Christy Quirk
@cequirk.bsky.social
Opinion research and advocacy/political strategy in declining democracies and emerging autocracies. Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. Nice, FR
quirkglobalstrategies.com
linkedin.com/in/christinequirk
Quirkglobalstrategies: Substack
quirkglobalstrategies.com
linkedin.com/in/christinequirk
Quirkglobalstrategies: Substack
Reposted by Christy Quirk
If your reaction to the 28-point plan to supposedly end the war in Ukraine was some version of, “this compromise is better than continuing the war,” this ought to make you reevaluate your assumptions:
The plan was not only not a compromise; it was literally based on a proposal by the aggressor.
The plan was not only not a compromise; it was literally based on a proposal by the aggressor.
Exclusive: The US-backed 28-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, which became public last week, drew from a Russian-authored paper submitted to the Trump administration in October reut.rs/3XQq2ZT
November 26, 2025 at 7:06 AM
If your reaction to the 28-point plan to supposedly end the war in Ukraine was some version of, “this compromise is better than continuing the war,” this ought to make you reevaluate your assumptions:
The plan was not only not a compromise; it was literally based on a proposal by the aggressor.
The plan was not only not a compromise; it was literally based on a proposal by the aggressor.
Administration full of traitors
November 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Administration full of traitors
Sure, good idea. The more support for democracy the better. But how does this work, practically? How does the infrastructure and capacity destroyed by Trump/DOGE get rebuilt, and by whom? How long will it take?
With the U.S. pulling out of democracy support, leaders from Spain and the Americas have formed a new global initiative to protect democracy. But these leaders face challenges at home and abroad.
@oliverstuenkel.bsky.social and Adrian Feinberg explain: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
@oliverstuenkel.bsky.social and Adrian Feinberg explain: carnegieendowment.org/emissary/202...
The New Democracy Defenders
With U.S. democracy support receding, progressive leaders from Spain and Latin America have pioneered a global initiative to combat backsliding. Can it succeed?
carnegieendowment.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Sure, good idea. The more support for democracy the better. But how does this work, practically? How does the infrastructure and capacity destroyed by Trump/DOGE get rebuilt, and by whom? How long will it take?
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Going after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence is core to the fascist project, though.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
Targeting Kelly is one of those “this is why we’ll win” moments, bc it shows how politically impetuous this admin is.
There’s clearly no adult in the room to say “wait, maybe don’t go after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence.”
There’s clearly no adult in the room to say “wait, maybe don’t go after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence.”
Mark Kelly: "My wife, Gabby Giffords, meeting with her constituents, shot in the head. Six people killed around her, a horrific thing. She spent six months in the hospital. We know what political violence is and we know what causes it too, The statements that Donald Trump made incites others."
November 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Going after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence is core to the fascist project, though.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
All must be inverted. Good must be torn down. Resentment must be stoked. Otherwise “everyone is this way, look what you made me do” fails.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Someone very close to Putin once explained to me that Putin thinks that all Westerners can be bought. We have no values; only a price. Dmitriev's prominent role in drafting the latest "peace plan" underscores that Putin assessment. I hope Putin is wrong. I fear for some, he might be right.
November 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Someone very close to Putin once explained to me that Putin thinks that all Westerners can be bought. We have no values; only a price. Dmitriev's prominent role in drafting the latest "peace plan" underscores that Putin assessment. I hope Putin is wrong. I fear for some, he might be right.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
"This has all been especially painful for X users who are, as a baseline, extremely racist. And they are now suffering through the psychic torment of learning that users, predominately from the Global South, are behind some of the bigger right-wing accounts on the site."
Republicans astroturfed themselves
Read to the end for a good Thanksgiving reminder
www.garbageday.email
November 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
"This has all been especially painful for X users who are, as a baseline, extremely racist. And they are now suffering through the psychic torment of learning that users, predominately from the Global South, are behind some of the bigger right-wing accounts on the site."
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Must see: @christogrozev.bsky.social reads live, on air, from notes he took from a Russian source *six* months ago outlining almost point for point what wound up in the Witkoff-Dmitriev text
youtu.be/gCPj64KFYC8
youtu.be/gCPj64KFYC8
Какую роль Путин сыграл в создании плана Трампа? Христо Грозев
YouTube video by Телеканал Дождь
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Must see: @christogrozev.bsky.social reads live, on air, from notes he took from a Russian source *six* months ago outlining almost point for point what wound up in the Witkoff-Dmitriev text
youtu.be/gCPj64KFYC8
youtu.be/gCPj64KFYC8
From @warontherocks.bsky.social: “Ultimately, these interference activities reflect the growing strategic weight Moscow places on subverting public opinion in Europe in the context of war.” warontherocks.com/2025/11/red-...
Red Hands in Paris: A Small Act of Vandalism in a Big Russian Strategy
On the afternoon of May 11, 2024, two men arrived at a modest hotel in Paris. One of them, identifying himself as Mircho Angelov, presented a Bulgarian ID
warontherocks.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:08 AM
From @warontherocks.bsky.social: “Ultimately, these interference activities reflect the growing strategic weight Moscow places on subverting public opinion in Europe in the context of war.” warontherocks.com/2025/11/red-...
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Found a cartoon today that nicely illustrates my life's aspirations
November 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Found a cartoon today that nicely illustrates my life's aspirations
Reposted by Christy Quirk
@michaeldweiss.bsky.social had one of the best breakdowns of the "peace plan" I've seen. Highly recommend reading it and giving his live chat with @timothysnyder.bsky.social a listen. macspaunday.substack.com/p/he-got-thi...
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
@michaeldweiss.bsky.social had one of the best breakdowns of the "peace plan" I've seen. Highly recommend reading it and giving his live chat with @timothysnyder.bsky.social a listen. macspaunday.substack.com/p/he-got-thi...
Reposted by Christy Quirk
We came to LA as refugees from the USSR in 1991. Life wasn’t easy, but we persevered and, I dare say, came to contribute something of worth to this nation.
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
We came to LA as refugees from the USSR in 1991. Life wasn’t easy, but we persevered and, I dare say, came to contribute something of worth to this nation.
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
What an absolute horror. Other photos make Mariupol look like Tiraspol in Transnistria. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
November 23, 2025 at 1:39 PM
What an absolute horror. Other photos make Mariupol look like Tiraspol in Transnistria. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
I didn’t go to vet school because I couldn’t do the (well, any) math.
November 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
I didn’t go to vet school because I couldn’t do the (well, any) math.
28 points doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Christo Grozev: Russian->US plan originally included an alliance against China.
November 23, 2025 at 7:32 AM
28 points doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
AOC has a pretty direct take on the coming MTG resignation. I bet AOC is exactly right.
November 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
AOC has a pretty direct take on the coming MTG resignation. I bet AOC is exactly right.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
By the way, this Gromyko quote also describes President Donald Trump’s negotiating style perfectly, with the addition that he often caves when push comes to shove. Something for European leaders to consider when dealing with him, whether on tariffs or Ukraine.
November 22, 2025 at 1:27 PM
By the way, this Gromyko quote also describes President Donald Trump’s negotiating style perfectly, with the addition that he often caves when push comes to shove. Something for European leaders to consider when dealing with him, whether on tariffs or Ukraine.
This lame duck president is in no position to be dictating anything to anyone.
Trump approval (among adults) below 40% again: fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
November 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
This lame duck president is in no position to be dictating anything to anyone.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Consolidated authoritarianism across Eurasia
Arrests of Kyrgyz opposition politicians all over the country today ahead of the snap parliamentary elections that President Japarov has assured will be “peaceful and quiet.
The current regime is not taking any chances and putting even its mildest opponents behind bars
The current regime is not taking any chances and putting even its mildest opponents behind bars
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Consolidated authoritarianism across Eurasia
Reposted by Christy Quirk
The one thing that gives me comfort is she’s a woman so she’ll never be president
The media fell in love with Trump — the most mendacious person in the world — because he gave them “interesting stories” and now they’re doing the same with her for the exact same reason
November 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The one thing that gives me comfort is she’s a woman so she’ll never be president
Reposted by Christy Quirk
The grovelling strategy, while imo justified for the sake of getting Ukraine patriots and the PURL scheme set up, always had an expiration date.
Agree that time is up now.
Agree that time is up now.
And Trump is weak right now. He just suffered a humiliating loss in Congress & the GOP was roundly defeated in the recent off-year elections. Trump’s approval ratings on the economy are dismal & SCOTUS may remove his ability to impose tariffs at will. Now is the time for Europe to stand up to him.
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
The grovelling strategy, while imo justified for the sake of getting Ukraine patriots and the PURL scheme set up, always had an expiration date.
Agree that time is up now.
Agree that time is up now.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Guys, stop pretending that Mamdani was the only Mayor meeting with high-level officials today.
November 21, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Guys, stop pretending that Mamdani was the only Mayor meeting with high-level officials today.
Me: I feel dead inside.
Internet friends:
Internet friends:
November 22, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Me: I feel dead inside.
Internet friends:
Internet friends:
It’s hard to say whose behavior is more risible, the administration’s carful of clowns or the court stenographers’, but @michaeldweiss.bsky.social has essential reading on the last 3 days of peace building. Good thing the stakes are so low open.substack.com/pub/macspaun...
“He Must Have Got This From K.”
How a Russian operative used the American media to force a risible “peace deal” into existence
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:44 AM
It’s hard to say whose behavior is more risible, the administration’s carful of clowns or the court stenographers’, but @michaeldweiss.bsky.social has essential reading on the last 3 days of peace building. Good thing the stakes are so low open.substack.com/pub/macspaun...
Reposted by Christy Quirk
Exactly. In reality, there is no choice for Zelensky, because accepting Trump's plan is off the table. What this statement is about is mobilizing the public both at home and abroad.
This is Zelensky putting pressure on Trump. He knows Ukrainians don't want to surrender. He's talking to all Americans across the political spectrum who support Ukraine, love freedom, and hate surrender. He's telling them: "you can't allow Trump to align the US with Ru against Europe". Let's see.
NEW: Brutal to watch Zelensky address his nation just now. On the brink of being abandoned by the US.
"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. At this moment, Ukraine may face a very hard choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
"Right now is one of the most difficult moments in our history. At this moment, Ukraine may face a very hard choice: either the loss of dignity, or the risk of losing a key partner."
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Exactly. In reality, there is no choice for Zelensky, because accepting Trump's plan is off the table. What this statement is about is mobilizing the public both at home and abroad.
Reposted by Christy Quirk
This is excellent.
November 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
This is excellent.