David Priess
@davidpriess.bsky.social
25K followers 230 following 720 posts
Intelligence, geopolitics, and learning | Global Head of Training & Education, Emergent Risk Interrnational | Senior Fellow, Hayden Center | Former CIA & State Department | Duke poli sci PhD | Author, The President’s Book of Secrets
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davidpriess.bsky.social
Welcome, new arrivals!

I served at CIA and the State Dept, followed by non-profit & private sector leadership roles. I offer info/insight on nat’l security, intelligence, and the presidency & how it all intersects with history and culture.

Celebrating books, all things Arctic, space, and dogs.
Reposted by David Priess
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Hi All, my latest book, War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why, is being released in North America in two weeks. The Publisher, Basic Books/Hatchette, has just released a discount code for 20% if you buy through them. Code is WAR&POWER (not case sensitive). www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/phill...
War and Power
A bold, revisionist study of modern warfare, showing that military victory is rooted not in large armies and decisive battles, but in the full spectrum of ec...
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
Reposted by David Priess
iikkakorhonen.bsky.social
”US intelligence helps Kyiv shape route planning, altitude, timing and mission decisions, enabling Ukraine’s long-range, one-way attack drones to evade Russian air defences”
🇺🇦🇺🇸
on.ft.com/3KMwsWG Ukraine hit Russian energy sites with US help
Ukraine hit Russian energy sites with US help
Trump administration has supported Kyiv’s operations since summer in a co-ordinated push to weaken Moscow
on.ft.com
Reposted by David Priess
phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Hi all, Just sent out my free weekend update. It ended up being focussed on the strategic air war. Russia, once again, is trying to make Ukrainian cities unliveable in winter. They have benefited by the US slow walking air defense--though Europeans are helping more. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #154: The Strategic Air War And The Approaching Winter
Russian Attacks, Ukrainian Options for Defense, and F-16s
open.substack.com
davidpriess.bsky.social
A point in her favor
sarahkirchberger.bsky.social
The new leader of 🇯🇵 Japan’s LDP, Sanae Takaichi, loves heavy metal!🤘

“Since drumming in a college band, the 64-year-old politician has remained a fan of groups like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. She used to play so hard that she carried four pairs of sticks as back-up in case they snapped.”
Japan’s aspiring leader drums to relieve stress. She has many reasons to reach for her sticks | CNN
Staunch conservative and longtime lawmaker Sanae Takaichi is days away from becoming Japan’s first woman prime minister, and she inherits a daunting list of challenges.
edition.cnn.com
davidpriess.bsky.social
Well, I certainly have exceptional reading lined up for the next few weeks!

Congrats to three great authors on these great new books!
Reposted by David Priess
maxbergmann.bsky.social
Bottom line, stop blaming renewables, blame the grid for the outage. Very useful report.
Reposted by David Priess
Reposted by David Priess
hourlycosmos.bsky.social
IC 1396 "Elephant Trunk" Nebula in SHO (Hubble Palette) - From Ryan Kinnett (rkinnett.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2m8Jm1w
Imaged from suburb of Los Angeles with GSO 10" f/4 imaging Newtonian, asi1600mm, and ZWO filters.  Approx. 2 hours integration.
davidpriess.bsky.social
More of this please
kajakallas.bsky.social
Russia is causing tremendous damage in Ukraine.
It is not right that anybody else should pay for it.

At today’s European Council, we will discuss a reparations loan, backed up by frozen Russian assets, to help Ukraine defend itself.

My doorstep ↓
davidpriess.bsky.social
More of this please.
igorsushko.bsky.social
💥 Russia: Ukraine struck the UralChem Azot chemical plant that supplies ingredients for explosives in Berezniki, Perm region — over 1,700km from Ukraine.
davidpriess.bsky.social
Looking forward to this one so much!
Reposted by David Priess
icds-tallinn.bsky.social
NATO figures show Europe and Canada are catching up with the US: their share of #NATO defence spending rose from 28% in 2015 to 36% in 2024, and is expected to reach 38% this year.

⬇️ Felix Gasper reviews current defence spending by each NATO ally: icds.ee/en/defence-s...
Defence Spending: Who Is Doing What? September 2025 - ICDS
According to NATO's latest figures, most Allies have increased their defence spending compared to July 2024, when we last examined the data. But most also have a long way to go if they are to meet the...
icds.ee
Reposted by David Priess
marwellaspaceart.bsky.social
Total lunar eclipse (Blood Moon) from Bangka Island, Indonesia.

It was very cloudy, I almost gave up. Then in the last few minutes before the totality ended, the wind suddenly changed direction and I saw the faint sight of the moon.
Blood moon from Bangka Island, Indonesia Blood moon with some stars The end of totality and back to partial phase
Reposted by David Priess
carnage4life.bsky.social
The percentage of Americans that believe immigration is a net benefit to America reached its highest point this century, 79%, in Gallup’s most recent poll.

These reverses a downward trend starting in 2021.
davidpriess.bsky.social
Blunt and necessary analysis from @glandsbergis.bsky.social:

“Europe’s plans A, B and C have not stopped the fighting. Putin simply has no need to stop… As we say in Lithuania—all this should be obvious even to a horse.”
landsbergis.com/europes-summ...
Europe’s summer charm offensive has failed
Unfortunately — Europe didn’t even wake up, let alone step up.
landsbergis.com
Reposted by David Priess
mhindley.bsky.social
DC folks, I got a COVID vax appointment at CVS. Go get ‘em!
Reposted by David Priess
eadamson91.bsky.social
So in Sweden there is a raging debate over the new “cultural canon.” What belongs? How were the selections made? Should the list even exist?

Whatever the merits, we can safely say that the Saab 37 Viggen puts the “canon” in “cultural canon,” where it now sits along side Pippi Longstocking.
Reposted by David Priess
marceldirsus.com
The dictatorship that is currently attacking a European country despite saying that is has no desire to attack anyone says they have no desire to attack Europe
Reposted by David Priess
erinsikorsky.bsky.social
Really interesting piece by @nilsgilman.bsky.social. IMO gives China a bit too much credit for being "bravely planetary" but nonetheless appreciate the effort to identify a new geopolitical model to understand our world.
The Coming Ecological Cold War
Decarbonization isn’t just about technology and markets—it’s a geopolitical revolution.
foreignpolicy.com