Jo
@world-affairs-x.bsky.social
Thoughts on contemporary world affairs.
Dislike of autocrats, demagogues & populists.
Fighting Post-Truth-Politics and disinformation.
Occasional sarcasm.
Dislike of autocrats, demagogues & populists.
Fighting Post-Truth-Politics and disinformation.
Occasional sarcasm.
In the past the US was interested in exporting democracy.
These days it may be more interested in exporting MAGA.
These days it may be more interested in exporting MAGA.
June 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
In the past the US was interested in exporting democracy.
These days it may be more interested in exporting MAGA.
These days it may be more interested in exporting MAGA.
This will be good down in history as the point where #MAGA turned to #MAPA
'Made America Poorer Again'.
Possibly the worst, fully preventable, man-made economic disaster in history by a bunch of arrogant billionaire idiots, trying to get more power & wealth.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
'Made America Poorer Again'.
Possibly the worst, fully preventable, man-made economic disaster in history by a bunch of arrogant billionaire idiots, trying to get more power & wealth.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com
April 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This will be good down in history as the point where #MAGA turned to #MAPA
'Made America Poorer Again'.
Possibly the worst, fully preventable, man-made economic disaster in history by a bunch of arrogant billionaire idiots, trying to get more power & wealth.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
'Made America Poorer Again'.
Possibly the worst, fully preventable, man-made economic disaster in history by a bunch of arrogant billionaire idiots, trying to get more power & wealth.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Jo
I feel confident in predicting history will judge this decade or so as the absolutely stupidest time in American history.
Honestly our kids and grandkids will read about this time and be shocked that adults existed.
Honestly our kids and grandkids will read about this time and be shocked that adults existed.
March 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I feel confident in predicting history will judge this decade or so as the absolutely stupidest time in American history.
Honestly our kids and grandkids will read about this time and be shocked that adults existed.
Honestly our kids and grandkids will read about this time and be shocked that adults existed.
Reposted by Jo
March 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This is CRAZY.
This might sound like a dig or hyperbole. But not enough mention of this. It says quite explicitly in 2.11 Exec Order that end-state level after all cuts is permanent level of govt to equal what it is during a full government shut down. Seems like worth highlighting this?
Trump Orders Permanent Govt Shutdown – No, Really … talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump...
March 4, 2025 at 5:05 AM
This is CRAZY.
The American Far Right has seen Russia, for years, as it's ally, rather than an adversary or an enemy.
Once that is understood, the association between Trump and Putin, including before Trump's first term -- all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.
Once that is understood, the association between Trump and Putin, including before Trump's first term -- all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.
The Trump official currently dismantling USAID was caught in a secret meeting with a group of pro-Russian separatists in the Balkans.
Those he met with are under American sanctions for trying to restart the Bosnian war in the name of Christian nationalism. 1/
Those he met with are under American sanctions for trying to restart the Bosnian war in the name of Christian nationalism. 1/
February 17, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The American Far Right has seen Russia, for years, as it's ally, rather than an adversary or an enemy.
Once that is understood, the association between Trump and Putin, including before Trump's first term -- all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.
Once that is understood, the association between Trump and Putin, including before Trump's first term -- all the pieces of the puzzle fall together.
This says so much as to where the West and in particular the USA, under Trump, currently stands
The US used to lobby for the release of the likes of Sakharov or Solzhenitsyn. Now it is pushing to free Andrew Tate. Quite a falling off …
Trump officials are reportedly pushing Romania to let Andrew Tate and his brother leave the country, amid human trafficking and sex crime cases. www.ft.com/content/3f95...
February 17, 2025 at 11:32 PM
This says so much as to where the West and in particular the USA, under Trump, currently stands
Reposted by Jo
‘a prominent German politician told me: “That was a direct assault on European democracy.” A senior diplomat said: “It’s very clear now, Europe is alone.” When I asked him if he now regarded the US as an adversary, he replied: “Yes.”…’ on.ft.com/4b2uPNM
Vance’s real warning to Europe
Europeans need to reduce their dangerous dependence on an adversarial America
on.ft.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
‘a prominent German politician told me: “That was a direct assault on European democracy.” A senior diplomat said: “It’s very clear now, Europe is alone.” When I asked him if he now regarded the US as an adversary, he replied: “Yes.”…’ on.ft.com/4b2uPNM
After WW2 the "deal" the US made with Europe with #NATO was to provide a security and #nuclear umbrella. Part of that was to maintain its own supremacy.
If that guarantee is gone or even questionable, Europeans (& Canadians) MUST find alternatives.
Including nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
If that guarantee is gone or even questionable, Europeans (& Canadians) MUST find alternatives.
Including nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
ZELENSKYY: The risk that Russia will occupy Europe is 100 percent
WELKER: If the US pulls out of NATO, Russia will occupy Europe?
ZELENSKYY: Yes
WELKER: If the US pulls out of NATO, Russia will occupy Europe?
ZELENSKYY: Yes
February 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by Jo
Without going all Martin Niemöller here, I do think that it's bad not to speak up for immigrants, transgender Americans, civil servants, women, Ukraine, and everyone else the MAGA bullies are going after. We're beyond picking and choosing whom to defend. It's time to stand up and speak out.
February 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Without going all Martin Niemöller here, I do think that it's bad not to speak up for immigrants, transgender Americans, civil servants, women, Ukraine, and everyone else the MAGA bullies are going after. We're beyond picking and choosing whom to defend. It's time to stand up and speak out.
Reposted by Jo
Here is my Federal Employment Termination story:
February 17, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Here is my Federal Employment Termination story:
Reposted by Jo
I'm really thinking it may be best to not fly
Another way the dictatorship might kill you. This is from a friend who is a retired air traffic controller.
February 16, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I'm really thinking it may be best to not fly
When democracy back slides (in more than one way, or even a single nation), we will need to maintain copies and back ups of books and other sources of knowledge and information.
Continued access to such sources is never certain.
Continued access to such sources is never certain.
hey for anyone who might want to actually own their kindle books instead of renting them, or who might be thinking of switching to kobo etc and will want to convert them to epubs, you now only have one week before amazon kills your ability to download its ebooks www.theverge.com/news/612898/...
Amazon’s killing a feature that let you download and backup Kindle books
It’s bad if you like to keep ebook backup copies.
www.theverge.com
February 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
When democracy back slides (in more than one way, or even a single nation), we will need to maintain copies and back ups of books and other sources of knowledge and information.
Continued access to such sources is never certain.
Continued access to such sources is never certain.
Reposted by Jo
You cannot determine whether you saved or cost money based solely on one side of the ledger.
Example: I saved my household $2K by not paying the mortgage.
Example: I saved my household $2K by not paying the mortgage.
February 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
You cannot determine whether you saved or cost money based solely on one side of the ledger.
Example: I saved my household $2K by not paying the mortgage.
Example: I saved my household $2K by not paying the mortgage.
Reposted by Jo
🧪
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
January 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
🧪
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
If I were Canadian PM I would immediately:
1. Create a new $15B science fund
2. Offer any credentialed US scientist funding for lab startup and replacement of NIH grants if they move to Canada
3. Immediate permanent residency
4. Citizenship after 2 years
Overnight a science superpower
Reposted by Jo
Nobody is paying attention to things like this because the CDC no longer communicates. The current occupant of the White House broke government. He broke the ability to keep America safe. This is spreading, and this administration plans to pretend it doesn't exist.
828newsnow.com/news/228822-...
828newsnow.com/news/228822-...
Dead bird at Lake Julian Park tests positive for avian flu - Asheville's 828 News NOW
Preliminary tests show a bird at Lake Julian Park had avian influenza H5N1
828newsnow.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Nobody is paying attention to things like this because the CDC no longer communicates. The current occupant of the White House broke government. He broke the ability to keep America safe. This is spreading, and this administration plans to pretend it doesn't exist.
828newsnow.com/news/228822-...
828newsnow.com/news/228822-...
Reposted by Jo
Trump basically seems like a late 90s Boris Yeltsin: Out of it, enriching himself and his family as much as he can, and letting the broligarchy run roughshod over the government
February 2, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Trump basically seems like a late 90s Boris Yeltsin: Out of it, enriching himself and his family as much as he can, and letting the broligarchy run roughshod over the government
Reposted by Jo
I’m going to put my rich guy hat on and say I hope that Mexico and Canada issue equal, retaliatory tariffs and stick to them for an extended period.
I apologize to all the people it will cost money and the businesses it will hurt.
But it’s the only way for tariffs to be seen for what they are
I apologize to all the people it will cost money and the businesses it will hurt.
But it’s the only way for tariffs to be seen for what they are
February 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
I’m going to put my rich guy hat on and say I hope that Mexico and Canada issue equal, retaliatory tariffs and stick to them for an extended period.
I apologize to all the people it will cost money and the businesses it will hurt.
But it’s the only way for tariffs to be seen for what they are
I apologize to all the people it will cost money and the businesses it will hurt.
But it’s the only way for tariffs to be seen for what they are
Reposted by Jo
There has never been a larger gap in my (admittedly quite short) professional life between how lay folks and law profs are talking about what is happening in government right now. So much of what Trump is doing is just blatantly illegal — often in several ways at once.
February 1, 2025 at 10:09 PM
There has never been a larger gap in my (admittedly quite short) professional life between how lay folks and law profs are talking about what is happening in government right now. So much of what Trump is doing is just blatantly illegal — often in several ways at once.
Imperial Japanese Admiral #Yamamoto is attributed a quote about waking up a sleeping giant, as a result of the Pearl Harbor attack.
This first tarrif volley in the #EconomicWar with #Canada may be the moment #Trump is awakening a grumpy sleeping bear - within its neighbour to the North.
This first tarrif volley in the #EconomicWar with #Canada may be the moment #Trump is awakening a grumpy sleeping bear - within its neighbour to the North.
February 2, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Imperial Japanese Admiral #Yamamoto is attributed a quote about waking up a sleeping giant, as a result of the Pearl Harbor attack.
This first tarrif volley in the #EconomicWar with #Canada may be the moment #Trump is awakening a grumpy sleeping bear - within its neighbour to the North.
This first tarrif volley in the #EconomicWar with #Canada may be the moment #Trump is awakening a grumpy sleeping bear - within its neighbour to the North.
A new age is upon us under #Trump
The era of the USA's #Brexit moment of #SelfHarm and utter #STUPIDITY
Borderline Galactic-level insanity.
Full on #EconomicWAR with... economics which are FULLY integrated w/ it, who are it's closest allies & BIGGEST customers on the planet.
#USA
#Canada
The era of the USA's #Brexit moment of #SelfHarm and utter #STUPIDITY
Borderline Galactic-level insanity.
Full on #EconomicWAR with... economics which are FULLY integrated w/ it, who are it's closest allies & BIGGEST customers on the planet.
#USA
#Canada
February 1, 2025 at 11:55 PM
A new age is upon us under #Trump
The era of the USA's #Brexit moment of #SelfHarm and utter #STUPIDITY
Borderline Galactic-level insanity.
Full on #EconomicWAR with... economics which are FULLY integrated w/ it, who are it's closest allies & BIGGEST customers on the planet.
#USA
#Canada
The era of the USA's #Brexit moment of #SelfHarm and utter #STUPIDITY
Borderline Galactic-level insanity.
Full on #EconomicWAR with... economics which are FULLY integrated w/ it, who are it's closest allies & BIGGEST customers on the planet.
#USA
#Canada
Reposted by Jo
Like I've said before, I'm pretty sure Elon is working with Trump to make sure X becomes the US "super app" he dreams of.
It's also easier to track folks if they have to use one app for everything.
It's also easier to track folks if they have to use one app for everything.
The NTSB has announced that it will only post updates for plane crash investigations on Elon Musk's website.
What next? They will only have their Christmas parties at Trump resorts?
What next? They will only have their Christmas parties at Trump resorts?
February 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Like I've said before, I'm pretty sure Elon is working with Trump to make sure X becomes the US "super app" he dreams of.
It's also easier to track folks if they have to use one app for everything.
It's also easier to track folks if they have to use one app for everything.