Matthew Redhead

“A rally not for any old change, lads. REAL change.”

“Back together, after all those tears.”

Coverage of Badenoch's speech was one of the worst examples ever of Westminster Brain and Lobbythink. A litany of nonsense applauded by a policy elite that can't even think three moves ahead. (1/3)

Beliefs About Violent Masculinity May Predict Readiness for War - Profolus Beliefs linking masculinity with violence are the strongest driver of pro-war attitudes.

A study reveals that the biggest predictor of war support is not politics—but masculinity. Cultural ideals linking manhood with violence make people more likely to support militarization and war.

If he doesn’t want to pigeon-holed as a Tory, why did he write about it in a national newspaper? And speak at the Tory conference? Give me a break.

Khamenei lifted all limits on missile range, senior Iranian MP says A senior Iranian lawmaker said on Wednesday that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had lifted all limits to the range of Iran’s missiles, signaling a potential major shift to Tehran's defense posture after ...

A senior Iranian lawmaker said on Wednesday that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had lifted all limits to the range of Iran’s missiles, signaling a potential major shift to Tehran's defense posture after a punishing June war.
iranintl.com/en/202510081527

Trump Is Supporting Transnational Repression Instead of sheltering pro-democracy dissidents, America is now returning them for arrest.

"The future they are building is one in which states cooperate in a global condominium to suppress transnational dissent...one in which a fundamental means of continuing the struggle against dictatorships—fleeing to a more democratic country and advocating from there—is foreclosed."

Important read:

Grey zone ops

Rip off degrees:

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

That two hander with Guinness and Bannen. Beautiful, sad, bitter.

I seem to be seeing more random posts from accounts I don’t follow. I just had one telling me “not to forget to trace and kiss her tattoos today”.

Like, what? WHAT?

Interesting perspective.

Those flags are like bleedin’ rabbits.

I agree. I've seen Putin described as risk-averse; I don't think that's right. He takes risks that other leaders wouldn't, but only when he assesses that the likelihood of an effective response is low. The West has yet to change his assessment that he can keep pushing us back.

Which indicates what a small person she is.

More to the point - you don’t just do a degree to get a job.

I’ve worked with quite a few English grads in consultancy, banking and technology. Some have had to learn new skills (me too - I studied history), but most bring imagination, cultural depth and humanity to their work. That’s a dividend, not a rip off, as far as I can see.

Calling English a 'rip-off degree' is one of the most blatant exhibitions of personal barbarism I've ever seen. You've demonstrated nothing but the poverty of your own mind.

They could cast you as the next "Man in Black" on Radio 4.

70% OFF Who Will Defend Europe?: An Awakened Russia and a Sleeping Continent Who will defend Europe? The answer should be obvious: Europe should be able to defend itself. Yet, for decades, most of the continent enjoyed a defense holiday, outsourcing protection to the United St...

It's been a year since the audiobook version of 'Who Will Defend Europe?' was released. If you haven't heard my best soothing bedtime story voice recounting this tale of looming disaster and calamity, a) what's your excuse and b) the publishers have the answer.

www.audiobooks.com/promotions/p...

This happens to me occasionally. I mostly feel like I am blathering into the ether on here, but invariably, the few times I get re-posted, I've made a ruddy mistake.

I think a charitable way to view this would be necessity and perceived self-interest going hand-in-hand.

Book cover 1: "Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia and the New Global Order"

Book cover 1: "Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Order"

A tale of two book covers.

Now, as ever, I have the deepest respect for @mcfaulmike.bsky.social, but also sympathy as his magnum opus has been in production so long that the original cover has had to be amended to reflect the emergence of a third autocratic power.

Out on 28 Oct.

amzn.to/3IWWRQX

Too good not to be shared...👏

if you’ve ever watched the apprentice, that’s the world without arts or humanities degrees

Strange things happen on a night shift.

Threat assessment of China led to spy case collapse, says CPS The dropping of charges against two men last month prompted criticism from some ministers and MPs.

No surprise this. When I last looked, HMG’s “state threats” strategy was avowedly “state agnostic”. For real.