Conn MacEvilly
@conmachiavel.bsky.social
Woodkern by inclination, kern by trade. Iraq and Afg vet. 40 years ago, aspired to be neutral good half-elf ranger: getting closer to that by the day, I think.
Interested in law and public policy, defence, information security and the climate emergency.
Interested in law and public policy, defence, information security and the climate emergency.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Come on, ‘The Mancunian Candidate’ was right there.
Andy Burnham, the man who would be king
The Greater Manchester mayor has made no secret of his Labour leadership ambitions, but faces significant obstacles
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Come on, ‘The Mancunian Candidate’ was right there.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Footage reportedly shows burning Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean. Russian sources claimed attack on Quendil allegedly carrying officials and GRU personnel for drone espionage, reporting seven wounded and two killed. Information unverified.
December 19, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Footage reportedly shows burning Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean. Russian sources claimed attack on Quendil allegedly carrying officials and GRU personnel for drone espionage, reporting seven wounded and two killed. Information unverified.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
'Russia has expended significant resources in mapping and understanding NATO’s CUI. It must be assumed that they will have identified areas of relative vulnerability and [...] will attempt to target CUI early in any major conflict' writes Commander Edward Black.
UK Critical Undersea Infrastructure Sabotage: Threat and Response
National resilience and the vulnerability of Critical National Infrastructure to sabotage has increasingly come under scrutiny since the publication of the Strategic Defence Review.
www.rusi.org
December 19, 2025 at 11:45 AM
'Russia has expended significant resources in mapping and understanding NATO’s CUI. It must be assumed that they will have identified areas of relative vulnerability and [...] will attempt to target CUI early in any major conflict' writes Commander Edward Black.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Russia has no plans to invade:
Moldova.
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But Russia won't attack EU
Moldova.
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But Russia won't attack EU
December 18, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Russia has no plans to invade:
Moldova.
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But Russia won't attack EU
Moldova.
Ok. But not Georgia
Ok but not Ukraine.
Ok, Just Crimea
Ok, just Crimea & part of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk
Ok, Just Crimea & all of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia
Ok, all of Ukraine
But Russia won't attack EU
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
so glad to see the dumbest fucking idea in my entire profession — which every serious practitioner has been sneering at since it was first raised while championed only by bloviating armchair operators — is coming to pass.
Trump Administration Turning to Private Firms in Cyber Offensive
The White House plans to make public its intention to enlist private companies in more aggressive efforts to go after criminal and state-sponsored hackers in a new national cyber strategy, a draft of ...
finance.yahoo.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:36 AM
so glad to see the dumbest fucking idea in my entire profession — which every serious practitioner has been sneering at since it was first raised while championed only by bloviating armchair operators — is coming to pass.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
The 'betrayal of Brexit' response to rejoining Erasmus is obviously predictable, and stupid (Brexit = leaving EU). But what's more striking is how *dated* it seems, like someone still waving a 'Thatcher out' placard.
December 17, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The 'betrayal of Brexit' response to rejoining Erasmus is obviously predictable, and stupid (Brexit = leaving EU). But what's more striking is how *dated* it seems, like someone still waving a 'Thatcher out' placard.
Great news.
We welcome the agreement between the European Commission and the United Kingdom on the UK’s association with the Erasmus+ programme from 2027.
This marks an important step in restoring and strengthening Europe’s most popular and successful student exchange scheme.
Read more: epp.group/xy9f8p0q
This marks an important step in restoring and strengthening Europe’s most popular and successful student exchange scheme.
Read more: epp.group/xy9f8p0q
December 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Great news.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
I would love to know what the real reasons for the Belgian PM's concerns are regarding the frozen assets. But the real reasons he will probably want to keep for himself.
Two legal opinions prepared by international lawyers contradict Belgium's claim it could be on the hook to pay substantial damages if the EU moves ahead with plans to use Russia's frozen assets to help Ukraine.
Legal opinions contradict Belgium’s claims over Russian assets
Belgium would not be on the hook to pay damages to Moscow as it would be near impossible for Russia to find a jurisdiction that would hear and enforce the case, the lawyers argue.
www.politico.eu
December 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I would love to know what the real reasons for the Belgian PM's concerns are regarding the frozen assets. But the real reasons he will probably want to keep for himself.
I feckin love this piece. Was reminded of it listening to David Runciman’s recent “Past, Present, Future” podcast episodes on the links between two mediocre men: youtu.be/ZawESEp8LHw?...
December 16, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I feckin love this piece. Was reminded of it listening to David Runciman’s recent “Past, Present, Future” podcast episodes on the links between two mediocre men: youtu.be/ZawESEp8LHw?...
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
“No less an authority than the United Kingdom’s former Prime Minister, Liz Truss”
That’s a real sentence that someone wrote, which made it into Trump’s legal filing.
That’s a real sentence that someone wrote, which made it into Trump’s legal filing.
December 16, 2025 at 9:05 AM
“No less an authority than the United Kingdom’s former Prime Minister, Liz Truss”
That’s a real sentence that someone wrote, which made it into Trump’s legal filing.
That’s a real sentence that someone wrote, which made it into Trump’s legal filing.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Flu is surging. What can we do about it?
Layered protections—vaccination, isolation with liveable sick pay, and clean air—enabled by government and institutions.
BMJ Opinion by Stephen Reicher, @martinmckee.bsky.social & @profstevegriffin.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Layered protections—vaccination, isolation with liveable sick pay, and clean air—enabled by government and institutions.
BMJ Opinion by Stephen Reicher, @martinmckee.bsky.social & @profstevegriffin.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Vaccinate, isolate, ventilate: will we finally learn the lessons from covid this flu season?
With flu surging again, Stephen Reicher and colleagues draw on the experience of covid-19 to argue that predictable winter pressures demand more than individual responsibility, they also require syste...
www.bmj.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Flu is surging. What can we do about it?
Layered protections—vaccination, isolation with liveable sick pay, and clean air—enabled by government and institutions.
BMJ Opinion by Stephen Reicher, @martinmckee.bsky.social & @profstevegriffin.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Layered protections—vaccination, isolation with liveable sick pay, and clean air—enabled by government and institutions.
BMJ Opinion by Stephen Reicher, @martinmckee.bsky.social & @profstevegriffin.bsky.social
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
The enemy within
December 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The enemy within
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
please take a moment to appreciate Tesla's epic accomplishment of coming dead last in the auto industry in reliability, despite making relatively expensive cars with a tiny fraction of the moving parts
www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-b...
www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-b...
December 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
please take a moment to appreciate Tesla's epic accomplishment of coming dead last in the auto industry in reliability, despite making relatively expensive cars with a tiny fraction of the moving parts
www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-b...
www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-b...
Thread.
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Thread.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Learned today that “Galápagos” comes from a Spanish word for tortoise, meaning that “Galápagos Tortoise” is,
in fact,
a tortology
in fact,
a tortology
December 13, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Learned today that “Galápagos” comes from a Spanish word for tortoise, meaning that “Galápagos Tortoise” is,
in fact,
a tortology
in fact,
a tortology
This blog post by Prof Chris Grey is an absolute banger.
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
Is the tide turning?
<a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.online/@ChrisGrey">Mastodon</a>
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This blog post by Prof Chris Grey is an absolute banger.
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Don't forget about Georgia.
Day 381 of nonstop protests in Georgia. The Russia backed Georgian Dream introduced a new law to curb unsanctioned protests.
Protestors continue to resist daily with no sign of stopping in the face of repression and tyranny. #3E
Protestors continue to resist daily with no sign of stopping in the face of repression and tyranny. #3E
December 14, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Don't forget about Georgia.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
“Oh, we didn’t mean *you* Piotr, you’re a brilliant hard working affordable painter and decorator. Or even you Awalee- only get on your bike if it’s for our deliveroo. No, no, we mean all *the others*…”
December 14, 2025 at 7:51 AM
“Oh, we didn’t mean *you* Piotr, you’re a brilliant hard working affordable painter and decorator. Or even you Awalee- only get on your bike if it’s for our deliveroo. No, no, we mean all *the others*…”
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
Wow. That's insane.
December 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Wow. That's insane.
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
This is really solid investigative reporting from the Sun-Times. And a brutal expose of Greg Bovino, the cosplaying tough guy who has terrorized so many immigrants in Chicago. Read it all. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
Greg Bovino’s the star of Trump’s deportation show. We trace his roots.
As a boy, the Hollywood movie “The Border" set the course for his life. He couldn’t believe the Border Patrol agents in the movie were the bad guys. Now that he’s in charge of deportation efforts caus...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This is really solid investigative reporting from the Sun-Times. And a brutal expose of Greg Bovino, the cosplaying tough guy who has terrorized so many immigrants in Chicago. Read it all. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
This week we also published its latest article in the Society's journal 'Transactions'.
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social
explores what it means to be a historian, and why historical skills and craft need to defended and understood bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social
explores what it means to be a historian, and why historical skills and craft need to defended and understood bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
December 13, 2025 at 5:01 PM
This week we also published its latest article in the Society's journal 'Transactions'.
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social
explores what it means to be a historian, and why historical skills and craft need to defended and understood bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
'The Historian in the Age of AI' by @chriscampbell1.bsky.social
explores what it means to be a historian, and why historical skills and craft need to defended and understood bit.ly/4atErTB #Skystorians 1/2
Heh - you Brexit, you fix it!
Amazing, the @dailymail.co.uk manages to publish an entire lengthy feature bewailing (!!!!) the exodus of Poles from Britain without once mentioning Brexit. Apparently this outcome (which is surely exactly what they campaigned for in 2016) is all the fault of Keir Starmer.
mol.im/a/15379789
mol.im/a/15379789
The great exodus: How Poles are ditching UK for their booming homeland
New statistics reveal that while 7,000 Poles arrived in the year ending last June, 25,000 returned home: a net outflow of 18,000. The UK's total Polish population has shrunk to 750,000.
mol.im
December 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Heh - you Brexit, you fix it!
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
I wrote about the Brits who affect to despise migration, and go and live in an autocracy where’s there no income tax.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/ros-taylor-d...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/ros-taylor-d...
Dubai: a safe space for hypocrisy
The UAE is attracting right wing Brits who mock Britain’s supposed decline while ignoring their hosts’ repression
www.thenewworld.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I wrote about the Brits who affect to despise migration, and go and live in an autocracy where’s there no income tax.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/ros-taylor-d...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/ros-taylor-d...
Reposted by Conn MacEvilly
AUKUS, Palantir, Google, Microsoft, Oracle... Starmer continues to tie the future of the UK to an increasingly hostile US administration.
The last budget should have been the moment to take Defence seriously but instead we are stuck with Starmer's belief in a non-existent middle way.
The last budget should have been the moment to take Defence seriously but instead we are stuck with Starmer's belief in a non-existent middle way.
This sounds like defensive briefing straight from a Morgan McSweeney Whatsapp group in denial about how an ineffective leader unwilling to face the breakdown of US-Europe relations might not be the best figure to lead the UK into a post-American order
December 13, 2025 at 11:25 AM
AUKUS, Palantir, Google, Microsoft, Oracle... Starmer continues to tie the future of the UK to an increasingly hostile US administration.
The last budget should have been the moment to take Defence seriously but instead we are stuck with Starmer's belief in a non-existent middle way.
The last budget should have been the moment to take Defence seriously but instead we are stuck with Starmer's belief in a non-existent middle way.