Phil Tinline
@philtinline.bsky.social
Author, THE DEATH OF CONSENSUS (The Times' Politics Book of 2022)
GHOSTS OF IRON MOUNTAIN ("riveting" - The New Yorker)
+ POWER FAILURE (Future Governance Forum) 19/1
Last on Radio 4: Societal Collapse https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002lppp
GHOSTS OF IRON MOUNTAIN ("riveting" - The New Yorker)
+ POWER FAILURE (Future Governance Forum) 19/1
Last on Radio 4: Societal Collapse https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002lppp
Reposted by Phil Tinline
There had a very high degree of public antagonism between them, going beyond partisan rivalry. Jenrick accused Yusuf of antisemitism, and calling his account of a like on his twitter account "bullshit", and Yusuf challenging Jenrick's record + integrity in government
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Robert Jenrick did not believe Zia Yusuf's account of an accidental like of a tweet calling Jenrick "a traitorous Zogbot with a Jewish wife". Former Labour MP Kate Hoey concurred.
Jenrick and Yusuf had a highly antagonistic public argument for several months over Jenrick's record in office too
Jenrick and Yusuf had a highly antagonistic public argument for several months over Jenrick's record in office too
January 18, 2026 at 3:53 PM
There had a very high degree of public antagonism between them, going beyond partisan rivalry. Jenrick accused Yusuf of antisemitism, and calling his account of a like on his twitter account "bullshit", and Yusuf challenging Jenrick's record + integrity in government
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
If I were an American politician, I'd probably stay away from arguing that a history of forced sterilisation invalidates a country's territorial claims.
WELKER: Why is it necessary to do something 85% of Greenlanders oppose?
BESSENT: Denmark has a terrible history w/ Greenlanders. There were forced sterilizations until the '90s. Now that the US has expressed an interest, there is this new interest. But the US needs to be in control to prevent a war
BESSENT: Denmark has a terrible history w/ Greenlanders. There were forced sterilizations until the '90s. Now that the US has expressed an interest, there is this new interest. But the US needs to be in control to prevent a war
January 18, 2026 at 3:54 PM
If I were an American politician, I'd probably stay away from arguing that a history of forced sterilisation invalidates a country's territorial claims.
Reposted by Phil Tinline
Strong statement this.
Surreal times. But here we are.
Surreal times. But here we are.
January 18, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Strong statement this.
Surreal times. But here we are.
Surreal times. But here we are.
Especially if it also focuses its attention on the many British supporters of that subversion. And the implications that has for the other policies they support.
As usual FT ‘realists’ are better on this than all other papers. Politically, there’s an open goal in the U.K. for a party pushing populist opposition to US subversion of national sovereignty, esp. if willing to encourage personal action (eg boycotts) that is symbolic but affirms socio-eco power.
Europe must not appease Trump on Greenland
By capitulating again, the EU and UK would signal that we are now irrevocably in a might-makes-right world
giftarticle.ft.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Especially if it also focuses its attention on the many British supporters of that subversion. And the implications that has for the other policies they support.
Nothing says the 'politics of home' like setting up a think tank with funding from a hostile foreign country, while sneering at your fellow citizens for suffering from 'Ukraine brain'.
Published the day after Trump and Vance's 'politics of home' impinge on James Orr's. He chooses to simply ignore the tensions in his argument.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
January 18, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Nothing says the 'politics of home' like setting up a think tank with funding from a hostile foreign country, while sneering at your fellow citizens for suffering from 'Ukraine brain'.
Reposted by Phil Tinline
In which I was unmasked as the ultimate footballing criminal – the plastic fan – with terrifying personal consequences
January 18, 2026 at 12:45 PM
In which I was unmasked as the ultimate footballing criminal – the plastic fan – with terrifying personal consequences
Tbf, under the North Atlantic Treaty, if the United States does attack Greenland, it would then need to send more troops to defend Greenland from the United States.
The United States prepares for military invasion of United States.
Pentagon readies 1,500 soldiers to possibly deploy to Minnesota, officials say
Troops with the Army’s 11th Airborne Division in Alaska are preparing after President Donald Trump’s Insurrection Act threat, according to defense officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 18, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Tbf, under the North Atlantic Treaty, if the United States does attack Greenland, it would then need to send more troops to defend Greenland from the United States.
FIFA, FAFO. Not that they shouldn't have known.
The World Cup will be fun.
The World Cup will be fun.
January 18, 2026 at 12:32 PM
FIFA, FAFO. Not that they shouldn't have known.
The World Cup will be fun.
The World Cup will be fun.
Reposted by Phil Tinline
Who could possibly have foreseen such a thing?
January 18, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Who could possibly have foreseen such a thing?
Brilliant idea
Pride in Place could be a test case for a less technocratic and controlling style of comms too.
Why not build a comms infrastructure around the community leaders on the neighbourhood boards to help them develop their own platforms, try out new ideas and tell the story of Pride in Place themselves?
Why not build a comms infrastructure around the community leaders on the neighbourhood boards to help them develop their own platforms, try out new ideas and tell the story of Pride in Place themselves?
January 18, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Brilliant idea
Bit of patriotism
January 18, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Bit of patriotism
Is that weather the gathering storm
Farage is apparently 'under the weather' today and unable to talk about the US threats to the UK and Europe over Greenland.
Which is unfortunate.
Which is unfortunate.
January 18, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Is that weather the gathering storm
Good thread. One question it prompts: how happy are US defence manufacturers about the prospect of a lasting rupture with their European customers?
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
January 18, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Good thread. One question it prompts: how happy are US defence manufacturers about the prospect of a lasting rupture with their European customers?
The British right has more of a history of suspicion of the US than we remember: it was something even Heath & Powell shared, eg. The centre-right led the push to join the EEC.
It now has to choose once more: over NATO, X, the BBC. Does it care more about a 'war on woke' or protecting our nation?
It now has to choose once more: over NATO, X, the BBC. Does it care more about a 'war on woke' or protecting our nation?
1-5
The Telegraph, the UK's most conservative major newspaper, has this editorial view (link at end):
"Donald Trump’s attempt to strongarm Denmark and Europe into accepting the annexation of Greenland is a disgraceful betrayal of the Western alliance..."
The Telegraph, the UK's most conservative major newspaper, has this editorial view (link at end):
"Donald Trump’s attempt to strongarm Denmark and Europe into accepting the annexation of Greenland is a disgraceful betrayal of the Western alliance..."
January 18, 2026 at 9:30 AM
The British right has more of a history of suspicion of the US than we remember: it was something even Heath & Powell shared, eg. The centre-right led the push to join the EEC.
It now has to choose once more: over NATO, X, the BBC. Does it care more about a 'war on woke' or protecting our nation?
It now has to choose once more: over NATO, X, the BBC. Does it care more about a 'war on woke' or protecting our nation?
Reposted by Phil Tinline
We’ll get right on that. But seriously, here in Canada we have demanded that companies change their suppliers to great effect. Much of our produce that used to come from the US is now being sourced from elsewhere. The US stuff simply wasn’t selling.
January 17, 2026 at 8:12 PM
We’ll get right on that. But seriously, here in Canada we have demanded that companies change their suppliers to great effect. Much of our produce that used to come from the US is now being sourced from elsewhere. The US stuff simply wasn’t selling.
Reposted by Phil Tinline
NEW: In January 2024, a man purchased Meta's newly AI-infused smart glasses.
He went on to experience a devastating break with reality that played out across Meta platforms — with Meta AI as his companion, entertaining and affirming his worsening delusional beliefs.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
He went on to experience a devastating break with reality that played out across Meta platforms — with Meta AI as his companion, entertaining and affirming his worsening delusional beliefs.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
January 15, 2026 at 5:23 PM
NEW: In January 2024, a man purchased Meta's newly AI-infused smart glasses.
He went on to experience a devastating break with reality that played out across Meta platforms — with Meta AI as his companion, entertaining and affirming his worsening delusional beliefs.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
He went on to experience a devastating break with reality that played out across Meta platforms — with Meta AI as his companion, entertaining and affirming his worsening delusional beliefs.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by Phil Tinline
Tired: Slim majority of Brits opposed links with Europe.
Wired: Large majority of Brits favour war with the US.
Wired: Large majority of Brits favour war with the US.
Starmer will have to be dragged into a breach with the US, and that is as it should be. But Greenland is a good place to draw the line. Terrible numbers for Trump, great numbers for Starmer.
January 18, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Tired: Slim majority of Brits opposed links with Europe.
Wired: Large majority of Brits favour war with the US.
Wired: Large majority of Brits favour war with the US.
No time like this weekend to be joining the most pro-Trump, pro-X party in UK politics.
Something something patriotism.
Something something patriotism.
Robert Jenrick's timing was just exquisite
Do I sense the Telegraph getting cold feet over Trump...?
January 17, 2026 at 11:19 PM
No time like this weekend to be joining the most pro-Trump, pro-X party in UK politics.
Something something patriotism.
Something something patriotism.
Reposted by Phil Tinline
All key European leaders now said they won’t go along with this. So if the objective was coercion it has already failed. (This is not a US miscalculation- its a very Trumpian one).
Keir Starmer often takes 2-3 days to issue very mild criticism of US actions. This is both direct and issued fast.
I think there is a serious risk that the US miscalculated quite what a big deal the Greenland thing is to Europe (and in Europe).
I think there is a serious risk that the US miscalculated quite what a big deal the Greenland thing is to Europe (and in Europe).
NEW - Starmer says US "completely wrong" in threatening tariffs over Greenland
January 17, 2026 at 9:11 PM
All key European leaders now said they won’t go along with this. So if the objective was coercion it has already failed. (This is not a US miscalculation- its a very Trumpian one).
Even before the 2024 election this was shaping up to be lively. The massed football fans of Europe being price-gouged as they try to get to games scattered across a continent, via a country with relatively little long-distance public transport, coming up against militarised law enforcement? M'kay.
What Europe could do is threaten to boycott the World Cup. It won't. But that might actually work. Trump wants his big show.
January 17, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Even before the 2024 election this was shaping up to be lively. The massed football fans of Europe being price-gouged as they try to get to games scattered across a continent, via a country with relatively little long-distance public transport, coming up against militarised law enforcement? M'kay.
Very well then.
January 17, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Very well then.
A bloc that's also a pole within a sphere. Would love to see a diagram of this.
Donald Trump is reshaping the world. And within this new global order, EU leaders should heed their voters and ensure the bloc remains a pole within its own sphere of influence.
Not a bystander in someone else’s.
🔗 politi.co/4qjXMvh
Not a bystander in someone else’s.
🔗 politi.co/4qjXMvh
January 17, 2026 at 7:11 PM
A bloc that's also a pole within a sphere. Would love to see a diagram of this.
Angus Hanton's Vassal State is very good on this stuff. A full list of major brands and high street shops would be useful if someone cares to pull one together.
It's effectively impossible to boycott US companies because they own so many British brands. You'd have to stop buying Cadburys, Walkers Crisps, HP sauce.... or shopping at Gails or Waterstones etc etc...
January 17, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Angus Hanton's Vassal State is very good on this stuff. A full list of major brands and high street shops would be useful if someone cares to pull one together.
Daily Mail fearlessly comes out against elections, ocean-going and brevity.
January 16, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Daily Mail fearlessly comes out against elections, ocean-going and brevity.
Reposted by Phil Tinline
pretty sure he meant the other thing, grok, but very cool that those are your two things
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
pretty sure he meant the other thing, grok, but very cool that those are your two things