Martin 马丁 Holterman
@martinned.bsky.social
Gamekeeper turned poacher turned gamekeeper. Ex-consultant, ex-CMA, ex-Ofwat, ex-EUI. Tweets and RTs (occasionally) reflect personal views, but never anyone else's.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
@theguardian.com I'm pretty sure that Andy King (in the middle here) has left the OBR to join @flint-global.com years ago.
November 26, 2025 at 2:41 PM
@theguardian.com I'm pretty sure that Andy King (in the middle here) has left the OBR to join @flint-global.com years ago.
For the record, as far as I'm concerned the alternative to juries isn't single-judge courts, but a panel of three judges. The theory is that they cancel out each other's biases. (And that they have to explain their reasoning anyway.)
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-short-de...
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-short-de...
A short defence of juries
The jury system is not without faults but there is a good reason why they exist.
emptycity.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
For the record, as far as I'm concerned the alternative to juries isn't single-judge courts, but a panel of three judges. The theory is that they cancel out each other's biases. (And that they have to explain their reasoning anyway.)
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-short-de...
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-short-de...
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
This is so important. People who study international relations love to fight over whether interests or values define relationships. It is both. An interest is something you define. And your values come into the equation. It is not either or.
What Trump has made me realise is how much the post-Cold War relationship hinged on shared values rather than shared interests. Trump is illustrating how, whether on Ukraine and Gaza, our interests diverge and, absent those values, there's not much holding us together.
November 25, 2025 at 9:38 AM
This is so important. People who study international relations love to fight over whether interests or values define relationships. It is both. An interest is something you define. And your values come into the equation. It is not either or.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
There is absolutely no reason for the European Union and NATO to behave like we are hostage to the policy choices and objectives of the United States on matters of international affairs, in particular, on Russia's war and genocide against Ukraine. We're not slaves or pawns to Washington.
1/8
1/8
November 22, 2025 at 5:41 PM
There is absolutely no reason for the European Union and NATO to behave like we are hostage to the policy choices and objectives of the United States on matters of international affairs, in particular, on Russia's war and genocide against Ukraine. We're not slaves or pawns to Washington.
1/8
1/8
With Trump, what’s the point of being mealy mouthed like this? Either give him what he wants or tell him to f*ck off.
Are they trying to run out the clock like during Trump’s first time in office? He has more than 3 years left, and the next president will be worse.
Are they trying to run out the clock like during Trump’s first time in office? He has more than 3 years left, and the next president will be worse.
Just in: joint statement on Ukraine by 🇪🇺🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇮🇹🇪🇸🇫🇮🇳🇱🇮🇪🇳🇴🇨🇦🇯🇵
The 28-point plan has "important elements" for a just and lasting peace but "will require additional work."
"We are concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack."
The 28-point plan has "important elements" for a just and lasting peace but "will require additional work."
"We are concerned by the proposed limitations on Ukraine's armed forces, which would leave Ukraine vulnerable to future attack."
November 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
With Trump, what’s the point of being mealy mouthed like this? Either give him what he wants or tell him to f*ck off.
Are they trying to run out the clock like during Trump’s first time in office? He has more than 3 years left, and the next president will be worse.
Are they trying to run out the clock like during Trump’s first time in office? He has more than 3 years left, and the next president will be worse.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
context on why the resignation date is early next year - even MTG knows not to give up good health insurance when you have it
My assumption would be a pivot to punditry / Fox commentator or other similar grift.
She assumed office on 1/3/21, so 1/6/26 will give her the five years required to get a congressional pension and lifetime access to FEHB health insurance. And it'd get her out of the blast radius of a GOP collapse.
She assumed office on 1/3/21, so 1/6/26 will give her the five years required to get a congressional pension and lifetime access to FEHB health insurance. And it'd get her out of the blast radius of a GOP collapse.
November 22, 2025 at 1:38 AM
context on why the resignation date is early next year - even MTG knows not to give up good health insurance when you have it
Als je in deze situatie ADO bent, en je moet nog 4 minuten uitspelen, dan spreek je toch op basis van pure schaamte met je tegenstander af dat je de bal alleen nog even informeel rondtikt? Of ben ik nou gek?
SC Cambuur-ADO Den Haag tijdelijk gestaakt na ongeregeldheden bij uitvak. Supporters ADO gooien met vuurwerk naar thuispubliek
SC Cambuur-ADO Den Haag tijdelijk gestaakt na ongeregeldheden bij uitvak. Supporters ADO gooien met vuurwerk naar thuispubliek
SC Cambuur-ADO Den Haag is tijdelijk gestaakt nadat er ongeregeldheden ontstonden bij het uitvak.
dlvr.it
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Als je in deze situatie ADO bent, en je moet nog 4 minuten uitspelen, dan spreek je toch op basis van pure schaamte met je tegenstander af dat je de bal alleen nog even informeel rondtikt? Of ben ik nou gek?
Wat in dit stuk wat mij betreft het interessantst is, is de stelling (tussen neus en lippen door) dat de informateur “sturing geeft” aan het formatieproces. Dat lijkt me een behoorlijke constitutionele noviteit. En zonder die aanname is de nieuwswaarde van e.e.a. een stuk minder evident.
NRC kreeg veel kritiek na publicaties over D66-informateur Wijers. Wat is er gebeurd? Hoe handelde de redactie? Welke afwegingen zijn wel en niet goed gemaakt? Een evaluatie door de ombudsman van NRC.
Opinie | Verslaggeving van NRC over Wijers was gerechtvaardigd maar er ging te veel fout
Illustratie Mart Veldhuis Zoom in 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 vanaf vorige week vrijdag vol onder vuur te liggen voor het journalistiek handelen rond de berichtgeving over D66-informateur Wijers. Die had volgens een artikel dat…
www.nrc.nl
November 21, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Wat in dit stuk wat mij betreft het interessantst is, is de stelling (tussen neus en lippen door) dat de informateur “sturing geeft” aan het formatieproces. Dat lijkt me een behoorlijke constitutionele noviteit. En zonder die aanname is de nieuwswaarde van e.e.a. een stuk minder evident.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
NRC kreeg veel kritiek na publicaties over D66-informateur Wijers. Wat is er gebeurd? Hoe handelde de redactie? Welke afwegingen zijn wel en niet goed gemaakt? Een evaluatie door de ombudsman van NRC.
Opinie | Verslaggeving van NRC over Wijers was gerechtvaardigd maar er ging te veel fout
Illustratie Mart Veldhuis Zoom in 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 vanaf vorige week vrijdag vol onder vuur te liggen voor het journalistiek handelen rond de berichtgeving over D66-informateur Wijers. Die had volgens een artikel dat…
www.nrc.nl
November 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
NRC kreeg veel kritiek na publicaties over D66-informateur Wijers. Wat is er gebeurd? Hoe handelde de redactie? Welke afwegingen zijn wel en niet goed gemaakt? Een evaluatie door de ombudsman van NRC.
Kijk Wopke eens met de vuist op tafel slaan! Het zal mij benieuwen…
Under no circumstances are we going to accept this text. Nothing that is remotely close to what is now on the table.
Yes, we do have a few more hours left.
You can count on us to do our absolute utmost to deliver #COP30
See my remarks this morning 👉🏻 ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Yes, we do have a few more hours left.
You can count on us to do our absolute utmost to deliver #COP30
See my remarks this morning 👉🏻 ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
November 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Kijk Wopke eens met de vuist op tafel slaan! Het zal mij benieuwen…
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Though what he did was deplorable, this seems an excessive sentence for idiocy.
Can we reduce it by a year for each other person that he incriminates?
Can we reduce it by a year for each other person that he incriminates?
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been jailed for 10 and a half years after he accepted money to make pro-Russian statements in the European parliament.
www.ft.com/content/9959...
www.ft.com/content/9959...
Former leader of Reform UK in Wales jailed over pro-Russian bribes
Nathan Gill sentenced to 10 years in prison for accepting money to make statements in European parliament
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Though what he did was deplorable, this seems an excessive sentence for idiocy.
Can we reduce it by a year for each other person that he incriminates?
Can we reduce it by a year for each other person that he incriminates?
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
How some geopolitically relevant economies are doing relative to their pre-COVID trends.
November 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
How some geopolitically relevant economies are doing relative to their pre-COVID trends.
Of, om het anders te zeggen, ook een “dubbeldemissionair” kabinet heeft nog veel macht. Het is altijd de moeite waard om een partij uit een kabinet te manoeuvreren dat al demissionair is. Zonder BBB is voor de VVD nog beter.
Wat een totale clusterfuck is dit kabinet. Dubbeldemissionair en dan met een mandaat van 27 zetels de autonomie in landbouwbeleid overleveren aan multinationals en tegelijk meer vervuiling van bodem en water mogelijk maken.
www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Nederlandse steun voor Mercosur in ruil voor nieuwe derogatie
Demissionair premier Dick Schoof moet bij de Europese top in december een ultieme poging doen om opnieuw derogatie te verkrijgen voor Nederland. Als wisselgeld neemt hij het ja-woord voor het handelsv...
www.nieuweoogst.nl
November 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Of, om het anders te zeggen, ook een “dubbeldemissionair” kabinet heeft nog veel macht. Het is altijd de moeite waard om een partij uit een kabinet te manoeuvreren dat al demissionair is. Zonder BBB is voor de VVD nog beter.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
I literally could not stop myself from inappropriately laughing out loud for real
November 21, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I literally could not stop myself from inappropriately laughing out loud for real
Yes, weird that @rory-stewart.bsky.social can’t get more countries to sign up to his “make it someone else’s problem” solution.
New @therestpolitics.bsky.social - after live polling more than 10,000 people on mini-tour last week, reflections on state of Labour and state of nation. Plus asylum reforms. And whether the Christian right is helping fuel USA path to fascism
alastaircampbell.org/2025/11/469-...
alastaircampbell.org/2025/11/469-...
469. Is Starmer Out of Moves? Asylum Gamble, Tax Chaos, and Open Infighting - Alastair Campbell
After a week of turmoil, can Labour recover their support or are they already doomed to lose the next election? Are Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms the answer to the threat of Reform, or is Labo...
alastaircampbell.org
November 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Yes, weird that @rory-stewart.bsky.social can’t get more countries to sign up to his “make it someone else’s problem” solution.
Geert Wilders is benoemd tot tweede ondervoorzitter van de Tweede Kamer. Andere ondervoorzitters zijn Wieke Paulusma (D66), Marjolein Moorman (GroenLinks-PvdA), Harmen Krul (CDA), Joost Eerdmans (JA21) en Ingrid Michon-Derkzen (VVD).
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Geert Wilders is benoemd tot tweede ondervoorzitter van de Tweede Kamer. Andere ondervoorzitters zijn Wieke Paulusma (D66), Marjolein Moorman (GroenLinks-PvdA), Harmen Krul (CDA), Joost Eerdmans (JA21) en Ingrid Michon-Derkzen (VVD).
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
The #CrossChannelRail report PDF, and the video from the launch today, are now online: crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/crosschannel...
And the questions I couldn't answer at the event are answered in writing too!
All the:
Train types (8)
Stations (63)
Operators (7)
assessed and evaluated!
And the questions I couldn't answer at the event are answered in writing too!
All the:
Train types (8)
Stations (63)
Operators (7)
assessed and evaluated!
#CrossChannelRail final report released, and the next steps - #CrossBorderRail
After three weeks of research on the ground in spring 2025, dozens of follow conversations, and plenty of desk research, today I finally published the conclusions report from my #CrossChannelRail proj...
crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The #CrossChannelRail report PDF, and the video from the launch today, are now online: crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/crosschannel...
And the questions I couldn't answer at the event are answered in writing too!
All the:
Train types (8)
Stations (63)
Operators (7)
assessed and evaluated!
And the questions I couldn't answer at the event are answered in writing too!
All the:
Train types (8)
Stations (63)
Operators (7)
assessed and evaluated!
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
There was a 3.4 magnitude earthquake in Groningen this morning, due to gas extraction.
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
November 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
There was a 3.4 magnitude earthquake in Groningen this morning, due to gas extraction.
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
Wilders was quick to sympathize but forgot to mention he pledged to remove windmills, build gas power stations and speed N.Sea extraction.
JA21, who pledged to drill more in Groningen, have been oddly silent 🤔
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Quite a picture.
It doesn't happen often (or at least it hasn't happened often so far) that you see the European Parliament so clearly divided along left-right lines, and certainly not on a legislative matter.
It doesn't happen often (or at least it hasn't happened often so far) that you see the European Parliament so clearly divided along left-right lines, and certainly not on a legislative matter.
This is what it looks like when the firewall is torn down for good. EPP, under the leadership of Manfred Weber, using the entire extreme and far right (including German AFD, French RN) for trashing sustainability and due diligence requirements for big business. The masks are off for good.
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Quite a picture.
It doesn't happen often (or at least it hasn't happened often so far) that you see the European Parliament so clearly divided along left-right lines, and certainly not on a legislative matter.
It doesn't happen often (or at least it hasn't happened often so far) that you see the European Parliament so clearly divided along left-right lines, and certainly not on a legislative matter.
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
I look forward to reading how a Regulation about the labelling of spirits can govern the labelling of alcohol-free beverages too. (It might! But at first glance I didn't spot a relevant provision.)
November 13, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I look forward to reading how a Regulation about the labelling of spirits can govern the labelling of alcohol-free beverages too. (It might! But at first glance I didn't spot a relevant provision.)
Reposted by Martin 马丁 Holterman
Communiqués de presse - Cour de justice de l'Union européenne
Court of Justice of the European Union
curia.europa.eu
November 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM