Search

Kolja Barghoorn ironically referred to the energy transition as a "masterpiece" and stated that instead of the promised cheap electricity, electricity prices are 16.4 percent higher than in 2021. He also pointed to billions in costs for grid bottlenecks and reserve power plants, battery storage that only lasts two hours at full capacity, and hydrogen, which has been considered a future technology for years. Barghoorn also criticized a new market created by the state, in which power plant operators would be paid for 15 years to provide electricity in case of outages from wind and solar power. He cited Blackout News as the source for the mentioned data. #Energiewende #Strompreise #Energiepolitik (translated)

The author wrote that in Great Britain and France, a spark is now enough to trigger a wildfire. He asked whether unrest could also occur in Germany if one day funding for everything and everyone were to stop. He ended his contribution with an incomplete question and a link. https://t.co/WwZcXlBp6B #Deutschland #SozialeUnruhen #Wirtschaft #GB #FR #DE (translated)

The article by Carsten Knop discusses how distrust and lack of communication between people, exemplified by the failed conversation between Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg during World War II, can influence the present societal ability to communicate and the handling of social media. #Misstrauen #SocialMedia #Demokratie (translated)

Antje Hermenau wrote that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have agreed on a trade deal for large quantities of diesel. Berlin and Brussels have pursued a wrong strategy for years, at least based on the outcome; this was foreseeable. She described it as foolish to enter a dead end with an "Umpftata" attitude, and wrote that geopolitics is contemporary prose and not future poetry. #Geopolitik #Handelsdeal #TrumpPutin (translated)

"I understand everyone who is angry that we only dealt with ourselves," Kucher said. "Babler is the present of the government. We are the future of the party." Kucher summarized, "What Markus Marterbauer will do is decided solely by Markus Marterbauer," Kucher said. "I will go for coffee with him," Kucher said. #SPÖ #Parteispitze #Einigkeit (translated)

The article discusses the interactions of the Bundeswehr with highly decorated Wehrmacht veterans, particularly holders of the Knight's Cross, and highlights the historical and current conflicts arising from their military honors and the associated controversies. #Bundeswehr #Ritterkreuz #Wehrmacht (translated)

A month before the congressional elections, much indicates that the Democrats could benefit from the current dissatisfaction over inflation and Trump's policies and thus possibly gain a majority in the House of Representatives, while their chances in the Senate remain uncertain. #Kongresswahlen #Demokraten #DonaldTrump (translated)

Furkan Yildirim wrote that, according to recent reports, SpaceX intends to borrow 40 billion dollars to purchase Nvidia chips. Nvidia itself holds around 123 million SpaceX shares and is simultaneously building a 500-billion-dollar platform with six major financial institutions that offers loans to customers for Nvidia chips and guarantees part of it. Yildirim described this as a circular flow of money. According to the Financial Times, 10 billion dollars of the SpaceX deal should come from bank loans and 30 billion from bonds. Apollo is supposed to lead it, which according to Yildirim is also one of the partners of Nvidia's platform. When SpaceX was looking for investors, they received a two-page memo with space images describing the data centers as being located in an unspecified place in space. An investor reportedly asked, according to the Financial Times, how he should explain that to his investment committee. Yildirim also pointed to skepticism in the bond market: SpaceX sold bonds worth 25 billion dollars in June; the bonds, maturing in 2056, are currently trading at around 85 cents on the dollar and have a risk premium at junk bond levels. SpaceX reported losses of 4.9 billion dollars in 2025 and 4.28 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2026 alone. Nevertheless, the company is officially considered an investment-worthy debtor at the second worst level of this category. According to Yildirim, this classification allows insurers and pension funds to purchase bonds on a larger scale. Apollo's life insurer Athene typically takes a large share in such deals. As further evidence of the development, Yildirim cited information from Goldman Sachs, indicating that by 2026 about 500 billion dollars in AI-related debt had already been taken on. By the end of the year, the bank expects more than 750 billion dollars and nearly 1.2 trillion dollars for 2027. According to the Financial Times, Nvidia also negotiated with insurers at the end of September about the transfer of default risks related to chip loans. Yildirim wrote that the investment boom is increasingly being financed through debt and referred to a detailed video on the topic published the previous day. #SpaceX #Nvidia #Finanzen (translated)

The songwriter Wolf Biermann sharply criticizes the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it the "most dangerous anti-Semites," while reflecting on the current developments in Israel, which he believes are turning the country into a "state of oppression." #WolfBiermann #Israel #Antisemitismus (translated)

Hans von der Burchard reported that BND chief Martin Jäger warned during a intelligence hearing in the Bundestag of a growing threat from Russia. Germany could become involved in a violent conflict with Russia; the attempted attack in Leipzig is an example of this. According to Jäger, no other country currently poses a similarly direct and comprehensive threat. Russia is pushing for confrontation because Germany does not accept Moscow's policies and its attack on Ukraine, and supports its alliance partners. Jäger stated that Russia is assessing Germany's reaction and interprets any sign of uncertainty as an invitation for further pressure. Vladimir Putin cannot simply end the war against Ukraine without jeopardizing his power base at home, and therefore must demonstrate success. Although the Russian leadership is aware of the limits of their military and economic means, they compensate for weaknesses with repression, resource allocation towards the war, as well as determination and willingness to take risks. Moscow assumes that the West will not withstand the pressure and relies on its weaknesses. For the upcoming winter, Jäger expects particularly harsh Russian attacks on Ukraine. Russia may also attempt to disrupt Western arms production and deliveries using military means, and to weaken Europe’s support for Ukraine through intimidation and interference. He anticipates renewed nuclear threats. Currently, there are no indications of a large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory; however, low-level military activities, especially in the Baltics, as well as so-called false-flag operations cannot be excluded. Jäger described Russia's actions as a shadow war and warned of a continuing real danger of attacks in Germany. According to von der Burchard, the BND sees itself as the first line of defense; the contribution referred to an intelligence reform with new powers. #Russland #Ukraine #Sicherheit (translated)

Coolnasenbaer recalled on the Day of German Unity that he had left his homeland in early September 1990 at the age of 16 with two bags. He had set off for the southwest of the Federal Republic without knowing where his path would lead him. He wrote that only October 3rd had given him certainty about German unity. The move had been a personal departure into freedom for him, which had opened up new possibilities. Looking back, he expressed gratitude for being able to shape his life himself. At the same time, Coolnasenbaer emphasized that freedom should not be taken for granted. People must stand up for it and also defend the freedom of others, he wrote. For him, therefore, October 3rd is a day of joy, remembrance, and obligation. #Einheit #Freiheit #Erinnerungen (translated)

The CDU ministers have a knack for selecting their salary showmen. Sven Schulze brings in Didi Hallervorden and Wüst a comedian who makes bad jokes about colleagues Merz and Söder. All of this in Istanbul and in the current CDU discussion about a chancellor swap. #CDU #Comedy #Politik (translated)

Julian Nida-Rümelin, SPD: "Aber die Stimmungslage in der Bevölkerung ist gegenwärtig die: Ihr habt sehr viele Schulden aufgenommen, das Gros dieser Schulden geht nicht spürbar in Veränderungen der Infrastruktur, die Züge sind immer noch unpünktlich, die Straßen sind immer noch #Schulden #Infrastruktur #Verkehr #DE

📬 Aus dem Briefkasten unserer Botschaft ✍️ Herr F. schreibt: Sehr geehrter Herr Botschafter, ich möchte mich für Ihr ausführliches Gespräch bei „Ben ungeskriptet“ bedanken. (https://t.co/6a7fTeHVMw) Unabhängig von den unterschiedlichen politischen Positionen fand ich es besonders wichtig, dass Sie sich einem langen Gespräch mit einem deutschen Publikum zur Verfügung gestellt und dabei ausdrücklich betont haben, dass Russland keinen Krieg mit Deutschland will. In der gegenwärtigen Lage halte ich es für außerordentlich wichtig, dass Möglichkeiten zur direkten Kommunikation nicht vollständig verloren gehen. Gerade wenn die politischen Positionen weit auseinanderliegen, erscheint mir das Gespräch miteinander wichtiger als das Gespräch übereinander. 💌 Wir bedanken uns herzlich bei dem Verfasser dieses Briefes.  @RusBotschaft #Diplomatie #Kommunikation #Russland

#KI ist die größte existenzielle #Bedrohung der Gegenwart. Es gibt keine Rechtfertigung, eine so potente Technologie privaten Eigentümern zu überlassen. KI-Modelle &-Infrastruktur gehören in gesellschaftliches #Eigentum. 🧵 Meine Kolumne in Die Zeit: https://t.co/KOulDknrpr #KI #Bedrohung #Eigentum #DE