A. R. Steinmark
@arners.bsky.social
Concerned world observer and amateur life artist. Trying to heed the wise advices given to Simplicius Simplicissimus.
“One telling detail … was that the .. German leaders seated in the front row – Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder – signaled the start of the standing ovation by rising after exchanging nods at the end of Rubio's speech.”
Our takeaway from Munich and how that standing ovation came to happen @lemonde.fr
In substance, Rubio's message in Munich was the same as Vance's
NEWS ANALYSIS. While the US secretary of state struck a less aggressive tone toward Europe than the American vice president had a year earlier, the substance of the speech changed little.
www.lemonde.fr
February 16, 2026 at 4:36 PM
“One telling detail … was that the .. German leaders seated in the front row – Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder – signaled the start of the standing ovation by rising after exchanging nods at the end of Rubio's speech.”
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
And hard drives are next 👀
"Hard drives are gone for 2026", Western Digital sells out all production to AI data centers - Backdash
AI boom has cleared out all of hard drive production of Western Digital for 2026 leaving consumer market with nothing but crumbs
thebackdash.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM
And hard drives are next 👀
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
I hope the people who were "breathing a sigh of relief" when Rubio retold Vance's speech in Munich using nicer words, are aware of this one too. This one actually matters, bc here he isn't even trying to sugarcoat that right now he's an executor of Trump's policies.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
In Hungary, Rubio says Trump is committed to PM Orban's success
President Donald Trump is committed to the success of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban because his leadership and rapport with Trump are crucial to U.S. interests, U.S. Secretary of State Marco R...
www.reuters.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I hope the people who were "breathing a sigh of relief" when Rubio retold Vance's speech in Munich using nicer words, are aware of this one too. This one actually matters, bc here he isn't even trying to sugarcoat that right now he's an executor of Trump's policies.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Soon Hungarians will have a new leader after the April election.
Rubio sent the by Trump to aid the election campaign
Under Orban corruption has exploded. Hungary is now the most corrupt country in the EU.
Similarly Slovakia has plunged since Fico took power
transparency.hu/en/news/cpi-...
Rubio sent the by Trump to aid the election campaign
Under Orban corruption has exploded. Hungary is now the most corrupt country in the EU.
Similarly Slovakia has plunged since Fico took power
transparency.hu/en/news/cpi-...
Hungary Remains the Most Corrupt Member State of the European Union for the Fourth Consecutive Year - Transparency International Hungary
In 2025, Hungary was once again ranked at the bottom of the European Union, sharing last place with Bulgaria this time, according to the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) compiled by the Secre...
transparency.hu
February 16, 2026 at 10:12 AM
Soon Hungarians will have a new leader after the April election.
Rubio sent the by Trump to aid the election campaign
Under Orban corruption has exploded. Hungary is now the most corrupt country in the EU.
Similarly Slovakia has plunged since Fico took power
transparency.hu/en/news/cpi-...
Rubio sent the by Trump to aid the election campaign
Under Orban corruption has exploded. Hungary is now the most corrupt country in the EU.
Similarly Slovakia has plunged since Fico took power
transparency.hu/en/news/cpi-...
“When corrected again, it apologizes again—sometimes reversing its position entirely. What unsettles users is not just that the system lacks beliefs but that it keeps apologizing as if it had any. The words sound responsible, yet they are empty.” Paywalled - get the gist.
“An LLM’s words shape our beliefs, decisions, and actions, yet no speaker stands behind them.” Deb Roy on how AI might be training us to “accept words without ownership and meaning without accountability.”
Words Without Consequence
What does it mean to have speech without a speaker?
bit.ly
February 16, 2026 at 5:07 AM
“When corrected again, it apologizes again—sometimes reversing its position entirely. What unsettles users is not just that the system lacks beliefs but that it keeps apologizing as if it had any. The words sound responsible, yet they are empty.” Paywalled - get the gist.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Kaja Kallas:
The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield
Russia is no superpower.After more than a decade of conflict,including 4yrs of full-scale war in Ukraine,Russia has barely advanced beyond the 2014 lines
The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield
Russia is no superpower.After more than a decade of conflict,including 4yrs of full-scale war in Ukraine,Russia has barely advanced beyond the 2014 lines
February 15, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Kaja Kallas:
The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield
Russia is no superpower.After more than a decade of conflict,including 4yrs of full-scale war in Ukraine,Russia has barely advanced beyond the 2014 lines
The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield
Russia is no superpower.After more than a decade of conflict,including 4yrs of full-scale war in Ukraine,Russia has barely advanced beyond the 2014 lines
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Rubio’s message: the EU is a deep-state monster, a misreading of history that has no place in a Europe of resurgent nation states, which by the way are Christian, white, stripped of welfare states & hate speech safeguards. Our bar is very low if we see this as reassuring.
www.ft.com/content/9463...
www.ft.com/content/9463...
‘The best we can hope for’: Rubio’s Munich unity appeal fails to woo Europe
US secretary of state sought to mollify but underlying message reinforced US administration’s talking points
www.ft.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Rubio’s message: the EU is a deep-state monster, a misreading of history that has no place in a Europe of resurgent nation states, which by the way are Christian, white, stripped of welfare states & hate speech safeguards. Our bar is very low if we see this as reassuring.
www.ft.com/content/9463...
www.ft.com/content/9463...
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Omg.....if you follow our course in "Algorithmic Fairness, Accountability, and Ethics" at @itu.dk we will tell you why this is a bad idea
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 7:31 AM
Omg.....if you follow our course in "Algorithmic Fairness, Accountability, and Ethics" at @itu.dk we will tell you why this is a bad idea
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Meta is putting a "Name Tag" feature in Ray-Bans - facial recognition through the glasses' camera. You look at someone, AI tells you who they are.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
February 14, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Meta is putting a "Name Tag" feature in Ray-Bans - facial recognition through the glasses' camera. You look at someone, AI tells you who they are.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
In an internal document, the company wrote that the timing is good because civil society groups are busy with politics and won't cause problems.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Rubio just made a speech to the European defense community in Munich that did not mention Ukraine. Or democracy. Or US business deals with Russia. Or the administration's plans to support the European far right. But there were lots of nice words about our common civilization.
February 14, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Rubio just made a speech to the European defense community in Munich that did not mention Ukraine. Or democracy. Or US business deals with Russia. Or the administration's plans to support the European far right. But there were lots of nice words about our common civilization.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
The most important thing about Rubio's speech, though, is that it's completely irrelevant as a guide to Trump administration policy.
February 14, 2026 at 12:56 PM
The most important thing about Rubio's speech, though, is that it's completely irrelevant as a guide to Trump administration policy.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Chinese FM Wang Yi defends multilateral order: "All countries have to follow the same rules"
Follow the conference here:
securityconference.org/msc-2026/age...
Follow the conference here:
securityconference.org/msc-2026/age...
February 14, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Chinese FM Wang Yi defends multilateral order: "All countries have to follow the same rules"
Follow the conference here:
securityconference.org/msc-2026/age...
Follow the conference here:
securityconference.org/msc-2026/age...
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
The only comment I have on the Rubio speech is that I don’t want to spend too much time on the Rubio speech.
Nothing is changing with regards to US policy. We don’t need to do a line-by-line analysis.
Nothing is changing with regards to US policy. We don’t need to do a line-by-line analysis.
February 14, 2026 at 8:39 AM
The only comment I have on the Rubio speech is that I don’t want to spend too much time on the Rubio speech.
Nothing is changing with regards to US policy. We don’t need to do a line-by-line analysis.
Nothing is changing with regards to US policy. We don’t need to do a line-by-line analysis.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Distrust towards the current US administration has undermined Finns' overall confidence in Nato, according to one foreign policy specialist.
USU: Finns losing confidence in Nato security guarantees
Distrust towards the current US administration has undermined Finns' overall confidence in Nato, according to one foreign policy specialist.
yle.fi
February 14, 2026 at 7:35 AM
Distrust towards the current US administration has undermined Finns' overall confidence in Nato, according to one foreign policy specialist.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Yes. Europe is moving on.
February 14, 2026 at 8:56 AM
Yes. Europe is moving on.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Merz offers up an unmistakable warning to the US in his MSC speech: Your power is not what it once was. China is gaining ground. The strategy set out in the NSS will accelerate this trend. If you go it alone, you will run up against your limits. Europe rejects MAGA free speech and tariffs.
February 13, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Merz offers up an unmistakable warning to the US in his MSC speech: Your power is not what it once was. China is gaining ground. The strategy set out in the NSS will accelerate this trend. If you go it alone, you will run up against your limits. Europe rejects MAGA free speech and tariffs.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Wow - Merz says the US may already have lost global leadership
"If there had been a unipolar moment after the fall of the Berlin Wall. a unipolar moment in history, it has long passed. The United States claim to leadership has been challenged, and possibly lost."
"If there had been a unipolar moment after the fall of the Berlin Wall. a unipolar moment in history, it has long passed. The United States claim to leadership has been challenged, and possibly lost."
February 13, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Wow - Merz says the US may already have lost global leadership
"If there had been a unipolar moment after the fall of the Berlin Wall. a unipolar moment in history, it has long passed. The United States claim to leadership has been challenged, and possibly lost."
"If there had been a unipolar moment after the fall of the Berlin Wall. a unipolar moment in history, it has long passed. The United States claim to leadership has been challenged, and possibly lost."
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
❗❗ PALANTIR IS SUING US❗❗ Because of our reporting on the #SwissPalantirFiles.
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
February 12, 2026 at 11:53 AM
❗❗ PALANTIR IS SUING US❗❗ Because of our reporting on the #SwissPalantirFiles.
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
More specifically, #Palantir is suing #RepublikMagazine, with whom we (@adfichter.bsky.social, Lorenz Naegeli, Jennifer Steiner,Balz Oertli & me) published our major investigation in collab with #WAVRecherchekollektiv
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
There's a lot of concern of Europeans being dependent on US payment firms, notably Visa/Mastercard.
We forget that until 2016 Europe DID have its own payments champion. Visa Europe was owned by European banks (it merely licensed the Visa name)
Sold for ~$20bn. Basically zero regulatory scrutiny.
We forget that until 2016 Europe DID have its own payments champion. Visa Europe was owned by European banks (it merely licensed the Visa name)
Sold for ~$20bn. Basically zero regulatory scrutiny.
February 12, 2026 at 2:09 PM
There's a lot of concern of Europeans being dependent on US payment firms, notably Visa/Mastercard.
We forget that until 2016 Europe DID have its own payments champion. Visa Europe was owned by European banks (it merely licensed the Visa name)
Sold for ~$20bn. Basically zero regulatory scrutiny.
We forget that until 2016 Europe DID have its own payments champion. Visa Europe was owned by European banks (it merely licensed the Visa name)
Sold for ~$20bn. Basically zero regulatory scrutiny.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Brexit, Russia ties, racism, bank scandals, Epstein(?!), and all the other wrongdoings Farage has done, yet he still polls at 27%.
I just don't get people who are fixated on these malevolent politicians and refuse to change their minds no matter what they do.
I just don't get people who are fixated on these malevolent politicians and refuse to change their minds no matter what they do.
![Political parties and their leaders
I like ...
Ed Davey
Zack Polanski
Nigel Farage
Kemi Badenoch
Keir Starmer
31%
31%
27%
27%
39%
39%
62%
55%
20%
70%
The Labour Party
Reform UK
The Green Party
Liberal Democrats
The Conservative Party
34%
31%
28%
28%
24%
56%
57%
43%
43%
58%
Base: 1,104 British adults 18+, 22-27 January 2026
Source: Ipsos Political Monitor
Qu: Which of these statements come closest to your views of [...], and [...]?
I do not like...
Ipsos](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:movn6xzezospl7lnkhy7nzpt/bafkreid3ft3qrscg5rhmpg4gvknpqvfk5qitrs2k3ykow5ey5tqwfpdg4q@jpeg)
February 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Brexit, Russia ties, racism, bank scandals, Epstein(?!), and all the other wrongdoings Farage has done, yet he still polls at 27%.
I just don't get people who are fixated on these malevolent politicians and refuse to change their minds no matter what they do.
I just don't get people who are fixated on these malevolent politicians and refuse to change their minds no matter what they do.
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
Such a powerful image in Le Monde.
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
February 12, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Such a powerful image in Le Monde.
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
(The writing on the plane says "Neutral athletes")
Cartoon by: Letton Gatis Sluka
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
A country condemned to spend the next 20 years trying to re-gain, bit by bit, a few of the advantages it enjoyed for decades...
Labour can win political argument for closer EU ties, says Rachel Reeves
Labour can win political argument for closer EU ties, says Rachel Reeves
Chancellor says stronger alignment with Europe is ‘biggest prize’ for trade and economic growth
Rachel Reeves has insisted Labour can win the political argument for a closer relationship with the EU, calling it the “biggest prize” for UK economic growth.
Some Labour strategists have been wary of making the case for stronger alignment with the EU, believing it could alienate pro-Brexit voters. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:48 PM
A country condemned to spend the next 20 years trying to re-gain, bit by bit, a few of the advantages it enjoyed for decades...
Reposted by A. R. Steinmark
February 11, 2026 at 8:58 PM