanation. Just asked everybody to deboard. Did DB provide assistance? They can't reserve seats for the next train anymore, so it'll be an adventure. On a busy Sunday. After a busy conference week.

Now this Aussie chant makes me feel patriotic 🇦🇺

watch out for these norsebound express trains

JUST IN: The D.C. Circuit has agreed to consider reviving Judge Boasberg's contempt proceedings against the administration for defying his orders in the Alien Enemies Act case. The full bench will have oral arguments in September, storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

The answer can only be HBO's 'Son of the Beach'.

"Trump said, 'You know why I [attack the press]? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you.' Trump said that," Stahl told the audience, adding, "So, put that in your head for a minute." www.cbsnews.com/news/lesley-...

France grapples with the hard questions.

[email protected] always makes me laugh

Ladies and gentlemen of the US, please meet your ambassador to France, the always affable Charles Kushner (full article in post below):

Germany v Civilisation? Again?? When will they learn?!

As always, this was the best decision of the day: a 90-min ride up the foothills of the Black Forest. Around 20:30 CEST, the temperature had dropped enough from today's high of 36 C, so it wasn't as exhausting anymore.

I spotted no less than five men wearing tank tops while grocery shopping today. While dining in Bordeaux a few weeks ago, I noticed a young man in an A-shirt. Please do not wear sleeveless tops in public unless you are engaged in serious athletic activity or at the beach.

Jetzt auch auf deutsch! Now in german language, the book we co-authored with @anntelnaes.bsky.social can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland or directly at Splitter Verlag 👉 www.splitter-verlag.de/zensur-in-am...

Haggis is still illegal in Massachusetts. www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/h...

Pete Hegseth is as important for US defence policy as Maurice Gamelin was for France's defence policy. Unfortunately for all of us, Hegseth has no clue who Gamelin was. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/w...

As there are a few Scots in this neck of the woods, I'm posting a piece from 'Der Spiegel' that covers the Tartan Army's invasion of Boston. The Red Sox certainly need any support they can get. Gift link www.spiegel.de/sport/schott...

The NYT's David E. Sanger, who has seen many presidents come and go, carefully dissects the US-Iran deal. As many interested observers suspected, there isn't much substance. Trump's initially stated goals were not achieved. Iran played its weak hand well. Gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/u...

"So ... so I said ... why not sign your treaty here, at Versailles?"

RFKjr, a lawyer by training, overrules his own medical experts and keeps a US citizen quarantined against her wishes. Gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/h...

Another step in dismantling the DoEd. Core functions are moved to other departments that have no track record in these fields. The goal is not increased efficiency, it is less oversight and more leniency towards violations at the state level.

I encountered an unexpected traffic jam in Glottertal on Sunday afternoon.

Freiburg is too small, a bit bland, and its inhabitants are strangely affable. However, I'm willing to forgive all this and more due to the amazingly fresh Baden berries you can get pretty much everywhere around this time of year

For about the first 18 years of my life, l was a citizen of the enclave that was West-Berlin. As a result, I have a rough understanding of socialism and communism. Mr Mullin doesn't even understand the nomenclature. The awkwardly labelled 'socialist communist' isn't one.

BREAKING!!!

Here are the Chicks performing “Not Ready to Make Nice” on Kimmel last night on the 23rd anniversary of them being right about the Iraq War and getting actually canceled for it: youtu.be/Gc84Qk7f-pg

Auch für einen bekennenden Schweiz-Fan ist der Kantönligeist, der sich längst nicht nur auf die kantonale Ebene beschränkt, immer wieder ernüchternd.

Quite a World Cup cover from L’Equipe.

If you enjoy a good brawl in the Senate, the confirmation hearing of Todd Blanche will be a no-holds-barred interrogation. Trump recently antagonised several Republican senators, so things could get more interesting as usual when the votes are cast. Let's hope this nomination goes down in flames.

Another NYT piece describing how Trump's DoJ goes after political opponents even if the evidence is flimsy. It's not about investigating crimes, it's about making stuff up as you go along. 'Something will stick' is the motto these days. Gift link www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/u...

In an exclusive interview, Scott Pelley spoke about being fired from “60 Minutes,” and why he thinks Bari Weiss should leave her job as the CBS News editor in chief. He also responded to President Trump’s comments. Watch, read or listen to “The Interview.” www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/m...

The Ebola patient in Berlin is out of the rough. While this is great news, I'd like to point out 2 things. 1) The US has significantly reduced foreign aid. 2) Charité has to deal with severe budget cuts. Invest in healthcare and medical research. www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft...

Academic freedom going down the drain. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/w...