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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com

@maxinedavid.bsky.social
1.4K followers 2.3K following 1.1K posts

Brit abroad. Critical friend of the EU. Foreign Policy analyst (EU, Russia, UK, US) at Leiden University. Teaching = my way of not despairing about the world. Of course they're my views.

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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
mariaevajarrous.bsky.social @mariaevajarrous.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Yup
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Iva Vukušić @vukusiciva.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This is really interesting and important so do consider joining. It's something I speak to my students about in courses I teach (BA and MA), because this "public curiosity" risk also appears in #teaching. #Research #AmTeaching #Violence #HigherEd www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dignity-in...
eventbrite.co.uk
Dignity in Conflict
Dignity in Conflict: Investigating the role of open-source content in exposing vulnerable persons to public curiosity during armed conflict
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
paulusthewoodgnome @paulusthewoodgnome.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"I'm not a defence expert." Even by Kemi Badenoch's lamentable standards, this is agonising. Just give thanks she will never, ever be Prime Minister. 🙏 #politicslive
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
OSINTRadar @osintradar.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Security forces began detaining protesters at a KPRF rally in Moscow attended by around 2,000 people. Arrests reportedly began after protesters chanted, “Down with the Tsar!"👑 ✅️Follow us for the latest updates
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Whatever you think of these two, they are still people. This is an appalling, yet familiar intervention from British media, made worse because this one poses as delivering "trusted daily reporting and news analysis". Have they forgotten this is the son of the woman the media hounded to her death?
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Chase Mitchell @chasemit.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Like displaying heads on pikes
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Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
You can read Jamal’s work here. It was the honor of my life to have been his editor at the Washington Post. Rest in peace, Jamal. And I’m sorry the Washington Post opinions page ended up betraying what we both stood for. www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-...
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | Read Jamal Khashoggi’s columns for The Washington Post
Jamal Khashoggi, a veteran Saudi journalist who Turkish officials say was killed in Istanbul after walking into the consulate of Saudi Arabia, had been writing a column for The Post since last year.
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
​This is 16-year-old Katya. Russia killed her in Sumy on September 27 when three guided bombs hit a residential neighborhood💔🕯 ​She was in her final year of high school. Her school shared: “Katya will forever stay in our hearts as a student, a friend, and an irreplaceable part of our school family”
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🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
❗️Swiss voters overwhelmingly — by more than 70% — rejected a far-right initiative that sought to enshrine a stricter interpretation of neutrality in the constitution. Had it passed, the country would have been unable to join sanctions
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Taj Ali @tajali1.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Racism will not be defeated from above. It will only be defeated by us – ordinary citizens who refuse to look away. My piece for @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Britain’s far-right violence comes to us direct from the 1970s. But so does the solution | Taj Ali
Young men punched in the street, mosques attacked: Britain badly needs an anti-racist uprising. Let 70s Asian youth movements provide the inspiration, says Taj Ali, author of Come What May, We’re Here...
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Piratedan7 @piratedan7.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
all of us doing this gratis, donating our time to create change. will say it beats storming the capitol and to quote Springsteen. From small things Momma, big things one day come.... tell those in your circle, make your stance known on your social media. Vote early if you can. Just vote. /end
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
❗️Poland has scrambled its aircraft due to a Russian drone attack on Ukraine The National Armed Forces of Latvia also report possible threats in airspace. NATO fighter jets have been scrambled for patrol.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Philip Obaji Jr. @philipobaji.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Russia’s attacks on Europe are getting more brazen and more dangerous www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09...
japantimes.co.jp
Russia’s attacks on Europe are getting more brazen and more dangerous
Governments are scrambling to ratchet up their individual and collective responses before more serious damage spirals into open conflict with Russia
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
NEW: DHS's Inspector General releases a scathing report about the Everglades detention camp known as "Alligator Alcatraz." The OIG finds that the now-closed camp, violated multiple ICE standards. The OIG also confirms detainees were punished with placement in a metal cage in the Florida heat.🧵
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Staff also reported that time spent in the small metal enclosures is closely monitored, and
detainees are not locked in, even though we observed locking mechanisms on the enclosures.
Figures 11 and 12. Small Metal Enclosures; Observed January 21, 2026

Underneath is a picture of a metal cage that is 4 feet 3 inches wide by 4 feet 3 inches long, and 7 feet 9 inches high. The cage itself is placed on a tiny spot of fake turf, and then surrounded by another chainlink fence with razor wire on top. The cage is covered by a roof, but it's entirely exposed to the outside otherwise, meaning mosquitos and no air conditioning.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I appreciate the effort but this hinges on the idea all black & brown people in Europe came from somewhere else & don't belong. To where should I return? The RAF hospital I was born in because my dad was in the British army? Can half of me stay & the other half go to my mother's country of birth?
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Dénis van Vliet @denisvanvliet.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Een brand heeft afgelopen nacht het munitiedepot van wapenfabrikant EMKO in Bulgarije in de as gelegd. EMKO exporteert ook naar Oekraïne. Geen gewonden. Tweede EMKO-brand in een maand; oppositiepartij DB wil onderzoek naar mogelijke Russische link. 👉 www.bta.bg/en/news/bulg...
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Institute for the Study of War @thestudyofwar.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
3/ ISW continues to assess that Russian sources are engaging in a sophisticated cognitive warfare effort that uses AI-altered or generated footage of flag raisings to substantiate fabricated claims of Russian tactical successes in areas where Russian forces do not maintain positions.
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Ukraine Support 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @blue24world.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
PACE proposes way to hand frozen Russian funds to Ukraine The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has proposed a way to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine on the basis of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights #Ukraine #Russia www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202...
pravda.com.ua
PACE proposes way to hand frozen Russian funds over to Ukraine
PACE’s legal committee says frozen Russian assets could be transferred to Ukraine to pay compensation under ECHR rulings against Russia.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
He's not wrong (about this).
theguardian.com
Merz accuses AfD of ‘ethnic cleansing’ policy and cancels call with Trump
German chancellor attacks Alternative für Deutschland after far-right party’s win in Saxony-Anhalt election
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
To be fair, the two are not *entirely* unrelated.
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Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
This is also worth a read from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, another great rabbi Glad to see so many Masorti rabbi’s countering the unrepresentative narrative we’ve seen from seen quarters - the community is not a monolith jonathanwittenberg.substack.com/p/be-on-the-...
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
"This doesn’t have to be Europe’s destiny ... There is no law of history that says a height of liberal optimism must be followed by an equivalent fall into chaos."
theguardian.com
European democracies are running out of time to turn away from the abyss | Rafael Behr
Far-right parties, Maga ideology and Kremlin money are conniving to suffocate liberal idealism for another generation, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Must read, along w/ Byline Times piece linked to below. I am, ofc, not advocating media harassment but there seem to be serious safeguarding issues here that demand greater Cambridge Uni *&* media scrutiny given the mix of politics & HE. And if this were abt a Left-leaning black scholar 🤔?
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Nina Zeelen @ninazeelen.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Trump Vraagt, Nederland Levert
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Waiting for #StewartLee. I badly need some amusing, acerbic commentary on the state of the UK and the rest of the world.
Stage with nothing but a Union Jack draped over a microphone stand.
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 @pravda.ua · 03/09/2026
‼️ Moscow airports suspend operations for second night after Zelenskyy's warnings
pravda.com.ua
Moscow airports suspend operations for second night after Zelenskyy's warnings
Moscow's Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports temporarily suspended arrivals and departures for a second consecutive night after Ukraine warned of growing risks to civil aviation in Russian airspace.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Michael Ghaler the latest European politician dancing on the head of a pin re Russia's actions vs European states "we are not in war but we are exposed on a daily basis to hybrid warfare". I understand why but if the fabled resilience is to be achieved, societies need to be far better prepared.
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Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
EU/Canada :
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Charles C Roseman @evoroseman.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
RE: freedom of speech, academic freedom, and race science. In this (long) thread, I’m going to 1) establish my bona fides on academic freedom and race science, 2) show why academic freedom and freedom of speech are different and… 1/34
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
RIP the unique, amazing Dolly Parton. She had talent, smarts, generosity, kindness, grace, joy for life and love for people of all kinds. I'm not sure we will see her like again.
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Reposted by @Maxine David.bsky.social.com
Peter Gleick @petergleick.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This isn't getting enough attention. The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at its lowest level since 1983. Why? Trump and the GOP have been selling it off to try to keep oil prices low and artificially hide the real impact of the Iran War.
Storage of oil in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve from 1980 to the present, showing a dramatic drop as oil's been sold to suppress the price.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Sometimes, it's very hard to believe we're in the 21st century.
theguardian.com
Scrapping of Berlin swimming day for Black children becomes latest in long list of race-linked pool rows
Rightwing voices seize on plans to offer Black children an exclusive afternoon at an outdoor pool in the German capital
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Steven Curtis @stevencurtis.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Excellent. Bring it on in the UK too please. The bullshit machine has no place in institutions of higher learning
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Roman Sheremeta @rshereme.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Russians shared a video of killing a boy riding his bike in Kramatorsk with a drone. This war crime is direct evidence that this war has nothing to do with territory. It is an attempt to wipe out an entire nation. If Russians shared this video themselves, just imagine the ones they don’t post.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Difficult to see how he goes back to Ghent after this. Difficult to imagine he'll show any sign of grace and resign in recognition of how unsafe he has undoubtedly made some students and staff feel. I can all too well imagine what it must be like to be a student of colour in one of his courses.
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Johannes @smitsky.nl · 22/08/2026
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SPRAVDI - Stratcom Centre @stratcomcentre.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Russia has been ramping up efforts to pour migrants from Middle-Eastern countries into the EU with aim of increasing support for far-right political parties.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
What a joy to be awoken by the sound of sweet, sweet rain.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
This is incredibly sad and utterly unsurprising given the pressure of the media spotlight. At bottom, he was a human being and consideration for that is what should have guided all commentary but did not. Universities also really need to do much better about supporting & protecting their staff.
theguardian.com
Jason Arday found dead after resigning from Cambridge over plagiarism claims
Academic was pronounced dead at his home in south London after police called to address after 3pm on Friday
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Listening to the return and its British politics at its best and worst - worst in that 22,000 people decided Farage was still worth voting for. He didn't think they were worth turning up for & seems to have lied about the reason why.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Inevitable that Betjeman would be invoked but never have his words been more relevant.
theguardian.com
As AI guzzles water and energy, we are already facing a choice: datacentres or homes? | John Harris
Whitehall wants to triple their number in the UK. Yet in Slough, I saw the impact they’re having on communities, says Guardian columnist John Harris
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
We agree on this - not how to get there. I hope you don't get bogged down in arguing for data centres & fossil fuels vs producing & funding better policy on flood prevention, drought resilience, water capture, water pollution, food security, land management to prevent wildfires, species protections.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Even if there were not good economic reasons to push harder towards net zero, the economy is not the only thing that matters. What's a world worth without penguins, polar bears, insects, forests, rivers, birds? I'm against short-term, anthropocentric thinking. You should be too.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
It will take £s to develop those fields, £s that could be ploughed into re/skilling for jobs in renewables. It won't lower prices - global mkt. It will take years to see results. No govt has been good at ensuring these big corps pay the tax they should. We need to cut fossil fuel use quicker.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Then you've lost me. There are so many good arguments not to allow this & few, if any, of those you cite above apply. I think it will prove to be a huge mistake. I hope it's at least an honest one, not driven by short-term political manoeuvring. Either way, the planet pays.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Thank you. However, my worry is about the "new" in your reply. That's why I mentioned extensions as well - applicable to Jackdaw and Rosebank as far as I can see from some narratives.
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Could you please explain how allowing new licences or the extension of old ones for drilling in the North Sea fits into that narrative?
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Oh, no, it's too much. But if you insist, do it this way. No expense spared, right?
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@Maxine David.bsky.social.com @maxinedavid.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Uplifting, must-read thread on tech, government and governance - and people who are out to use their skills to profit society instead of their own bank accounts.
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