Opening on rubble - “Singing and dancing on bones” - Russification as cultural policy!
More than three years after the Russian airstrike on the Mariupol theater, the occupation authorities have reopened the building. Where hundreds of civilians sought shelter on March 16, 2022 and around 600 people were killed, a gala evening has now taken place. Russian state media show marble, chandeliers, dancers in kokoshnik costumes. Not a word about the dead. No sign of remembrance. The word “children”, once painted in huge letters on the street and visible from the air, has disappeared. The ruins were cleared away, human remains moved to mass graves. Reconstruction does not replace, it covers up. What is celebrated as culture is the attempt to make a crime scene invisible.
The Mariupol city council speaks of “singing and dancing on bones”. The reopening of the theater is not reconstruction, but part of an aggressive Russification. Performances feature mainly works by Russian authors, financed and organized by officials installed by Moscow. Guests of honor include representatives of the occupation administration, supported by construction collectives from Saint Petersburg. Russia still maintains the claim that Ukrainian forces destroyed the theater - a narrative disproven by investigations. Mariupol remains both symbol and warning: of war crimes, of historical revisionism, and of a cultural policy that does not preserve memory, but erases it.
Hot mic and poor Donni …
An open microphone caught Donald Trump in a conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu making a remark that reveals more about his understanding of politics than any speech. He complained that he had not received a Nobel Peace Prize for his alleged diplomatic achievements. “Do I get credit for that? No. I’ve done eight of them,” Trump said. Eight agreements, eight initiatives, eight deals - what exactly he meant remains unclear, as does the death toll of these deals. The sentence stands on its own. It is not about peace, not about mediation, not about responsibility, but about personal grievance. Foreign policy appears here not as a duty, but as a platform for self affirmation. What matters is not the outcome, but the recognition. The moment feels unintentionally honest. No performance, no staging, just a president speaking in a confidential tone about what truly drives him: that his name, in his view, is too rarely honored. Trump’s place in history is already secure, just on the wrong side of power.
Judge orders release of transcript in the Charlie Kirk case
“For the public there is a presumptive right of access to court records.”
Federal Judge Tony Graf in the US state of Utah has ordered the release of a previously non public court transcript in the murder case of Charlie Kirk. Graf ruled that the transcript of a hearing from October must be filed in the court record by the end of the day. The closed session addressed whether the defendant Tyler Robinson must remain shackled during court appearances. Robinson is charged with aggravated murder of the right wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot on September 10 on the campus of Utah Valley University. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The judge emphasized that public access is a fundamental principle of justice, but ordered limited redactions to protect security details. An audio recording of the hearing is also to be released, which was unrelated to the shackling issue and is already part of the proceedings. Robinson was allowed to appear in civilian clothing, but according to the judicial ruling must remain shackled. A preliminary hearing on the merits is scheduled for the week beginning May 18.
Journalists, including ourselves, had filed objections to the secrecy and pointed to the public interest. Justice is only legitimate when it remains comprehensible. Proceedings must not only be formally correct, but also withstand public scrutiny. The background to the objection is ongoing investigations into the handling of the case, in particular possible security failures. Equally central is the question of how a main trial can be conducted publicly if parts of decision making are neither read aloud nor reviewable. Such a practice would damage the transparency of the proceedings and remove the later verdict from public oversight. Protecting security details is legitimate and was not part of the objection. It was also pointed out that comparable practices could be transferred to ICE proceedings, which would restrict defense options. Concern was also expressed that this may be precisely the intention, in order to apply such methods in these proceedings in the future.
Threats without evidence
Donald Trump has once again threatened Iran with harsh consequences without presenting solid evidence. Iran might currently be “behaving badly”, Trump said, adding that this had not yet been confirmed. If the suspicion were to be substantiated, Tehran would know what would follow. The consequences would be “very strong”, possibly even “stronger than last time”. When directly asked whether there was concrete proof, Trump denied it. It was merely “what you hear”. He cited no independent findings or verifiable information. This leaves an escalation threat in the room that is explicitly based on hearsay. Between allegation and evidence there remains a gap. Foreign policy consequences are suggested without naming the basis. The episode shows how quickly political threats can emerge from speculation. It does not always have to be the “usual suspects”.
Kaizen daily work - Deportation despite judicial order
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement unlawfully deported Diego Alberto Hernandez Garcia one day before Christmas Eve, disregarding a judicial order that he should remain in the United States. Diego Alberto Hernandez Garcia was arrested while working on a construction site, even though his temporary protection status was valid until 2026. The arrest took place in Hardin Valley in the state of Tennessee. After landing in El Salvador, an officer reportedly said it had been a “mistake”. It was possible to arrange for his return to the United States. Hernandez Garcia was later transferred to a deportation detention facility in Louisiana. There, Diego said he simply wanted “to see daylight” and wished for “a Bible”. As always, the incident raises questions about compliance with court orders and about internal procedures in arrests and deportations. For Diego, the error meant days of uncertainty. For the authorities, it creates an obligation to explain. We hope to bring the case before a court before January 1.
107 dead and the United Nations continue to enjoy nice lunch bites
What do we see here? - “Watching people die”
107 dead since early September. Thirty known attacks by US forces on alleged drug boats in the Pacific. The latest strike again killed two people, announced by US Southern Command, without publicly presented evidence. Images show explosions on the open sea, names and backgrounds remain unknown. Boats are declared targets, people reduced to numbers. President Donald Trump speaks of an armed conflict with cartels and declares the deadly operations necessary policy. Legal classification, independent oversight, and transparent procedures are absent. Who was on board, for what reason, whether there was an immediate threat, remains unanswered. The attacks take place far from classic battlefields, but with final consequences. International reactions remain strikingly quiet. There is no public pressure, no investigation, no clear position from the United Nations. While missiles strike, diplomatic routine continues. 107 dead - and silence becomes habit.
Russian newspaper celebrates ideological closeness to Washington
A Russian newspaper openly writes that the US no longer sees Russia as a threat. The political course of the US president is closer to the values of Vladimir Putin than to those of Europe. What is meant is a worldview that places national strength above international rules. US President Donald Trump appears in this text not as an adversary, but as a partner in thinking. Europe is described as a liberal power bloc that must be pushed back. Democratic institutions are seen as obstacles, not protection. The wording is clear and deliberately provocative. It signals approval, not analysis. That such tones are struck publicly is no coincidence. They aim at division between the US and Europe. The text reads like an invitation to reorder alliances. Not covertly, but openly.
Kaizen daily work - Brutality that has crossed every line
Under the Trump administration, ICE and Border Patrol are using methods that ignore even basic rule of law principles. People are detained on the street, at workplaces, or in front of their homes, often solely because of appearance or language. Speaking Spanish is enough to be targeted. Even US citizens are affected. Documents are ignored, lawyers not informed, families left without news for days. Procedures exist on paper, not in practice. Authorities act quickly, opaquely, and without effective oversight. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Border Patrol place deterrence above law. President Donald Trump tolerates and promotes this course. The rule of law becomes a shadow landscape while power is exercised. What is happening here is not an accident, but a system. Brutality that has crossed every line.
The last walk
In Bavaria, it is over for the so called walks of the Querdenken scene. The last one took place in Kempten, and groups in Memmingen and Kaufbeuren have also given up. The reasoning sounds sobering: one had achieved no effect anymore. At the same time, it is claimed one has remained “steadfast”. Translated, that means: hardly any people, hardly any attention, hardly any relevance. What once began as loud protest ended in stagnation. The slogans remained the same, the audience grew smaller. Political consequences failed to materialize. The pandemic is over, and the appetite for permanent outrage apparently as well. What remains is the self description as unyielding, even though no one is listening anymore. Public space has moved on. The question is not why it ends, but when this scene will reappear with a new topic. Experience suggests it never takes very long. Or are they perhaps writing to Kennedy Jr.? We will find out soon. Until then - stay healthy.
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