Ben Tonra
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bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra
@bentonra.bsky.social
4K followers 870 following 2K posts

Professor of International Relations at UCD Dublin; Dundrum Methodist Church; Royal Irish Academy; Azure Forum, IDSA and Gym Dad. Mix of Mayo, Kerry, West Virginia and suburban Maryland.

Videos
Political science 84%
Sociology 11%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Ben Tonra

iikkakorhonen.bsky.social
Iikka Korhonen @iikkakorhonen.bsky.social · 1d
Even before the deal, the number of employment permits Russia issued for Indians jumped to more than 56,000 last year from roughly 5,000 in 2021. The total number of work permits given to foreigners rose to more than 240,000 in 2025, the highest since at least 2017

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Russia Turns to India, Sri Lanka for Way Out of Its Labor Crisis
For years, Russia relied on migrants from Central Asia to fill gaps in its workforce. As demographics and the war in Ukraine drive the sharpest labor crisis in decades, recruiters are casting a wider ...
www.bloomberg.com

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d
“Today representatives from Coimisiún na Meán met with an OECD - OCDE delegation visiting Dublin. We also held a bilateral meeting with Sarah Rogers, United States Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the State Department, who was part of the OECD delegation.”

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d
Dunno… likely lobbying against regulation of social media companies

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d
And she’s heading to Dublin
phillipspobrien.bsky.social Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 2d
This story should be retitled. The US is actually funding pro-Putin think tanks, ones that want to end European democracy.

Lets be honest about this.
financialtimes.com Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 3d
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe ft.trib.al/rg4IDIC

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d
MAGA propagandist - funelling US government money to right wing think tanks visiting Dublin. www.state.gov/releases/off...
Under Secretary Rogers’s Travel to Ireland, Hungary, Poland, and Germany - United States Department of State
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers will travel to Dublin, Budapest, Warsaw, and Munich February 5-15, 2026. During her upcoming trip, Under Secretary Rogers will meet with gove...
www.state.gov

Reposted by Ben Tonra

phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 2d
This story should be retitled. The US is actually funding pro-Putin think tanks, ones that want to end European democracy.

Lets be honest about this.

Reposted by Ben Tonra

united24media.com
UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 2d
⚡ President Zelenskyy says there's a rumored $12T US–Russia pact.

He says the draft “Dmitriev package,” cited by Ukrainian intelligence, may implicate Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.

Reposted by John Foot, Ben Tonra

bookjawns.bsky.social
Book Jawns @bookjawns.bsky.social · 3d
Hillary was right about everything….

Reposted by Ben Tonra, Christian Fisch

maxberger.bsky.social
Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 4d
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: "More and more leads, more and more information, and more and more commentary in the global press all relate to the suspicion that this unprecedented paedophilia scandal was co-organised by Russian intelligence services."

Reposted by Edgar Morgenroth, Ben Tonra, Nicolai von Ondarza

lisaocarroll.bsky.social
Lisa O’Carroll @lisaocarroll.bsky.social · 4d
Exclusive: interview with David O’Sullivan, Eu Russia sanctions envoy. He believes sanctions now having “significant impact” on Russia economy with oil revenues down, interest rates in double digits and inflation high

Reposted by Steve Peers, Ben Tonra, Nicolai von Ondarza

lisaocarroll.bsky.social
Lisa O’Carroll @lisaocarroll.bsky.social · 4d
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Sanctions having ‘significant impact’ on Russian economy, says EU special envoy
Exclusive: David O’Sullivan says war-based economy may be nearing point of becoming ‘unsustainable’
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

politico.eu
POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 4d
A German parliamentary delegation visiting Washington late last month saw center-left MPs frozen out by the U.S. State Department, people familiar with the matter told POLITICO.
Trump administration favored Germany’s far right in Washington visit
A planned meeting collapsed after State Department officials told the German embassy it refused to meet with center-left German lawmakers.
www.politico.eu

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 4d
www.iaces.ie/events/still...
Still on the slow train to nowhere? EU Enlargement between technocratic incrementalism and geopolitical turbulence | IACES.ie
IACES Annual Lecture 2026 - Professor John O’Brennan, Maynooth University
www.iaces.ie

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5d
Russia is the pointy end of a Chinese stick… attacking Europe.
chadbourn.bsky.social Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 5d
China is now bankrolling Russia’s war in Ukraine by providing 60% of the funds needed by Moscow to continue fighting, MPs on the Commons Defence Committee were told today.

The aim is to gain an advantage over the West.
China bankrolling Putin’s war to gain advantage over West, MPs told
Beijing’s huge support for Russian aggression against Ukraine part of larger threatening posture, air marshal tells Commons committee
www.telegraph.co.uk

Reposted by Ben Tonra

chadbourn.bsky.social
Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 5d
China is now bankrolling Russia’s war in Ukraine by providing 60% of the funds needed by Moscow to continue fighting, MPs on the Commons Defence Committee were told today.

The aim is to gain an advantage over the West.
China bankrolling Putin’s war to gain advantage over West, MPs told
Beijing’s huge support for Russian aggression against Ukraine part of larger threatening posture, air marshal tells Commons committee
www.telegraph.co.uk

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 5d
“…it should be obvious that a bloody campaign of annihilation designed to obliterate a country’s existence, history and culture is not a simple no-to-military-weapons, yes-to-public-services issue. Shame on those who pretend that it is.”

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Kathy Sheridan: Sinn Féin is deliberately being obtuse about EU plan to help Ukraine
It’s not a simple question of spending money on services here or bolstering Ukraine’s defence
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

anderseide.bsky.social
Anders H. Eide @anderseide.bsky.social · 7d
Highly productive meeting today with Chair of the EU Military Committee, General Seán Clancy. With shared values and strong partnership Norway and the EU will continue to work hard together to strengthen Europe’s security, resilience and defense readiness 🇳🇴🇪🇺 #StrongerTogether

@norwayeu.norway.no

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 7d
I agree entirely about not just ‘shouting back’ and I’m not suggesting that. MM however goes much further in implying Europe should not substantively stand up for itself - unless Trump actually proposes to invade.

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 7d
In US and now UK we watch as academia collapses before power - or the anticipation of power.
stevecooke.org Grumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 7d
If racist, authoritarian grifters come to power in the UK we can be certain that our university leaders will be queueing outside their ministries to offer support with the mass deportations and repression.
timeshighered.bsky.social Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 7d
Universities are attempting to get Reform politicians on side as the party begins to think seriously about its policies for the 2029 election, having secured several high-profile defections, reports Helen Packer #academicsky #edusky
https://ow.ly/oxxp50Y63ML

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 7d
Disappointing but hardly surprising. Places Ireland firmly in the ‘Trump whisperer’ camp and signals Irish vulnerabilities. Seriously weakens us in EU.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Taoiseach urges caution on idea of standing up to Trump administration
‘No getting away from’ critical trading and economic relationship despite some EU views on confrontation
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

stevecooke.org
Grumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 7d
If racist, authoritarian grifters come to power in the UK we can be certain that our university leaders will be queueing outside their ministries to offer support with the mass deportations and repression.
timeshighered.bsky.social Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 7d
Universities are attempting to get Reform politicians on side as the party begins to think seriously about its policies for the 2029 election, having secured several high-profile defections, reports Helen Packer #academicsky #edusky
https://ow.ly/oxxp50Y63ML

Reposted by Ben Tonra

johnnyryan.bsky.social
Johnny Ryan @johnnyryan.bsky.social · 7d
This morning, former Prime Ministers urge Ursula von der Leyen to use EU trade bazooka against Trump

www.ft.com/content/af70...

Reposted by Bryan D. Jones, John Foot, Ben Tonra , and 3 more

g8rgrrlcheryl.bsky.social
Cheryl T. 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦📎 @g8rgrrlcheryl.bsky.social · 9d
The guy on the right is New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, photographed at the Kennedy Center premiere of “Melania.” #GoSeahawks!

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 9d
A NATO of one rogue state is not NATO.
politico.eu POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 9d
Mark Rutte has one overriding mission as NATO secretary-general: Stop the U.S. from blowing up the alliance.

But his conviction that keeping Trump onside is the only way to keep the alliance intact is clashing with the rest of Europe.

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/mark...

Reposted by Ben Tonra

politico.eu
POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 9d
Mark Rutte has one overriding mission as NATO secretary-general: Stop the U.S. from blowing up the alliance.

But his conviction that keeping Trump onside is the only way to keep the alliance intact is clashing with the rest of Europe.

🔗 www.politico.eu/article/mark...

Reposted by Ben Tonra

thejournal.ie
The Journal @thejournal.ie · 9d
Taking part in European defence initiatives and increasing the capability of a country's security services does not impact on a State's neutral status, the Austrian ambassador to Dublin has said.
jrnl.ie/6943036t
Austrian ambassador: Taking part in European defence and security spend not a threat to neutrality
Austria, like Ireland, defines itself as neutral.
jrnl.ie

Reposted by Shannon Vallor, Steve Peers, Edgar Morgenroth , and 7 more

emily.gorcen.ski
Emily Gorcenski @emily.gorcen.ski · 9d
Cool thoughts from Noam Chomsky
From: Matthew Hiltzik < To: J <jeevacation@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Thoughts from Chomsky Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2019 23:34:06 +0000 I think that is wise Sent from my iPhone On Feb 23, 2019, at 4:19 PM, J < jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote: Ive watched the horrible way you are being treated in the press and public. It's painful to say, but I think the best way to proceed is to ignore it. I've had plenty of experience, though of course not on this scale. A google search will bring up tons of hysterical accusations of all sorts, even groups devoted to vilifying me. I pay no attention, unless I'm approached for a comment on a specific matter. It's a nuisance, but it's the best way. The same conclusions from experiences of others, in some cases close friends. What the vultures dearly want is a public response, which then provides a public opening for an onslaught of venomous attacks, many from just publicity seekers or cranks of all sorts -- which are impossible to answer (how do you prove that you are not a neo-Nazi who wants to kill the Jews, or a rapist, or whatever charge comes along?). That's particularly true now with the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women, which has reached the point that even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder. For virtually everyone who sees any of this, the reaction will be "where there's smoke there's fire, maybe raging fire" (whatever the facts, which few will even think of investigating). In general, it's best I think not to react unless directly questioned, particularly in the current mood -- which, I presume, will fade away, even if not in time to prevent much torture and distress.

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 9d
Just extraordinary. How swiftly US universities have collapsed.

Reposted by Ben Tonra, Margot C. Finn

npr.org
NPR @npr.org · 9d
The university said it had also modified hundreds of courses and cancelled six in efforts to eliminate teaching related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. n.pr/4teQwmw
Texas A&M University cancels programs in women's and gender studies
The university said it had also modified hundreds of courses and cancelled six in efforts to eliminate teaching related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
n.pr

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 9d
What’s the turnover on FOMC…? i.e. how soon might he be able to pack it as he has the SC?