Michael Birnbaum @michaelbirnbaum Twitter profile

Last Seen Profiles

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

European Union to supply fighter jets to Ukraine: Russian-made ones, from Bulgaria, Slovakia and Poland, a European diplomat tells me

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

In a nearby country that was also subjugated by the Kremlin, thousands of Latvians sang Ukraine's national anthem in front of the Russian embassy in Riga Friday night

Arnis Krauze

@arniskrauze

3 years

Brīvību Ukrainai! Ukrainas valsts himna šovakar Rīgā, blakus Krievijas vēstniecībai.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

Merkel slaps at Trump's assertion Germany is "captive" to Russia, reminding him that she grew up in a country that WAS under the sway of the Kremlin, East Germany. “I am very happy today that we are united in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany."

Trump berates NATO allies and then asks them to double their defense spending goals

The U.S. president began his week of diplomacy with a harsh rebuke.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Here's how Belgian media is describing the U.S.: "In a country where most workers receive meager unemployment benefits, where pensions depend partly on the markets and where the savings rate is very low, ...the spread of the virus risks pushing millions into poverty."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

(They need to be Russian-made, because that's what Ukrainian fighter pilots can jump into and use from day 1.)

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

NEW -> Trump's campaign manager gave a paid speech in Romania last month. "You would certainly think that a campaign manager would not take money from foreign nationals in this political environment," one ethics expert tells me.

Trump’s campaign manager gave a paid speech in Romania, prompting ethics concerns

Brad Parscale said it was a chance to see the world.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

I asked European Council President Donald Tusk whether it was appropriate to spend EU funds on a Trump business at next year's G7 summit. "Not at all," he said.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 months

In Kyiv, @SecBlinken plays “Rockin’ in the Free World” in a basement club with a Ukrainian band

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

Merkel at NATO in clear rebuke of Trump: "it is not isolation and the building of walls that makes us successful but shared values"

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Tweet clearly directed at Donald Trump’s Twitter ideas

Sécurité Civile

@SecCivileFrance

5 years

Hundreds of firemen of the Paris Fire Brigade are doing everything they can to bring the terrible #NotreDame fire under control. All means are being used, except for water-bombing aircrafts which, if used, could lead to the collapse of the entire structure of the cathedral.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Zelensky rushing to patch things up with Merkel, other allies, after release of WH transcript in which he bashes them to Trump.

Heather Timmons

@HeathaT

5 years

25-Sep-2019 03:48:11 PM - UKRAINE PRESIDENT SAYS WANTS TO THANK MERKEL FOR HER SUPPORT IN NORMANDY FORMAT

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

A colleague filed a request to see security planning for the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. There wasn’t any.

FOIA Nate📄

@FOIANate

4 years

Oh.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

US ambassador to NATO @kaybaileyhutch looks stricken sitting next to Trump as he says "Germany is totally controlled by Russia."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

SCOOP-> We just talked to the elusive ex-prosecutor at the heart of Giuliani's Ukraine allegations, Lutsenko, who says he does NOT think Hunter Biden broke Ukrainian laws. with @loydstern @nataliegryvnyak

Former Ukraine prosecutor says Hunter Biden ‘did not violate anything’

Former prosecutor general Yuri Lutsenko also said no U.S. law enforcement officials came to Ukraine to help with corruption probes.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

from the former top US military commander in Europe

Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret.

@stavridisj

6 years

Mattis departure deeply worrisome. Very challenging days ahead for the Pentagon and the nation.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

Seems unlikely Merkel talked about this with Trump in their Hamburg meeting last night. Doubt Putin will bring it up today either.

Donald J. Trump

@realDonaldTrump

7 years

Everyone here is talking about why John Podesta refused to give the DNC server to the FBI and the CIA. Disgraceful!

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Game-changer Western sanctions on Russia supercharged by Zelensky’s appeal to EU leaders. “It was extremely, extremely emotional,” said a European official briefed on the call. “He was essentially saying: ‘Look, we are here dying for European ideals.”

Historic sanctions on Russia had roots in emotional appeal from Zelensky

A video call by the Ukrainian wartime leader prompted jaded European leaders to act.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Russian senator gloats @SecPompeo told @NPRKelly “do you think Americans care about Ukraine,” says Pompeo recognizes Ukraine is not a core US interest. Pushkov says it’s a fictional priority of the US ruling caste.

Алексей Пушков

@Alexey_Pushkov

5 years

Помпео проговорился. «Вы что, считаете, что американцев действительно волнует Украина?»- обрушился он на радиоведущую. Так госсекретарь фактически признал: для национальных интересов США происходящее на Украине не имеет особого значения. Это выдуманный приоритет правящей касты.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Decades of European policy, flipped in days. “What you grew up in, the last 30 years, is over,” @IlvesToomas said. “We are somewhere else.” In just 72 hours, Europe overhauled its entire post-Cold War relationship with Russia. Me + @missy_ryan @smekhennet

In just 72 hours, Europe overhauled its entire post-Cold War relationship with Russia

Russia invaded Ukraine. Within hours, decades of Europe's foreign policy orthodoxies fell by the wayside. Now the continent stands poised to be a fuller security partner to Washington.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

"He made her cry": Trump's phone call with the widow of a slain soldier. (This time with link.)

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

UK issues warning about CNN arrest in Minnesota more typically directed at authoritarian countries

Nick Eardley

@nickeardleybbc

4 years

UK Foreign Office after arrest of @CNN journalist and crew: "As we've said before, journalists all around the world must be free too do their job and hold authorities to account without fear of retribution"

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

This is Putin's long-held dream: listing off a long list of global challenges, then saying he'll work on them one-on-one with an American president. Final restoration of Russia to the global stage.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Here in Belgium, we're privileged enough to have a cleaning lady come every other week. I asked her if I could keep paying her during the quarantine. She said no, she'll just sign up for temporary unemployment benefits. 70% salary + 150 eur/month

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

EU plans sanctions against Belarus after it forces down Ryanair flight, bans EU flights over Belarus airspace, says it will bar Belavia from EU

Barend Leyts

@BarendLeyts

3 years

Conclusions on #Belarus adopted at #EUCO chaired by @eucopresident

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

8 years

The people chanting "1, 2, 3, 4, we won't take it any more" at this anti-Trump protest in Brussels are going to have a long 4 years...

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

2 years

NEW: Ukrainian refugees being forced into Russia face systematic interrogations, detention and other abuses. Strip searches, "disappearances," Siberia. me + @maryilyushina

Ukrainian refugees in Russia report interrogations, detention and other abuses

They’re forced into “filtration camps” to face strip searches and harsh questioning.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

This is horrifying: in the early days of the pandemic, the US government turned down the chance to manufacture millions of N95 masks in America.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Ukrainian foreign minister, concerned about US democracy

Dmytro Kuleba

@DmytroKuleba

4 years

Concerning scenes in Washington, D.C. I’m confident American democracy will overcome this challenge. The rule of law & democratic procedures need to be restored as soon as possible. This is important not only for the U.S., but for Ukraine and the entire democratic world as well.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

2 years

NEW, and BIG -> Russia has turned to China for military equipment and aid in the weeks since it began its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials said. @nakashimae scoop.

Russia asks China for military equipment, U.S. officials say

At least 35 people were killed and 134 injured early Sunday when a barrage of Russian missiles slammed into a military facility in western Ukraine about 15 miles from the border with Poland, a NATO...

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

8 years

Anger where Nice attacker was killed. People throw trash and spit. Never seen aggression like this after an attack.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Had an interesting conversation in Munich with @RoKhanna about @BernieSanders 's foreign policy. Some of it made it into this article, but I'll add a bit here. THREAD:

Europe is watching the U.S. presidential campaign — and holding its breath about Trump and Sanders

Some Europeans have made their peace with a second Trump term. Others wonder what Sanders might bring.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Here's the article, headlined "Coronavirus in the United States: a gigantic aid plan, a minimum in the absence of a social safety net."

Coronavirus aux Etats-Unis: le gigantesque plan d'aide, un minimum en l'absence de filet social

www.rtbf.be

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Fascinating new details today about just how deeply Kremlin was involved with rebels in eastern Ukraine at time of MH17 shootdown. “I’m carrying out orders and protecting the interests of one and only state, the Russian Federation. That’s the bottom line.”

Intercepted calls show deep Russian involvement with Ukraine rebels at time of airline shoot-down

Prosecutors released recordings showing close cooperation between rebels and Russia during time of MH-17 destruction.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

1 month

NEW: Dem foreign policy heavyweights endorse Harris in open letter, declaring she has more international experience than most recent incoming presidents. @AmbassadorRice @JohnKerry @GenMhayden @wendyrsherman in an effort @emilyhorne46 helped organize

Democratic foreign policy heavyweights endorse Harris in open letter

John Kerry, Susan Rice and others in the Democratic foreign policy establishment are lining up behind Kamala Harris for president, noting her international leadership.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

I talked to a number of longtime Democratic and Republican campaign operatives. None had ever heard of a full-time presidential campaign manager doing paid speeches on the side, let alone speeches in foreign countries.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

From the man who was shoved by Trump at the NATO summit...

Duško Marković

@DuskoMarkovicCG

4 years

Congratulations on the historic victory of #US President-elect @JoeBiden and his team. Congratulations to the American people on the election that restores faith in the power of democracy and the return of stability in international relations. (1/2)

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Ryanair, astoundingly, is still flying over Belarusian airspace: a flight from Greece to Tallinn just entered Belarus even though another @Ryanair flight was forced down yesterday HT @HannaLiubakova

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

As DC held its breath for the Mueller report, Trump's campaign manager was an ocean away in Romania, giving a paid speech. “I’ve never heard of anything like this before,” said @jwgop , who has worked on a slew of Republican presidential campaigns

Trump’s campaign manager gave a paid speech in Romania, prompting ethics concerns

Brad Parscale said it was a chance to see the world.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

U.S. jobless claims now at 30 million over 6 weeks. Meanwhile, European unemployment has crept up only modestly since the start of the coronavirus lockdowns, new figures show.

Coronavirus hits European economies but governments help shield workers

Wage subsidy programs in Europe have kept unemployment in check as it explodes in the United States.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

More from former NATO supreme allied commander:

Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret.

@stavridisj

4 years

I never thought, in a long life spent operationally in conflict zones, I would see scenes like this in DC in the USA. Our adversaries will be dumbfounded with their good fortune seeing this insurrection - Russia and China will be actively thinking how can they extend it

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

1 year

“Russia is not experiencing the situation of good or evil fighting each other. We are seeing evil fight evil,” Latvian foreign minister @edgarsrinkevics tells me. He's keeping an eye on repressions, nuclear control, refugee flows.

Charges against Wagner chief will be dropped, Kremlin says

The Wagner mercenary boss was accused of “treason” and Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to crush his insurrection. The Kremlin now says Prigozhin will go to Belarus and Wagner soldiers will not...

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

. @washingtonpost just changed its style on Kyiv. "We will now render as Kyiv, rather than Kiev, effective immediately. This change matches the Ukrainian government’s preference as well as recent changes by other media organizations, including the Associated Press."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Europeans incredulous this morning about Trump's EU travel ban, saying the exclusion of the UK, which is led by a pro-Brexit, Trump-friendly populist, is a clear sign this move is political, not scientific. Here's a former Finnish prime minister:

Alexander Stubb

@alexstubb

4 years

Any attempt to contain the #CoronaOutbreak is welcome, but the decision of @realDonaldTrump to exclude the UK from a European travel ban is nothing short of irresponsible. Viruses do not recognise borders. Decisions should be based on facts, not politics.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

The President: "The former ambassador from the United States, the woman, was bad news, and the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news."

Secretary Pompeo

@SecPompeo

5 years

I’m concerned with aspects of the Committee’s request that can be understood only as an attempt to intimidate, bully, & treat improperly the distinguished professionals of the Department of State, including several career FSOs.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

New defense secretary’s first call is to @NATO , after four years of uncertainty about Trump’s commitment to the alliance.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III

@SecDef

4 years

Terrific to speak with @jensstoltenberg today, the first call I’ve made in the job. Reiterated the steadfast commitment of the U.S. to the @NATO Alliance and our appreciation for the teamwork and relevance our allies bring to missions around the world. #WeAreNATO

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

In 2017, @derspiegel put a picture of Trump decapitating Statue of Liberty on its cover. Now it shows President-elect Biden putting her head back on

Mathieu von Rohr

@mathieuvonrohr

4 years

. @derspiegel now

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

After Trump's tough speech to NATO, no leaders talk to him@ photo op. "He stood silently, shifting his stance @ moments and looking around."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Someone has posted a lightly used Nord Stream 2 pipeline for sale on German eBay. Pickup only! No returns.

Constanze Stelzenmüller

@ConStelz

3 years

No comment 👇

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Delightful

Bloomberg

@business

4 years

JUST IN: Pfizer's Covid vaccine stopped 89.4% of transmission in Israel, the first real-world sign that immunization will curb the spread of coronavirus

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

U.S. unemployment rate is up to 14.7%-- more than triple what it was in February. European unemployment, meanwhile, is radically less affected. In Germany, it went from 5.1% to 5.8% in the same time period. Here's why:

Coronavirus hits European economies but governments help shield workers

Wage subsidy programs in Europe have kept unemployment in check as it explodes in the United States.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

Putin is now hitting Trump for pulling out of the Iran deal.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Former Ukrainian foreign minister, who had to juggle Trump's demands for dirt on Biden last year->

Pavlo Klimkin

@PavloKlimkin

4 years

USA - welcome back)

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

The White House may have seeded civilian Washington DC with a covid outbreak - and it’s not doing a good job of contact tracing

David Nakamura

@DavidNakamura

4 years

That's one of the points we made in this story: the virus is bound to have quickly jump the WH gates and spread into the community. WH has claimed contact tracing from local DC gov but we know it is not contacting many people who've been in close contact.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Incredible @washingtonpost investigation found at least 8.5 billion tons a year of underreported emissions, more than what comes from U.S. in a year. @chriscmooney @eilperin @desmondbutler @JohnMuyskens @anu_narayan @NaemaAhmed

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

Spanish crackdown on Catalonia independence effort prompts bitter memories of Franco dictatorship

For some, Catalonia crackdown evokes memories of the dark days of Spain’s dictatorship

Critics say the Spanish government is fighting Catalans through force and fear, just like Franco.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

For Trump, the potential benefits of awarding himself the summit go beyond the actual payments made by governments. There is also international media exposure — putting Trump Doral on TVs and websites around the world. @Fahrenthold ⁩ ⁦ @partlowj ⁩

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

NEW-> Europe is shelling out billions to keep workers employed while Washington squabbles about unemployment benefits. The result? Through the pandemic, EU unemployment has gone from 6.5 to 7.4 percent, while in the US it doubled. w/ @BoothWilliam @LuiBeck

Europe pays high price to keep workers paid, as U.S. squabbles over stimulus

Countries are extending furlough subsidy programs.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Just took a covid test in Latvia in order to hang out with older relative without worry. Will get result in ~8 hours. (Latvia per capita GDP: $18,171. US per capita GDP: $65,111)

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Just noticed this: from the former prime minister of Denmark, who left office with a backpack slung over a shoulder.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen

@larsloekke

4 years

@realDonaldTrump . Just a little piece of advice… This is the right way to leave office with honor once you have lost election. Thanks for honest conversations over the last 4 years. Let's keep in touch. Best regards. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark.

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Michael Birnbaum

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3 months

NEW: Another senior State official resigns over Gaza, telling colleagues that @StateDept was wrong to conclude Israel had not obstructed aid to Gaza. @John_Hudson and me

Another State Department official resigns over Gaza, taking aim at aid

The State Department official, Stacy Gilbert, resigned Tuesday, saying the administration was wrong to conclude Israel had not obstructed aid to Gaza.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

E.U. foreign policy chief @JosepBorrellF is visiting Moscow right now. He won't visit @navalny in prison because "it would give the wrong impression that we accept the situation" that he's imprisoned, says @NabilaEUspox . That's one strategy, I guess?

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

In communist-era Hungary, citizens were recruited to spy on their neighbors. In Orban's Hungary, a spyware tool has been deployed to similar effect, with technology that can turn smartphones into troves of information. Part of a global investigation:

In Orban’s Hungary, spyware was used to monitor journalists and others who might challenge the...

The deployment of the tool, confirmed with forensics, shows a willingness to use tactics previously deemed out-of-bounds.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

At G7, @eucopresident Donald Tusk rejects Trump effort to reinvite Russia to the summits, says they should invite Ukraine as a guest instead.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

2 years

NEW from me-> How coal-loving Poland became an unlikely leader in the heat pump revolution. The war in Ukraine is pushing Poles to embrace green measures.

Heat pumps take off in coal-loving Poland amid Ukraine war

Poland loves coal. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine is pushing Polish citizens to embrace green measures because the shift will free them from Russian fossil fuels.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

1 year

Personal news! Starting next month, I’ll be covering diplomacy and national security from DC. Looking forward to teaming with @John_Hudson and stepping into @missy_ryan ’s big shoes. Will be fun after 10+ years covering the long arm of the US in the world.

Michael Birnbaum named State Department correspondent

This new role is a natural segue from Birnbaum's successful run covering the security implications of climate change and his more than a decade abroad as bureau chief in Berlin, Moscow and Brussels.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Good grief. Proud to work with @PhilipRucker and @AshleyRParker , who produce some of the best coverage of President Trump there is — and who will continue to do so despite his personal attacks on them.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

A Sanders presidency "would be aggressively involved in multilateral institutions, but those multilateral institutions would have to be more inclusive to a world order that is no longer the Cold War," @RoKhanna told me. He challenged the @MunSecConf 's "West vs the rest" narrative

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

Trump at NATO dinner told fellow leaders he called Jack Nicklaus to brag that there are only 1,000 cameras at the Oscars, but 6,000 for his Singapore summit with Kim Jong Un. "The buzz was fantastic," Trump said, an attendee told the Washington Post

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Sanders+co "want the Europeans to pay their fair share of the cost of troops in Europe to defend against invasion... but the entire military spending of the world potentially could be reduced by deescalating in Afghanistan and in the Middle East and Africa in responsible ways."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

A question that may be getting asked in Western capitals today

Michael McFaul

@McFaul

6 years

How can Trump establish an excellent relationship with a North Korean dictator in 45 minutes, but can't establish working relationships with our longstanding democratic allies after 18 months?

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

...on the principle that European countries should be allowed to make their own sovereign decisions about their foreign policy, and not have them determined by their former ruler in the Kremlin.)

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Former Slovak ambassador to NATO says it’s strange the future of NATO and European security rests on a few hundred people in Nevada and Pennsylvania.

Tomas Valasek

@valasekt

4 years

Aj tak je pozoruhodné, že budúcnosť NATO a európskej bezpečnosti vo veľkej miere stojí a padá na pár sto ľuďoch v Nevade a Pennsylvannii.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

The sharpest policy divergence I heard between Sanders and other more centrist Democratic candidates might have been about @NATO expansion. @RoKhanna talked about a desire to "resolve the situation of NATO's final line" and make clear that @UKRinNATO and @GEORGIA_NATO won't join.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

Article 5 is in fact the very core of NATO. No article 5, no NATO.

Philip Rucker

@PhilipRucker

6 years

Trump says here he is bothered by Article 5 of NATO, which he notably did not endorse during first trip to NATO in May 2017. Article 5 is why so many nations came to America’s aid after 9/11 and fought in Afghanistan

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

As good a day as any for SOME PERSONAL NEWS: After a decade+ as the @washingtonpost 's bureau chief in Brussels, Moscow and Berlin, I've moved back to DC to cover climate issues like this one. Story ideas, coffee welcome.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

I did, Chris: I kept thinking about how violence against press in the US is looking like other parts of the world I've covered, like Russia

Chris Cillizza

@ChrisCillizza

7 years

Did you spend a second over Memorial Day weekend thinking of Greg Gianforte's choke slam? Me neither. Which means Republicans bet right.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

actual cheers going up in Brussels, as though someone just won a crucial football match #macron

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

@RoKhanna (Actually - just adding one observation on that bit about NATO expansion. There's no serious discussion at NATO about expansion to Georgia and Ukraine at the moment. But there are many in NATO who would resist on principle a formal closing of the door to their membership...

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Merkel on whether she is ready to spend German money on Trump's business at the 2020 G7 summit: "This is a decision taken by the American president. I haven’t had time to deal with this yet. We will take a close look at his invitation, and my intention is to attend the summit."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Europe didn't have the same polarization around school reopenings. Scientists said it was manageable. Politicians said it was a societal priority. When I talked to teachers' unions here, they wanted schools reopened, unlike many of their U.S. counterparts at the time.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

1 year

15 year anniversary today at the @washingtonpost and to celebrate they gave me a new desk with an excellent view of @jdawsey1 + new beat covering @StateDept . Looking forward to making good trouble with deskmates @ahauslohner @DanLamothe and neighbor-over-the-divider @John_Hudson

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

This could serve as a basis for diplomacy with Russia that could reduce tensions/achieve peace in Ukraine, @RoKhanna said. "There's no room for negotiation in in backing off the view that the annexation of Crimea is immoral and wrong and a blatant violation of international law..

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

Russia keeps its submarines in Crimea, Trump says, echoing Russian reasoning for why the Kremlin annexed Ukrainian territory

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

E.U. official says EU council president @CharlesMichel coordinated with EU leaders on tricky task of congratulating Biden knowing Trump likely wouldn't concede. They agreed on 1pm DC time, "while showing respect for the electoral process."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

6 years

Putin calls Ukraine situation, where Kremlin seized Crimea then stoked conflict in eastern part of the country, an "internal Ukrainian crisis."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

"How do we form cooperation across the world on issues like climate change, on issues like global poverty, education?... More a view of the new framework of how do we foster multicultural, multiracial democracies in a way that can cooperate to solve international problems."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

7 years

"Our world has never been so divided," Macron says as G-20 breaks up

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

I’m hearing frustration from European policymakers that this could give Putin a green light in Ukraine

Seung Min Kim

@seungminkim

3 years

Biden: "Let me say it again: Our forces are not -- and will not -- be engaged in the conflict with Russia in Ukraine."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Bulgaria not planning to send jets to Ukraine after all:

PM: Reports of Bulgaria Giving Away its Fighter Jets to Ukraine are Absurd! - Novinite.com - Sofia...

Bulgaria will not give Ukraine fighter jets, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said at a briefing, refuting reports that combat-ready aircraft of the Bulgarian army and other Soviet-made Eastern European...

www.novinite.com

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

@PhilipRucker Having such a forceful advocate for an authoritarian leader inside the room of democracies profoundly shaped the overall tone of the summit, one senior official said. “The consequence is the same as if one of the participants is a dictator."

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 months

Blinken was followed by Orchestra 59, a group of Ukrainian veterans

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

3 years

Turkey's leader met two E.U. presidents. The woman among them didn't get a chair. An episode in couch-and-chair diplomacy from @RTErdogan against @vonderleyen .

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

After EU foreign policy chief @JosepBorrellF went to Moscow, was mocked by Lavrov, didn’t visit @navalny because, his spokeswoman said, to visit him in prison would be to legitimize his imprisonment, he’s now being mocked by EU foreign ministers. Here is Latvia’s:

Edgars Rinkēvičs

@edgarsrinkevics

4 years

Looking forward to hearing from @JosepBorrellF on the results of his #Moscow trip at the next #EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

In a Sanders presidency, "I think you're going to see strategic cuts in the defense budget in the United States back to at least Obama levels," @RoKhanna said.

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

1 year

Latvian president-elect chomping popcorn as Prigozhin declares plan to attack Russian military

Edgars Rinkēvičs

@edgarsrinkevics

1 year

“Oh what a circus, oh what a show”

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

Former Polish foreign minister noting current Polish president's (unrealized) plan to name a US base in Poland "Fort Trump" looks less attractive after Trump loses

Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺

@sikorskiradek

4 years

Nie, sami to sprytnie wymyślili, jak #FortTrump .

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

"IT'S CALLED DEMOCRACY!" a former Italian prime minister ALL-CAPS back at President Trump

Enrico Letta

@EnricoLetta

4 years

NO. È LA LEGGE CHE LO STABILISCE. NON IL PRESIDENTE. SI CHIAMA DEMOCRAZIA!

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

9 years

Thousands in front of Greece's parliament celebrate the rejection of Europe's austerity bargain http://t.co/sb15rDCpdY

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

5 years

...But there is room in shaping the posture towards Russia. And I don't think that the posture towards Russia or China should hearken back to a Cold War," according to @RoKhanna , who is advising Sanders on foreign policy. ENDS

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Michael Birnbaum

@michaelbirnbaum

4 years

“If you have 10% of the workforce getting laid off and going on unemployment benefits, then...10% of the current high-spending consumers wouldn’t be spending anything because of insecurity of the future,” Danish Employment Minister @PHummelgaard told me.

Coronavirus hits European economies but governments help shield workers

Wage subsidy programs in Europe have kept unemployment in check as it explodes in the United States.

www.washingtonpost.com

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