Ffs, the 22 points manifesto from billionaire Peter Thiel openly calls for including big tech into the US’s defensive/imperial apparatus. This means we need expect big tech and all the possible digital media/propaganda tools to turn on us at any time. Remember, Trump’s new NDS wants the EU in a submissive and subjugated position, so if we let them (or big tech) turn us into powerless vassals, they will take that chance immediately. It only takes a moment of weakness on our side. And they are already testing the waters.

So how about we set an example by swiftly denying market access to non-complicit companies who pull off BS like this? Maybe it doesnt need more than a single, powerful signal as a deterrance. Honest question, what could go wrong? I fail to see any immediate negative consequence.

I doubt that anything crypto-related will take on such a role anytime soon. The AI hype largely overshadows the Crypto hype.

Merz is clearly a POS, but his criticism is the first time I’ve heard him say something reasonable.

“Unwarranted intervention” is pretty convenient when you own the platform and write all the rules to unfairly benefit yourself. Android/Playstore is not a neutral marketplace under those conditions. Non-intervention is not neutral either. It locks in default power and keeps competitors at a disadvantage.

So the only sensible option is to regulate the heck out of big tech.

I mean this was the inevitable outcome of clinging to combustion motors and leaving the EV market to the Chinese.

For context, in case you are not aware of the details regarding the Bundeswehr: In Germany we regularly joke about the incompetence of the BW. After WW2 the forces were deliberatly kept small. Over the years, and after the cold war, the budget was further slashed. So the already aged equipment did age further without replacement. Even maintainance cycles were streamlined to save money. It was only in the 2010s, that a report showed that hardly any motorized army vehicle is functioning, let alone ready for combat. Maybe I am a bit overly dramatic here, but Germany was basically defenseless 10 years ago. So saying that Germanys elites are continuing with their work from 80 years ago is somewhat of a stretch, and honestly made me chuckle a bit.

Of course a nations propaganda always portrays it’s own military as “the good guys” or “meant for defence only”. But I would carefully argue that Germany really isn’t that big of an imperialist nation right now, and looking at the Bundeswehr, I highly doubt that we will build an empire anytime soon.

Did he threaten the Falklands, too? I’m out of the loop on his constant bullshittery.

“Trump’s security priorities lie elsewhere” - this is sane-washing, ffs. Just yesterday I argued with self-proclaimed MAGA people (or maybe undercover Russian trolls?) on YouTube. Both argued, that Russia is by far the better partner for the US, because (quotes):

“Europe is weak and has nothing to offer”,

“Europe is a parasite”,

“Europe is actively destroying the US”,

“Europe is friends with Biden!!”,

“EU is not a democracy, but an autocratic dictatoraship”,

“Russia is a real save heaven, a conservative and functioning democracy”,

and my favourite: “Europe will have no other choice than come begging on its knees for US oil. Then Europe will finally be where it eff’ing belongs.”

MAGA consists of nothing but hatred. And that hatred flows right where Fox and Friends point their finger at. Right now, that’s not Russia, nor China, but the democratic strongholds, like Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Europe, etc. - the US was lobbied so intensively by big tech and big oil, that it now has a serious problem with foreign countries being democratic or having checks and balances. And the MAGA folks are nothing but tools for those neofascists.

I honestly cannot remember the last time the US acted respectfully.

As a German, I am very much ashamed for my government. Our ‘reason of state’ (Staatsräson) should not be about protecting Israel, but about preventing fascism & genocides.

Looks like the attack on Iran is also an indirect attack on energy transition technologies by reducing the availability of stuff like Sulphur, Aluminium, synthetic Graphite, …

If this was a calculated move to do some fossil fuel lobbyists a favor, then it once again shows this administrations incompetence. Governments already increased their efforts to transition away from fossil fuels as a reaction to the war. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/war-spurs-eu-plan-electricity-tax-cuts-faster-shift-fossil-fuels-draft-shows-2026-04-14/

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Thanks, I was also looking for something like that 👍🏻

Im a bit out of the loop on this one. Does anyone know why so many western governments are pushing for some kind of legislation towards age-id-verification? They say it’s to protect the youth, but I don’t buy our governments suddenly turning into altruistic patrons. So… what’s the real reason? What’s the hidden agenda? Data Acquisition? Survaillance? Chat Control?

That’s a nice step in the right direction. Maybe it helps Brits realise how stupid of an idea Brexit really was.

I’d love to welcome our brothers back. Especially in times like these.

Hungary’s entire system has been deeply Orbánized. De-Orbánizing it by dismissing Orbán’s former loyalists will almost certainly create its own problems, including power vacuums. I hope TISZA has enough trustworthy personnel to fill those gaps with competent people. Replacing one form of corruption with another would solve nothing. So the whole situation is still very precarious.

What @CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de already said. Politico is only semi-credible as a source. They have a tendency to mix journalism with insider gossip and narrative framing. I often find their articles to be… politically convenient interpretations that look more solid than the underlying evidence really warrants.

I think you forgot the /s

Back in the days an “Antisemite” was a person who doesn’t like jews. Today, an “Antisemite” is a person who jews don’t like.