Léon Cornelissen
@leonmwc.bsky.social
Economist, rambler, cinephile, Wagnerite, chess aficionado
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
We take a last look back at a wild Tata Steel Chess 2026, where 10 of the 15 games played among the 2750+ players were decisive!
Tata Steel Chess 2026: 11 Conclusions
GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov scored one of the results of his career so far to win sole first in the 2026 Tata Steel Chess Masters, with second-placed GM Javokhir Sindarov completing the Uzbek domination.
www.chess.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:33 PM
We take a last look back at a wild Tata Steel Chess 2026, where 10 of the 15 games played among the 2750+ players were decisive!
“The EU does (…) have one option for exercising some leverage on this front: it can stop recognizing US government bonds as risk-free in its financial-market regulations.”
www.socialeurope.eu/europes-best...
www.socialeurope.eu/europes-best...
Europe’s Best Tools for Countering Trump
Daniel Gros recommends targeted export tariffs, taxes on royalties, and the elimination of US Treasuries’ risk-free status.
www.socialeurope.eu
February 3, 2026 at 11:59 AM
“The EU does (…) have one option for exercising some leverage on this front: it can stop recognizing US government bonds as risk-free in its financial-market regulations.”
www.socialeurope.eu/europes-best...
www.socialeurope.eu/europes-best...
„Wat een land productief en aantrekkelijk maakt is niet het feit dat een klein aantal miljardairs geen inkomstenbelasting betaalt.
Dat zijn de investeringen die een land doet in onderwijs, in onderzoek, in publieke infrastructuur.”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Dat zijn de investeringen die een land doet in onderwijs, in onderzoek, in publieke infrastructuur.”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Franse econoom wil allerrijksten zwaarder belasten, ook in Nederland: ‘Miljardairs danken hun rijkdom niet alleen aan zichzelf’
Frankrijk: De allerrijksten betalen relatief de minste belasting. Fiscaal ‘loodgieter’ Gabriel Zucman, econoom uit de school van Piketty, wil het gat dichten. Maandag spreekt hij in de Tweede Kamer. „...
www.nrc.nl
February 3, 2026 at 7:22 AM
„Wat een land productief en aantrekkelijk maakt is niet het feit dat een klein aantal miljardairs geen inkomstenbelasting betaalt.
Dat zijn de investeringen die een land doet in onderwijs, in onderzoek, in publieke infrastructuur.”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Dat zijn de investeringen die een land doet in onderwijs, in onderzoek, in publieke infrastructuur.”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
“Wat Vrooman vooral mist in de plannen rond werklozen, arbeidsongeschikten en de pensioenleeftijd, is een visie.
Een perspectief op hoe de sociale zekerheid er in 2050 uit moet zien.
Niet alleen gericht op de betaalbaarheid en uitvoerbaarheid, zoals nu”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Een perspectief op hoe de sociale zekerheid er in 2050 uit moet zien.
Niet alleen gericht op de betaalbaarheid en uitvoerbaarheid, zoals nu”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
De miljardenbezuiniging op sociale zekerheid past in een lange trend: niet de visie, maar de besparing is leidend
Vangnet: Fors snijden in uitkeringskosten voor werklozen, arbeidsongeschikten en gepensioneerden: D66, CDA en VVD willen miljarden besparen op sociale zekerheid. Is daar inhoudelijk iets voor te zegge...
www.nrc.nl
February 3, 2026 at 6:54 AM
“Wat Vrooman vooral mist in de plannen rond werklozen, arbeidsongeschikten en de pensioenleeftijd, is een visie.
Een perspectief op hoe de sociale zekerheid er in 2050 uit moet zien.
Niet alleen gericht op de betaalbaarheid en uitvoerbaarheid, zoals nu”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Een perspectief op hoe de sociale zekerheid er in 2050 uit moet zien.
Niet alleen gericht op de betaalbaarheid en uitvoerbaarheid, zoals nu”
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
Bravo!
De ambtenaren naar Noord, nu de NZ-lijn uitstekend functioneert en op de plek aan het Waterlooplein éindelijk dat Wagnertheater dat Berlage ontwierp. Naam: 'De Pierre Audi Opera'. Amsterdam verdient naast de Beurs die latere parel van Berlages architectuur.
De ambtenaren naar Noord, nu de NZ-lijn uitstekend functioneert en op de plek aan het Waterlooplein éindelijk dat Wagnertheater dat Berlage ontwierp. Naam: 'De Pierre Audi Opera'. Amsterdam verdient naast de Beurs die latere parel van Berlages architectuur.
February 1, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Bravo!
De ambtenaren naar Noord, nu de NZ-lijn uitstekend functioneert en op de plek aan het Waterlooplein éindelijk dat Wagnertheater dat Berlage ontwierp. Naam: 'De Pierre Audi Opera'. Amsterdam verdient naast de Beurs die latere parel van Berlages architectuur.
De ambtenaren naar Noord, nu de NZ-lijn uitstekend functioneert en op de plek aan het Waterlooplein éindelijk dat Wagnertheater dat Berlage ontwierp. Naam: 'De Pierre Audi Opera'. Amsterdam verdient naast de Beurs die latere parel van Berlages architectuur.
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
Night follows day. The north star always shines. The mountains do not move. And the new Dutch government is fiscally conservative and opposed to Eurobonds
www.telegraaf.nl/politiek/eer...
www.telegraaf.nl/politiek/eer...
Eerste details akkoord D66, VVD en CDA uitgelekt: geen eurobonds en begrotingstekort maximaal 2 procent
De eerste details over het coalitieakkoord dat D66, VVD en CDA hebben gesloten, lekken uit. Ingewijden melden aan De Telegraaf dat het stuk de titel ’Aan de slag’ heeft gekregen.
www.telegraaf.nl
January 29, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Night follows day. The north star always shines. The mountains do not move. And the new Dutch government is fiscally conservative and opposed to Eurobonds
www.telegraaf.nl/politiek/eer...
www.telegraaf.nl/politiek/eer...
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
The Netherlands is back at stage 1 of the cycle:
New populist party created -> gets saturation media coverage implying they’re very fresh and clever -> party wins lots of votes -> it becomes clear that party is not in fact fresh and clever but weird and incompetent -> party implodes
And repeat
New populist party created -> gets saturation media coverage implying they’re very fresh and clever -> party wins lots of votes -> it becomes clear that party is not in fact fresh and clever but weird and incompetent -> party implodes
And repeat
Net als gisteravond Markuszower bij @pauwendewit.bsky.social het podium kreeg, krijgen nu twee andere extreemrechtse ex-pvv-ers dat bij #Eva. Yes, we helpen weer een nieuwe enge partij de peilingen in!
Zoals G. Orwell schreef: grootste gevaar voor democratie is luie journalistiek.
Hopeloos dit..
Zoals G. Orwell schreef: grootste gevaar voor democratie is luie journalistiek.
Hopeloos dit..
January 22, 2026 at 7:12 AM
The Netherlands is back at stage 1 of the cycle:
New populist party created -> gets saturation media coverage implying they’re very fresh and clever -> party wins lots of votes -> it becomes clear that party is not in fact fresh and clever but weird and incompetent -> party implodes
And repeat
New populist party created -> gets saturation media coverage implying they’re very fresh and clever -> party wins lots of votes -> it becomes clear that party is not in fact fresh and clever but weird and incompetent -> party implodes
And repeat
“Responsibility for the catastrophe overtaking America now rests with his enablers — people who have to know that he’s a sick man but continue to support his depredations.”
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
It’s Sundowning in America
A presidential mind is a dangerous thing to lose
open.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:18 PM
“Responsibility for the catastrophe overtaking America now rests with his enablers — people who have to know that he’s a sick man but continue to support his depredations.”
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
“Young people are drifting towards simpler hobbies such as chess or its Japanese counterpart, shogi”…huh, simpler??!
economist.com/asia/2026/01...
economist.com/asia/2026/01...
Why Go is going nowhere
Three masters, one game, zero consensus
economist.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:43 AM
“Young people are drifting towards simpler hobbies such as chess or its Japanese counterpart, shogi”…huh, simpler??!
economist.com/asia/2026/01...
economist.com/asia/2026/01...
“Reasonable people can also differ when it comes to how much better it would be to have JD Vance in charge”
www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump...
www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump...
Trump’s Insane New Threat Leaves No Doubt: It’s Time for the 25th Amendment
There is no longer any denying the president is unable to carry out the demands of his office.
www.thedailybeast.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:58 PM
“Reasonable people can also differ when it comes to how much better it would be to have JD Vance in charge”
www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump...
www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump...
“…the idea that ‘Europe’ has ‘leverage’ over the US because of its holdings of US Treasuries and other American financial assets is implausible.”
www.ft.com/content/beea...
www.ft.com/content/beea...
Could Europe really leverage its $12.6tn pile of US assets?
NIIPing an outlandish idea in the bud
www.ft.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:49 PM
“…the idea that ‘Europe’ has ‘leverage’ over the US because of its holdings of US Treasuries and other American financial assets is implausible.”
www.ft.com/content/beea...
www.ft.com/content/beea...
Twenty-fifth amendment moment…but will that be an improvement?
![NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreie7itpptx3xbxhpsnlaqmwk752h7pcrion5ija2apksljtax2adx4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Twenty-fifth amendment moment…but will that be an improvement?
“The past year involved what many of the continent’s decision makers now admit resembled cognitive dissonance: arguing that European capitals needed to tolerate Trump’s attacks on them as allies in order to keep him as an ally.”
www.ft.com/content/d13b...
www.ft.com/content/d13b...
‘It’s about trust’: Donald Trump’s fresh tariff threats push Europe to harden its stance
Aggressive US rhetoric over Greenland demands a change in strategy by the EU and UK, officials say
www.ft.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:03 PM
“The past year involved what many of the continent’s decision makers now admit resembled cognitive dissonance: arguing that European capitals needed to tolerate Trump’s attacks on them as allies in order to keep him as an ally.”
www.ft.com/content/d13b...
www.ft.com/content/d13b...
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
6
"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!"
"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!"
January 18, 2026 at 12:48 PM
6
"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!"
"We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!"
De Gaulle was already insufferable
De Gaulle would be absolutely insufferable if he could see what was happening today.
January 18, 2026 at 11:16 AM
De Gaulle was already insufferable
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
In sum, Europe has little to lose in hitting back hard. The hope here is Europe hits back hard and prompts Trump to deescalate, just as he has done on China. Thus by escalating Europe is also creating a pathway to deescalate this crisis.
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
In sum, Europe has little to lose in hitting back hard. The hope here is Europe hits back hard and prompts Trump to deescalate, just as he has done on China. Thus by escalating Europe is also creating a pathway to deescalate this crisis.
‘We moeten af van onze militaire afhankelijkheid van de Amerikanen’ www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
‘We moeten af van onze militaire afhankelijkheid van de Amerikanen’
Guntram Wolff | economisch defensie-expert: Europese leiders zijn bang om voor Europese defensie te kiezen en minder met de Amerikanen te doen. Maar er is weinig keus, zegt defensie-expert Guntram Wol...
www.nrc.nl
January 14, 2026 at 7:39 PM
‘We moeten af van onze militaire afhankelijkheid van de Amerikanen’ www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/...
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
Europe is acting to deter us.
On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous and huge waste of resources, time, and energy. On the other hand, it may save the NATO alliance... so 🤷♂️
On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous and huge waste of resources, time, and energy. On the other hand, it may save the NATO alliance... so 🤷♂️
The tripwire force is finally here... But instead of being in Ukraine to deter Russia, it is within NATO territory to deter one NATO ally from violating another NATO ally's sovereignty.
The world turned upside down.
The world turned upside down.
Europe is deploying a tripwire in case of U.S. attack. Crazy times.
January 14, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Europe is acting to deter us.
On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous and huge waste of resources, time, and energy. On the other hand, it may save the NATO alliance... so 🤷♂️
On the one hand, this is totally ridiculous and huge waste of resources, time, and energy. On the other hand, it may save the NATO alliance... so 🤷♂️
Reposted by Léon Cornelissen
Édouard Louis, great French writer of a white working-class family saga, who grew up gay in a poor far-right-voting village, tells me how he escaped, and later helped his mum to do the same. About white working-class memoirs and Cinderella @financialtimes.com as.ft.com/r/cd31555e-9...
French writer Édouard Louis: ‘Family is a rotten structure. It produces its own violence’
[FREE TO READ] The gay author shocked France with stories of working-class poverty and homophobia. He talks to Simon Kuper about the misogyny his mother endured and why escape is his defining theme
as.ft.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Édouard Louis, great French writer of a white working-class family saga, who grew up gay in a poor far-right-voting village, tells me how he escaped, and later helped his mum to do the same. About white working-class memoirs and Cinderella @financialtimes.com as.ft.com/r/cd31555e-9...
“South Korea, Germany, Australia, Poland and even Canada are all debating to one degree or another whether to go nuclear.
Were Trump to annex Greenland, Canada would weigh it seriously.”
www.ft.com/content/331e...
Were Trump to annex Greenland, Canada would weigh it seriously.”
www.ft.com/content/331e...
How to de-risk from America
There is no precedent of a dominant power abandoning its primacy, as Trump is doing
www.ft.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:33 PM
“South Korea, Germany, Australia, Poland and even Canada are all debating to one degree or another whether to go nuclear.
Were Trump to annex Greenland, Canada would weigh it seriously.”
www.ft.com/content/331e...
Were Trump to annex Greenland, Canada would weigh it seriously.”
www.ft.com/content/331e...
LOL
No, he doesn't
He does know that the Pilgrims arrived 405 years ago
doesn't he...
doesn't he...
January 10, 2026 at 12:47 PM
LOL
“Want waarom laten de NS reizigers met valse hoop naar het station komen, met de belofte dat ‘over twee uur’ alles weer rijdt, terwijl dat op dat moment totaal onzeker of zelfs onhaalbaar is?”
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
Opinie: Waarom laten de NS treinreizigers met valse hoop naar het station komen?
De chaos door sneeuw zegt veel over de staat van onze spoorwegen, ziet Freek Bos, directeur van reizigersvereniging Rover. Wees daarover eerlijk tegenover reizigers.
www.trouw.nl
January 8, 2026 at 10:20 AM
“Want waarom laten de NS reizigers met valse hoop naar het station komen, met de belofte dat ‘over twee uur’ alles weer rijdt, terwijl dat op dat moment totaal onzeker of zelfs onhaalbaar is?”
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
www.trouw.nl/opinie/opini...
“Denemarken is te klein en gooit de grenzen dicht, Frankrijk is voor de Duitsers een gedwongen huwelijk en de Polen eisen herstelbetalingen vanwege de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Nederland wordt node gemist, we kunnen snel weer in de oude rol groeien.”
www.parool.nl/wereld/neder...
Nederland wordt node gemist, we kunnen snel weer in de oude rol groeien.”
www.parool.nl/wereld/neder...
Nederland verwaarloost vriendschap met Duitsland: ‘Kabinet was vooral met zichzelf bezig’
De warme relatie met Duitsland is de laatste anderhalf jaar bekoeld als gevolg van gerommel in Den Haag, economische missers en desinteresse van Nederlandse zijde. Maar het is nog niet te laat, vinden...
www.parool.nl
January 7, 2026 at 12:45 PM
“Denemarken is te klein en gooit de grenzen dicht, Frankrijk is voor de Duitsers een gedwongen huwelijk en de Polen eisen herstelbetalingen vanwege de Tweede Wereldoorlog.
Nederland wordt node gemist, we kunnen snel weer in de oude rol groeien.”
www.parool.nl/wereld/neder...
Nederland wordt node gemist, we kunnen snel weer in de oude rol groeien.”
www.parool.nl/wereld/neder...
LOL “President Trump’s statement that they will ‘run’ Venezuela while referencing ongoing talks with the Venezuelan government does not alone qualify the snatch-and-extract mission to capture Maduro as an invasion.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
Gambling platform Polymarket not paying bets on US invasion of Venezuela
Gamblers who placed wagers totalling $10.5m angered after capture of Nicolás Maduro deemed not to qualify
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:21 PM
LOL “President Trump’s statement that they will ‘run’ Venezuela while referencing ongoing talks with the Venezuelan government does not alone qualify the snatch-and-extract mission to capture Maduro as an invasion.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...