Apprentice Citizen
@apprenticeciti.bsky.social
Weak or wise?
Putin desperately needs a 2nd mobilization. His provocations attempt to trigger an accident. He’ll then fudge the accident and sell it Russians as their motherland being under attack, and start a mobilization.
Resolute defense neutralizes that.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVzC...
Putin desperately needs a 2nd mobilization. His provocations attempt to trigger an accident. He’ll then fudge the accident and sell it Russians as their motherland being under attack, and start a mobilization.
Resolute defense neutralizes that.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVzC...
September 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Weak or wise?
Putin desperately needs a 2nd mobilization. His provocations attempt to trigger an accident. He’ll then fudge the accident and sell it Russians as their motherland being under attack, and start a mobilization.
Resolute defense neutralizes that.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVzC...
Putin desperately needs a 2nd mobilization. His provocations attempt to trigger an accident. He’ll then fudge the accident and sell it Russians as their motherland being under attack, and start a mobilization.
Resolute defense neutralizes that.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DVzC...
Spain went all out.
There’s a smarter way when dealing with a prickly US president:
Buy F-35, just much less of them.
Build the fleet around non-US aircraft. Use few F-35 to supply situational awareness to the fleet
I expect many more countries to quietly leave distance from the IS that way
There’s a smarter way when dealing with a prickly US president:
Buy F-35, just much less of them.
Build the fleet around non-US aircraft. Use few F-35 to supply situational awareness to the fleet
I expect many more countries to quietly leave distance from the IS that way
Spain decides not to buy US F-35 jets because of fears of US political reliability. There will be more of this on.ft.com/41tL4zH via @FT
Spain shuns US F-35 jets as tensions grow with Washington
Madrid to purchase European military aircraft in sign of deepening rift with Trump over defence and foreign policy
on.ft.com
August 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Spain went all out.
There’s a smarter way when dealing with a prickly US president:
Buy F-35, just much less of them.
Build the fleet around non-US aircraft. Use few F-35 to supply situational awareness to the fleet
I expect many more countries to quietly leave distance from the IS that way
There’s a smarter way when dealing with a prickly US president:
Buy F-35, just much less of them.
Build the fleet around non-US aircraft. Use few F-35 to supply situational awareness to the fleet
I expect many more countries to quietly leave distance from the IS that way
Here we go. Renowned journalists begin to be apologetic about expressing criticism, and doing so referring to “patriotism”.
I think of all Russian voices criticizing the war prefixing with how patriotic they are.
I think of all Russian voices criticizing the war prefixing with how patriotic they are.
i believe that it is still patriotic to criticize your country when it makes a mistake.
and i have a huge problem with the trump administration pulling a west point appointee, solely because of her role in securing the (free and fair) 2020 election results.
youtu.be/tcfTJ8WnuFE?...
and i have a huge problem with the trump administration pulling a west point appointee, solely because of her role in securing the (free and fair) 2020 election results.
youtu.be/tcfTJ8WnuFE?...
US government rescinds West Point role for former cyber director | Ian Bremmer's Quick Take
YouTube video by GZERO Media
youtu.be
August 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Here we go. Renowned journalists begin to be apologetic about expressing criticism, and doing so referring to “patriotism”.
I think of all Russian voices criticizing the war prefixing with how patriotic they are.
I think of all Russian voices criticizing the war prefixing with how patriotic they are.
- 15% effective rate of tariffs. Was previously ~3%.
- EU commits to buy US energy 250$ billion/y for 3 years . 2024 purchases = 65$B. Hardly realistic
- $600 billion investment expected from a mix of public and private sector, mostly private.
- a high-level agreement with many points still open
- EU commits to buy US energy 250$ billion/y for 3 years . 2024 purchases = 65$B. Hardly realistic
- $600 billion investment expected from a mix of public and private sector, mostly private.
- a high-level agreement with many points still open
Trump and von der Leyen announce US-EU trade deal
Agreement includes 15% baseline tariff for most EU exports to US after deal reached at Scotland crunch talks
www.theguardian.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:28 AM
- 15% effective rate of tariffs. Was previously ~3%.
- EU commits to buy US energy 250$ billion/y for 3 years . 2024 purchases = 65$B. Hardly realistic
- $600 billion investment expected from a mix of public and private sector, mostly private.
- a high-level agreement with many points still open
- EU commits to buy US energy 250$ billion/y for 3 years . 2024 purchases = 65$B. Hardly realistic
- $600 billion investment expected from a mix of public and private sector, mostly private.
- a high-level agreement with many points still open
It’s hard to understand calls for EU expansion, when the EU’s biggest Achilles heel is its inability to get its current members to agree, ending up in paralysis or crawling speed on the vast majority of issues.
Excellent FT piece on how the EU succumbed to Trump’s trade extortion: “Rather than join Canada and China with instant retaliation and inflict pain on US consumers and businesses, the EU — hamstrung by divergent views among its member states — chose to take the pain”
on.ft.com/471fKvG
on.ft.com/471fKvG
How the EU succumbed to Trump’s tariff steamroller
Relief at avoiding trade war is tinged with regret at not taking firmer stand from the start
on.ft.com
July 28, 2025 at 6:03 AM
It’s hard to understand calls for EU expansion, when the EU’s biggest Achilles heel is its inability to get its current members to agree, ending up in paralysis or crawling speed on the vast majority of issues.
Design and early production were surely already complete.
German financing scaled it up to small scale production. Possibly know how too.
Producing in 🇺🇦 enables lower cost, higher speed, and avoids criticism of “escalation”
German financing scaled it up to small scale production. Possibly know how too.
Producing in 🇺🇦 enables lower cost, higher speed, and avoids criticism of “escalation”
German Major General Christian Freuding reports that the German-Ukrainian Initiative, which was launched only in May and which includes the financing of long-range weapon systems, will result in the first delivery by the end of this month.
July 15, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Design and early production were surely already complete.
German financing scaled it up to small scale production. Possibly know how too.
Producing in 🇺🇦 enables lower cost, higher speed, and avoids criticism of “escalation”
German financing scaled it up to small scale production. Possibly know how too.
Producing in 🇺🇦 enables lower cost, higher speed, and avoids criticism of “escalation”
@anderspucknielsen.dk expectation somewhat proved right.
- defensive systems confirmed in good numbers (17 patriots)
- offensive systems left unspecified and conditional
- no sanctions imposed, merely promised in 50 days time behind a bunch of further vague conditionals
Hardly a shocking package.
- defensive systems confirmed in good numbers (17 patriots)
- offensive systems left unspecified and conditional
- no sanctions imposed, merely promised in 50 days time behind a bunch of further vague conditionals
Hardly a shocking package.
I hope to be wrong, but I am ready to be underwhelmed by Trump's announcements about Russia.
Senator Lindsey Graham:
I expect in the coming days you will see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves...
I expect in the coming days more support from Europe regarding their efforts to help Ukraine. Putin made a miscalculation here.
I expect in the coming days you will see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves...
I expect in the coming days more support from Europe regarding their efforts to help Ukraine. Putin made a miscalculation here.
July 14, 2025 at 6:37 PM
@anderspucknielsen.dk expectation somewhat proved right.
- defensive systems confirmed in good numbers (17 patriots)
- offensive systems left unspecified and conditional
- no sanctions imposed, merely promised in 50 days time behind a bunch of further vague conditionals
Hardly a shocking package.
- defensive systems confirmed in good numbers (17 patriots)
- offensive systems left unspecified and conditional
- no sanctions imposed, merely promised in 50 days time behind a bunch of further vague conditionals
Hardly a shocking package.
If European countries don’t buy Franco-Italian air defense systems now that 1) mistrust in the US reliability is at its peak 2) their European system is at its newest — it’s hard to believe it ever will grow any autonomy.
SAMP-T is cheaper, more flexible and easier to operate than PATRIOT, too.
SAMP-T is cheaper, more flexible and easier to operate than PATRIOT, too.
Europe’s air defence dilemma: can Franco-Italian system rival US Patriot?
New SAMP-T system on display at Paris Air Show seeks buyers amid Europe’s efforts to re-arm
www.ft.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM
If European countries don’t buy Franco-Italian air defense systems now that 1) mistrust in the US reliability is at its peak 2) their European system is at its newest — it’s hard to believe it ever will grow any autonomy.
SAMP-T is cheaper, more flexible and easier to operate than PATRIOT, too.
SAMP-T is cheaper, more flexible and easier to operate than PATRIOT, too.
What better time than now to bring money to the US, finance the country and indirectly vote for Trumps version of America?
European tourist arrivals into the US remain very strong. In fact, in one case - Italy - arrivals posted a new all-time high in April 2025. The popular narrative is that Europe is affronted by the US. Travel data tell a different story. Today's substack:
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/strong-for...
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/strong-for...
Strong Foreign Travel to the US
Foreign tourist arrivals in the US - especially from Europe - remain buoyant
robinjbrooks.substack.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
What better time than now to bring money to the US, finance the country and indirectly vote for Trumps version of America?
Reposted by Apprentice Citizen
If your response to this video is, “That’s what I voted for”—
Fuck you. Fuck you very much.
You’re heartless.
Fuck you. Fuck you very much.
You’re heartless.
June 9, 2025 at 12:43 AM
If your response to this video is, “That’s what I voted for”—
Fuck you. Fuck you very much.
You’re heartless.
Fuck you. Fuck you very much.
You’re heartless.
Many debate whether Donald Trump is a Russian agent.
Whether he will be rewarded or not — he is clearly an agent in the sense that he is acting evidently and consistently to advance Russias interests.
Whether he will be rewarded or not — he is clearly an agent in the sense that he is acting evidently and consistently to advance Russias interests.
Donald Trump asked the Senate to delay consideration of the Russia sanctions bill, according to Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker.
Because of course he did
Because of course he did
June 4, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Many debate whether Donald Trump is a Russian agent.
Whether he will be rewarded or not — he is clearly an agent in the sense that he is acting evidently and consistently to advance Russias interests.
Whether he will be rewarded or not — he is clearly an agent in the sense that he is acting evidently and consistently to advance Russias interests.
This shouldn’t be celebrated.
It’s unfair towards herself, and not sustainable anyway.
And it legitimizes the cuts by preventing the problems they caused from showing.
As tough as it is, the only way is to let the worst happen.
It’s unfair towards herself, and not sustainable anyway.
And it legitimizes the cuts by preventing the problems they caused from showing.
As tough as it is, the only way is to let the worst happen.
Yet another dedicated scientist and public servant, this time from US Fish and Wildlife, showing up unpaid after she was fired to volunteer to protect an endangered species.
What are we even doing here.
🎁 link: 🧪
What are we even doing here.
🎁 link: 🧪
After Elon Musk Fired Her, She Kept Showing Up to Work—for Free
The billionaire and his followers are out to cull federal employees they think are lazy and overpaid. But without people like Bianca Sicich, the Attwater’s prairie chicken could go extinct.
www.texasmonthly.com
May 29, 2025 at 7:44 AM
This shouldn’t be celebrated.
It’s unfair towards herself, and not sustainable anyway.
And it legitimizes the cuts by preventing the problems they caused from showing.
As tough as it is, the only way is to let the worst happen.
It’s unfair towards herself, and not sustainable anyway.
And it legitimizes the cuts by preventing the problems they caused from showing.
As tough as it is, the only way is to let the worst happen.
MAGA folks, are you seeing this?
Even the Russian propaganda outlet RT is mocking Trump’s weakness. They know he’ll crawl back to Putin by morning.
May 27, 2025 at 6:58 PM
MAGA folks, are you seeing this?
For the increasing number of people claiming that Trump is sincerely concerned about the death toll for his Ukraine policy — and this includes the great @general-ben.bsky.social :
just look at his policy on the Gaza war.
just look at his policy on the Gaza war.
May 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
For the increasing number of people claiming that Trump is sincerely concerned about the death toll for his Ukraine policy — and this includes the great @general-ben.bsky.social :
just look at his policy on the Gaza war.
just look at his policy on the Gaza war.
“Brutal for Trump” misses the point a bit.
Trump’s point with these deeds is not to get courts to approve them.
It’s to get them normalized in the eyes of public opinion. At which point, courts become the boogie men.
And it’s working.
Trump’s point with these deeds is not to get courts to approve them.
It’s to get them normalized in the eyes of public opinion. At which point, courts become the boogie men.
And it’s working.
May 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
“Brutal for Trump” misses the point a bit.
Trump’s point with these deeds is not to get courts to approve them.
It’s to get them normalized in the eyes of public opinion. At which point, courts become the boogie men.
And it’s working.
Trump’s point with these deeds is not to get courts to approve them.
It’s to get them normalized in the eyes of public opinion. At which point, courts become the boogie men.
And it’s working.
Reposted by Apprentice Citizen
A bitter truth: Putin wages war because the West showed weakness, not resistance.
For 20 years, he met words—not consequences. Now Ukraine burns. And if he’s not stopped there, he won’t stop at all.
Appeasement isn’t peace. It’s permission.
Stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦—before tyranny spreads.
For 20 years, he met words—not consequences. Now Ukraine burns. And if he’s not stopped there, he won’t stop at all.
Appeasement isn’t peace. It’s permission.
Stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦—before tyranny spreads.
May 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM
A bitter truth: Putin wages war because the West showed weakness, not resistance.
For 20 years, he met words—not consequences. Now Ukraine burns. And if he’s not stopped there, he won’t stop at all.
Appeasement isn’t peace. It’s permission.
Stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦—before tyranny spreads.
For 20 years, he met words—not consequences. Now Ukraine burns. And if he’s not stopped there, he won’t stop at all.
Appeasement isn’t peace. It’s permission.
Stand with Ukraine 🇺🇦—before tyranny spreads.
Every western statesman visiting Putin is a gift to legitimize him.
A gift given by someone who represents the people of his nation and willingly disregards Putin’s Bucha and his ongoing theft of Ukrainian children.
Slovakians, what do you think of this?
A gift given by someone who represents the people of his nation and willingly disregards Putin’s Bucha and his ongoing theft of Ukrainian children.
Slovakians, what do you think of this?
Fico has made it to Moscow.
Top news on Russian Telegram channels at the moment.
Top news on Russian Telegram channels at the moment.
May 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Every western statesman visiting Putin is a gift to legitimize him.
A gift given by someone who represents the people of his nation and willingly disregards Putin’s Bucha and his ongoing theft of Ukrainian children.
Slovakians, what do you think of this?
A gift given by someone who represents the people of his nation and willingly disregards Putin’s Bucha and his ongoing theft of Ukrainian children.
Slovakians, what do you think of this?
Here’s how the EU is considering stopping dark fleet:
- offer all tankers to voluntarily get checked
- if a vessel doesn’t, it automatically ends on the sanction list
A creative workaround to the right of “innocent passage”, bent by Russia risking environmental catastrophe.
Source: Sergei Guriev
- offer all tankers to voluntarily get checked
- if a vessel doesn’t, it automatically ends on the sanction list
A creative workaround to the right of “innocent passage”, bent by Russia risking environmental catastrophe.
Source: Sergei Guriev
The US, UK and EU sanctioned many shadow fleet oil tankers in Jan. '25. Our tracking of shadow fleet oil tankers shows activity has gone to zero among sanctioned ships in the Baltic. Putin and his friends don't want you to know this, but sanctions are highly effective. @econharris.bsky.social
April 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Here’s how the EU is considering stopping dark fleet:
- offer all tankers to voluntarily get checked
- if a vessel doesn’t, it automatically ends on the sanction list
A creative workaround to the right of “innocent passage”, bent by Russia risking environmental catastrophe.
Source: Sergei Guriev
- offer all tankers to voluntarily get checked
- if a vessel doesn’t, it automatically ends on the sanction list
A creative workaround to the right of “innocent passage”, bent by Russia risking environmental catastrophe.
Source: Sergei Guriev
Frankly it’s shocking that nearly half of Americans approve of what he has done so far.
The margins are thin enough to reverse shortly before midterms with the right story.
One wonders how far can Trump really go before Americans decisively say stop. There seems to be a long way still.
The margins are thin enough to reverse shortly before midterms with the right story.
One wonders how far can Trump really go before Americans decisively say stop. There seems to be a long way still.
Trump’s agenda is deeply unpopular. Republican members of Congress, especially in swing states, need to wake up and start speaking out, or risk losing their seats next year.
April 25, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Frankly it’s shocking that nearly half of Americans approve of what he has done so far.
The margins are thin enough to reverse shortly before midterms with the right story.
One wonders how far can Trump really go before Americans decisively say stop. There seems to be a long way still.
The margins are thin enough to reverse shortly before midterms with the right story.
One wonders how far can Trump really go before Americans decisively say stop. There seems to be a long way still.
For those who take elon musk at his word as being a “free speech absolutist”
Three users on X who feuded with Elon Musk in December saw their reach on the social platform practically vanish overnight, The New York Times found, signaling that Musk or others at the company have the power to punish critics and that they may be willing to use it
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
They Criticized Musk on X. Then Their Reach Collapsed.
Three users who disagreed with the site’s owner saw views for their posts plummet.
www.nytimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
For those who take elon musk at his word as being a “free speech absolutist”
One of the the best things you can do as a European citizen this year:
Buy European. Whenever you have the option.
Even when it costs you a little more. Even when you takes a little compromise.
It’s an investment into your own future.
Buy European. Whenever you have the option.
Even when it costs you a little more. Even when you takes a little compromise.
It’s an investment into your own future.
April 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
One of the the best things you can do as a European citizen this year:
Buy European. Whenever you have the option.
Even when it costs you a little more. Even when you takes a little compromise.
It’s an investment into your own future.
Buy European. Whenever you have the option.
Even when it costs you a little more. Even when you takes a little compromise.
It’s an investment into your own future.
Very insightful.
Pragmatic, actionable plans like this is exactly what the EU needs to move forward.
Pragmatic, actionable plans like this is exactly what the EU needs to move forward.
“Europe’s gas market remains fragmented and disrupted by an East-West divide, despite expectations that EU member states should operate within a single market governed by shared rules and codes.”
Seas of Opportunity: Integrating Gas Markets from the Baltic to the Balkans
A new Baltic-to-Balkan pipeline initiative, circumventing Brussels and European governments, would be a crucial next step for Ukraine.
buff.ly
April 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Very insightful.
Pragmatic, actionable plans like this is exactly what the EU needs to move forward.
Pragmatic, actionable plans like this is exactly what the EU needs to move forward.
Trump “pausing” tariffs:
Most commentators claim he capitulated.
More likely: this was planned. Similar to the shock withdrawal of weapons and intel to Ukraine. For few days.
Trump still blind to the devastation to US economy long-term.
Stocks down + Treasuries yield up clear sign of this damage
Most commentators claim he capitulated.
More likely: this was planned. Similar to the shock withdrawal of weapons and intel to Ukraine. For few days.
Trump still blind to the devastation to US economy long-term.
Stocks down + Treasuries yield up clear sign of this damage
April 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Trump “pausing” tariffs:
Most commentators claim he capitulated.
More likely: this was planned. Similar to the shock withdrawal of weapons and intel to Ukraine. For few days.
Trump still blind to the devastation to US economy long-term.
Stocks down + Treasuries yield up clear sign of this damage
Most commentators claim he capitulated.
More likely: this was planned. Similar to the shock withdrawal of weapons and intel to Ukraine. For few days.
Trump still blind to the devastation to US economy long-term.
Stocks down + Treasuries yield up clear sign of this damage
We have been reading of many such successes over the last weeks.
Great. But what’s their impact in aggregate?
How much of Russia’s government revenue are they cutting?
How long does it take Russia to repair them?
What other noteworthy implications?
Great. But what’s their impact in aggregate?
How much of Russia’s government revenue are they cutting?
How long does it take Russia to repair them?
What other noteworthy implications?
Another gas facility in Russia is burning. The gas processing plant in Astrakhan has been struck by at least three UAVs according TG channel Uniannet.
February 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
We have been reading of many such successes over the last weeks.
Great. But what’s their impact in aggregate?
How much of Russia’s government revenue are they cutting?
How long does it take Russia to repair them?
What other noteworthy implications?
Great. But what’s their impact in aggregate?
How much of Russia’s government revenue are they cutting?
How long does it take Russia to repair them?
What other noteworthy implications?
EU and US have been incredibly shy with the situation in Georgia.
Hardly good considering the delicate position that Russia is taking.
Hardly good considering the delicate position that Russia is taking.
🆘 #TerrorInGeorgia 🇬🇪
I urge everyone to wake up to the horrifying torture of Nika Katsia, a Georgian journalist and outspoken protester, at the hands of the Georgian Dream regime.
1/4
I urge everyone to wake up to the horrifying torture of Nika Katsia, a Georgian journalist and outspoken protester, at the hands of the Georgian Dream regime.
1/4
January 23, 2025 at 10:52 PM
EU and US have been incredibly shy with the situation in Georgia.
Hardly good considering the delicate position that Russia is taking.
Hardly good considering the delicate position that Russia is taking.