Elio España
@elioespana.bsky.social
Writer & Filmmaker. Formerly of London, now of Folkestone. https://www.aftershocks.co http://spiritlevelcinema.co.uk
A big thumbs-up from the Kremlin for the US National Security Strategy. Agent Krasnov delivering as expected.
tass.com/politics/205...
tass.com/politics/205...
Disappearance of ‘Russian threat’ from US national security strategy positive — Kremlin
The messages for Russia-US relations sent by the administration of US President Donald Trump differs from approaches of previous administrations, the Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted
tass.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
A big thumbs-up from the Kremlin for the US National Security Strategy. Agent Krasnov delivering as expected.
tass.com/politics/205...
tass.com/politics/205...
An excellent, detailed post on the severe threats facing Europe. The UK must find a way to reintegrate.
Europe is under siege
Menaced by Russia and China, abandoned by America.
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:21 AM
An excellent, detailed post on the severe threats facing Europe. The UK must find a way to reintegrate.
I always, *always*, find Villa away stressful. Doesn’t matter what the game’s like, the score, the table - I just sit stressed out for 90minutes. #arsenal
December 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I always, *always*, find Villa away stressful. Doesn’t matter what the game’s like, the score, the table - I just sit stressed out for 90minutes. #arsenal
The makeshift centre-halves pointing at each other, in the first minute, and conflabing on where they’re going to stand today is giving me the ab-dabs #arsenal
December 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The makeshift centre-halves pointing at each other, in the first minute, and conflabing on where they’re going to stand today is giving me the ab-dabs #arsenal
The consolidation continues. It’s bad news, particularly bad for small independents. The cartel that formed in the music business was bad for musicians, the developing cartel in film will be bad for filmmakers.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Netflix agrees to buy Warner Bros Discovery studio and streaming business in $83bn deal
Streaming service to gain control of studio behind Harry Potter and Batman, as well as HBO, home to The White Lotus and Game of Thrones
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The consolidation continues. It’s bad news, particularly bad for small independents. The cartel that formed in the music business was bad for musicians, the developing cartel in film will be bad for filmmakers.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
The most astonishing thing about this NSS is the mind-bending levels of hypocrisy and reality-inversion. Identifying in a Europe a crisis of democracy & free speech, warnings about suppression of political opposition. From a gov’t that expels people for criticising Trump on social media…
Europeans are waking up this morning to find the new US National Security Strategy (quietly) released. And what it has to say on Europe could not be clearer. On the „stark prospect of civilizations erasure“ for example. 👇
December 5, 2025 at 12:18 PM
The most astonishing thing about this NSS is the mind-bending levels of hypocrisy and reality-inversion. Identifying in a Europe a crisis of democracy & free speech, warnings about suppression of political opposition. From a gov’t that expels people for criticising Trump on social media…
This is sobering. Particularly striking is the alignment of US strategy with the strategy that Russia has been pursuing for the best part of 20 years: weaken NATO, divide the EU, work to bolster the Far-Right and European Fascism. Astonishing that they have actually written this down.
The Trump administration released its latest National Security Strategy--and one thing that can be said is that there is no more pretending. It’s a plan to weaken European unity, to make Europe MAGA, to force Europe to take economic dictation by the USA…. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The New US National Security Strategy
Trump Says Openly That the US Wants to Dominate Europe and Make it MAGA
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:05 PM
This is sobering. Particularly striking is the alignment of US strategy with the strategy that Russia has been pursuing for the best part of 20 years: weaken NATO, divide the EU, work to bolster the Far-Right and European Fascism. Astonishing that they have actually written this down.
It will prove to be a mistake. I was brought into harrowing contact with the Single Justice Procedure, the last attempt at "making the courts faster & more efficient", this time last year. It was a hellish, Kafkaesque experience in which there were clear miscarriages of justice.
Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years
The reforms are being brought in to tackle unprecedented delays in the Crown Court.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It will prove to be a mistake. I was brought into harrowing contact with the Single Justice Procedure, the last attempt at "making the courts faster & more efficient", this time last year. It was a hellish, Kafkaesque experience in which there were clear miscarriages of justice.
This is terrifying. Although I'm generally aware of the subject, somehow I hadn't properly processed the immediate, critical harm that's already been done to pretty much all of us, is ongoing, and seems to be insoluble.
I have high levels of forever chemicals in my blood - what can I do about it?
The chemicals would
www.bbc.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This is terrifying. Although I'm generally aware of the subject, somehow I hadn't properly processed the immediate, critical harm that's already been done to pretty much all of us, is ongoing, and seems to be insoluble.
Utterly insane. I wouldn’t now visit a US National Park, & suspect that I would be in the majority. What about the businesses that benefit from foreign tourism generated by the parks? feel terrible for them.
The Interior Department has announced it will charge $100 per head for non-US residents to visit the most popular 11 national parks.
Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.
Stupid and self-defeating. Millions have visited those parks and left with with affection for America. No more, except those who can afford $400 per family per park.
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Utterly insane. I wouldn’t now visit a US National Park, & suspect that I would be in the majority. What about the businesses that benefit from foreign tourism generated by the parks? feel terrible for them.
Incredible morning under a low autumn sun.
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Incredible morning under a low autumn sun.
Who gets battered, everywhere they go?
November 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Who gets battered, everywhere they go?
The leadership of the Democratic Party should volubly make clear that a US government controlled by the Democrats has absolutely no intention of defending this Quisling settlement, and will not honour any of its provisions, including around admitting Ukraine into NATO.
Hi All, just released my free weekend update. Its fascinating who backed the Trump-Putin 28 point plan, and what it means about the US government being a mouthpiece for Russia. Plus, you cannot back Trump and Ukraine--if you back Trump, you can only have one master open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #160: The US Becomes A Mouthpiece To Pass On Putin's Demands
Vance To The Fore; The 28 Points—Is It More Interesting Who Backed Them?
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The leadership of the Democratic Party should volubly make clear that a US government controlled by the Democrats has absolutely no intention of defending this Quisling settlement, and will not honour any of its provisions, including around admitting Ukraine into NATO.
If Europe does not step up now, and tell that mobster in the White House what he can do with each one of his 28 points, we will face a very dark future.
This attempt to strengthen Russia & extort Europe & Ukraine must not stand, and must not become a reference point for a future settlement, either.
This attempt to strengthen Russia & extort Europe & Ukraine must not stand, and must not become a reference point for a future settlement, either.
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
If Europe does not step up now, and tell that mobster in the White House what he can do with each one of his 28 points, we will face a very dark future.
This attempt to strengthen Russia & extort Europe & Ukraine must not stand, and must not become a reference point for a future settlement, either.
This attempt to strengthen Russia & extort Europe & Ukraine must not stand, and must not become a reference point for a future settlement, either.
The worst betrayal & enforced capitulation. In the battle between democracy and violent dictatorship, violent dictatorship claims comprehensive victory, that’s the world now. Why is reporting in the US not wrapped in crushing shame?
Here is Trump's full 28 point plan for Ukraine. It would destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state and leave it helpless to face a Russian attack in the future. It would also give Putin full vindication and immunity from prosecution.
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/20/t...
Trump's full 28-point Ukraine-Russia peace plan
The full plan was obtained by Axios and verified by Ukrainian and U.S. officials.
www.axios.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:13 AM
The worst betrayal & enforced capitulation. In the battle between democracy and violent dictatorship, violent dictatorship claims comprehensive victory, that’s the world now. Why is reporting in the US not wrapped in crushing shame?
"The Labour Party, in chasing the votes of people who will not vote for it, abandons those who do; it profanes the principles of the Labour movement; it intensifies the extreme Right-wing venom that ravages our politics".
Immigration and Abjection
There have to be red lines, this was mine.
www.aftershocks.co
November 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM
"The Labour Party, in chasing the votes of people who will not vote for it, abandons those who do; it profanes the principles of the Labour movement; it intensifies the extreme Right-wing venom that ravages our politics".
Genuinely shocking. I really hope that Europe hasn’t been as complacent as it appears, and has planned for this.
Well, once again it was shown that Trump's "support" for Ukraine was a con. He has been working with Putin in secret to craft a "peace" deal which the US and Russia will now try to shove down Ukrainian and European throats. Just sent out this free piece. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Trump Was Working With Putin The Entire Time
And Now Europe and Ukraine Will Pay The Price
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Genuinely shocking. I really hope that Europe hasn’t been as complacent as it appears, and has planned for this.
Excellent from @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy on some of the issues around copyright and the creative industries cartels.
Pluralistic: Disney lost Roger Rabbit (18 Nov 2025) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow
pluralistic.net
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Excellent from @pluralistic.net.web.brid.gy on some of the issues around copyright and the creative industries cartels.
Remember walking out of my CLP at the height of the Corbyn madness & Stella talking me down - “critical to remain in the party & fight” etc. Now it’s the opposite extreme of the party and I don’t think I can do it this time, it’s just too disgusting. Greens aren’t the answer. It all feels very bleak
Plans to leave refugees in a state of perpetual uncertainty about where and if they can rebuild their lives are not just performative cruelty, they are counterproductive to integration and the economy. It doesn’t have to be like this - 1/2
November 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Remember walking out of my CLP at the height of the Corbyn madness & Stella talking me down - “critical to remain in the party & fight” etc. Now it’s the opposite extreme of the party and I don’t think I can do it this time, it’s just too disgusting. Greens aren’t the answer. It all feels very bleak
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www.crowdfunder.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Please consider a small donation to a great fundraiser.
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkestone...
Folkestone Care Leavers Christmas Dinner 2025 www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/folkestone...
Typically have zero interest in hearing guff about Royals, but given recent events I thought, “go on then”.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York: The Rise and Fall of the House of York (Audio Download): Andrew Lownie, William Collins: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York: The Rise and Fall of the House of York (Audio Download): Andrew Lownie, William Collins: Amazon.co.uk: Books
amzn.eu
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Typically have zero interest in hearing guff about Royals, but given recent events I thought, “go on then”.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
Summary: My god.
Not sure why British Republicanism remains such a fringe position.
He doesn’t intend to “sue” in the form of asking the court, in good faith, for a judgement in his favour, because the probability is that he’ll lose.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
Trump says he has 'obligation' to sue BBC over speech edit
The US president indicates he will go ahead with a lawsuit against the BBC over how his speech was presented by Panorama.
www.bbc.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 AM
He doesn’t intend to “sue” in the form of asking the court, in good faith, for a judgement in his favour, because the probability is that he’ll lose.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
This is just his tactic of coercion and intimidation. This might be a good opportunity for someone to finally stand up to it and go to court.
Kemkaran is former BBC News employee. This kind of obtuse bullshit is a textbook example of the opportunism, dishonesty and tactical conspiracism characteristic of Reform and its entire political project.
The KCC leader has had film crews following her for a documentary, but has now raised some concerns about how it might be edited
Read more: www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kc...
Read more: www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kc...
November 11, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Kemkaran is former BBC News employee. This kind of obtuse bullshit is a textbook example of the opportunism, dishonesty and tactical conspiracism characteristic of Reform and its entire political project.