Blackbeardsghost
@blackbeardsghost.bsky.social
Pirate/Ghost
Ukraine, Taiwan, geopolitics, trains, bikes, planes, ships, subways and whatnot
Ukraine, Taiwan, geopolitics, trains, bikes, planes, ships, subways and whatnot
Dear fcking lord an absolute banger from some of the dullest minds in public life.
“The United States must find a midpoint between internationalist excess and nationalist retreat,” write Peter Trubowitz and Charles Kupchan.
A Middle Way for American Foreign Policy
Neither overreach nor retreat can win domestic support.
www.foreignaffairs.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Dear fcking lord an absolute banger from some of the dullest minds in public life.
This needs to very widely understood
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
"Vassal" talk is a bit much, but those Starmer (and other EU leaders tbf) statements read like all these people still believe, if we can just hold our breath for three more years, this nightmare will be over and we'll be back to singing Atlantic Kumbaya
January 5, 2026 at 7:23 PM
This needs to very widely understood
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
"Vassal" talk is a bit much, but those Starmer (and other EU leaders tbf) statements read like all these people still believe, if we can just hold our breath for three more years, this nightmare will be over and we'll be back to singing Atlantic Kumbaya
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Director of the CIA is in the room but you have OSINTdefender's twitter page up on the screen
January 3, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Director of the CIA is in the room but you have OSINTdefender's twitter page up on the screen
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
There’s going to be a motion of censure at the UN and Starmer is going to have a decision to make.
January 3, 2026 at 5:06 PM
There’s going to be a motion of censure at the UN and Starmer is going to have a decision to make.
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
1/ A memorial to African-American soldiers who fought to liberate the Netherlands in World War II was removed to comply with Trump Administration anti-DEI policies, according to newly released records, contradicting later claims about the reasons for the removal. ⬇️
January 2, 2026 at 10:57 AM
1/ A memorial to African-American soldiers who fought to liberate the Netherlands in World War II was removed to comply with Trump Administration anti-DEI policies, according to newly released records, contradicting later claims about the reasons for the removal. ⬇️
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
@tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social what's caused this?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How has amendments to paperwork added five years onto the project? What's missing from this article?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How has amendments to paperwork added five years onto the project? What's missing from this article?
Leeds-Bradford £2.5bn tram plan delayed after government review
West Yorkshire's mayor says she is confident the trams will be running
www.bbc.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 8:36 AM
@tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social what's caused this?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How has amendments to paperwork added five years onto the project? What's missing from this article?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How has amendments to paperwork added five years onto the project? What's missing from this article?
Someone needs to let ed miliband know
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“Even if problems can be fixed, Morrison says Gorgon CCS devpt will bury <3% of total emissions resulting from devpt if those released after LNG is shipped & burned overseas are included. “It underlines that CCS should be in no way treated as a climate solution,”
“Even if problems can be fixed, Morrison says Gorgon CCS devpt will bury <3% of total emissions resulting from devpt if those released after LNG is shipped & burned overseas are included. “It underlines that CCS should be in no way treated as a climate solution,”
Carbon capture was spruiked as a way of limiting our emissions – but has Australia been greenwashed?
Despite billions in investment, carbon capture and storage technology ‘should be in no way treated as a climate solution’, critics say
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Someone needs to let ed miliband know
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“Even if problems can be fixed, Morrison says Gorgon CCS devpt will bury <3% of total emissions resulting from devpt if those released after LNG is shipped & burned overseas are included. “It underlines that CCS should be in no way treated as a climate solution,”
“Even if problems can be fixed, Morrison says Gorgon CCS devpt will bury <3% of total emissions resulting from devpt if those released after LNG is shipped & burned overseas are included. “It underlines that CCS should be in no way treated as a climate solution,”
Carbon capture was spruiked as a way of limiting our emissions – but has Australia been greenwashed?
Despite billions in investment, carbon capture and storage technology ‘should be in no way treated as a climate solution’, critics say
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“Even if problems can be fixed, Morrison says Gorgon CCS devpt will bury <3% of total emissions resulting from devpt if those released after LNG is shipped & burned overseas are included. “It underlines that CCS should be in no way treated as a climate solution,”
“Even if problems can be fixed, Morrison says Gorgon CCS devpt will bury <3% of total emissions resulting from devpt if those released after LNG is shipped & burned overseas are included. “It underlines that CCS should be in no way treated as a climate solution,”
Who in the name of fck is arguing Trading Places is not a Christmas movie? These people are seriously troubled
December 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Who in the name of fck is arguing Trading Places is not a Christmas movie? These people are seriously troubled
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
“It is now increasingly hard to see how Europe, in particular, can avoid large-scale protection if it is to retain any industry at all.”
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
China is making trade impossible
Europe has nothing to offer and difficult decisions to make
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:31 AM
“It is now increasingly hard to see how Europe, in particular, can avoid large-scale protection if it is to retain any industry at all.”
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
on.ft.com/3XR9JvS
open.substack.com/pub/michaeld...
This is really fucking good
This is really fucking good
The 28-Point Crisis: 24 Hours of Chaos, Consequences, and Abandonment
A rushed ultimatum, a Russian-drafted plan, and a White House out of step with the Western alliance it once led.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
open.substack.com/pub/michaeld...
This is really fucking good
This is really fucking good
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
A source close to Rachel Reeves commented: “People are going to love this budget. She’s really done it this time and she will definitely, positively, not have to do another one like this.”
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
A source close to Rachel Reeves commented: “People are going to love this budget. She’s really done it this time and she will definitely, positively, not have to do another one like this.”
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
A market analyst said: “Hmmmmmmmmmmm.” 2/2
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Summarised all the Budget preview pieces to save you time:
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reeves was going to raise income tax but since the forecast is a bit better she won’t. Instead she’ll just do a bunch of tweaks and freezes that will annoy everyone and not leave her enough headroom to avoid the same thing next year. 1/2
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
1/ The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is "running a shadow operation inside the White House in an effort to sideline pro-Ukraine officials", cutting out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort supported by Vice President J.D. Vance. ⬇️
November 22, 2025 at 7:21 PM
1/ The Kyiv Independent is reporting that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is "running a shadow operation inside the White House in an effort to sideline pro-Ukraine officials", cutting out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort supported by Vice President J.D. Vance. ⬇️
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
But my gut is: the problem with the government’s agenda is they are hitting the winners from economic liberalism on their most important thing (their livelihood and their businesses) and hitting the winners of social liberalism on their most important thing (their lives).
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 PM
But my gut is: the problem with the government’s agenda is they are hitting the winners from economic liberalism on their most important thing (their livelihood and their businesses) and hitting the winners of social liberalism on their most important thing (their lives).
UK government bonds sink after Reeves ditches plan to raise income tax - on.ft.com/444DtZB via @FT
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
UK government bonds sink after Reeves ditches plan to raise income tax
Dramatic U-turn ahead of Budget sparks sell-off in gilt market
on.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
UK government bonds sink after Reeves ditches plan to raise income tax - on.ft.com/444DtZB via @FT
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
When you spend weeks reassuring investors that you have a plan... Then reveal the plan is magic beans
Horrifying news, if anything they should be looking to make it even more bewildering!
A team of architects has been tasked with helping visitors find their way through the brutalist landmark’s notoriously bewildering maze of walkways and levels ⬇️
The Barbican wants to stop its visitors getting lost. Will it work?
www.thetimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Horrifying news, if anything they should be looking to make it even more bewildering!
This is a fucking good podcast. I've downloaded the back catalogue to listen through on some upcoming flights... including to DC where I now know all the best (and worst) spots! Thanks chaps
On this week’s Second Breakfast we talk about OSD-Congress relations, CUAS, training and national training centers, and why McClellan would’ve been a tyrant.
November 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This is a fucking good podcast. I've downloaded the back catalogue to listen through on some upcoming flights... including to DC where I now know all the best (and worst) spots! Thanks chaps
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Just unbelievably predictable, maybe Sullivan and finer can address this on their stupid ass podcast
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Just unbelievably predictable, maybe Sullivan and finer can address this on their stupid ass podcast
I don't want to alarm anyone. But Matthew Syed has an opinion about the Villa Park situation, and he's pretty proud of it....
October 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I don't want to alarm anyone. But Matthew Syed has an opinion about the Villa Park situation, and he's pretty proud of it....
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Russian air defence is keeping track of when Swedish signals intelligence aircraft S102B Korpen take off from Malmen, Sweden and Russian forces are notified and warned.
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
October 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Russian air defence is keeping track of when Swedish signals intelligence aircraft S102B Korpen take off from Malmen, Sweden and Russian forces are notified and warned.
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
Other SIGINT aircraft does not seem to cause this warning to be sent.
Go Sweden!
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Russia’s T-90 tank production in 2024 reached around 240 units, including both new and modernized tanks. But internal planning papers analyzed by Frontelligence Insight show Moscow’s plan to lift output by 80% and launch production of a new T90 variant. 🧵Our Special Report:
October 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Russia’s T-90 tank production in 2024 reached around 240 units, including both new and modernized tanks. But internal planning papers analyzed by Frontelligence Insight show Moscow’s plan to lift output by 80% and launch production of a new T90 variant. 🧵Our Special Report:
Reposted by Blackbeardsghost
Old enough to remember retired F-16 pilots telling us that the F-16 would be useless for Ukraine because it couldn’t survive in the contested airspace.
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Ukraine’s F-16 Force: Innovation, Impact, and Resolve
One of Ukraine’s top F-16 pilots, known by his call sign “AB,” spoke to the Mitchell Institute about the impact of fighter against Russia.
www.airandspaceforces.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Old enough to remember retired F-16 pilots telling us that the F-16 would be useless for Ukraine because it couldn’t survive in the contested airspace.
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...
Bullshit then, bullshit now.
www.airandspaceforces.com/ukraines-f-1...