Martín Soto
@msoto.bsky.social
Berlin. Software architect at Generali. I believe in democracy.
Reposted by Martín Soto
Reposted by Martín Soto
It's almost as if putting "pragmatic business relationships" ahead of "ethical considerations" isn't, in the long term, pragmatic or even good for business.
February 1, 2026 at 9:56 AM
It's almost as if putting "pragmatic business relationships" ahead of "ethical considerations" isn't, in the long term, pragmatic or even good for business.
Reposted by Martín Soto
The Iranian people know that breaking their warped social contract “will be costly and terrifying,” Karim Sadjadpour argues. “But they also know that living under its terms is at best a dead end, and at worst a death sentence”:
The Islamic Republic’s Predatory Contract With Its People
No one would agree to the terms that Iran’s regime has forced on its citizens.
bit.ly
January 28, 2026 at 1:15 AM
The Iranian people know that breaking their warped social contract “will be costly and terrifying,” Karim Sadjadpour argues. “But they also know that living under its terms is at best a dead end, and at worst a death sentence”:
Reposted by Martín Soto
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
January 25, 2026 at 9:24 AM
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
Reposted by Martín Soto
From a friend in Tehran. Someone who simply wants to live free — and see his and all countries rid of the “evil formula: Jihadism*Russia.”
“Hope to see you in a free Iran.”
“Hope to see you in a free Iran.”
January 17, 2026 at 2:24 PM
From a friend in Tehran. Someone who simply wants to live free — and see his and all countries rid of the “evil formula: Jihadism*Russia.”
“Hope to see you in a free Iran.”
“Hope to see you in a free Iran.”
For those who would like to learn a bit about what María Corina Machado has actually done instead of just writing smug comments from the comfort of their armchairs, here is something to get started: www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
The ‘Anthropological Change’ Happening in Venezuela
Maduro is still in place, but a pro-democracy movement is transforming the beleaguered country.
www.theatlantic.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:44 AM
For those who would like to learn a bit about what María Corina Machado has actually done instead of just writing smug comments from the comfort of their armchairs, here is something to get started: www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Reposted by Martín Soto
This is a sign of ethical collapse. Trump has forced this brave person to debase herself--with gold trimming.
January 16, 2026 at 4:54 AM
This is a sign of ethical collapse. Trump has forced this brave person to debase herself--with gold trimming.
Reposted by Martín Soto
It interests me that, despite plenty of evidence that AI coding is a useful tool, easily substantiated by just using CoPilot, Cursor, or equivalent for a few weeks, there are still programmers pushing back.
1/13
1/13
December 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
It interests me that, despite plenty of evidence that AI coding is a useful tool, easily substantiated by just using CoPilot, Cursor, or equivalent for a few weeks, there are still programmers pushing back.
1/13
1/13
Reposted by Martín Soto
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by Martín Soto
To understand what triggered the protests and the unexpected reaction in Ukraine, it’s essential to know the context - especially for those who don’t follow Ukraine’s internal politics.
🧵Thread:
1/ First, the protest isn’t aimed at the President personally, but at a specific law passed yesterday.
🧵Thread:
1/ First, the protest isn’t aimed at the President personally, but at a specific law passed yesterday.
July 23, 2025 at 7:36 AM
To understand what triggered the protests and the unexpected reaction in Ukraine, it’s essential to know the context - especially for those who don’t follow Ukraine’s internal politics.
🧵Thread:
1/ First, the protest isn’t aimed at the President personally, but at a specific law passed yesterday.
🧵Thread:
1/ First, the protest isn’t aimed at the President personally, but at a specific law passed yesterday.
Reposted by Martín Soto
Reposted by Martín Soto
A good sample of responses in the post below. As I say in the interview, we have to understand the MAGA coalition as a collection of disordered counterpublics looking for Trump to get to the "truth" they're seeking. Not all are Trump first.
bsky.app/profile/sahi...
bsky.app/profile/sahi...
An unusual sight: President Trump is getting ratio’d on Truth Social for asking his followers to move on from the Epstein files. Some say he’s “gaslighting,” others say it will cost him supporters or even “kill MAGA.” A sampling of some replies getting heavy engagement.
July 13, 2025 at 7:40 AM
A good sample of responses in the post below. As I say in the interview, we have to understand the MAGA coalition as a collection of disordered counterpublics looking for Trump to get to the "truth" they're seeking. Not all are Trump first.
bsky.app/profile/sahi...
bsky.app/profile/sahi...
Reposted by Martín Soto
Something unusual is happening in MAGA-world. A new Department of Justice memo confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, and said there's no “client list” of elites to be released. That shattered something. And the backlash from Trump’s base is revealing.
www.yahoo.com/news/maga-di...
www.yahoo.com/news/maga-di...
MAGA Diehards Turn on Trump Over Jeffrey Epstein Flop: ‘Tears My Heart Out’
President Donald Trump’s MAGA supporters have turned on him after the Department of Justice announced in a Monday memo that there would be no more juicy revelations about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein....
www.yahoo.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Something unusual is happening in MAGA-world. A new Department of Justice memo confirmed that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, and said there's no “client list” of elites to be released. That shattered something. And the backlash from Trump’s base is revealing.
www.yahoo.com/news/maga-di...
www.yahoo.com/news/maga-di...
Reposted by Martín Soto
Are you old enough to remember when the Ukraine-USA minerals deal was going to give Trump a stake in Ukraine and unlock lots of aid? Seems like several lifetimes ago.
July 6, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Are you old enough to remember when the Ukraine-USA minerals deal was going to give Trump a stake in Ukraine and unlock lots of aid? Seems like several lifetimes ago.
Reposted by Martín Soto
Just sent out my free weekend update.
The US administration did this week what it has been itching to do for a while, stop the delivery of all military aid to Ukraine, even that approved before Trump became president. Don’t kid yourself, Trump supports this. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The US administration did this week what it has been itching to do for a while, stop the delivery of all military aid to Ukraine, even that approved before Trump became president. Don’t kid yourself, Trump supports this. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #140: The US Cuts Ukraine Off: If Only Comrade Stalin Knew!
Putin Humiliates Trump In Response; Are Advances Set To Get Smaller?
open.substack.com
July 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Just sent out my free weekend update.
The US administration did this week what it has been itching to do for a while, stop the delivery of all military aid to Ukraine, even that approved before Trump became president. Don’t kid yourself, Trump supports this. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The US administration did this week what it has been itching to do for a while, stop the delivery of all military aid to Ukraine, even that approved before Trump became president. Don’t kid yourself, Trump supports this. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Martín Soto
You probably have the impression that I'm currently living in the metro. Well, I have such an impression too, to be honest.
July 5, 2025 at 2:53 PM
You probably have the impression that I'm currently living in the metro. Well, I have such an impression too, to be honest.
Reposted by Martín Soto
So the US just wants Ukraine to have to negotiate from a position of weakness, not strength.
Per reporting by my colleague @olliecarroll.bsky.social, US has cancelled 8,000-ish 155mm shells for Ukraine. That is 20% of current MONTHLY production. How that would have materially affected US readiness is hard to see. That's before getting onto 25 Stingers & 92 AIM-7, which are being phased out
July 3, 2025 at 10:23 AM
So the US just wants Ukraine to have to negotiate from a position of weakness, not strength.
Reposted by Martín Soto
Per reporting by my colleague @olliecarroll.bsky.social, US has cancelled 8,000-ish 155mm shells for Ukraine. That is 20% of current MONTHLY production. How that would have materially affected US readiness is hard to see. That's before getting onto 25 Stingers & 92 AIM-7, which are being phased out
July 3, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Per reporting by my colleague @olliecarroll.bsky.social, US has cancelled 8,000-ish 155mm shells for Ukraine. That is 20% of current MONTHLY production. How that would have materially affected US readiness is hard to see. That's before getting onto 25 Stingers & 92 AIM-7, which are being phased out
Reposted by Martín Soto
🧵 THREAD: Why the Cato Institute’s new paper on “misinformation panic” is dangerously wrong, and why it completely misunderstands the real crisis we face.
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
The Misleading Panic over Misinformation
People can’t agree on how to define misinformation and its related terms, making regulation nearly impossible. Instead, free expression serves as a better tool for discovering truth.
www.cato.org
June 27, 2025 at 6:50 AM
🧵 THREAD: Why the Cato Institute’s new paper on “misinformation panic” is dangerously wrong, and why it completely misunderstands the real crisis we face.
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
Reposted by Martín Soto
This is a really important story: on the danger of believing your own conspiracy theories. Iran did. Is the US next?
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
What America Can Learn From Iran’s Failure
The regime’s predicament shows what happens when conspiracies, rather than reality, shape decision making.
www.theatlantic.com
June 26, 2025 at 6:33 AM
This is a really important story: on the danger of believing your own conspiracy theories. Iran did. Is the US next?
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Martín Soto
170 victims on a passenger train in any country is front page. Immediately. But since it’s in Ukraine, well, the world is used to Ukrainians dying so it’s nothing new really
June 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
170 victims on a passenger train in any country is front page. Immediately. But since it’s in Ukraine, well, the world is used to Ukrainians dying so it’s nothing new really
Reposted by Martín Soto
Was (nicht nur) Bluesky zerstören könnte: Ein hoher Ton der Rechthaberei, die im Widersprechenden immer gleich den Feind sieht. Sollte hier - wie anderswo - nicht zur Regel werden.
June 19, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Was (nicht nur) Bluesky zerstören könnte: Ein hoher Ton der Rechthaberei, die im Widersprechenden immer gleich den Feind sieht. Sollte hier - wie anderswo - nicht zur Regel werden.
Reposted by Martín Soto
Another RU massive bombardment: Ukrainian forces neutralized 479 out of 499 incoming Russian drones or missiles during last night’s assault (June 8-9). Russia launched one of the largest drone swarm yet - 479 Shahed UAVs plus various missiles from multiple directions. /1
June 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Another RU massive bombardment: Ukrainian forces neutralized 479 out of 499 incoming Russian drones or missiles during last night’s assault (June 8-9). Russia launched one of the largest drone swarm yet - 479 Shahed UAVs plus various missiles from multiple directions. /1
Reposted by Martín Soto
Over 5 months December - May, balances on treasury accounts decreased by 3 trillion rubles.
The volume of OFZ in circulation increased by 2 trillion. The budget deficit for 5 months is almost 5 trillion.
The reason is a drop in income, an increase in expenses. Summary: default
1/
The volume of OFZ in circulation increased by 2 trillion. The budget deficit for 5 months is almost 5 trillion.
The reason is a drop in income, an increase in expenses. Summary: default
1/
June 4, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Over 5 months December - May, balances on treasury accounts decreased by 3 trillion rubles.
The volume of OFZ in circulation increased by 2 trillion. The budget deficit for 5 months is almost 5 trillion.
The reason is a drop in income, an increase in expenses. Summary: default
1/
The volume of OFZ in circulation increased by 2 trillion. The budget deficit for 5 months is almost 5 trillion.
The reason is a drop in income, an increase in expenses. Summary: default
1/