Paul Knott
@paulknott11.bsky.social
Dockworker turned diplomat. Now, writer of 'The Accidental Diplomat'. Foreign policy for numerous outlets, including BBC radio at odd hours of the night. Rugby League & music fan.
Europe can hurry up and help Ukraine to stop Putin now. Or we will have to fight off Russia ourselves later. I do not see any other available options.
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
A crisis over using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine
It’s an old-style Euro punch-up in a deadly new context
www.economist.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Europe can hurry up and help Ukraine to stop Putin now. Or we will have to fight off Russia ourselves later. I do not see any other available options.
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
A possible statement of the obvious from my early months in the US. America's incredible universities are the superpower's superpower. The many foreign students & professors enable it to shape the affinities & be shaped by the thinking of the world's smartest people in ways, eg; China cannot match.
December 8, 2025 at 7:29 PM
A possible statement of the obvious from my early months in the US. America's incredible universities are the superpower's superpower. The many foreign students & professors enable it to shape the affinities & be shaped by the thinking of the world's smartest people in ways, eg; China cannot match.
A monument in Boston to commemorate the brave Hungarians who refused to surrender to Russian aggression in 1956. If only Hungary's current Orban government had similar courage.
December 8, 2025 at 2:24 PM
A monument in Boston to commemorate the brave Hungarians who refused to surrender to Russian aggression in 1956. If only Hungary's current Orban government had similar courage.
The last but one game at Boston's Matthews Arena, built in 1910 and where the @celticsnba.bsky.social & @nhlbruins.bsky.social began life. It seems a shame to knock down a venue with an entrance like a temple and the interior of a Soviet metro station.
December 8, 2025 at 12:10 AM
The last but one game at Boston's Matthews Arena, built in 1910 and where the @celticsnba.bsky.social & @nhlbruins.bsky.social began life. It seems a shame to knock down a venue with an entrance like a temple and the interior of a Soviet metro station.
Sound analysis from Simon Tisdall in @theguardian.com . Europe must support Ukraine to defeat Putin and Russia. It is within our grasp and our future will be so much brighter when that happens.
Putin should have accepted Trump’s deal. Now Russia’s collapsing economy could lead to his downfall | Simon Tisdall
Putin should have accepted Trump’s deal. Now Russia’s collapsing economy could lead to his downfall | Simon Tisdall
The war against Ukraine has hit ordinary Russians hard, and the deteriorating situation is likely to inflame tensions, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Sound analysis from Simon Tisdall in @theguardian.com . Europe must support Ukraine to defeat Putin and Russia. It is within our grasp and our future will be so much brighter when that happens.
It would be great if that nasty little bigot Farage boycotted the BBC. The BBC should have boycotted him long ago, instead of giving him a wildly disproportionate platform to spread his poison and pro-Putin, anti-British propaganda.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage turns on broadcasters over racism allegations as number of claims hits 28
Reform leader suggests he would boycott BBC, saying he has had letter from Dulwich pupils defending him
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:58 PM
It would be great if that nasty little bigot Farage boycotted the BBC. The BBC should have boycotted him long ago, instead of giving him a wildly disproportionate platform to spread his poison and pro-Putin, anti-British propaganda.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Clearly Farage was a viciously nasty racist and antisemite. His current positioning and aggressive refusal to explain or apologise for his past conduct suggest that he still is.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage turns on broadcasters over racism allegations as number of claims hits 28
Reform leader suggests he would boycott BBC, saying he has had letter from Dulwich pupils defending him
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Clearly Farage was a viciously nasty racist and antisemite. His current positioning and aggressive refusal to explain or apologise for his past conduct suggest that he still is.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Paul Knott
The ‘Useful Idiots’ From America Whom Putin Is Playing Like a Flute
By Tom Friedman
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/o...
By Tom Friedman
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/o...
Opinion | The ‘Useful Idiots’ From America Whom Putin Is Playing Like a Flute
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 AM
The ‘Useful Idiots’ From America Whom Putin Is Playing Like a Flute
By Tom Friedman
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/o...
By Tom Friedman
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/o...
Reposted by Paul Knott
Suffer the little children
A 6-year-old boy is missing after ICE arrested him and his dad in NYC last week and shipped them off to separate facilities. www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/02/i... @thecity.nyc @gwynnefitz.bsky.social
ICE Arrested and Separated Chinese Father From 6-Year-Old Son, Advocates Say
The father and son were detained at an ICE check-in on Nov. 26, advocates say. The son’s location is currently unknown, while the father is being held at an upstate ICE facility.
www.thecity.nyc
December 2, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Suffer the little children
Here is one American writer who clearly grasps the extent of the grim humiliation Trump & his minions are enabling Putin to inflict on the US.
If you can access it, this is brutally brilliant by Kevin D. Williamson of @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social .
thedispatch.com/newsletter/w...
If you can access it, this is brutally brilliant by Kevin D. Williamson of @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social .
thedispatch.com/newsletter/w...
The Four Schmucks of the Apocalypse
The curious case of Vance vs. Rubio vs. Kushner vs. Witkoff.
thedispatch.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Here is one American writer who clearly grasps the extent of the grim humiliation Trump & his minions are enabling Putin to inflict on the US.
If you can access it, this is brutally brilliant by Kevin D. Williamson of @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social .
thedispatch.com/newsletter/w...
If you can access it, this is brutally brilliant by Kevin D. Williamson of @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social .
thedispatch.com/newsletter/w...
My impression after a few months in the US is that even anti-Trump Anericans still think they can make America normal again in a few years and restore its global position. But the trust, fear and credibility that long underpinned their power & prosperity is much further gone than they realise.
December 2, 2025 at 1:50 PM
My impression after a few months in the US is that even anti-Trump Anericans still think they can make America normal again in a few years and restore its global position. But the trust, fear and credibility that long underpinned their power & prosperity is much further gone than they realise.
Yes, poorly phrased on my part. It's a good start - I meant to suggest they should go all-in & full steam ahead etc. on this approach.
December 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Yes, poorly phrased on my part. It's a good start - I meant to suggest they should go all-in & full steam ahead etc. on this approach.
All of Britain's current problems were caused or made significantly worse by Brexit. Keir Starmer's government should just be blunt with people about that now & start doing everything possible to undo the damage. Why prop up a disaster that wasn't your fault & what do they have to lose now anyway?
December 2, 2025 at 12:50 PM
All of Britain's current problems were caused or made significantly worse by Brexit. Keir Starmer's government should just be blunt with people about that now & start doing everything possible to undo the damage. Why prop up a disaster that wasn't your fault & what do they have to lose now anyway?
What did Trump do for you today? Murder some shipwreck survivors? Pardon a major drug trafficker? Build a golden ballroom for himself? Did any of it bring your grocery bill down?
December 2, 2025 at 12:44 PM
What did Trump do for you today? Murder some shipwreck survivors? Pardon a major drug trafficker? Build a golden ballroom for himself? Did any of it bring your grocery bill down?
Reposted by Paul Knott
China is bearing down on Taiwan – enabled by Trump’s weakness and vacillation | Simon Tisdall
China is bearing down on Taiwan – enabled by Trump’s weakness and vacillation | Simon Tisdall
The US hasn’t just left Ukraine vulnerable; it is also provoking Xi’s intensifying attitude towards what he considers a renegade province, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:17 AM
China is bearing down on Taiwan – enabled by Trump’s weakness and vacillation | Simon Tisdall
Credit to the great "The Hull Story" for finally uncovering the truth behind this popular Hull myth from 1642. To proper journalists, persistence matters!
www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/...
www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/...
The truth behind Ye Olde White Harte and its Plotting Parlour — The Hull Story
By Neil Chadwick , archivist and librarian at Hull History Centre The Ye Olde White Harte is an historic pub dating back to the second half of the 17th century. Located between Silver Street and Bo...
www.thehullstory.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Credit to the great "The Hull Story" for finally uncovering the truth behind this popular Hull myth from 1642. To proper journalists, persistence matters!
www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/...
www.thehullstory.com/allarticles/...
Reposted by Paul Knott
“Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn answered "no" when a BBC journalist asked him whether he’d ever been paid to give a speech to promote pro-Russian campaigners”
Just FFS investigate the whole dodgy traitorous lot of them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Just FFS investigate the whole dodgy traitorous lot of them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Former Brexit Party MEP denies taking payment from pro-Russian campaign
A prominent former MEP for Nigel Farage's old party denies taking bribes in a pro-Russian campaign.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 9:01 AM
“Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn answered "no" when a BBC journalist asked him whether he’d ever been paid to give a speech to promote pro-Russian campaigners”
Just FFS investigate the whole dodgy traitorous lot of them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Just FFS investigate the whole dodgy traitorous lot of them.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why did we let a bunch of greedy sociopaths hijack control of the internet & do so much damage to our societies? Especially as the tools to stop them already exist - if we choose to use them.
@mazmhussain.bsky.social in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
@mazmhussain.bsky.social in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
How to fix the internet: break the oligarchy
Two new books trace the decline of the global online public square – and its replacement by a machine for extraction capitalism
www.newstatesman.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Why did we let a bunch of greedy sociopaths hijack control of the internet & do so much damage to our societies? Especially as the tools to stop them already exist - if we choose to use them.
@mazmhussain.bsky.social in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
@mazmhussain.bsky.social in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...
I'd call a plumber to repair a major leak at my house, not an estate agent or unqualified relative. So I'm not sure why you would ask the latter to deal with dangerous international political crises instead of knowledgeable & experienced diplomats.
@financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4ofw5So
@financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4ofw5So
The death of the diplomat in Trump’s America
Sidelining the state department and relying on dealmakers will come at a cost
on.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I'd call a plumber to repair a major leak at my house, not an estate agent or unqualified relative. So I'm not sure why you would ask the latter to deal with dangerous international political crises instead of knowledgeable & experienced diplomats.
@financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4ofw5So
@financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/4ofw5So
It's only a logo, I suppose. But the symbolism of Poland's "Solidarity" banner and what the people who rallied behind it fought for is huge for many people of my generation. It's very sad to see it pass into the hands of far-right reactionary Law & Justice party supporters.
The Solidarity trade union, which played a central role in bringing down Poland's communist regime, has won a long-running legal battle for control over its famous logo against the man who designed it, Jerzy Janiszewski.
Poland's Solidarity trade union wins legal battle for control of iconic logo
notesfrompoland.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:56 PM
It's only a logo, I suppose. But the symbolism of Poland's "Solidarity" banner and what the people who rallied behind it fought for is huge for many people of my generation. It's very sad to see it pass into the hands of far-right reactionary Law & Justice party supporters.
As an outsider, I am not sure why saying "you should not obey illegal orders" is controversial. Wasn't that principle established at the Nuremberg Trials? Doing the implied opposite and obeying illegal orders might get you into a bit of bother though.....
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Pentagon Opens Inquiry Into Senator Mark Kelly Over What Hegseth Calls ‘Seditious’ Video
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 PM
As an outsider, I am not sure why saying "you should not obey illegal orders" is controversial. Wasn't that principle established at the Nuremberg Trials? Doing the implied opposite and obeying illegal orders might get you into a bit of bother though.....
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Reposted by Paul Knott
Latest from me: on the million young people not in education, employment in training, & generational debts still not settled www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
With a million young people locked out of work, the UK’s hidden jobs crisis is only growing | John Harris
Held back by Covid and then phased out by AI, Britain’s so-called Neets are desperately seeking a secure future. Who will offer them hope? asks Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Latest from me: on the million young people not in education, employment in training, & generational debts still not settled www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Stop chasing far-right voters who will never support you - and alienating your own strongest supporters in the process. Absolutely correct from @casmudde.bsky.social in @theguardian.com .
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘Danish model’ is the darling of centre-left parties like Labour. The problem is, it doesn’t even work in Denmark | Cas Mudde
This week’s local elections are the latest reminder that when social democrats move rightwards, they’re making a mistake, says academic and author Cas Mudde
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Stop chasing far-right voters who will never support you - and alienating your own strongest supporters in the process. Absolutely correct from @casmudde.bsky.social in @theguardian.com .
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Paul Knott
New from me on Nathan Gill, now jailed for taking Kremlin bribes. New subscribers- free or paid - always welcome.
aqyoung61.substack.com/p/nathan-gil...
aqyoung61.substack.com/p/nathan-gil...
Nathan Gill - sins of the stepfather
To Hull and back
aqyoung61.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
New from me on Nathan Gill, now jailed for taking Kremlin bribes. New subscribers- free or paid - always welcome.
aqyoung61.substack.com/p/nathan-gil...
aqyoung61.substack.com/p/nathan-gil...
If the Trump administration succeeds in forcing through this shameful act of appeasement, it will likely be the death knell of its role as "leader of the free world". Americans seem to have little sense of how much damage that will do to them in the long run.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
US tells Nato if Zelenskyy does not sign peace deal Ukraine will face worse in future
US army secretary briefs ambassadors at ‘nightmare meeting’ in Kyiv on Friday after talks with Ukrainian leader
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 PM
If the Trump administration succeeds in forcing through this shameful act of appeasement, it will likely be the death knell of its role as "leader of the free world". Americans seem to have little sense of how much damage that will do to them in the long run.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...