Tim Hirschel-Burns
@timhirschelburns.bsky.social
Working @gdp-center.bsky.social for a global economy that advances development and addresses climate change. Past: Oxfam, Yale Law, Benin. Views my own. Subscribe to my Substack: timhirschelburns.substack.com
We need much more finance flowing to developing countries—according to leading estimates, 1-2% of developed countries' GDP and 3-5% of developing countries' GDP.
The good news: large-scale finance to developing countries has happened before and worked
The good news: large-scale finance to developing countries has happened before and worked
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
We need much more finance flowing to developing countries—according to leading estimates, 1-2% of developed countries' GDP and 3-5% of developing countries' GDP.
The good news: large-scale finance to developing countries has happened before and worked
The good news: large-scale finance to developing countries has happened before and worked
*Stephen Miller looking at 5-year-old child*
You illiterate scum
You illiterate scum
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 AM
*Stephen Miller looking at 5-year-old child*
You illiterate scum
You illiterate scum
“Food, doctors, and everything else are desperately needed”
November 19, 2025 at 8:01 PM
“Food, doctors, and everything else are desperately needed”
This is the population of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway combined
November 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This is the population of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway combined
New Substack today timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/why-maga-c...
November 18, 2025 at 2:16 AM
New Substack today timhirschelburns.substack.com/p/why-maga-c...
This isn't sustainable. The one thing MAGA gets right is that the Global South *is* central to our lives + politics.
Immigration. ICE + National Guard. Tariffs + trade. USAID. Climate change. Aging. Venezuela. Pandemics.
All are about our relationship with the Global South
Immigration. ICE + National Guard. Tariffs + trade. USAID. Climate change. Aging. Venezuela. Pandemics.
All are about our relationship with the Global South
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This isn't sustainable. The one thing MAGA gets right is that the Global South *is* central to our lives + politics.
Immigration. ICE + National Guard. Tariffs + trade. USAID. Climate change. Aging. Venezuela. Pandemics.
All are about our relationship with the Global South
Immigration. ICE + National Guard. Tariffs + trade. USAID. Climate change. Aging. Venezuela. Pandemics.
All are about our relationship with the Global South
But this fear of being engulfed into a dangerous, uncivilized underclass plays a central role in the politics of division that sustains domestic hierarchy.
Even the lowest rungs of the electorate have someone to look down upon—because hierarchy stretches globally
Even the lowest rungs of the electorate have someone to look down upon—because hierarchy stretches globally
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
But this fear of being engulfed into a dangerous, uncivilized underclass plays a central role in the politics of division that sustains domestic hierarchy.
Even the lowest rungs of the electorate have someone to look down upon—because hierarchy stretches globally
Even the lowest rungs of the electorate have someone to look down upon—because hierarchy stretches globally
There's ideological continuity here.
If you're committed to preserving in-group supremacy + think the out-group’s hardships are the results of personal inferiority, it makes sense your chief target would be the parts of the world home to 95% of its poor ppl and people of color.
If you're committed to preserving in-group supremacy + think the out-group’s hardships are the results of personal inferiority, it makes sense your chief target would be the parts of the world home to 95% of its poor ppl and people of color.
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
There's ideological continuity here.
If you're committed to preserving in-group supremacy + think the out-group’s hardships are the results of personal inferiority, it makes sense your chief target would be the parts of the world home to 95% of its poor ppl and people of color.
If you're committed to preserving in-group supremacy + think the out-group’s hardships are the results of personal inferiority, it makes sense your chief target would be the parts of the world home to 95% of its poor ppl and people of color.
But it's clear that MAGA *thinks* it's pejorative.
Broadly speaking, they mean two things by “third world”: bad and brown.
Matt Walsh thinks the "third world" is so inferior that we make *their food* better than they do
Broadly speaking, they mean two things by “third world”: bad and brown.
Matt Walsh thinks the "third world" is so inferior that we make *their food* better than they do
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
But it's clear that MAGA *thinks* it's pejorative.
Broadly speaking, they mean two things by “third world”: bad and brown.
Matt Walsh thinks the "third world" is so inferior that we make *their food* better than they do
Broadly speaking, they mean two things by “third world”: bad and brown.
Matt Walsh thinks the "third world" is so inferior that we make *their food* better than they do
As you might know, the term "third world" dates to the Cold War, when the capitalist West was the 1st world, the Soviet bloc was the 2nd, and everyone else was the 3rd.
It's obsolete and kind of pejorative now, so I prefer "Global South," but I don't feel that strongly about it
It's obsolete and kind of pejorative now, so I prefer "Global South," but I don't feel that strongly about it
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
As you might know, the term "third world" dates to the Cold War, when the capitalist West was the 1st world, the Soviet bloc was the 2nd, and everyone else was the 3rd.
It's obsolete and kind of pejorative now, so I prefer "Global South," but I don't feel that strongly about it
It's obsolete and kind of pejorative now, so I prefer "Global South," but I don't feel that strongly about it
I took some time to find as many instances as possible of MAGA saying it.
Trump used it when he launched his 2016 campaign. Back then it was about bad infrastructure, then it became about elections.
Now MAGA has adopted the "import the third world, become the third world meme"
Trump used it when he launched his 2016 campaign. Back then it was about bad infrastructure, then it became about elections.
Now MAGA has adopted the "import the third world, become the third world meme"
November 17, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I took some time to find as many instances as possible of MAGA saying it.
Trump used it when he launched his 2016 campaign. Back then it was about bad infrastructure, then it became about elections.
Now MAGA has adopted the "import the third world, become the third world meme"
Trump used it when he launched his 2016 campaign. Back then it was about bad infrastructure, then it became about elections.
Now MAGA has adopted the "import the third world, become the third world meme"
Wow I didn't realize the bishops' immigration statement was the first they had put out on *any* subject since 2013 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
November 17, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Wow I didn't realize the bishops' immigration statement was the first they had put out on *any* subject since 2013 www.nytimes.com/2025/11/16/u...
Really enjoyed listening to @polgreen.bsky.social's interview with @hofrench.bsky.social on Nkrumah, the history of US-Africa ties, and what that relationship could look like going forward.
A too-rare example of US media going beyond superficial coverage of Africa
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/o...
A too-rare example of US media going beyond superficial coverage of Africa
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/o...
November 16, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Really enjoyed listening to @polgreen.bsky.social's interview with @hofrench.bsky.social on Nkrumah, the history of US-Africa ties, and what that relationship could look like going forward.
A too-rare example of US media going beyond superficial coverage of Africa
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/o...
A too-rare example of US media going beyond superficial coverage of Africa
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/o...
They've done it! They've actually (kind of, sort of) done it!
November 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
They've done it! They've actually (kind of, sort of) done it!
The only reason we aren't totally screwed is because the green economy is a massive opportunity and the Global South can see that time.com/7332240/cop3...
November 13, 2025 at 2:28 PM
The only reason we aren't totally screwed is because the green economy is a massive opportunity and the Global South can see that time.com/7332240/cop3...
However, vulnerability differs significantly between countries.
Nearly ever Guyanese oil and gas project is covered by ISDS provisions. Not a single Brazilian one is.
Why? Because Brazil refused to sign investment treaties with ISDS provisions
Nearly ever Guyanese oil and gas project is covered by ISDS provisions. Not a single Brazilian one is.
Why? Because Brazil refused to sign investment treaties with ISDS provisions
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
However, vulnerability differs significantly between countries.
Nearly ever Guyanese oil and gas project is covered by ISDS provisions. Not a single Brazilian one is.
Why? Because Brazil refused to sign investment treaties with ISDS provisions
Nearly ever Guyanese oil and gas project is covered by ISDS provisions. Not a single Brazilian one is.
Why? Because Brazil refused to sign investment treaties with ISDS provisions
We found that there are 218 oil and gas projects in Amazonian countries covered by ISDS provisions. Colombia has the largest number of ISDS-covered projects by far.
These projects contain at least 26.5 barrels of oil equivalent
These projects contain at least 26.5 barrels of oil equivalent
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
We found that there are 218 oil and gas projects in Amazonian countries covered by ISDS provisions. Colombia has the largest number of ISDS-covered projects by far.
These projects contain at least 26.5 barrels of oil equivalent
These projects contain at least 26.5 barrels of oil equivalent
This could cost them billions of dollars—on multiple occasions Amazonian countries have had to pay ISDS awards worth billions to oil + gas companies.
ISDS costs could cancel out funding to promote Amazon conservation through mechanisms like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility
ISDS costs could cancel out funding to promote Amazon conservation through mechanisms like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
This could cost them billions of dollars—on multiple occasions Amazonian countries have had to pay ISDS awards worth billions to oil + gas companies.
ISDS costs could cancel out funding to promote Amazon conservation through mechanisms like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility
ISDS costs could cancel out funding to promote Amazon conservation through mechanisms like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility
A significant amount of oil and gas extraction is located in the Amazon. For example, oil and gas blocks cover an estimated 2/3rds of the Peruvian Amazon.
Governments taking measures to stop deforestation could face ISDS claims from oil and gas companies
Governments taking measures to stop deforestation could face ISDS claims from oil and gas companies
November 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
A significant amount of oil and gas extraction is located in the Amazon. For example, oil and gas blocks cover an estimated 2/3rds of the Peruvian Amazon.
Governments taking measures to stop deforestation could face ISDS claims from oil and gas companies
Governments taking measures to stop deforestation could face ISDS claims from oil and gas companies
On January 19, USAID was in line for bad but limited cuts. Project 2025 only called for cutting USAID back to 2019 funding levels.
Then Elon Musk came in and three weeks later USAID was functionally eliminated. Millions of people will die and hundreds of thousands already have, mostly children
Then Elon Musk came in and three weeks later USAID was functionally eliminated. Millions of people will die and hundreds of thousands already have, mostly children
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
On January 19, USAID was in line for bad but limited cuts. Project 2025 only called for cutting USAID back to 2019 funding levels.
Then Elon Musk came in and three weeks later USAID was functionally eliminated. Millions of people will die and hundreds of thousands already have, mostly children
Then Elon Musk came in and three weeks later USAID was functionally eliminated. Millions of people will die and hundreds of thousands already have, mostly children
Came across this in a Larry Summers speech from 2017. Sometimes (and I emphasize, ONLY SOMETIMES) you gotta hand it to him
November 6, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Came across this in a Larry Summers speech from 2017. Sometimes (and I emphasize, ONLY SOMETIMES) you gotta hand it to him
This story is killing me
November 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
This story is killing me
The report of the new G20 Expert Group on Global Inequality is well worth a read
g20.org/wp-content/u...
g20.org/wp-content/u...
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The report of the new G20 Expert Group on Global Inequality is well worth a read
g20.org/wp-content/u...
g20.org/wp-content/u...
For the prospect of coalitions of the willing moving forward without the US, the successful US coercion sets a very worrying precedent.
But it could well be that the outrageousness of the US tactics brings a short-term victory at the medium-term cost of marginalizing US influence
But it could well be that the outrageousness of the US tactics brings a short-term victory at the medium-term cost of marginalizing US influence
November 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
For the prospect of coalitions of the willing moving forward without the US, the successful US coercion sets a very worrying precedent.
But it could well be that the outrageousness of the US tactics brings a short-term victory at the medium-term cost of marginalizing US influence
But it could well be that the outrageousness of the US tactics brings a short-term victory at the medium-term cost of marginalizing US influence