MeMartin
@markskyde.bsky.social
Since 2003 in middle Europe in Germany. English faculty of an international German university.
(Sorry, I'm not into sexy or erotic pics - don't follow me to share that.)
Hobbies: making & listening to music, cooking, biking, running, travel, reading
(Sorry, I'm not into sexy or erotic pics - don't follow me to share that.)
Hobbies: making & listening to music, cooking, biking, running, travel, reading
Reposted by MeMartin
Reposted by MeMartin
Negotiations have stalled. Trump keeps changing his policies. Ukrainians, backed by Europeans, are taking matters into their own hands, by targeting the Russian oil industry:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Ukraine’s Plan to Starve the Russian War Machine
Negotiations have stalled. Trump keeps changing his policies. Ukrainians, backed by Europeans, are taking matters into their own hands.
www.theatlantic.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Negotiations have stalled. Trump keeps changing his policies. Ukrainians, backed by Europeans, are taking matters into their own hands, by targeting the Russian oil industry:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by MeMartin
Das ständige Gleichsetzen von echten, teilweise gewaltvollen Angriffen auf Meinungs- und Pressefreiheit mit unbequemer Kritik oder Widerspruch ist nicht nur falsch – es ist brandgefährlich.
September 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Das ständige Gleichsetzen von echten, teilweise gewaltvollen Angriffen auf Meinungs- und Pressefreiheit mit unbequemer Kritik oder Widerspruch ist nicht nur falsch – es ist brandgefährlich.
"Freiheit ist das Fehlen nötigender Willkür"
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Königsberg, Ostpreußen
(Freedom is the absence of coercive arbitrariness)
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Königsberg, Ostpreußen
(Freedom is the absence of coercive arbitrariness)
September 22, 2025 at 12:47 PM
"Freiheit ist das Fehlen nötigender Willkür"
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Königsberg, Ostpreußen
(Freedom is the absence of coercive arbitrariness)
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Königsberg, Ostpreußen
(Freedom is the absence of coercive arbitrariness)
Reposted by MeMartin
What's happening with Jimmy Kimmel is about politics and power.
September 19, 2025 at 1:04 AM
What's happening with Jimmy Kimmel is about politics and power.
Reposted by MeMartin
Where the separate divisions of ANTIFA landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944:
September 18, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Where the separate divisions of ANTIFA landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944:
A 2024 report from a research arm of the Department of Justice itself noted that “[s]ince 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists.”
From: H C Richardson, "Letters from an American" September 16, 2025
From: H C Richardson, "Letters from an American" September 16, 2025
September 17, 2025 at 6:43 AM
A 2024 report from a research arm of the Department of Justice itself noted that “[s]ince 1990, far-right extremists have committed far more ideologically motivated homicides than far-left or radical Islamist extremists.”
From: H C Richardson, "Letters from an American" September 16, 2025
From: H C Richardson, "Letters from an American" September 16, 2025
Gisèle Pelicot made her legal case public. Why? "Shame has to change sides." "Die Banalität des Bösen": one person's or group's power over others to act as the persons please, devoid of consequences. Shame changed sides after WWII; it will now when shame becomes and remains public in any venue.
September 8, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Gisèle Pelicot made her legal case public. Why? "Shame has to change sides." "Die Banalität des Bösen": one person's or group's power over others to act as the persons please, devoid of consequences. Shame changed sides after WWII; it will now when shame becomes and remains public in any venue.
Reposted by MeMartin
Republicans know they will lose control of Congress if they don't rig the maps and make it harder for people to vote. Donald Trump fears a Democratic Congress and will do anything he can to prevent it. That is why those of us in the pro-democracy movement need to be ready to stand up and fight back.
September 5, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Republicans know they will lose control of Congress if they don't rig the maps and make it harder for people to vote. Donald Trump fears a Democratic Congress and will do anything he can to prevent it. That is why those of us in the pro-democracy movement need to be ready to stand up and fight back.
Reposted by MeMartin
It’s Putinism — no one anywhere can be free because my people might get ideas
trump very clearly sees any attempt to hold a criminal head of state accountable as a threat to his own standing
This sounds like a defense of fellow wannabe dictator Yoon Suk Yeol
August 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
It’s Putinism — no one anywhere can be free because my people might get ideas
Reposted by MeMartin
I celebrate every victory for voting rights, but this one is particularly special. No issue has been more hotly contested or more important to PA voters than this one. The DSCC and DCCC fought hard and it is great to see them prevail. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
In Big Win for Voters, Pennsylvania Must Count Undated Mail-In Ballots, Court Rules
In Big Win for Voters, Pennsylvania Must Count Undated Mail-In Ballots, Court Rules
www.democracydocket.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I celebrate every victory for voting rights, but this one is particularly special. No issue has been more hotly contested or more important to PA voters than this one. The DSCC and DCCC fought hard and it is great to see them prevail. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Reposted by MeMartin
Uncooperative Federalism is here!
open.substack.com/pub/cmarmita...
open.substack.com/pub/cmarmita...
It’s Time for Americans to Start Talking About “Soft Secession”
Blue states are finally learning what red states have known all along: you don’t need federal permission to govern.
open.substack.com
August 24, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Uncooperative Federalism is here!
open.substack.com/pub/cmarmita...
open.substack.com/pub/cmarmita...
Reposted by MeMartin
Reposted by MeMartin
Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.
August 19, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reminder that Putin has never said he wants a trilateral meeting, had never said he would respect Ukrainian sovereignty, and has never said he wants to end the war. Not to be a downer, but the discussion of security guarantees is premature.
Excellent summary of the Anchorage event:
KGB meets KFC to create Baked Alaska.
KGB meets KFC to create Baked Alaska.
August 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Excellent summary of the Anchorage event:
KGB meets KFC to create Baked Alaska.
KGB meets KFC to create Baked Alaska.
"Saying you would deal with Vladimir Putin by getting along well with him only means that Vladimir Putin has already dealt with you."
— Garry Kasparov, Russian dissident and world chess champion
— Garry Kasparov, Russian dissident and world chess champion
August 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
"Saying you would deal with Vladimir Putin by getting along well with him only means that Vladimir Putin has already dealt with you."
— Garry Kasparov, Russian dissident and world chess champion
— Garry Kasparov, Russian dissident and world chess champion
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv... "...reports that contain harsh and surprising assessments of democratic U.S. allies, including the U.K., Romania, Germany, and Brazil, and softer depictions of some dictatorships and other countries favored by Trump or his entourage."
Trump Has a New Definition of Human Rights
State Department reports portray Germany as more oppressive than El Salvador.
www.theatlantic.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:15 AM
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv... "...reports that contain harsh and surprising assessments of democratic U.S. allies, including the U.K., Romania, Germany, and Brazil, and softer depictions of some dictatorships and other countries favored by Trump or his entourage."
The White House has been - publicly, at least - ignoring the horror, not even speaking the words "Epstein survivors"... a normalization and decriminalization of sexual harm; if Maxwell is pardoned, "there will be an insurrection" according to Gretchen Carlson here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Hw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Hw...
Fmr Fox News host: ‘There will be an insurrection’ from MAGA base if Maxwell is pardoned
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The White House has been - publicly, at least - ignoring the horror, not even speaking the words "Epstein survivors"... a normalization and decriminalization of sexual harm; if Maxwell is pardoned, "there will be an insurrection" according to Gretchen Carlson here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Hw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Hw...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202... I spent 2 yrs of grad school at a private "christian" university. There I saw future ministers in well known clubs whose established secret initiations involved astoundingly sordid traditions. Some of these guys are now known politicians. Follow the smoking gun.
Why evangelicals couldn't care less about Trump's Epstein scandal
They have a long history of falling for narcissists posing as Saviors.
www.motherjones.com
August 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
www.motherjones.com/politics/202... I spent 2 yrs of grad school at a private "christian" university. There I saw future ministers in well known clubs whose established secret initiations involved astoundingly sordid traditions. Some of these guys are now known politicians. Follow the smoking gun.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTus... A free press in a democracy is its medicine, which sometimes hurts and makes recipients feel bad. Capehart has left a placebo to devote more time to a free press.
'The First Amendment demands it': Capehart reflects on his decision to leave The Washington Post
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
August 1, 2025 at 9:49 AM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTus... A free press in a democracy is its medicine, which sometimes hurts and makes recipients feel bad. Capehart has left a placebo to devote more time to a free press.
Reposted by MeMartin
I just held a rally in Plano, TX — a red part of the state — and 1,000 people showed up.
Many said it was their first political rally ever.
There’s something happening in Texas…
Many said it was their first political rally ever.
There’s something happening in Texas…
July 23, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I just held a rally in Plano, TX — a red part of the state — and 1,000 people showed up.
Many said it was their first political rally ever.
There’s something happening in Texas…
Many said it was their first political rally ever.
There’s something happening in Texas…
Reposted by MeMartin
Has Trump truly reversed his policy in Ukraine? Lyndsey Hilsum and I think not. Also with Matt Frei @channel4news.bsky.social
youtu.be/rXONbhgrIo8?...
youtu.be/rXONbhgrIo8?...
Ukraine war: will Trump’s threats really scare Putin? | Anne Applebaum
YouTube video by Channel 4 News
youtu.be
July 16, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Has Trump truly reversed his policy in Ukraine? Lyndsey Hilsum and I think not. Also with Matt Frei @channel4news.bsky.social
youtu.be/rXONbhgrIo8?...
youtu.be/rXONbhgrIo8?...
Reposted by MeMartin
Talarico will be in Houston on Wednesday night for a rally with “Blue Texas” (Texas Majority PAC). The PAC has held several events with Allred, but Talarico, Castro, and Virts all have upcoming events with the PAC as well.
Join James in Houston
secure.ngpvan.com
July 14, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Talarico will be in Houston on Wednesday night for a rally with “Blue Texas” (Texas Majority PAC). The PAC has held several events with Allred, but Talarico, Castro, and Virts all have upcoming events with the PAC as well.
Reposted by MeMartin
In a democracy, no police force should be allowed to operate in the shadows. We’re not just debating immigration. Funded by tax dollars and built to operate outside of the public eye – and potentially the reach of the law – are we witnessing the rise of a police state?
We’re not just debating immigration policy: the danger of an expanded ICE
A federal judge from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California passed an order that temporarily halts ICE raids in Los Angeles. In her order, she cites grave constitutional violations in these arrests, arguing that they have been conducted indiscriminately and without reasonable suspicion of illegality or criminal activity. The Trump administration is not just cracking down on border control, but transforming ICE from an immigration enforcement agency into a force, larger than the FBI, less accountable, and increasingly untethered from democratic norms. With masked agents and warrantless raids, ICE’s evolution raises urgent questions about civil liberties, due process, and the future of American law enforcement.
www.msnbc.com
July 12, 2025 at 8:32 PM
In a democracy, no police force should be allowed to operate in the shadows. We’re not just debating immigration. Funded by tax dollars and built to operate outside of the public eye – and potentially the reach of the law – are we witnessing the rise of a police state?
Reposted by MeMartin
Vienna has been declared a renters’ utopia – and it’s easy to see why | Justin Kadi
Vienna has been declared a renters’ utopia – and it’s easy to see why | Justin Kadi
Social housing makes up almost half of the city’s 1m homes. The system isn’t perfect, but it gets a lot of things right, says housing expert Justin Kadi
www.theguardian.com
July 10, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Vienna has been declared a renters’ utopia – and it’s easy to see why | Justin Kadi