Guillaume E 🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺
@guillaumee.bsky.social
Pro: democracy, rule of law, European defense, Ukraine, DEI, social democracy
Against : fascists, plutocracy, Russian invaders, dipshit SV techbro rent-seekers
Against : fascists, plutocracy, Russian invaders, dipshit SV techbro rent-seekers
I used to remain sanguine about the rise of the extreme right in France, confident in the country's many safeguards. But this episode has revealed the complete capitulation of the media and (supposedly) centre right politicians to the neo-fascists' framing. The Horst Wessel analogy is correct.
The French right is doing its best to construct a Horst Wessel-like martyr myth around the death of a fascist militant in a street fight and much of the French media is busy using the incident to demonize the entire left
L’enquête sur la mort de Quentin D. progresse à Lyon après « plusieurs témoignages significatifs », selon le procureur
Les investigations se concentrent sur une scène de violences qui a fait suite à des affrontements entre deux groupes de militants radicalisés, d’ultradroite et d’ultragauche, le 12 février, près de Sc...
www.lemonde.fr
February 16, 2026 at 9:56 AM
I used to remain sanguine about the rise of the extreme right in France, confident in the country's many safeguards. But this episode has revealed the complete capitulation of the media and (supposedly) centre right politicians to the neo-fascists' framing. The Horst Wessel analogy is correct.
Actually a good example why Chinese firms will crush their Western competitors: no one can take Huawei private, which allows reasonable but not indecent margins. Pharma another case in point : Chinese cos lead in innovation because they have not destroyed their R&D in search of unrealistic IRR.
But even Huawei really isn't that profitable. $8.5 billion net income on $118 billion income (7%) is the kind of return where, if it's kept up, shareholders are ready to accept a stock buyback and the company being taken private.
February 16, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Actually a good example why Chinese firms will crush their Western competitors: no one can take Huawei private, which allows reasonable but not indecent margins. Pharma another case in point : Chinese cos lead in innovation because they have not destroyed their R&D in search of unrealistic IRR.
French media and political class reacted to the murder of a far-right activist in a way eerily reminiscent of what happened after the murder of Kirk in the US. Lies about the belief system of the victim, false equivalence btw far-right and far-left violence, capitulation of the centre. Depressing.
Depuis 1986, on recense 6 morts imputés à "l'ultragauche".
Pour "l'ultradroite", c'est 59 morts.
www.liberation.fr/politique/mo...
Pour "l'ultradroite", c'est 59 morts.
www.liberation.fr/politique/mo...
Mort d’un militant nationaliste : Lyon, capitale française de la violence politique
La métropole rhodanienne est familière des violences d’extrême droite et des rixes opposant les groupes nationalistes aux antifascistes locaux.
www.liberation.fr
February 16, 2026 at 8:04 AM
French media and political class reacted to the murder of a far-right activist in a way eerily reminiscent of what happened after the murder of Kirk in the US. Lies about the belief system of the victim, false equivalence btw far-right and far-left violence, capitulation of the centre. Depressing.
An important discussion. Evidence in the US suggests wage stagnation was not the prime factor of its rightward shift. But this shift has happened in most western countries, where the causation seems clearer (France esp.). We need to properly diagnose the sickness in order to fight it.
But we didn't have economic stagnation for the working class. We had a period of unusually *high* wage growth for low income workers.
February 15, 2026 at 10:34 PM
An important discussion. Evidence in the US suggests wage stagnation was not the prime factor of its rightward shift. But this shift has happened in most western countries, where the causation seems clearer (France esp.). We need to properly diagnose the sickness in order to fight it.
Reposted by Guillaume E 🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺
February 15, 2026 at 1:37 AM
And they’re not event trying to be subtle about it! The main French economics paper, les Echos, has become all but unreadable since being acquired by Arnault. Back to back rants against taxes, redistribution, the welfare state etc. XVIIIth century levels of pandering to the wealthy.
You can understand media consolidation into the hands of the very wealthy not just as a product of wealth concentration but also as a means to defend it, with Bezos at the Post being the most obvious example
The pace at which US wealth concentration is rising is simply staggering
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
February 15, 2026 at 3:57 PM
And they’re not event trying to be subtle about it! The main French economics paper, les Echos, has become all but unreadable since being acquired by Arnault. Back to back rants against taxes, redistribution, the welfare state etc. XVIIIth century levels of pandering to the wealthy.
The tweet below is a beautiful distillation of the insanity of MAGA’s worldview. These guys live in a bubble fed exclusively by RW twitter memes, their level of stupidity, arrogance, and general lack of culture is something we had not seen in western public office since nazi Germany.
1/ MAGA want to set up a NEW EUROPE/OLD EUROPE divide. Then use US carrots+sticks to coerce european social democracy
Thread to collect how European politicians start to ape MAGA line of being against immigration,climate,feminism,taxes... Please share eg!
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
Thread to collect how European politicians start to ape MAGA line of being against immigration,climate,feminism,taxes... Please share eg!
www.programmablemutter.com/p/america-ha...
February 15, 2026 at 12:18 PM
The tweet below is a beautiful distillation of the insanity of MAGA’s worldview. These guys live in a bubble fed exclusively by RW twitter memes, their level of stupidity, arrogance, and general lack of culture is something we had not seen in western public office since nazi Germany.
The fact that Rubio’s drivel was met with a standing ovation is a worrying sign that too many in Europe have not accepted the reality of an adversarial US.
Rubio’s message: the EU is a deep-state monster, a misreading of history that has no place in a Europe of resurgent nation states, which by the way are Christian, white, stripped of welfare states & hate speech safeguards. Our bar is very low if we see this as reassuring.
www.ft.com/content/9463...
www.ft.com/content/9463...
‘The best we can hope for’: Rubio’s Munich unity appeal fails to woo Europe
US secretary of state sought to mollify but underlying message reinforced US administration’s talking points
www.ft.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:30 AM
The fact that Rubio’s drivel was met with a standing ovation is a worrying sign that too many in Europe have not accepted the reality of an adversarial US.
The law of supply and demand works in housing as in (mostly) everything, but bizarrely gets a lot less enthusiasm in this particular sector. Strange, that.
San Diego rents fall 5.5%—proof that building housing works.
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
‘Rental market is largely frozen’: San Diego rent prices fall in national rankings
National rents are down 2% annually but Zumper said Southern California is seeing more of a slowdown because of increased supply.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:22 PM
The law of supply and demand works in housing as in (mostly) everything, but bizarrely gets a lot less enthusiasm in this particular sector. Strange, that.
Ce qui est navrant, en plus, est que cette rente n’est même pas versée en contrepartie d’un service véritablement utile et/ou à la pointe de la tech. Les gafam sont soit en phase avancée de déclin qualitatif (Google, Apple) soit fournisseurs de services activement nocifs à la société (FB, x etc.).
Je suis l'auteur.
C'est un rappel que nous cotisons tous pour offrir des rentes illimitées aux GAFAM qui peuvent ainsi financer leur avance sur de nouveaux enjeux technos de pointe et empêcher une concurrence d'émerger, jusqu'à siphonner nos propres compétences. Résoudre ça est vital pour notre
C'est un rappel que nous cotisons tous pour offrir des rentes illimitées aux GAFAM qui peuvent ainsi financer leur avance sur de nouveaux enjeux technos de pointe et empêcher une concurrence d'émerger, jusqu'à siphonner nos propres compétences. Résoudre ça est vital pour notre
« Dans certains cas, porteurs d’enjeux financiers gigantesques, les barrières empêchant l’Europe de s’émanciper des Gafam sont surmontables »
February 14, 2026 at 2:18 PM
Ce qui est navrant, en plus, est que cette rente n’est même pas versée en contrepartie d’un service véritablement utile et/ou à la pointe de la tech. Les gafam sont soit en phase avancée de déclin qualitatif (Google, Apple) soit fournisseurs de services activement nocifs à la société (FB, x etc.).
And the pathetic sideshow with China was not much better.
Rubio’s speech at Munich was a massive free dose of fentanyl to an addict desperate not to get clean. And it worked. Europe is full of suckers.
February 14, 2026 at 12:08 PM
And the pathetic sideshow with China was not much better.
A big lesson of Trump 2 is that Trump 1 and 2 were not accidents, and that the likelihood of further Trump equivalents down the road is pretty high. As Democrats show no inclination to fix the problem, the US can no longer be trusted. Tragic, but true.
Biden could have made this argument and if he’d worked to authoritarian-proofed the US it would have been plausible. But Americans can’t plausibly argue anymore that they don’t have an insane fascist contingent uncontained and strong enough to wield power.
Newsom’s message to world leaders in Munich: It’s time to start thinking about the next president.
“Donald Trump is temporary,” Newsom said in a panel about climate change at #MSC2026. “He’ll be gone in three years.”
“Donald Trump is temporary,” Newsom said in a panel about climate change at #MSC2026. “He’ll be gone in three years.”
February 14, 2026 at 11:53 AM
A big lesson of Trump 2 is that Trump 1 and 2 were not accidents, and that the likelihood of further Trump equivalents down the road is pretty high. As Democrats show no inclination to fix the problem, the US can no longer be trusted. Tragic, but true.
Reposted by Guillaume E 🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺
I wonder similar things about the Zuckerbergs of the world who for some reason think when the bombs drop/calderas blow/etc that they can retreat to their bunkers with security teams to keep the rabble out and not get immediately capped by said security
a thing i have never understood about a certain class of our wannabe oligarchy is whether they realize that if their authoritarian oligarch dreams ever come true, they will be significantly *more* vulnerable to the power of the state, not less
it seems very obvious to me that you’re much better off being an extremely rich person in the US than in Russia or China or KSA but apparently some number of rich Americans disagree
February 14, 2026 at 1:59 AM
I wonder similar things about the Zuckerbergs of the world who for some reason think when the bombs drop/calderas blow/etc that they can retreat to their bunkers with security teams to keep the rabble out and not get immediately capped by said security
The gullibility of media reporting Musk-related stuff has always been surprising, but the latest round of insanity breaks all records.
I have just enough understanding of the science and factory production to know a) not only how absurd it is to build a satellite factory on the moon but also b) how pointless. It's amazing people still report this as anything but idiot fantasy www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/t...
Elon Musk Wants to Build an A.I. Satellite Factory on the Moon
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 9:44 AM
The gullibility of media reporting Musk-related stuff has always been surprising, but the latest round of insanity breaks all records.
But we in Europe should be OK, Merz just said that we only need some deregulation.
"China’s robotics industry is supported by the highest echelons of China’s political leadership in their bid to deepen China’s manufacturing dominance," writes @chinapower.csis.org. But are they leading the global robotics revolution?
More: https://chinapower.csis.org/china-industrial-robots/
More: https://chinapower.csis.org/china-industrial-robots/
Is China Leading the Robotics Revolution? | ChinaPower Project
This ChinaPower feature examines China's push to lead the world in robotics and the geopolitical implications.
chinapower.csis.org
February 13, 2026 at 9:52 PM
But we in Europe should be OK, Merz just said that we only need some deregulation.
Merz speaks with the same inane platitudes as the average CEO of a failing business.
Merz says Germany will continue to de-risk from China, push for fair competition and a level playing field, and shape a more united European approach
www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/how-a...
www.foreignaffairs.com/europe/how-a...
February 13, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Merz speaks with the same inane platitudes as the average CEO of a failing business.
True. And why the much cited Merz discourse on a supposedly newly realistic Germany is just BS. Germany, deep down, thinks it can ride the Chinese storm and huddle while waiting for Trump to pass. Completely delusional, and will take Europe down with it.
If 🇩🇪 & 🇪🇺 are serious about meeting the economic & security challenges posed by the current moment, they are going to need to spend <a lot> more money, & that is going to require <a lot> more European integration, including <a lot> common debt. Pretending otherwise is neither helpful nor serious:
JCMS/CES Annual Lecture: "Europe Adrift: The Future of the EU, the Global Economy, and World Order in an Era of Great Power Uncertainty"
Last month, I had the honor of delivering the Journal of Common Market Studies Annual Lecture at the Council for European Studies Conference in Philadelphia. The theme of the conference was “Legacies ...
www.markcopelovitch.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:20 PM
True. And why the much cited Merz discourse on a supposedly newly realistic Germany is just BS. Germany, deep down, thinks it can ride the Chinese storm and huddle while waiting for Trump to pass. Completely delusional, and will take Europe down with it.
…which the Germans will shatter as soon as they think they can sell a couple more BMWs to the Chinese…
Interesting little Munich tidbit.
The German and French foreign ministers will meet Wang Yi together in just over half an hour.
Idea is to present a common, EU centric front #msc2026
The German and French foreign ministers will meet Wang Yi together in just over half an hour.
Idea is to present a common, EU centric front #msc2026
February 13, 2026 at 4:13 PM
…which the Germans will shatter as soon as they think they can sell a couple more BMWs to the Chinese…
After the brilliant successes of LCS, Zumwalt and Constellation, kudos to the USN for believing it can pull this off.
Dawg my Navy is so fucking embarrassing
Trump-class battleships are ‘exactly’ what the Navy needs, SWO boss says - Breaking Defense
The Navy ran into design challenges with its next-generation destroyer, emphasizing the need for a larger battleship, according to Vice Adm. Brendan McLane.
breakingdefense.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:54 PM
After the brilliant successes of LCS, Zumwalt and Constellation, kudos to the USN for believing it can pull this off.
A tragedy, deservedly attributed to Trump’s demented policy, but that should not prevent us from thinking about what is meant by « return on investment ». What may not be a decent IRR for a pharma would probably be OK for your average industrial. Maybe it’s time to think about drug dev financing.
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 6:54 AM
A tragedy, deservedly attributed to Trump’s demented policy, but that should not prevent us from thinking about what is meant by « return on investment ». What may not be a decent IRR for a pharma would probably be OK for your average industrial. Maybe it’s time to think about drug dev financing.
Among other things, and this was a surprise to me, the debates on AI reveal how many people have absolutely no respect for knowledge as something good in and of itself, regardless of its application or monetization.
Guy who doesn’t know anything thinks you shouldn’t either.
Ex-Google exec says degrees in law and medicine are a waste of time because they take so long to complete that AI will catch up by graduation | Fortune
“Higher education as we know it is on the verge of becoming obsolete,” the former Google AI leader told Fortune.
fortune.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Among other things, and this was a surprise to me, the debates on AI reveal how many people have absolutely no respect for knowledge as something good in and of itself, regardless of its application or monetization.
Brilliant
<staff kitchen>
NAZGUL #1: I just...
NAZGUL: #2: What?
N#1: Like... Seriously? We're hunting HOBBITS now?
N#2: I mean okay but clue was in the name
N#1: True, but still
WITCH KING <entering>: Hey
N#1: Hey
N#2: Hey
<Witch King leaves with coffee>
N#1: Maybe we should have said something
N#2: Maybe
NAZGUL #1: I just...
NAZGUL: #2: What?
N#1: Like... Seriously? We're hunting HOBBITS now?
N#2: I mean okay but clue was in the name
N#1: True, but still
WITCH KING <entering>: Hey
N#1: Hey
N#2: Hey
<Witch King leaves with coffee>
N#1: Maybe we should have said something
N#2: Maybe
SCOOP: Tensions at Palantir have grown in recent weeks over the company's work with ICE.
On Friday, CEO Alex Karp tried to calm concerns in an hourlong video that offered few specifics—instead offering NDAs to workers who want to understand how it's empowering ICE.
www.wired.com/story/palant...
On Friday, CEO Alex Karp tried to calm concerns in an hourlong video that offered few specifics—instead offering NDAs to workers who want to understand how it's empowering ICE.
www.wired.com/story/palant...
February 11, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Brilliant
Reposted by Guillaume E 🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇦🇪🇺
6/6
demand for the goods and services they produce, in which case total profits must decline.
Between unbalanced trade, the dominance of finance, high levels of income inequality, and the associated rise in populist anger, it seems we are in for a revival of 1930s economics.
demand for the goods and services they produce, in which case total profits must decline.
Between unbalanced trade, the dominance of finance, high levels of income inequality, and the associated rise in populist anger, it seems we are in for a revival of 1930s economics.
February 11, 2026 at 5:03 AM
6/6
demand for the goods and services they produce, in which case total profits must decline.
Between unbalanced trade, the dominance of finance, high levels of income inequality, and the associated rise in populist anger, it seems we are in for a revival of 1930s economics.
demand for the goods and services they produce, in which case total profits must decline.
Between unbalanced trade, the dominance of finance, high levels of income inequality, and the associated rise in populist anger, it seems we are in for a revival of 1930s economics.
The conversation below is a great summary of what went wrong these last few years.
The problem was that people noticed the extremely powerful social sanction that (appropriately) followed being identified as a bigot. And they thought “Wow, this is an amazing weapon against people I don’t like or want to control, what if I found ways to identity THEM as a bigot?”
Woke is good! People should be woke! We just can't let it get hopelessly hijacked by vindictive psychos playing out their power fantasies to compensate for their political impotence.
February 10, 2026 at 8:14 PM
The conversation below is a great summary of what went wrong these last few years.
Great examination of a « price undertaking », an exemption pathway for the importation of Chinese EVs in Europe. Looks very tightly constrained, will be interesting to see if these agreements become widespread or not.
There we have it, the first price undertaking deal in the EU-China EV saga
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
The European Commission has just accepted a tightly controlled price undertaking for one Chinese‑built VW Group EV model – the CUPRA Tavascan – instead of applying full countervailing duties.
February 10, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Great examination of a « price undertaking », an exemption pathway for the importation of Chinese EVs in Europe. Looks very tightly constrained, will be interesting to see if these agreements become widespread or not.