Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
@pierocastellano.com
Photojournalist, biker, reader, writer: street photography, heritage, rights and struggle for them. Food&wine and their history. Italy, Mediterranean, Europe. 🧿
https://linktr.ee/PieroCastellano
https://linktr.ee/PieroCastellano
Pinned
Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
@pierocastellano.com
· Nov 18
Wow, good morning skywalkers! Thanks and welcome to everyone, this is the number of people who followed me on X when I left...
I hope I won't disappoint you, I will follow up later with a proper and updated introduction.
I hope I won't disappoint you, I will follow up later with a proper and updated introduction.
We asked critics from authoritarian regimes what they wish they’d known sooner. Here’s what they said
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
We asked critics from authoritarian regimes what they wish they’d known sooner. Here’s what they said
Critics from Hungary, El Salvador and Turkey offer advice to the US about what they’ve learned about authoritarians
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:37 PM
We asked critics from authoritarian regimes what they wish they’d known sooner. Here’s what they said
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This is what happens when people stop studying history.
Stephen Miller: "If Somalia keeps failing, if these societies all over the world continue to fail, you have to ask yourself if you bring those societies into our country & then give them unlimited free welfare, what do we think is going to happen? You're going to replicate the conditions they left"
December 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
This is what happens when people stop studying history.
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
The idea that chemical weapons are a poor man’s nuke is a demonstrable falsehood that I can systematically debunk
December 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The idea that chemical weapons are a poor man’s nuke is a demonstrable falsehood that I can systematically debunk
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Showed this to my older child. The response:
“This works for art and music too. AI can’t produce anything great because it will never have imposter syndrome.”
“This works for art and music too. AI can’t produce anything great because it will never have imposter syndrome.”
One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential
December 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Showed this to my older child. The response:
“This works for art and music too. AI can’t produce anything great because it will never have imposter syndrome.”
“This works for art and music too. AI can’t produce anything great because it will never have imposter syndrome.”
USAID Hired the Right-Wing Influencer Responsible for Its Decimation
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
USAID Hired the Right-Wing Influencer Responsible for Its Decimation
Mike Benz was brought aboard to find evidence for his claims that the agency is secretly a spy operation.
www.theatlantic.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
USAID Hired the Right-Wing Influencer Responsible for Its Decimation
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Rand Paul: "It has not been the history of the US to kill people who are out of combat. Even if there is a war, which most of us dispute -- that a bunch of people who are unarmed allegedly running drugs is a war -- we still don't kill people when they're incapacitated ... it's illegal and immoral."
December 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Rand Paul: "It has not been the history of the US to kill people who are out of combat. Even if there is a war, which most of us dispute -- that a bunch of people who are unarmed allegedly running drugs is a war -- we still don't kill people when they're incapacitated ... it's illegal and immoral."
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
🇷🇺✈️ Russia just lost its last An-22 aircrat, a Cold War relic. It fell apart from overuse. That’s the state of Russia’s army: 50-year-old hardware literally crumbling mid-air.
Someone tell Trump who thinks “big Russia” can’t be defeated: big Russia, big problems. We’re working on making it small. 😉
Someone tell Trump who thinks “big Russia” can’t be defeated: big Russia, big problems. We’re working on making it small. 😉
December 9, 2025 at 8:29 PM
🇷🇺✈️ Russia just lost its last An-22 aircrat, a Cold War relic. It fell apart from overuse. That’s the state of Russia’s army: 50-year-old hardware literally crumbling mid-air.
Someone tell Trump who thinks “big Russia” can’t be defeated: big Russia, big problems. We’re working on making it small. 😉
Someone tell Trump who thinks “big Russia” can’t be defeated: big Russia, big problems. We’re working on making it small. 😉
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Deterring Russian sabotage is fraught with difficulty. “Containment is not enough,” Italy’s minister of defence argued. But what does being proactive look like when it comes to an adversary as unpredictable as Putin?
Today's Big Read by @samgadjones.bsky.social is on #FTEdit 👉 on.ft.com/44ffqrh
Today's Big Read by @samgadjones.bsky.social is on #FTEdit 👉 on.ft.com/44ffqrh
Russia’s hybrid warfare puts Europe to the test
Officials suspect a campaign of sabotage that once looked opportunistic may be a strategic escalation
on.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Deterring Russian sabotage is fraught with difficulty. “Containment is not enough,” Italy’s minister of defence argued. But what does being proactive look like when it comes to an adversary as unpredictable as Putin?
Today's Big Read by @samgadjones.bsky.social is on #FTEdit 👉 on.ft.com/44ffqrh
Today's Big Read by @samgadjones.bsky.social is on #FTEdit 👉 on.ft.com/44ffqrh
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
A key Russian tactic is “razvedka boyem” – reconnaissance through battle – in which an enemy’s weaknesses are discoverd by constant probing. In September, Russian drones over Poland shut airports, inadvertantly revealing an easy way of wreaking chaos. Dozens of sightings have been reported since.
December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
A key Russian tactic is “razvedka boyem” – reconnaissance through battle – in which an enemy’s weaknesses are discoverd by constant probing. In September, Russian drones over Poland shut airports, inadvertantly revealing an easy way of wreaking chaos. Dozens of sightings have been reported since.
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Russia’s tactics make its campaign challenging to combat. Agents are typically recruited online, have no links to Russia and are run by intermediaries. They are mobile, motivated by money and entirely dispensable. Analysts have dubbed this set-up the “gig economy” of Russian spycraft.
December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Russia’s tactics make its campaign challenging to combat. Agents are typically recruited online, have no links to Russia and are run by intermediaries. They are mobile, motivated by money and entirely dispensable. Analysts have dubbed this set-up the “gig economy” of Russian spycraft.
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Russian attacks in Europe are, by nature, scattergun and hard to track. But the scale is now such that analysts believe the escalation is strategic rather than opportunistic, designed to trigger public fear and policy paralysis. The attacks are a test of Europe’s mettle – and Russia is taking notes.
December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Russian attacks in Europe are, by nature, scattergun and hard to track. But the scale is now such that analysts believe the escalation is strategic rather than opportunistic, designed to trigger public fear and policy paralysis. The attacks are a test of Europe’s mettle – and Russia is taking notes.
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Bombs on train tracks. Arson attacks on malls. Poisoned water supplies. These are just some of the recently foiled plots in Russia’s growing campaign of aggression across Europe. What was once a mere nuisance has escalated into a serious threat.
An #FTEdit 🧵 on the new era of Russian sabotage 👇
An #FTEdit 🧵 on the new era of Russian sabotage 👇
December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Bombs on train tracks. Arson attacks on malls. Poisoned water supplies. These are just some of the recently foiled plots in Russia’s growing campaign of aggression across Europe. What was once a mere nuisance has escalated into a serious threat.
An #FTEdit 🧵 on the new era of Russian sabotage 👇
An #FTEdit 🧵 on the new era of Russian sabotage 👇
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
❗️"You’ll get a hole from a bagel, not Ukraine," Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Melnyk told the Russians at the Security Council meeting.
"Our territory and our sovereignty are not for sale. We are not at a Christmas market. We are not at the notorious Cherkizovsky bazaar."
"Our territory and our sovereignty are not for sale. We are not at a Christmas market. We are not at the notorious Cherkizovsky bazaar."
December 9, 2025 at 7:54 PM
❗️"You’ll get a hole from a bagel, not Ukraine," Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN Melnyk told the Russians at the Security Council meeting.
"Our territory and our sovereignty are not for sale. We are not at a Christmas market. We are not at the notorious Cherkizovsky bazaar."
"Our territory and our sovereignty are not for sale. We are not at a Christmas market. We are not at the notorious Cherkizovsky bazaar."
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
This is the most Starship Troopers coded shit. Paul Verhoeven is like, "shit I should have gone further"
jesus christ
December 9, 2025 at 8:17 PM
This is the most Starship Troopers coded shit. Paul Verhoeven is like, "shit I should have gone further"
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Volodymyr Zelenskyy told his European counterparts that he had been pressed to take a swift decision by Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. on.ft.com/3XM8Kx7
December 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Volodymyr Zelenskyy told his European counterparts that he had been pressed to take a swift decision by Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. on.ft.com/3XM8Kx7
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
⚡️ Russia's Syzran oil refinery halts operations after Ukrainian drone strike.
Russia's Syzran oil refinery halted operations on Dec. 5 after sustaining damage in a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported on Dec. 9, citing industry sources.
Russia's Syzran oil refinery halted operations on Dec. 5 after sustaining damage in a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported on Dec. 9, citing industry sources.
Russia's Syzran oil refinery halts operations after Ukrainian drone strike
Russia's Syzran oil refinery halted operations on Dec. 5 after sustaining damage in a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported on Dec. 9, citing industry sources.
kyivindependent.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM
⚡️ Russia's Syzran oil refinery halts operations after Ukrainian drone strike.
Russia's Syzran oil refinery halted operations on Dec. 5 after sustaining damage in a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported on Dec. 9, citing industry sources.
Russia's Syzran oil refinery halted operations on Dec. 5 after sustaining damage in a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported on Dec. 9, citing industry sources.
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
The moment the Trump administration attacks Venezuela any bandwidth it has to handle Ukraine or any other foreign policy challenge will evaporate
December 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
The moment the Trump administration attacks Venezuela any bandwidth it has to handle Ukraine or any other foreign policy challenge will evaporate
The Trump administration had “a clear and consistent vision for Europe: one that prioritises US-Russia ties and seeks to divide and conquer the continent, with much of the dirty work carried out by nationalist, far-right European forces”
Good prime @theguardian.com on European reactions to the US National Security Strategy, including comments from @maxbergmann.bsky.social, @mijrahman.bsky.social, @alanderminna.bsky.social and me:
European Council president warns US not to interfere in Europe’s affairs
The new US national security strategy codifies a seismic shift in transatlantic relations, say experts
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM
The Trump administration had “a clear and consistent vision for Europe: one that prioritises US-Russia ties and seeks to divide and conquer the continent, with much of the dirty work carried out by nationalist, far-right European forces”
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
"Depuis des années, la menace d’un puissant séisme à venir accélère la reconstruction des bâtiments à Istanbul. Aujourd’hui, le profit des entreprises de la construction est le moteur de cette transformation urbaine"
orientxxi.info/Istanbul-Le-...
orientxxi.info/Istanbul-Le-...
Istanbul. Le risque sismique, prétexte à une gentrification forcée
Depuis des années, la menace d’un puissant séisme à venir accélère la reconstruction des bâtiments à Istanbul. Aujourd’hui, le profit des entreprises de la (…)
orientxxi.info
December 9, 2025 at 12:32 PM
"Depuis des années, la menace d’un puissant séisme à venir accélère la reconstruction des bâtiments à Istanbul. Aujourd’hui, le profit des entreprises de la construction est le moteur de cette transformation urbaine"
orientxxi.info/Istanbul-Le-...
orientxxi.info/Istanbul-Le-...
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
In Finland, willingness to defend the country remains high at 78 percent and NATO also enjoys 84 percent approval rating
Survey: Finns' willingness to defend country remains high
Four out of five respondents said that in the event of a military attack, they would be willing to participate in national defence operations, based on their abilities and skills.
yle.fi
December 9, 2025 at 10:16 AM
In Finland, willingness to defend the country remains high at 78 percent and NATO also enjoys 84 percent approval rating
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
"Russia is openly talking about invading other countries, including EU and NATO countries."
EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on why securing a lasting peace in Ukraine is essential to prevent Russia from attacking again.
Watch in full on #EuropeToday:
➡️ [SHORTLINK]
EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on why securing a lasting peace in Ukraine is essential to prevent Russia from attacking again.
Watch in full on #EuropeToday:
➡️ [SHORTLINK]
December 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
"Russia is openly talking about invading other countries, including EU and NATO countries."
EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on why securing a lasting peace in Ukraine is essential to prevent Russia from attacking again.
Watch in full on #EuropeToday:
➡️ [SHORTLINK]
EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on why securing a lasting peace in Ukraine is essential to prevent Russia from attacking again.
Watch in full on #EuropeToday:
➡️ [SHORTLINK]
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
This interview confirms again that Trump is just catastrophically unfit to be making any of these decisions. Dems should use this to hound Republicans to the ends of the earth if they don't agree to get to the bottom of all of it.
Some questions to pursue here:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Some questions to pursue here:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
December 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
This interview confirms again that Trump is just catastrophically unfit to be making any of these decisions. Dems should use this to hound Republicans to the ends of the earth if they don't agree to get to the bottom of all of it.
Some questions to pursue here:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Some questions to pursue here:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
It gets worse. Trump also says straight out that an invasion of Venezuela "on land" is coming and says he'd expand all this to Mexico and Colombia. Incredibly, no one even bothers pointing out anymore that he is claiming authority to do all of this without Congress:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
December 9, 2025 at 4:55 PM
It gets worse. Trump also says straight out that an invasion of Venezuela "on land" is coming and says he'd expand all this to Mexico and Colombia. Incredibly, no one even bothers pointing out anymore that he is claiming authority to do all of this without Congress:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Reposted by Piero Castellano 🇪🇺
Stunning admission from Trump in his Politico interview. He confesses he knows almost nothing about the drug trafficking of the guy he pardoned even though he helped bring 500 tons of cocaine into US. Trump also reveals his narcissism makes him easy to manipulate:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
December 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Stunning admission from Trump in his Politico interview. He confesses he knows almost nothing about the drug trafficking of the guy he pardoned even though he helped bring 500 tons of cocaine into US. Trump also reveals his narcissism makes him easy to manipulate:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
newrepublic.com/article/2041...