Lynette Nusbacher

I hope it doesn’t sound judgmental when I say that the US isn’t going to overthrow the Iranian government using a carrier battle group. If there were a regime change button they might push it, but America’s playing for a nuclear deal which they’ll spin as bringing ‘peace’ to the region.

This is a short clip with one reason why the UK hasn't proscribed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Apologies for the AI's difficulty with the word 'proscribe'.

open.substack.com/pub/nusbacher

The Lion and the unicorn unleashed on the dragon. A reset with China, a head-of-government visit, a reduction in China's tax on British whisky, and the promise of visa-free travel for Brits in China. Only Starmer could go to China, I guess.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2025: Reflections on Sanctuary - Somerville College Oxford This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Today we remember the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust, all victims of the Nazis, and the victims…

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day, when we commemorate the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, and the victims of subsequent genocides. For last year's Holocaust Memorial Day, we shared a piece by our History student, Lucy Pollock, whose family were killed in the Holocaust.

Blue background with a Star of David above the text 'Holocaust Memorial Day, January 27' in dark blue font.

Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember the millions of lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to stand against hatred and prejudice.

#HolocaustMemorialDay #HMD2026

Last days to apply for the International Women's Day fencing event in Oviedo, Asturias!

That was unclear. The punitive tariffs aren't trade sanctions; they're sales taxes for Americans. They make imports less competitive, but if required the UK and the EU can reply with countervailing tariffs that make US products less competitive overseas. In an election year!

Respect, obvs!

‘Right now, somebody in the FCDO is deciding which knighthood to offer Donald Trump’. - Me

Key point from my interview about #greenland on @bbcarabic.bsky.social today: If the US wants to tariff up US prices in advance of their Nov congressional elections, Europe will consider retaliation.

I had some good challenge this AM from @steffanpowell.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social just now when I said that Tony Blair has a track record in the Middle East of achieving the square root of Fanny Adams. Sum: with the support of the Foreign Service and the Civil Service Blair could achieve.

Windsor Castle

I've been staying in this room every time I've been to the castle for three years. I love the battlements outside the window, but I particularly love the heraldic weathercock.

Soft power isn't soft, and it's a damfool name Almost the first thing I ever did on social media was live tweet a lecture by Joe Nye. His concept of ‘soft power’ was in almost every way brilliant. The name, however is rubbish.

It's dark. It's cold. It's raining. Of course I'm out in Windsor Castle talking to my phone camera!

Of course! But the only way we'd put British and French soldiers there as peace enforcement troops would be if Russia agreed a cease-fire. Any sign of that?

I’ve just spent some of my evening creating a brief video to add to the new short-short General Offensive! General Uprising! podcast on my Substack. This is all fairly rough-n-ready, and when I saw a bit of glare off my big screen I just slung Bill the Cat up there to block it. Bill by Kes Smith.

America First in Strategic Context I'm going to name-check Halford Mackinder and Alfred Thayer Mahan, but really I'm going to talk about the rough outlines of an American sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere.

I went on a bit longer this time: what do you think? Also, what do you think my next short video should be about?

Lynette Nusbacher (@nusbacher) The putative American takeover of Greenland has gone from a bit of a snicker to dominating the news cycle. Who even remembers Venezuela or Ukraine or the expiring health subsidies or that guy with th...

I'm starting to record some short current affairs videos, mostly looking at strategy, and mostly trying to keep it fairly large scale. First one off the blocks: Greenland.

With you on @lbc from 10pm

- Trump discussing how to acquire Greenland, says White House with @rufusgifford.bsky.social & @nusbacher.bsky.social
- Drink drive limit set to be cut in road safety
- Pensioners could lose ticket to ride Tube for free

Plus @winmc01.bsky.social on Jan 6th anniversary

Venezuela was a proof of concept: you can put a leader in the bag and put him on ice while you hand his successor a list of demands. Could work in Greenland, right? Could also be the beginning of Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign against … what was that guy’s name again? Vance! That was the guy.

I was going to put text on this photo to make a meme. I realised that if you don't recognise the still, it would take too much text to explain the joke. If you do recognise the still, you don't need text.

If the US government is going to ‘run’ #Venezuela for the foreseeable future, it’s going to be devoting a lot of civil affairs capability and nation-building resource to the task. After dropping the post-conflict reconstruction ball in Iraq, it’s going to be quite an opportunity.

The US signalled that it is willing to be cavalier about use of force in its sphere of influence; unhappy to see other acknowledged major powers (China and Russia) coming in without permission. This also signals to China and Russia that they can do likewise in their spheres.

Suppression of enemy air defence is the first mission of every air force. That was fairly spectacular in Venezuela this morning, and there are already indications of airmobile operations following. What is the US fighting for? It's the new great power spheres of influence.

Best wishes for 2026, people. Look after yourselves, pick your battles, achieve decisive results, and be prepared to cut your losses.

One more year without the Tom Bombadil Christmas Special I’ve been longing for.

Today I was Debbie Downer: Russia-Ukraine will not be over by Christmas. Putting a multinational force into Ukraine to enforce an unwelcome agreement on the Ukrainians would not end well. Sir Trevor on Times Radio pressed for hope: I think Putin could…retire. Men of his age retire all the time.

Today Ahmed al-Ahmad sanctified himself, his family, Islam and Australia with his courage and presence of mind. He looked death in his face. It appears that in the process he took a round. God bless him and heal him in body and spirit.

Demonising Jews, including Israelis, has consequences. Today is not the day to say that criticism of Israeli government policy isn't anti-Semitic; the language of abomination isn't criticism. Today is not the day to score points off Australian govt policy. Ask me tomorrow.

Jews being killed in Australia has me in a fury this morning as I walk through London. I'll think of something to say when I've calmed down a little.

You're very kind, Marcus!