ali
@zoonpolitikon.bsky.social
Trainer of humanitarian analysts. Into world politics (IR PhD). Social science groupie. Runs a lot, cycles not enough. Board game enthusiast. Rabbit hole aficionado. Owned by two cats. Posts mainly in English & Snark, sometimes in German and French. 🖖🏽
Pinned
ali
@zoonpolitikon.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Welcome new followers! You can expect from me an eclectic mix of politics, global affairs, science (social and the other kind) and obscure pop culture references. If I have any real specific expertise it is in international trade and humanitarian analysis. For everything else, check my bio.
Message CH: Avant-hier, le Conseil national a refusé d'allouer des fonds à la lutte contre la violence basée sur le genre, alors que 27 féminicides ont déjà été commis en '25. Il nous reste quelques heures pour changer la décision au Conseil des États. Signez: www.staenderat-appell.ch (désolé, en D)
December 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Message CH: Avant-hier, le Conseil national a refusé d'allouer des fonds à la lutte contre la violence basée sur le genre, alors que 27 féminicides ont déjà été commis en '25. Il nous reste quelques heures pour changer la décision au Conseil des États. Signez: www.staenderat-appell.ch (désolé, en D)
Für CH-Follower: Vorgestern hat der Nationalrat Gelder für die Bekämpfung der Gewalt an Frauen abgelehnt, obwohl es dieses Jahr bereits 27 Femizide gab. Es bleiben noch wenige Stunden, um den Entscheid im Ständerat zu kippen. Unterschreibe jetzt den Appell: www.staenderat-appell.ch
December 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Für CH-Follower: Vorgestern hat der Nationalrat Gelder für die Bekämpfung der Gewalt an Frauen abgelehnt, obwohl es dieses Jahr bereits 27 Femizide gab. Es bleiben noch wenige Stunden, um den Entscheid im Ständerat zu kippen. Unterschreibe jetzt den Appell: www.staenderat-appell.ch
It took the vision and commitment of the richest man in the world to finally kill more poor children and babies again.
/darkmode off
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
/darkmode off
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
For the first time this century, child deaths under age 5 will likely rise. Why?
A dramatic drop in mortality for youngsters under age 5 has been one of the great accomplishments in global health. But estimates suggest that in 2025 child deaths will go up.
www.npr.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It took the vision and commitment of the richest man in the world to finally kill more poor children and babies again.
/darkmode off
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
/darkmode off
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
And now, the official statement from his excellency the Ambassodor…
Taiwanese ambassador to Finland performs with his metal band at Taiwan-Finland cultural event! 🤘✊️
That's what I call great ambassador
That's what I call great ambassador
December 7, 2025 at 11:12 AM
And now, the official statement from his excellency the Ambassodor…
I guess that answers my question somehow.
December 5, 2025 at 9:11 AM
I guess that answers my question somehow.
Relieved that reason appears to prevail in Swiss politics. At least for now.
I was worried they would ignore scientific consensus to sacrifice real lives for stupid symbolism.
www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/...
I was worried they would ignore scientific consensus to sacrifice real lives for stupid symbolism.
www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/...
Swiss Senate rejects soldiers taking home ammunition
Swiss Senate rejects allowing soldiers to take ammunition home with them.
www.swissinfo.ch
December 3, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Relieved that reason appears to prevail in Swiss politics. At least for now.
I was worried they would ignore scientific consensus to sacrifice real lives for stupid symbolism.
www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/...
I was worried they would ignore scientific consensus to sacrifice real lives for stupid symbolism.
www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/...
Reposted by ali
Things that will interest Bluesky; Misha Glenny, author of McMafia, replaces Melvyn Bragg as host of In Our Time.
December 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Things that will interest Bluesky; Misha Glenny, author of McMafia, replaces Melvyn Bragg as host of In Our Time.
Reposted by ali
Thinking a lot about this moment from literally the first chapter of "1984."
December 2, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Thinking a lot about this moment from literally the first chapter of "1984."
Reposted by ali
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
"Take Him Seriously, but Not Literally" they said. Turns out, his words are still horrifying.
HAHAHA! HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ARE FUNNY! DEHUMANIZING IS FUN! HAHA! WE'RE HAVING FUN!
Trump: "Instead of pardons, some of my more enthusiastic staffers were already drafting the paperwork to ship Gobble and Waddle straight to the Terrorist Confinement Center in El Salvador."
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
"Take Him Seriously, but Not Literally" they said. Turns out, his words are still horrifying.
"Non-traditional policy coordination"? No plan, no strategy, no process. A bunch of amateurs cosplaying high-level diplomacy. In a sane world they would have been laughed out the room a long time ago. It's not "non-traditional policy coordination." It's a clown show. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Rubio changes the tack of Trump’s Ukraine negotiations after week of chaos
The administration’s shifting messaging on Ukraine underscores Trump’s preference for non-traditional policy coordination
www.politico.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 AM
"Non-traditional policy coordination"? No plan, no strategy, no process. A bunch of amateurs cosplaying high-level diplomacy. In a sane world they would have been laughed out the room a long time ago. It's not "non-traditional policy coordination." It's a clown show. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by ali
In honour of its proponents, I suggest that the Dmitriev-Witkoff proposal should henceforth be called the Dim-Wit Plan
November 23, 2025 at 2:37 PM
In honour of its proponents, I suggest that the Dmitriev-Witkoff proposal should henceforth be called the Dim-Wit Plan
Reposted by ali
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Reposted by ali
Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a call to senators, confirmed the so-called 28-point “peace plan” was actually a Russian wishlist and is “not the administration’s position”. Nor is there any threat to cut off weapons or intelligence to Ukraine.
November 22, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a call to senators, confirmed the so-called 28-point “peace plan” was actually a Russian wishlist and is “not the administration’s position”. Nor is there any threat to cut off weapons or intelligence to Ukraine.
Things you can buy for a Rolex watch and an engraved gold bar at the duty free shop in the US these days. www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 14, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Things you can buy for a Rolex watch and an engraved gold bar at the duty free shop in the US these days. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by ali
Frankenstein is a metaphor for the dangers of reanimating corpses with electricity
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Frankenstein is a metaphor for the dangers of reanimating corpses with electricity
Reposted by ali
Again, I know Vance is a convert and who knows what the customs of the savage Scots-Irish are but someone needs to explain to him that it’s unusual for the Bishop of Rome to criticize your personal behavior this frequently
BREAKING: At Pope Leo XIV’s urging, U.S. Catholic bishops just delivered the strongest rebuke of a sitting president in Church history — condemning Trump-Vance raids as “inhumane” and “dehumanizing” in a 216–5 vote.
NEW: At Pope Leo’s Urging, Bishops Issue Historic Rebuke of Trump’s Raids
Nearly all U.S. Catholic bishops united in Baltimore to denounce the Trump administration’s “inhumane” deportation campaign — a near-unanimous, unprecedented moral stand against a sitting president.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Again, I know Vance is a convert and who knows what the customs of the savage Scots-Irish are but someone needs to explain to him that it’s unusual for the Bishop of Rome to criticize your personal behavior this frequently
Reposted by ali
No no no begs every archivist. You are never going to be able to find anything. Please don’t start using emojis in file names. Who asked for this? What fresh hell is next?
November 12, 2025 at 10:38 AM
No no no begs every archivist. You are never going to be able to find anything. Please don’t start using emojis in file names. Who asked for this? What fresh hell is next?
Reposted by ali
Have (Western) Europe's radical right-wingers finally found religion ⛪? Political Psychology says no #PolRel
Are Christians in Western Europe more likely to be Islamophobic than other citizens?
New research finds no link between personal Christian beliefs and Islamophobia, but a close association with nativism/authoritarianism.
✍️ @kai-arzheimer.com @powimz.bsky.social
🔗 blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
New research finds no link between personal Christian beliefs and Islamophobia, but a close association with nativism/authoritarianism.
✍️ @kai-arzheimer.com @powimz.bsky.social
🔗 blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2...
Islamophobia in Western Europe is not driven by religiosity
Are Christians more likely to be Islamophobic than other citizens in Europe? New research finds European Islamophobia has no link to a person’s religiosity.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Have (Western) Europe's radical right-wingers finally found religion ⛪? Political Psychology says no #PolRel
Reposted by ali
God creating Adam:
My guess is “we had extra scraps of clay” or “fuck you we do what we want”
November 7, 2025 at 3:12 PM
God creating Adam:
Reposted by ali
easy to miss in the punditry about Musk's pay package:
he only becomes a trillionaire if he meets *a bunch* of milestones
payouts begin at $2 trillion market cap + other conditions
here's a handy graphic
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
he only becomes a trillionaire if he meets *a bunch* of milestones
payouts begin at $2 trillion market cap + other conditions
here's a handy graphic
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
![graphic: Tesla proposed a $1 trillion pay package with 12 tranches [now passed by shareholders] and for Musk to get the first tranche, Tesla must achieve:
* $2 trillion in market capitalization PLUS any one of
* $50 billion Ebitda (a measure of earnings)
* 20 million cars delivered
* 1 million robots sold
* 1 million robotaxis in operation
* 10 million Full Self Driving subscriptions](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:fwks525g7gw5wc7ul2wg4wj5/bafkreie4ria67kwkysdoelkwmh2ol4kphfem6umc4oakwtfhvt25jxskcm@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 1:41 PM
easy to miss in the punditry about Musk's pay package:
he only becomes a trillionaire if he meets *a bunch* of milestones
payouts begin at $2 trillion market cap + other conditions
here's a handy graphic
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
he only becomes a trillionaire if he meets *a bunch* of milestones
payouts begin at $2 trillion market cap + other conditions
here's a handy graphic
www.wsj.com/business/aut...
# of graphs with completely made up numbers in the year 2050:
0 📉
+2% ➖
10^100 📈
0 📉
+2% ➖
10^100 📈
AI could end scarcity, end humanity - or boost trend growth by 0.2 percentage points
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
# of graphs with completely made up numbers in the year 2050:
0 📉
+2% ➖
10^100 📈
0 📉
+2% ➖
10^100 📈
Stardate 14254.7. Bridge of the USS NYT Opinion.
Dr. Leonard McCoy is hunched over the body of our good friend Irony.
He lifts his head and looks at his captain.
"She's dead, Jim."
Dr. Leonard McCoy is hunched over the body of our good friend Irony.
He lifts his head and looks at his captain.
"She's dead, Jim."
November 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Stardate 14254.7. Bridge of the USS NYT Opinion.
Dr. Leonard McCoy is hunched over the body of our good friend Irony.
He lifts his head and looks at his captain.
"She's dead, Jim."
Dr. Leonard McCoy is hunched over the body of our good friend Irony.
He lifts his head and looks at his captain.
"She's dead, Jim."