Paul T. Levin
@paultlevin.bsky.social
Director of the Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies. Managing Director Consortium for European Symposia on Turkey. Docent (Assoc. Prof.) of and pontificator on international relations. Opinionated. Painter.
Meanwhile, in the United States of America, the President is above and beyond the law (and can preemptively pardon all his cronies and henchmen from all federal crimes).
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
November 26, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Meanwhile, in the United States of America, the President is above and beyond the law (and can preemptively pardon all his cronies and henchmen from all federal crimes).
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
I mean, Jews came in fourth place even in the original poem. It was pretty obvious what was coming this time, too.
November 26, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I mean, Jews came in fourth place even in the original poem. It was pretty obvious what was coming this time, too.
Find someone who smiles at you the way Trump smiles at Mamdani. 🥰
November 22, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Find someone who smiles at you the way Trump smiles at Mamdani. 🥰
The most outrageous part is the demand that Europe uses Russian assets that it has frozen along with more European money (our tax money!) to fund what will certainly be a massive grift operation to benefit Trump & his cronies, should provoke a popular revolt in Europe if our leaders agree to it.+
November 22, 2025 at 9:12 AM
The most outrageous part is the demand that Europe uses Russian assets that it has frozen along with more European money (our tax money!) to fund what will certainly be a massive grift operation to benefit Trump & his cronies, should provoke a popular revolt in Europe if our leaders agree to it.+
As for Ukraine, perhaps they can demand more detailed US security guarantees than what’s in article 10, but what good are promises from Trump? Without real guarantees, this is just a ceasefire that allows Russia but not Ukraine to rearm. As someone said: not a peace plan but a future war plan.+
November 22, 2025 at 9:12 AM
As for Ukraine, perhaps they can demand more detailed US security guarantees than what’s in article 10, but what good are promises from Trump? Without real guarantees, this is just a ceasefire that allows Russia but not Ukraine to rearm. As someone said: not a peace plan but a future war plan.+
Here’s the illustrious career of the Trump appointee who “showed up late and laced his comments with profanities,” telling nauseated European diplomats to “get this shit done”: He is a former platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division & intern at an investment bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.
November 22, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Here’s the illustrious career of the Trump appointee who “showed up late and laced his comments with profanities,” telling nauseated European diplomats to “get this shit done”: He is a former platoon leader with the 10th Mountain Division & intern at an investment bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Note: This part of the agreement does NOT apply to the Republican Party or the continental United States.
November 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Note: This part of the agreement does NOT apply to the Republican Party or the continental United States.
Same thing goes for the promise in article 2 that a comprehensive (x2!) agreement will be signed between the U.S., Russia, and “Europe” that will solve all problems. Surely, the EU has been consulted on this and is fully onboard, no?
November 21, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Same thing goes for the promise in article 2 that a comprehensive (x2!) agreement will be signed between the U.S., Russia, and “Europe” that will solve all problems. Surely, the EU has been consulted on this and is fully onboard, no?
To be charitable far beyond what they deserve, the third point in article 10 is the closest thing to something that could work. But what “a decisive coordinated military response” would be would have to be fleshed out. If I were Ukraine, I would certainly not simply trust Trump on this.
November 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM
To be charitable far beyond what they deserve, the third point in article 10 is the closest thing to something that could work. But what “a decisive coordinated military response” would be would have to be fleshed out. If I were Ukraine, I would certainly not simply trust Trump on this.
Oh absolutely. It says so in the agreement. And Russia really promises.
November 21, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Oh absolutely. It says so in the agreement. And Russia really promises.
Further good news in the agreement is that all problems will be solved, very comprehensively. As a European, I feel reassured by this and by the attention to detail in the text of the very comprehensive agreement.
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Further good news in the agreement is that all problems will be solved, very comprehensively. As a European, I feel reassured by this and by the attention to detail in the text of the very comprehensive agreement.
In an extraordinary diplomatic victory for Trump and Witkoff, Putin has agreed to allow NATO to station fighter jets in a NATO country. The art of the deal.
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
In an extraordinary diplomatic victory for Trump and Witkoff, Putin has agreed to allow NATO to station fighter jets in a NATO country. The art of the deal.
Add another €6 billion to the EU’s support for Ukraine in the below graph.
November 13, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Add another €6 billion to the EU’s support for Ukraine in the below graph.
Just to be very clear, I was being sarcastic. I don’t actually think that independent observers should use this absurd terminology. Alaycı davranıyordum. @neromansiya.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Just to be very clear, I was being sarcastic. I don’t actually think that independent observers should use this absurd terminology. Alaycı davranıyordum. @neromansiya.bsky.social
There are certainly cautionary lessons from the Cold War about supporting dictators & other CIA shenanigans. We do not need to repeat those mistakes. But I don't think that most current recommendations go far enough when it comes to the need to go on the offense. +
www.iss.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
www.iss.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
There are certainly cautionary lessons from the Cold War about supporting dictators & other CIA shenanigans. We do not need to repeat those mistakes. But I don't think that most current recommendations go far enough when it comes to the need to go on the offense. +
www.iss.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
www.iss.europa.eu/sites/defaul...
Such dirty tactics will offend some finer European sensibilities, & I'm not saying that we should wholesale copy Russian tactics, but they are winning because while we adopt a "bureaucratic" approach appropriate for Brussels politics, they use an "entrepreneurial" approach perfected by gangsters.+
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Such dirty tactics will offend some finer European sensibilities, & I'm not saying that we should wholesale copy Russian tactics, but they are winning because while we adopt a "bureaucratic" approach appropriate for Brussels politics, they use an "entrepreneurial" approach perfected by gangsters.+
In plain language: The Kremlin is currently waging a massive grayzone war against European states with the objectives of sowing division, sparking unrest & violence, undermining democracy & weakening support for Ukraine. We should respond in kind.+
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
In plain language: The Kremlin is currently waging a massive grayzone war against European states with the objectives of sowing division, sparking unrest & violence, undermining democracy & weakening support for Ukraine. We should respond in kind.+
Europe's response to 🇷🇺's disinformation & grayzone warfare attacks is "overwhelmingly defensive and reactive." As I have argued before, defense is not enough. If a fighter just bobs, weaves, & blocks, even a weak opponent will eventually pick him apart. This does not just apply to 🇷🇺 in the Sahel.+
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Europe's response to 🇷🇺's disinformation & grayzone warfare attacks is "overwhelmingly defensive and reactive." As I have argued before, defense is not enough. If a fighter just bobs, weaves, & blocks, even a weak opponent will eventually pick him apart. This does not just apply to 🇷🇺 in the Sahel.+
The social movement experts that were just mentioned have some answers. They agree that disruptive protests can be effective, but that the target should have a logical connection to climate, like fossil fuel companies, not art galleries.
November 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The social movement experts that were just mentioned have some answers. They agree that disruptive protests can be effective, but that the target should have a logical connection to climate, like fossil fuel companies, not art galleries.
That was a journalist’s terrible summary/interpretation of the actual study. You should read the study itself:
www.apollosurveys.org/social-chang...
Here’s just one relevant question, in which the experts completely condemn these kinds of protests (the bottom question):
www.apollosurveys.org/social-chang...
Here’s just one relevant question, in which the experts completely condemn these kinds of protests (the bottom question):
November 5, 2025 at 2:31 PM
That was a journalist’s terrible summary/interpretation of the actual study. You should read the study itself:
www.apollosurveys.org/social-chang...
Here’s just one relevant question, in which the experts completely condemn these kinds of protests (the bottom question):
www.apollosurveys.org/social-chang...
Here’s just one relevant question, in which the experts completely condemn these kinds of protests (the bottom question):
Vad händer här? Fick just detta från en spion i Istanbul.
October 29, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Vad händer här? Fick just detta från en spion i Istanbul.
I don't think I ever posted my latest #Istanbul painting. The motif is my mother in the evening sun at a Beyoğlu meyhane (meze restaurant). You can glimpse a golden İstiklal Street between the buildings. Oil on panel, 65x54 cm. (The painting is under offer.)
#art #konst #oilpainting #kunst
#art #konst #oilpainting #kunst
October 26, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I don't think I ever posted my latest #Istanbul painting. The motif is my mother in the evening sun at a Beyoğlu meyhane (meze restaurant). You can glimpse a golden İstiklal Street between the buildings. Oil on panel, 65x54 cm. (The painting is under offer.)
#art #konst #oilpainting #kunst
#art #konst #oilpainting #kunst
I USA har högern nått till ”det är ok att äga slavar” stadiet. Här är krigsministern Kegsbreaths favoritpastor.
October 25, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I USA har högern nått till ”det är ok att äga slavar” stadiet. Här är krigsministern Kegsbreaths favoritpastor.