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ilmarinen7.bsky.social
Solely to blame for own opinions. Not living in the happiest country in the world.
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BREAKING NEW YORK (AP) — The Associated Press sues three Trump administration officials over access to presidential events, citing First Amendment.

submitted 1 day ago • 29 comments

This is an excellent and timely factsheet on Ukraine, U.S. v. European security assistance, and other misunderstood or lied about aspects of the war, by our friends at @thestudyofwar.bsky.social. I'll summarize a few main points below, with additional sources of my own:

submitted 15 hours ago • 25 comments

So the President not only fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. He also fired the top JAGs at the Army, Navy and Air Force. Those are the lead people who determine what is a legal order and what is not. So if you're planning to do things that are illegal they're the most obvious obstacle.

submitted 20 hours ago • 155 comments

The move against Franchetti and her team who were just beginning to get a grip on structural problems fueling the US Navy's growing crisis is an act of strategic self-sabotage

submitted 1 day ago • 15 comments

I don't get personal on main very often, but I spent a few hours writing this, and I want you to read it. It's about my dad and my stepmom, and me, and Stranger Things, and what's happening to the VA right now. www.cheriepriest.com/blog/the-dep...

submitted 4 days ago • 90 comments

Brits think the UK government should prioritise supporting Ukraine over maintaining good relations with the US. This is the Brits. With the special relationship. Trump has no idea what a monster he has created. (Thanks @jimmyrushton.bsky.social) yougov.co.uk/topics/polit...

submitted 2 days ago • 23 comments

People are always asking “what are some books that capture the feeling I get when I read The Lord of the Rings” so I made a list:

submitted 3 days ago • 7 comments

My Trade Secrets today. Someone had to do the "in praise of regulation" column, and here it is. Or at least against boneheaded deregulation, where the UK for one risks going in the name of growth. Ironically, Britain's best growth strategy would be to rejoin the regulatory superstate of the EU.

submitted 2 days ago • 12 comments

Thursday’s front page of the British Daily Star. Putin’s Poodle

submitted 2 days ago • 550 comments

I’m George Takei and I approve of this message.

submitted 3 days ago • 2367 comments

The US Has Taken Sides--Against Democracy open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

submitted 3 days ago • 9 comments

C.S. Lewis' advice on how to become a better writer

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

I am really quite exhausted by the idea that the US has extended its security umbrella to Europe since ww2 out of the goodness of their hearts. Yes, Europe should have done more, especially over the last two decades, but let‘s not pretend that US foreign policy was always motivated by altruism.

submitted 3 days ago • 19 comments

Another must read by a veteran of Washington and Russia reporting. 80 years of US foreign policy ripped up and US allies trampled on. A Russian asset in the WH www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Putin, bubby, I’m your orange knight!

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

1/ The rocketing Council Tax burden at the bottom of the income distribution quietly recreating the worst problems of the Poll Tax www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/risi...

submitted 5 days ago • 7 comments

It is baffling to me why some on the economically liberal right (in the UK) seem so comfortable with the politics of Trump and Putin. Neither are supporters of free markets, liberty, or freedom of speech, and seemingly share very little in common with that political tradition.

submitted 5 days ago • 21 comments

The paperback of A History of the World in 47 Borders comes out in just under six weeks! Here are three chapters we cut for space reasons. Firstly: what the suspicious similarities between "central Russia", "central China" and the "midwest" tell us about imperial expansion

submitted 6 days ago • 7 comments

Hi All, just sent out my weekend update, free as always. This is arguably the most momentous week in European history since 1991 or even 1945. The US pivoted this week to be a friend of dictators who is forcing unilateral concessions on democracies. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

submitted 6 days ago • 51 comments

Don't make many posts, but this article makes plain where we are. It's important. Where we go from here depends on whether European leaders - and electorates - have the character to face reality and take action to deal with it. America's didn't. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

The measles outbreak in Texas is reminding me of the public letter Roald Dahl wrote about losing his daughter to measles in 1962, just before the vaccine was publicly available.

submitted 7 days ago • 410 comments