Matthew Ford

Centrists promise but can't deliver enhanced growth in one country leading to better services, populists promise simple solutions to everything founded on immigration control and mostly deliver chaos. Alternatives are thin on the ground.

Right populists v centrists with the further left usually marginalised is the new electoral geography. Like in other fields like economics, there's a struggle to come to terms with this emerging world

Same vibe tbh

Social fitness is the biggest predictor of a happy life. Here’s how to improve yours | BBC Science Focus Magazine Enjoying the weather? Did you see the game? Small-talk and simple face-to-face interactions have a bigger effect on our wellbeing than you might think. So, do you fancy a cuppa?

Saturday morning wholesome goodness…

IRL “social connections of all shapes and sizes contribute to our wellbeing”.

Key takeaways: stop doomscrolling. Start chatting to people.😀 www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-bo...

Almost as if giving Palantir / Anduril access to anything important was a terrible idea from the start. Crazy dat.

Anduril and Palantir battlefield communication system has deep flaws, Army memo says The much-needed modernization of the U.S. Army's battlefield communications network being undertaken by Anduril, Palantir and others is rife with "fundamental security" problems and vulnerabilities, and should be treated as a "very high risk," according to a recent internal Army memo.

What a surprise:

“The Army should treat the NGC2 prototype version as “very high risk” because of the “likelihood of an adversary gaining persistent undetectable access”
www.reuters.com/business/aer...

I think we need a magic money trees

And as the tech won’t work first time around we’re defo going to need the capacity to sustain a long war.

But still. Silver bullets.

We need growth.

Or we need to eat grass.

Or we need AI.

Or we need conscription.

Can someone choose how to pay for it. And if the AI can’t be made to work then what we do to make up for the shortfall between ambition and reality?

a sad cat is looking at the camera with the words pretty pretty please written below it . ALT: a sad cat is looking at the camera with the words pretty pretty please written below it .

I’m all for global responsibilities. But can we also temper this with a realistic appraisal of what UK can afford. And tailor the strategy accordingly?

Brits struggling to come to terms with the reality. Can’t afford it all and unwilling to make choices accordingly.

Three years in and we’re still dicking about

Brits struggling to come to terms with the reality. Can’t afford it all and unwilling to make choices accordingly.

One of those days

a man and woman are flying through the air in the ocean ALT: a man and woman are flying through the air in the ocean

SS Britain

Is British defence policy just a case of moving deckchairs around the titanic?

Old Whiskers looking mighty fine this morning…

cc @hurstpublishers.bsky.social @greyhoundliterary.bsky.social @michaeldwyer.bsky.social

Someone went into my local bookshop and actually bought my book!

No pressure sales were applied! I promise!

New policy initiative:

Fire fat generals and restart the federal government…

Reduce the officer corp budget and the size of the nation’s debt all with one policy!😀

Build a European officer corps.

Start by establishing an EU Higher Officers course to educate half colonels and above.

Link career progress to completing this course.

Pot v Kettle

Starting with the Commander-in-Chief 😀

YouTube video by Global and National Security Institute War in the Smartphone Age: How Civilians and Media Are Shaping Modern War | GNSI Video Series

This was good fun. I’d just landed in Tampa and was properly jet lagged but the good folks at GNSI successfully made me sound almost coherent! 💪💪💪

Pre-publication interview on my book.

youtu.be/jyb3n0fs5Dc

a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants . ALT: a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants .

Trump baby

a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants . ALT: a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants .

Golden brains u-turn

And a box of frogs

Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline. The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

I’m thoroughly enjoying NATO’s collective bluff and dimwittery.

Hours of entertainment.

They’ll be way too late whatever happens and then a complete pain in the ass about saving everyone after which they’ll laud it over us for EVER

Introducing... The Wargame

I don't think we know.

Which means we europeans need to develop contingencies also for scenarios where the US significantly delays help, or even does not commit US forces at all.

I am obviously not alone. Here is such a scenario of a russian attack on the UK.

open.spotify.com/episode/24V3...