Mareike Ohlberg
@mareikeohlberg.bsky.social
Senior fellow @gmfus | CCP interference, digital, media, ideology | Permanent email/DM bankruptcy | #peasantpride | Usual disclaimers
The Chinese equivalent of "it doesn't matter what order the letters are in, as long as the first and last of each word are in the right position, you can read it just fine"
February 1, 2026 at 11:18 PM
The Chinese equivalent of "it doesn't matter what order the letters are in, as long as the first and last of each word are in the right position, you can read it just fine"
I realized how much current U.S. politics have lowered my expectations because for a second there, I was actually surprised the guy stepped down. Not something we're used to anymore in this brave new world.
Slovak PM Fico’s national security advisor has been forced out over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein
www.politico.eu/article/slov...
www.politico.eu/article/slov...
Slovakia adviser Lajčák resigns over Epstein revelations
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s national security adviser stepped down after his name appeared in newly released documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
www.politico.eu
February 1, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I realized how much current U.S. politics have lowered my expectations because for a second there, I was actually surprised the guy stepped down. Not something we're used to anymore in this brave new world.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Nothing too surprising here. FBI agents involved say at this point both Thiel and Musk were targets of what was perhaps the largest and most elaborate recruitment operation that Russian intelligence was running, and the most successful.
January 31, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Nothing too surprising here. FBI agents involved say at this point both Thiel and Musk were targets of what was perhaps the largest and most elaborate recruitment operation that Russian intelligence was running, and the most successful.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
January 25, 2026 at 11:33 AM
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Nice amended graph by @stoa1984 at X
January 24, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Nice amended graph by @stoa1984 at X
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
This must be weird news to see if you’re one of the literally hundreds or even thousands of university administrators who preemptively censored faculty, scrubbed websites, changed the names of centers, etc.
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges. This leaves in place a federal judge's ruling that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules. (Via AP) apnews.com/article/dei-... #ncpol #nced
Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges
The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...
apnews.com
January 23, 2026 at 1:45 PM
This must be weird news to see if you’re one of the literally hundreds or even thousands of university administrators who preemptively censored faculty, scrubbed websites, changed the names of centers, etc.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
This will almost certainly go unnoticed given the state of the world today, but tonight - last thing on EP agenda - lawmakers will debate a motion condemning Jimmy Lai's conviction
Most newsy bit is the call for "Commission to initiate the suspension of HK status under the WTO"
Most newsy bit is the call for "Commission to initiate the suspension of HK status under the WTO"
January 21, 2026 at 11:54 AM
This will almost certainly go unnoticed given the state of the world today, but tonight - last thing on EP agenda - lawmakers will debate a motion condemning Jimmy Lai's conviction
Most newsy bit is the call for "Commission to initiate the suspension of HK status under the WTO"
Most newsy bit is the call for "Commission to initiate the suspension of HK status under the WTO"
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
📊Those 🇩🇪numbers are even more dramatic when looking at responses according to party preference, laying bare how much of an outlier AfD is.
Excluding AfD voters, we get:
🇫🇷 93.5% trust in France
🇬🇧 89.75% trust in UK
🇺🇦 62.5% trust in Ukraine
🇺🇸 8.5% trust in USA ‼️
🇷🇺 3% trust in Russia.
Short 🧵
Excluding AfD voters, we get:
🇫🇷 93.5% trust in France
🇬🇧 89.75% trust in UK
🇺🇦 62.5% trust in Ukraine
🇺🇸 8.5% trust in USA ‼️
🇷🇺 3% trust in Russia.
Short 🧵
January 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM
📊Those 🇩🇪numbers are even more dramatic when looking at responses according to party preference, laying bare how much of an outlier AfD is.
Excluding AfD voters, we get:
🇫🇷 93.5% trust in France
🇬🇧 89.75% trust in UK
🇺🇦 62.5% trust in Ukraine
🇺🇸 8.5% trust in USA ‼️
🇷🇺 3% trust in Russia.
Short 🧵
Excluding AfD voters, we get:
🇫🇷 93.5% trust in France
🇬🇧 89.75% trust in UK
🇺🇦 62.5% trust in Ukraine
🇺🇸 8.5% trust in USA ‼️
🇷🇺 3% trust in Russia.
Short 🧵
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
There will be a lot of big stories in 2026 regarding US democracy, but the biggest IMO will be the effort to reshape the electoral system
More from the party of federalism: "the states are merely an agent for the federal government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the federal government, as represented by the president of the United States, tells them, for the good of the country, to do."
January 9, 2026 at 4:56 PM
There will be a lot of big stories in 2026 regarding US democracy, but the biggest IMO will be the effort to reshape the electoral system
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
🔴Trump and Musk Welcome Russian Propaganda After Sanctioning European Disinformation Experts
If there’s any question that the US is now more aligned with Russia rather than Europe, recent State Department decisions have removed all doubt
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/07/t...
If there’s any question that the US is now more aligned with Russia rather than Europe, recent State Department decisions have removed all doubt
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/07/t...
Trump and Musk Welcome Russian Propaganda After Sanctioning European Disinformation Experts
If there’s any question that the US is now more aligned with Russia rather than Europe, recent State Department decisions have removed all doubt
bylinetimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:07 PM
🔴Trump and Musk Welcome Russian Propaganda After Sanctioning European Disinformation Experts
If there’s any question that the US is now more aligned with Russia rather than Europe, recent State Department decisions have removed all doubt
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/07/t...
If there’s any question that the US is now more aligned with Russia rather than Europe, recent State Department decisions have removed all doubt
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/07/t...
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Die AfD bereitet die deutsche Bevölkerung schon mal darauf vor, dass Deutschland zum russischen Großraum gehört.
January 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Die AfD bereitet die deutsche Bevölkerung schon mal darauf vor, dass Deutschland zum russischen Großraum gehört.
I agree with this. The damage to the international order is less immediately relevant to Taiwan than some have argued. At the same time, the damage done (by this specific attack and the Trump presidency more generally) is much bigger and goes beyond giving China a convenient excuse to annex Taiwan.
Ryan Hass wrote an excellent thread on Twitter that I appreciate,
calling for us not to overstate what had happened today in terms of what it means for Taiwan. I agree with him as I posted above that today won’t likely change Xi’s calculus in the short term. His whole thread is worth reading.
calling for us not to overstate what had happened today in terms of what it means for Taiwan. I agree with him as I posted above that today won’t likely change Xi’s calculus in the short term. His whole thread is worth reading.
January 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
I agree with this. The damage to the international order is less immediately relevant to Taiwan than some have argued. At the same time, the damage done (by this specific attack and the Trump presidency more generally) is much bigger and goes beyond giving China a convenient excuse to annex Taiwan.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
Required reading for those European capitals that are still in denial. As a recent Rhodium note cited by the FT stresses, a weak renminbi, persistent deflation and excess capacity in China will erode the bite of conventional trade defence tools. New thinking is needed
www.ft.com/content/079f...
www.ft.com/content/079f...
Why China is doubling down on its export-led growth model
The country plans to reinforce its dominance of global manufacturing, despite persistent deflation at home and rising tensions abroad
www.ft.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:31 AM
Required reading for those European capitals that are still in denial. As a recent Rhodium note cited by the FT stresses, a weak renminbi, persistent deflation and excess capacity in China will erode the bite of conventional trade defence tools. New thinking is needed
www.ft.com/content/079f...
www.ft.com/content/079f...
X soft censored the video of Elon Musk agreeing with Thierry Breton on the DSA by declaring it "age-restricted adult content" 🙄🙄🙄
December 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
X soft censored the video of Elon Musk agreeing with Thierry Breton on the DSA by declaring it "age-restricted adult content" 🙄🙄🙄
Before I sign off to enjoy a few days in peace and away from the news, a word on the recent U.S. sanctions: The "global censorship-industrial complex" is a far right fantasy. Most of the DSA is about transparency and forcing platforms to provide info about how they moderate and boost content 1/
December 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Before I sign off to enjoy a few days in peace and away from the news, a word on the recent U.S. sanctions: The "global censorship-industrial complex" is a far right fantasy. Most of the DSA is about transparency and forcing platforms to provide info about how they moderate and boost content 1/
Aus aktuellem Anlass.
I read Black Pill by @ellereeve.bsky.social this year, and this quote by White Nationalist Chris Cantwell really stuck with me: "The goal was to become the system... We want to wield the tremendous power of the United States government."
December 24, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Aus aktuellem Anlass.
My wish for 2026 is for Americans to realize they're not that special. Many other countries have gone through these types of authoritarian crackdowns before, and their experiences hold valuable lessons, but obsession with their own exceptionalism is preventing Americans from making use of them.
Again, from Michael Grynbaum, here is Sharyn Alfonsi's full email.
It must be read:
It must be read:
December 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM
My wish for 2026 is for Americans to realize they're not that special. Many other countries have gone through these types of authoritarian crackdowns before, and their experiences hold valuable lessons, but obsession with their own exceptionalism is preventing Americans from making use of them.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
“Chinese analysts have interpreted the new strategy as evidence of American retreat.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/b...
China Is Feeling Strong and Senses an American Retreat
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
“Chinese analysts have interpreted the new strategy as evidence of American retreat.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/b...
I read Black Pill by @ellereeve.bsky.social this year, and this quote by White Nationalist Chris Cantwell really stuck with me: "The goal was to become the system... We want to wield the tremendous power of the United States government."
December 16, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I read Black Pill by @ellereeve.bsky.social this year, and this quote by White Nationalist Chris Cantwell really stuck with me: "The goal was to become the system... We want to wield the tremendous power of the United States government."
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
🇨🇳 How is Beijing shaping global narratives—and what role does Washington play?
In their latest analysis, GMF's Mareike Ohlberg and Andy Chen explore China’s efforts to “tell its story well” and the implications for democratic discourse worldwide.
📖 Read the article: buff.ly/fiZW8OR
In their latest analysis, GMF's Mareike Ohlberg and Andy Chen explore China’s efforts to “tell its story well” and the implications for democratic discourse worldwide.
📖 Read the article: buff.ly/fiZW8OR
Washington Is Helping Beijing “Tell China’s Story Well”
Beijing has for decades invested significant resources into manipulating Western public opinion, but 2025 marks a significant change. This is not because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) created a…
www.gmfus.org
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
🇨🇳 How is Beijing shaping global narratives—and what role does Washington play?
In their latest analysis, GMF's Mareike Ohlberg and Andy Chen explore China’s efforts to “tell its story well” and the implications for democratic discourse worldwide.
📖 Read the article: buff.ly/fiZW8OR
In their latest analysis, GMF's Mareike Ohlberg and Andy Chen explore China’s efforts to “tell its story well” and the implications for democratic discourse worldwide.
📖 Read the article: buff.ly/fiZW8OR
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
The US is now making coercive threats to fine random European companies in retaliation for EU digital regulations that are designed to prevent hate speech, disinformation and harm to children.
www.ft.com/content/001d...
www.ft.com/content/001d...
Washington threatens European groups over EU’s treatment of US tech giants
French and German companies warned their access to the American market could be disrupted
www.ft.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The US is now making coercive threats to fine random European companies in retaliation for EU digital regulations that are designed to prevent hate speech, disinformation and harm to children.
www.ft.com/content/001d...
www.ft.com/content/001d...
‘Once we become submissive, thinking that [accommodation] can protect us, we still get targeted in the end … [B]eing targeted has nothing to do with content actually having an issue’ madeinchinajournal.com/2025/12/12/w...
What Is the Purpose of ‘China-Watching’ in the United States Today?
The executive ignored widespread dissent to force through an illiberal agenda. Violent confrontations between protesters and police brought forth increased repression. In less than a year, new policie...
madeinchinajournal.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:33 PM
‘Once we become submissive, thinking that [accommodation] can protect us, we still get targeted in the end … [B]eing targeted has nothing to do with content actually having an issue’ madeinchinajournal.com/2025/12/12/w...
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
This never was a “national security trial”. It was a regime security kangaroo court. It’s purely about political control.
Jimmy Lai, the pro-democracy former Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing, was convicted in a landmark national security trial in the city’s court on Monday, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life.
Former Hong Kong pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai convicted in landmark national security trial
Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media mogul and outspoken critic of Beijing, has been convicted in a landmark national security trial in the city’s court.
apnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:50 AM
This never was a “national security trial”. It was a regime security kangaroo court. It’s purely about political control.
Reposted by Mareike Ohlberg
“🇺🇸 Americans continue to have a positive view of relations between the two countries, even with a significant decline in perceptions since last year.
🇩🇪 Germans have completely flipped their assessments of the relationship over that same period.”
🔗 www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
🇩🇪 Germans have completely flipped their assessments of the relationship over that same period.”
🔗 www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
December 15, 2025 at 6:13 PM
“🇺🇸 Americans continue to have a positive view of relations between the two countries, even with a significant decline in perceptions since last year.
🇩🇪 Germans have completely flipped their assessments of the relationship over that same period.”
🔗 www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...
🇩🇪 Germans have completely flipped their assessments of the relationship over that same period.”
🔗 www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/...