We live in dangerous times

Dear readers,
It’s been a snowy week across Europe — especially in Stockholm, where I joined an impressive group of Swedish journalists and took the stage Thursday at the Stora Journalistpriset. This prestigious media award ceremony was started in 1966 by Bonnier Group, one of the largest media companies in Europe, and is Sweden’s answer to the Pulitzer Prize. In celebrating the best of Swedish journalism we also paused for a moment to recognize Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper in Hong Kong, who testified this week at his national security trial. Jimmy, 76, is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison for committing journalism and advocating for democracy and freedom. 
It really puts our role as journalists in perspective.
Back in Europe, the slow-motion German political train wreck continues down its inexorable path. In Brussels, Ursula von der Leyen looks set to have her new Commission confirmed next week but the question is less whether they can get to work by the start of December but more whether the European Union can get anything done with Donald Trump in the White House and the main European capitals paralyzed by their own domestic issues.
Power in Brussels still runs through the capitals of the member countries and if national leaders are completely engulfed in their own political fights there is nobody to empower the eurocrats and help push through a Europe-wide agenda.
At least Dr. von der Leyen has been staying useful, drawing on her first calling as a medical doctor and offering assistance to a distressed passenger on a commercial flight to Brussels this week.
The situation in Ukraine is looking increasingly grim, with U.S. President Joe Biden belatedly sending more weapons and allowing Kyiv to use them in Russian territory while Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin once again threatens nuclear war.
My new Swedish friends have started to receive pamphlets warning them to prepare for potential war or other major crises. The helpful advice includes a list of food to keep in storage, including potatoes, cabbage, tins of Bolognese sauce and that most essential wartime item — blueberry and rosehip soup.
We live in dangerous times. Stay safe out there. Until next time, bon weekend,
Jamil
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While Donald Trump is filling out his top team, the EU faces a leadership vacuum. Thank Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been on the phone with Vladimir Putin and faces gloomy prospects in likely snap election. EU Confidential host Sarah Wheaton is joined by Gordon Repinski, POLITICO’s executive editor for Germany and host of the Berlin Playbook podcast, and Liana Fix, Europe fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, to unpack how domestic chaos in Berlin translates to transatlantic chaos for the rest of the bloc.
Then, Sarah checks in with Eric Bazail-Eimil, POLITICO.com’s expert on U.S. foreign policy, to learn more about Marco Rubio, Trump’s surprisingly conventional pick to serve as Washington’s top envoy. Are the sighs of relief in Brussels justified?  Listen to the episode.

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The EU bubble’s longest-awaited sequel is here … maybe. Read this week’s Declassified column.
Caption competition
“Welcome to our TED talk, today we’re gonna talk about our favorite craft beers.”
 Can you do better? Email [email protected]
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 Thanks for all the entries. Here’s the best from our postbag — there’s no prize except for the gift of laughter, which I think we can all agree is far more valuable than cash or booze.
“Snog, Marry, Avoid.” by Anonymous
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