Joris Luyendijk
@jorisluyendijk.bsky.social
Writer. Amsterdam.
Pinned
Not only bringing in some much-needed (and well-supported) optimism, but also lots of interesting aspects on how #Trump might yet get a place in history, as the guy who managed to unite quite the range of Europeans...
If you think that Europe is doomed, you’re not paying attention.
Wrote a recap of the latest developments and call me a hopeless Europtimist but I think Europe+ (including Canada) isn’t doing too bad in terms of offering Ukraine an actual perspective for the future. With or without the US.
Wrote a recap of the latest developments and call me a hopeless Europtimist but I think Europe+ (including Canada) isn’t doing too bad in terms of offering Ukraine an actual perspective for the future. With or without the US.
US administrations have always played a double game. Exhorting Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense... but always making sure Europe stayed sufficiently divided not to become a unified rival. Trump has blown up this game, presenting us with a unique opportunity.
humanity is very lucky that the Trump team are even more incompetent than they are evil.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
humanity is very lucky that the Trump team are even more incompetent than they are evil.
or perhaps Europe pretends to behave like this. There is an acute awareness in European capitals today that given current European dependence on the US for defense, we must not anger the orange child in the White House. For now.
“Putin’s aims have never shifted because they are ideological, not tactical. He wants subjugation, not compromise. He wants Kyiv, not coexistence…These are not negotiable objectives. And yet Europe and the US continue to behave as though they are.”
londonlovesbusiness.com/the-28-point...
londonlovesbusiness.com/the-28-point...
The 28-point 'Peace Plan': A crisis of trust, influence and strategic delusion - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
Explore the implications of The 28-point 'Peace Plan' and its links to Russian proposals amid a political earthquake.
londonlovesbusiness.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
or perhaps Europe pretends to behave like this. There is an acute awareness in European capitals today that given current European dependence on the US for defense, we must not anger the orange child in the White House. For now.
Hoe kan je nou bekend staan als een "hardleerse" oplichter, en niet in de gevangenis zitten? Dan is de strafmaat toch te laat?
Een ernstige, steeds verder uitdijende bodemverontreiniging door een gescheurde mestzak belemmert de overdracht van een stuk grond voor de nieuwe ASML-campus in Eindhoven.
De mestzak was neergelegd en gevuld door mesttransporteur Daas, bekend als hardleerse mestfraudeur.
www.ed.nl/eindhoven/ho...
De mestzak was neergelegd en gevuld door mesttransporteur Daas, bekend als hardleerse mestfraudeur.
www.ed.nl/eindhoven/ho...
Hoe één mestzak voor ernstige verontreiniging ASML-gebied zorgde: stuk vervuilde grond gegroeid van 500 naar 4500 kuub, Eindhoven radeloos
Een ernstige en steeds verder uitdijende bodemverontreiniging belemmert de overdracht van een stuk grond voor de nieuwe ASML-campus in Eindhoven. De sanering verkeert in een impasse en de gemeente zit...
www.ed.nl
November 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Hoe kan je nou bekend staan als een "hardleerse" oplichter, en niet in de gevangenis zitten? Dan is de strafmaat toch te laat?
Goed nieuws. Zo'n verbod heeft voor Nederland alleen zin als je het Europees doet. Nu gebeurt dat. Daarvoor zitten we nou in de EU. Simpel.
Vandaag verbiedt de EU PFAS in speelgoed. Dit is het startsein voor een PFAS-vrij Europa. Want deze forever chemicals horen nergens thuis - niet in speelgoed, niet in onze kleren, niet in ons lichaam. 💚 www.groen.be/eu_verbiedt_...
EU verbiedt PFAS in speelgoed: Europees Parlement keurt nieuwe veiligheidswet finaal goed
Het Europees Parlement heeft vandaag definitief groen licht gegeven voor het verbod op schadelijke chemicaliën in speelgoed, waaronder de giftige "forever chemicals" PFAS. Europees parlementslid Sara ...
www.groen.be
November 25, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Goed nieuws. Zo'n verbod heeft voor Nederland alleen zin als je het Europees doet. Nu gebeurt dat. Daarvoor zitten we nou in de EU. Simpel.
So torn over this. I believe with all my heart that same-sex marriage is a fundamental human right. I also believe that if you impose cultural norms through the courts rather than allowing them to evolve through a democratic process, the backlash can be catastrophic. See abortion in the US.
Big news: the European Court of Justice rules that all member states are obliged to recognise a same-sex marriage lawfully concluded in another member state.
November 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
So torn over this. I believe with all my heart that same-sex marriage is a fundamental human right. I also believe that if you impose cultural norms through the courts rather than allowing them to evolve through a democratic process, the backlash can be catastrophic. See abortion in the US.
How the Americans are poisoning not just their own democracy, but ours here in Europe, too.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
How the Americans are poisoning not just their own democracy, but ours here in Europe, too.
Anglophone commentators may easily miss signs like this, not knowing the place FAZ occupies on the German liberal right (yes, in Northern Europe 'liberals' are economically on the right).
Extra handicap: no good English term for 'Umdenken'. 'Rethink' is not the same.
Extra handicap: no good English term for 'Umdenken'. 'Rethink' is not the same.
„Macron avait raison avec sa demande d‘autonomie strategique“. Erstaunliches Umdenken in @faznet.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Anglophone commentators may easily miss signs like this, not knowing the place FAZ occupies on the German liberal right (yes, in Northern Europe 'liberals' are economically on the right).
Extra handicap: no good English term for 'Umdenken'. 'Rethink' is not the same.
Extra handicap: no good English term for 'Umdenken'. 'Rethink' is not the same.
We need to talk about this A LOT in Europe. Such a shocking illustration of how we are getting colonized by the Americans. Let's spread this widely so it helps galvanize public opinion.
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Nicolas Guillou, French ICC judge sanctioned by the US: 'You are effectively blacklisted by much of the world's banking system'
Six judges and three prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have been sanctioned by the Trump administration. In an interview with Le Monde, Guillou discusses the impact of these measures on ...
www.lemonde.fr
November 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
We need to talk about this A LOT in Europe. Such a shocking illustration of how we are getting colonized by the Americans. Let's spread this widely so it helps galvanize public opinion.
These people make George W. Bush sound smart.
Tucker Carlson: What do you think of Putin?
Witkoff: I liked him. I thought he was straight up with me…I don't regard Putin as a bad guy.
Witkoff: I liked him. I thought he was straight up with me…I don't regard Putin as a bad guy.
November 24, 2025 at 9:16 PM
These people make George W. Bush sound smart.
Well put.
The USA is in fact the richest and most materially prosperous country in the world which is why so many people living there hate it and are prepared to vote for the most extreme and idiotic economic policies possible rather than the status quo.
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Well put.
In other words: your average publicly listed multinational corporation.
This is often how personalist regimes work -- dozens of guys close to the leader compete for power and influence, backstabbing and out-maneuvering each other for the leader's attention/ignorance.
The crazy thing about Trump II is that we really have no idea who is drafting the war plans or the peace plans, or even how much Trump is in the loop on either.
November 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
In other words: your average publicly listed multinational corporation.
This may be why many 'low-information' voters like Trump. I cannot see Kamela Harris do this (nor Starmer, Merz, Macron). Rutte can do this, too, and this is why many voters in NL trusted him. Rutte did not take himself too seriously (sadly, he and Trump don't take the truth very seriously either).
Reporter: “Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?”
Mamdani: “I've spoken about–”
Trump: “That's ok. You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind.”
Mamdani: “I've spoken about–”
Trump: “That's ok. You can just say yes. It's easier than explaining it. I don't mind.”
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
This may be why many 'low-information' voters like Trump. I cannot see Kamela Harris do this (nor Starmer, Merz, Macron). Rutte can do this, too, and this is why many voters in NL trusted him. Rutte did not take himself too seriously (sadly, he and Trump don't take the truth very seriously either).
Je zou verwachten dat journalisten bij uitstek snappen dat het al snel niet meer gaat over de misstap, maar over de cover-up. En dan komen ze met die 14 bronnen. Die ze niet kunnen waarmaken. Amazing amateuristisch. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Opinie | Verslaggeving van NRC over Wijers was gerechtvaardigd maar er ging te veel fout
Een stortvloed aan mails en veel opzeggingen: NRC had informateur Hans Wijers ten onrechte gevloerd met „bedroevende journalistiek”, of erger met „riooljournalistiek zonder weerga”. De redactie kwam v...
www.nrc.nl
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Je zou verwachten dat journalisten bij uitstek snappen dat het al snel niet meer gaat over de misstap, maar over de cover-up. En dan komen ze met die 14 bronnen. Die ze niet kunnen waarmaken. Amazing amateuristisch. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
How can anyone in Europe still be in denial over the dual threat of Russia and the US?
Agree. Coalition of the Willing has to stop deluding itself that after a ceasefire on reasonable terms it will send symbolic forces to Ukraine w US backing. UK, France, Germany, Poland &c must invest whatever it takes to defeat RU in UA, or they will have to fight it, without US help, further West.
It’s not a “US plan”, it’s Moscow’s plan, dictated to guilty men in the White House. Setting aside the injustices being pushed on Ukraine, this would be a disaster for European security & guarantee a war with 🇷🇺 in a few years, in which, presumably, 🇺🇸 and 🇷🇺 are on the same side.
on.ft.com/3LYajoR
on.ft.com/3LYajoR
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
How can anyone in Europe still be in denial over the dual threat of Russia and the US?
Intriguing and terrifying. From 1941! Replace 'nazi' with 'anti-democrat' and you can play this 'interesting and somewhat macabre parlor game' in 2025. harpers.org/archive/1941...
Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson
harpers.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Intriguing and terrifying. From 1941! Replace 'nazi' with 'anti-democrat' and you can play this 'interesting and somewhat macabre parlor game' in 2025. harpers.org/archive/1941...
Hallo, ik ben minister Wiersma en ik maak uw kinderen ziek.
Minister Wiersma staat lekkende pfas-pesticiden nog toe
Minister Wiersma staat lekkende pfas-pesticiden nog toe
Het gebruik van pesticiden in de landbouw daalt. Wel worden steeds vaker middelen gebruikt waar pfas inzitten, tot zorg van de drinkwaterbedrijven. Denemarken verbood onlangs enkele middelen. Nederland wacht nog af.
www.trouw.nl
November 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Hallo, ik ben minister Wiersma en ik maak uw kinderen ziek.
Reposted by Joris Luyendijk
Nobody wants this shit. Nobody.
The hostile reaction has been so pronounced, in fact, that it feels like a company announcing it would never force AI into its products would carve out a pretty good chunk of the market.
The hostile reaction has been so pronounced, in fact, that it feels like a company announcing it would never force AI into its products would carve out a pretty good chunk of the market.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Nobody wants this shit. Nobody.
The hostile reaction has been so pronounced, in fact, that it feels like a company announcing it would never force AI into its products would carve out a pretty good chunk of the market.
The hostile reaction has been so pronounced, in fact, that it feels like a company announcing it would never force AI into its products would carve out a pretty good chunk of the market.
Reposted by Joris Luyendijk
open.spotify.com/episode/6eCH... Prachtig eerlijk interview, van zowel de geïnterviewde, Joris Luyendijk ,maar vooral van interviewer Wilfred Genee. Over mannelijke kwetsbaarheid, kansengelijkheid.
Joris Luyendijk: 'Wat was de laatste keer dat de PvdA een geloofwaardige leider had?'
open.spotify.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
open.spotify.com/episode/6eCH... Prachtig eerlijk interview, van zowel de geïnterviewde, Joris Luyendijk ,maar vooral van interviewer Wilfred Genee. Over mannelijke kwetsbaarheid, kansengelijkheid.
Those six words at the end... Same for Wilders' effect on the Netherlands. He is clearing a path. To where we do not yet know. But it's not a good place.
My base case scenario is still Trump coalition fractures with potential for armed violence limited to something like Italy's years of lead and war with the mafia that followed from 1967-1999. Bad, but nothing that gets in the way of repairing Trump's damage. Yet much worse is now thinkable.
November 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Those six words at the end... Same for Wilders' effect on the Netherlands. He is clearing a path. To where we do not yet know. But it's not a good place.
that would be a positive, then.
I'd bet that as with the Churkin stuff any Russia-related material won't even be central to Epstein's network or operation, but there was already enough in the emails that have already been released to cause serious domestic US problems for any future attempts by Trump to cozy up to Putin.
November 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
that would be a positive, then.
Is geo-narcissism a word? The delusion that everything everywhere at any time was or is, in the end, only ever about you. www.france24.com/en/live-news...
EU was born to 'screw' US, Trump says
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the European Union was born to "screw" the United States, laying bare his hostility to the longtime US partner as he detailed new tariffs.
www.france24.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Is geo-narcissism a word? The delusion that everything everywhere at any time was or is, in the end, only ever about you. www.france24.com/en/live-news...
Reposted by Joris Luyendijk
Maybe I’ve become more cynical with age, but it’s curious how Russia re-engages with peace talks whenever there’s the whiff of possible new US sanctions
November 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Maybe I’ve become more cynical with age, but it’s curious how Russia re-engages with peace talks whenever there’s the whiff of possible new US sanctions
Expect more of this. I was in Brussels for a few days talking to people. Striking how some of the most Atlanticist/ US oriented people I know have made a full 180. Remains to be seen if they can turn the tide. But the days of European trust in the US seem well and truly over.
Canada and Sweden Partner to Grow Defense and Trade Ties
Canada and Sweden announced a strategic partnership to deepen cooperation on defense and trade, as the North American nation looks to reduce its dependence on the US for military equipment and as an export market.
(https://archive.ph/O0WXd)
Canada and Sweden announced a strategic partnership to deepen cooperation on defense and trade, as the North American nation looks to reduce its dependence on the US for military equipment and as an export market.
(https://archive.ph/O0WXd)
Canada and Sweden Partner to Grow Defense and Trade Ties
Canada and Sweden announced a strategic partnership to deepen cooperation on defense and trade, as the North American nation looks to reduce its dependence on the US for military equipment and as an export market.
(https://archive.ph/O0WXd)
www.bloomberg.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Expect more of this. I was in Brussels for a few days talking to people. Striking how some of the most Atlanticist/ US oriented people I know have made a full 180. Remains to be seen if they can turn the tide. But the days of European trust in the US seem well and truly over.
Nederland bijna net zo slecht als de Engelsen. Lieve hemel, dan ben je diep gezakt.
November 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Nederland bijna net zo slecht als de Engelsen. Lieve hemel, dan ben je diep gezakt.
Reposted by Joris Luyendijk
Particularly when so many Israelis have opted to find well-paid jobs in Berlin, London, Paris and other centres of a supposedly dying Europe
Many Israelis complain, often with justification, at their vilification at the hands of Europeans who know little about their country and have never visited it. It was striking to experience the mirror image of that phenomenon (3/3)
November 15, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Particularly when so many Israelis have opted to find well-paid jobs in Berlin, London, Paris and other centres of a supposedly dying Europe