Jessica Kingsley
@bluewoodsmoke.bsky.social
Former publisher happy to have more time to spend on geeky interests. Pro Europe, Ukraine, anti populism. Interested in things medieval, early English, Byzantine, Daoist. Trying to learn to play the Qin. Live in London.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Question in Copenhagen: why is Trump focussed on a Russian threat that doesn't exist (in Greenland) as opposed to one where it does (Ukraine)?
January 19, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Question in Copenhagen: why is Trump focussed on a Russian threat that doesn't exist (in Greenland) as opposed to one where it does (Ukraine)?
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
I've just seen Starmer's press conference - and he did, I thought, pretty well.
There was a lot about NATO and the special relationship (ie 'special pleading') but also a lot about the architecture of international law.
There was a lot about NATO and the special relationship (ie 'special pleading') but also a lot about the architecture of international law.
January 19, 2026 at 10:31 AM
I've just seen Starmer's press conference - and he did, I thought, pretty well.
There was a lot about NATO and the special relationship (ie 'special pleading') but also a lot about the architecture of international law.
There was a lot about NATO and the special relationship (ie 'special pleading') but also a lot about the architecture of international law.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
The problem Republicans in Congress must now face is however difficult and embarrassing for them, the President is now waving matches round a barrel of gunpowder, (for the US as well) and only they can now take them away from him.
![NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreie7itpptx3xbxhpsnlaqmwk752h7pcrion5ija2apksljtax2adx4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 8:14 AM
The problem Republicans in Congress must now face is however difficult and embarrassing for them, the President is now waving matches round a barrel of gunpowder, (for the US as well) and only they can now take them away from him.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
A source confirms to me that this disturbing letter from Trump to the Norwegian PM is real.
Not the sort of letter committed to paper by a well man. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 7:32 AM
A source confirms to me that this disturbing letter from Trump to the Norwegian PM is real.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
UK not in the room where it happens
Emergency meeting of EU Member States representatives 5pm today, to discuss relations with the US
January 18, 2026 at 6:28 AM
UK not in the room where it happens
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
He’s gone completely fucking mad
January 17, 2026 at 4:45 PM
He’s gone completely fucking mad
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Labour introduce Armed Forces Bill to strengthening support for personnel, families and national security.
It creates the Defence Housing Service, sets the Armed Forces Covenant in law (delivering a manifesto committement), Strengthening the UK’s Strategic Reserve and much more!
Well done Labour!
It creates the Defence Housing Service, sets the Armed Forces Covenant in law (delivering a manifesto committement), Strengthening the UK’s Strategic Reserve and much more!
Well done Labour!
Armed Forces Bill to strengthening support for personnel, families and national security
Today, the Labour government have introduced a new Armed Forces Bill to Parliament.
open.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Labour introduce Armed Forces Bill to strengthening support for personnel, families and national security.
It creates the Defence Housing Service, sets the Armed Forces Covenant in law (delivering a manifesto committement), Strengthening the UK’s Strategic Reserve and much more!
Well done Labour!
It creates the Defence Housing Service, sets the Armed Forces Covenant in law (delivering a manifesto committement), Strengthening the UK’s Strategic Reserve and much more!
Well done Labour!
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
❗️From now on, Zelenskyy will hold daily morning meetings via secure selector with those responsible for restoring power supply in Ukraine and managing the energy sector.
January 15, 2026 at 10:48 PM
❗️From now on, Zelenskyy will hold daily morning meetings via secure selector with those responsible for restoring power supply in Ukraine and managing the energy sector.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
⚡️Ukraine is launching a high-level energy Ramstein summit to mobilize urgent international aid as Russian strikes cripple the nations power grid.
Ukraine to Hold Energy Ramstein Meeting to Tackle Power Crisis
Amid ongoing attacks on its energy facilities, Ukraine is set to coordinate international aid through an upcoming energy “Ramstein” meeting, officials confirm.
united24media.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:39 PM
⚡️Ukraine is launching a high-level energy Ramstein summit to mobilize urgent international aid as Russian strikes cripple the nations power grid.
Machado presented Trump with her Nobel award at White House meeting. Presumably even Trump can see that this is not quite the real thing.
January 15, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Machado presented Trump with her Nobel award at White House meeting. Presumably even Trump can see that this is not quite the real thing.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Russia is responsible for so much hurt & damage in Ukraine
..and also in other countries all over the world - and in Russia itself even.
Putin and his mates need to stop.
Wanna help?
Joining the Wild Hornets raffle is a *great* way to do so!
..and also in other countries all over the world - and in Russia itself even.
Putin and his mates need to stop.
Wanna help?
Joining the Wild Hornets raffle is a *great* way to do so!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Maartje!🐝
ruzzia murders civilians nonstop with its barrages of up to 800+ drones
Join the Wild Hornets raffle to help the 3rd Assault Brigade keep crushing these terrorists
Epic prizes—gorgeous flag and handcrafted knife!
bsky.app/profile/wild...
ruzzia murders civilians nonstop with its barrages of up to 800+ drones
Join the Wild Hornets raffle to help the 3rd Assault Brigade keep crushing these terrorists
Epic prizes—gorgeous flag and handcrafted knife!
bsky.app/profile/wild...
January 11, 2026 at 5:39 AM
Russia is responsible for so much hurt & damage in Ukraine
..and also in other countries all over the world - and in Russia itself even.
Putin and his mates need to stop.
Wanna help?
Joining the Wild Hornets raffle is a *great* way to do so!
..and also in other countries all over the world - and in Russia itself even.
Putin and his mates need to stop.
Wanna help?
Joining the Wild Hornets raffle is a *great* way to do so!
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Guess what: xAI has done even less to rein in Grok's nasty image generator than headlines suggest.
Turns out not many journalists bothered to do their homework, unlike the Verge, which actually TESTED Grok's restrictions rather than relying on xAI's statement.
Turns out not many journalists bothered to do their homework, unlike the Verge, which actually TESTED Grok's restrictions rather than relying on xAI's statement.
In case you've seen the story about “grok now only generates images for paid users”, it's untrue. Apparently everyone just reported it because… it was what grok told them 🤦🏼
www.theverge.com/news/859309/...
www.theverge.com/news/859309/...
No, Grok hasn’t paywalled its deepfake image feature
X’s sexual deepfake machine is still running, despite Grok saying otherwise.
www.theverge.com
January 10, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Guess what: xAI has done even less to rein in Grok's nasty image generator than headlines suggest.
Turns out not many journalists bothered to do their homework, unlike the Verge, which actually TESTED Grok's restrictions rather than relying on xAI's statement.
Turns out not many journalists bothered to do their homework, unlike the Verge, which actually TESTED Grok's restrictions rather than relying on xAI's statement.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Great discussion, lots of insights, from two leaders in their respective fields - economics & military science.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Had a session with @pkrugman.bsky.social where we discussed US foreign policy and world
affairs. Hopefully interesting if not entirely uplifting. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
affairs. Hopefully interesting if not entirely uplifting. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Phillips O'Brien on Venezuela and More
And why America wins battles but loses wars
open.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Great discussion, lots of insights, from two leaders in their respective fields - economics & military science.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary
January 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
absolutely bizarre to see a violent, rogue american regime, which is threatening military attacks on a bunch of major trading partners and close allies, and openly fantasizing about hitler-style wars of territorial conquest, covered in the tone of horse-race political commentary
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
** My Top Ten Photos of the Year · #10 of 10**
Medieval Green Man at Norwich Cathedral.
I’ve visited many places that offer a captivating glimpse into the past, but few have made me feel like the past was gazing back at me.
Medieval Green Man at Norwich Cathedral.
I’ve visited many places that offer a captivating glimpse into the past, but few have made me feel like the past was gazing back at me.
December 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
** My Top Ten Photos of the Year · #10 of 10**
Medieval Green Man at Norwich Cathedral.
I’ve visited many places that offer a captivating glimpse into the past, but few have made me feel like the past was gazing back at me.
Medieval Green Man at Norwich Cathedral.
I’ve visited many places that offer a captivating glimpse into the past, but few have made me feel like the past was gazing back at me.
Peter Geoghegan speaking in parliament youtube.com/watch?v=wBTU...
I Warned Parliament: Trump, Musk & Billionaires Are Undermining Democracy - Here’s How We Stop Them
YouTube video by Democracy for Sale
youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Peter Geoghegan speaking in parliament youtube.com/watch?v=wBTU...
The mess at the BBC - an excellent, clear analysis, well worth reading #BBC open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
Extra edition: The populist assault on the BBC
Johnson, Gibb and the Telegraph are trying to turn the BBC into GB News.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The mess at the BBC - an excellent, clear analysis, well worth reading #BBC open.substack.com/pub/iandunt/...
Fabulous exhibition on at the National Gallery - well worth a visit. Some lovely landscapes and tranquil images. +++ #postimpressionists #art #nationalgallery
November 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Fabulous exhibition on at the National Gallery - well worth a visit. Some lovely landscapes and tranquil images. +++ #postimpressionists #art #nationalgallery
Absolutely spot on. open.substack.com/pub/emptycit...
The real problem which blights our prison and punishment system
The way we think about custodial sentences is what needs to change
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Absolutely spot on. open.substack.com/pub/emptycit...
Defence spending - a grown up discussion open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/z...
ZAPAD, Polish drone attack - why are we sleepwalking?
TUC votes against defence spending, while Kyiv burns...
open.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Defence spending - a grown up discussion open.substack.com/pub/htsf/p/z...
Social contagion and how it works theconversation.com/mass-hysteri...
Mass hysteria at Heathrow airport – how social contagion works
Heathrow’s Terminal 4 evacuation shows the power of social contagion.
theconversation.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Social contagion and how it works theconversation.com/mass-hysteri...
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Could not agree more.
The fact that an anti-migrant politician, who tells us every single day that he doesn't like immigration, is saying it once again, is not in any way news
August 26, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Could not agree more.
Reposted by Jessica Kingsley
Figs are divine phys.org/news/2025-07...
Fig trees convert atmospheric CO₂ to stone, research reveals
Some species of fig trees store calcium carbonate in their trunks—essentially turning themselves (partially) into stone, new research has found. The team of Kenyan, U.S., Austrian, and Swiss scientist...
phys.org
August 14, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Figs are divine phys.org/news/2025-07...