Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
@snolke.bsky.social
Ex-🇨🇦 ambassador (🇳🇱 & OPCW) and Head of Mission a.i. (🇬🇭 & 🇮🇪). Mom; intl law practitioner; foreign policy, security, and democracy wonk; bleeding heart liberal; ally; after-hours nerd; PEC fan (IYKYK); she/her.
Pinned
"THEY LIED TO US"
The story of my family under Fascism
canuck21.substack.com
Lies are everywhere these days. This is the story of how my own family in Germany was irrevocably shaped, and ultimately destroyed, by Nazi fascism and its lies, wars, and land grabs. Some of it rings terribly familiar today.
From my Substack (substack.com/@canuck21)
From my Substack (substack.com/@canuck21)
I don't know why people are surprised. As early as February 2025, Trump tried to extort $500B worth of critical minerals from Ukraine, ostensibly in exchange for aid; an agreement to that effect was signed in May. The "transactional president" wants Greenland & Canada for our minerals, too.
No Administration has done more to shatter the idea of American exceptionalism than this one.
By attempting to sell out Ukraine for a bunch of minerals deals, Trump would have America join the ranks of mediocrity.
By attempting to sell out Ukraine for a bunch of minerals deals, Trump would have America join the ranks of mediocrity.
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 10:15 PM
I don't know why people are surprised. As early as February 2025, Trump tried to extort $500B worth of critical minerals from Ukraine, ostensibly in exchange for aid; an agreement to that effect was signed in May. The "transactional president" wants Greenland & Canada for our minerals, too.
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
I would call Pete Hegseth a war criminal, but we aren’t at war. He’s just a mass murderer.
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I would call Pete Hegseth a war criminal, but we aren’t at war. He’s just a mass murderer.
For all the love I feel for the underlying sentiment, I do wish that people who look to the International Criminal Court to deal with various Trump regime crimes would first educate themselves on the limits of the Court's territorial, temporal, and subject matter jurisdiction. TL/DR: NOT HAPPENING.
The Hague awaits.
November 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
For all the love I feel for the underlying sentiment, I do wish that people who look to the International Criminal Court to deal with various Trump regime crimes would first educate themselves on the limits of the Court's territorial, temporal, and subject matter jurisdiction. TL/DR: NOT HAPPENING.
Well, Trump essentially runs what passes for government from his "Truth Social" account. When the presidency is a "reality" TV show (with the lead guy cosplaying as a tough guy) and politics equals internet trolling, declaring an unlawful blockade over social media is just the end-of-season cliffy.
So the president can just issue a NOTAM on social media now ?
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @markhertling.bsky.social
@radiofreetom.bsky.social @markhertling.bsky.social
Donald Trump says airspace above and around Venezuela is closed
November 29, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Well, Trump essentially runs what passes for government from his "Truth Social" account. When the presidency is a "reality" TV show (with the lead guy cosplaying as a tough guy) and politics equals internet trolling, declaring an unlawful blockade over social media is just the end-of-season cliffy.
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
The president has illegally declared war to stop fentanyl trafficking from a country that does not traffic that drug, claiming its leader is trafficking drugs himself, the day after pardoning a former leader of a country who is a convicted drug trafficker.
Just to level set
Just to level set
November 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
The president has illegally declared war to stop fentanyl trafficking from a country that does not traffic that drug, claiming its leader is trafficking drugs himself, the day after pardoning a former leader of a country who is a convicted drug trafficker.
Just to level set
Just to level set
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
Follow the Rubles
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 1:37 PM
Follow the Rubles
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
November 29, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Harvard Law School’s Jack Goldsmith:
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
“In short, if the Post’s facts are correct, it appears that Special Operations Forces committed murder when the ‘two men were blown apart in the water, as the Post put it.’”
open.substack.com/pub/executiv...
Now here's a legal Catch 22: assuming the armed conflict paradigm, which the Trump regime is so keen on applying to justify these actions, governs - we have violations of either Geneva Convention Four (protection of civilians) or Two (Wounded and Shipwrecked Combatants). 1/2
wapo.st/49KbUJ1
wapo.st/49KbUJ1
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
wapo.st
November 28, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Now here's a legal Catch 22: assuming the armed conflict paradigm, which the Trump regime is so keen on applying to justify these actions, governs - we have violations of either Geneva Convention Four (protection of civilians) or Two (Wounded and Shipwrecked Combatants). 1/2
wapo.st/49KbUJ1
wapo.st/49KbUJ1
When you’re about to face a milestone birthday of the “how the hell did this happen???” variety…it’s time to go purple!
November 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
When you’re about to face a milestone birthday of the “how the hell did this happen???” variety…it’s time to go purple!
And to think that MAGA arose out of the resentment for the creation of "safe spaces" and avoidance of triggering words and subject matters. The irony is staggering. Maybe one day we will ALL be able to discuss challenging facts, ideas, and concepts maturely and objectively? I have a dream...
My friend Jake (that’s Dr. Beck to you!) on the crisis in Texas universities.
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/comm...
Professor: Texas used to have universities
Former Texas Tech professor takes issue with the actions of Texas universities to restrict what topics can be discussed. Doing so makes them something other...
www.dallasnews.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:21 PM
And to think that MAGA arose out of the resentment for the creation of "safe spaces" and avoidance of triggering words and subject matters. The irony is staggering. Maybe one day we will ALL be able to discuss challenging facts, ideas, and concepts maturely and objectively? I have a dream...
Wonder how Pirro feels about the court that said the deployment was unlawful? Is the law a symbol of a "civilized society", or nah?
Pirro: "These Guardsmen and all who are here to protect the District are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one."
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Wonder how Pirro feels about the court that said the deployment was unlawful? Is the law a symbol of a "civilized society", or nah?
Time for a re-watch of "Under Siege", a movie that curiously slipped out of the rotation after 9/11.
Thought experiment: January 2021 we tell all our Afghan interpreters and security forces and etc none of them will get refugee status - they're staying in Afghanistan forever. How does this affect the next eight months of US withdrawal?
"we should have screwed over all the locals we recruited to help us" should work out great next time we're in a conflict.
November 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Time for a re-watch of "Under Siege", a movie that curiously slipped out of the rotation after 9/11.
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
Don’t forget that *Trump’s own lawyer’s argument* to the Supreme Court in the immunity case was that the check on the President using his immunity to order criminal acts was that those under him would not follow illegal orders. Now it’s a crime for lawmakers to remind servicemembers of that?
The President doesn't want you standing up and speaking out against him, so he's coming after me to intimidate all of us.
But I won't back down — and neither should you.
But I won't back down — and neither should you.
November 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Don’t forget that *Trump’s own lawyer’s argument* to the Supreme Court in the immunity case was that the check on the President using his immunity to order criminal acts was that those under him would not follow illegal orders. Now it’s a crime for lawmakers to remind servicemembers of that?
My heart goes out to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of the two National Guardsmen killed in DC today. May there deaths not lead to exploitation for partisan political purposes - unless the objective is to reduce the number of firearms on the streets of the United States.
November 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
My heart goes out to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of the two National Guardsmen killed in DC today. May there deaths not lead to exploitation for partisan political purposes - unless the objective is to reduce the number of firearms on the streets of the United States.
A propos of nothing, here’s another shot from last week’s Aurora event over the Ottawa River.
November 26, 2025 at 5:52 AM
A propos of nothing, here’s another shot from last week’s Aurora event over the Ottawa River.
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
Genuine question to US Lawyers on BlueSky: Kushner has no formal role within the US Government - not hired, not appointed to anything. So is his presence a violation of the Logan Act?
My former professional colleagues in the US State Department must be having kittens about this gong show.
My former professional colleagues in the US State Department must be having kittens about this gong show.
November 26, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Genuine question to US Lawyers on BlueSky: Kushner has no formal role within the US Government - not hired, not appointed to anything. So is his presence a violation of the Logan Act?
My former professional colleagues in the US State Department must be having kittens about this gong show.
My former professional colleagues in the US State Department must be having kittens about this gong show.
Only a former Fox News second-stringer could suggest that @captmarkkelly.bsky.social could be court-martialled under the UCMJ for - checks notes - citing the UCMJ.
November 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Only a former Fox News second-stringer could suggest that @captmarkkelly.bsky.social could be court-martialled under the UCMJ for - checks notes - citing the UCMJ.
Lawyers should have advised the BBC that the truth is an absolute defence against libel. Trump IS, in fact, the most openly corrupt president in US history.
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Lawyers should have advised the BBC that the truth is an absolute defence against libel. Trump IS, in fact, the most openly corrupt president in US history.
I don't know why we can't just opt out of AI responses to Google searches, MS Word offers of AI "help", and the like. NOT having this interference should be the default; people who want to have their thinking done for them should be made to opt in, as a final act of independent decision-making.
I’m sure I’m gonna get dragged for this, but I think AI is bad. AI has completely ruined Google search and it’s created a lot more slop that needs to be avoided on the Internet.
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I don't know why we can't just opt out of AI responses to Google searches, MS Word offers of AI "help", and the like. NOT having this interference should be the default; people who want to have their thinking done for them should be made to opt in, as a final act of independent decision-making.
This is what happens when you think the rules just don't apply...
Understand that the Halligan thing is 100% Pam Bondi's fuck-up. She could have appointed Halligan Special Attorney and this thing would still be alive.
So it's not just that HALLIGAN is an incompetent bigot.
It's that Bondi is too.
So it's not just that HALLIGAN is an incompetent bigot.
It's that Bondi is too.
November 24, 2025 at 11:32 PM
This is what happens when you think the rules just don't apply...
Reposted by Sabine Nolke 🇨🇦🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🌈
I've said since Trump picked on Mahmoud Khalil that he was picking his political martyrs poorly.
But this one...
But this one...
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I've said since Trump picked on Mahmoud Khalil that he was picking his political martyrs poorly.
But this one...
But this one...
It'll be interesting to test this latest patently political "investigation" against Senate privilege. What would Republican Senators do/say...?
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
It'll be interesting to test this latest patently political "investigation" against Senate privilege. What would Republican Senators do/say...?