Katharina Borchert

Also hier sind alle schon definitiv irre …

I’m in the airport lounge in Frankfurt getting some water. The guy next to me looks frustrated and says: “Why do Germans hate ICE?” I take a deep breath and give him a 30-second version of German history in the 20th century. He looks horrified: “What? NO! I meant ice in your drinks!” 🤣

Wanna get coffee when I’m back in February?

I usually get asked a lot of questions about the situation in the US when I’m in Germany. But it hits different when you have coffee with your in-law grandma, a Holocaust survivor, and she says: “What is your plan? This is not 1933 anymore, it feels more like ‘38. Don’t wait too long.”

New achievement level unlocked: We arrived so early that the previous kids service was still ongoing. I can’t remember ever laughing so much on Christmas Eve. Merry it is! 🎄

I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.

Aber natürlich! 😂

Bei meinen Eltern auf dem Frühstückstisch. Selbstgemacht noch von meiner Oma. Älter als mein Gatte 😉

Euch ebenfalls ein sehr fröhliches Fest! Cheers!

Empty church on Christmas Eve with a Christmas tree next to the altar

My father’s first principle is punctuality and he is terrified of being late for Christmas services and possibly having to stand in the back. So every year we walk into a completely empty church one full hour early. My mom brings cookies and a flask with brandy. Merry Christmas everyone!

Large Christmas tree decorated with straw stars and wooden ornaments standing in an old barn.

We walk into the big hall (former barn) where the family is decorating the Christmas tree. My mom says in lieu of a greeting: “Did you find Jesus?” My Jewish husband is particularly confused.
“Nope.” - “I think the dog might have snatched him then.” Christmas truly is merry in this house.

My US doctor prescribed a cream. My very costly #health #insurance doesn’t want to pay for it. The cost without insurance is an astounding $1,042.99 🫣
But I can get it in Germany for EUR 31,50. The exact same product. Xmas travel almost pays for itself 🤦🏻‍♀️

A jar of homemade raspberry jam from 1978

Any other farm kids here whose parents have #homemade #jam from 1978 stored in the basement? And of course it’s still edible 🤣

It's Sunday night and we're sitting at the dining table writing Xmas cards. Many many cards. My husband drafts each text on his computer. I just whip out my pen and write. He stares at me in awe: "I married a freak who rawdogs Christmas cards. My life is wild" 🤣

Ugh. I am so sorry. I really feel for you. I’m rapidly running out of patience with these people. And if you don’t follow their fervent preaching they look at you as if your health issues are your own fault for not adhering to their quack recommendations.

Folks, if you meet someone who has some kind of chronic disease, please do not tell them about how amazing your daily dose of colostrum makes you feel or how great cold plunges are. And do not dare to ask them if the vaccine caused this. Fate will not treat you kindly, neither will your sick friend.

Woman with three bandaids on her arm after getting vaccinated. The bandaids have hearts on them.

Vaccinations done. Flu. Covid. RSV. Protect yourself and protect your community. Stay safe out there. #healthcare #vaccines

Skeleton on a box sitting right in front of a vaccine poster at CVS in October 2025

I like Halloween decor and I like vaccinations. But combining the Halloween skeleton with your vaccine advertising might not be the best service to public health in a country ruled by "vaccine skeptics".

Maybe he should get out more instead of just checking the covenant eyes app on his son's phone.

Wow. The EU was ready to sanction Google for abusing its ad monopoly today.

But it was blocked after pressure from EU Trade Commissioner @marossefcovic.bsky.social & the U.S. DoJ.

Europe just chose Washington’s corporate interests over its own citizens.

Unprecedented. Self-inflicted.

Judge Dismisses Florida Arrest Over Rainbow Chalk Art Near Pulse Nightclub Ron DeSantis’ transportation department banned chalk art on roads and painted over a memorial to victims of the Orlando LGBTQ nightclub shooting.

Imagine being so scared of gay people that you need to declare water soluble chalk art on public roads a felony. What a sad existence. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

You cannot possibly make this stuff up … www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/r...

The social media accounts for federal law enforcement agencies keep posting the exact kinds of things you'd report to federal law enforcement agencies if a normal citizen posted them.

Oh, enjoy beautiful Spain!!

Haha! Jet lag is definitely a major factor!

In the worst phase of jet lag right now. Stumbling around like a zombie after barely 3 hours of sleep. If I encounter one more person telling me “just go back to bed and keep trying some more” … you might read about it in the paper tomorrow. 😤

Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve the process of Federal

1. Federal funding for research promotes tech, biomedical, and scientific discovery in the US, and provides training for the sci/tech workforce that has brought immeasurable wealth to the US over the past 75 years.

Today's executive order includes a provision that will obliterate both functions.

First DC Tesler diner opening next week.

I have never lived in another country where the perception of crime and the reality of crime are so far apart. Sadly media has to shoulder a lot of the responsibility alongside reckless politicians whose main campaign strategy is scaring people senseless.