Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
National & financial security. Former UK civil servant and financial intelligence professional. Senior Associate Fellow @rusi.bsky.social CFS. Loves ideas, cult fiction, anomalous stuff and landscapes.
Views own.
Views own.
Pinned
Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
· Sep 12
“People sometimes tell me that they prefer barbarism to civilisation. I doubt if they have given it a long enough trial…they are bored by civilisation; but all the evidence suggests that the boredom of barbarism is infinitely greater.”
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
I spoke to @gordoncorera.bsky.social for #Radio4's "Currently", about #Russia's use of #criminal gangs in its #covert activities. It features the excellent @drichterova.bsky.social, Dominic Murphy and others.
Worth a listen.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@cfs-rusi.bsky.social @soc-ace.bsky.social
Worth a listen.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@cfs-rusi.bsky.social @soc-ace.bsky.social
Currently - Playing Spies - BBC Sounds
Gordon Corera investigates Russia's new front line of amateur espionage.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I spoke to @gordoncorera.bsky.social for #Radio4's "Currently", about #Russia's use of #criminal gangs in its #covert activities. It features the excellent @drichterova.bsky.social, Dominic Murphy and others.
Worth a listen.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@cfs-rusi.bsky.social @soc-ace.bsky.social
Worth a listen.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
@cfs-rusi.bsky.social @soc-ace.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Iran’s water crisis: Tehran faces worst drought in 50 years
www.channel4.com/news/irans-w...
www.channel4.com/news/irans-w...
Iran’s water crisis: Tehran faces worst drought in 50 years
"If rationing water doesn't work - we may have to evacuate Tehran". The stark warning from Iran's president Masoud Pe-zeshkian - as the country struggles to cope with an unprecedented drought.
www.channel4.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Iran’s water crisis: Tehran faces worst drought in 50 years
www.channel4.com/news/irans-w...
www.channel4.com/news/irans-w...
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Map of potential US targets in Venezuela, via South American and Global Defense News.
November 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Map of potential US targets in Venezuela, via South American and Global Defense News.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Those who assume that Yermak's resignation and Zelensky's weakening make a Ukrainian concession to Russia more likely should then step back and assess which other figures in Ukraine's military-political structures these trends in Kyiv could empower.
November 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Those who assume that Yermak's resignation and Zelensky's weakening make a Ukrainian concession to Russia more likely should then step back and assess which other figures in Ukraine's military-political structures these trends in Kyiv could empower.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
In four years Stalin made it all the way to Berlin. In four years Putin has made it about five miles.
Putin says it's senseless to sign documents with 'illegitimate' Ukrainian leadership - Reuters
Putin has the brass neck to call the democratically elected Ukrainian‘illegitimate”
Putin has the brass neck to call the democratically elected Ukrainian‘illegitimate”
November 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
In four years Stalin made it all the way to Berlin. In four years Putin has made it about five miles.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
'Only a small fraction of those referred eventually translate into Channel support, which further confirms how broad and noisy the landscape has become' writes Claudia Wallner in the latest RUSI Commentary.
The Future of UK Counterterrorism: A Case for Integrated Violence Prevention
Prevent has drifted into a catch-all for unmet safeguarding demand. To protect national security, we need precision in counterterrorism and scale in prevention, via a single, locally led front door that routes violence-related concerns to the right supp...
www.rusi.org
November 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
'Only a small fraction of those referred eventually translate into Channel support, which further confirms how broad and noisy the landscape has become' writes Claudia Wallner in the latest RUSI Commentary.
Best get the Anderson Shelter ready, then.
🚨 Breaking: Putin calls fears of a Russian attack on Europe "laughable" and insists Russia has no invasion plans, dismissing the rumors amid NATO tensions.
#Putin #Russia #Europe #NATO #InvasionFears #Geopolitics #PeaceStatement #DefenseUpdate #breaking
#Putin #Russia #Europe #NATO #InvasionFears #Geopolitics #PeaceStatement #DefenseUpdate #breaking
November 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Best get the Anderson Shelter ready, then.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
It's so striking, when you use the NHS regularly how some bits are total choas with staff run off their feet and rhen others are clearly overstaffed with few patients. Not much rhyme or reason to it.
November 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
It's so striking, when you use the NHS regularly how some bits are total choas with staff run off their feet and rhen others are clearly overstaffed with few patients. Not much rhyme or reason to it.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
In case you want to hear more about this topic! I spoke with Turkey's Anadolu Agency, great discussion.
"US designates Venezuela-based cartel as terrorist organization: What does it mean for other countries?"
www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/...
@uniessexgov.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
"US designates Venezuela-based cartel as terrorist organization: What does it mean for other countries?"
www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/...
@uniessexgov.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
US designates Venezuela-based cartel as terrorist organization: What does it mean for other countries?
US decision to designate Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as Foreign Terrorist Organization expected to have implications for some countries
- Anadolu Ajansı
www.aa.com.tr
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
In case you want to hear more about this topic! I spoke with Turkey's Anadolu Agency, great discussion.
"US designates Venezuela-based cartel as terrorist organization: What does it mean for other countries?"
www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/...
@uniessexgov.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
"US designates Venezuela-based cartel as terrorist organization: What does it mean for other countries?"
www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/...
@uniessexgov.bsky.social @universityofessex.bsky.social
I’m not much of a petition signer, but please consider signing this parliamentary petition and sharing it with your followers. If it gets to 100k, then there will be debate in parliament. Which is a start.
#Russia #Politicalinterference #UK
#Russia #Politicalinterference #UK
November 26, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I’m not much of a petition signer, but please consider signing this parliamentary petition and sharing it with your followers. If it gets to 100k, then there will be debate in parliament. Which is a start.
#Russia #Politicalinterference #UK
#Russia #Politicalinterference #UK
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Moldova's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to hand him a note of protest after six Russian drones flew into Moldova's airspace during the massive attack on Ukraine.
A Russian drone that fell down in Moldova was placed by the Foreign Ministry for the ambassador's visit.
A Russian drone that fell down in Moldova was placed by the Foreign Ministry for the ambassador's visit.
November 26, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Moldova's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to hand him a note of protest after six Russian drones flew into Moldova's airspace during the massive attack on Ukraine.
A Russian drone that fell down in Moldova was placed by the Foreign Ministry for the ambassador's visit.
A Russian drone that fell down in Moldova was placed by the Foreign Ministry for the ambassador's visit.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Lovecraft & M. R. James could only dream of writing a sentence like this.
November 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Lovecraft & M. R. James could only dream of writing a sentence like this.
I wouldn’t want to prejudge the outcome, but this is long overdue.
Lib Dem leader Edward Davey calls for a national investigation into Russian political interference in British politics:
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
November 26, 2025 at 7:05 PM
I wouldn’t want to prejudge the outcome, but this is long overdue.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Something that Trump’s hapless crew seem completely unable to understand.
We still need to get from a situation where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate.
Extract from my press remarks following today’s informal Foreign Affairs Council ↓
Extract from my press remarks following today’s informal Foreign Affairs Council ↓
November 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Something that Trump’s hapless crew seem completely unable to understand.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Looks like I might need that OnlyFans account after all.
November 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Looks like I might need that OnlyFans account after all.
“Special Redaction Project.”
Newly released emails show the FBI spent almost $1 million in overtime analyzing the Epstein files as part of an effort dubbed the “Special Redaction Project."
FBI’s Frantic Scramble to Redact Epstein Files Revealed
A trove of emails shows all-nighters and almost $1 million in overtime as Trumpworld debated releasing the Epstein files.
trib.al
November 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
“Special Redaction Project.”
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Refusing to report the public actions of a public figure, because you're afraid of being sued. In another country. For shame.
Note that the BBC openly admits in an email to me that the removal of this claim about Trump's world-historical corruption was done "on legal advice."
Translation: Trump's threat of a lawsuit, no matter how bogus, has now been rewarded.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Translation: Trump's threat of a lawsuit, no matter how bogus, has now been rewarded.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
November 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Refusing to report the public actions of a public figure, because you're afraid of being sued. In another country. For shame.
I’m concerned that Steve Witkoff is not as competent as he looks.
November 26, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I’m concerned that Steve Witkoff is not as competent as he looks.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
So many senior MAGA figures are so careless I wouldn't be surprised if two dozen intelligence agencies have cracked their means of communication
November 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
So many senior MAGA figures are so careless I wouldn't be surprised if two dozen intelligence agencies have cracked their means of communication
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Only 16% of Trump voters support Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia and 72% are in favor of selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, according to a new poll by The Vandenberg Coalition.
72% of Trump voters also believe the US should help Ukraine and hold Russia accountable.
72% of Trump voters also believe the US should help Ukraine and hold Russia accountable.
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Only 16% of Trump voters support Ukraine making territorial concessions to Russia and 72% are in favor of selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, according to a new poll by The Vandenberg Coalition.
72% of Trump voters also believe the US should help Ukraine and hold Russia accountable.
72% of Trump voters also believe the US should help Ukraine and hold Russia accountable.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
BBC removes description of Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" from the broadcast today of Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. I was among the several hundred people to hear the original at the lecture theatre
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 12:49 PM
BBC removes description of Donald Trump as "the most openly corrupt president in American history" from the broadcast today of Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. I was among the several hundred people to hear the original at the lecture theatre
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
"Europe’s problem is not that it lacks options. It is that it refuses to use them". Jade McGlynn skewers both the Dmitriev/Witkoff plan for Ukraine's destruction, & Europe's refusal to act decisively enough to prevent disaster. open.substack.com/pub/smalldee...
Circus
Amidst the absolute chaos of a Witkoff-stamped Russian psyop-as-peace plan, discussion is filled with anger at Washington and at Moscow.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:43 AM
"Europe’s problem is not that it lacks options. It is that it refuses to use them". Jade McGlynn skewers both the Dmitriev/Witkoff plan for Ukraine's destruction, & Europe's refusal to act decisively enough to prevent disaster. open.substack.com/pub/smalldee...
Nigel Farage “not a very nice man” shocker.
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Nigel Farage “not a very nice man” shocker.
The BeeGee whose opinion I never rated.
Robbie Gibb describes the BBC's Political Editor Chris Mason as the "unsung hero of covering politics" and "absolutely first rate"
November 24, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The BeeGee whose opinion I never rated.