"The only thing that matters now, is to gather the political will to disentangle our continent from an unreliable and dangerous partner - and gain the time to do that safely. We have to bite the inside of our cheek, smile sweetly and say 'yes dear', while preparing our escape." - ThreadSky

sturdyalex.bsky.social • 1 day ago

"The only thing that matters now, is to gather the political will to disentangle our continent from an unreliable and dangerous partner - and gain the time to do that safely. We have to bite the inside of our cheek, smile sweetly and say 'yes dear', while preparing our escape."

Reposted from Quiet Riot

🏫 NEW Sunday School: With Friends Like These ⛪️

@pimlicat.bsky.social & @sturdyalex.bsky.social discuss the week's awful events, how to leave a mobster🇺🇸 safely + an emotion we haven't felt in a while: being proud of Britain🇬🇧.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/5dck...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Comments

coletteaustin.bsky.social•1 day ago

That’s exactly right.

mascodagama.bsky.social•1 day ago

Not down with this inside of cheek biting. Did it the other day and it didn’t help at all.

ellinst.bsky.social•1 day ago

Is there a shelter for battered countries?

amandagillender.bsky.social•1 day ago

It's a real problem - how to treat a megalomaniac toddler with infinite power & a foul temper if you want to get a reasonable outcome.
Especially when you know he's likely to change his mind as soon as you have left the room.
You need to tread very carefully, whatever your feelings.
But we need out.

equiton.net•1 day ago

Part of this strategy must also be to keep contact with that part of the US that is not Trump/MAGA. At some point the tide will turn, and we should be ready for when it does.

willythepeople.bsky.social•1 day ago

Or start charging them £50 Billion per year to host their airbases.....

jspieve.bsky.social•1 day ago

Perhaps some of the countries formerly under USSR control could provide some tips on how to manage this process

gb65.bsky.social•1 day ago

A brilliant episode this morning. Naomi and Alex, your comprehensive understanding of and willingness to explore the present situation is refreshing and so needed. Thank you

sturdyalex.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thank you!

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

Wise words. I'll check it out. I must confess I moved away from OGWN as it ceased to reflect my anger with the Tories given their departure and failed to reflect my subsequent irritation with Labour. But I've missed some of you at least. I shall listen nervously and see if I can get through a few...

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

Okay, heard it, and it's excellent, particularly Alex's take. I find myself in the unfortunate position of not having voted for Starmer and having no intention of doing so given Labour's economic policies and their pandering to Reform narratives domestically, but thank God this is the man in...

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

... charge while international policy has been to the fore. He hasn't put a foot wrong and has exceeded my expectations and, I suspect, just about everyone else's. I wouldn't differ from Alex's analysis one iota. We're playing 3D chess right now and Starmer is playing it like a master.

I've got...

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

... my own take on the car-crash Oval office meeting. Trump - the man who pontificated before TV cameras about the 'S' in 'BRICS' standing for 'Spain' - doesn't do geopolitics and doesn't care. Insofar as he's a Putin stooge it's as a useful idiot. Quite simply - there's a longer analysis on...

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

... my timeline I won't be cheeky and post here - Trump saw the rare-earths' deal as payback for services already rendered and sees no reason to promise anything for the future on the back of it. He lost his temper before the car-crash finale when a journalist asked about security guarantees...

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

... and that's the sticking point. He sees no reason to give them, this is just about collecting his perception of debts due, not about promising to give more. When it became clear that wasn't going to wash he tried to cancel, Macron somehow talked him into going ahead and yes, though I doubted...

petemarchetto.bsky.social•1 day ago

... episodes without either banging my head against a wall or bursting into tears.

mynameisalexp.bsky.social•1 day ago

All true but I'm not sure we will be afforded the time .. Vance orchestrated the blow up Friday and was dismissive of Europe in Munich.. Putin has no reason to accept any peace deal...

yorkshirepaddy.bsky.social•1 day ago

Superb episode. Your wise words are absolutely spot on.

mlungu.bsky.social•1 day ago

Indeed, this would be the difference between buying time and wasting time. Let us hope that our political elite is buying time.

lavieenrouge.bsky.social•1 day ago

I felt my blood pressure slowly decreasing as I listened. Alex’s ‘last word’ particularly restorative.

curiouskittyk.bsky.social•1 day ago

True.
What we have all learned in real time is what the true “art of the deal” means and requires.
We have learnt, true diplomacy is attention to detail, hard work, biting your lip on several occasions and patience.

feelingantsy.bsky.social•1 day ago

The mighty bouche

jrrezvani.bsky.social•1 day ago

The cost Brexit (for UK & EU) just got compounded.

jrrezvani.bsky.social•1 day ago

🎯

annharries.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think I probably need to bottle Alex’s comments from today so that when I’m feeling really desperate, I can listen to somebody speaking calmly and thoughtfully. The people who made the knee-jerk anti-Starmer comments yesterday should just listen to some thoughtful analysis. Thank you both of you.

geotruthseeker.bsky.social•1 day ago

fascinating insight as ever and particularly interesting to hear the media questioning angle between the US & British Journalists in the Oval Office. Thank you for keeping them 👀 peeled on all our behalfs @quietriotpod.bsky.social team 🙏👌

sadams.bsky.social•1 day ago

The point about the multi-stages of the State visit was really useful.

I hadn't understood that previously.

It actually means the UK/Starmer retains a joker which can be played or withheld as appropriate.

olddogandgrump.bsky.social•1 day ago

That was some montage of UK press questions at the end. All doing down or selling out the UK. Not one positive question. All with an agenda. Third estate....more like fifth column.

gillwest.bsky.social•1 day ago

I really look forward to QR Sunday School as my end of week political roundup & analysis and this morning’s excellent episode did not disappoint.

jedi-shaman.bsky.social•1 day ago

‘Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick’

ryphtedge.org•1 day ago

Theres a lot to be said for this

alanjstedman.bsky.social•1 day ago

Agree

I suggested over a week ago that I guessed it might be difficult to disentangle the defense arrangements and @georgemonbiot.bsky.social confirmed that in his article this week in the Guardian

Even Trump is being naive about NATO. They have 60,000 + troops in Europe with associated support!

jennyhurley.bsky.social•1 day ago

Absolutely agree. Those calling for the state visit to be cancelled don’t understand how to deal with Trump. Putin understands only too well.

simonbm.bsky.social•1 day ago

Everyone knows that, if you flatter Trump, he may change his mind for a few days before bouncing back to what he’s thought for 30 years. Starmer won’t be the only one doing it, but it’s an irrelevant side show. Everything depends on our own capabilities.

sturdyalex.bsky.social•1 day ago

Not if it gains a few days each time.

simonbm.bsky.social•1 day ago

It mustn’t distract from the main tasks, which are in Europe. We have to learn distance, which includes not expecting Starmer to express our feelings to Trump, of course. The USA is soon going to be to us as Russia and China are and I know precious few people who observe those countries in detail.

colinbaines15.bsky.social•1 day ago

Oooohhhh - wokey dokey
😂
https://newsthump.com/2025/03/02/darren-grimes-cancelled-by-woke-gb-news-because-im-a-31-year-old-white-man/

susanmcg.bsky.social•1 day ago

Enjoyed podcast this morning.

marinalovesfeta.bsky.social•1 day ago

Ducks in a row time!

tbuck501.bsky.social•1 day ago

I’d like to leave a 🇺🇸 mobster. Have passport, will travel. But would anyone grant us entrance?

callistosolo.bsky.social•1 day ago

I think that's exactly what's happening. The optics from yesterday are very telling.

villain57.bsky.social•1 day ago

Given Trump’s obsession with China maybe we should stop supporting him on China matters to remind him he needs allies after all.

nonnie.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yep

richardjsmith.bsky.social•1 day ago

Hi Alex. Many thanks for your clear, considered, thoughtful and compassionate analysis, which is much needed right now. Just listened and I thought you hit exactly the right spot; plus your analysis of the UK media questions was fascinating. Great stuff. Please keep going. We all need it.

sturdyalex.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thank you!

lucysetonw.bsky.social•1 day ago

Just yes. Thank you, for being grown up.

johnyofunny.bsky.social•1 day ago

I don’t disagree with this and thought the discussion with Naomi was really good. I was more persuaded by Naomi’s argument. My worry is Europe will do nothing substantial because they hope the US will change. Hoping for the best doesn’t work unless you’ve prepared for the worst.

curiouskittyk.bsky.social•1 day ago

True, but, we have no choice but to persevere, have hope and patience. It’s a case of optimism and realism, which is rare. Unfortunately we are indeed in unprecedented times.

execrable.bsky.social•1 day ago

It's going to require big sacrifices that are going to meet inevitable resistance from inevitable sources. America has made an issue out of being indispensable to world governance but Trump has put an end to the delusion that involved. It's always been about what America wants. It's unsustainable.

catanonim.me•1 day ago

I'll listen, as always.

But now even the Mail wants the state visit cancelled.

olddogandgrump.bsky.social•1 day ago

Don't be too sure...that will be used as a stick to beat Starmer with once the Mail has fluffed its readers into a boiling rage and Starmer, walking the tightrope, just postpones or has to go through with it to appease Trump.

drsjwoods.bsky.social•1 day ago

The issue goes both ways though doesn’t it- if we continue to row in hard behind Zelensky, trump either visits and appears to support a country fighting openly against Russian interests, or he has to cancel and be done with the post war settlement.

sebtallents.bsky.social•1 day ago

Exactly this. Knowing he'll not actually cancel because that's dangerous, they are laying the ground to attack him for not doing it. A Johnsonian "I wrote two articles" schtick.

sebtallents.bsky.social•1 day ago

In the end, UK newspapers are mostly entertainment. They aren't trying to get into the head of govt and critique it and haven't been that kind of thing for ages.

You can't use them as a guide to what policy "should" be. Just what the immediate emotional reaction might be.

sturdyalex.bsky.social•1 day ago

They will find a way to attack him if he does it, too. Policy advice from The Mail should be ignored.

sturdyalex.bsky.social•1 day ago

If that doesn't convince you it's the wrong play, I don't know what will.

catanonim.me•1 day ago

I think we need to resurrect a little Latin tag with which you will, I am sure, be familiar.

'Sine die'.

catanonim.me•1 day ago

I take your point there!

martinbellmcmlv.bsky.social•1 day ago

I wouldn't trust anything the Mail says. They're just trying to survive the wave of disgust and outrage released by Trump, Musk and Vance. This is their version of keeping their heads down and hoping nobody notices what they've been up to for years. The Mail, Farage, Johnson, Truss are covered in 💩.

ruralsuffolk.bsky.social•1 day ago

A good analogy to leaving a dangerous and abusive partner. My natural inclination is to shout and scream so I'm more likely to goad them. Need people with good diplomatic and planning skills to extricate us from a decades long relationship where we've always been the weaker partner.

middleagedvitriol.bsky.social•1 day ago

There was a time you didn't need to explain to the British what International Diplomacy actually looked like. And then we started listening to this knob and it all went to shit.

politicalhackuk.bsky.social•1 day ago

PJ O’Rourke described diplomacy as the art of saying ‘nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.

susagjohn.bsky.social•1 day ago

Will Rodgers https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/will_rogers_100063

politicalhackuk.bsky.social•1 day ago

First saw it in a PJ book, so happy to be corrected on the origin

susagjohn.bsky.social•1 day ago

One of my favorite Will Rogers quotes: "There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."

ennui.org•1 day ago

It isn't a Rogers original, either.

localnotail.bsky.social•1 day ago

Yes, John's post sent me off to check and got to the same reliable source

"Diplomacy frequently consists in soothingly saying, “Nice doggie,” until you have a chance to pick up a rock."

attributed to Walter Trumbull @quoteinvestigator.com
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/12/18/diplomacy/

redordeadedd.bsky.social•1 day ago

Demonstrated to perfection by James Caan in Misery.

gregwa.bsky.social•1 day ago

Doesn't this rather assume our psychotic ex is either not going to notice or not care about us leaving? If they response aggressively or negatively it will take more than sweet smiles. The situation is horrendous and we can't duck the truth that the divorce will be messy, expensive and dangerous.

theangelofhistory.bsky.social•1 day ago

The biggest issue is that 1. it’s expensive & in some respects painful 2. it’s years of incremental. 1. means lots of people won’t want to do it. 2. means the people who don’t want to do it will have lots of opportunities to wield vetoes.

gingerjill.bsky.social•1 day ago

OK, I finally signed up to be a supporter of this excellent podcast. It’s so much cheaper than therapy. A particularly thoughtful episode today. I quite like when Mummy and Daddy disagree. It’s part of the authenticity of this team.

sturdyalex.bsky.social•1 day ago

Thank you, Jill! A x

petehowe33.bsky.social•1 day ago

Superb show. Thank you.

All leaders in London today have previously taken Biden’s lead arming Ukraine enough to stop further invasion, but not enough to beat Russia.

If all these leaders representing circa 700 million people now upgrade their goal to arming Ukraine specifically to beat Russia…

petehowe33.bsky.social•1 day ago

It’s just 50 miles from the front line in Donesk oblast south to Mariupol on the coast. Ukraine pushing south that 50 miles would cut-off all Russian forces west of Mariupol.

And one direct-hit on the Kerch Bridge would cut-off all Russian forces in Crimea…

That’s game-over for Russia…

petehowe33.bsky.social•1 day ago

All these leaders representing 700 million of some of the world’s wealthiest people now simply need to help Ukraine push just 50 miles and hit a bridge with a missile

Surely between the massed strength, wealth & innovation of all these nations, just 50 miles and one missile is very much achievable?

petehowe33.bsky.social•1 day ago

The “Peace Plan” discussed by these leaders should be a plan to get Ukraine’s forces through those just 50 miles to the coast, and what missile will take-out the Kerch Bridge.

That would end the war immediately - and deliver the peace that all those leaders are demanding.

donmac.bsky.social•1 day ago

Amazing that the Mail on Sunday is on the right side of history on this. I await with bated breath what terrible take or fishing for inappropriate gotchas Laura Kuenssberg will take later this morning.

readikus.bsky.social•1 day ago

Another strong episode, with refreshingly realistic comments, Alex. People wetting themselves, screaming “cancel the visit!! Launch the nukes!!! Rejoin the EU immediately” need to have a quiet think about the basics of diplomacy. Trump says a lot, but doesn’t do a lot of what he says.

punshhh.bsky.social•1 day ago

Starmer played Trump like a fiddle the other day. Now he can keep playing him for most of his term in office, by repeatedly delaying the state visit.

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply