Bernadett Gaal
@bernadettgaal.bsky.social
Scientist. Editor. Sucker for liberal democracy. London & Budapest. All views are my own.
This is a legal absurdity and also pathetic. They had banned the Pride march but couldn't prevent us from marching. They had threatened us, attendees, with massive fines but chickened out. I am guessing that they are attempting to save face with the far right ahead of the April elections.
Budapest mayor charged over his calls for people to defy Hungary’s Pride ban
Gergely Karácsony urged people to take to streets in June in pushback against Orbán government’s attack on rights
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:50 PM
This is a legal absurdity and also pathetic. They had banned the Pride march but couldn't prevent us from marching. They had threatened us, attendees, with massive fines but chickened out. I am guessing that they are attempting to save face with the far right ahead of the April elections.
"Try to imagine it:[...] U.S. troops would need to force Greenlanders, citizens of a treaty ally, to become American against their will." For European democracies: who the fuck are we if we do not insist that it is an absolute non-negotiable? As it is with Ru forcing Ukrainians to become Russian.
January 19, 2026 at 9:36 PM
"Try to imagine it:[...] U.S. troops would need to force Greenlanders, citizens of a treaty ally, to become American against their will." For European democracies: who the fuck are we if we do not insist that it is an absolute non-negotiable? As it is with Ru forcing Ukrainians to become Russian.
And does he know that it is not Norway that awards the prize? And does he get that Greenland is not Europe's or NATO's or even Denmark's to 'give away'? Has he heard of the right to national self-determination and does he get that for European democracies it has to be an absolute non-negotiable?
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one wondering this, but does Donald Trump know that Norway (which, according to him, didn’t give him the Nobel Peace Prize) is a different country from Denmark?
January 19, 2026 at 10:51 AM
And does he know that it is not Norway that awards the prize? And does he get that Greenland is not Europe's or NATO's or even Denmark's to 'give away'? Has he heard of the right to national self-determination and does he get that for European democracies it has to be an absolute non-negotiable?
I sure hope European governments have their top psychiatrists and hostage negotiators advising them on how to deal with this unhinged mad king
Not the sort of letter committed to paper by a well man. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 10:24 AM
I sure hope European governments have their top psychiatrists and hostage negotiators advising them on how to deal with this unhinged mad king
I'm going to assume this is true and allow myself to feel an iota of relief
President Emmanuel Macron:
“Where Ukraine was eminently dependent on American intelligence capabilities by an overwhelming majority a year ago, today two-thirds are provided by France. Two-thirds.”
“Where Ukraine was eminently dependent on American intelligence capabilities by an overwhelming majority a year ago, today two-thirds are provided by France. Two-thirds.”
January 15, 2026 at 3:38 PM
I'm going to assume this is true and allow myself to feel an iota of relief
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen:
"If we have to choose between the US & Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."
"Greenland does not want to be owned by the US. Greenland does not want to be governed by the US" he later added.
"If we have to choose between the US & Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."
"Greenland does not want to be owned by the US. Greenland does not want to be governed by the US" he later added.
January 13, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen:
"If we have to choose between the US & Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."
"Greenland does not want to be owned by the US. Greenland does not want to be governed by the US" he later added.
"If we have to choose between the US & Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."
"Greenland does not want to be owned by the US. Greenland does not want to be governed by the US" he later added.
Asked in the same interview if there were any limits on his global powers, he said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” and “I don’t need international law,”... “I’m not looking to hurt people.”
Not everyone believed me when I wrote that Trump wants Greenland becuase it would make him feel important, but that's what he told the NYT:
When asked why he needed to possess the territory, he said: “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
When asked why he needed to possess the territory, he said: “Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success"
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Asked in the same interview if there were any limits on his global powers, he said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.” and “I don’t need international law,”... “I’m not looking to hurt people.”
By which both Trump and Orbán mean their own and their friends' business interests, not even the economic interests of the US and Hungary. Though even that would be morally and practically indefensible in this situation.
💥Like Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán’s so-called “pro-peace” stance is driven by pure business interests — something he openly admits. He has already sent a large business delegation to Moscow in hopes of future profits. EU leaders heading into this week’s European Council should be aware.
December 16, 2025 at 11:59 AM
By which both Trump and Orbán mean their own and their friends' business interests, not even the economic interests of the US and Hungary. Though even that would be morally and practically indefensible in this situation.
I've spent the last few days in despair about my society of origin and this is truly heartening to see.
💪 Tens of thousands are marching from downtown Budapest across the Chain Bridge and tunnel up to Buda Castle, where Viktor Orbán’s office is. Opposition leader Péter Magyar called the march to protest child abuse by Hungarian authorities—and the government’s inaction.
📸: @telexhu.bsky.social
📸: @telexhu.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I've spent the last few days in despair about my society of origin and this is truly heartening to see.
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
New in PN: @mattgertz.bsky.social on the Orbanization of the press
"Everyone just accepts that of course the FCC will only allow a merger if it goes to a person that Trump wants to own it. That’s a very precipitous decline in our broad public assumptions of how govt power is supposed to be wielded"
"Everyone just accepts that of course the FCC will only allow a merger if it goes to a person that Trump wants to own it. That’s a very precipitous decline in our broad public assumptions of how govt power is supposed to be wielded"
The Orbanization of the American press
"The really unnerving thing is Trump using state power to influence who a company gets sold to," Matt Gertz tells us.
www.publicnotice.co
November 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New in PN: @mattgertz.bsky.social on the Orbanization of the press
"Everyone just accepts that of course the FCC will only allow a merger if it goes to a person that Trump wants to own it. That’s a very precipitous decline in our broad public assumptions of how govt power is supposed to be wielded"
"Everyone just accepts that of course the FCC will only allow a merger if it goes to a person that Trump wants to own it. That’s a very precipitous decline in our broad public assumptions of how govt power is supposed to be wielded"
The 'thing' that 'happened' was so shocking that it burned every last detail of the Shanghai hotel room where I heard about it into my mind forever.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 11:17 PM
The 'thing' that 'happened' was so shocking that it burned every last detail of the Shanghai hotel room where I heard about it into my mind forever.
Sums up my thoughts and feelings about this saga. Genuinely sickening to watch
Whole fucking thing makes me sick to my stomach. An abject fucking liar, a man who lies as easily as he fucking breathes, threatening an organisation which strives for truthfulness. And plastic patriots like the Mail and Farage urging him on. Jackels.
November 11, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Sums up my thoughts and feelings about this saga. Genuinely sickening to watch
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
💥🇭🇺 For Hungary watchers: a detailed inside look at Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party's recent internal crisis — how they underestimated opposition leader Péter Magyar and how all the traps they set for him backfired. Orbán's spring offensive against Magyar even caused tensions within the government.
”The situation is tense” – How Orbán has tried overcome Fidesz’s internal crisis - Direkt36
Fidesz underestimated opposition leader Péter Magyar so much that they realized too late that he posed a real threat to them. Direkt36 reveals how Viktor Orbán launched his spring offensive against Ma...
www.direkt36.hu
November 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
💥🇭🇺 For Hungary watchers: a detailed inside look at Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party's recent internal crisis — how they underestimated opposition leader Péter Magyar and how all the traps they set for him backfired. Orbán's spring offensive against Magyar even caused tensions within the government.
He could just fly through Ukrainian airspace. Or take a train. 😂🐒
⚡️ Poland warns Putin's flight to Hungary for Trump talks could be diverted to The Hague.
"I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won't order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand (Putin) over to the court in The Hague," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.
"I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won't order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand (Putin) over to the court in The Hague," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.
Poland warns Putin's flight to Hungary for Trump talks could be diverted to The Hague
"I cannot guarantee that an independent Polish court won't order the government to escort such an aircraft down to hand (Putin) over to the court in The Hague," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikors...
kyivindependent.com
October 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
He could just fly through Ukrainian airspace. Or take a train. 😂🐒
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
💥🌈Despite the Orbán government's ban under the homophobic “child protection law,” thousands joined today’s Pride march in the Hungarian city of Pécs. Far-right protesters showed up, but police protected the march—just as they did when 100-200K defied the Budapest Pride ban this summer
📸: 444.hu
📸: 444.hu
October 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
💥🌈Despite the Orbán government's ban under the homophobic “child protection law,” thousands joined today’s Pride march in the Hungarian city of Pécs. Far-right protesters showed up, but police protected the march—just as they did when 100-200K defied the Budapest Pride ban this summer
📸: 444.hu
📸: 444.hu
Shocking but not surprising. He says that Ukraine is not sovereign because 'we' (the West) 'sustain it', and therefore Ukraine should just shut up and not protest any violations of its sovereignty coming from 'us'. A decent person of course would thank Ukraine. Alas...
⚡️PM Viktor Orbán said on Monday that 2-4 Hungarian drones “either crossed or not” into Ukraine’s airspace, but added “Ukraine is not a sovereign country” and Hungary is not their enemy, so it doesn’t matter.
🚀Ukraine’s army said one Hungarian drone incursion on September 26 reached 20–30 km deep.
🚀Ukraine’s army said one Hungarian drone incursion on September 26 reached 20–30 km deep.
September 29, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Shocking but not surprising. He says that Ukraine is not sovereign because 'we' (the West) 'sustain it', and therefore Ukraine should just shut up and not protest any violations of its sovereignty coming from 'us'. A decent person of course would thank Ukraine. Alas...
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
People came from all over the world. They have serious problems to solve.
Trump to the UN: "I'm really good at this stuff. Your countries are going to hell."
September 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
People came from all over the world. They have serious problems to solve.
I often wish that Sikorski were my foreign minister (in place of the one with the Russian Order of Friendship, obviously). He is once again speaking my mind.
💥“You have been warned.” NATO countries will shoot down Russian planes or missiles if they violate their airspace. The West will not allow itself to be intimidated, said Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at the UN Security Council.
September 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
I often wish that Sikorski were my foreign minister (in place of the one with the Russian Order of Friendship, obviously). He is once again speaking my mind.
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
🔎💥VISUALIZED INVESTIGATION: Six media outlets uncovered the full details of 2024’s arson attacks & explosive parcels across Europe.
🇷🇺 These sabotage ops were carried out by Russia’s GRU & masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials.
🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing-nat...
@vsquare.bsky.social
🇷🇺 These sabotage ops were carried out by Russia’s GRU & masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials.
🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing-nat...
@vsquare.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 6:43 AM
🔎💥VISUALIZED INVESTIGATION: Six media outlets uncovered the full details of 2024’s arson attacks & explosive parcels across Europe.
🇷🇺 These sabotage ops were carried out by Russia’s GRU & masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials.
🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing-nat...
@vsquare.bsky.social
🇷🇺 These sabotage ops were carried out by Russia’s GRU & masterminded by a smuggler of radioactive materials.
🔗Link: vsquare.org/crossing-nat...
@vsquare.bsky.social
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
The correct response to Russian fighters overflying NATO territory is *obviously* to shoot them down. The reason why this is important is good old credibility. You don't do it now, you signal to the other side that you are afraid; therefore, they will do it again and again.
September 20, 2025 at 8:18 AM
The correct response to Russian fighters overflying NATO territory is *obviously* to shoot them down. The reason why this is important is good old credibility. You don't do it now, you signal to the other side that you are afraid; therefore, they will do it again and again.
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
Budapest Pride 🏳️🌈🇭🇺 the ban backfired! Peaceful, safe, happy and huge!
Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.
Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.
June 28, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Budapest Pride 🏳️🌈🇭🇺 the ban backfired! Peaceful, safe, happy and huge!
Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.
Organisers estimate a crowd over 200,000 people.
We marched in huge numbers for freedom and equality for all in Budapest today. Change is in the air. 🇭🇺🇪🇺🏳️🌈
June 28, 2025 at 7:06 PM
We marched in huge numbers for freedom and equality for all in Budapest today. Change is in the air. 🇭🇺🇪🇺🏳️🌈
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
"Earlier this week Donald Trump called for a second civil war at a US military base. This scenario can be resisted and prevented, if we have the courage to listen, interpret, and act. And this Saturday we will have the occasion to act."
snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-civ...
snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-civ...
Trump's civil war
And our new birth of freedom
snyder.substack.com
June 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
"Earlier this week Donald Trump called for a second civil war at a US military base. This scenario can be resisted and prevented, if we have the courage to listen, interpret, and act. And this Saturday we will have the occasion to act."
snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-civ...
snyder.substack.com/p/trumps-civ...
Reposted by Bernadett Gaal
The Hungarian government wants to silence all independent voices. Once the russian style law takes effect, blacklisted organisations will have an incredibly hard time.
Here's a list of organisations that are being targeted. Please consider supporting them
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Here's a list of organisations that are being targeted. Please consider supporting them
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Hungarian organisations to support
The Hungarian regime is trying to silence independent voices. A new draft law allows the Sovereignty Protection Office to arbitrarily blacklist NGOs and independent media organizations. Once blacklis...
docs.google.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:50 AM
The Hungarian government wants to silence all independent voices. Once the russian style law takes effect, blacklisted organisations will have an incredibly hard time.
Here's a list of organisations that are being targeted. Please consider supporting them
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Here's a list of organisations that are being targeted. Please consider supporting them
docs.google.com/document/d/1...