Mark
@astrodad.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark
Hi All, I sent out two pieces yesterday in another crazy day. The second, last night was how Trump has, once again, helped Putin kill and freeze Ukrainians. It’s free and I even had to update it this morning after Trump defended Putin's war crimes last night. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump Helps Putin Kill Ukrainians: A Case Study
Update: Since this piece appeared Donald Trump confirmed just how much he is in Putin’s pocket.
open.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Hi All, I sent out two pieces yesterday in another crazy day. The second, last night was how Trump has, once again, helped Putin kill and freeze Ukrainians. It’s free and I even had to update it this morning after Trump defended Putin's war crimes last night. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Mark
Everyone freezing on the East Coast or in the Midwest remember: Kyiv has the same weather, except that hundreds of thousands of people don't have electricity, heating or running water
January 24, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Everyone freezing on the East Coast or in the Midwest remember: Kyiv has the same weather, except that hundreds of thousands of people don't have electricity, heating or running water
Reposted by Mark
Zelensky is entirely justified in speaking bluntly like this to Europeans. Too many seem willing to see Ukrainians suffer to provide Europe greater time and security, without acknowledging that Ukraine’s fight is their own.
January 22, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Zelensky is entirely justified in speaking bluntly like this to Europeans. Too many seem willing to see Ukrainians suffer to provide Europe greater time and security, without acknowledging that Ukraine’s fight is their own.
Reposted by Mark
We also cannot let our dispute distract us from the our core task of helping to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. (2/2)
January 17, 2026 at 9:11 PM
We also cannot let our dispute distract us from the our core task of helping to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. (2/2)
Reposted by Mark
China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies.
If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO.
Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. (1/2)
If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO.
Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. (1/2)
January 17, 2026 at 9:11 PM
China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among Allies.
If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO.
Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. (1/2)
If Greenland’s security is at risk, we can address this inside NATO.
Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity. (1/2)
Reposted by Mark
Hello all, just sent out my free weekend update. A special one as it’s from Ukraine. It’s clear being here that we are all taking advantage of the Ukrainians. They are fighting for their lives, and we are safe and sound behind them. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #167: Lets Be Honest, We Are Taking Advantage Of The Ukrainians
The Graham-Blumenthal Tango Of No Meaning; The Ukrainian Strategic Air Campaign Is Making A Difference: But Probably Needs More
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Hello all, just sent out my free weekend update. A special one as it’s from Ukraine. It’s clear being here that we are all taking advantage of the Ukrainians. They are fighting for their lives, and we are safe and sound behind them. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Mark
Lots of talk again about China, the US, and Russia dividing the world into spheres of influence. One problem with this idea is that after 30 years of trying, Russia's sphere is limited to Belarus, Georgia, and 20% of Ukraine. Another is that if China has a sphere, it includes Russia.
January 7, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Lots of talk again about China, the US, and Russia dividing the world into spheres of influence. One problem with this idea is that after 30 years of trying, Russia's sphere is limited to Belarus, Georgia, and 20% of Ukraine. Another is that if China has a sphere, it includes Russia.
Reposted by Mark
"Iron laws of the world"? Some of America's most important national accomplishments are about leading humanity away from this kind of bullshit.
If we let ideologues like Stephen Miller drag us back into a world where brute force is all that matters, all of us will be less safe.
If we let ideologues like Stephen Miller drag us back into a world where brute force is all that matters, all of us will be less safe.
January 6, 2026 at 9:17 PM
"Iron laws of the world"? Some of America's most important national accomplishments are about leading humanity away from this kind of bullshit.
If we let ideologues like Stephen Miller drag us back into a world where brute force is all that matters, all of us will be less safe.
If we let ideologues like Stephen Miller drag us back into a world where brute force is all that matters, all of us will be less safe.
Reposted by Mark
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
Reposted by Mark
An important point that needs to be made on the AEI website. The best deal that the Trump administration is willing to offer Ukraine is still an abomination. Trump has so warped expectations that too many can’t admit this. @kschake.bsky.social
www.aei.org/articles/tru...
www.aei.org/articles/tru...
www.aei.org
December 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
An important point that needs to be made on the AEI website. The best deal that the Trump administration is willing to offer Ukraine is still an abomination. Trump has so warped expectations that too many can’t admit this. @kschake.bsky.social
www.aei.org/articles/tru...
www.aei.org/articles/tru...
Reposted by Mark
Just sent out (mostly free). It builds on the discussion I had with General Havrylov about the transformed battlefield facing Ukrainian and Russian soldiers. It discusses why reducing the number of Ukrainian soldiers at the front is the best thing possible. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The Fewer Soldiers On The Front Line The Better
Comments on the interview with General Havrylov
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Just sent out (mostly free). It builds on the discussion I had with General Havrylov about the transformed battlefield facing Ukrainian and Russian soldiers. It discusses why reducing the number of Ukrainian soldiers at the front is the best thing possible. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Mark
Just did a Substack Live with Ukrainian General Volodomyr Havrylov. He gave a fascinating overview of the changes in the war. For instance, now Ukraine is close to inflicting 50% of the casualties on the Russians using only 10% of the Ukr military. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Phillips O’Brien and Volodomyr Havrylov
A recording from Phillips P. OBrien's live video
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Just did a Substack Live with Ukrainian General Volodomyr Havrylov. He gave a fascinating overview of the changes in the war. For instance, now Ukraine is close to inflicting 50% of the casualties on the Russians using only 10% of the Ukr military. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Mark
War Diary Day 1,391
Blaise Metreweli, the Chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, sticks it to the Killer in The Kremlin.
And all his creepy helpers.
I agree with every fucking word.
VPDFO!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Blaise Metreweli, the Chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, sticks it to the Killer in The Kremlin.
And all his creepy helpers.
I agree with every fucking word.
VPDFO!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
December 16, 2025 at 1:07 PM
War Diary Day 1,391
Blaise Metreweli, the Chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, sticks it to the Killer in The Kremlin.
And all his creepy helpers.
I agree with every fucking word.
VPDFO!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Blaise Metreweli, the Chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, sticks it to the Killer in The Kremlin.
And all his creepy helpers.
I agree with every fucking word.
VPDFO!
www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Mark
Putin sits in Moscow claiming that his armies have taken a town that the Ukrainian president is personally visiting. There are cowardly tyrants and there are courageous elected leaders and it is good to know the difference.
Putin said Russia had taken Kupiansk weeks ago.
Today, Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian troops there.
Today, Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian troops there.
December 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Putin sits in Moscow claiming that his armies have taken a town that the Ukrainian president is personally visiting. There are cowardly tyrants and there are courageous elected leaders and it is good to know the difference.
Reposted by Mark
💔 A European Parliament interpreter could not hold back tears during the speech of 11-year-old Roman Oleksiv from Lviv.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
December 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
💔 A European Parliament interpreter could not hold back tears during the speech of 11-year-old Roman Oleksiv from Lviv.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
Reposted by Mark
Trump calls Somali immigrants “garbage.” His VP cheers him on. Meanwhile, families are being torn apart, asylum is being shut down, aid is being gutted, and the military is firing on survivors in the water.
Cruelty is becoming national policy—silence is complicity.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Cruelty is becoming national policy—silence is complicity.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Trump’s Dehumanization Campaign Is Becoming Normalized
A president who calls immigrants “garbage” is dangerous enough. A country that grows desensitized to it is even more frightening.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Trump calls Somali immigrants “garbage.” His VP cheers him on. Meanwhile, families are being torn apart, asylum is being shut down, aid is being gutted, and the military is firing on survivors in the water.
Cruelty is becoming national policy—silence is complicity.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Cruelty is becoming national policy—silence is complicity.
open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
Reposted by Mark
The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.
Trump's national security strategy is out and some of the Europe sections are shocking. "...the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed
gives cause for great optimism."
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
gives cause for great optimism."
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.
Reposted by Mark
It's hard to over-state how important Trump admin subordination is to Putin, and not just because it hugely increases the pressure on Europe, above all on Ukraine. It's also because it gives Russia much more great power credibility, for which the Kremlin is absolutely desperate. 🧵
Both the Trump and Putin administrations like to think of themselves as hard-nosed realists - leaders in a world where great powers are the only stars that count. But Russia is China's dependent and Trump's US looks increasingly like Russia's junior partner. That's not very great power-like.
November 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
It's hard to over-state how important Trump admin subordination is to Putin, and not just because it hugely increases the pressure on Europe, above all on Ukraine. It's also because it gives Russia much more great power credibility, for which the Kremlin is absolutely desperate. 🧵
Reposted by Mark
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:29 PM
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Mark
Ukraine should accept no limits on its sovereignty that have not been accepted by other European countries. If it’s forced to do that, it will be accepting second class citizenship in Europe and the principle that Russia can treat it as a state with inferior rights
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Ukraine should accept no limits on its sovereignty that have not been accepted by other European countries. If it’s forced to do that, it will be accepting second class citizenship in Europe and the principle that Russia can treat it as a state with inferior rights
Reposted by Mark
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
Reposted by Mark
I expect to be reposting this every three months or so until the end of the Trump administration.
The more that members of the Trump administration talk, the more it sounds as if Plan A to stop the war was to coerce Ukraine into capitulation and Plan B was to keep repeating Plan A until it worked. When it became apparent that wasn't going to happen, they were out of ideas.
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I expect to be reposting this every three months or so until the end of the Trump administration.
Reposted by Mark
Some notable things in what's being called the "Trump peace plan" but which could not have been more clearly written in Moscow if it came with a 2 for 1 deal on tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet. 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Some notable things in what's being called the "Trump peace plan" but which could not have been more clearly written in Moscow if it came with a 2 for 1 deal on tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet. 🧵
Reposted by Mark
Well, we finally have an answer about what MAGA believes. It has one and only one philosophical position, and that is that Trump’s lies about having nothing to do with Epstein must be accepted unquestioningly. It’s the whole movement distilled.
November 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Well, we finally have an answer about what MAGA believes. It has one and only one philosophical position, and that is that Trump’s lies about having nothing to do with Epstein must be accepted unquestioningly. It’s the whole movement distilled.