Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
@ockham64.bsky.social
Aux armes citizens
Former vos bataillons
Former vos bataillons
Pinned
"It's always darkest.....just before it turns pitch black."
- John McCain
- John McCain
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
This this this. This is what I've been saying all along about the biggest problem with AI
It's a useful reminder that sometimes tech can make a task more efficient for one side (applying for jobs), and more efficient for the other side (writing job adverts), and yet make the system as a whole completely inefficient.
November 14, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This this this. This is what I've been saying all along about the biggest problem with AI
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
"You're the presumptive Democratic nominee. You've got $200m in a war chest with no end in sight. Now it's two months until the New Hampshire Primary and I don't know what we're for. I don't know what we're against. Except we seem to be for us winning and against someone else winning."
- Josh Lyman
- Josh Lyman
Why seek political office if you have a stonking majority and you use it to…endlessly fret about losing your majority rather than running a country? It’s no good. There is no theory for how to make things better. It’s not even well managed decline.
November 14, 2025 at 7:42 AM
"You're the presumptive Democratic nominee. You've got $200m in a war chest with no end in sight. Now it's two months until the New Hampshire Primary and I don't know what we're for. I don't know what we're against. Except we seem to be for us winning and against someone else winning."
- Josh Lyman
- Josh Lyman
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
The great thing about delaying hard decisions is that you never have to make them and it all turns out fine in the end (Ed - pls check).
November 13, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The great thing about delaying hard decisions is that you never have to make them and it all turns out fine in the end (Ed - pls check).
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
In some ways it's quite reassuring that 'Number 10 staff' (who could it be we ask?) are treating the PM with the same contempt they treat their voter base and the electorate more generally.
No 10 says Starmer has been told by Downing Street staff that none of them briefed against Streeting - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
November 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
In some ways it's quite reassuring that 'Number 10 staff' (who could it be we ask?) are treating the PM with the same contempt they treat their voter base and the electorate more generally.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
The BBC and Starmer’s Labour govt share much in common. They’re easily bullied and often afraid, as institutionalised too often are, of exercising their own power. They then appear weak and ineffectual. They’re judged against standards to which their critics would themselves would never adhere...
November 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
The BBC and Starmer’s Labour govt share much in common. They’re easily bullied and often afraid, as institutionalised too often are, of exercising their own power. They then appear weak and ineffectual. They’re judged against standards to which their critics would themselves would never adhere...
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
I have a deep objection to this sort of approach: Everything need not be done according to political-electoral guesswork. Rule of law matters. Constitutional democracy matters. Principles matter. Or at least they should.
Dems shouldn’t validate Trump’s lawbreaking because it’s wrong. That’s enough.
Dems shouldn’t validate Trump’s lawbreaking because it’s wrong. That’s enough.
Imagine if Dems in the Senate hadn't caved. The House wouldn't be in session rn, the discharge petition wouldn't be signed, people wouldn't have SNAP, govt workers would be RIF'd & the GOP would have some decent talking points. But also online rage addicts would be happier! YMMV!
November 13, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I have a deep objection to this sort of approach: Everything need not be done according to political-electoral guesswork. Rule of law matters. Constitutional democracy matters. Principles matter. Or at least they should.
Dems shouldn’t validate Trump’s lawbreaking because it’s wrong. That’s enough.
Dems shouldn’t validate Trump’s lawbreaking because it’s wrong. That’s enough.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
We went to a Parisian museum the other day where the staff could only check tickets but not sell tickets so we had to buy them on our phones outside in the rain (and of course you had to create an account etc etc) and I really thought I was going crazy.
today in We Live In The Future And The Future Is Stupid: went to a pub to inquire about a potential room booking but the staff aren't allowed to process those in person so I am now sitting in the pub, writing them an email to inquire about a potential room booking
November 12, 2025 at 6:52 PM
We went to a Parisian museum the other day where the staff could only check tickets but not sell tickets so we had to buy them on our phones outside in the rain (and of course you had to create an account etc etc) and I really thought I was going crazy.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Another gentle reminder.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
A chart Berlin‘s economic policy-makers should think hard about.
Doing a buy-German clause in new EV subsidies would be an own goal.
The German market is simply too small, and lacks sufficient premium demand.
1/
Doing a buy-German clause in new EV subsidies would be an own goal.
The German market is simply too small, and lacks sufficient premium demand.
1/
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Another gentle reminder.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
The only way for Germany to stop the meltdown in its auto sector is by working with Europe.
Germany is too small to go it alone. Anyone with half an econ brain can see that.
❤️
/3 I am informed it’s normal to get more intolerant as I get older and I think I am absolutely getting less tolerant of other people’s absolute bullshit.
November 11, 2025 at 11:39 PM
❤️
Good 🧵
I think voters at large will very likely have trouble remembering details of chuck schumer selling out the aca by nov 2026. also I think in the next three months you're gonna see a lot of unlikely folks stopping by the dsa table at various no kings events
November 11, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Good 🧵
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
If Labour want a fairer society, they must argue for it
Labour must make the political argument: taxes are the critical downpayment we all pay to live in a fairer society.
It now seems all but certain that direct taxes will rise in the forthcoming Budget...
renewal.org.uk
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Breaking the tax pledge is the right call...and politically sulphurous. Reeves must argue, far more forcefully, that taxes are *the* essential downpayment we all pay for a fairer society.
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Patrick Diamond and I wrote for @renewaljournal.bsky.social. Key points in 🧵 👇
renewal.org.uk/blog/if-labo...
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Zelenskyy: "Europe fears the word ‘escalation.’ They believe any response is escalation - but Russia sees non-forceful, intellectual responses as weakness."
This is exactly right. We are at war a thug, or a school bully. Give them something and they will demand more!
This is exactly right. We are at war a thug, or a school bully. Give them something and they will demand more!
November 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Zelenskyy: "Europe fears the word ‘escalation.’ They believe any response is escalation - but Russia sees non-forceful, intellectual responses as weakness."
This is exactly right. We are at war a thug, or a school bully. Give them something and they will demand more!
This is exactly right. We are at war a thug, or a school bully. Give them something and they will demand more!
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
November 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Regular reminder that Axios stories saying Dems are about to cave are likely sourced from GOP staffers trying to make it happen.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Doesn't mean it definitely won't happen. But it's like those NYT stories that Harvard is considering caving (they haven't). The anonymous source was trying to manifest it.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
There is no “affordability crisis.”
There is the real problem of many Americans not being able to afford good things that some others can afford. Except that’s always been true, and is less true now regarding basic needs and regular wants than before, in particular compared to the 20th century.
There is the real problem of many Americans not being able to afford good things that some others can afford. Except that’s always been true, and is less true now regarding basic needs and regular wants than before, in particular compared to the 20th century.
Affordability is, in fact, not a real thing. It's a buzzword designed to respond to an invented crisis. It's the Dem equivalent of the GOP saying it'll secure our border - the public got really upset about something that mostly didn't exist, and now you'll solve it. It's anti-Glonzo sloganeering.
Ironically you and Trump have the same position now. “Affordability” isn’t a real thing.
November 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
There is no “affordability crisis.”
There is the real problem of many Americans not being able to afford good things that some others can afford. Except that’s always been true, and is less true now regarding basic needs and regular wants than before, in particular compared to the 20th century.
There is the real problem of many Americans not being able to afford good things that some others can afford. Except that’s always been true, and is less true now regarding basic needs and regular wants than before, in particular compared to the 20th century.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
They weren't terrorists. They weren't cartel members. They had no fentanyl. And they weren't coming here.
They were transporting cocaine. To Trinidad.
Most importantly, they were human beings.
And they were murdered.
By the government of the United States of America.
They were transporting cocaine. To Trinidad.
Most importantly, they were human beings.
And they were murdered.
By the government of the United States of America.
GÜIRIA, Venezuela (AP) — One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet. And a fourth was a down-on-his-luck bus driver.
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced
One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 AM
They weren't terrorists. They weren't cartel members. They had no fentanyl. And they weren't coming here.
They were transporting cocaine. To Trinidad.
Most importantly, they were human beings.
And they were murdered.
By the government of the United States of America.
They were transporting cocaine. To Trinidad.
Most importantly, they were human beings.
And they were murdered.
By the government of the United States of America.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
The economist in me loves this.
European 10y gov bonds have a yield of 3.2%. They assume 4%. Fine.
Should Euroclear not be able, with some prodding, to generate above 4% nominal returns?
European 10y gov bonds have a yield of 3.2%. They assume 4%. Fine.
Should Euroclear not be able, with some prodding, to generate above 4% nominal returns?
Brussels vs Belgium: Commission says that if Belgium won't sign off on a €140bn loan to Ukraine against Russian assets, EU countries will need to find up to €5.6bn a year to service a loan raised on the open market.
@bmoens.bsky.social & I got the document so you don't have to
on.ft.com/47LzdiM
@bmoens.bsky.social & I got the document so you don't have to
on.ft.com/47LzdiM
EU must pay up to €5.6bn a year in interest if no agreement on Russian assets, Brussels warns
[FREE TO READ] Choices for Ukraine funding set out in commission document drafted after failure to agree plan last month
on.ft.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The economist in me loves this.
European 10y gov bonds have a yield of 3.2%. They assume 4%. Fine.
Should Euroclear not be able, with some prodding, to generate above 4% nominal returns?
European 10y gov bonds have a yield of 3.2%. They assume 4%. Fine.
Should Euroclear not be able, with some prodding, to generate above 4% nominal returns?
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Any UK government whether whether left-liberal, centrist or right wing is going to face scepticism in Brussels after the Brexit mess and with Reform's strength in polls.
Banging the table and demanding special treatment didn't work for Johnson and won't work for Starmer.
Banging the table and demanding special treatment didn't work for Johnson and won't work for Starmer.
November 7, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Any UK government whether whether left-liberal, centrist or right wing is going to face scepticism in Brussels after the Brexit mess and with Reform's strength in polls.
Banging the table and demanding special treatment didn't work for Johnson and won't work for Starmer.
Banging the table and demanding special treatment didn't work for Johnson and won't work for Starmer.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
Political strategists spend a lot of time trying to get their attack lines into the headlines. Serious news outlets should not be playing along - whichever party benefits.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
November 6, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Political strategists spend a lot of time trying to get their attack lines into the headlines. Serious news outlets should not be playing along - whichever party benefits.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
The whole "he said - she said" model is just a total repudiation of what journalism should be.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
This is the obvious next step. Drop the "reparations loan" and just do Eurobonds. Frankly, it's way better for Ukraine. The rep loan effectively prevents the Russian assets from being used by Ukraine b/c now claimed by EU. Eurobonds+seizing RF assets is way better!
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
EXCLUSIVE: EU Commission mulls joint debt, bilateral grants to plug Ukraine funding gap | Euractiv
The European Commission’s strongly preferred option to support Kyiv’s war effort remains the €140 billion ‘reparation loan’ currently blocked by Belgium
www.euractiv.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This is the obvious next step. Drop the "reparations loan" and just do Eurobonds. Frankly, it's way better for Ukraine. The rep loan effectively prevents the Russian assets from being used by Ukraine b/c now claimed by EU. Eurobonds+seizing RF assets is way better!
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
⚖️🗺️Our friends at World Justice Project just released the 2025 edition of the Rule of Law Index. Unsurprisingly, they found an accelerating decline in the state of the rule of law globally. Let's take a look at Central & Eastern Europe and how this trend plays out there. 1/
October 31, 2025 at 8:16 AM
⚖️🗺️Our friends at World Justice Project just released the 2025 edition of the Rule of Law Index. Unsurprisingly, they found an accelerating decline in the state of the rule of law globally. Let's take a look at Central & Eastern Europe and how this trend plays out there. 1/
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
I've been beating the Eurobond drum for the last five years (post-Afghan withdrawal it was clear Europe needed more air enablers; ie a European defense public good). It's an idea whose time has long past come.
Why? You don't fund a war effort from your regular budget! You finance them. 1/
Why? You don't fund a war effort from your regular budget! You finance them. 1/
Our cover this week
“Europe should take heart and recognise its own strength. Its military budget is already four times larger than Russia’s; its economy is ten times larger. Far from shying away from a financial contest with the Kremlin, Europe should embrace it—and win the war”
“Europe should take heart and recognise its own strength. Its military budget is already four times larger than Russia’s; its economy is ten times larger. Far from shying away from a financial contest with the Kremlin, Europe should embrace it—and win the war”
October 31, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I've been beating the Eurobond drum for the last five years (post-Afghan withdrawal it was clear Europe needed more air enablers; ie a European defense public good). It's an idea whose time has long past come.
Why? You don't fund a war effort from your regular budget! You finance them. 1/
Why? You don't fund a war effort from your regular budget! You finance them. 1/
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
"Trump got played, it was total amateur hour"
"When he has the entire leverage of the US economy behind him he can win a negotiation. But when he has to be on somewhere near equal footing with another world power he is totally outclassed"
🇨🇳 acts like a world power. 🇪🇺 doesn't.
"When he has the entire leverage of the US economy behind him he can win a negotiation. But when he has to be on somewhere near equal footing with another world power he is totally outclassed"
🇨🇳 acts like a world power. 🇪🇺 doesn't.
October 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
"Trump got played, it was total amateur hour"
"When he has the entire leverage of the US economy behind him he can win a negotiation. But when he has to be on somewhere near equal footing with another world power he is totally outclassed"
🇨🇳 acts like a world power. 🇪🇺 doesn't.
"When he has the entire leverage of the US economy behind him he can win a negotiation. But when he has to be on somewhere near equal footing with another world power he is totally outclassed"
🇨🇳 acts like a world power. 🇪🇺 doesn't.
Reposted by Peter Bendixen 🇩🇰 🇺🇦
"No one asked me if I was the mayor."
That is incredible. As bad as you think the state of journalism is in this moment, it's worse. It's much much worse.
That is incredible. As bad as you think the state of journalism is in this moment, it's worse. It's much much worse.
October 30, 2025 at 3:04 AM
"No one asked me if I was the mayor."
That is incredible. As bad as you think the state of journalism is in this moment, it's worse. It's much much worse.
That is incredible. As bad as you think the state of journalism is in this moment, it's worse. It's much much worse.