Big Ben
@benbcdef.bsky.social
Husband and father of 3. phd candidate philosophy. Ecomodernist. German Centrist. old school politics. #StopSharia #GMO #nuclear #StopWomanface #neurodiversity #istandwithjkrowling #StopSelfID
Reposted by Big Ben
One thing nobody's talking about is whether Congress really gave the president the power to singlehandedly upend decades of tax and trade policy.
April 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
One thing nobody's talking about is whether Congress really gave the president the power to singlehandedly upend decades of tax and trade policy.
Reposted by Big Ben
Trump has been ruling by decree, using emergency powers on tariffs (and the border) when there is no emergency. The Constitution is clear that Congress is the body that can "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations" (art. 1 sec. 8 ) .
In a sane country, these would be impeachable offenses.
In a sane country, these would be impeachable offenses.
April 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Trump has been ruling by decree, using emergency powers on tariffs (and the border) when there is no emergency. The Constitution is clear that Congress is the body that can "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations" (art. 1 sec. 8 ) .
In a sane country, these would be impeachable offenses.
In a sane country, these would be impeachable offenses.
Reposted by Big Ben
Plainly bullshit, and certainly including VAT as a tariff, which is just wrong. A stupid man surrounded by idiots about to plunge the world into a recession because he doesn't understand simple concepts.
April 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Plainly bullshit, and certainly including VAT as a tariff, which is just wrong. A stupid man surrounded by idiots about to plunge the world into a recession because he doesn't understand simple concepts.
Reposted by Big Ben
23/ To be very clear what they've done here, is picked a random number that represents his perceptions of their general vibe... and then charged half of it in tariffs.
April 2, 2025 at 8:31 PM
23/ To be very clear what they've done here, is picked a random number that represents his perceptions of their general vibe... and then charged half of it in tariffs.
Reposted by Big Ben
EU supposedly charges the EU 39%, US will charge them 20%.
(The EU weighted average tariff is actually 2.7%).
(The EU weighted average tariff is actually 2.7%).
April 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
EU supposedly charges the EU 39%, US will charge them 20%.
(The EU weighted average tariff is actually 2.7%).
(The EU weighted average tariff is actually 2.7%).
Reposted by Big Ben
lol if this place is labeling ECONOMIST articles as intolerant, @bsky.app is going to have major echo chamber problems.
"oh no! a moderate voice in the discourse!"
"oh no! a moderate voice in the discourse!"
December 7, 2024 at 1:58 AM
lol if this place is labeling ECONOMIST articles as intolerant, @bsky.app is going to have major echo chamber problems.
"oh no! a moderate voice in the discourse!"
"oh no! a moderate voice in the discourse!"
Reposted by Big Ben
Seriously, let's please not turn this place into left-wing X.
December 7, 2024 at 2:03 AM
Seriously, let's please not turn this place into left-wing X.
Reposted by Big Ben
“I’ve noticed I’m not in your starter pack. Any particular reason for that?”
November 17, 2024 at 11:34 AM
“I’ve noticed I’m not in your starter pack. Any particular reason for that?”
Reposted by Big Ben
Important to note that Scholz's call with Putin is not simply about Trump. It's also about the domestic context/electoral race: Scholz wants to position himself as the “peace Chancellor”; Merz the “risky cowboy/warmonger/adventurer”
Germany’s Scholz speaks to Putin for first time in 2 years
https://www.ft.com/content/f0ee8249-efa3-4221-ab9d-47fd779ecb51
https://www.ft.com/content/f0ee8249-efa3-4221-ab9d-47fd779ecb51
Germany’s Scholz speaks to Putin for first time in 2 years
Western positioning for return of Trump administration that has made ending the Ukraine war a priority
www.ft.com
November 15, 2024 at 6:46 PM
Important to note that Scholz's call with Putin is not simply about Trump. It's also about the domestic context/electoral race: Scholz wants to position himself as the “peace Chancellor”; Merz the “risky cowboy/warmonger/adventurer”
Reposted by Big Ben
Wow. I had no idea on BlueSky you can enable external media so you can watch YouTube videos on this platform. It overcomes the problem of only being able to upload 60 seconds of video here. It’s gets better & better
November 14, 2024 at 8:47 AM
Wow. I had no idea on BlueSky you can enable external media so you can watch YouTube videos on this platform. It overcomes the problem of only being able to upload 60 seconds of video here. It’s gets better & better
Reposted by Big Ben
The real weirdos are always super-invested in being high-IQ. It’s a huge part of their self-image.
I’ve known a lot of smart people, good and bad. I’ve never met a person whose entire identity was “high IQ” who wasn’t a completely insufferable douche.
I’ve known a lot of smart people, good and bad. I’ve never met a person whose entire identity was “high IQ” who wasn’t a completely insufferable douche.
November 14, 2024 at 6:27 PM
The real weirdos are always super-invested in being high-IQ. It’s a huge part of their self-image.
I’ve known a lot of smart people, good and bad. I’ve never met a person whose entire identity was “high IQ” who wasn’t a completely insufferable douche.
I’ve known a lot of smart people, good and bad. I’ve never met a person whose entire identity was “high IQ” who wasn’t a completely insufferable douche.
Reposted by Big Ben
‼️🇫🇷 Not sure sufficient attention is being paid to this, but there is a growing & now significant chance Marine Le Pen will be banned from public office for at least 5 yrs & thus ineligible to run for president in 2027. Le Pen is on trial for embezzling EU funds. Decision in Jan
November 14, 2024 at 11:44 AM
‼️🇫🇷 Not sure sufficient attention is being paid to this, but there is a growing & now significant chance Marine Le Pen will be banned from public office for at least 5 yrs & thus ineligible to run for president in 2027. Le Pen is on trial for embezzling EU funds. Decision in Jan
Reposted by Big Ben
““This is the tip of the iceberg,” Gilholm said, adding: “I keep telling our clients: ‘You think you’ve priced-in geopolitical risk and US-China trade warfare, but you haven’t, because China hasn’t seriously retaliated yet’.””
via @financialtimes.com
via @financialtimes.com
China arms itself for potential trade war with Donald Trump
Beijing has enacted sweeping laws since US president-elect’s first term that would allow it to retaliate if threatened
on.ft.com
November 14, 2024 at 11:47 AM
““This is the tip of the iceberg,” Gilholm said, adding: “I keep telling our clients: ‘You think you’ve priced-in geopolitical risk and US-China trade warfare, but you haven’t, because China hasn’t seriously retaliated yet’.””
via @financialtimes.com
via @financialtimes.com
Reposted by Big Ben
In reality, Seb Coe says:
'The protection of the female category ... is absolutely non- negotiable'.
'If you're not prepared to do that ... then you really will lose female sport'.
Seems fair enough.
'The protection of the female category ... is absolutely non- negotiable'.
'If you're not prepared to do that ... then you really will lose female sport'.
Seems fair enough.
November 14, 2024 at 10:18 AM
In reality, Seb Coe says:
'The protection of the female category ... is absolutely non- negotiable'.
'If you're not prepared to do that ... then you really will lose female sport'.
Seems fair enough.
'The protection of the female category ... is absolutely non- negotiable'.
'If you're not prepared to do that ... then you really will lose female sport'.
Seems fair enough.
Reposted by Big Ben
German MPs have been briefed by the Federal Civil Protection Agency that if Ukraine crumbles within the next 6 months, millions of Ukrainians will head West. The official estimate: 10 million, 2 of them to Germany. Unofficial: up to 18 million, 3-4 million to Germany 1/
November 14, 2024 at 7:30 AM
German MPs have been briefed by the Federal Civil Protection Agency that if Ukraine crumbles within the next 6 months, millions of Ukrainians will head West. The official estimate: 10 million, 2 of them to Germany. Unofficial: up to 18 million, 3-4 million to Germany 1/
Reposted by Big Ben
Pete Hegseth, Trump's declared nominee for Secretary of Defense, is not only a Fox News personality or veterans advocate. He also has deep ties & affinities w/ the Christian far-right, especially the Hyper-Calvinist "theo bros."
My latest thread: threadreaderapp.com/thread/18567...
My latest thread: threadreaderapp.com/thread/18567...
Thread by @TaylorMatthewD on Thread Reader App
@TaylorMatthewD: Yesterday Trump announced he's nominating Pete Hegseth as his Secretary of Defense. Hegseth's a prominent Fox News personality & veterans advocate, but he also has strong ties to the ...
threadreaderapp.com
November 13, 2024 at 9:25 PM
Pete Hegseth, Trump's declared nominee for Secretary of Defense, is not only a Fox News personality or veterans advocate. He also has deep ties & affinities w/ the Christian far-right, especially the Hyper-Calvinist "theo bros."
My latest thread: threadreaderapp.com/thread/18567...
My latest thread: threadreaderapp.com/thread/18567...
Reposted by Big Ben
Weird how all of the pro meritocracy people are quiet about the prospect of Attorney General Matt Gaetz.
November 13, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Weird how all of the pro meritocracy people are quiet about the prospect of Attorney General Matt Gaetz.
Reposted by Big Ben
I've put together a starter pack for smart voices on EU politics
I learned a lot from these accounts on Twitter
There are gaps - either because I've missed people or because they're not yet on BlueSky, so pls send suggestions and I'll amend periodically
go.bsky.app/2QjVmxC
I learned a lot from these accounts on Twitter
There are gaps - either because I've missed people or because they're not yet on BlueSky, so pls send suggestions and I'll amend periodically
go.bsky.app/2QjVmxC
November 13, 2024 at 7:50 AM
I've put together a starter pack for smart voices on EU politics
I learned a lot from these accounts on Twitter
There are gaps - either because I've missed people or because they're not yet on BlueSky, so pls send suggestions and I'll amend periodically
go.bsky.app/2QjVmxC
I learned a lot from these accounts on Twitter
There are gaps - either because I've missed people or because they're not yet on BlueSky, so pls send suggestions and I'll amend periodically
go.bsky.app/2QjVmxC
Reposted by Big Ben
The Gaetz nomination is a strong signal that Trump is going to try to appoint his cabinet without Senate confirmation via recess appointments. Even if Gaetz survived the process, Democrats would be free to explore his drug-fueled orgies with underage sex workers. Trump won't risk that.
November 13, 2024 at 8:54 PM
The Gaetz nomination is a strong signal that Trump is going to try to appoint his cabinet without Senate confirmation via recess appointments. Even if Gaetz survived the process, Democrats would be free to explore his drug-fueled orgies with underage sex workers. Trump won't risk that.
Reposted by Big Ben
Remember that Trump’s plan is that there be no hearings and no advise and consent from the Senate. Appoint them all as recess appointments. Forget about separation of powers.
Trump nominating Matt Gaetz for Attorney General - it keeps getting worse
November 13, 2024 at 8:40 PM
Remember that Trump’s plan is that there be no hearings and no advise and consent from the Senate. Appoint them all as recess appointments. Forget about separation of powers.
Reposted by Big Ben
⚡️Trump wants to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.
She previously spoke about “Ukrainian biolabs” and that “the United States is guilty of military aggression” by Russia because it “provoked” the aggressor for many years.
She previously spoke about “Ukrainian biolabs” and that “the United States is guilty of military aggression” by Russia because it “provoked” the aggressor for many years.
November 13, 2024 at 8:52 PM
⚡️Trump wants to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.
She previously spoke about “Ukrainian biolabs” and that “the United States is guilty of military aggression” by Russia because it “provoked” the aggressor for many years.
She previously spoke about “Ukrainian biolabs” and that “the United States is guilty of military aggression” by Russia because it “provoked” the aggressor for many years.