Gijs Brekelmans
@gys.bsky.social
TV & Digital Journalist at Dutch public broadcaster NOS/children's news program NOS Jeugdjournaal.
Posting in 🇳🇱🇬🇧, mostly about Dutch (children's) news, politics, disinformation, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East and maybe NFL, cycling or silliness.
Posting in 🇳🇱🇬🇧, mostly about Dutch (children's) news, politics, disinformation, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, the Middle East and maybe NFL, cycling or silliness.
Ombudsman of Dutch newspaper Volkskrant:
'The Pretti case shows that the Trump administration's lies don't belong in a headline'.
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
'The Pretti case shows that the Trump administration's lies don't belong in a headline'.
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
De casus-Pretti laat zien dat de leugens van de regering-Trump niet in een kop thuishoren
www.volkskrant.nl
January 31, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Ombudsman of Dutch newspaper Volkskrant:
'The Pretti case shows that the Trump administration's lies don't belong in a headline'.
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
'The Pretti case shows that the Trump administration's lies don't belong in a headline'.
www.volkskrant.nl/columns-opin...
Goed geparafraseerde dls ook!
January 31, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Goed geparafraseerde dls ook!
Last month, India and Russia ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) pact, allowing armed forces to access each other's military bases, ports and airports for refueling, repairs and supplies in the Arctic, Pacific and Indian Ocean.
January 27, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Last month, India and Russia ratified the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Support (RELOS) pact, allowing armed forces to access each other's military bases, ports and airports for refueling, repairs and supplies in the Arctic, Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Circling back to how Europe will respond to the US drifting away from democracy, stability and security: apparently it will look to the southeast.
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
When two major democracies act together, we build stronger shared security.
It was a great pleasure to sign a new EU–India Security and Defence Partnership with Foreign Minister Jaishankar today. (1/3)
It was a great pleasure to sign a new EU–India Security and Defence Partnership with Foreign Minister Jaishankar today. (1/3)
January 27, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Circling back to how Europe will respond to the US drifting away from democracy, stability and security: apparently it will look to the southeast.
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
Eyewitness of the killing: "I don't feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me. I don't know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they're not telling the truth about what happened."
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
January 25, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Eyewitness of the killing: "I don't feel like I can go home because I heard agents were looking for me. I don't know what the agents will do when they find me. I do know that they're not telling the truth about what happened."
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Also, please read this excellent thread on how our information infrastructure has changed - and has changed us.
bsky.app/profile/elio...
bsky.app/profile/elio...
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
January 25, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Also, please read this excellent thread on how our information infrastructure has changed - and has changed us.
bsky.app/profile/elio...
bsky.app/profile/elio...
The victim's parents: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."
January 25, 2026 at 9:59 AM
The victim's parents: "The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting."
The shooting of a protester in Minneapolis is a painful example.
US officials call the killing an act of 'self defense against an armed and dangerous man'.
Videos of the incident show that this is not true. And media should not publish the administration's false depiction without that context.
US officials call the killing an act of 'self defense against an armed and dangerous man'.
Videos of the incident show that this is not true. And media should not publish the administration's false depiction without that context.
January 25, 2026 at 9:56 AM
The shooting of a protester in Minneapolis is a painful example.
US officials call the killing an act of 'self defense against an armed and dangerous man'.
Videos of the incident show that this is not true. And media should not publish the administration's false depiction without that context.
US officials call the killing an act of 'self defense against an armed and dangerous man'.
Videos of the incident show that this is not true. And media should not publish the administration's false depiction without that context.
I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
January 24, 2026 at 4:46 PM
When a regime is known for lying, like Russia's, you watch what it does rather than believe what it says. What the Trump administration shows, is that it might be using Russia's playbook in gaining control over who opposes it.
apnews.com/article/ice-...
apnews.com/article/ice-...
Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:59 PM
When a regime is known for lying, like Russia's, you watch what it does rather than believe what it says. What the Trump administration shows, is that it might be using Russia's playbook in gaining control over who opposes it.
apnews.com/article/ice-...
apnews.com/article/ice-...
Trump, in Davos, changed the tone of his threats and says he wouldn't need to use force. But he would not back down from trying to annex Greenland.
After Trump's speech European Counsil President Costa shares this message:
bsky.app/profile/euco...
After Trump's speech European Counsil President Costa shares this message:
bsky.app/profile/euco...
The transatlantic alliance is being questioned. We do not want to speculate or escalate. We want to communicate with our U.S. partners, but we must be clear: any threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our member states is simply unacceptable.
January 21, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Trump, in Davos, changed the tone of his threats and says he wouldn't need to use force. But he would not back down from trying to annex Greenland.
After Trump's speech European Counsil President Costa shares this message:
bsky.app/profile/euco...
After Trump's speech European Counsil President Costa shares this message:
bsky.app/profile/euco...
Tusk on X (apparently also for an American audience):
'Appeasement is always a sign of weakness. Europe cannot afford to be weak - neither against its enemies, nor ally.'
'Appeasement is always a sign of weakness. Europe cannot afford to be weak - neither against its enemies, nor ally.'
January 21, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Tusk on X (apparently also for an American audience):
'Appeasement is always a sign of weakness. Europe cannot afford to be weak - neither against its enemies, nor ally.'
'Appeasement is always a sign of weakness. Europe cannot afford to be weak - neither against its enemies, nor ally.'
EC President Von der Leyen says Europe must adapt to a changing world 'fraught with dangers'.
bsky.app/profile/vond...
bsky.app/profile/vond...
This moment of global change is fraught with dangers.
And Europe must be ready to change even faster.
To become more independent. For its own future.
And Europe must be ready to change even faster.
To become more independent. For its own future.
January 21, 2026 at 4:01 PM
EC President Von der Leyen says Europe must adapt to a changing world 'fraught with dangers'.
bsky.app/profile/vond...
bsky.app/profile/vond...
EU Foreign chief Kallas:
'We have no interest in picking a fight, but we will hold our ground.'
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
'We have no interest in picking a fight, but we will hold our ground.'
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
Greenland belongs to its people.
No threat or tariffs will change that.
Our response must be to remain calm, hold our ground and act in unity.
Extract of my intervention in #EPlenary ↓
No threat or tariffs will change that.
Our response must be to remain calm, hold our ground and act in unity.
Extract of my intervention in #EPlenary ↓
January 21, 2026 at 3:56 PM
EU Foreign chief Kallas:
'We have no interest in picking a fight, but we will hold our ground.'
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
'We have no interest in picking a fight, but we will hold our ground.'
bsky.app/profile/kaja...
European Council President Costa advocating for upholding international rules-based order and strengthening Europe's defense capabilities and economy.
bsky.app/profile/euco...
bsky.app/profile/euco...
By combining Principles, Protection and Prosperity we can make Europe more sovereign, more resilient and stronger. For this:
We must remain a firm champion of the international rules-based order, international law and multilateralism.
We must remain a firm champion of the international rules-based order, international law and multilateralism.
January 21, 2026 at 3:48 PM
European Council President Costa advocating for upholding international rules-based order and strengthening Europe's defense capabilities and economy.
bsky.app/profile/euco...
bsky.app/profile/euco...