Mārtiņš Vaivars
@martinsvaivars.bsky.social
Work on technology – co-founder of RivalSense.co and Auditry.io. Care about music, friends, democracy, and books.
Pinned
Priekšlikumi soc. tīklu regulācijai, lai nepamostamies autoritārismā:
(1) Visi lietotāji identificēti ar internetbanku, Smart ID u.c.. Nekādu botu un daudz dārgāk pirkt troļļus.
(2) Apskatāms newsfeed algoritms, spēja pašam pirkt/atnest algoritmus
(3) Garantēti 10% newsfeed sabiedriskajiem medijiem
(1) Visi lietotāji identificēti ar internetbanku, Smart ID u.c.. Nekādu botu un daudz dārgāk pirkt troļļus.
(2) Apskatāms newsfeed algoritms, spēja pašam pirkt/atnest algoritmus
(3) Garantēti 10% newsfeed sabiedriskajiem medijiem
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
If liberal European leaders can defend their national sovereignty from Donald Trump’s attacks, he “will not be just a populist firecracker”, writes Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “He will also be a catalyst for a new centrist European politics”
It’s time Europe got to grips with the MAGA challenge, writes Mark Leonard
How Donald Trump can be used as a weapon against his ideological allies on the old continent
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
If liberal European leaders can defend their national sovereignty from Donald Trump’s attacks, he “will not be just a populist firecracker”, writes Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “He will also be a catalyst for a new centrist European politics”
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Elon Musk Has Made X a Threat to Democracy and His War on the EU Proves It. bylinetimes.com/2025/12/08/e...
Elon Musk Has Made X a Threat to Democracy and His War on the EU Proves It
Caroline Orr Bueno reports on how the billionaire X owner has turned Twitter into a tool for foreign interference which monetises and weaponises a global network of disinformation
bylinetimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Elon Musk Has Made X a Threat to Democracy and His War on the EU Proves It. bylinetimes.com/2025/12/08/e...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
🧵
The EU discourse is perfect because there's something in it for everyone. First of all, the European Union genuinely does have a lot of problems. But more importantly, a lot of people hate it for largely unrelated and often contradictory reasons. It's a great enemy
December 8, 2025 at 10:44 AM
🧵
Michael Ignatieff -- Europe's "Civilizational Erasure" -- The US National Security Strategy and the End of the West substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Europe's "Civilizational Erasure"
The US National Security Strategy and the End of the West
substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Michael Ignatieff -- Europe's "Civilizational Erasure" -- The US National Security Strategy and the End of the West substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Fareed Zakaria: As the populist right trashes meritocracy, it is replacing it with something older, cruder and more corrosive: a naked plutocracy — rule by the very rich. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Populists are replacing meritocracy with something far worse
Undermining expertise is a pretext for consolidating power among the ultra-wealthy.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Fareed Zakaria: As the populist right trashes meritocracy, it is replacing it with something older, cruder and more corrosive: a naked plutocracy — rule by the very rich. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Whether through malice, incompetence or both the Trump administration is doing what it can to help Putin & harm Europe. And ironically, it brings peace no closer because Putin sees the evidence of Western weakness & disunity as a reason to keep the war going & achieve his goal of destroying Ukraine.
🚨 Explosive report by Bloomberg:
The US has lobbied “several” EU countries to derail the reparations loan for Ukraine, arguing the Russian assets are needed to achieve a peace deal and shouldn’t be used to “prolong the war”.
The US has lobbied “several” EU countries to derail the reparations loan for Ukraine, arguing the Russian assets are needed to achieve a peace deal and shouldn’t be used to “prolong the war”.
US Urged Europeans to Oppose EU Plan for Loan to Support Ukraine
The US lobbied several countries in the European Union in an effort to block EU plans to use frozen Russian central bank assets to back a massive loan to Ukraine, according to European diplomats famil...
www.bloomberg.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Whether through malice, incompetence or both the Trump administration is doing what it can to help Putin & harm Europe. And ironically, it brings peace no closer because Putin sees the evidence of Western weakness & disunity as a reason to keep the war going & achieve his goal of destroying Ukraine.
Alexander Stubb -- The West’s Last Chance www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The West’s Last Chance
How to build a new global order before it’s too late.
www.foreignaffairs.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Alexander Stubb -- The West’s Last Chance www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Christ on a cracker — these seemingly hostile drones only missed Zelensky’s plane because he was unexpectedly early www.thejournal.ie/drones-dubli...
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
www.thejournal.ie
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Christ on a cracker — these seemingly hostile drones only missed Zelensky’s plane because he was unexpectedly early www.thejournal.ie/drones-dubli...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Arī lietuvieši uztraucas par aktīviem autoritāriem mēģinājumiem ierobežot mediju brīvību un neatkarību. 😬
Izskatās šis ir gads, kad demokrātijas atplūdi sasnieguši Baltiju.
www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas...
Izskatās šis ir gads, kad demokrātijas atplūdi sasnieguši Baltiju.
www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas...
December 2, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Arī lietuvieši uztraucas par aktīviem autoritāriem mēģinājumiem ierobežot mediju brīvību un neatkarību. 😬
Izskatās šis ir gads, kad demokrātijas atplūdi sasnieguši Baltiju.
www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas...
Izskatās šis ir gads, kad demokrātijas atplūdi sasnieguši Baltiju.
www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Extraordinary WSJ reporting today that unveils the extent to which Trump, Witkoff, Kushner and US business executives are salivating over business deals with Russia while Putin’s forces kidnap Ukranian children and bomb civilians in their apartments.
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
November 29, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Extraordinary WSJ reporting today that unveils the extent to which Trump, Witkoff, Kushner and US business executives are salivating over business deals with Russia while Putin’s forces kidnap Ukranian children and bomb civilians in their apartments.
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
🎁 www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Kāpēc Latvijā dzīvojošo Krievijas oligarhu Pjotru Avenu apciemo Ungārijas varas draugs no pareizticīgās baznīcas? Lasi mūsu un ungāru neatkarīgā medija 24.hu jaunākajā kopdarbā: rebaltica.lv/2025/11/krie...
Krievijas oligarhu Latvijā apciemo Ungārijas varas draugs | Re:Baltica
rebaltica.lv
November 28, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Kāpēc Latvijā dzīvojošo Krievijas oligarhu Pjotru Avenu apciemo Ungārijas varas draugs no pareizticīgās baznīcas? Lasi mūsu un ungāru neatkarīgā medija 24.hu jaunākajā kopdarbā: rebaltica.lv/2025/11/krie...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
the price of populism
"By 2025, Brexit had reduced UK GDP by 6% to 8%, with the impact accumulating gradually over time. We estimate that investment was reduced by between 12% and 18%, employment by 3% to 4% and productivity by 3% to 4%"
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
Read the Stanford report:
siepr.stanford.edu/publications...
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
the price of populism
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Ko sēsi, to pļāusi. Prieks par kaimiņiem.
estonianworld.com/knowledge/es...
estonianworld.com/knowledge/es...
Estonia ranks third worldwide in scientific impact – how did it happen?
.
estonianworld.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Ko sēsi, to pļāusi. Prieks par kaimiņiem.
estonianworld.com/knowledge/es...
estonianworld.com/knowledge/es...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Evidence of Russian war crimes “means nothing” if no credible criminal judicial process follows, warns Gyunduz Mamedov. “The sad fact is that Ukraine cannot uphold justice alone”
Russia must get no amnesty in any peace deal for Ukraine
Gyunduz Mamedov, a lawyer-turned-soldier, fears the West will acquiesce in the Kremlin’s bid to undermine justice
econ.st
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Evidence of Russian war crimes “means nothing” if no credible criminal judicial process follows, warns Gyunduz Mamedov. “The sad fact is that Ukraine cannot uphold justice alone”
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Just a periodic reminder.
Wish people would stop saying Trump has done a U-turn on Ukraine. He does this every few weeks. Putin then makes a violent point of ignoring him. Trump's alleged change of heart is just a prelude to his next humiliation by Putin.
November 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Just a periodic reminder.
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
X exposing political accounts' location shows why trust and safety teams mattered: to combat coordinated inauthentic behavior, not "censorship" of viewpoints (Mike Masnick/Techdirt)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 AM
X exposing political accounts' location shows why trust and safety teams mattered: to combat coordinated inauthentic behavior, not "censorship" of viewpoints (Mike Masnick/Techdirt)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
My latest commentary: how to populist-proof your democracy before it's too late…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
My guide to populist-proofing your democracy – before it’s too late | Timothy Garton Ash
From public service broadcasting to an independent judiciary, these are the things that we must fight to keep, says Guardian columnist Timothy Garton Ash
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
My latest commentary: how to populist-proof your democracy before it's too late…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
It’s hilarious and revelatory that a bunch of giant MAGA/America First X accounts are actually based in Eastern Europe and Nigeria.
Top MAGA Influencers Accidentally Unmasked as Foreign Actors
A new feature on Elon Musk’s X has given deeper insight into the online “America First” movement.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It’s hilarious and revelatory that a bunch of giant MAGA/America First X accounts are actually based in Eastern Europe and Nigeria.
Kāds % ar profiliem Latvijas Facebook un X nav no Latvijas? Kāds % no profiliem nav īsti cilvēki?
Atkal -- šo varētu sekundē apturēt ar vienkāršu prasību. Reģistrēties / reizēm atsvaidzināties ar Smart ID vai citu digitālu identitātes pierādījumu. Eiropa nav gatava aizstāvēt savu demokrātijas telpu
Atkal -- šo varētu sekundē apturēt ar vienkāršu prasību. Reģistrēties / reizēm atsvaidzināties ar Smart ID vai citu digitālu identitātes pierādījumu. Eiropa nav gatava aizstāvēt savu demokrātijas telpu
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Kāds % ar profiliem Latvijas Facebook un X nav no Latvijas? Kāds % no profiliem nav īsti cilvēki?
Atkal -- šo varētu sekundē apturēt ar vienkāršu prasību. Reģistrēties / reizēm atsvaidzināties ar Smart ID vai citu digitālu identitātes pierādījumu. Eiropa nav gatava aizstāvēt savu demokrātijas telpu
Atkal -- šo varētu sekundē apturēt ar vienkāršu prasību. Reģistrēties / reizēm atsvaidzināties ar Smart ID vai citu digitālu identitātes pierādījumu. Eiropa nav gatava aizstāvēt savu demokrātijas telpu
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Be in no doubt that this is a perilous moment. America’s proposal prescribes a deeply insecure future for Ukraine and richly rewards Vladimir Putin’s aggression
Donald Trump’s peace plan would be bad for Ukraine, Europe and America
It is a sad mix of naked opportunism and strategic myopia
econ.st
November 23, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Be in no doubt that this is a perilous moment. America’s proposal prescribes a deeply insecure future for Ukraine and richly rewards Vladimir Putin’s aggression
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace
Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Mārtiņš Vaivars
Ja uznāk dusmas par to, ka ASV mēģina piespiest Ukrainu padoties, atgādinu, ka mums ir iespēja ne tikai dusmoties, bet arī atbalstīt Ukrainu. Piemēram, caur stopify.org.ua Ja kāds no maniem sekotājiem vēl nav pierakstījies, iesaku to izdarīt.
Stream a small monthly donation to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine finish the war sooner
Join https://stopify.org.ua and help the Armed Forces of Ukraine finish the war sooner!
stopify.org.ua
November 22, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Ja uznāk dusmas par to, ka ASV mēģina piespiest Ukrainu padoties, atgādinu, ka mums ir iespēja ne tikai dusmoties, bet arī atbalstīt Ukrainu. Piemēram, caur stopify.org.ua Ja kāds no maniem sekotājiem vēl nav pierakstījies, iesaku to izdarīt.