Stanley Pignal
@spignal.bsky.social
Charlemagne columnist & Brussels bureau chief, The Economist.
Past stints in Paris, Mumbai, London. Français. Personal feed.
Bio 👇. https://medium.com/@spignal/stanley-pignal-bio-2acd9b705ceb
Charlemagne@economist.com
Past stints in Paris, Mumbai, London. Français. Personal feed.
Bio 👇. https://medium.com/@spignal/stanley-pignal-bio-2acd9b705ceb
Charlemagne@economist.com
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
"When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message 'Legacy Media Lies'."
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X reut.rs/498SoUk
Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X
Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence chatbot Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in "images depicting minors in minimal clothing" on social media platform X and that improvements were being made to prevent this.
reut.rs
January 2, 2026 at 2:47 PM
"When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message 'Legacy Media Lies'."
Good FT story on Christine Lagarde’s pay, which is 50% higher than disclosed by ECB.
I don't think Lagarde earns too much - she's on par with a Big 4 audit firm partner. But it is crazy that ECB pay disclosures are well short of what any listed company has to report.
www.ft.com/content/c7cd...
I don't think Lagarde earns too much - she's on par with a Big 4 audit firm partner. But it is crazy that ECB pay disclosures are well short of what any listed company has to report.
www.ft.com/content/c7cd...
Christine Lagarde’s pay is 50% higher than disclosed by ECB
Europe’s top central banker earns almost four times more than Fed chair Jay Powell, FT analysis shows
www.ft.com
January 2, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Good FT story on Christine Lagarde’s pay, which is 50% higher than disclosed by ECB.
I don't think Lagarde earns too much - she's on par with a Big 4 audit firm partner. But it is crazy that ECB pay disclosures are well short of what any listed company has to report.
www.ft.com/content/c7cd...
I don't think Lagarde earns too much - she's on par with a Big 4 audit firm partner. But it is crazy that ECB pay disclosures are well short of what any listed company has to report.
www.ft.com/content/c7cd...
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
Spain and Portugal joined the European Community 40 years ago today. Feliz aniversario!
Hard as it is to believe, France said for years flatly that they would never join: they were too poor, and would undercut European (read "French") workers and farmers. They had some support from Italy and Greece
Hard as it is to believe, France said for years flatly that they would never join: they were too poor, and would undercut European (read "French") workers and farmers. They had some support from Italy and Greece
January 1, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Spain and Portugal joined the European Community 40 years ago today. Feliz aniversario!
Hard as it is to believe, France said for years flatly that they would never join: they were too poor, and would undercut European (read "French") workers and farmers. They had some support from Italy and Greece
Hard as it is to believe, France said for years flatly that they would never join: they were too poor, and would undercut European (read "French") workers and farmers. They had some support from Italy and Greece
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
I had a family friend who was, shall we say, serious about his drinking, probably saved a couple of local bars just by himself. And he flatly refused to go out on New Year's Eve. He called it "amateur night". The true measure of a dedicated drinker was being at the bar on 1 January.
December 30, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I had a family friend who was, shall we say, serious about his drinking, probably saved a couple of local bars just by himself. And he flatly refused to go out on New Year's Eve. He called it "amateur night". The true measure of a dedicated drinker was being at the bar on 1 January.
Some American news makes zero sense to Europeans. What is this "medical debt" you speak of?
Arizona cancels medical debt for almost half-a-million residents
www.knau.org/knau-and-ari...
www.knau.org/knau-and-ari...
Arizona cancels medical debt for almost half-a-million residents
Gov. Katie Hobbs' office says it's partnered with a nonprofit to erase $642 million in medical debt owed by almost half-a-million Arizonans.
www.knau.org
December 30, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Some American news makes zero sense to Europeans. What is this "medical debt" you speak of?
What is the best alternative to Spotify? Need good selection, ok pricing and interface. I am guessing it is a pain to switch but now properly fed up.
December 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
What is the best alternative to Spotify? Need good selection, ok pricing and interface. I am guessing it is a pain to switch but now properly fed up.
Sunset on Visingsö, an island on a lake in southern Sweden.
In 1831, in a far-sighted bit of planning, it was decided to plant oak trees for the Swedish navy to one day build ships. A forest of 300,000 trees resulted.
By the time the trees were ready in 1975, the navy politely declined them.
In 1831, in a far-sighted bit of planning, it was decided to plant oak trees for the Swedish navy to one day build ships. A forest of 300,000 trees resulted.
By the time the trees were ready in 1975, the navy politely declined them.
December 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Sunset on Visingsö, an island on a lake in southern Sweden.
In 1831, in a far-sighted bit of planning, it was decided to plant oak trees for the Swedish navy to one day build ships. A forest of 300,000 trees resulted.
By the time the trees were ready in 1975, the navy politely declined them.
In 1831, in a far-sighted bit of planning, it was decided to plant oak trees for the Swedish navy to one day build ships. A forest of 300,000 trees resulted.
By the time the trees were ready in 1975, the navy politely declined them.
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
Zelensky lands in Miami. Not a single US official is on hand to greet him. In the language of diplomacy this send an unequivocal message of coldness and hostility. Compare it with the lavish pomp and red carpet shown to Putin when he landed in Alaska a few weeks ago.
December 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Zelensky lands in Miami. Not a single US official is on hand to greet him. In the language of diplomacy this send an unequivocal message of coldness and hostility. Compare it with the lavish pomp and red carpet shown to Putin when he landed in Alaska a few weeks ago.
Here's a tip if you want to look all intellectual reading classics, but actually you're indulging in high-society soap opera: pick up an Edith Wharton novel.
Last book of the year from one my favs.
Last book of the year from one my favs.
December 27, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Here's a tip if you want to look all intellectual reading classics, but actually you're indulging in high-society soap opera: pick up an Edith Wharton novel.
Last book of the year from one my favs.
Last book of the year from one my favs.
Proper Swedish plate.
The eel at the top is from the Baltic fishery of Hånsa Olofsson, now in his 39th year of catching and smoking them. I'd gone along for a fishing trip for a piece I wrote on eels a few years back.
The mysterious life and times of eels
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
The eel at the top is from the Baltic fishery of Hånsa Olofsson, now in his 39th year of catching and smoking them. I'd gone along for a fishing trip for a piece I wrote on eels a few years back.
The mysterious life and times of eels
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
December 25, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Proper Swedish plate.
The eel at the top is from the Baltic fishery of Hånsa Olofsson, now in his 39th year of catching and smoking them. I'd gone along for a fishing trip for a piece I wrote on eels a few years back.
The mysterious life and times of eels
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
The eel at the top is from the Baltic fishery of Hånsa Olofsson, now in his 39th year of catching and smoking them. I'd gone along for a fishing trip for a piece I wrote on eels a few years back.
The mysterious life and times of eels
www.economist.com/christmas-sp...
The 60 Minutes debacle reminds me why I've enjoyed reading—and writing for—The Economist. We speak to all sides but are under no pressure to "balance" a credible source with some nut job. We don't write "experts say x" if it's patently clear that x is true.
Looking for a good Xmas gift? Buy a sub.
Looking for a good Xmas gift? Buy a sub.
December 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The 60 Minutes debacle reminds me why I've enjoyed reading—and writing for—The Economist. We speak to all sides but are under no pressure to "balance" a credible source with some nut job. We don't write "experts say x" if it's patently clear that x is true.
Looking for a good Xmas gift? Buy a sub.
Looking for a good Xmas gift? Buy a sub.
Counterpoint: Thierry Breton's 2024 letter to Elon Musk suggesting that EU rules should interfere with an American citizen interviewing a former American president vying for election in America was *completely insane*.
The visa ban is obviously MAGA stupidity, but... yeah. The letter was bonkers.
The visa ban is obviously MAGA stupidity, but... yeah. The letter was bonkers.
December 24, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Counterpoint: Thierry Breton's 2024 letter to Elon Musk suggesting that EU rules should interfere with an American citizen interviewing a former American president vying for election in America was *completely insane*.
The visa ban is obviously MAGA stupidity, but... yeah. The letter was bonkers.
The visa ban is obviously MAGA stupidity, but... yeah. The letter was bonkers.
Finally, some good news for the world's columnists!
No, you can’t tell when something was written by AI - www.ft.com/content/b2eb...
No, you can’t tell when something was written by AI - www.ft.com/content/b2eb...
No, you can’t tell when something was written by AI
Context matters as much as content in determining whether text is machine generated or not
www.ft.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Finally, some good news for the world's columnists!
No, you can’t tell when something was written by AI - www.ft.com/content/b2eb...
No, you can’t tell when something was written by AI - www.ft.com/content/b2eb...
Cocoa is roughly between silver and uranium in terms of global commodities by value, barely scraping into the top 20. But it's probably top 5 in terms of news coverage.
At a guess cocoa ($10bn a year) gets as much news coverage as coal ($800bn a year)?
At a guess cocoa ($10bn a year) gets as much news coverage as coal ($800bn a year)?
Melting chocolate prices are a festive gift for the sweet-toothed ft.trib.al/n2kM9BW | opinion
Melting chocolate prices are a festive gift for the sweet-toothed
Cocoa prices have not been this low in two years
ft.trib.al
December 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Cocoa is roughly between silver and uranium in terms of global commodities by value, barely scraping into the top 20. But it's probably top 5 in terms of news coverage.
At a guess cocoa ($10bn a year) gets as much news coverage as coal ($800bn a year)?
At a guess cocoa ($10bn a year) gets as much news coverage as coal ($800bn a year)?
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
🎄 Hungary’s “pro-family” PM Viktor Orbán called an unexpected pre-Christmas cabinet meeting and joked that the real reason was so his all-male government wouldn’t have to stay home and help with cleaning.
Someone then remarks that Orbán is speaking from a wealth of life experience... 👀
Someone then remarks that Orbán is speaking from a wealth of life experience... 👀
December 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
🎄 Hungary’s “pro-family” PM Viktor Orbán called an unexpected pre-Christmas cabinet meeting and joked that the real reason was so his all-male government wouldn’t have to stay home and help with cleaning.
Someone then remarks that Orbán is speaking from a wealth of life experience... 👀
Someone then remarks that Orbán is speaking from a wealth of life experience... 👀
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
MAGA: Sweden is in the midst of civil war, on the cusp of civilisational erasure
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
December 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
MAGA: Sweden is in the midst of civil war, on the cusp of civilisational erasure
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
At some point maybe moderate Republicans have to say... something? Around the time the president is renaming buildings after himself, or when he accuses the New York Times of being THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE?
December 23, 2025 at 7:40 AM
At some point maybe moderate Republicans have to say... something? Around the time the president is renaming buildings after himself, or when he accuses the New York Times of being THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE?
MAGA: Sweden is in the midst of civil war, on the cusp of civilisational erasure
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
December 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
MAGA: Sweden is in the midst of civil war, on the cusp of civilisational erasure
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
Swedes: on your paid holiday, please borrow some free skates so you can enjoy our public rink in the middle of the idyllic square in the heart of our walkable city.
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
"free speech warriors"
December 22, 2025 at 11:14 AM
"free speech warriors"
The Axis of Late Trains.
December 21, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The Axis of Late Trains.
For anyone considering the new Sarkozy book, let me give you one tip.
For the past few years I have kept a log of books I read, and the mark I give them (out of 5).
You can actually *see* the Sarko memoirs in the graph below—it is by some margin the worst book I have read in years. Just dire.
For the past few years I have kept a log of books I read, and the mark I give them (out of 5).
You can actually *see* the Sarko memoirs in the graph below—it is by some margin the worst book I have read in years. Just dire.
December 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
For anyone considering the new Sarkozy book, let me give you one tip.
For the past few years I have kept a log of books I read, and the mark I give them (out of 5).
You can actually *see* the Sarko memoirs in the graph below—it is by some margin the worst book I have read in years. Just dire.
For the past few years I have kept a log of books I read, and the mark I give them (out of 5).
You can actually *see* the Sarko memoirs in the graph below—it is by some margin the worst book I have read in years. Just dire.
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
My last Charlemagne of 2025 is on gastronationalism — the last acceptable form of nationalism in Europe.
Even after decades of EU integration, a continent united by treaties remains divided by recipes.
(includes lots of jokes at the expense of Dutch "cuisine")
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Even after decades of EU integration, a continent united by treaties remains divided by recipes.
(includes lots of jokes at the expense of Dutch "cuisine")
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
European nationalism is dead. Long live European gastronationalism
A continent united by treaties remains divided by recipes
www.economist.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
My last Charlemagne of 2025 is on gastronationalism — the last acceptable form of nationalism in Europe.
Even after decades of EU integration, a continent united by treaties remains divided by recipes.
(includes lots of jokes at the expense of Dutch "cuisine")
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Even after decades of EU integration, a continent united by treaties remains divided by recipes.
(includes lots of jokes at the expense of Dutch "cuisine")
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
My take on the EU's through-the-night summit to help Ukraine. The main thing is €90bn will find its way to Kyiv—though not funded by Russia's frozen assets.
It was a messy deal, from which recriminations will ensue. But Europe got there (mostly) in the end.
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
It was a messy deal, from which recriminations will ensue. But Europe got there (mostly) in the end.
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Europe finds €90bn for Ukraine—but not from Russia
An EU “reparations loan” using frozen Russian money collapses
www.economist.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:19 AM
My take on the EU's through-the-night summit to help Ukraine. The main thing is €90bn will find its way to Kyiv—though not funded by Russia's frozen assets.
It was a messy deal, from which recriminations will ensue. But Europe got there (mostly) in the end.
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
It was a messy deal, from which recriminations will ensue. But Europe got there (mostly) in the end.
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Macron: it will become useful to speak to Vladimir Putin. Other people are doing so.
Europeans will have to re-engage with Russia [paraphrase]
Europeans will have to re-engage with Russia [paraphrase]
December 19, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Macron: it will become useful to speak to Vladimir Putin. Other people are doing so.
Europeans will have to re-engage with Russia [paraphrase]
Europeans will have to re-engage with Russia [paraphrase]