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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 2d

A comparison for the 2026 World Cup in the US could be the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. People in Europe are hesitant to support an event that will be used for propaganda. And maybe there will be a new Jesse Owens that gives the Trumpian Kingdom the bird.

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 2d

You bet.

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Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 3d

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s ‘Iron Lady’ on.ft.com/4nVtDkE

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s ‘Iron Lady’

Industrial scion remade herself as a grassroots campaigner bent on unseating President Nicolás Maduro

on.ft.com

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 3d

Unfortunately framing a narrative has become more important than finding a fact.

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 3d

Note to Donnie - authoritarians not on the short list for Peace prizes, but those who resist authoritarian misuse of power are rewarded.

Reuters @reuters.com · 4d

'When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,' the Norwegian Nobel Committee said as it announced Maria Corina Machado as the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 5d

And the obvious question is from whom are China buying soya beans? Ah, there are quite a few competitors with Brazil in the forefront. So, for the US to get China to buy their soya, what sweeteners will have to be included? Oh, and the price might also have to be heavily subsidized by the US govt.

Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 5d

I am not sure labelling it as socialism helps. Trump supporters do not think he is a liberal and they think liberals are socialist. So the syllogism has stuck and won't be disproved in their minds by Trump's economic actions. However pointing out that he is busy with economic determinism is useful.

Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 5d

Wonder how these numbers will play out during the World Cup hosted next year in the US. Could be a dead cat bounce.

John Petrie @johnpetrie.bsky.social · 6d

Does anybody know why Europeans are not visiting the USA in the numbers they did before? Significant loss of income to the US. Can't imagine why.

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Whoa 🤯 in Slow-Mo @0lsi.bsky.social · 6d

A Canadian🇨🇦 company called #Voltai just raised about USD 1.3 million to scale up its “top-like” #wave energy converters that can be attached to ships or offshore structures to turn ocean motion into clean power. 🌊

Top-like ocean wave energy tech gets USD 1.3 million funding push

A Canadian company has secured major funding for its top-like ocean wave system designed to power vessels with renewable energy.

interestingengineering.com

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 5d

And hype and hustle and hysteria

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Nick Hedley @nickhedley.bsky.social · 5d

So long, coal

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Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 7d

YEAH! 👍 Renewables ☀️ 💨 💦 overtake coal globally for 1st time on record, per records from 88 countries representing 93% of demand globally

Let’s just walk over the screaming naysayers & push on, leaving them in a squabbling mess in the corner

We’ll just step up harder

www.itv.com/news/2025-10...

www.itv.com

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 7d

"In an authoritarian context, all journalism will tend toward propaganda unless it is explicitly formulated as anti-authoritarian. That’s the nature of the beast. Unless an institution is explicitly designed to counter authoritarianism, it will end up aiding the authoritarians." - Jonathan V. Last

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 7d

"Jeff Bezos floats one of the most important journalistic institutions in America, and in return people think well of him....But that dynamic only works in a liberal democracy."

The Washington Post and CBS News are dying. The Bulwark is the future.

We drink their milkshake.

www.thebulwark.com

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 7d

The Tesla effect is spreading to other US brands. Good luck trying to continue hyping the US of A.

Reuters @reuters.com · 7d

US spirits exports tumble as drinkers shun American brands, industry warns reut.rs/4h7o2Ft

US spirits exports tumble as drinkers shun American brands, industry warns

Exports of U.S. spirits fell 9% in the second quarter, according to a report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States published on Monday, which warned that trade tensions were hitting demand in key markets.

reut.rs

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Salty Snowbird @belliled.bsky.social · 10d

Remember when it was understood that we wouldn't put a sitting president's image on a coin like the monarchs do?

huffpost.com/entry/us-treasury-may-mint-trump-1-coin-even-though-its-possibly-illegal_n_68e03676e4b0dbcd325f5dad?origin=home-latest-news-unit

U.S. Treasury Says It May Mint A $1 Trump Coin — There’s Just 1 Problem

According to the Treasury, the back side of the coin would show Trump pumping his fist in front of an American flag.

huffpost.com

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Andrew B @canukukra.bsky.social · 10d

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 10d

President Macron:
“We were very naive to leave our public space to social media networks controlled by US or Chinese companies that don’t share our interests and not interested in survival of our democracies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MggN...

French President Macron Speaks at German Unity Day Ceremony | WION LIVE

YouTube video by WION

www.youtube.com

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John Cusack @johncusack.bsky.social · 12d

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 12d

And Ireland at 90%! But that conman from the UK (Farage) tried a few years ago to light the fire of Irexit.... A few nativists wanted to follow, but they are still stuck somewhere in a bog.

Reposted by Wessel Badenhorst

Cambridge for Europe @cambsforeurope.bsky.social · 13d

Despite what its detractors say, a clear - and in most member states very large - majority of EU citizens believe that their country has benefited from EU membership.

The UK benefited a lot from EU membership too, despite the Brexiter lies.

It's time to plan to rejoin!

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NPR @npr.org · 12d

Today marks the first day in public media’s history without federal funding. And we’re not going anywhere.

Listeners like you keep our mission alive. Protect one of the last places where America comes together to hear itself.

Stand with us today. Donate at this link: n.pr/46wamAj

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Wessel Badenhorst @wesselbadenhorst.bsky.social · 13d

Could you tell me what your candidate's position is on the Russian invasion of Ukraine? And is she prepared to support Europe defending itself against Russian aggression?

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Chris Baraniuk @chrisbaraniuk.com · 14d

NEW: I spoke to the owner of a solar grazing business in the US to find out why agrivoltaics is getting big over there.

Plus, solar panels are increasingly coexisting with crops, too.

atmos.earth/climate-solu...

‘It’s Such a Blessing’: The Farmers Embracing Solar Arrays | Atmos

From summer squash to sheep’s wool, a variety of agricultural products may grow better beneath an awning of solar panels.

atmos.earth

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Center for European Policy Analysis @cepa.org · 14d

Moldovans Reject Russia | "The election was billed as a referendum on the country’s future. In the end, voters plumped for Brussels and Western Europe rather than Russia." Katia Glod

Moldovans Reject Russia

The election was billed as a referendum on the country’s future. Voters plumped for Brussels and Western Europe rather than Russia.

cepa.org

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Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · 15d

🇲🇩 Moldova, you’ve done it again.
 No attempt to sow fear or division could break your resolve.

You made your choice clear:
 Europe. Democracy. Freedom.

Our door is open. And we will stand with you every step of the way. 
The future is yours.

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