Alin Barbantan
@alinbarbantan.bsky.social
Researcher at the Romanian Academy. PhD in US Indo-Pacific foreign policy from University College London. Author of 'Pacific Dream? The Evolution of US Strategic Culture and Alliances in the Indo-Pacific' (2024)
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Very informative chart from Washington Post
April 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Very informative chart from Washington Post
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
NEW: The actions of Trump and Vance in recent weeks highlight something under-appreciated.
The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia, Turkey and in some senses China, than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west).
My column: www.ft.com/content/3046...
The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia, Turkey and in some senses China, than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west).
My column: www.ft.com/content/3046...
March 7, 2025 at 9:58 AM
NEW: The actions of Trump and Vance in recent weeks highlight something under-appreciated.
The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia, Turkey and in some senses China, than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west).
My column: www.ft.com/content/3046...
The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia, Turkey and in some senses China, than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west).
My column: www.ft.com/content/3046...
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Washington Post under Trump: "151,000 jobs is solid"
Washington Post under Biden: "194,000 jobs is another weak month"
Washington Post under Biden: "194,000 jobs is another weak month"
March 8, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Washington Post under Trump: "151,000 jobs is solid"
Washington Post under Biden: "194,000 jobs is another weak month"
Washington Post under Biden: "194,000 jobs is another weak month"
That was quick. One month in
February 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
That was quick. One month in
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Romanian police have arrested Far Right pro-Putin presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. He’s on his way to the Prosecutor General's Office for questioning.
Romanians not taking Russian interference in their elections lying down.
Romanians not taking Russian interference in their elections lying down.
February 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Romanian police have arrested Far Right pro-Putin presidential candidate Calin Georgescu. He’s on his way to the Prosecutor General's Office for questioning.
Romanians not taking Russian interference in their elections lying down.
Romanians not taking Russian interference in their elections lying down.
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
“Russia used the first round of talks with the US over … Ukraine to demand the withdrawal of Nato forces from the alliance’s eastern flank, triggering concern in Europe that the Trump admin could acquiesce to seal a peace deal, Romania’s govt said” on.ft.com/3Qse1WX
Russia asked US for Nato withdrawal from eastern Europe, says Romania
Moscow’s demand rejected by Washington but allies fear Trump could yet allow restoration of former Soviet bloc
on.ft.com
February 21, 2025 at 8:03 AM
“Russia used the first round of talks with the US over … Ukraine to demand the withdrawal of Nato forces from the alliance’s eastern flank, triggering concern in Europe that the Trump admin could acquiesce to seal a peace deal, Romania’s govt said” on.ft.com/3Qse1WX
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Trump officials are reportedly pushing Romania to let Andrew Tate and his brother leave the country, amid human trafficking and sex crime cases. www.ft.com/content/3f95...
Trump administration pressures Romania to lift restrictions on Tate brothers
Tristan and Andrew Tate have been charged with sexual misconduct, organised crime and money laundering
www.ft.com
February 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Trump officials are reportedly pushing Romania to let Andrew Tate and his brother leave the country, amid human trafficking and sex crime cases. www.ft.com/content/3f95...
'Unexpectedly' 🤔
US inflation unexpectedly increased to 3% in January
https://www.ft.com/content/311ae397-380b-41ec-a5d7-edd65e2768d5
https://www.ft.com/content/311ae397-380b-41ec-a5d7-edd65e2768d5
US inflation unexpectedly increased to 3% in January
Figure bolsters case for Federal Reserve to proceed slowly with interest rate cuts
www.ft.com
February 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
'Unexpectedly' 🤔
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Inflation picked up unexpectedly in January. This was the biggest one-month increase in overall consumer prices since August 2023, and the biggest one-month increase in core prices since April 2023. #NumbersDay
February 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Inflation picked up unexpectedly in January. This was the biggest one-month increase in overall consumer prices since August 2023, and the biggest one-month increase in core prices since April 2023. #NumbersDay
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
“Following all this chaos is stressful and exhausting and feels largely pointless given that if I had fallen into a blissful slumber nine days ago and been oblivious to the threats against Colombia, Mexico and Canada, I’d be no less informed and a lot less anxious.”
Denial of Service
How Trump - and Robert Peston - broke the news, and why it's probably time to rethink your information diet.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
“Following all this chaos is stressful and exhausting and feels largely pointless given that if I had fallen into a blissful slumber nine days ago and been oblivious to the threats against Colombia, Mexico and Canada, I’d be no less informed and a lot less anxious.”
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Illinois shut out of Medicaid after Trump administration halts federal grants and loans chicago.suntimes.com/politics/don...
Illinois shut out of Medicaid after Trump administration halts federal grants and loans
The Trump administration's federal freeze has shut Illinois out of Medicaid, according to Gov. JB. Pritzker's office. The government-funded health insurance program covered about 3.9 million people in...
chicago.suntimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Illinois shut out of Medicaid after Trump administration halts federal grants and loans chicago.suntimes.com/politics/don...
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
The White House budget office has ordered a pause in grants, loans and other federal financial assistance, according to a memo sent to government agencies on Monday, potentially paralyzing a vast swath of programs and jeopardizing spending that Congress has mandated by law.
White House Budget Office Orders Pause in All Federal Loans and Grants
The full extent of the order was not immediately clear, but the directive sent to government agencies on Monday threatened to paralyze a vast swath of federal programs.
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 6:12 AM
The White House budget office has ordered a pause in grants, loans and other federal financial assistance, according to a memo sent to government agencies on Monday, potentially paralyzing a vast swath of programs and jeopardizing spending that Congress has mandated by law.
Reactionary politics that will only hurt American consumers. For a "great negotiator", he really doesn't believe in diplomacy
Trump has imposed a raft of tariffs and sanctions on Colombia after it turned away US military flights carrying deported migrants.
January 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reactionary politics that will only hurt American consumers. For a "great negotiator", he really doesn't believe in diplomacy
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Prtizker emerging along with AOC as one of the only blue state politicians who can string a coherent sentence together
Pritzker: "President Trump ought to be calling that out. If he doesn't agree with Elon Musk, if he doesn't agree with two Sieg Heils at his own rally and backing a party that backs Nazis, then he ought to say so. Why isn't Donald Trump speaking out?
January 26, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Prtizker emerging along with AOC as one of the only blue state politicians who can string a coherent sentence together
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced that he will not allow U.S. military planes carrying Colombian migrants to land in Colombia.
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January 26, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, announced that he will not allow U.S. military planes carrying Colombian migrants to land in Colombia.
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Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Republicans won the House because they gerrymandered 3 times as many districts as Dems did, but instead the NY Times frames their story around a decline in swing districts fueling "polarization."
The GOP's national advantage should be the lead, not briefly noted halfway through & still downplayed
The GOP's national advantage should be the lead, not briefly noted halfway through & still downplayed
In 2024 Elections, Most Races Were Over Before They Started (Gift Article)
A New York Times analysis shows new maps stifled partisan competition for seats in the House of Representatives and state legislatures.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Republicans won the House because they gerrymandered 3 times as many districts as Dems did, but instead the NY Times frames their story around a decline in swing districts fueling "polarization."
The GOP's national advantage should be the lead, not briefly noted halfway through & still downplayed
The GOP's national advantage should be the lead, not briefly noted halfway through & still downplayed
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
JUST IN:—Britain will not recognize Trump’s order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
January 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
JUST IN:—Britain will not recognize Trump’s order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
(NBC News) - Mexico denied a U.S. military plane access to land Thursday, at least temporarily frustrating the Trump administration's plans to deport immigrants to the country, according to two U.S defense officials and a third person familiar with the situation.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
Mexico refuses to accept a U.S. deportation flight
The Mexican government has criticized President Donald Trump's unilateral immigration actions, and the landing would have required Mexico's assistance.
www.nbcnews.com
January 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
(NBC News) - Mexico denied a U.S. military plane access to land Thursday, at least temporarily frustrating the Trump administration's plans to deport immigrants to the country, according to two U.S defense officials and a third person familiar with the situation.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
So the honeymoon is over? www.axios.com/2025/01/24/m...
Majority of Americans have unfavorable view of Musk, DOGE: AP-NORC poll
Three out of five said they have an unfavorable view of Trump relying on billionaires for policy advice.
www.axios.com
January 24, 2025 at 8:21 PM
So the honeymoon is over? www.axios.com/2025/01/24/m...
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
Trump's attempt to nullify the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship provision is an attempt to reverse one of the most important outcomes of the Civil War, the idea that American citizenship is not based on race www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Attack on Birthright Citizenship Is a Big Test for the Constitution
Does the text mean what it plainly says?
www.theatlantic.com
January 22, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Trump's attempt to nullify the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship provision is an attempt to reverse one of the most important outcomes of the Civil War, the idea that American citizenship is not based on race www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Alin Barbantan
The folks obsessively posting about egg prices for the past few years have gone strangely quiet just as egg prices hit an all-time high.
January 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The folks obsessively posting about egg prices for the past few years have gone strangely quiet just as egg prices hit an all-time high.