@Maxine David.bsky.social.com
@maxinedavid.bsky.social
Brit abroad. Critical friend of the EU. Foreign Policy analyst (EU, Russia, UK, US) at Leiden University. Teaching = my way of not despairing about the world. Of course they're my views.
So good to see this response from many of the Dutch political parties. 🤞🏼
1/ Eleven Dutch parties across the political spectrum from socialist to conservative have issued a joint appeal to a provincial government to build a memorial to Black American soldiers who died in World War II, to replace one removed from the Netherlands American Cemetery. ⬇️
November 11, 2025 at 2:29 PM
So good to see this response from many of the Dutch political parties. 🤞🏼
He embodies what they stand for? So they stand for: Racism? Misogyny? Sexual harassment? Corruption? Fraud? Fascism? Okay, got it.
"Donald Trump is the ultimate symbol of populism. He immediately embodies what we stand for," says Salvatore Nicotra, founder of the new TRUMP party.
New far-right party named after Trump launches in Belgium
"Donald Trump is the ultimate symbol of populism. He immediately embodies what we stand for," says Salvatore Nicotra, founder of the new TRUMP party.
l.euronews.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:14 AM
He embodies what they stand for? So they stand for: Racism? Misogyny? Sexual harassment? Corruption? Fraud? Fascism? Okay, got it.
Worth watching this for the last 2/3 especially. We shouldn't leap on this & say it's a sign Russia is about to implode but it's a small crack in the edifice & we know what can happen if you don't tend to even the smallest stresses & strains.
In today’s Russian papers: “Budget revenues still falling, trade with China declining" & ”petrol supply problems in the regions.” Plus an interesting editorial: “In a situation where almost everything is prohibited, a little something at least should be permitted” #ReadingRussia
Russian paper points out that "almost everything is prohibited" in Russia
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Worth watching this for the last 2/3 especially. We shouldn't leap on this & say it's a sign Russia is about to implode but it's a small crack in the edifice & we know what can happen if you don't tend to even the smallest stresses & strains.
Important insights into the utter hypocrisy of those hounding the BBC.
"... if the BBC cannot or will not defend itself, and if it will not stand true for a truly radical concept: fearlessly impartial journalism, not fearful management of impartiality, then it will fade away."
"... if the BBC cannot or will not defend itself, and if it will not stand true for a truly radical concept: fearlessly impartial journalism, not fearful management of impartiality, then it will fade away."
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Important insights into the utter hypocrisy of those hounding the BBC.
"... if the BBC cannot or will not defend itself, and if it will not stand true for a truly radical concept: fearlessly impartial journalism, not fearful management of impartiality, then it will fade away."
"... if the BBC cannot or will not defend itself, and if it will not stand true for a truly radical concept: fearlessly impartial journalism, not fearful management of impartiality, then it will fade away."
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
We're officially live. It's incredibly important to have a real record of how our public servants are behaving and this database will be a powerful tool for researchers, reporters, and ordinary Americans.
1/6 A new standard for public accountability is here. GLOW—Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog—is officially launching today to hold government lawyers accountable. We're unveiling The Government Lawyers Database at glowlaw.org. #RuleOfLaw #Accountability
The Government Lawyers Database
glowlaw.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:23 AM
We're officially live. It's incredibly important to have a real record of how our public servants are behaving and this database will be a powerful tool for researchers, reporters, and ordinary Americans.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
"If the BBC is so woke, how come it grovels before Farage?"
Piece from me on how, leftish bias at the BBC should never be excused. But nor can we avoid the grim truth that the radical right is now a clear threat to independent journalism in the UK
open.substack.com/pub/nickcohe...
Piece from me on how, leftish bias at the BBC should never be excused. But nor can we avoid the grim truth that the radical right is now a clear threat to independent journalism in the UK
open.substack.com/pub/nickcohe...
If the BBC is so woke, how come it grovels before Farage?
The radical right is also the enemy of journalism
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
"If the BBC is so woke, how come it grovels before Farage?"
Piece from me on how, leftish bias at the BBC should never be excused. But nor can we avoid the grim truth that the radical right is now a clear threat to independent journalism in the UK
open.substack.com/pub/nickcohe...
Piece from me on how, leftish bias at the BBC should never be excused. But nor can we avoid the grim truth that the radical right is now a clear threat to independent journalism in the UK
open.substack.com/pub/nickcohe...
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun strijd tegen racisme binnen het leger – werden zonder toelichting verwijderd.
www.nrc.nl
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
❤️🩹A sight of love and hope we all need today: rescuers found a cat Claire after Russia attack on apartment building in Dnipro, Ukraine today , and brought her back to her human friend Valeria ❤️🩹
November 8, 2025 at 8:12 PM
❤️🩹A sight of love and hope we all need today: rescuers found a cat Claire after Russia attack on apartment building in Dnipro, Ukraine today , and brought her back to her human friend Valeria ❤️🩹
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun strijd tegen racisme binnen het leger – werden zonder toelichting verwijderd. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Monument: Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun...
www.nrc.nl
November 8, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun strijd tegen racisme binnen het leger – werden zonder toelichting verwijderd. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Ukraine has been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for 2025–2029 with the highest vote count. Alongside Romania and Moldova, Ukraine outpaced Russia, marking the second time in a row Moscow failed to win a seat. Another diplomatic defeat for the Kremlin.
November 8, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Ukraine has been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for 2025–2029 with the highest vote count. Alongside Romania and Moldova, Ukraine outpaced Russia, marking the second time in a row Moscow failed to win a seat. Another diplomatic defeat for the Kremlin.
Nice to have a good news morning, seeing some Americans are trying to make up for the horror they inflicted on themselves and the rest of the world.
November 5, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Nice to have a good news morning, seeing some Americans are trying to make up for the horror they inflicted on themselves and the rest of the world.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Many talented Ukrainian actors, artists, comedians, sportspeople, and others left their professional careers to take up arms and defend their country from Russian occupiers.
Russia's war against Ukraine has taken the lives of at least 240 Ukrainian culture […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
Russia's war against Ukraine has taken the lives of at least 240 Ukrainian culture […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
November 2, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Many talented Ukrainian actors, artists, comedians, sportspeople, and others left their professional careers to take up arms and defend their country from Russian occupiers.
Russia's war against Ukraine has taken the lives of at least 240 Ukrainian culture […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
Russia's war against Ukraine has taken the lives of at least 240 Ukrainian culture […]
[Original post on mstdn.social]
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Great investigation of the Nazis, racists and criminals mobilising the flag-on-lamp-posts movement. This is the kind of journalism that the national media could and should have conducted:
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
November 2, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Great investigation of the Nazis, racists and criminals mobilising the flag-on-lamp-posts movement. This is the kind of journalism that the national media could and should have conducted:
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
Good on Radboud! At Leiden, I either feel like Cassandra or a Luddite. I've overwhelmingly witnessed capitulation to market forces amid the belief that all students use genAI anyhow. As for the ethical & environmental implications - people seem to forget I research Russia, I understand whataboutism.
‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...
‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University
Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...
www.ru.nl
November 2, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Good on Radboud! At Leiden, I either feel like Cassandra or a Luddite. I've overwhelmingly witnessed capitulation to market forces amid the belief that all students use genAI anyhow. As for the ethical & environmental implications - people seem to forget I research Russia, I understand whataboutism.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
💔 Death toll from Russian strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast rises: bodies of two children found
Death toll from Russian strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast rises: bodies of two children found
The death toll from a Russian attack on the Samar district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 1 November has risen to four as the bodies of two children have been found.
www.pravda.com.ua
November 2, 2025 at 10:08 AM
💔 Death toll from Russian strike on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast rises: bodies of two children found
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
It is good to see the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, based in Gaza, continue to their important reporting on the recent Israeli airstrikes that happened, including this testimony that is linked tot he footage verified here by @annonemo.bsky.social.
November 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM
It is good to see the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, based in Gaza, continue to their important reporting on the recent Israeli airstrikes that happened, including this testimony that is linked tot he footage verified here by @annonemo.bsky.social.
I was sorry to read this. I always thought him an actor of great sensitivity. RIP.
Tchéky Karyo, star of Nikita and The Missing, dies at 72
The French actor was known for supporting roles in films that spanned nearly 40 years.
www.bbc.com
November 1, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I was sorry to read this. I always thought him an actor of great sensitivity. RIP.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
This is not just the Netherlands.
And it is ugly.
And it is ugly.
From the Irish Times: "Each election, millions of Dutch-born citizens of foreign descent see politicians competing over who can talk toughest about them and their families, and see their neighbours repeatedly vote the far-right into parliament."
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe... 7/n
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe... 7/n
Geert Wilders didn’t lose the Dutch election - he had already won
Dutch politics has been transformed by 20 years of hateful speech about foreigners
www.irishtimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:42 AM
This is not just the Netherlands.
And it is ugly.
And it is ugly.
This man! He brings such an intelligent and inspiring approach to the political fight. His thirst for understanding, capacity for self-reflection, but mostly how he lifts others up combine to make him a model for all politicians, of all political colours. If you need some hope, worth reading 👇🏼.
Inside Barack Obama’s stepped-up plans to fight back against Donald Trump | CNN Politics
Barack Obama and his aides are reworking his longstanding strategy of minimizing his public presence to allow the next generation of Democrats to emerge. President Donald Trump’s moves to block Democr...
edition.cnn.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:30 AM
This man! He brings such an intelligent and inspiring approach to the political fight. His thirst for understanding, capacity for self-reflection, but mostly how he lifts others up combine to make him a model for all politicians, of all political colours. If you need some hope, worth reading 👇🏼.
On the face of it, a reasoned account of the damaging consequences of Trump's decision but like so many such rationalising accounts, this comes across as deluded in conveying the idea he might actually have cared about US farmers to begin with.
What’s the Beef? barnraisingmedia.com/whats-the-be...
to farmers it’s a gut punch that couldn’t come at a worse time.
to farmers it’s a gut punch that couldn’t come at a worse time.
What’s the Beef?
While the Trump administration’s plans to import beef from Argentina may sound good to consumers, it’s a gut punch to farmers.
barnraisingmedia.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:05 AM
On the face of it, a reasoned account of the damaging consequences of Trump's decision but like so many such rationalising accounts, this comes across as deluded in conveying the idea he might actually have cared about US farmers to begin with.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
"The European police agency Europol said in a statement on October 31 that authorities had identified more than 650 people from nine countries implicated in rape and summary executions of civilians and prisoners-of-war." www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mo...
Moldova, Ukraine Crack Down On Wagner Affiliates In Cross-Border War Crimes Investigation
Police raided dozens of homes in Moldova and Ukraine, officials said, as part of a cross-border investigation into hundreds of people who are linked to Russia mercenary groups and who allegedly committed war crimes in Ukraine.
www.rferl.org
November 1, 2025 at 6:14 AM
"The European police agency Europol said in a statement on October 31 that authorities had identified more than 650 people from nine countries implicated in rape and summary executions of civilians and prisoners-of-war." www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-mo...
A very difficult read that nevertheless should be read - and its contents amplified.
"The added value of the report lies in its rigorous verification of facts, documenting systematic patterns of abuse that leave no room for denial or claims of ignorance by the Russian Federation and its representatives." www.ejiltalk.org/the-moscow-m...
The Moscow Mechanism Expert Report on the Treatment of Ukrainian Prisoners of War by the Russian Federation
In July 2025, forty-one OSCE participating States, in cooperation with Ukraine, invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism to examine the treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) by the Russian Federatio...
www.ejiltalk.org
November 1, 2025 at 6:49 AM
A very difficult read that nevertheless should be read - and its contents amplified.
Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
I LOVE that this woman in Georgia decided to terrorize her neighbors with the Fall Of Democracy and Trump's Ghouls (in poetic detail) instead of your usual demons and monsters.
She said, "It's scary because it's true."
She said, "It's scary because it's true."
October 31, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I LOVE that this woman in Georgia decided to terrorize her neighbors with the Fall Of Democracy and Trump's Ghouls (in poetic detail) instead of your usual demons and monsters.
She said, "It's scary because it's true."
She said, "It's scary because it's true."
It's election day here in NL so I searched for "honden" & "verkiezingsdag" on Bluesky. The only result was someone saying 6 mos ago how in the UK, there'd be no media discussion during voting hours, just photos of dogs outside polling stations.
Come on, Dutch voters, where are your dog photos?!
Come on, Dutch voters, where are your dog photos?!
October 29, 2025 at 11:39 AM
It's election day here in NL so I searched for "honden" & "verkiezingsdag" on Bluesky. The only result was someone saying 6 mos ago how in the UK, there'd be no media discussion during voting hours, just photos of dogs outside polling stations.
Come on, Dutch voters, where are your dog photos?!
Come on, Dutch voters, where are your dog photos?!