Mareike Ohlberg
@mareikeohlberg.bsky.social
Senior fellow @gmfus | CCP interference, digital, media, ideology | Permanent email/DM bankruptcy | #peasantpride | Usual disclaimers
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
The example blue notice we include in this post is hugely concerning too. A police notice from Chongqing announcing an investigation into Taiwanese lawyer and legislator Shen Bo-yang (沈伯洋), who is also known as Puma Shen.
Hu Xijin speaks out against the flood of "blue background" notices from police and government that are drowning out even Party-led journalism. Learn more: chinamediaproject.org/2025/11/10/b...
Beyond Blue and White - China Media Project
Former Global Times editor Hu Xijin warns that official notices are replacing journalism, undermining China's ability to communicate effectively during crises.
chinamediaproject.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The example blue notice we include in this post is hugely concerning too. A police notice from Chongqing announcing an investigation into Taiwanese lawyer and legislator Shen Bo-yang (沈伯洋), who is also known as Puma Shen.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
This was really interesting. I want to know what the company plans to do when law enforcement comes and asks for recordings from inside the homes of particular clients from them, because it WILL happen. What do they store, what will they share? @kevinroose.com @caseynewton.bsky.social
NEO, a new humanoid robot that can do housekeeping, has the internet buzzing. The hosts of "Hard Fork" met with Bernt Bornich, the chief executive of the company 1X, which created the robot, and got to put NEO to the test. nyti.ms/47MhkAo
November 9, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This was really interesting. I want to know what the company plans to do when law enforcement comes and asks for recordings from inside the homes of particular clients from them, because it WILL happen. What do they store, what will they share? @kevinroose.com @caseynewton.bsky.social
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
“In September 2024, the university informed Chinese state security that it would not be publishing a final phase of research on forced labour in China. “Immediately, relations improved,” an administrator wrote.”
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
“In September 2024, the university informed Chinese state security that it would not be publishing a final phase of research on forced labour in China. “Immediately, relations improved,” an administrator wrote.”
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
This is great!
I don’t know who turned me on to this automated labeler that tells you who is posting hundreds of times a day, who never stops posting, etc, but it’s great
bsky.app/profile/stec...
bsky.app/profile/stec...
bsky.app
November 3, 2025 at 9:25 PM
This is great!
I wish it was only the billionaires.
Mr. Obama sir we tried to tell you that you were running with a bad crowd (billionaires), they’re bad news
www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/10/31/p...
November 2, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I wish it was only the billionaires.
I probably shouldn't be, but I'm always astonished by the people who can see the authoritarian turn in the US very clearly but somehow still manage to whitewash, ignore or play down authoritarianism in China despite having lived in the country. And I'm not talking about the classic tankies.
October 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I probably shouldn't be, but I'm always astonished by the people who can see the authoritarian turn in the US very clearly but somehow still manage to whitewash, ignore or play down authoritarianism in China despite having lived in the country. And I'm not talking about the classic tankies.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Congratulations, Elon Musk.
After 29 years, RFA is on pause
From the executive editor: funding uncertainty is driving RFA’s remaining teams to stop delivering the news for now
rfa.org
October 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Congratulations, Elon Musk.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Huge if true, and seems to confirm that the semiconductor export control regime was indeed up as a bargaining chip in Trump's talks with Xi, which begs the question of what else might be up for negotiation
October 29, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Huge if true, and seems to confirm that the semiconductor export control regime was indeed up as a bargaining chip in Trump's talks with Xi, which begs the question of what else might be up for negotiation
Thanks for publishing this. Reading the exchange, I couldn't help but think that the reason why Halligan feels so unconstrained to go for this ham-fisted intimidation/manipulation attempt is that this kind of stuff probably works on an unfortunately high number of people.
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
October 22, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Thanks for publishing this. Reading the exchange, I couldn't help but think that the reason why Halligan feels so unconstrained to go for this ham-fisted intimidation/manipulation attempt is that this kind of stuff probably works on an unfortunately high number of people.
I like to joke that Xi Jinping is my most important and reliable ally when it comes to convincing the US and Europe to make better China policy. Maybe I need to add Putin to my list of "allies."
Russian president then delivered a rambling historical discursion spanning medieval princes such as Rurik of Novgorod and Yaroslav the Wise, along with the 17th century Cossack chieftain Bohdan Khmelnytsky.Trump raised his voice several times and at one point threatened to walk out
on.ft.com/4qkz9PG
on.ft.com/4qkz9PG
How Vladimir Putin’s history rant in Alaska nudged Donald Trump closer to Ukraine
Fraught summit in Anchorage marked a nadir that reshaped how the presidents approach each other
on.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I like to joke that Xi Jinping is my most important and reliable ally when it comes to convincing the US and Europe to make better China policy. Maybe I need to add Putin to my list of "allies."
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional release.
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
PEN International
#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional...
www.facebook.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:32 AM
#China: Today, on the 10-year anniversary of the kidnapping of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai, 65 PEN Centres around the world renew our demand for his immediate and unconditional release.
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
Read our joint statement ⬇️
www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...
#FreeGuiMinhai
"escalating his challenge to the authority" @nytpitchbot.bsky.social is this you??
President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.
Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money
The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.
nyti.ms
October 16, 2025 at 12:22 AM
"escalating his challenge to the authority" @nytpitchbot.bsky.social is this you??
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Is Trump irresponsible enough to fall for this? China’s leadership must think so
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
China Pushes Trump to Drop Curbs as It Dangles Investment Pledge
China is pushing the Trump administration to roll back national-security restrictions on Chinese deals in the US, dangling the prospect of a massive investment package as part of a proposal that would...
www.bloomberg.com
October 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Is Trump irresponsible enough to fall for this? China’s leadership must think so
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
continue on the theme of different "toilet cultures", I grew up using toilets without flush water and without cubicles. this is a widely circulated image showing an illustrated 007 book likely from the 1980s. the illustration is about James Bond retrieving a secret letter in a public restroom...
October 3, 2025 at 8:09 PM
continue on the theme of different "toilet cultures", I grew up using toilets without flush water and without cubicles. this is a widely circulated image showing an illustrated 007 book likely from the 1980s. the illustration is about James Bond retrieving a secret letter in a public restroom...
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
My analysis of Tuesday's mtg:
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
Rough Seas Ahead
www.gmfus.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My analysis of Tuesday's mtg:
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
"...It underscored the admin’s intention to shift its focus... toward homeland issues, and provided the clearest indication yet that US partners and allies will have to contend with a military increasingly operating outside of int'l law."
www.gmfus.org/news/rough-s...
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Author copies for
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social arrived today!
If you re-post this by Sept 30 we'll put you in a drawing & send the winner a free signed copy anywhere they happen to be on the planet.
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social arrived today!
If you re-post this by Sept 30 we'll put you in a drawing & send the winner a free signed copy anywhere they happen to be on the planet.
September 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Author copies for
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social arrived today!
If you re-post this by Sept 30 we'll put you in a drawing & send the winner a free signed copy anywhere they happen to be on the planet.
Dictating the Agenda: The Authoritarian Resurgence in World Politics
by me & @cooleyoneurasia.bsky.social arrived today!
If you re-post this by Sept 30 we'll put you in a drawing & send the winner a free signed copy anywhere they happen to be on the planet.
Glad to see people finally talking about this.
September 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Glad to see people finally talking about this.
Chinese readout from the Trump-Xi call www.cac.gov.cn/2025-09/19/c...
September 21, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Chinese readout from the Trump-Xi call www.cac.gov.cn/2025-09/19/c...
""Fünf nach zwölf" heißt jetzt: Ich weiß nicht, ob wir noch die Freiheit, die Vielfalt der Lebensformen, die Toleranz verteidigen können; aber mehr als verlieren können wir nicht."
September 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
""Fünf nach zwölf" heißt jetzt: Ich weiß nicht, ob wir noch die Freiheit, die Vielfalt der Lebensformen, die Toleranz verteidigen können; aber mehr als verlieren können wir nicht."
I've had my fair share of disagreements with Mr. Niblett on China (and still do), but we are, sadly, in agreement here.
The Trump regime is seeking "regime change in Europe" former Chatham House director Robin Niblet tells the New York Times.
This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...
This American-led global far right movement is turning into the Comintern of our times, warns Dutch historian @luukvmiddelaar.bsky.social.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/w...
September 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I've had my fair share of disagreements with Mr. Niblett on China (and still do), but we are, sadly, in agreement here.
One of my last few trusted online resources really let me down today, and it feels like we have entered a new era where anything and everything can and will be taken down. Even the most trustworthy corners of the internet are no longer exempted.
September 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
One of my last few trusted online resources really let me down today, and it feels like we have entered a new era where anything and everything can and will be taken down. Even the most trustworthy corners of the internet are no longer exempted.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Brendan Carr had better get on the ball to silence this Brendan Carr guy
September 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Brendan Carr had better get on the ball to silence this Brendan Carr guy
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Tired: Qu Yuan 屈原 as the voice of a pearl-clutching elitist
Wired: Qu Yuan as a queer flower queen who’s utterly unwilling to just be cool with appalling government
Wired: Qu Yuan as a queer flower queen who’s utterly unwilling to just be cool with appalling government
Turns out that our current sociopolitical moment makes the Li Sao 《离骚》hit waaay different when you read it in class.
September 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Tired: Qu Yuan 屈原 as the voice of a pearl-clutching elitist
Wired: Qu Yuan as a queer flower queen who’s utterly unwilling to just be cool with appalling government
Wired: Qu Yuan as a queer flower queen who’s utterly unwilling to just be cool with appalling government
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
❗ #China: Zhang Zhan spent 4 years in prison for reporting on COVID-19. She is to be tried in Shanghai tomorrow after being re-arrested a year ago for a bogus offense. It’s urgent for the international community to pressure Beijing for her release. #FreeZhangZhan! rsf.org/en/covid-19-...
COVID-19 journalist Zhang Zhan will be tried this week in China, RSF calls on international community to act
Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan spent four years in prison for breaking some of the earliest COVID-19 stories from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus took hold. Now, she is about to be tried in the...
rsf.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:34 PM
❗ #China: Zhang Zhan spent 4 years in prison for reporting on COVID-19. She is to be tried in Shanghai tomorrow after being re-arrested a year ago for a bogus offense. It’s urgent for the international community to pressure Beijing for her release. #FreeZhangZhan! rsf.org/en/covid-19-...
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
For EU nerds, helpful list of all EP Committees now on Bluesky:
We are delighted to announce that the European Parliament's Bluesky family is expanding, with the arrival of accounts for each of the Parliament's Committees 🦋
Check out the full list below, and follow them for regular updates on Committee activity - votes, meetings, etc.!
Check out the full list below, and follow them for regular updates on Committee activity - votes, meetings, etc.!
September 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
For EU nerds, helpful list of all EP Committees now on Bluesky: