Dave Braneck

One of the lessons of the Iran war is that it was a huge mistake not to even try to put any of the Iraq war architects in prison. We shouldn’t make it again.

Pyro display at this Union Berlin match only slightly obscuring the view of the pitch…

Economic strike in Minnesota to protest against ICE: ‘No work, no school, no shopping’ Organizers demand ICE leave state and agency be investigated for constitutional violations * ICE protests – live updates A “no work, no school, no shopping” blackout day of protest was kicked off by community leaders, faith leaders and labor unions on Friday in protest against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) surge in the state. The “Day of Truth & Freedom” protest comes in the wake of the killing of Renee Good, the unarmed woman killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier this month. Continue reading...

Economic strike in Minnesota to protest against ICE: ‘No work, no school, no shopping’

The Line, a Saudi Megaproject, Is Dead It was always doomed to unravel, but the firms who lent their name to this folly should be held accountable.

wrote about the much-deserved death knell of the world's worst architecture project for @thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/worl...

The Wrath of Stephen Miller The man who turns President Trump’s most incendiary impulses into policy

i think it is simply true that for all intents and purposes stephen miller is the president of the united states

It’s very telling that ICE is being supported by companies like Palantir, building AI tech to help them abduct people, while the communities resisting them are organizing and creating their own systems. It’s always important to remember that these tech companies are not for people.

Nice little sticker on display in the true 2026 World Cup final host state, New Jersey

Hochul and Mamdani to Announce Road Map to Expand Child Care Governor Kathy Hochul will appear with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to lay out a plan to expand free and subsidized child care in New York, which had been a central focus of his campaign.

Breaking News: Gov. Kathy Hochul, partnering with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, will unveil a plan to expand free or affordable child care for New Yorkers across the state.

Seasons greetings from the best place to eat in NY, and possibly the world (a windowless mall basement in flushing, queens)

‘Going to the World Cup’ used to be something ordinary people did. Not with these ticket prices The World Cup is about so much more than just the football. FIFA's pricing structure for next summer's tournament ignores that

“Going to the World Cup” used to be something normal people did.

Not with these ticket prices.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Indiana Lawmakers Reject Trump’s New Political Map Republicans hold an overwhelming majority in the Indiana Senate, but more than a dozen of them defied the president’s wishes, voting against a map aimed at adding Republicans in Congress.

Breaking News: Republicans in the Indiana Senate defied President Trump and joined Democrats in voting down a congressional map aimed at adding GOP seats.

The World Cup Shouldn’t Be Trump’s Toy FIFA’s newly announced peace prize for Donald Trump is a craven act of stroking his ego. The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be among the worst cases yet of sports bending to politics.

FIFA's never exactly been a shining light, but its bizarre, sycophantic bowing to Trump's every whim is a new low for both FIFA and the world's most popular spot.

I wrote for @jacobinmag.bsky.social about how football fans deserve more than a bleakly authoritarian cash grab - and need to push back.

Yeah, brazen corruption and saddling up to terrible people and institutions is nothing new, but this is a new level of blatant coddling and partisanship that I haven’t seen before

The World Cup Shouldn’t Be Trump’s Toy FIFA’s newly announced peace prize for Donald Trump is a craven act of stroking his ego. The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be among the worst cases yet of sports bending to politics.

FIFA's never exactly been a shining light, but its bizarre, sycophantic bowing to Trump's every whim is a new low for both FIFA and the world's most popular spot.

I wrote for @jacobinmag.bsky.social about how football fans deserve more than a bleakly authoritarian cash grab - and need to push back.

Tbh most of the global Gelsenkirchen skepticism is rooted in the men’s euros from last summer and pretty rough transit infrastructure, but I wasn’t at any of those games so can’t say personally. Haha I’d guess the trains will be worse in 2029 and not better, but who knows

Welp, by my own standards it's going to be the best Euros in Germany ever by default as Gelsenkirchen isn't a host city

Germany officially set to host Women's EURO 2029 - hopefully will help give their development a further push as they struggle to keep up with Spain and England.

Plus Germany always a great host country (if you can avoid Gelsenkirchen, at least)

Nothing better than CONCACAF qualifying.

Also loving that if Suriname qualify, between them, Curaçao and the Netherlands there will be like 80 Dutch-born players at the World Cup. The Netherlands x CONCACAF combo is becoming unstoppable

What Did Men Do to Deserve This? Changes in the economy and in the culture seem to have hit them hard. Scott Galloway believes they need an “aspirational vision of masculinity.”

It’s become conventional wisdom that America’s young men are in crisis. The reality is more complicated than that. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/what-did-men-do-to-deserve-this

come for the soccer culture, stay for the affordable childcare and EU passport

Danke!

After 11 years in Berlin I’m officially a German citizen!

Will celebrate by consuming concerning quantities of bratwurst, tut tutting jay walkers, and complaining (highly encouraged among Germans and a big no no when foreigners do it).

Where do I pick up my Camp David shirt?

Zohran Mamdani Just Inherited the NYPD Surveillance State In addition to affordability, New York City’s mayor-elect will be forced to reckon with the NYPD’s sweeping mass surveillance operations.

NEW: NYC's mayor-elect must now grapple with the sweeping NYPD surveillance apparatus that has historically targeted Muslims and other minority groups. @awinston.bsky.social reports for @wired.com www.wired.com/story/welcom...

Thanks, and thank you for sharing!

Vienna's war on parking YouTube video by DW Planet A

An excellent question at the end of this well done video from @braneck.bsky.social.

But a sad one to consider in a city like Birmingham.

Mamdani up another two points on this alone

As ceasefire takes hold, Germany's pro-Palestinian protesters grapple with fallout at home German politics and policing have taken an aggressive approach to criticism of Israel. What happens to the protest movement — and national rhetoric — now?

As ceasefire takes hold, Germany's pro-Palestinian protesters grapple with fallout at home @braneck.bsky.social www.courthousenews.com/as-ceasefire...

Corner Späti Discussions of a deteriorating world all from the comfort of your local smoke-filled Spätkauf.

Had a great time on @cornerspaeti.operationglad.io delivering for the all important Berlin leftist sports fan demographic (we exist!) and chatting with Nick about the encroaching Americanization of European sport.

Worth a listen even if we won't see you at the Berlin NFL games, check it out!

🚨NEW EPISODE🚨

Nick has on @braneck.bsky.social to talk about SPORTS! Wait don't leave, it's focusing on American sports being exported to EU markets and beyond. Globalisation! Geopolitics! Economies! You love that shit. Also Ciarán leaves a quick news update from paternity leave.

OPERATIONGLAD.IO

Big moment in club history: Union Berlin make their women’s Bundesliga debut in front of a packed crowd.

Also momentous for women’s football in the city - they’re the first side from Berlin proper to play in the top flight since 2010. This will be fun.

#FCUnion #FCUFCN