Poplar - Rostock / Anarcholiberal

- We're but humble servants in the Temple of Mammon. Always keen to see your business plan.

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

MORE: ISW continues to assess that Russia would need to expend significant amounts of resources, time, and personnel to seize the rest of Donbas. Russian forces are unlikely to seize the remainder of Donetsk Oblast before August 2027, assuming Russian forces are able to sustain their rate of advance from late November 2025. The Russian rate of advance slowed in late December 2025 and early January 2026, likely in part due to adverse weather conditions, and Russian efforts to seize the rest of Donetsk Oblast could take longer than ISW previously forecasted. A Ukrainian withdrawal from Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk Oblast would put Russian forces in more advantageous positions to renew attacks against southwestern and central Ukraine in the future after rest and reconstitution.

A strong Ukrainian military and robust Western security guarantees are necessary to effectively deter such future Russian aggression, but Russian officials have repeatedly rejected these security guarantees. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Head Sergei Naryshkin, for example, claimed on January 26 that European states in the Coalition of the Willing are imposing conditions on a peace settlement that are “completely unacceptable” to Russia – likely referring to the coalition’s efforts to finalize a plan to deploy troops to post-war Ukraine. Russian State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairperson Alexei Zhuravlyov explicitly rejected on January 27 the deployment of troops from NATO states in post-war Ukraine.

The Kremlin remains unlikely to accept any settlement that includes meaningful security guarantees for Ukraine. The Kremlin’s continued refusal of security guarantees for Ukraine and persistent dismissals of the negotiating process suggest that it remains committed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s theory of victory — the theory that Russia can win in Ukraine by outlasting Ukraine’s ability to fight and the West’s desire to support Ukraine.

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

.@AP: @KatStepanenko, a Russia researcher at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, said the Kremlin has gotten more “creative” in the last two years with attracting enlistees, including foreigners.

But recruitment efforts are becoming “extremely expensive” for Russia, which faces a slowing economy, she added. https://t.co/89uHTaGlOG

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

NEW: The United States is reportedly pushing Ukraine to cede the remainder of Donetsk Oblast to Russia in exchange for US security guarantees. ISW continues to assess that Ukrainian concessions of territory that Russia is unlikely to seize quickly or easily militarily would be a strategic mistake. More ⬇️

The Russian military command continues to present demonstrable lies and exaggerations about Russian battlefield gains in order to push Ukraine and the West to concede to the demands that Russia remains unable to achieve militarily.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has been lying about the scale of Russian advances for months, provoking repeated criticisms from even pro-war Russian milbloggers.

The Russian military command has been boasting about the seizure of small, rural villages and presenting these seizures as alleged evidence of the prowess of the Russian military to further the false narrative that Russian victory in Ukraine is inevitable. The seizure of small, rural villages only a few square kilometers in area does not portend Russia’s ability to seize the much larger and heavily fortified cities in Ukraine’s Fortress Belt in Donetsk Oblast in the near future.

Russian officials continue to indicate that Russia’s demands go beyond control of territory in eastern Ukraine, despite the Kremlin’s efforts to claim to Western audiences that Donbas is the main issue in ongoing peace talks. Russia will not be satisfied with a peace settlement that does not meet all of its demands and is instead using informational tools to push for Ukraine’s pre-emptive capitulation.

Russian forces conducted a Shahed drone strike against a civilian passenger train in Kharkiv Oblast on January 27, killing at least five people.

Russian forces continue to commit war crimes on the battlefield, including in areas where Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations.

[Mikhail Khodorkovsky @khodorkovsky_en]

I spent 10 years in Putin's prisons. In 2025, I was labeled a 'terrorist' for opposing the war.

🧵Now leaked Interpol files prove what I've long understood: the Kremlin has weaponized international policing into a worldwide dragnet for those who oppose Putin. [1/14]

[🇺🇸 🦅Simple Man 🦅🇺🇸 @Soaringeagle45]

A DEA officer stopped at our farm yesterday. “I need to inspect your farm for illegal growing drugs.”

I said, “Okay, but don’t go in that field over there.”

The DEA officer verbally exploded, saying, “Mister, I have the authority of the federal government with me!” Reaching into his back pocket, the officer pulled out his badge and shoved it in my face. “See this freaking badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish… on ANY land! No questions asked or answers given! Do I make myself clear? Do you understand?”

I nodded politely, apologized, and went about my chores. A short time later, I heard loud screams, looked up, and saw the DEA officer running for his life, being chased by my big old mean bull! With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer and it seemed likely that he’d get gored before reaching safety. The officer was clearly terrified.

So, I threw down my tools, ran to the fence, and shouted at the top of my lungs.

“Your badge, show him your freaking BADGE!!!”

[𝐍𝐢𝐨𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐠 🇮🇷 ✡︎ @NiohBerg]

CNN went to Iran with regime approval, interviewed regime-selected people who support Khamenei, and presented a pro-regime narrative.

The regime in Iran NEVER lets any Western journalist in unless they do as they're told.

Shame on CNN. Fake news garbage.

[Hen Mazzig @HenMazzig]

"There are so many heroes in this country."

"Fauda" star and famous Israeli singer Idan Amadi performed at Ran Gvili's funeral, giving the murdered hostage a final goodbye with his song “It’s Over.”

[Společnost pro obranu svobody projevu @SOS_projevu]

Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, speciální pedagožka se zaměřením na mj. "genderová studia", byla v letech 2022–25 zmocněnkyní pro lidská práva ve Fialově vládě. S nástupem nové vlády na funkci rezignovala, protože tušila, že by v ní dlouho nezůstala. Za celou dobu působení se ani jednou nezastala nikoho z desítek perzekuovaných za své názory a nijak nebránila základní občanské právo - svobodu projevu.

Tato nesmírně ambiciózní dáma woke progresivistické orientace a podporovatelka neúspěšné inkluze se vzápětí ucházela o funkci ombudsmanky, ale hlasováním Senátu neprošla. Její šance však dostaly nečekanou vzpruhu.

Pomohl jí k tomu prezident Pavel, který ji navrhuje mezi 6 kandidátů (vedle prezidenta má dva návrhy Senát a dva konference rektorů), o kterých má brzy rozhodnout sněmovna - přestože již byla Senátem zamítnuta. To těžko chápat jinak, než jako další pokus prosadit své politické preference proti vůli ostatních demokratických institucí.

Ne, Petr Pavel opravdu není prezident, který chce zastupovat celou společnost a nevytvářet zbytečná napětí. Petr Pavel (nebo spíš jeho hradní tým) chce kolem sebe koncentrovat moc a být hlavním centrem odporu proti vládě i (vzhledem ke jménům, kterými se obklopuje) proti svobodě projevu.

[Camus @newstart_2024]

"No one likes that idea"

Jordan Peterson: IQ is largely unitary, highly heritable, and brutally unfair.

It predicts long-term success in complex jobs better than almost anything. Smart parents → smart kids (but regression to mean pulls toward average 100).

Identical twins separated at birth? By age 60, IQs so similar it's like testing the same person—environment barely diverges them.

You can't train general IQ up with games/puzzles (task gains don't transfer). But cardio + weights help maintain it as you age; early nutrition (breastfeeding adds ~3-4 points per year) + stimulation matter in childhood.

No one's figured out how to meaningfully raise it—yet.

This 3:58 clip confronts why the "cards aren't dealt equally."

Does knowing IQ is mostly genetic change how you view opportunity, merit, or inequality?

[Poplar - Rostock / Anarcholiberal @AnarchyThinker]

"Frakční boje na levici" serie

[Poplar - Rostock / Anarcholiberal @AnarchyThinker]

Myskim ze lepsolidi budounzase na jare organizovat demonstrace proti Buresovi, i kdyz jim to uz 2x nefungovalo.

[Poplar - Rostock / Anarcholiberal @AnarchyThinker]

#BanánováRepublika - trollime to uprimne

[Poplar - Rostock / Anarcholiberal @AnarchyThinker]

#BanánováRepublika - trollime to uprimne

[Eyal Yakoby @EYakoby]

BREAKING: Following Starmer, Macron, and Carney’s recognition of ‘Palestine,’ Hamas has publicly executed three Palestinians in Gaza. https://t.co/hV7cx7Rt5r

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

NEW: The Russian military command continues to signal its commitment to Putin's theory of victory that posits that Russia can win a war of attrition against Ukraine. ISW continues to assess that a Russian victory is not inevitable, however, and that Ukraine and the West can leverage several key Russian weaknesses to force Putin to change his calculus and engage in good-faith negotiations.

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️(1/2)

The Kremlin continues to demonstrate its commitment to its original war aims in Ukraine.

The Kremlin is also attempting to manipulate the Trump administration into normalizing US-Russian bilateral relations without concluding the war in Ukraine — contrary to Trump's desired timeline of working on bilateral relations after concluding a peace in Ukraine.

The Kremlin appears to be conducting a coordinated information campaign threatening Finland.

Lithuanian authorities connected Russian military intelligence to several incidents of arson in Europe in late July 2024 that were likely part of Russia’s ongoing hybrid warfare campaign that aims to sow fear and discord within Europe.

Ukraine and Poland agreed on joint drone development and training mechanisms following the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace on September 9 to 10.

The Kremlin will likely introduce a quota to systematically appoint hand-selected veterans of the war in Ukraine to positions in municipal, regional, and federal government in support of the Kremlin’s long-term campaign to militarize Russian society.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly extended Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov's military service for five more years, demonstrating how Putin continues to retain an aging cadre of loyalists despite his stated efforts to raise a new, younger elite.

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the departure of Kremlin Deputy Chief of Staff Dmitry Kozak from his senior Kremlin position.

Ukraine and Russia conducted another exchange of the bodies of soldiers killed in action (KIA) on September 18.

Russian forces recently advanced near Lyman and Velykomykhailivka and in western Zaporizhia Oblast.

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

3/ #Putin’s decisions to invade #Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 had a core similarity: in both cases, Putin seized what he thought was an opportunity to realize a long-term goal because he perceived Ukraine and the West to be weak. https://t.co/ShsugeRpfq

[Institute for the Study of War @TheStudyofWar]

NEW: Kremlin insider statements continue to indicate that 1) Putin remains committed to his strategy that Russian forces will be able to win a war of attrition against Ukraine and the West, and 2) that the West has thus far failed to convince Putin to reevaluate his strategy. ⬇️(1/3)

Bloomberg reported on September 20 that undisclosed people close to the Kremlin stated that Putin has concluded that military escalation is the best way for Russia to force Ukraine into peace negotiations on Putin’s terms.

The sources stated that Putin assesses that US President Donald Trump is unlikely to “do much” to bolster Ukraine’s defense and that the US-Russian talks in Alaska on August 15, 2025, convinced Putin that Trump has no interest in intervening in the war in Ukraine.

The sources stated that Putin intends to remain engaged in any ongoing bilateral dialogue with the United States but will continue to act in what he perceives to be Russia’s interest.

The sources stated that Putin intends to continue targeting Ukraine’s energy network and other critical infrastructure.

Putin’s long-standing theory of victory posits that Russia can militarily defeat Ukraine by indefinitely maintaining the theater-wide initiative and outlasting Western military support for Ukraine.

The sources’ statements indicate that recent US efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine have not impacted Putin’s calculus and that Putin remains committed to defeating Ukraine militarily, as ISW has continued to assess.

Putin’s recent actions — including the decision to redeploy more forces to Donetsk Oblast and recent Russian incursions into the airspace of NATO member states — further underscore his commitment to both continued military aggression against Ukraine and future military aggression against NATO member states.

[Wall Street Mav @WallStreetMav]

European politicians and bureaucrats ... this makes sense to them somehow.

[MK @Krajsicz]

Každý, kdo nabádá k odchodu z SSSR, Česko poškozuje
- Pavel před 40 lety

[The Spectator 🇺🇸 @TheSpectator]

"All in all, as good as it could be expected for Ukraine. J.D. Vance – unusually silent today – had apparently been neutered and, for all the Trumpian weirdness, the exchanges yielded a more concrete level of support than last time."

✍️ Madeline Grant

https://t.co/ZptWDaZwDM