Post

twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

https://twitter.com/NAFO_Hungary/status/1653292127542034433?s=20

More from @splendid_pete

Pete

@splendid_pete

Feb 20

1/8

If you want to focus on supporting the European economy rather than the American one, here are some strategic moves you can consider:

1️⃣ Prioritize European products and services

‣ Buy European-made goods rather than American ones, especially in key industries like technology, automotive, fashion, and consumer electronics.

‣ Use European digital services instead of American Big Tech alternatives (e.g., prefer ProtonMail over Gmail, Nextcloud over Google Drive, Qwant or Ecosia over Google Search).

‣ Invest in European stock markets instead of Wall Street.

2/8

Support European energy independence

‣ Reduce reliance on U.S.-controlled energy sources and companies by supporting European renewable energy projects.
‣ If possible, opt for European energy providers and avoid U.S. oil and gas companies.

ecfr.eu/special/energy…

3/8

Favor European financial systems

‣ Use European banks instead of American ones.
‣ Opt for payment systems that aren’t reliant on U.S. financial structures (e.g., prioritize SEPA transfers over PayPal).
‣ If involved in crypto, consider European-based exchanges and projects over American-led ones.

Read 8 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Feb 5

🧵1/7 The fascist playbook.

The Fascist Playbook

“Trump is acting like a king because he’s too weak to govern like a president.”

This is a defining feature of authoritarian leaders throughout history: when they lack the competence, discipline, or support to govern within a democracy, they resort to brute force, propaganda, and institutional sabotage to consolidate power. Instead of earning legitimacy through effective governance, they fabricate it through deception, intimidation, and chaos.

Trump’s playbook is not new. It follows the same patterns seen in fascist regimes, from Mussolini’s Italy to Orbán’s Hungary.

2/7 The Illusion of Strength: When Weak Men Play Strongman

The authoritarian leader thrives on the appearance of dominance, even when their actual control is unstable. Strength, in this context, is performative.

•Trump’s method: He issues executive orders at a breakneck pace, purges disloyal officials, and floods the media with dramatic pronouncements—everything designed to make him look all-powerful, even when his policies fail.

•Orbán’s model: Hungary’s prime minister methodically rewrote laws to cement his authority while simultaneously presenting himself as the defender of national sovereignty against foreign “globalists.”

•Historical parallels:

•Mussolini’s “action, action, action” approach: He kept the opposition off-balance with rapid policy shifts, often contradictory, but always presented as bold leadership.

•Hitler’s consolidation of power in 1933-34: A series of rapid legal changes—from the Reichstag Fire Decree to the Enabling Act—gave the illusion of unstoppable momentum, making resistance seem futile.

Authoritarianism preys on perception. If the public believes a leader has unchecked power, they are less likely to resist.

3/7 The “Flood the Zone” Strategy: Overwhelm the Opposition

One of the most effective authoritarian tactics is to generate so much chaos that the opposition cannot keep up. By the time people react to one crisis, another is already unfolding.

•Trump’s strategy:

•Steve Bannon explicitly described this tactic: “The opposition party is the media… all we have to do is flood the zone.”

•Trump’s presidency was a constant barrage of scandals—immigration bans, mass pardons, assaults on the judiciary—each designed to shift focus before the last one could be fully scrutinized.

•Orbán’s approach: He systematically changed Hungary’s constitution, eroded press freedoms, and restructured electoral laws—all at a relentless pace, making it difficult for opponents to mobilize.

•Historical parallels:

•The Nazis’ early blitz of laws and decrees: By overwhelming the public with rapid legal shifts, Hitler neutralized opposition before they could organize.

•Putin’s rolling crises: From foreign wars to domestic crackdowns, each crisis keeps Russians in a state of distraction and fear, preventing effective resistance.

This strategy is not about governance—it is about exhaustion. If opponents are too overwhelmed to fight back, authoritarianism advances unchallenged.

Read 7 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Feb 4

🧵1/6 Miller is full of shit wrong on all counts, and the reporter is just simply dumb.

Stephen Miller’s claims about USAID are factually incorrect, misleading, and fundamentally dishonest. A thorough examination shows:

1⃣ USAID is an international agency, not a domestic one, and its work aligns with U.S. strategic interests.

2⃣ USAID operates under strict congressional oversight, including Republican-led committees.

3⃣ Republicans currently control the key committees overseeing USAID, disproving claims of a rogue bureaucracy.

4⃣ Article II does not give the president unchecked power over executive agencies, and Trump cannot unilaterally control USAID.

5⃣ Trump’s own administration mismanaged foreign aid, leading to layoffs and diplomatic setbacks.

2/6

1⃣ Mischaracterization of USAID's mission

Miller falsely suggests that USAID prioritizes foreign nations at the expense of American communities, like East Palestine, Ohio, and border towns in Texas. However, USAID's mission is explicitly focused on international development, as outlined in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The agency’s role is to promote economic growth, combat disease, support democratic governance, and address global food insecurity, which in turn enhances U.S. national security and economic interests.

Miller's implication that USAID should be addressing domestic issues is fundamentally flawed because domestic development falls under entirely different agencies—such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Department of Transportation. USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, not domestic economic policy.

3/6

2⃣ USAID operates under extensive oversight

Miller falsely portrays USAID as an unaccountable bureaucracy with little oversight. In reality, USAID is subject to multiple layers of oversight and accountability:

⦿ Congressional Oversight: The House Foreign Affairs Committee (Republican majority) and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Republican majority) have direct jurisdiction over USAID. These committees review its programs, policies, and funding allocations.

foreignaffairs.house.gov/subcommittee/f…

foreign.senate.gov/about/membersh…

⦿ Budget Control by Congress: Funding for USAID is appropriated by Congress, specifically through the House and Senate Appropriations Committees (both Republican majority), which ensure financial accountability.

appropriations.senate.gov

appropriations.house.gov/about/membersh…

⦿ Independent Watchdogs: The Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct audits and evaluations to detect fraud, waste, and mismanagement.

Read 7 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Jan 23

1/22 Here is my thread on the proposed Trump policies, what they mean for the average American, and what they mean for the rich.

finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

2/22

1. Estate Tax Repeal ("Death Tax")

A. Takes away from average people:

Removes a tax that currently applies only to estates worth over $12.9 million, meaning no direct benefit for 99.9% of Americans.

Decreases federal revenue, potentially reducing funds for public services like education, infrastructure, or healthcare, which benefit the majority.

B. Gives to the rich:

Exclusively benefits the wealthiest individuals and families by eliminating taxes on multi-million-dollar inheritances.

Allows wealth to be passed down unaltered, exacerbating wealth inequality.

3/22

2. Lower Corporate Tax Rate

A. Takes away from average people:

Reduced tax revenue can lead to cuts in programs like Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, which millions rely on.

Shifts the tax burden to middle- and lower-income earners through other forms of taxation.

B. Gives to the rich:

Benefits corporations and their shareholders (who are predominantly wealthy individuals).

Boosts after-tax corporate profits, increasing dividends and stock prices, which primarily benefit the top 10% of earners.

Read 22 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Dec 5, 2024

🇺🇦🧵⬇️ 1/12 Thirty years ago today, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, giving up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for hollow “assurances” of sovereignty. Three decades later, it stands as a warning: disarmament without guarantees is suicidal. Here’s why:

2/12 In 1994, Ukraine handed over 1,900 nuclear warheads, trusting “assurances” from Russia, the US, and the UK to respect its borders. These weren’t binding guarantees—just diplomatic niceties. Ukraine traded its shield for promises that have proven worthless.

3/12 The first cracks appeared in 2014. Russia annexed Crimea, violating the very agreement it signed. Its excuse? A farcical claim to “protect ethnic Russians.” The US and UK? A chorus of condemnations, toothless sanctions, and zero meaningful defense of Ukraine.

Read 12 tweets

Pete

@splendid_pete

Dec 4, 2024

🧵⬇️ 1/15 Breaking: Declassified intelligence reports reveal the scope of hybrid warfare tactics and disinformation campaigns involving Călin Georgescu. The findings include foreign interference, social media manipulation, and potential cybersecurity breaches. Here’s the breakdow

2/15 SIE Insights: The SIE highlights Romania as a target for Russian hybrid operations. Tactics include AI-driven propaganda, candidate support in elections, and social unrest aimed at weakening NATO's Eastern Flank and reducing public support for Ukraine.

3/15 Unmarked TikTok Campaigns (MAI): Over 100 influencers (8M+ followers) promoted Georgescu’s campaign without marking it as political, violating electoral laws. TikTok failed to enforce ad disclosure, allowing hashtags like #EchilibruSiVerticalitate to trend globally.

Read 16 tweets

Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll

Pete

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

More from @splendid_pete

Pete

Pete

Pete

Pete

Pete

Pete

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Send Email!