John Furriskey

title of article: "Where is Europe's ability to defend itself as America pulls back? Actually, it's doing better than you might think." https://europeancorrespondent.com/en/r/europe-fills-the-void

Interesting article by @alanderminna.bsky.social‬ noting how far forward the EU has moved recently, over the war with Russia, including defence strategies & alliances with Indo-Pacific partners and UK.

And we have the retreating USA to thank for it!

1/3

at least the english can follow what happened in Finland, when they elected their version of Reform party a few years ago, into government...

englands trump, boris johnson & dominic cummings celebrating the "get brexit done" election results of 2019. 6 years later, brexit is still not "done" and he's still combing his hair with a balloon.

Arrived into LGW last last night, sat beside a Londoner quizzing me all the way from CH on how to get an Irish passport so he can get out of britain!

He, like I, notices how everyone in britain is pointing the finger across he pond, aghast at what's going on.

As if this never happened 👇!

1/5

I think those shouting "EU surrendered" don't realise MAGA are shouting the exact same.

Meanwhile, Maroš Šefčovič, to paraphrase: "this is the start of a process, the EU wants a comprehensive & stable trade deal aligned with WTO rules."

I agree with the OP.

"placate" is a good way of describing it. how the EU managed to rope Trump into helping more with the war in Ukraine might well prove to be a masterful move.

the 15% tariffs hurts the USA. not the EU.

I don't understand the "surrender" rhetoric either. I guess dave is one of these types 👇

That's quite the take! Seems to be 3 types of reactions:

1. "EU are cheese eating surrender monkeys with freedom fries on top" (anti EU).

2. US "totally owns the EU now" (MAGA).

3. Nothing is legally binding yet but 15% tariffs will be disastrous for consumers & inflation in US (everyone else)

photo of some female trump supporters with huge smiles on their faces.

It won't take long for MAGA voters to turn on him over this.

I hear some in Florida are not happy he has imposed tariffs on their botox & viagra - that is mostly made in Ireland.

Actual footage of very angry MAGA voters 👇 (The botox makes it look like they are smiling)

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Ukrainian drones have hit a Russian fuel train.

#explodey

while the optics will have MAGA types hollering & cheering "U-S-A" all night, Europeans wondering what's going on can simply as which is the more likely scenario:

1. Mr President is a great Deal Maker?

2. VDL is plámásing him to avoid 30% tariffs and kick the can down the road?

an edited photo featuring what looks like a bunch of papers with the title "Epstein files" underneath trumps combover.

nope. not golf balls. something else.

crop of a photo highlighting a huge bald patch on the top of his head.

jesus wept. If you have no plans on visiting USA anytime soon, feel free to repost.

is there a nobel prize for combovers?

is that where he hides all his spare golf balls?

wall street journal is gleefully ripping apart trumps deal, piece by piece.

Japan has no actual "deal" either Alasdair, this appears to be all theatre. For the cameras.

Wall Street Journal is echoing that.

Worth watching.

The Commissioner said that yesterday's deal is the beginning of a process and that the EU wants to end up with a deal with the US that's compatible with WTO rues.

That's probably unlikely to happen in the next 5 years. Would say 7-10 years minimum.

how do they stop a future tory or reform gov throwing this on a bonfire?

this detailed report on UK-EU divergence published yesterday shows the UK regards the EU as a regulatory reference now, not a rival.

that's a big shift in tone & mindset compared to the days of "our laws our standards" and mogg calling for the uk civil service to go back to imperial measurements.

poll asking Should the UK rejoin the EU even if it means adoping the Euro and joining Schengen? 81% Yes - full membership is worth the trade off. 5% NO - only if we keep out optouts. 11% NO - we should stay entirely out. 3% Don't knows.

not sure what the readership of the british independent newspaper is but this is interesting.

Link to poll: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

As an aside, joining Schengen is not a criteria for joining the EU...it's seperate.

Headline: Peter Mandelson admits UK-US trade deal 'only possible' because of Brexit

A ridiculous thing to say! In the EU countries negotiate trade deals collectively rather than individually! That’s the point, being able to offer access to the whole continent puts you in a much better bargaining king position.

Headline: Trump to impose 30pc tariffs on EU in 'proof that Brexit works'

Let’s see how Brexit Britain finally ends up regarding Trump. Being servile only gets you so far…

well done. how very dare he come on here and discuss...and debate...and disagree!!!! who does that?

actual footage of my friend.

charming.

superb clip.

post from Niall O Conghaille: "even within the redlines though, more coulf (sic) have been done"

no way! that's just like looking for "more within red lines" Tamara.

How very dare she!

not long now before the british invent the European Union.

the EU: A 21st century idea of how countries collaborate & trade with each other with a new version of nationhood, maintained and amplified by sacrificing some sovereignty.

Norwegians are very pro EU too. More so recently.

Far-right conspiracy theories spread online in aftermath of the Texas floods Some social media users falsely claimed that the extreme weather was being controlled by the US government

Guess where these far-right conspiracy theories are spread? You guessed it, Musk’s X platform. Glad I left that cesspit.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Why digital poverty is cutting people off from life itself Digital poverty is real – people who have no access to the internet are often those who need it most

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