@badgerintweed.bsky.social
Retired Marine Colonel. OEF/GWOT/Balkans Veteran. Husband. Dad to kids, dogs, and cats. Friend of animals anywhere. Reader. NAFO. Pacific Northwesterner. Believer in messy democracy and centrism.
This is why governments lie. It was 100% clear it was a lie at the time but then responsible actors spend years trying to prove the Kremlin lied. Here’s some advice for next time: the Kremlin always lies!
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/w...
🤡 Russia dismisses Navalny poisoning statement as "disinformation" and "mockery of the dead"
Europe has become the abused spouse grateful just not to be beaten. Believing this jellyfish is a fool's errand.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Free piece just released. Marco Rubio called on tolerant, democratic, liberal Europe to destroy itself and embrace a Trump-like future. He received a standing ovation and we are told some people are reassured. If so, Europe will deserve everything coming its way. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Today, I spoke on War & Politics 24 about the narratives Russian propaganda uses to impose the idea that Europe has failed, grown weak, and that Putin is winning. We discussed how to counter this and develop our own narrative. Listen via the link — www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dJi...
Meanwhile in Russia: Vladimir Solovyov was upset by a double whammy of Telegram being slowed down after Starlink was cut off, since Russian troops extensively relied on both services. He also griped about the rollout of Russia's deeply flawed MAX messenger.
youtu.be/I-euYSppLf8
A senior Russian general survived an assassination attempt in Moscow
If Rubio gave a speech to Europe in 1941, he wouldn’t mention that the Germans invaded France.
Discovering @peterpomerantsev.bsky.social through www.ft.com/content/36b5... Very interesting.
Wars are fought not just with tanks, but with stories too. Putin’s story is that Russia’s victory is inevitable, while Europe is weak. Democracies can challenge this tale. Read on in my FT essay (gift link if fast) 👉🏼 as.ft.com/r/06908caf-b...
#informationwar #ukraine #russia
Kaja Kallas @kajakallas.bsky.social :
The size of the Ukrainian Army is not the problem, because they haven’t attacked Russia.
The size of the Russian Army is a problem for all its neighbors.
The size of the Russian military budget is a problem for all.
📹: euronews
This is the single best assessment of Trump’s regime I have heard:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
@anneapplebaum.bsky.social
Hegseth, among others, is using the school as a punching bag to express the generic social anxiety and status-based resentment that drives much of the MAGA movement.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Meanwhile in Russia: state TV explains that contrasting statements by Sergey Lavrov and Kirill Dmitriev are part of the same strategy, designed to prompt Trump to pressure Ukraine into accepting a deal allegedly reached by Putin and Trump in Anchorage.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRRx...
Meanwhile in Russia: both hosts loudly interrupted panelists who conceded that Russia isn't actually winning in Ukraine. Participants argued about whether liquidating Zelensky would change things for the better and urged Trump to kidnap or assassinate him.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsdS...
Watch until the end.
Congratulations, António José Seguro, on your election as President of Portugal.
The Portuguese citizens have spoken and, in the face of devastation caused by the storms, demonstrated remarkable democratic resilience.
Portugal’s voice for our shared European values remains strong.
Trump says he worries about "nuclear" as the world's biggest problem, but he's letting the last major arms treaty - one even the Russians want - lapse.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
I think you know the answer. The “negotiations” have been an excuse to hold back necessary equipment and aid.
Meanwhile in Russia: state TV host Vladimir Solovyov threatened NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and rejoiced that Russian strikes are depriving Ukrainians of electricity and indoor plumbing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH8w...
link to the transcript, and to listen on the Atlantic website
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
Meanwhile in Russia: Vladimir Solovyov threatened Ukraine and Europe, predicting a future military alliance between the US and Russia. He claimed to understand Trump better than anyone else. If you want to see Orwellian propaganda in real life, watch this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PcO...
“America prevailed in the cold war because it insisted on not simply being powerful…It made people imagine that the victory of the US was their own victory…without America standing for freedom, or at least pretending to do so, what’s the point of being pro-American?”
www.ft.com/content/658e...
Trump claims the US needs to buy Greenland to secure the Arctic.
This map proves that is a lie.
Washington used to have bases all over the island. Now they rely on just one.
The 1951 Defense Treaty allows the US to build more bases if they ask
"We’re actually seeing new super PACs being established. One of them has already committed to spending $100 million in the midterms. And we’re seeing politicians and candidates speaking very frankly about wanting to install pro-crypto candidates"
more here:
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
Danish and Greenland ministers just left the White House. It did not go well.
I have a long discussion here of Trump's attempt to get Greenland and why it could lead to World War III.
(Gifted.)
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Meanwhile in Russia: state TV experts rejoiced about Trump's approach towards Greenland, since they believe it ushers in a cynical new world order, where the U.S. withdraws from NATO, gets control over the Western Hemisphere — and Russia takes the rest.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3BF...
Nuclear defense is why we built a base on Greenland in 1951. We had this idea 75 years ago. The base has been there since then. You don’t have to invade a country where you already have everything. Invasion just destroys what you have and much else besides.
