Garvan Walshe
@garvanwalshe.org
Civic entrepreneur building broadsheet social media at kronkite.social. I also chair Unhack Democracy and write on foreign affairs, defence and democracy.
My substack: garvanwalshe.org
My substack: garvanwalshe.org
Pinned
A Trumpist attack on Greenland wouldn’t just be an attack on Denmark or Europe. It would be the start of a civil war in the transatlantic alliance between NATO and MAGA factions.
NATO has plenty of supporters in the US. Unfortunately MAGA despite its inherent imperialism has not a few in Europe.
NATO has plenty of supporters in the US. Unfortunately MAGA despite its inherent imperialism has not a few in Europe.
Another piece of mercantilist advocacy here. But even if you think mercantilism and import substitution work (I don’t) this doesn’t address the generation of growth in Europe’s much larger service sector.
When EU leaders meet tomorrow to discuss the EU’s competitiveness agenda, they should stop chasing ghosts and confront the real problem Europe‘s economy is facing.
Our latest for @politico.eu with @nilsredeker.bsky.social and @sandertordoir.bsky.social 👇
Our latest for @politico.eu with @nilsredeker.bsky.social and @sandertordoir.bsky.social 👇
Europe is chasing the wrong fix for its growth crisis
The continent’s old growth model no longer works in today’s world. And EU leaders need a plan that matches the scale of this shift.
www.politico.eu
February 11, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Another piece of mercantilist advocacy here. But even if you think mercantilism and import substitution work (I don’t) this doesn’t address the generation of growth in Europe’s much larger service sector.
Hostile act by the Trump administration. It needs to be rejected.
NEW: Ukraine has begun planning presidential elections alongside a referendum on any peace deal with Russia, after the Trump administration pressed Kyiv to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing proposed US security guarantees
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/50d3...
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/50d3...
Zelenskyy plans spring elections alongside referendum on peace deal after US push
Trump administration has pressured Ukrainian leader to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing security guarantees
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Hostile act by the Trump administration. It needs to be rejected.
- Mr Lulea, you’re a Romanian nationalist?
- Lulea: Yes
-So you’d defend Romania from foreign invasion?
- Lulea: Well no, not if it’s Russia invading
- I have no further questions
Funny how every European “nationalist” would sell their country out to Putin
- Lulea: Yes
-So you’d defend Romania from foreign invasion?
- Lulea: Well no, not if it’s Russia invading
- I have no further questions
Funny how every European “nationalist” would sell their country out to Putin
AUR leader says he'd cede Romanian land to Russia to avoid a possible war. Likely representative 40-60% of party voters
Even in hypothetical scenarios they can't pretend or try spinning it somewhat, to dumb, to vile. Nationalism of the 21st century. Old Vadim/Funar wouldn't have stooped so low
Even in hypothetical scenarios they can't pretend or try spinning it somewhat, to dumb, to vile. Nationalism of the 21st century. Old Vadim/Funar wouldn't have stooped so low
@miyhnea.bsky.social
>BVSED irredentism blood and soil nationalist party
>look inside
>"we have to give up our own territories so the big russia doesn't conquer us :'(((("
The fascist internationale. Literally all of them are like this regardless of country. When are we hanging these people?
>BVSED irredentism blood and soil nationalist party
>look inside
>"we have to give up our own territories so the big russia doesn't conquer us :'(((("
The fascist internationale. Literally all of them are like this regardless of country. When are we hanging these people?
February 10, 2026 at 7:17 PM
- Mr Lulea, you’re a Romanian nationalist?
- Lulea: Yes
-So you’d defend Romania from foreign invasion?
- Lulea: Well no, not if it’s Russia invading
- I have no further questions
Funny how every European “nationalist” would sell their country out to Putin
- Lulea: Yes
-So you’d defend Romania from foreign invasion?
- Lulea: Well no, not if it’s Russia invading
- I have no further questions
Funny how every European “nationalist” would sell their country out to Putin
Great part of a thread on the damage done to British fiscal policy by the political system’s inability to make non-simplistic decisions.
One of those insane things the Tories did that just mangled the marginal rates for no reason pretty much.
February 10, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Great part of a thread on the damage done to British fiscal policy by the political system’s inability to make non-simplistic decisions.
Very good to see people talking of expanding pesco - its current limitation to procurement is not required by the treaties and this would be a very positive idea. I hope someone takes this up or indeed that @maxbergmann.bsky.social himself expands on it!
I think something new needs to be built. A Schengen type structure created through PESCO is one option. But the geopolitical problem with a pure Coalition of the Willing of states is it maintains the divorce in Europe between economic and military power. In a war, need to have that linked.
February 10, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Very good to see people talking of expanding pesco - its current limitation to procurement is not required by the treaties and this would be a very positive idea. I hope someone takes this up or indeed that @maxbergmann.bsky.social himself expands on it!
Reposted by Garvan Walshe
I think something new needs to be built. A Schengen type structure created through PESCO is one option. But the geopolitical problem with a pure Coalition of the Willing of states is it maintains the divorce in Europe between economic and military power. In a war, need to have that linked.
February 10, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I think something new needs to be built. A Schengen type structure created through PESCO is one option. But the geopolitical problem with a pure Coalition of the Willing of states is it maintains the divorce in Europe between economic and military power. In a war, need to have that linked.
Monnet created the Coal and Steel community to stop this kind of nonsense. Just hand the thing over to Kubilius to sort out for you :)
There will be no MGCS if there is no FCAS, Emmanuel Macron hints: "If ... the German partner were to call into question the joint fighter project, we would be forced to call into question the joint tank project." www.lemonde.fr/economie/art...
Emmanuel Macron : « C’est le moment pour l’UE de lancer une capacité commune d’endettement, à travers des eurobonds »
A deux jours d’une rencontre des chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement de l’UE à Bruxelles, le président de la République appelle les Vingt-Sept, dans un entretien au « Monde » et à plusieurs journaux europ...
www.lemonde.fr
February 10, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Monnet created the Coal and Steel community to stop this kind of nonsense. Just hand the thing over to Kubilius to sort out for you :)
Vote remain…because the EU will turn into Argentina anyway?
The "Argentinian approach" to kill EU competitiveness stone dead. Wonder how much worrying there is in Germany about an increasing France problem. Because this is supposedly a centrist government.
A French government-linked strategy body on Monday urged the EU to impose a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, warning Beijing poses a “systemic threat” to Europe's industrial base.
www.euractiv.com/new...
www.euractiv.com/new...
February 10, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Vote remain…because the EU will turn into Argentina anyway?
Someone’s going to get sued - for a lot of money - and deservedly so
*my biggest and most exhausted sigh*
"As AI Enters the Operating Room, Reports Arise of Botched Surgeries and Misidentified Body Parts"
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
"As AI Enters the Operating Room, Reports Arise of Botched Surgeries and Misidentified Body Parts"
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
February 10, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Someone’s going to get sued - for a lot of money - and deservedly so
Reposted by Garvan Walshe
Pretty horrific account about an Irish (and thus also EU) citizen being held by ICE since September last year, despite having a legal work and residence permit in the US and being married to an US citizen.
"He said he has been locked in the same large, cold and damp room for 4½ months with more than 70 men. He said detainees are constantly hungry because meals served at tables in the centre of the room offer only child-sized portions." www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Pretty horrific account about an Irish (and thus also EU) citizen being held by ICE since September last year, despite having a legal work and residence permit in the US and being married to an US citizen.
Enough neo endogenous growth theory from you
Bollocks they do
Just learned that the testicles of sparrows increase in size by over 100 times every spring. I hope everyone has a nice day.
February 9, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Enough neo endogenous growth theory from you
Interestingly Britain seems to have a media-politics cluster that’s not explicitly left wing or progressive, unlike most other countries
Pretty much slap bang in the middle of British progressive politics. I'll accept that.
February 9, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Interestingly Britain seems to have a media-politics cluster that’s not explicitly left wing or progressive, unlike most other countries
Moderate “Seguro” beats rash populist “Ventura” — feels like one of those eighteenth century plays where characters are called Rake, Spendthrift and Righteous.
Oh, bravo Portugal! 👏👏👏👏👏
🔴 BREAKING - Centre-left candidate António José Seguro defeats far-right rival in Portugal presidential race
February 8, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Moderate “Seguro” beats rash populist “Ventura” — feels like one of those eighteenth century plays where characters are called Rake, Spendthrift and Righteous.
Time to dig this out of the archive about Ed Miliband’s mendacious opportunism over Syria.
This had a number of consequences including the refugee crisis, and therefore Brexit.
conservativehome.com/2013/09/03/g...
This had a number of consequences including the refugee crisis, and therefore Brexit.
conservativehome.com/2013/09/03/g...
February 8, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Time to dig this out of the archive about Ed Miliband’s mendacious opportunism over Syria.
This had a number of consequences including the refugee crisis, and therefore Brexit.
conservativehome.com/2013/09/03/g...
This had a number of consequences including the refugee crisis, and therefore Brexit.
conservativehome.com/2013/09/03/g...
And we go live to Dublin
February 8, 2026 at 2:17 PM
And we go live to Dublin
But everything has infinite scroll now, including this one
It would surely have to apply all platforms or none?
It would surely have to apply all platforms or none?
February 8, 2026 at 10:53 AM
But everything has infinite scroll now, including this one
It would surely have to apply all platforms or none?
It would surely have to apply all platforms or none?
Reposted by Garvan Walshe
🇭🇺🇪🇺 "Hungary's opposition Tisza party plans to introduce a wealth tax for the rich, adopt the euro currency and firmly anchor Hungary in the European Union and NATO, its 240-page election programme published on Saturday said." @reuters.com
Hungary's opposition Tisza promises wealth tax, euro adoption in election programme
Hungary's opposition Tisza party plans to introduce a wealth tax for the rich, adopt the euro currency and firmly anchor Hungary in the European Union and NATO, its 240-page election programme publish...
www.reuters.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:46 PM
🇭🇺🇪🇺 "Hungary's opposition Tisza party plans to introduce a wealth tax for the rich, adopt the euro currency and firmly anchor Hungary in the European Union and NATO, its 240-page election programme published on Saturday said." @reuters.com
This guy’s very good. And funny. Superb timing.
I don’t know that much about American politics, but whenever I see a clip of Ossoff I think “why is there not more presidential chatter about this guy?”
Ossoff: We were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans. But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It’s the wealthiest Cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class. They are the elites they pretend to hate.
February 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM
This guy’s very good. And funny. Superb timing.
$12 trillion is around 5 times Russian GDP even at purchasing power parity lol
⚡️Zelensky says Russia presented $12 trillion economic plan to US, called 'Dmitriev package.'
President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as a proposed framework for large-scale U.S.-Russia economic cooperation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as a proposed framework for large-scale U.S.-Russia economic cooperation.
Zelensky warns of 'risk' US, Russia could strike bilateral deals on Ukraine without Kyiv
"We clearly state that Ukraine will not support even potential agreements about us without us," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
kyivindependent.com
February 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM
$12 trillion is around 5 times Russian GDP even at purchasing power parity lol
Reposted by Garvan Walshe
Let's call a spade a spade: this Dmitriev-Witkoff pact is a corrupt agreement driven by greed & Trump's desire to save Putin.
It would pose a vital threat to Ukraine & Europe's security—a project of enslavement & destruction jointly carried out by russia & the US.
kyivindependent.com/zelensky-war...
It would pose a vital threat to Ukraine & Europe's security—a project of enslavement & destruction jointly carried out by russia & the US.
kyivindependent.com/zelensky-war...
Zelensky warns of 'risk' US, Russia could strike bilateral deals on Ukraine without Kyiv
"We clearly state that Ukraine will not support even potential agreements about us without us," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
kyivindependent.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Let's call a spade a spade: this Dmitriev-Witkoff pact is a corrupt agreement driven by greed & Trump's desire to save Putin.
It would pose a vital threat to Ukraine & Europe's security—a project of enslavement & destruction jointly carried out by russia & the US.
kyivindependent.com/zelensky-war...
It would pose a vital threat to Ukraine & Europe's security—a project of enslavement & destruction jointly carried out by russia & the US.
kyivindependent.com/zelensky-war...
Always up for anti-corruption “Tsars”. Almost as gods as “civil liberties Tsars”
February 7, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Always up for anti-corruption “Tsars”. Almost as gods as “civil liberties Tsars”
Reposted by Garvan Walshe
This is first and foremost where the focus of the story should be. Of men, misogyny, and power.
I have always specifically hated this part of my city and the world, the "gentleman's clubs" that are sadly part of the same thing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
I have always specifically hated this part of my city and the world, the "gentleman's clubs" that are sadly part of the same thing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Sex and snacks, but no seat at the table: the role of women in Epstein’s sordid men’s club
Files reveal a world of flattery and fratboy tones, where rich men are cultivated and women provide services
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:35 AM
This is first and foremost where the focus of the story should be. Of men, misogyny, and power.
I have always specifically hated this part of my city and the world, the "gentleman's clubs" that are sadly part of the same thing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
I have always specifically hated this part of my city and the world, the "gentleman's clubs" that are sadly part of the same thing.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The Administration’s plan (Miller’s I suppose) is propaganda of the deed but by the State
February 6, 2026 at 3:17 PM
The Administration’s plan (Miller’s I suppose) is propaganda of the deed but by the State
It seems something Congress could block funding of.
No funds should be used to destabilise members of alliances such as NATO of which the US is also a member.
No funds should be used to destabilise members of alliances such as NATO of which the US is also a member.
Don't want to sound flippant about the nature and severity of the threat, but to quote that anonymous Ukrainian soldier, "we are lucky they are so fucking stupid". Imagine how much more dangerous this would be if they weren't threatening invasion, dissing NATO troops, hitting us with tariffs etc
Remember the controversy when Obama was accused of intervening in UK politics? This is the current US government openly seeking to undermine liberal democracy in Europe.
February 6, 2026 at 11:12 AM
It seems something Congress could block funding of.
No funds should be used to destabilise members of alliances such as NATO of which the US is also a member.
No funds should be used to destabilise members of alliances such as NATO of which the US is also a member.