Jacques Duquesne
@jduquesne.com
Keen on science, skepticism and geeky stuff. Most views borrowed from someone smarter. I sometimes write.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
At a time when everyone is plagiarising off ChatGPT, it's refreshing to have Witkoff copy Russian talking points word-for-word in "his" "peace" "plan" instead.
November 26, 2025 at 11:02 AM
At a time when everyone is plagiarising off ChatGPT, it's refreshing to have Witkoff copy Russian talking points word-for-word in "his" "peace" "plan" instead.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Worth noting the long and careful trajectory of France’s “right to die” bill, which the National Asembly passed yesterday by 305 votes to 199 against. It is the result of years of public debate, including a citizens’ assembly, and then a free parliamentary vote. Difficult subject, exemplary method
May 28, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Worth noting the long and careful trajectory of France’s “right to die” bill, which the National Asembly passed yesterday by 305 votes to 199 against. It is the result of years of public debate, including a citizens’ assembly, and then a free parliamentary vote. Difficult subject, exemplary method
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
“Despite the fact that Facebook is banned in China itself, the five most-followed news organisations on Facebook are all Chinese, disseminating news in English” www.economist.com/internationa...
May 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
“Despite the fact that Facebook is banned in China itself, the five most-followed news organisations on Facebook are all Chinese, disseminating news in English” www.economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Whether it's Hillary Clinton sharing risotto tips on a private server or Pete Hegseth using the nuclear codes as his password on Pornhub, both parties have ignored our nation's security.
April 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Whether it's Hillary Clinton sharing risotto tips on a private server or Pete Hegseth using the nuclear codes as his password on Pornhub, both parties have ignored our nation's security.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
What 🇫🇷 PM François Bayrou said this morning about 🇫🇷 public finances is absolutely right. France has excessive public spending, debt and taxation, and fails to live within its means. The trouble is, this has been true for a *long* time. The last time a 🇫🇷 government balanced its budget was in 1974
April 15, 2025 at 11:01 AM
What 🇫🇷 PM François Bayrou said this morning about 🇫🇷 public finances is absolutely right. France has excessive public spending, debt and taxation, and fails to live within its means. The trouble is, this has been true for a *long* time. The last time a 🇫🇷 government balanced its budget was in 1974
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
El Salvador is a contractor providing the United States with a paid service. The idea that we couldn’t get anyone they’re holding back with the snap of a finger just by asking is so ludicrous on its face, it seems less like a real excuse and more like a test of how much shit the courts will eat.
Pam Bondi: “That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him…If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane.”
Nayib Bukele: “How can I return him to the U.S.? Like, I smuggle him into the U.S.?”
No, you put him on the plane the AG just said the US would provide!
Nayib Bukele: “How can I return him to the U.S.? Like, I smuggle him into the U.S.?”
No, you put him on the plane the AG just said the US would provide!
April 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
El Salvador is a contractor providing the United States with a paid service. The idea that we couldn’t get anyone they’re holding back with the snap of a finger just by asking is so ludicrous on its face, it seems less like a real excuse and more like a test of how much shit the courts will eat.
Best Liberation Day line so far:
“shooting yourself in the foot, such that you no longer need to buy shoes for stumps”
Victory never limped so hard.
stratechery.com/2025/america...
“shooting yourself in the foot, such that you no longer need to buy shoes for stumps”
Victory never limped so hard.
stratechery.com/2025/america...
American Disruption
A new take on Trump’s tariffs, including using a disruption lens to understand the U.S.’s manufacturing problem, and why a better plan would leverage demand, not kill it.
stratechery.com
April 13, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Best Liberation Day line so far:
“shooting yourself in the foot, such that you no longer need to buy shoes for stumps”
Victory never limped so hard.
stratechery.com/2025/america...
“shooting yourself in the foot, such that you no longer need to buy shoes for stumps”
Victory never limped so hard.
stratechery.com/2025/america...
I really hate watching bad French in movies and shows. Currently watching Mythic Quest where someone supposedly from « Montreal » butcher the language. No shade to the actor, but come on! Couldn’t they have hired someone who can actually speak French?
April 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
I really hate watching bad French in movies and shows. Currently watching Mythic Quest where someone supposedly from « Montreal » butcher the language. No shade to the actor, but come on! Couldn’t they have hired someone who can actually speak French?
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
For veterans of the Eurozone crisis, this is quite incredible - today Greece has a lower borrowing cost than both the UK and the US for their 10 year bonds.
I had to check, all of the previous so called 'PIIGS' (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) have lower borrowing costs than the US today.
I had to check, all of the previous so called 'PIIGS' (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) have lower borrowing costs than the US today.
April 9, 2025 at 11:31 AM
For veterans of the Eurozone crisis, this is quite incredible - today Greece has a lower borrowing cost than both the UK and the US for their 10 year bonds.
I had to check, all of the previous so called 'PIIGS' (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) have lower borrowing costs than the US today.
I had to check, all of the previous so called 'PIIGS' (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain) have lower borrowing costs than the US today.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Ok what’s going on here?
Yields are going up which means bond prices are going down.
Fewer buyers of the world’s safest asset.
Normally when the economy slows, there’s a flight to safety, not away from it.
Means the world may be abandoning America.
We are flirting with a true crisis.
Yields are going up which means bond prices are going down.
Fewer buyers of the world’s safest asset.
Normally when the economy slows, there’s a flight to safety, not away from it.
Means the world may be abandoning America.
We are flirting with a true crisis.
10-year yield going vertical here. Something’s gonna break.
April 9, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Ok what’s going on here?
Yields are going up which means bond prices are going down.
Fewer buyers of the world’s safest asset.
Normally when the economy slows, there’s a flight to safety, not away from it.
Means the world may be abandoning America.
We are flirting with a true crisis.
Yields are going up which means bond prices are going down.
Fewer buyers of the world’s safest asset.
Normally when the economy slows, there’s a flight to safety, not away from it.
Means the world may be abandoning America.
We are flirting with a true crisis.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
On a positive note, at least Russia is in the passenger seat of the car that Trump decided to drive off a cliff.
Oil prices are now over 30% below what was needed for their 2025 budget and they blew through all their financial loopholes in 2024.
Oil prices are now over 30% below what was needed for their 2025 budget and they blew through all their financial loopholes in 2024.
April 9, 2025 at 5:38 AM
On a positive note, at least Russia is in the passenger seat of the car that Trump decided to drive off a cliff.
Oil prices are now over 30% below what was needed for their 2025 budget and they blew through all their financial loopholes in 2024.
Oil prices are now over 30% below what was needed for their 2025 budget and they blew through all their financial loopholes in 2024.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
At this rate MAGA will only be able to afford to rent the libs.
April 7, 2025 at 2:29 PM
At this rate MAGA will only be able to afford to rent the libs.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Kids dying of measles is now going the route of kids dying in school shootings. Normalization of preventable deaths because…American Exceptionalism.
April 7, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Kids dying of measles is now going the route of kids dying in school shootings. Normalization of preventable deaths because…American Exceptionalism.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
This is very cool. "Sensational stories of flying saucers dominated U.S. newspaper headlines from June to July 1947. Could they have been purposely planted as part of a U.S. strategic deception operation, aimed at breaking the Soviet Diplomatic Code?" www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Flying Saucers: An Opening Salvo of the Cold War?
Sensational stories of flying saucers dominated U.S. newspaper headlines from June to July 1947. Could they have been purposely planted as part of a U.S. strategic deception operation, aimed at bre...
www.tandfonline.com
April 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This is very cool. "Sensational stories of flying saucers dominated U.S. newspaper headlines from June to July 1947. Could they have been purposely planted as part of a U.S. strategic deception operation, aimed at breaking the Soviet Diplomatic Code?" www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Donald Trump has committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era. Almost everything he said—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded econ.st/3YbbFjq
April 3, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Donald Trump has committed the most profound, harmful and unnecessary economic error in the modern era. Almost everything he said—on history, economics and the technicalities of trade—was utterly deluded econ.st/3YbbFjq
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Europe is such a tough place to do business.
Here we see a French Court completely devaluing a previously valuable asset into which the Russian government invested millions.
Here we see a French Court completely devaluing a previously valuable asset into which the Russian government invested millions.
FRENCH COURT SAYS CRIMES COMMITTED BY MARINE LE PEN, DEFENDANTS, MERIT IMMEDIATE BAN FROM PUBLIC OFFICE
March 31, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Europe is such a tough place to do business.
Here we see a French Court completely devaluing a previously valuable asset into which the Russian government invested millions.
Here we see a French Court completely devaluing a previously valuable asset into which the Russian government invested millions.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Je suis nulle, il faut que quelqu’un m’explique le choix du NYT de publier cette enquête (manifestement de long cours) MAINTENANT. Une présentation qui efface tellement la subjectivité de l’Ukraine que les Russes doivent être absolument ravis. L’Europe est… 1/2
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
The Secret History of America’s Involvement in the Ukraine War
This is the untold story of America’s hidden role in Ukrainian military operations against Russia’s invading armies.
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Je suis nulle, il faut que quelqu’un m’explique le choix du NYT de publier cette enquête (manifestement de long cours) MAINTENANT. Une présentation qui efface tellement la subjectivité de l’Ukraine que les Russes doivent être absolument ravis. L’Europe est… 1/2
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Singapore, an island city-state that is smaller than New York City, charges drivers thousands of dollars just for the right to buy a vehicle. The price of the permits rises with a car’s value. Here's a look at how it works.
Why Driving in Singapore Is Like ‘Wearing a Rolex’
The city-state, where it costs up to $84,000 just for the right to own a car, is one of the most expensive places to drive. That is by design.
nyti.ms
March 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Singapore, an island city-state that is smaller than New York City, charges drivers thousands of dollars just for the right to buy a vehicle. The price of the permits rises with a car’s value. Here's a look at how it works.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Conservatives like to complain about “the mainstream media” but in reality the mainstream of social media, cable news and podcasts is decidedly right wing.
It’s only legacy print media that is arguably left-wing in outlook. And barely so.
It’s only legacy print media that is arguably left-wing in outlook. And barely so.
March 27, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Conservatives like to complain about “the mainstream media” but in reality the mainstream of social media, cable news and podcasts is decidedly right wing.
It’s only legacy print media that is arguably left-wing in outlook. And barely so.
It’s only legacy print media that is arguably left-wing in outlook. And barely so.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Astonishing words to hear from a Canadian prime minister. Within months of taking office, the Trump admin has done lasting damage to core American interests, including continental defence. And for what? To satisfy the whims and impulses of a deranged leader, not for any carefully considered aim.
Carney: "The old relationship we had with the United States based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation is over."
March 27, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Astonishing words to hear from a Canadian prime minister. Within months of taking office, the Trump admin has done lasting damage to core American interests, including continental defence. And for what? To satisfy the whims and impulses of a deranged leader, not for any carefully considered aim.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
Google’s test removing news in Europe dropped usage by just 0.8% and didn’t impact Search ad revenue, showing news queries don’t drive their business.
Curious if the EU will still push Google to pay for news, when Google’s shown it can drop news from search results with no business impact.
Curious if the EU will still push Google to pay for news, when Google’s shown it can drop news from search results with no business impact.
Our experiment on the value of European news content
We launched an experiment measuring the value of European news results for Google which showed that European news content in Search has no measurable impact on ad revenu…
blog.google
March 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Google’s test removing news in Europe dropped usage by just 0.8% and didn’t impact Search ad revenue, showing news queries don’t drive their business.
Curious if the EU will still push Google to pay for news, when Google’s shown it can drop news from search results with no business impact.
Curious if the EU will still push Google to pay for news, when Google’s shown it can drop news from search results with no business impact.
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
When Macron calls Zelensky on his mobile during a live news conference
Zelensky: Emmanuel, sorry I’m in an interview. Can I call you back in 20 minutes? Merci Emmanuel! Bye
To camera: We speak often. On average once a day…He helps a lot. I’ll ring him back
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKi5...
Zelensky: Emmanuel, sorry I’m in an interview. Can I call you back in 20 minutes? Merci Emmanuel! Bye
To camera: We speak often. On average once a day…He helps a lot. I’ll ring him back
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKi5...
Ukraine: Zelensky dit parler à Macron "une fois par jour" | AFP
YouTube video by AFP
www.youtube.com
March 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
When Macron calls Zelensky on his mobile during a live news conference
Zelensky: Emmanuel, sorry I’m in an interview. Can I call you back in 20 minutes? Merci Emmanuel! Bye
To camera: We speak often. On average once a day…He helps a lot. I’ll ring him back
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKi5...
Zelensky: Emmanuel, sorry I’m in an interview. Can I call you back in 20 minutes? Merci Emmanuel! Bye
To camera: We speak often. On average once a day…He helps a lot. I’ll ring him back
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKi5...
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
French researcher, going to a conference in Houston, was forbidden entry to US; his work and personal electronics were both confiscated.
Why? Because a “random search” of his cell phone revealed a negative personal opinion on Trump and the Trump administration. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Why? Because a “random search” of his cell phone revealed a negative personal opinion on Trump and the Trump administration. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Etats-Unis : un chercheur français refoulé pour avoir exprimé « une opinion personnelle sur la politique menée par l’administration Trump »
Le ministre de la recherche a dit sa « préoccupation », mercredi, après cette décision des autorités américaines. Le chercheur du CNRS aurait subi un contrôle aléatoire à son arrivée, avant que son or...
www.lemonde.fr
March 19, 2025 at 5:37 PM
French researcher, going to a conference in Houston, was forbidden entry to US; his work and personal electronics were both confiscated.
Why? Because a “random search” of his cell phone revealed a negative personal opinion on Trump and the Trump administration. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Why? Because a “random search” of his cell phone revealed a negative personal opinion on Trump and the Trump administration. www.lemonde.fr/internationa...
Reposted by Jacques Duquesne
