Devadas Moodley
@historydev.bsky.social
Historian etc retired academic. South Asia, Africa, Empire. Museums, Art history
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Ukraine is still hitting military targets and oil infrastructure, every day
Confirmed by Ukraine’s General Staff: the rare Russian A-60 airborne laser aircraft was likely destroyed in a strike on the Beriev plant in Taganrog. Also hit: drone factory “Molniya,” oil terminals in Novorossiysk, Tuapse refinery, and an S-400 launcher.
November 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Ukraine is still hitting military targets and oil infrastructure, every day
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:10 AM
BREAKING: This is huge news, the EU's equivalent of the 🇺🇸Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
🇪🇺Court of Justice just ruled all 🇪🇺countries must recognise same-sex marriages granted in other member states.
This effectively legalises gay marriage across 🇪🇺
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Bailed-out banker rattles cup; bearish. #econsky
Dude who just got the SV Bank bailout two years ago is back banging the cup. It’s a tell.
November 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Bailed-out banker rattles cup; bearish. #econsky
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Me on DOJ’s behavior: “it’s malevolence *exacerbated* by incompetence. That’s problematic enough for the government’s credibility before federal district judges. But at some point soon, one suspects that the Supreme Court itself may well have to grapple with its consequences—or risk being duped.”
194. Another Bad Week for the Presumption of Regularity
Three different flashpoints highlight how much the Trump administration has done, in such short order, to undermine its own litigation efforts and to damage—perhaps irreparably—DOJ's credibility.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Me on DOJ’s behavior: “it’s malevolence *exacerbated* by incompetence. That’s problematic enough for the government’s credibility before federal district judges. But at some point soon, one suspects that the Supreme Court itself may well have to grapple with its consequences—or risk being duped.”
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Pretty remarkable that Trump has installed someone on the Saudi dole — Jared Kushner collects millions in fees from the Saudis every year — in a key role for America's most sensitive and consequential foreign policy negotiations (Gaza, Ukraine), and it is largely TREATED AS A NON-STORY
November 23, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Pretty remarkable that Trump has installed someone on the Saudi dole — Jared Kushner collects millions in fees from the Saudis every year — in a key role for America's most sensitive and consequential foreign policy negotiations (Gaza, Ukraine), and it is largely TREATED AS A NON-STORY
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
DOGE was a failure if the goal was saving money. It was a huge success if the goal was giving a bunch of techbro adjacent people unfettered access to govt data in ways that, thus far, are evading the Privacy Act.
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
DOGE was a failure if the goal was saving money. It was a huge success if the goal was giving a bunch of techbro adjacent people unfettered access to govt data in ways that, thus far, are evading the Privacy Act.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
This is why some of us avoid the news. It prefers expiring information divorced from context to meaningful lessons about society or government. chrisdillow.substack.com/p/being-a-ne...
November 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This is why some of us avoid the news. It prefers expiring information divorced from context to meaningful lessons about society or government. chrisdillow.substack.com/p/being-a-ne...
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Unclear where this war profiteering plan came from or why it emerged right now, but clear that it is in every way disastrous
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace
Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Unclear where this war profiteering plan came from or why it emerged right now, but clear that it is in every way disastrous
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
“Have they given up? Are they just deciding to build up herd immunity by watching us die? The government has given up, hasn’t it? They are throwing us into the slaughterhouse.”
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 10:02 AM
“Have they given up? Are they just deciding to build up herd immunity by watching us die? The government has given up, hasn’t it? They are throwing us into the slaughterhouse.”
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
“Our job is to stand in solidarity with Ukrainians and support a negotiated settlement — not let Donald Trump bulldoze the whole process.”
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing the need for real diplomacy in securing peace in Ukraine.
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing the need for real diplomacy in securing peace in Ukraine.
November 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“Our job is to stand in solidarity with Ukrainians and support a negotiated settlement — not let Donald Trump bulldoze the whole process.”
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing the need for real diplomacy in securing peace in Ukraine.
Zack Polanski on #BBCLauraK discussing the need for real diplomacy in securing peace in Ukraine.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"My NHS colleagues & I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Boris no longer mentions them at all."
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
My piece on the responses to the UK Covid-UK Inquiry report that try to airbrush the dead away.
Sincere thanks, @theobserveruk.bsky.social.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
This is really very good not least because, apart from its specific proposals, it actually articulates a coherent economic *strategy* - something which the UK hasn't had for a long time.
New essay out today by me and @acjsissons.bsky.social - ‘Getting Britain out of the hole: a plan for the economy’. You can read the whole thing here getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
A chart mega-thread follows 🧵
Getting Britain out of the hole
A plan for the UK economy
getting-out-of-the-hole.uk
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This is really very good not least because, apart from its specific proposals, it actually articulates a coherent economic *strategy* - something which the UK hasn't had for a long time.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Boris Johnson promised to govern as an amiable and cynical clown. He positioned himself as a clown, the country elected a clown and then we were governed by a clown, as demanded.
Starmer presented himself as a serious man for serious times. What did we get? More clown.
Starmer presented himself as a serious man for serious times. What did we get? More clown.
This is a clown-car government elected on a seriousness ticket iandunt.substack.com/p/a-clown-go...
November 21, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Boris Johnson promised to govern as an amiable and cynical clown. He positioned himself as a clown, the country elected a clown and then we were governed by a clown, as demanded.
Starmer presented himself as a serious man for serious times. What did we get? More clown.
Starmer presented himself as a serious man for serious times. What did we get? More clown.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
I’d point out that the Iraq report was instantly binned and never referred to again; that nobody is in prison for the Hillsborough disaster or for *soldiers literally gunning down civilians in the street*, and that there are no notable calls to exact consequences on Boris Johnson. This is standard.
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I’d point out that the Iraq report was instantly binned and never referred to again; that nobody is in prison for the Hillsborough disaster or for *soldiers literally gunning down civilians in the street*, and that there are no notable calls to exact consequences on Boris Johnson. This is standard.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
"Boris Johnson took four days off from official government business during a key period in the UK’s Covid preparation when the NHS was bracing to be “overwhelmed” by the virus."
When we most needed a leader we, instead, had this guy.
When we most needed a leader we, instead, had this guy.
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
"Boris Johnson took four days off from official government business during a key period in the UK’s Covid preparation when the NHS was bracing to be “overwhelmed” by the virus."
When we most needed a leader we, instead, had this guy.
When we most needed a leader we, instead, had this guy.
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Boris Johnson didn't apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, even when she told him in person the lasting impact his comments about her had on her detention in Iran, her husband tells the BBC
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Boris Johnson didn't apologise to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, even when she told him in person the lasting impact his comments about her had on her detention in Iran, her husband tells the BBC
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
The Confidence Trick That Put Boris Johnson Into Power Is Now Being Used on Nigel Farage
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
Covid bereaved call for Boris Johnson to lose ex-PM benefits over inquiry report
Covid bereaved call for Boris Johnson to lose ex-PM benefits over inquiry report
Campaign group says it will pursue all legal means to ensure personal accountability for ‘grave betrayal’
Covid-bereaved families have called for Boris Johnson to lose access to public funds and said they will pursue all legal options for personal accountability after a damning report into his handling of the pandemic.
The families said they want all privileges Johnson receives as a former prime minister, including his ministerial pension, his place on the privy council and access to the public duty costs allowance, to be withdrawn. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Covid bereaved call for Boris Johnson to lose ex-PM benefits over inquiry report
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
this could mean several different things, none of which are reassuring
![“The question is, is it legal just to kill the guy if he’s not threatening to kill you and you’re outside an armed conflict? There are people who are simply uncomfortable with the president just declaring we’re at war with drug traffickers,” said a former senior official familiar with the debate.
“Internally, a lot of people are treating this like the rendition program,” the former official said. “It’s one thing to get rid of [Iraqi dictator] Saddam Hussein or [Libyan autocrat] Moammar Gaddafi for counterterrorism reasons. This is different.’’](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:maiw2rfujepnphhrejytvuu5/bafkreiecj776a2owo634tm7djoq4xyfwoteenbzzind7uxqlvnfkfiak7u@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
this could mean several different things, none of which are reassuring
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
Reposted by Devadas Moodley
These countries have intelligence agencies too.
November 23, 2025 at 2:13 AM
These countries have intelligence agencies too.