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
pretty sure he meant the other thing, grok, but very cool that those are your two things
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
pretty sure he meant the other thing, grok, but very cool that those are your two things
You can practically see American power being squandered by the hour. It is truly a historic few months we are living through. As if threatening your century-old allies carried zero cost.
The Great Power Unravelling.
www.ft.com/content/8c80...
The Great Power Unravelling.
www.ft.com/content/8c80...
Donald Trump threatens tariffs on allies over opposition to Greenland plan
US president redoubles demands for Danish territory two days after Washington agreed to be part of high-level working group
www.ft.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:39 PM
You can practically see American power being squandered by the hour. It is truly a historic few months we are living through. As if threatening your century-old allies carried zero cost.
The Great Power Unravelling.
www.ft.com/content/8c80...
The Great Power Unravelling.
www.ft.com/content/8c80...
David Frost with an absolute cracker here. Who among us hasn't wondered when the slow political news cycle of 2026 would finally become exciting?
This intro to David Frost's Telegraph column sums up so much that is wrong with British politics.
January 16, 2026 at 8:53 AM
David Frost with an absolute cracker here. Who among us hasn't wondered when the slow political news cycle of 2026 would finally become exciting?
My Charlemagne this week: farmers are losing their grip on EU power.
The Mercosur trade deal shows politicians are willing to defy them. Farmers still have lobbying heft, but have to fight harder for EU funds. And will some of the CAP one day go to Ukraine?
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
The Mercosur trade deal shows politicians are willing to defy them. Farmers still have lobbying heft, but have to fight harder for EU funds. And will some of the CAP one day go to Ukraine?
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Europe’s farmers no longer rule the roost unchallenged
Is this the end of the sacred-cow era?
www.economist.com
January 16, 2026 at 8:04 AM
My Charlemagne this week: farmers are losing their grip on EU power.
The Mercosur trade deal shows politicians are willing to defy them. Farmers still have lobbying heft, but have to fight harder for EU funds. And will some of the CAP one day go to Ukraine?
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
The Mercosur trade deal shows politicians are willing to defy them. Farmers still have lobbying heft, but have to fight harder for EU funds. And will some of the CAP one day go to Ukraine?
www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
Haaaa ha ha ha ha people are terrible www.ft.com/content/9c3c... Can Europe still afford its generous state pensions?
January 15, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Haaaa ha ha ha ha people are terrible www.ft.com/content/9c3c... Can Europe still afford its generous state pensions?
The most predictable story arc in Brussels is EU leaders agreeing to meet to talk about competitiveness, and then some crisis breaks out and they discuss that instead.
The need for the EU to respond to multiple global crises means world affairs are likely to encroach on an informal European Council next month that was supposed to be solely a brainstorm on how to boost the bloc’s flagging industries.
Trump fears muscle in on EU’s competitiveness summit
Leaders wanted to use next month’s castle “retreat” to talk about turning around the bloc’s economy — but there are other fires to extinguish.
www.politico.eu
January 15, 2026 at 5:07 PM
The most predictable story arc in Brussels is EU leaders agreeing to meet to talk about competitiveness, and then some crisis breaks out and they discuss that instead.
More French people consider Emmanuel Macron a threat to democracy than Marine Le Pen (or Jordan Bardella).
Something major is shifting in the public attitude towards the RN. It is no longer seen as a bogeyman -- worryingly given 44% of respondents think it is xenophobic (and 38% antisemitic).
Something major is shifting in the public attitude towards the RN. It is no longer seen as a bogeyman -- worryingly given 44% of respondents think it is xenophobic (and 38% antisemitic).
January 15, 2026 at 7:14 AM
More French people consider Emmanuel Macron a threat to democracy than Marine Le Pen (or Jordan Bardella).
Something major is shifting in the public attitude towards the RN. It is no longer seen as a bogeyman -- worryingly given 44% of respondents think it is xenophobic (and 38% antisemitic).
Something major is shifting in the public attitude towards the RN. It is no longer seen as a bogeyman -- worryingly given 44% of respondents think it is xenophobic (and 38% antisemitic).
If you're worrying about fundamental rights in Europe, you're worrying about the right thing in the wrong place.
This is 10th-grader Arnoldo Bazan.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
A citizen.
Immigration agents grabbed him and put him in a chokehold.
"We're from the United States bro!' he screamed.
Agents took and sold his phone
And when he finally got home hours later, his shirt was ripped, he neck had angry, red welts, and he sobbed.
January 14, 2026 at 8:37 PM
If you're worrying about fundamental rights in Europe, you're worrying about the right thing in the wrong place.
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
The United States needs military access to Greenland, which it already has, to defend the Arctic, which it already does, from Russian and Chinese ships, which aren’t actually there, and this is so important we should destroy the Western alliance to get it, do I have that right?
January 14, 2026 at 1:23 PM
The United States needs military access to Greenland, which it already has, to defend the Arctic, which it already does, from Russian and Chinese ships, which aren’t actually there, and this is so important we should destroy the Western alliance to get it, do I have that right?
I've now been in Brussels long enough that I spend a decent chunk of every cocktail party dodging the same handful of people.
January 14, 2026 at 7:50 PM
I've now been in Brussels long enough that I spend a decent chunk of every cocktail party dodging the same handful of people.
Listen up everyone, American Pravda has news
January 14, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Listen up everyone, American Pravda has news
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
Bill Watterson is my dark horse for the literature Nobel. (Can you imagine?) In part because of his principled stance around keeping the focus on the oeuvre and not the merchandising.
January 14, 2026 at 6:22 AM
Bill Watterson is my dark horse for the literature Nobel. (Can you imagine?) In part because of his principled stance around keeping the focus on the oeuvre and not the merchandising.
I'm sure the people of Greenland, currently attached to the best-run country in the world, are watching videos of ICE murdering people and thinking: "how can I get me some of that?"
January 8, 2026 at 8:21 PM
I'm sure the people of Greenland, currently attached to the best-run country in the world, are watching videos of ICE murdering people and thinking: "how can I get me some of that?"
Brussels has an unemployment rate of over 15%. At the same time the city is plastered with ads from companies advertising themselves as great employers (Amazon, postal system, telcos, trams, etc)
Just a very odd dissonance between on one hand high unemployment vs companies finding it hard to hire.
Just a very odd dissonance between on one hand high unemployment vs companies finding it hard to hire.
January 8, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Brussels has an unemployment rate of over 15%. At the same time the city is plastered with ads from companies advertising themselves as great employers (Amazon, postal system, telcos, trams, etc)
Just a very odd dissonance between on one hand high unemployment vs companies finding it hard to hire.
Just a very odd dissonance between on one hand high unemployment vs companies finding it hard to hire.
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
There is about 20g of #silver in a 1 kW solar panel.
The price of 20 g silver has tripled from €14 to €40 in the last two years.
-> At a module cost of 100€/kW silver would be about 40% of the module cost.
Good news: most silver in new PV can be replaced by copper
www.pv-tech.org/wp-content/u...
The price of 20 g silver has tripled from €14 to €40 in the last two years.
-> At a module cost of 100€/kW silver would be about 40% of the module cost.
Good news: most silver in new PV can be replaced by copper
www.pv-tech.org/wp-content/u...
January 8, 2026 at 8:13 AM
There is about 20g of #silver in a 1 kW solar panel.
The price of 20 g silver has tripled from €14 to €40 in the last two years.
-> At a module cost of 100€/kW silver would be about 40% of the module cost.
Good news: most silver in new PV can be replaced by copper
www.pv-tech.org/wp-content/u...
The price of 20 g silver has tripled from €14 to €40 in the last two years.
-> At a module cost of 100€/kW silver would be about 40% of the module cost.
Good news: most silver in new PV can be replaced by copper
www.pv-tech.org/wp-content/u...
Whatever weakening of societal fabric Europe may be experiencing from waves of migration, it is *nothing* compared to what is happening in America.
This statement from the Department of Homeland Security is chilling.
This statement from the Department of Homeland Security is chilling.
January 7, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Whatever weakening of societal fabric Europe may be experiencing from waves of migration, it is *nothing* compared to what is happening in America.
This statement from the Department of Homeland Security is chilling.
This statement from the Department of Homeland Security is chilling.
Me: can Atlas make my bed?
Boston Dynamics: look how Atlas does the macarena!
Me: can it unload the dishwasher?
Boston Dynamics: it does backflips! ...
Me: can it shift the load of clothes to the dryer?
Boston Dynamics: .... and see how it stands up!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrUH...
Boston Dynamics: look how Atlas does the macarena!
Me: can it unload the dishwasher?
Boston Dynamics: it does backflips! ...
Me: can it shift the load of clothes to the dryer?
Boston Dynamics: .... and see how it stands up!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrUH...
Atlas | Product Features | Boston Dynamics
YouTube video by Boston Dynamics
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Me: can Atlas make my bed?
Boston Dynamics: look how Atlas does the macarena!
Me: can it unload the dishwasher?
Boston Dynamics: it does backflips! ...
Me: can it shift the load of clothes to the dryer?
Boston Dynamics: .... and see how it stands up!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrUH...
Boston Dynamics: look how Atlas does the macarena!
Me: can it unload the dishwasher?
Boston Dynamics: it does backflips! ...
Me: can it shift the load of clothes to the dryer?
Boston Dynamics: .... and see how it stands up!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrUH...
More fun and games.
I suppose this could be construed as... good news? "We will always be there for NATO"
I suppose this could be construed as... good news? "We will always be there for NATO"
January 7, 2026 at 3:06 PM
More fun and games.
I suppose this could be construed as... good news? "We will always be there for NATO"
I suppose this could be construed as... good news? "We will always be there for NATO"
Trying to think when the last time a piece of NATO territory was threatened with invasion. Genuinely, don't think it has ever happened?
'President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday. ft.trib.al/Ws0kQMK
January 6, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Trying to think when the last time a piece of NATO territory was threatened with invasion. Genuinely, don't think it has ever happened?
It's just a very odd newscycle when Europeans are working alongside America to offer security guarantees in Ukraine while also wondering if America is going to invade Greenland. The whole thing makes no sense.
January 6, 2026 at 5:47 PM
It's just a very odd newscycle when Europeans are working alongside America to offer security guarantees in Ukraine while also wondering if America is going to invade Greenland. The whole thing makes no sense.
Reposted by Stanley Pignal
The Trump administration’s strategy for Greenland appears to be two-pronged
After Venezuela, Donald Trump points a finger at Greenland
Leaders in Greenland and Denmark are in shock. Is the president serious?
econ.st
January 6, 2026 at 4:20 PM
The Trump administration’s strategy for Greenland appears to be two-pronged
The four lifts in my Brussels office building have been under refurbishment for coming up to two years.
My guess is if this were China the job would have taken, what, a week?
My guess is if this were China the job would have taken, what, a week?
January 6, 2026 at 12:59 PM
The four lifts in my Brussels office building have been under refurbishment for coming up to two years.
My guess is if this were China the job would have taken, what, a week?
My guess is if this were China the job would have taken, what, a week?
All the coverage of the "digital euro" drives me nuts. The idea that we need "an electronic equivalent to cash: a digital currency that works in stores, online and in peer-to-peer transactions" sounds novel until you realise... we already have it! WE HAVE DIGITAL EUROS PEOPLE! THEY EXIST!
January 5, 2026 at 8:38 AM
All the coverage of the "digital euro" drives me nuts. The idea that we need "an electronic equivalent to cash: a digital currency that works in stores, online and in peer-to-peer transactions" sounds novel until you realise... we already have it! WE HAVE DIGITAL EUROS PEOPLE! THEY EXIST!
Ah wait it turns out that Germany was tapping Obama... just as it was complaining vociferously about America tapping Merkel.
(Not clear who authorised what, mind you).
(Not clear who authorised what, mind you).
German intelligence for years intercepted Obama's calls from Air Force One, @holgerstark.bsky.social reveals.
So Germany has been a more mature country than it pretended to be ("Ausspähen unter Freunden geht gar nicht"). A pity we didn't have grown-up debate on the Snowden stuff back then.
So Germany has been a more mature country than it pretended to be ("Ausspähen unter Freunden geht gar nicht"). A pity we didn't have grown-up debate on the Snowden stuff back then.
January 4, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Ah wait it turns out that Germany was tapping Obama... just as it was complaining vociferously about America tapping Merkel.
(Not clear who authorised what, mind you).
(Not clear who authorised what, mind you).
Now that's what is called a "pivot"
Elon Musk, Feb 2025: "America should mind its own business rather than push for regime change all over the place.”
Elon Musk now:
Elon Musk now:
January 4, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Now that's what is called a "pivot"