Marcel Dirsus
@marceldirsus.com
Political scientist and author of How Tyrants Fall: And How Nations Survive. Writing The Hundred, a politics newsletter. www.marceldirsus.com
Pinned
In case you missed it: I started a podcast named The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus. You can listen to it on YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever else you get your podcasts. It's about war and dictators and geopolitics etc
Graphic design is my passion
December 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Graphic design is my passion
🚨 Where will the Ukraine negotiations lead? What happens if Russia wins? What the hell is Trump doing? Just released a new episode of the podcast. Link to YouTube is below but you can also listen on Spotify, Apple etc
youtu.be/ErCuTKe79M8
youtu.be/ErCuTKe79M8
This Happens if Russia Wins | Michael Kimmage
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 12:17 PM
🚨 Where will the Ukraine negotiations lead? What happens if Russia wins? What the hell is Trump doing? Just released a new episode of the podcast. Link to YouTube is below but you can also listen on Spotify, Apple etc
youtu.be/ErCuTKe79M8
youtu.be/ErCuTKe79M8
I normally don't engage with posts like these, but this one is perfect. I love social media
How much did that war criminal and mass murderer pay you to write this drivel? 🤦♂️
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I normally don't engage with posts like these, but this one is perfect. I love social media
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
‘Russia’s military and security services give Putin regular updates that inflate Ukraine’s casualty numbers, stress the country’s resource advantages, and play down tactical failures, two officials said.’ giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
How upbeat battlefield briefings are fuelling Putin’s confidence
Russian generals’ positive reports on Ukraine have convinced the Kremlin the war is going in its favour
giftarticle.ft.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:24 AM
‘Russia’s military and security services give Putin regular updates that inflate Ukraine’s casualty numbers, stress the country’s resource advantages, and play down tactical failures, two officials said.’ giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
"A Russian general has been killed after an explosive device detonated beneath his car in what Moscow described as a likely assassination carried out by Ukrainian intelligence services."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Russian general killed by car bomb in Moscow, say investigators
Russia’s Investigative Committee says it is looking into whether Ukraine intelligence services were behind attack
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
"A Russian general has been killed after an explosive device detonated beneath his car in what Moscow described as a likely assassination carried out by Ukrainian intelligence services."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
The whole "people say we can't talk to Putin" thing increasingly feels like a straw man. Is anyone here actually opposed to negotiations? Western leaders practically begged Putin not to invade. Zelensky would sit down with Putin tomorrow if he agreed to meet outside Russia
December 22, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The whole "people say we can't talk to Putin" thing increasingly feels like a straw man. Is anyone here actually opposed to negotiations? Western leaders practically begged Putin not to invade. Zelensky would sit down with Putin tomorrow if he agreed to meet outside Russia
"Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine."
December 22, 2025 at 9:19 AM
"Russia remains fully committed to achieving peace in Ukraine."
That's a very odd way of looking at these numbers
According to a POLITICO poll, more respondents in France and Germany want their governments to scale back financial aid to Kyiv than to increase it or keep it the same.
In the U.S., Canada and the U.K., meanwhile, respondents tilt the other way 👇
politi.co/4pFG4SF
In the U.S., Canada and the U.K., meanwhile, respondents tilt the other way 👇
politi.co/4pFG4SF
December 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
That's a very odd way of looking at these numbers
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
Japanese authorities have approved a decision to restart the world's biggest nuclear power plant, which has sat dormant for more than a decade following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in a pivotal moment as the country looks to shift its energy supply away from fossil fuels. https://cnn.it/4atqzbU
December 22, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Japanese authorities have approved a decision to restart the world's biggest nuclear power plant, which has sat dormant for more than a decade following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, in a pivotal moment as the country looks to shift its energy supply away from fossil fuels. https://cnn.it/4atqzbU
Definitely not a cult of personality! All this is completely normal
BREAKING: Kennedy Center to be renamed Trump-Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center will become the Trump-Kennedy Center: Leavitt
Leavitt said the the board unanimously voted to rename the performing arts venue.
www.axios.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Definitely not a cult of personality! All this is completely normal
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
This is a big deal. As with most things, Germans have a very complicated relationship to their intelligence agencies. If it goes through, it could be yet another way to strengthen Germany's ability to defend itself
The Zeitenwende is reaching Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, the BND. If the Chancellery gets its will, Germany's agents will be allowed to carry out "operational tasks" that go beyond the collection of information. Think sabotage, for example.
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
Ein bisschen mehr James Bond beim BND - Was der Gesetzentwurf dem Geheimdienst erlauben könnte
Der Bundesnachrichtendienst soll ein neues Gesetz bekommen. Der Entwurf, der WDR, NDR und SZ vorliegt, zeigt: Es geht künftig um mehr als nur Spionage. Der Geheimdienst soll auch Sabotage verüben dürf...
www.tagesschau.de
December 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This is a big deal. As with most things, Germans have a very complicated relationship to their intelligence agencies. If it goes through, it could be yet another way to strengthen Germany's ability to defend itself
The Zeitenwende is reaching Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, the BND. If the Chancellery gets its will, Germany's agents will be allowed to carry out "operational tasks" that go beyond the collection of information. Think sabotage, for example.
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
Ein bisschen mehr James Bond beim BND - Was der Gesetzentwurf dem Geheimdienst erlauben könnte
Der Bundesnachrichtendienst soll ein neues Gesetz bekommen. Der Entwurf, der WDR, NDR und SZ vorliegt, zeigt: Es geht künftig um mehr als nur Spionage. Der Geheimdienst soll auch Sabotage verüben dürf...
www.tagesschau.de
December 18, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The Zeitenwende is reaching Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, the BND. If the Chancellery gets its will, Germany's agents will be allowed to carry out "operational tasks" that go beyond the collection of information. Think sabotage, for example.
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
www.tagesschau.de/investigativ...
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
🎙️🪖🇺🇸 This is a totally fascinating conversation @marceldirsus.com has with @kschake.bsky.social about civil-military relations in the US. I learned a ton of new things — and it gave me a lot of hope. It's a great 40 minutes of your time, promise.
How Soldiers Destroy Democracy | Kori Schake
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM
🎙️🪖🇺🇸 This is a totally fascinating conversation @marceldirsus.com has with @kschake.bsky.social about civil-military relations in the US. I learned a ton of new things — and it gave me a lot of hope. It's a great 40 minutes of your time, promise.
Putin: Ukraine isn't a real country and Zelensky is a Nazi. We will kill him and subjugate Ukrainians
Twitter: You see, the Russian soul is mysterious and the history couldn't be more complicated. Are you aware that Estonia joined NATO? The Estonians are the real threat
Twitter: You see, the Russian soul is mysterious and the history couldn't be more complicated. Are you aware that Estonia joined NATO? The Estonians are the real threat
December 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Putin: Ukraine isn't a real country and Zelensky is a Nazi. We will kill him and subjugate Ukrainians
Twitter: You see, the Russian soul is mysterious and the history couldn't be more complicated. Are you aware that Estonia joined NATO? The Estonians are the real threat
Twitter: You see, the Russian soul is mysterious and the history couldn't be more complicated. Are you aware that Estonia joined NATO? The Estonians are the real threat
Confiscating Russian money? A declaration of war. Providing helmets to Kyiv? A declaration of war. Giving tanks to Ukraine? Definitely a declaration of war. Not buying Russian gas? Believe it or not, a declaration of war. One more mean tweet about Putin and all of us will die
December 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Confiscating Russian money? A declaration of war. Providing helmets to Kyiv? A declaration of war. Giving tanks to Ukraine? Definitely a declaration of war. Not buying Russian gas? Believe it or not, a declaration of war. One more mean tweet about Putin and all of us will die
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
That was His Excellency George Washington, not me 🙂
"We are under the authority of our civilian leadership because of who we want to be as an army, which is the first military in a thousand years that isn't a threat to democracy."
@kschake.bsky.social
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE?...
@kschake.bsky.social
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE?...
How Soldiers Destroy Democracy | Kori Schake
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM
That was His Excellency George Washington, not me 🙂
"Belgian politicians and senior finance executives have been subject to a campaign of intimidation orchestrated by Russian intelligence aimed at persuading the country to block the use of €185bn assets for Ukraine, according to European intelligence agencies."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Belgian politicians and finance bosses targeted by Russian intelligence over seized assets
Exclusive: Key figures at frozen assets depository among targets of intimidation campaign, say European intelligence agencies
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:06 AM
"Belgian politicians and senior finance executives have been subject to a campaign of intimidation orchestrated by Russian intelligence aimed at persuading the country to block the use of €185bn assets for Ukraine, according to European intelligence agencies."
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
I think we're really only beginning to grapple with the fact that many (most?) people just don't read anymore. I understand why but I'm convinced that letting our brains run on podcasts, short-form video content and WhatsApp memes is going to be an absolute disaster for society
December 18, 2025 at 9:59 AM
I think we're really only beginning to grapple with the fact that many (most?) people just don't read anymore. I understand why but I'm convinced that letting our brains run on podcasts, short-form video content and WhatsApp memes is going to be an absolute disaster for society
Does Trump have a larger plan? Or are they just making stuff up as they go along? Who knows
youtube.com/shorts/5kABh...
youtube.com/shorts/5kABh...
Why Trump is Using the Military #politics #history #podcast
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Does Trump have a larger plan? Or are they just making stuff up as they go along? Who knows
youtube.com/shorts/5kABh...
youtube.com/shorts/5kABh...
"We are under the authority of our civilian leadership because of who we want to be as an army, which is the first military in a thousand years that isn't a threat to democracy."
@kschake.bsky.social
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE?...
@kschake.bsky.social
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE?...
How Soldiers Destroy Democracy | Kori Schake
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 9:19 AM
"We are under the authority of our civilian leadership because of who we want to be as an army, which is the first military in a thousand years that isn't a threat to democracy."
@kschake.bsky.social
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE?...
@kschake.bsky.social
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE?...
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
Alliances are built on trust and attraction, otherwise known as soft power, and they are the most effective tools that democracies have in their struggle with autocracies.” Steven Kotkin in @foreignaffairs.com
The Weakness of the Strongmen
Not long ago in the sweep of history, countries that had once been buried behind the Iron Curtain, and even some Soviet republics, were transformed into members of the solidly democratic club. Some of...
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Alliances are built on trust and attraction, otherwise known as soft power, and they are the most effective tools that democracies have in their struggle with autocracies.” Steven Kotkin in @foreignaffairs.com
Reposted by Marcel Dirsus
Uh, that's a brilliant combination of people. Very much looking forward to this.
I'm delighted to say that I got to talk to @kschake.bsky.social for my new podcast. We discuss Trump, George Washington, WWII and the general difficulty of maintaining a powerful military that doesn't threaten democracy. Check it out:
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE
How Soldiers Destroy Democracy | Kori Schake
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Uh, that's a brilliant combination of people. Very much looking forward to this.
I'm delighted to say that I got to talk to @kschake.bsky.social for my new podcast. We discuss Trump, George Washington, WWII and the general difficulty of maintaining a powerful military that doesn't threaten democracy. Check it out:
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE
How Soldiers Destroy Democracy | Kori Schake
YouTube video by The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 11:04 AM
I'm delighted to say that I got to talk to @kschake.bsky.social for my new podcast. We discuss Trump, George Washington, WWII and the general difficulty of maintaining a powerful military that doesn't threaten democracy. Check it out:
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE
youtu.be/3lKRNRyaTqE