@Maxine David.bsky.social.com
@maxinedavid.bsky.social
Brit abroad. Critical friend of the EU. Foreign Policy analyst (EU, Russia, UK, US) at Leiden University. Teaching = my way of not despairing about the world. Of course they're my views.
I'm getting very tired of these people telling us precisely who they are and them just constantly getting away with it.
New proposed Ukip logo compared to iron cross used by Nazi regime
Anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate warned that the logo was ‘echoing Nazi-style imagery’
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:54 PM
I'm getting very tired of these people telling us precisely who they are and them just constantly getting away with it.
Anyone tracking the sales of Faraday bags in the US? (A propos absolutely everything.)
January 9, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Anyone tracking the sales of Faraday bags in the US? (A propos absolutely everything.)
All for academic freedom and free speech, apparently & yet they are demonised. But proposed cuts to higher education are good because they mean you can get rid of "ideologically driven studies", specifically Gender Studies. Asked if Leiden has such a course, "no, but it has a minor & electives".
De Vrijmoedige Studentenpartij is niet anti-woke. ‘Wij worden juist gedemoniseerd’
De Vrijmoedige Studentenpartij wil de bezem door de universiteit halen en ‘het ideologisch monopolie van een links-activistische kliek’ doorbreken. De partij haalde de nodige zetels in Utrecht en Amst...
www.mareonline.nl
January 9, 2026 at 11:42 AM
All for academic freedom and free speech, apparently & yet they are demonised. But proposed cuts to higher education are good because they mean you can get rid of "ideologically driven studies", specifically Gender Studies. Asked if Leiden has such a course, "no, but it has a minor & electives".
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...
When I read that the young mother who was executed at point-blank range by one of Trump’s ICE goons yesterday was named Renee Nicole Good, it sent a chill down my spine.
As the pain and outrage was washing through me, it also struck
When I read that the young mother who was executed at point-blank range by one of Trump’s ICE goons yesterday was named Renee Nicole Good, it sent a chill down my spine.
As the pain and outrage was washing through me, it also struck
Renee Nicole Good Is Dead. Benjamin Franklin Warned Us This Would Happen…
The Founders didn’t build this country for secret police and point-blank executions…
open.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:49 AM
open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...
When I read that the young mother who was executed at point-blank range by one of Trump’s ICE goons yesterday was named Renee Nicole Good, it sent a chill down my spine.
As the pain and outrage was washing through me, it also struck
When I read that the young mother who was executed at point-blank range by one of Trump’s ICE goons yesterday was named Renee Nicole Good, it sent a chill down my spine.
As the pain and outrage was washing through me, it also struck
The Conservative Party covering themselves in the usual glory. The idea that Wolfson should remain as the Shadow AG is insane.
"Protesters rallied outside the UK Conservative Party headquarters in London on Wednesday under the slogan “No business as usual with Putin's oligarchs,” euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/08/r...
Russian oligarch hired UK opposition's top legal adviser to fight his sanctions. Protesters want him fired - Euromaidan Press
UK protesters demand Conservative adviser be sacked for representing Abramovich as £1.4bn for Ukraine stays frozen in court.
euromaidanpress.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:43 AM
The Conservative Party covering themselves in the usual glory. The idea that Wolfson should remain as the Shadow AG is insane.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
France led all importers, taking in 87 tanker deliveries totaling 6.3 million tonnes—41.7% of all Yamal LNG shipped to Europe" euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/08/u...
UK moves to curb Russian LNG shipping as EU holds back
Britain moves to restrict maritime services for Russian LNG, hitting ships tied to Arctic exports. The EU still lacks an equivalent crackdown.
euromaidanpress.com
January 9, 2026 at 7:21 AM
France led all importers, taking in 87 tanker deliveries totaling 6.3 million tonnes—41.7% of all Yamal LNG shipped to Europe" euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/08/u...
As the Coalition of the Willing meets today, maybe this will concentrate their minds.
TAPPER: “So you won’t take it off the table that 🇺🇸 won’t use military force to seize Greenland?”
STEPHEN MILLER: *laughs*, says nobody would fight us for it — despite European nations saying it would end NATO (which Putin would love)
Bottom line: The guardrails are gone
STEPHEN MILLER: *laughs*, says nobody would fight us for it — despite European nations saying it would end NATO (which Putin would love)
Bottom line: The guardrails are gone
January 6, 2026 at 6:30 AM
As the Coalition of the Willing meets today, maybe this will concentrate their minds.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Caracas is under fire. Multiple U.S. strikes have hit key military sites: Fuerte Tiuna, La Carlota airbase, and a communications center in El Hatillo. Explosions echo through the capital, the power is out in parts of the city, and U.S. helicopters are flying low. Fires also rage near La Guaira.
January 3, 2026 at 6:52 AM
Caracas is under fire. Multiple U.S. strikes have hit key military sites: Fuerte Tiuna, La Carlota airbase, and a communications center in El Hatillo. Explosions echo through the capital, the power is out in parts of the city, and U.S. helicopters are flying low. Fires also rage near La Guaira.
The scale of this mindless destruction set out in this thread. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to start a new year this way.
Er zijn honderden branden uitgebroken die worden toegeschreven aan vuurwerk.
In de Vondelkerk in Amsterdam brak een hevige brand uit, die het gebouw zwaar beschadigde; de toren en een deel van het middengedeelte zijn ingestort.
De kerk wordt als niet meer te redden beschouwd.
In de Vondelkerk in Amsterdam brak een hevige brand uit, die het gebouw zwaar beschadigde; de toren en een deel van het middengedeelte zijn ingestort.
De kerk wordt als niet meer te redden beschouwd.
January 1, 2026 at 10:41 AM
The scale of this mindless destruction set out in this thread. I cannot imagine why anyone would want to start a new year this way.
I live in a small village & heard the first fire crackers at 10.36. Fireworks went off at irregular intervals through the day. By nightfall, they were constant but we knew it was midnight by the added intensity. Terrible effects on animals, climate & street cleanliness - to say nothing of humans.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s hard to express how extreme Dutch New Year’s Eve is. A whole country goes insane.
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
This was a quiet lane on the edge of Gouda, at 1am. Continuous for hours.
Every urban area in the country is like this (often much better/worse).
It’s a wonder anyone has any fingers left
January 1, 2026 at 10:38 AM
I live in a small village & heard the first fire crackers at 10.36. Fireworks went off at irregular intervals through the day. By nightfall, they were constant but we knew it was midnight by the added intensity. Terrible effects on animals, climate & street cleanliness - to say nothing of humans.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Day 395 Tbilisi Georgia
"Down with the Russian regime!
Freedom for the prisoners of the regime!"
#GeorgiaProtests Day 395 🇬🇪🇪🇺
🎥 MOSE
Freedom for the prisoners of the regime!"
#GeorgiaProtests Day 395 🇬🇪🇪🇺
🎥 MOSE
December 27, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Day 395 Tbilisi Georgia
As Trump 2.0 1 year anniversary looms, I'm reminded of The West Wing episode when Republican nominee Vinick speaks of the presidency as: stewardship, service to the nation, worthy example, sacrifice, trust, commitment, honour. Even when it originally aired, these words didn't sound entirely alien.
December 27, 2025 at 10:15 AM
As Trump 2.0 1 year anniversary looms, I'm reminded of The West Wing episode when Republican nominee Vinick speaks of the presidency as: stewardship, service to the nation, worthy example, sacrifice, trust, commitment, honour. Even when it originally aired, these words didn't sound entirely alien.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
As the year ends, it's good to see the summary of this study now available on the Clingendael website. It was a privilege to have contributed. Still, rather depressing when you consider what the prospects for Russia would be if there were any justice in the world.
Assessing the strength and stability of the Russian regime
Too weak to thrive, too strong to fall?Throughout modern history, Russia has appeared stable – right until the moment of sudden collapse. Due to its strongly centralised system of government and cohes...
www.clingendael.org
December 22, 2025 at 9:58 AM
As the year ends, it's good to see the summary of this study now available on the Clingendael website. It was a privilege to have contributed. Still, rather depressing when you consider what the prospects for Russia would be if there were any justice in the world.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Also making the point in today's Guardian piece that the sight of global companies working overtly with the US government to coerce a UK government desperate for positive headlines about investment is a hugely worrying precedent which we need to be discussing.
December 18, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Also making the point in today's Guardian piece that the sight of global companies working overtly with the US government to coerce a UK government desperate for positive headlines about investment is a hugely worrying precedent which we need to be discussing.
A slap on the faces of both Moscow and Washington.
In an audacious move, the EU has decided to indefinitely immobilise the Russian sovereign assets, pushing back against external pressure to release the funds before Moscow agrees to pay war reparations to Ukraine.
By locking in Russian assets for good, the EU finally plays hardball
In an audacious move, the EU has decided to indefinitely immobilise the Russian sovereign assets, pushing back against external pressure to release the funds before Moscow agrees to pay war reparations to Ukraine.
l.euronews.com
December 13, 2025 at 7:05 AM
A slap on the faces of both Moscow and Washington.
Corruption calls to corruption. Perhaps the most terrible thing about this is that it seems so normal, we are losing our capacity to be shocked.
Trump awarded inaugural Fifa peace prize at World Cup draw in Washington
US president receives new Fifa honour as scrutiny grows over Infantino’s political alliances and Trump’s disputed record on global conflicts
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Corruption calls to corruption. Perhaps the most terrible thing about this is that it seems so normal, we are losing our capacity to be shocked.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
I'm not pulling any punches: "So, these are not peace talks.[..] They are a distraction that Ru uses [..] to strain the Transatlantic relationship by pitting the “peace-seeking” U.S. against “warmongering” Europe, even though the only warmonger is Putin."
www.policymagazine.ca/whatever-you...
www.policymagazine.ca/whatever-you...
Whatever You Do, Don't Call Them 'Peace Talks' - Policy Magazine
What Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are presenting to the world as peace talks are not peace talks.
www.policymagazine.ca
December 3, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I'm not pulling any punches: "So, these are not peace talks.[..] They are a distraction that Ru uses [..] to strain the Transatlantic relationship by pitting the “peace-seeking” U.S. against “warmongering” Europe, even though the only warmonger is Putin."
www.policymagazine.ca/whatever-you...
www.policymagazine.ca/whatever-you...
"The UN Environmental Program has warned that the [Caspian] sea “suffers from an enormous burden of pollution”." Heartbreaking & likely because of oil & gas extraction - but sure, let's not wean ourselves off fossil fuels.
Dagestan’s natural resources ministry said teams began surveying roughly 300 kilometers of shoreline after receiving the first reports of seal deaths.
Hundreds of Endangered Seals Found Dead on Russia’s Caspian Coast - The Moscow Times
Nearly 500 endangered Caspian seals have washed up dead along Russia’s Caspian Sea coast, prompting officials in the republic of Dagestan to launch a multi-agency investigation, regional authorities s...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
"The UN Environmental Program has warned that the [Caspian] sea “suffers from an enormous burden of pollution”." Heartbreaking & likely because of oil & gas extraction - but sure, let's not wean ourselves off fossil fuels.
Fabulous article that a wonderfully critical thinking colleague just sent me. It's a long read but every sentence packs an on the nose punch.
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Fabulous article that a wonderfully critical thinking colleague just sent me. It's a long read but every sentence packs an on the nose punch.
I just overheard 3 British lads at Schiphol airport talking in amazed tones about how this is the train station. 😁
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I just overheard 3 British lads at Schiphol airport talking in amazed tones about how this is the train station. 😁
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
I don’t know what I did in my previous life, but reporting simultaneously on the Trump cabinet meeting, where they pretend “all is glorious”, and Putin-Witkoff business meeting, where they sell out Ukraine, surely feels like I did something I wasn’t supposed to.
December 2, 2025 at 5:59 PM
I don’t know what I did in my previous life, but reporting simultaneously on the Trump cabinet meeting, where they pretend “all is glorious”, and Putin-Witkoff business meeting, where they sell out Ukraine, surely feels like I did something I wasn’t supposed to.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
South African radio presenter arrested on suspicion of recruiting fighters for Russia
South African arrested on suspicion of recruiting fighters for Russia
The South African government has warned people to be cautious of campaigns promoted by South African social media influencers promising jobs and study opportunities in Russia.
www.euronews.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM
South African radio presenter arrested on suspicion of recruiting fighters for Russia
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Today is the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest. Six myths: 1) She wasn't old or tired. 42 years old that day, she had a "life history of being rebellious" & had spent two decades helping to turn the Montgomery NAACP into a more activist branch alongside ED Nixon and Johnnie Carr.
December 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Today is the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest. Six myths: 1) She wasn't old or tired. 42 years old that day, she had a "life history of being rebellious" & had spent two decades helping to turn the Montgomery NAACP into a more activist branch alongside ED Nixon and Johnnie Carr.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
70 years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama.
December 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
70 years ago today, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama.