Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
@tobyvogel.bsky.social
4K followers 1.2K following 1.5K posts
Third-country national in Brussels writing on EU policies and politics, Balkans, migration, democracy, information manipulation. Former journalist (RFE/RL, European Voice). Co-founder, Democratization Policy Council @dpcglobal.bsky.social. Views personal
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tobyvogel.bsky.social
Late to this but @economist.com published an editorial that is factually wrong, misleading (not to say manipulative) and presents a convoluted argument about how to build a better international protection system – essentially by scrapping international protection.

First, a couple of facts.
Scrap the asylum system—and build something better
Rich countries need to separate asylum from labour migration
www.economist.com
tobyvogel.bsky.social
If you're in London, Tirana, Amsterdam, Brussels, or Fribourg, go listen to a great scholar discuss an important topic.
vjosamusliu.bsky.social
"Girlhood At War" is going on tour.
Details will follow soon along with new dates for other European cities.

The book is available across all European and American online platforms.

All proceeds from book sales go to the children’s section of the public library in my hometown, Gjilan (Kosovo).
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Nicosia, September 28, 2025
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Funny how libertarianism turns out to be a completely empty shell every time it’s put to the test
joestieb.bsky.social
I'm a libertarian and that's why I believe thousands of US soldiers should be sent into American cities even if state authorities don't want them there.
atrupar.com
Rand Paul: "Chicago is a nightmare. It is literally a war zone."
tobyvogel.bsky.social
The subtle art of persuasion
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
JERUSALEM (AP) - In 'unprecedented operation,' Israeli army takes over mobile phones of Gaza residents to carry Netanyahu UN speech live.

@apnews.com
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Certainly an improvement over this
Reposted by Toby Vogel 🇪🇺
dhnexon.bsky.social
Quincy has been a f—ing disaster on every front and I urge any of my friends still affiliated with them to step down.
joestieb.bsky.social
Tucker is spreading dangerous anti-Semitic lies, and he's being amplified by the bizarro alliance of the far left and far right at Quincy.
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Holy sh*t
yearprogress.bsky.social
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tobyvogel.bsky.social
Excuse me, Sir?

I understand the point being made: recognition cannot be a substitution for a strategy. But this is just complete nonsense.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/w...
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Turkey has also been occupying for half a century more than one-third of the EU member state where I've been working most of this summer, but I guess we're too polite to bring this up 🤷🏼
eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu
Good meeting with President Erdoğan on the margins of the Two-State solution conference at the #UNGA. Turkey is an important partner in supporting Ukraine, participating in the efforts of the Coalition of the Willing. We will continue to work together for a just and lasting peace.
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Don't we all feel that anguish
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Top headline game from The Guardian
tobyvogel.bsky.social
We all know von der Leyen is a control freak – no news there. But shame on these newspapers for playing along and in effect deceiving their readers.

newsletter.euractiv.com/mail/3da3399...
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Half a million dead because of a bunch of thin-skinned, childish racists.
jaylyall.bsky.social
Latest projection suggests that more than 505,000 adults and kids have died due to USAID's illegal dismantling by Musk, Rubio, and Lewin

Source: www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Sunder (and James) is right. One of the remarkable things happening in the US, the UK, and elsewhere is that the boundaries of acceptable public speech and action – the shared norms that hold our societies together – have dramatically shifted.
sundersays.bsky.social
"Today, in 2025, the norm has broken down. Too many thugs and racists feel as though they have been granted permission to behave terribly" - James O'Malley's blog
jamesomalley.co.uk
This is good but he should say it in front of a TV camera!

takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/this-is-en...
tobyvogel.bsky.social
This is a welcome move, even if it's a substitute for an actual strategy.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
tobyvogel.bsky.social
It's one of my favorite days in Brussels!
tobyvogel.bsky.social
So obvious even the Times caught on to it
tobyvogel.bsky.social
He keeps doing that because nobody around him dares tell him
tobyvogel.bsky.social
Here's another one
kakape.bsky.social
NYTimes really driving me up the wall these days (and giving @nytpitchbot.bsky.social a run for its money) with framings and headlines like this one.
So an article about the government stifling free speech is a story of “success” and “efficacy” is it?
NYTimes headline:
Kimmel Suspension Shows Trump’s Success at Bringing Media to Heel: ABC’s decision to “indefinitely” suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show illuminates the administration’s efficacy so far.