Luca Trenta
@lucatrenta.bsky.social
Associate Professor in IR at @swanseauni_ppir
Work on assassination, covert action, US foreign policy, secrecy. Host of the Out of the Shadows Project Podcast. Follow The Brush Contact Substack for more.
Work on assassination, covert action, US foreign policy, secrecy. Host of the Out of the Shadows Project Podcast. Follow The Brush Contact Substack for more.
Reposted by Luca Trenta
wild that this happened within 24 hours of bolsanaro going to prison. will be a timeless textbook example of what works to save a democracy and what doesn’t
Breaking News: The last pending criminal prosecution against President Trump was dismissed by a judge in Georgia, effectively ending efforts to hold Trump criminally responsible for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. trib.al/EnJu57H
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
wild that this happened within 24 hours of bolsanaro going to prison. will be a timeless textbook example of what works to save a democracy and what doesn’t
Russian assets everywhere.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 26, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Russian assets everywhere.
I’m sure my colleagues in political science will have more astute views. But to me the head scratching over democratic backsliding and loss of faith in democracy is farcical. If people vote parties that should be radically different but - in power - these adopt the same policies, what’s the point?
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I’m sure my colleagues in political science will have more astute views. But to me the head scratching over democratic backsliding and loss of faith in democracy is farcical. If people vote parties that should be radically different but - in power - these adopt the same policies, what’s the point?
There’s a famous movie in which actor Nanni Moretti desperately asks then leader of the Democratic Party Massimo D’Alema speaking on tv to say something leftist. He never does. For no particular reason, it came to mind on this budget day.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOVg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOVg...
Nanni Moretti - Aprile - D'Alema di' qualcosa di Sinistra
YouTube video by Francesco Cioffi
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
There’s a famous movie in which actor Nanni Moretti desperately asks then leader of the Democratic Party Massimo D’Alema speaking on tv to say something leftist. He never does. For no particular reason, it came to mind on this budget day.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOVg...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOVg...
No?! I’m absolutely shocked. Who could have predicted that a document that meant victory for Russia and capitulation for Ukraine had been drafted by Russia?! I was sure Trump and his top notch diplomats were not in Russia’s pocket. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
No?! I’m absolutely shocked. Who could have predicted that a document that meant victory for Russia and capitulation for Ukraine had been drafted by Russia?! I was sure Trump and his top notch diplomats were not in Russia’s pocket. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Thank god the oats are British. I would want some immigrants oats coming here to steal other people’s…oats?
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Thank god the oats are British. I would want some immigrants oats coming here to steal other people’s…oats?
Reposted by Luca Trenta
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Luca Trenta
My attendance record in the European Parliament was the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs, yet I managed to turn up to vote AGAINST plans to tackle Russian misinformation.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
November 24, 2025 at 9:20 PM
My attendance record in the European Parliament was the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs, yet I managed to turn up to vote AGAINST plans to tackle Russian misinformation.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
Thankfully this is of no interest to the media.
And in a magic trick, with a fake scandal (jfc if course he was and his racist), we stopped talking about Russia’s money and influence. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage responds to racism claims saying he never ‘tried to hurt anybody’
Reform leader denies racist or antisemitic behaviour ‘with intent’ at school, but says he can’t remember everything from 49 years ago
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:04 AM
And in a magic trick, with a fake scandal (jfc if course he was and his racist), we stopped talking about Russia’s money and influence. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
We have reached the parody stage. We are asking Nigel Farage to investigate his own party's links to Russia.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Below, a random picture of Nigel Farage.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Below, a random picture of Nigel Farage.
November 24, 2025 at 7:10 PM
We have reached the parody stage. We are asking Nigel Farage to investigate his own party's links to Russia.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Below, a random picture of Nigel Farage.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Below, a random picture of Nigel Farage.
Reposted by Luca Trenta
Over at the Daily Telegraph, they're scratching their heads as to why the former mining and steel producinv city of Gliwice in Poland is now 45% more prosperous than Darlington... and why it has new shiny infrastructure... without mentioning EU funds for urban and regional development...
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Over at the Daily Telegraph, they're scratching their heads as to why the former mining and steel producinv city of Gliwice in Poland is now 45% more prosperous than Darlington... and why it has new shiny infrastructure... without mentioning EU funds for urban and regional development...
Reposted by Luca Trenta
Trump's ultimatum to Ukraine to accept Kirill Dmitriev's capitulation plan makes it obvious that Trump works for Putin, whether erxtorgted or remunerated.
Former US allies must draw all the necessary conclusions asap: /1
Former US allies must draw all the necessary conclusions asap: /1
November 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Trump's ultimatum to Ukraine to accept Kirill Dmitriev's capitulation plan makes it obvious that Trump works for Putin, whether erxtorgted or remunerated.
Former US allies must draw all the necessary conclusions asap: /1
Former US allies must draw all the necessary conclusions asap: /1
Israel Assassinated a Top Hezbollah Commander Near Beirut www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
Israel Assassinated a Top Hezbollah Commander Near Beirut
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Israel Assassinated a Top Hezbollah Commander Near Beirut www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/w...
Top-notch story and timeline from @thenerve.news on Nathan Gill and his Russian bribes. www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 23, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Top-notch story and timeline from @thenerve.news on Nathan Gill and his Russian bribes. www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
I wouldn’t mind if we stopped calling this a peace plan, let alone pretending that any of the buffoons in Trump negotiating team had any say or leverage in it.
November 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I wouldn’t mind if we stopped calling this a peace plan, let alone pretending that any of the buffoons in Trump negotiating team had any say or leverage in it.
Reposted by Luca Trenta
FYI, Moscow wrote the plan.
November 23, 2025 at 1:56 PM
FYI, Moscow wrote the plan.
This is what the current @teamlabouruk.bsky.social has done. It’s obscene.
Nowcast Update - Green's vote share surpasses Lib Dems, as Labour hits new low.
RFM: 350 (+345), 30.2% (50 Maj.)
LAB: 87 (-324), 18.8%
LDM: 75 (+3), 13.0%
SNP: 44 (+35), 2.7%
CON: 38 (-83), 17.6%
GRN: 23 (+19), 13.5%
PLC: 7 (+3), 1.1%
Oth: 7 (+2), 3.1%
electionmaps.uk/nowcast
RFM: 350 (+345), 30.2% (50 Maj.)
LAB: 87 (-324), 18.8%
LDM: 75 (+3), 13.0%
SNP: 44 (+35), 2.7%
CON: 38 (-83), 17.6%
GRN: 23 (+19), 13.5%
PLC: 7 (+3), 1.1%
Oth: 7 (+2), 3.1%
electionmaps.uk/nowcast
November 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
This is what the current @teamlabouruk.bsky.social has done. It’s obscene.
Quite the version of how it started/how it’s going.
November 23, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Quite the version of how it started/how it’s going.
@theguardian.com how can you write such a headline?! What do you mean a ‘racist past’? He has a racist present. Key members of his party have been found to be witting or unwitting Russian stooges and this is the headline you go for? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Twenty people allege he has a racist past. He denies it. Who’s telling the truth about Farage’s schooldays?
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’. We talk to victims and witnesses
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
@theguardian.com how can you write such a headline?! What do you mean a ‘racist past’? He has a racist present. Key members of his party have been found to be witting or unwitting Russian stooges and this is the headline you go for? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
This Netflix documentary on Seymour Hersh looks interesting.
As an aside, Hersh was the second-worst interviewee I encountered during my research. To any question his response was that it was "all bullshit." Good to see that someone is able to get him to talk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxE...
As an aside, Hersh was the second-worst interviewee I encountered during my research. To any question his response was that it was "all bullshit." Good to see that someone is able to get him to talk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxE...
Cover-Up | Official Trailer | Netflix
YouTube video by Netflix
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This Netflix documentary on Seymour Hersh looks interesting.
As an aside, Hersh was the second-worst interviewee I encountered during my research. To any question his response was that it was "all bullshit." Good to see that someone is able to get him to talk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxE...
As an aside, Hersh was the second-worst interviewee I encountered during my research. To any question his response was that it was "all bullshit." Good to see that someone is able to get him to talk.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxE...
Dear @reformuk.bsky.social, I will complete your terrible survey, when you tell us how much money Nigel Farage got from Russia.
November 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Dear @reformuk.bsky.social, I will complete your terrible survey, when you tell us how much money Nigel Farage got from Russia.
Is it normal that we received a leaflet from Reform UK with address and details all spelled-out?
November 22, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Is it normal that we received a leaflet from Reform UK with address and details all spelled-out?
Talk about lessons for our times.
‘Ullrich emphasizes that the Social Democrats didn’t do enough to fundamentally change German society while they could.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
‘Ullrich emphasizes that the Social Democrats didn’t do enough to fundamentally change German society while they could.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
What Could Have Stopped Hitler — and Didn’t
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Talk about lessons for our times.
‘Ullrich emphasizes that the Social Democrats didn’t do enough to fundamentally change German society while they could.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
‘Ullrich emphasizes that the Social Democrats didn’t do enough to fundamentally change German society while they could.’
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
Not saying Trump is a Russian asset, but it would be a very easy duck test.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Ukraine banned from Nato, Russia readmitted to the G8 and territory ceded: what’s in Trump’s draft plan
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he expects to discuss the plan – which was reportedly drafted by Russian and US officials – with Trump
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Not saying Trump is a Russian asset, but it would be a very easy duck test.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Luca Trenta
I was interviewed for @en.rfi.fr Spotlight on France about how counterterrorism powers have evolved since the 2015 attacks and what this means for civil liberties.
We discussed the legacy of the state of emergency, its ongoing impact on democracy, and why law may not be the solution.
rfi.my/CCWO
We discussed the legacy of the state of emergency, its ongoing impact on democracy, and why law may not be the solution.
rfi.my/CCWO
Spotlight on France - Podcast: Civil liberties vs terrorism, Pelicot trial revisited, the Pascaline
A decade after the 2015 Paris terror attacks, France continues to pass security laws, sometimes to the detriment of civil liberties. A feminist journalist's take on the Pelicot mass rape trial. And th...
rfi.my
November 21, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I was interviewed for @en.rfi.fr Spotlight on France about how counterterrorism powers have evolved since the 2015 attacks and what this means for civil liberties.
We discussed the legacy of the state of emergency, its ongoing impact on democracy, and why law may not be the solution.
rfi.my/CCWO
We discussed the legacy of the state of emergency, its ongoing impact on democracy, and why law may not be the solution.
rfi.my/CCWO