Michael Cruickshank
@cruickshank.bsky.social
Geospatial analyst, OSINT investigator, and journalist. Investigating the intersection of climate resilience and human systems, and sometimes writing fiction. From 🇦🇺, now in 🇪🇺.
📍Berlin, Germany
https://www.michaelcruickshank.me/
📍Berlin, Germany
https://www.michaelcruickshank.me/
It's only crazy if you think the rationale is anything other than "because it looks big in the Mercator Projection".
January 6, 2026 at 1:36 PM
It's only crazy if you think the rationale is anything other than "because it looks big in the Mercator Projection".
Alternatively could just be a Battle of LA redux with 'unidentified drones' spooking everyone.
Possibly someone is attempting a coup d'etat in Venezuela right now.
There are several videos on social media tonight showing heavy gunfire in Caracas this evening. Working to geolocate. Will share videos here.
January 6, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Alternatively could just be a Battle of LA redux with 'unidentified drones' spooking everyone.
Possibly someone is attempting a coup d'etat in Venezuela right now.
There are several videos on social media tonight showing heavy gunfire in Caracas this evening. Working to geolocate. Will share videos here.
January 6, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Possibly someone is attempting a coup d'etat in Venezuela right now.
Grok isn't depraved because it isn't a sentient intelligence. It is simply a program that is programmed to be depraved by a certain white South African.
These kind of headlines play into Musk's narrative.
These kind of headlines play into Musk's narrative.
We are experiencing world events like the kidnapping of Maduro through the lens of the most depraved AI you can imagine.
Grok's AI CSAM Shitshow
We are experiencing world events like the kidnapping of Maduro through the lens of the most depraved AI you can imagine.
www.404media.co
January 5, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Grok isn't depraved because it isn't a sentient intelligence. It is simply a program that is programmed to be depraved by a certain white South African.
These kind of headlines play into Musk's narrative.
These kind of headlines play into Musk's narrative.
Is anyone translating this press conference by Greenland's PM? And why does the Greenlandic language sound like non-tonal Cantonese?
January 5, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Is anyone translating this press conference by Greenland's PM? And why does the Greenlandic language sound like non-tonal Cantonese?
Maybe, if US liberals actually got out on the street and opposed their government in a serious way, but right now they are not, so the only conclusion that those outside of the US can draw is that they simply don't actually care that much.
I have to push back on this because there’s nothing more inane or counterproductive than foreign liberals bullying American liberals for the actions of American reactionaries. The far right is a global movement which cannot be countered if we abandon internationalism as a virtue.
yeah like this sucks but we, Yankees, are going to eat a lot of shit as and when the world justifiably hardens against us, and it will not be pleasant and it will not feel entirely fair
January 4, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Maybe, if US liberals actually got out on the street and opposed their government in a serious way, but right now they are not, so the only conclusion that those outside of the US can draw is that they simply don't actually care that much.
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
Anyone who opposes Russian and Chinese imperialism yet supports Trump’s imperialism in Venezuela is a hypocrite and will one day see it bite back in Greenland or elsewhere
January 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Anyone who opposes Russian and Chinese imperialism yet supports Trump’s imperialism in Venezuela is a hypocrite and will one day see it bite back in Greenland or elsewhere
The NYT clearly doesn't understand that the truest adage in politics is that as a Leftist there is no other group you hate more than Other Leftists.
NYT gonna NYT: "Both Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Maduro identify as socialists, though they have no relationship.” — would be funny if they did this every time you write about two capitalists.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
Mamdani Called Trump to Criticize Venezuela Strikes
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:29 PM
The NYT clearly doesn't understand that the truest adage in politics is that as a Leftist there is no other group you hate more than Other Leftists.
One of the defining features of our time is the pathological cowardice of our political class in the West.
January 4, 2026 at 12:05 AM
One of the defining features of our time is the pathological cowardice of our political class in the West.
As an update here, an anarchist group called 'Vulkangruppe' has allegedly taken responsibility for the arson attack in Berlin, in a letter seen by the media. This group was also responsible for the attack on Tesla in Grünheide.
Police are still working on acertaining the veracity of the letter.
Police are still working on acertaining the veracity of the letter.
January 3, 2026 at 8:51 PM
As an update here, an anarchist group called 'Vulkangruppe' has allegedly taken responsibility for the arson attack in Berlin, in a letter seen by the media. This group was also responsible for the attack on Tesla in Grünheide.
Police are still working on acertaining the veracity of the letter.
Police are still working on acertaining the veracity of the letter.
In other news, a fire, suspected be to caused by an act of sabotage has taken out power to around 45,000 homes in Berlin, and the damage is so extensive/difficult to repair, that the blackout will continue for almost a week.
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
+++ Stromausfall im Berliner Südwesten wohl bis Donnerstag +++ Polizei prüft Bekennerschreiben +++
Seit dem frühen Samstagmorgen sind Zehntausende Haushalte im Berliner Südwesten ohne Strom. Zuvor hatte eine Kabelbrücke gebrannt. Die Polizei prüft, ob ein Bekennerschreiben echt ist. Alle Entwicklun...
www.rbb24.de
January 3, 2026 at 8:07 PM
In other news, a fire, suspected be to caused by an act of sabotage has taken out power to around 45,000 homes in Berlin, and the damage is so extensive/difficult to repair, that the blackout will continue for almost a week.
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
www.rbb24.de/panorama/bei...
Believe it or not, you cannot run a country simply by proclaiming it so. We do not live in a subjective reality, and you cannot manifest political authority into being based solely on vibes.
These people make the Iraq-era neocons look sane in comparison.
These people make the Iraq-era neocons look sane in comparison.
APNewsAlert: CARACAS, #Venezuela (AP) — No visible signs yet that US is running Venezuela after Trump claims, as country's security forces control key sites.
January 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Believe it or not, you cannot run a country simply by proclaiming it so. We do not live in a subjective reality, and you cannot manifest political authority into being based solely on vibes.
These people make the Iraq-era neocons look sane in comparison.
These people make the Iraq-era neocons look sane in comparison.
Why make the same mistake three times, when you could make it four?
January 3, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Why make the same mistake three times, when you could make it four?
With Trump appearing to have pulled off a successful black-bagging of a national leader, he will be absolutely emboldened to try this again.
Imagine now him doing this (or something similar) with the leadership of Greenland. That's the scenario we need to be trying to deter going forward.
Imagine now him doing this (or something similar) with the leadership of Greenland. That's the scenario we need to be trying to deter going forward.
🚨 HOLY SHIT:
Trump says Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of Venezuela.
This was a decapitation strike.
Trump says Maduro and his wife have been captured and flown out of Venezuela.
This was a decapitation strike.
January 3, 2026 at 9:47 AM
With Trump appearing to have pulled off a successful black-bagging of a national leader, he will be absolutely emboldened to try this again.
Imagine now him doing this (or something similar) with the leadership of Greenland. That's the scenario we need to be trying to deter going forward.
Imagine now him doing this (or something similar) with the leadership of Greenland. That's the scenario we need to be trying to deter going forward.
Suu Kyi and Ahmed both led their countries in a genocide post-peace prize, and multiple other winners have active started, participated in, or lobbied hard for wars.
The Nobel Peace Prize is such a joke that future characters in the scifi novel I'm writing think it was awarded ironically.
The Nobel Peace Prize is such a joke that future characters in the scifi novel I'm writing think it was awarded ironically.
this may be a new record in 'Nobel Peace Prize winner to helping instigate a war,' right?
January 3, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Suu Kyi and Ahmed both led their countries in a genocide post-peace prize, and multiple other winners have active started, participated in, or lobbied hard for wars.
The Nobel Peace Prize is such a joke that future characters in the scifi novel I'm writing think it was awarded ironically.
The Nobel Peace Prize is such a joke that future characters in the scifi novel I'm writing think it was awarded ironically.
Personally I prefer the Hobbesian definition of war, because it also encompasses non-kinetic and grey zone operations.
January 3, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Personally I prefer the Hobbesian definition of war, because it also encompasses non-kinetic and grey zone operations.
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
I really dislike this "well they might call this war something else, so what's important is that they're mean to the stenographers" line
Are we at war with Venezuela?!?
I don't know. You don't know either.
It sure would be nice to have a legitimate Pentagon press corps right about now.
I don't know. You don't know either.
It sure would be nice to have a legitimate Pentagon press corps right about now.
January 3, 2026 at 8:42 AM
I really dislike this "well they might call this war something else, so what's important is that they're mean to the stenographers" line
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
One simply can't be Switzerland and commit the largest genocide of the year (in Sudan). You have to pick.
The UAE's business model of projecting an image of being a safe haven and financial market Switzerland in the Middle East is not compatible with MBZ's delusions of imperial grandeur
December 30, 2025 at 10:29 AM
One simply can't be Switzerland and commit the largest genocide of the year (in Sudan). You have to pick.
As an update here, in comments to the media, Trump stated that the location hit was "the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs" and "along the shore".
This Primazol site is located approximately 6km from the nearest shoreline/docks. Make of that what you will.
This Primazol site is located approximately 6km from the nearest shoreline/docks. Make of that what you will.
Potentially, the US bombed a building nominally belonging to a chemical company called 'Primazol' on the outskirts of Maracaibo (10.582145, -71.671789) on the night of 24/12. This, if proven, would be the first US strike against land targets within the country since tensions began ratcheting up.
December 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
As an update here, in comments to the media, Trump stated that the location hit was "the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs" and "along the shore".
This Primazol site is located approximately 6km from the nearest shoreline/docks. Make of that what you will.
This Primazol site is located approximately 6km from the nearest shoreline/docks. Make of that what you will.
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
Potentially, the US bombed a building nominally belonging to a chemical company called 'Primazol' on the outskirts of Maracaibo (10.582145, -71.671789) on the night of 24/12. This, if proven, would be the first US strike against land targets within the country since tensions began ratcheting up.
December 29, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Potentially, the US bombed a building nominally belonging to a chemical company called 'Primazol' on the outskirts of Maracaibo (10.582145, -71.671789) on the night of 24/12. This, if proven, would be the first US strike against land targets within the country since tensions began ratcheting up.
Potentially, the US bombed a building nominally belonging to a chemical company called 'Primazol' on the outskirts of Maracaibo (10.582145, -71.671789) on the night of 24/12. This, if proven, would be the first US strike against land targets within the country since tensions began ratcheting up.
December 29, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Potentially, the US bombed a building nominally belonging to a chemical company called 'Primazol' on the outskirts of Maracaibo (10.582145, -71.671789) on the night of 24/12. This, if proven, would be the first US strike against land targets within the country since tensions began ratcheting up.
An interesting open dataset dropped this month with very accurate footprints of almost every building on Earth, and also critically, the heights of the buildings, so they can be extruded into 3D.
Interactive map: tubvsig-so2sat-vm1.srv.mwn.de
Paper: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Interactive map: tubvsig-so2sat-vm1.srv.mwn.de
Paper: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
December 28, 2025 at 6:35 PM
An interesting open dataset dropped this month with very accurate footprints of almost every building on Earth, and also critically, the heights of the buildings, so they can be extruded into 3D.
Interactive map: tubvsig-so2sat-vm1.srv.mwn.de
Paper: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Interactive map: tubvsig-so2sat-vm1.srv.mwn.de
Paper: essd.copernicus.org/articles/17/...
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
Enabled by UAE: “Between 30,000 and 100,000 people may have been killed in six weeks, with 60,000 as a plausible midpoint. That pace of killing would be unrivaled since the Rwanda genocide of 1994…the death toll in El Fasher in less than two months may be comparable to that in Gaza over two years.”
Opinion | This Is What the Murder of a Whole City Looks Like
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Enabled by UAE: “Between 30,000 and 100,000 people may have been killed in six weeks, with 60,000 as a plausible midpoint. That pace of killing would be unrivaled since the Rwanda genocide of 1994…the death toll in El Fasher in less than two months may be comparable to that in Gaza over two years.”
Reposted by Michael Cruickshank
🔴 ⚠️ 🌋 🔥 🛰️ In few hours the first two paroxysms from NE Crater at #Etna have occurred after 27 years.Lava fountains up to 150-200m of height and a lava flow on the E.flank have been reported,with strombolian explosions and an ash&gas cloud reaching a height of 11600m.⬇️ #Sentinel2📸on Dec.27,. #Volcano
December 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
🔴 ⚠️ 🌋 🔥 🛰️ In few hours the first two paroxysms from NE Crater at #Etna have occurred after 27 years.Lava fountains up to 150-200m of height and a lava flow on the E.flank have been reported,with strombolian explosions and an ash&gas cloud reaching a height of 11600m.⬇️ #Sentinel2📸on Dec.27,. #Volcano