Phillips OBrien

It’s amazing how ridiculous the reporting of Trump’s nuclear bluster is. He deploys the USS Jeffrey and USS Epstein (allegedly), doesn’t say where, and people are acting like he might go nuclear. His threats are even less credible than Putin’s.

Only 29% would back Brexit now — poll suggests tables have turned We asked Britain about Europe, China and their least favourite world leaders, but one answer stands out

The shocking thing about the British political system is that even now when two thirds of the country things Brexit was a bad decision and well more than half want to rejoin the EU--not a single major national political party supports rejoining.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/only...

"this week showed just what Ukraine has become and what an extraordinary society it is"

Well written and interesting analysis by Phillips Obrien.

Actually, Ukraine has shamed the USA for one--where corruption at the highest levels is now so expected that no one bats an eyelid.
Also, Ukrainians are attacking Russian logistics (which they have done before). Can they maintain a sustained campaign.
And--Trump's new deadline.

Weekend Update #144: The Triumph Of Ukrainian Civil Society (And The Degradation Of Ours) Ukrainian Ranged Attacks On Russian Logistics--Can They Keep It Up?; The Week Trump Drops The Hammer?

Hi All, Just released my weekend update. This week saw the full victory of Ukrainian society, when the attempts to weaken anti-corruption agencies was fully repudiated and charges started coming out. Regrettably some western voices criticized Ukrainians for this. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

People are missing the real story here. If Trump is being serious he has basically neutered all US strategic submarines activity around Russia before this. He was doing exactly what Putin would have wanted.

Trump says he will fire labor statistics chief after weak jobs report Trump is turning his ire about poor jobs numbers on the number-crunchers.

No one should believe a single economic statistic produced by the US government under Trump after this. www.axios.com/2025/08/01/t...

In a few years time when we look back at the first six months of the Trump administration, it will be those who knew what a catastrophe he was for the nation but found different ways to excuse his behaviour, who will be most discredited. This was the moment to speak the truth.

Phil and Minna on the USA and Europe A recording from Phillips P. OBrien's live video

Hi All, @alanderminna.bsky.social and I just did our second S-Stack live--focussing on the European-US trade deal and the state of the war in Ukraine--plus taking questions. Here the video if you want to watch. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/phil-and-m...

Optics vs Reality In a Trumpian world, optics matter more than reality – but Europe still needs to deal with the reality as well, Minna Ålander writes in the Europe Dispatch.

Hi All, @alanderminna.bsky.social just sent out her latest free Europe Dispatch. She breaks down the Trump-EU trade deal and argues that in actual effects, its not a calamity for Europe. It’s good to see such optimism in action. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Oh, and we are doing our next Substack live tomorrow. Details in the post.

Optics vs Reality In a Trumpian world, optics matter more than reality – but Europe still needs to deal with the reality as well, Minna Ålander writes in the Europe Dispatch.

Hi All, @alanderminna.bsky.social just sent out her latest free Europe Dispatch. She breaks down the Trump-EU trade deal and argues that in actual effects, its not a calamity for Europe. It’s good to see such optimism in action. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Texas Republicans Unveil Gerrymandered House Map, Trying to Please Trump

So “conservatives”, tell me how wonderful this move by the Republican Party is.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/u...

"Ultimately the greater blame is on the Europeans themselves. Both societally and politically they pretended to be US-skeptical while making themselves completely US-dependent."

Brilliant by @phillipspobrien.bsky.social below

Incandescently accurate assessment of European folly from @phillipspobrien.bsky.social 👇

"Societally, Europeans actually came to believe the horseshit that soft-power would see them through the future and that wars were things that did not have to be prepared for."

Are you old enough to remember when calling Trump "daddy" was considered a masterstroke which would get Europe goodies from the US table? Seems so long ago....

A quote from the conclusion

The European Humiliation By Trump Is Ultimately Europe's Fault Long-Term and Short-Term Causes.

Hi All, Just sent out this free-post on the humiliation imposed on Europe by the USA. While I believe it is a disaster for both sides, Europeans need to accept the blame for putting themselves in this subservient position. It was a choice, not an inevitability. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

A discussion with Mark Urban about his new book: Tank. A recording from Phillips P. OBrien's live video

Hi All, Mark Urban and I just did a substack live about his new book, Tank. We range from World War I to the Ukraine War--and discuss where the tank has been and where its going (if anywhere). And we both insult the Tiger! open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Honest to god; it’s hard to know who is more pathetic, European decision makers who left European states in this predicament, or American MAGA ites who think screwing Europe is a good thing for America. Both are failures.

Americans who are smirking at European humiliation in accepting US tariffs don’t get it. This was an alliance that strengthened both sides, and it’s being turned into a zero-sum game by Trump that will weaken both. Trump is burning down the house and these morons are cheering.

LIVE SOON: A discussion with Mark Urban about his new book: Tank. Starting Jul 28 at 1:00 PM EDT

open.substack.com/live-stream/...

And just a heads up, @MarkUrban01 and I will be doing a substack live today at 6pm UK time, 1pm EST, to discuss his newest Book, Tank. Cant wait.

Zelensky As A War Leader To Be Honest: Its A Mixed Bag

On Saturday I sent out this analysis of Zelensky as a war leader--he has enormous strengths but also some real weaknesses--ones shown during the anti-corruption disaster. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Hello All--two pieces released over the weekend. First was the free weekend update sent out Sunday. It examines the potentially disastrous decision by the Ukr government to weaken anti-corruption laws, and the importance of the strong response by Ukr society.

Europeans are paying a price every day for not preparing realistically for the possibility of Donald Trump returning to power. They had ample warning, the possibility was staring them in the face, but they blew it. The question is whether they will learn (finally).

Weekend Update #143: A Week Which Demonstrates Why Ukraine Is So Important Ukraine's "Partners" Have Let It Down: The Fate of Graham-Blumenthal

Hi All, Just released my free weekend update. This week started as a potential disaster for Ukraine, as the government moved to weaken anti-corruption efforts. However it ended with another lesson of why Ukraine's victory is so important to the future of Europe. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Even in the midst of an existential war, Ukrainians were willing to protest against a bad law and make the government listen.

Its completely different from today’s Russia, where rising up against the leadership on an issue of freedom seems impossible to imagine.

Even after Ukraine's partners let it down, the Ukrainian people were unwilling to go back and stood up for their freedoms. Also, this was the month that we were promised a vote on Graham-Blumenthal, yet that has not been shelved. Trump's "pivot" to Ukraine in action...ha!