"The United States violated both international and domestic law with the abduction of Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro. The operation...starkly shows that the erosion of democracy at home and the rules-based order are two sides of the same coin."

Well said, @rosabalfour.bsky.social

Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.

Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.

This is a good, substantive analysis of the EU Democracy Shield and where it falls short: www.delorscentre.eu/en/publicati...

For more than 2 years, police in Berlin - encouraged by city and national politicians - have systematically used excessive violence in an attempt to beat the Palestine solidarity movement into silence.

I wrote about this phenomenon for the @lrb.co.uk

GMF wrapped the inaugural GMF–GWU Masterclass on City International Engagement, convening members of GMF’s City Directors of International Affairs Network from 15 cities across North America and Europe to deepen skills and exchange practical tools for local‑level international engagement.

🌎 The GMF–GW Masterclass in City International Engagement is in full swing this week.

City Directors of International Affairs from 15 North American and European cities are gathering for three days of skills-building, practical tools, and stronger transatlantic cooperation.

Cas Mudde spells out what has become largely the consensus among researchers: moving right on immigration will not weaken the far right nor strengthen social democracy. If your reaction is "but in Denmark" please at least familiarize yourself with Danish politics

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Outstanding work by @fesonline.bsky.social mapping the tech/policy/finance connections binding the network undermining US democracy now, and that is coming for Europe next. Great visuals. www.authoritarian-stack.info

ordinary americans are filming ice agents and trying to save their neighbors. for all the hemming and hawing during 2024 about how democracy was an elite concern, the elites gave up far more quickly than average people.

Trump slashed USAID so that children die for want of $2 mosquito nets or 12-cent-a-day medicines--but he now is backing a $20 billion bailout of Argentina that will also pour money into the pockets of billionaire hedge fund investors. My take: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/o...

The plan of the Budapest summit is an unfriendly move by the U.S. that rewards Putin and Orbán while ridiculing the EU.
But the EU can do more behind closed doors than merely cross its fingers for an Alaska-like, fruitless summit.
My piece for @euobserver.com
euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...

Measures like the proposed "drone wall" are "not strategic responses to Russian hybrid warfare, particularly because they do not counter it. Rather, they fulfill the underlying logic of the Russian strategy," argues GMF's @danielhegedus.bsky.social in a new analysis.

Read now:

🇺🇦 "Ukraine’s local stakeholders [...] have shown remarkable agility and resilience during wartime."

Clara Volintiru & Valerii Kravets analyze how civic actors help strengthen Ukraine’s democracy and recovery. Available in both English and Ukrainian.

This is so true and equally valid of Trump’s other fellow travelers: “free speech purists” who hate progressives more than they love free speech; “economic nationalists” who hate foreigners more than they love their own; and the tech billionaires who hate regulation more than they love science.

This is a great article. Unlike Americans, who are still largely in denial, the people who have been fighting authoritarianism elsewhere are instantly recognizing what is happening in the U.S., and they have the best advice to give.

🌍 Democracy begins in cities 🤝
Cities reaffirmed this truth at Eurocities ‘Upgrading Local Democracy' conference in #Leipzig.

📝 Mayors adopted the 'Eurocities Leipzig Declaration' - committing to defend democratic values.

🔗 Learn more 👉 lnkd.in/ekwnEbHW
➡️ Read the declaration 👉 lnkd.in/eHHDHrnx

"Baldwin, Arendt, and Roy offer different models of courage and solidarity."

This by @sivav.bsky.social is very good.

🇹🇷 "The recent arrest of the Istanbul Mayor, a prominent opposition leader to President Erdoğan is a troubling example of democratic backsliding."

Paul Costello explains why this demonstrates cities' importance in safeguarding freedoms: bit.ly/4kZzN2h