Which then all the parties copied

I’m sorry, is this supposed to say that it’s common for European political parties to charge 2% of people’s income to be a member? Because that is… not the case.

I find it very hard to not dismiss these things as fart huffing when they've said things like this for years while releasing models that are very obviously not even close to capable of such things.

Don’t threaten me with a good time

When I feel I'm sick of Americans I'm not just thinking about the predictable MAGA folks, I'm thinking about shit like this.

He responds to markets, in particular the bond market. If you don’t want to live under constant threats we need the psychology of the market to be that when he threatens us we will respond. We can have that now if Merz at the very least keeps his mouth shut.

I think it's more likely Trump is just generating offramps for himself. The NATO meeting wasn't even connected and a semi-sovereign deal for military bases is fairly normal. It's a plausible thing to be discussed without commitment.

If there is one thing to learn here it is that Trump folds when he gets resistance. There's a lot more to work on and lowering the pressure is idiotic.

Merz found the opportunity yesterday to confirm that what happened doesn't do anything for him, he does indeed have a humiliation kink, and is now right back where he wants to be.

Exactly, if he's not given an offramp he'd just make one up. We'll be hearing about negotiations over Greenland and how they're going amazingly until he dies.

I don't think we know what he's been offered. If he wasn't given an offramp he'd make one up to save face and nobody would want to contradict him.

Is he not done yet

Really didn’t think MEPs would be the problem here.

Try harder.