@benjaminpohlberlin.bsky.social
Foreign policy, climate crisis, Berlin & rants on random stuff. May contain sarcasm.
"Trump’s express revisionism is more dangerous than his predecessor’s familiar hypocrisy. For all the double standards, the core tenets of the post-World War II legal order need U.S. buy-in": a peek at what spheres-of-influence politics entails across various fragile contexts 👇
NEW COMMENTARY | @crisisgroup.org’s 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2026
2025 was a bloody affair. 2026 promises little better. @comfortero.crisisgroup.org and Richard Atwood unpack the challenges that lie ahead this year. ⬇️
www.crisisgroup.org/global/10-co...
2025 was a bloody affair. 2026 promises little better. @comfortero.crisisgroup.org and Richard Atwood unpack the challenges that lie ahead this year. ⬇️
www.crisisgroup.org/global/10-co...
January 5, 2026 at 7:04 AM
"Trump’s express revisionism is more dangerous than his predecessor’s familiar hypocrisy. For all the double standards, the core tenets of the post-World War II legal order need U.S. buy-in": a peek at what spheres-of-influence politics entails across various fragile contexts 👇
"edited for length and clarity" 👇 & very well so, from the headline to the conclusion that what’s troubling "is not just that the President has used force in clear violation of domestic law and international law but that it’s clear he couldn’t care less about the fact that he’s breaking these rules"
January 4, 2026 at 7:24 PM
"edited for length and clarity" 👇 & very well so, from the headline to the conclusion that what’s troubling "is not just that the President has used force in clear violation of domestic law and international law but that it’s clear he couldn’t care less about the fact that he’s breaking these rules"
This piece by @attackerman.bsky.social on both past & contemporary censorship is very much worth your time, whether in 2025 or next year
As it happens, I have experience with high-level government demands to stop an explosive, accurate story from running, and I also have experience with 60 Minutes spiking a story I was involved in, so I have thoughts about the travesty at CBS. If you want some journalism anecdotes, here are a lot:
Watching Bari Weiss Murder Investigative Journalism at CBS
Notes from someone who's withstood White House demands to stop an explosive story—and who once even had a 60 Minutes piece spiked
www.forever-wars.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This piece by @attackerman.bsky.social on both past & contemporary censorship is very much worth your time, whether in 2025 or next year
"A lot of people who are worried about democracy in America want to relax the constraints on military subordination. [...] [but] the military can’t save us from the civilians we elect"
Very interesting points from @kschake.bsky.social on civ-mil relations 👇, and it comes w/ some silver lining...
Very interesting points from @kschake.bsky.social on civ-mil relations 👇, and it comes w/ some silver lining...
“I am a hopeful animal and in my most hopeful moments, I think the longer term consequence of the Trump presidency will be much more stringent restrictions on the executive power of the president of the United States.” @ldfreedman.bsky.social drew me out on civ-mil and US politics.
The State and the Soldier
How should the US military react to a "unprincipled principal"?
open.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:11 PM
"A lot of people who are worried about democracy in America want to relax the constraints on military subordination. [...] [but] the military can’t save us from the civilians we elect"
Very interesting points from @kschake.bsky.social on civ-mil relations 👇, and it comes w/ some silver lining...
Very interesting points from @kschake.bsky.social on civ-mil relations 👇, and it comes w/ some silver lining...
"The empowerment of Smotrich, an energetic settler leader and a proponent of annexation, as both finance minister and de facto West Bank governor has allowed him to advance far-reaching institutional changes. ... To have any real [...] impact, foreign governments will have to be much bolder." 👇
NEW Q&A | Why Some Relief for Gaza, but None for the West Bank?
Israel has ramped up repression of Palestinians and settlement expansion in the West Bank. We explain the harm these measures have caused and how outside powers can help.
www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
Israel has ramped up repression of Palestinians and settlement expansion in the West Bank. We explain the harm these measures have caused and how outside powers can help.
www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
December 21, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"The empowerment of Smotrich, an energetic settler leader and a proponent of annexation, as both finance minister and de facto West Bank governor has allowed him to advance far-reaching institutional changes. ... To have any real [...] impact, foreign governments will have to be much bolder." 👇
On the weaponization of energy and information👇
"The EU and its Member States should counter Russian energy-related disinformation with a dedicated, coordinated approach. ...
Member States should break decisively with Russian fossil exports and communicate this shift through a positive narrative"
"The EU and its Member States should counter Russian energy-related disinformation with a dedicated, coordinated approach. ...
Member States should break decisively with Russian fossil exports and communicate this shift through a positive narrative"
Russia is waging a hybrid energy war on Europe and Ukraine, pairing physical strikes with #disinfo. @leodeago.bsky.social & @casparhobhouse.bsky.social explain how the EU can fight back. Read ➡️ ow.ly/WvY850XGLrX
December 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
On the weaponization of energy and information👇
"The EU and its Member States should counter Russian energy-related disinformation with a dedicated, coordinated approach. ...
Member States should break decisively with Russian fossil exports and communicate this shift through a positive narrative"
"The EU and its Member States should counter Russian energy-related disinformation with a dedicated, coordinated approach. ...
Member States should break decisively with Russian fossil exports and communicate this shift through a positive narrative"
Since everyone is asking for "data-driven analysis", @data.ft.com went all in 😉 👇
November 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Since everyone is asking for "data-driven analysis", @data.ft.com went all in 😉 👇
"the preliminary damage and economic loss estimate for the hurricane is $48 to 52 billion" in #Jamaica
On a nominal GDP of some 20 billion.
www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane...
On a nominal GDP of some 20 billion.
www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane...
'Total devastation': Hurricane Melissa leaves trail of destruction, flooding in Jamaica
The most intense Atlantic hurricane of 2025 made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Tuesday, followed by a second landfall in Cuba early on Wednesday as the monstrous storm sliced across the Caribbea...
www.accuweather.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM
"the preliminary damage and economic loss estimate for the hurricane is $48 to 52 billion" in #Jamaica
On a nominal GDP of some 20 billion.
www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane...
On a nominal GDP of some 20 billion.
www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane...
This is about long-term sea leve lrise, but "highly likely", "committed" & "more than 3m" are all grim news 👇
As per the summary: "Immediate and sustained climate change mitigation (decarbonization) offers the best hope of delaying this ice loss" &avoiding initiating sth similar in East Antarctica
As per the summary: "Immediate and sustained climate change mitigation (decarbonization) offers the best hope of delaying this ice loss" &avoiding initiating sth similar in East Antarctica
In summary, the outlook is grim. It is highly likely that Thwaites Glacier will eventually be lost, which will destabilise adjoining parts of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, increasing the committed long-term rise in global mean sea level by more than 3 m.
October 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
This is about long-term sea leve lrise, but "highly likely", "committed" & "more than 3m" are all grim news 👇
As per the summary: "Immediate and sustained climate change mitigation (decarbonization) offers the best hope of delaying this ice loss" &avoiding initiating sth similar in East Antarctica
As per the summary: "Immediate and sustained climate change mitigation (decarbonization) offers the best hope of delaying this ice loss" &avoiding initiating sth similar in East Antarctica
Reposted
The Weathering Risk Peace Pillar session at #BCSC2025 is HAPPENING NOW.
Session info: berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/weatherin...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
Session info: berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/weatherin...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
Weathering Risk Peace Pillar
berlin-climate-security-conference.de
October 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The Weathering Risk Peace Pillar session at #BCSC2025 is HAPPENING NOW.
Session info: berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/weatherin...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
Session info: berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/weatherin...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
Opening the #BCSC2025 panel "Bridging the Gap: Innovative climate finance for fragile states", Almut Wieland-Karimi emphasizes that the countries least responsible for climate change are the most vulnerable & receive the least money.
We need to make finance fit the context, not the other way around
We need to make finance fit the context, not the other way around
October 23, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Opening the #BCSC2025 panel "Bridging the Gap: Innovative climate finance for fragile states", Almut Wieland-Karimi emphasizes that the countries least responsible for climate change are the most vulnerable & receive the least money.
We need to make finance fit the context, not the other way around
We need to make finance fit the context, not the other way around
Reposted
UP NEXT at #BCSC2025
Don’t miss our next plenary session - “Bridging the gap: Innovative climate finance for fragile states”, feat. speakers from @greenclimate.fund & more.
Session info - berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/bridging-...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
Don’t miss our next plenary session - “Bridging the gap: Innovative climate finance for fragile states”, feat. speakers from @greenclimate.fund & more.
Session info - berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/bridging-...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
October 23, 2025 at 7:46 AM
UP NEXT at #BCSC2025
Don’t miss our next plenary session - “Bridging the gap: Innovative climate finance for fragile states”, feat. speakers from @greenclimate.fund & more.
Session info - berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/bridging-...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
Don’t miss our next plenary session - “Bridging the gap: Innovative climate finance for fragile states”, feat. speakers from @greenclimate.fund & more.
Session info - berlin-climate-security-conference.de/en/bridging-...
📹 WATCH LIVE:
adelph.it/BCSC25Livestream
German @diplo.de State Secretary von Geyr kicks off #BCSC2025, underlining that climate change negatively affects all three core German interests: security, freedom, and prosperity - meaning that the Climate, Peace and Security nexus will become more important & Germany will invest in addressing it
October 23, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Reposted
📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...
signal.org
October 6, 2025 at 6:46 AM
📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.
Today, the annual #UNSC debate on #WPS takes place, against a backdrop of violence against children & women in armed conflicts surging. It quadrupled btw 2023-2024 compared w/ 2021-2022, with 80% of child deaths & 70% of women's deaths recorded in #Gaza alone 👇
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
UN data shows surge in civilian deaths in conflict globally, highlights pervasive discrimination
GENEVA - Civilian deaths in conflict surged 40% globally in 2024, according to new data released by the UN Human Rights Office. The findings also reveal widespread and compounding discrimination and ...
www.ohchr.org
October 6, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Today, the annual #UNSC debate on #WPS takes place, against a backdrop of violence against children & women in armed conflicts surging. It quadrupled btw 2023-2024 compared w/ 2021-2022, with 80% of child deaths & 70% of women's deaths recorded in #Gaza alone 👇
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...
Reposted
Holy smoke. This is something else: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o.... If you read anything today, read this. Just ordered the book.
‘I’m leaving,’ Trump said. ‘There’s no reason to be here any more’: inside the meeting that brought Nato to the brink
Former secretary general Jens Stoltenberg recalls the rollercoaster ride of dealing with Donald Trump – and how close the US president brought the alliance to the point of collapse
www.theguardian.com
October 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Holy smoke. This is something else: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o.... If you read anything today, read this. Just ordered the book.
"to see these uprisings as South Asia’s Arab Spring is misleading. They are not clones of one another, nor do they herald a uniform democratic tide. Each is written in its own dialect ... What unites them is the collapse of patience with elites, what separates them is the path that follows collapse"
Is India next? Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal — three regimes toppled in three years. Not an “Arab Spring,” but a South Asian warning: protests can oust leaders, not build orders. Renewal, fragility, chaos — the region now lives between all three. #MyPiece scroll.in/article/1087...
South Asia’s ‘Arab Spring’ comparison is misleading but there is a lesson for India here
It is less about a shared regional revolution than about the impatience of citizens, especially young citizens, and the challenge of what comes after.
scroll.in
October 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
"to see these uprisings as South Asia’s Arab Spring is misleading. They are not clones of one another, nor do they herald a uniform democratic tide. Each is written in its own dialect ... What unites them is the collapse of patience with elites, what separates them is the path that follows collapse"
An interesting synthesis of how geopolitics, the ecological crisis, technological change, demography and populism intersect & boost the need for cooperation even while they currently seem to make it harder 👇
dansmithsblog.com/2025/09/22/f...
dansmithsblog.com/2025/09/22/f...
Five global hinge points
Among those sayings that encapsulate political wisdom but are either inaccurate or apocryphal (such as the ancient Chinese curse, ‘May you live in interesting times’ that is neither Chinese nor anc…
dansmithsblog.com
September 25, 2025 at 6:42 AM
An interesting synthesis of how geopolitics, the ecological crisis, technological change, demography and populism intersect & boost the need for cooperation even while they currently seem to make it harder 👇
dansmithsblog.com/2025/09/22/f...
dansmithsblog.com/2025/09/22/f...
To be consistent w/ limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, governments collectively need to produce less than half of the fossil fuels they are planning for 2030 (5 years from now) and then double down to halve production again by 2050, @unep.org, @sei.org, @climateanalytics.org & @iisd.org show 👇
"10 years after the Paris Agreement, governments plan to produce more than double the volume of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C"
Stark "production gap" report from @unep.org today
www.sei.org/publications...
Stark "production gap" report from @unep.org today
www.sei.org/publications...
September 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
To be consistent w/ limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, governments collectively need to produce less than half of the fossil fuels they are planning for 2030 (5 years from now) and then double down to halve production again by 2050, @unep.org, @sei.org, @climateanalytics.org & @iisd.org show 👇
"We are missing the peace in climate action " 👇: a great overview by @nazaninemoshiri.bsky.social in the @newhumanitarian.bsky.social on the importance of the Climate, Peace and Security agenda, in #Africa and beyond.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025...
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025...
We are missing the peace in climate action
Climate adaptation must involve peace negotiators, prioritise flexible local funding, and look to the people already leading on the ground.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org
September 10, 2025 at 9:11 AM
"We are missing the peace in climate action " 👇: a great overview by @nazaninemoshiri.bsky.social in the @newhumanitarian.bsky.social on the importance of the Climate, Peace and Security agenda, in #Africa and beyond.
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025...
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2025...
Reposted
The Gaza strip’s population, serially uprooted, starved and bombed, is reeling from a war whose cruelty has few parallels in modern history.
www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
The World’s Shame in Gaza | International Crisis Group
Israel’s Gaza campaign has entered an even more nightmarish phase. The world must press Israel harder to stop the war regardless of “day after” questions – lest its offensive destroy Palestinian life ...
www.crisisgroup.org
September 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The Gaza strip’s population, serially uprooted, starved and bombed, is reeling from a war whose cruelty has few parallels in modern history.
www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-...
Reposted
"Before the earthquake, Afghanistan had 23 million people in need, many suffering from acute food insecurity and lacking basic health care. So the resources that exist are very stretched."
IRC Afghanistan Director Sherine Ibrahim on @npr.org with @jsummers.bsky.social:
www.npr.org/2025/09/01/n...
IRC Afghanistan Director Sherine Ibrahim on @npr.org with @jsummers.bsky.social:
www.npr.org/2025/09/01/n...
Devastating earthquake in Afghanistan leaves locals displaced, aid workers scrambling
NPR's Juana Summers talks with the International Rescue Committee's country director of Afghanistan, Sherine Ibrahim, about the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the eastern mountainous region.
www.npr.org
September 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
"Before the earthquake, Afghanistan had 23 million people in need, many suffering from acute food insecurity and lacking basic health care. So the resources that exist are very stretched."
IRC Afghanistan Director Sherine Ibrahim on @npr.org with @jsummers.bsky.social:
www.npr.org/2025/09/01/n...
IRC Afghanistan Director Sherine Ibrahim on @npr.org with @jsummers.bsky.social:
www.npr.org/2025/09/01/n...
Reposted
Lieber noch einen Kilometer Stadtautobahn mehr 🫠
Wow, man stelle sich vor, alle Städte würden sich Paris zum Vorbild nehmen!
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...
Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change.
Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 31, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Lieber noch einen Kilometer Stadtautobahn mehr 🫠
Und bitter
August 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Und bitter
Technical question: does GPT 5 rely on the average or the median spelling of US states by tech bros?
At first I thought GPT 5 had got this right then I saw things like "Tonnessee," "Mississipo" and my personal favourite "West Wigina." Please do not respond just saying the different typos to me we can all read the joke, we all know about "Distrricke"
August 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Technical question: does GPT 5 rely on the average or the median spelling of US states by tech bros?