Anton Spisak
@antonspisak.bsky.social
Political economist. Associate Fellow, Centre for European Reform. Past lives elsewhere. Likes long runs, good coffee and the Paris Review.
Morals aside, how is it remotely possible that Shadow Attorney General — and a serving member of the UK legislature, of any political affiliation — can lawfully take on work representing a Russian oligarch sanctioned by the UK government?
The Tories’ Shadow Attorney General, Lord Wolfson, is representing Roman Abramovich in a legal case that is delaying the transfer of £2.5bn of assets to benefit the people of Ukraine.
I’ve written to Kemi Badenoch about the conflicts of interest this raises. 👇
I’ve written to Kemi Badenoch about the conflicts of interest this raises. 👇
December 29, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Morals aside, how is it remotely possible that Shadow Attorney General — and a serving member of the UK legislature, of any political affiliation — can lawfully take on work representing a Russian oligarch sanctioned by the UK government?
Reposted by Anton Spisak
"Without closer cooperation, one thing is clear: the EU and the UK will keep confronting the same threats with little alignment."
✍️ @antonspisak.bsky.social & @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social argue the UK and EU should cooperate more on questions of ‘economic security
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-economic-...
✍️ @antonspisak.bsky.social & @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social argue the UK and EU should cooperate more on questions of ‘economic security
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-economic-...
Is economic security a missing element of EU-UK cooperation? - UK in a changing Europe
Jake Benford and Anton Spisak argue that there is a strong case for the UK and EU to cooperate more closely on questions of ‘economic security’.
ukandeu.ac.uk
December 19, 2025 at 1:36 PM
"Without closer cooperation, one thing is clear: the EU and the UK will keep confronting the same threats with little alignment."
✍️ @antonspisak.bsky.social & @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social argue the UK and EU should cooperate more on questions of ‘economic security
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-economic-...
✍️ @antonspisak.bsky.social & @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social argue the UK and EU should cooperate more on questions of ‘economic security
ukandeu.ac.uk/is-economic-...
Reposted by Anton Spisak
I would not discount the impact of the NSS "civilizational" language. Political meddling in Europe to back far-right nationalists is now a core part of America's national strategy. This isn't just a speech from a novice VP weeks into a new term. It is US policy and they will try to implement it. 1/
December 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I would not discount the impact of the NSS "civilizational" language. Political meddling in Europe to back far-right nationalists is now a core part of America's national strategy. This isn't just a speech from a novice VP weeks into a new term. It is US policy and they will try to implement it. 1/
Reposted by Anton Spisak
1/Quick thoughts of implications of US National Security Strategy for Europe -- weaponized interdependence meets nationalist international. The US will use its tools (economic, technology, and financial dominance) to press for far right agenda.
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
1/Quick thoughts of implications of US National Security Strategy for Europe -- weaponized interdependence meets nationalist international. The US will use its tools (economic, technology, and financial dominance) to press for far right agenda.
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
The next time you hear political shouting about defunding arts and humanities education, and creative degrees not offering good enough “value for money”, remember this letter.
December 2, 2025 at 10:26 AM
The next time you hear political shouting about defunding arts and humanities education, and creative degrees not offering good enough “value for money”, remember this letter.
Reposted by Anton Spisak
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
A deeply disturbing thread on how AI models can distort reality and propagate falsehoods. We’re entering a new era of profound change where the social impacts of using AI will be beyond anything we can reasonably imagine today, and it’ll probably involve a new wave of mental health problems.
We’re watching a shift where AI simulates the cohesion and reinforcement that used to require an entire online community. A single person can now build a complete parallel reality with nothing more than a prompt window. Which seems bad.
November 30, 2025 at 5:41 PM
A deeply disturbing thread on how AI models can distort reality and propagate falsehoods. We’re entering a new era of profound change where the social impacts of using AI will be beyond anything we can reasonably imagine today, and it’ll probably involve a new wave of mental health problems.
RIP Tom Stoppard—the most talented contemporary British playwright—also known as Tomáš Sträussler, born in Czechoslovakia and fled as a Jewish refugee to England in 1946. Freedom wasn’t only a theatrical device for him but something personal, and perhaps that’s what made all the difference.
November 30, 2025 at 6:58 AM
RIP Tom Stoppard—the most talented contemporary British playwright—also known as Tomáš Sträussler, born in Czechoslovakia and fled as a Jewish refugee to England in 1946. Freedom wasn’t only a theatrical device for him but something personal, and perhaps that’s what made all the difference.
A reminder, before the budget, that the UK has been facing the most severe trade stagnation in a generation. One big reason why the British economy hasn’t been growing.
November 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
A reminder, before the budget, that the UK has been facing the most severe trade stagnation in a generation. One big reason why the British economy hasn’t been growing.
Reposted by Anton Spisak
This research is important because it corroborates what we already knew - that when comparing the UK to peer economies, it has had a big slowdown since 2016. It does so with firm-level data and finds more EU-connected firms have sizeable shortfalls in productivity and investment compared to less.
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist
Brexit Hit to UK Economy Double Official Estimate, Study Finds
Brexit has caused almost twice as much damage to the UK economy than estimated by official forecasts, according to new paper from a group of experts including a senior Bank of England economist.
bloom.bg
November 21, 2025 at 11:14 AM
This research is important because it corroborates what we already knew - that when comparing the UK to peer economies, it has had a big slowdown since 2016. It does so with firm-level data and finds more EU-connected firms have sizeable shortfalls in productivity and investment compared to less.
This shows how insane the immigration debate is in the UK.
There isn’t even a reliable official source of the numbers of migrants, since the Home Office isn’t capable of recording the numbers of people crossing the UK border. This leaves the national statistical agency having to estimate numbers.
There isn’t even a reliable official source of the numbers of migrants, since the Home Office isn’t capable of recording the numbers of people crossing the UK border. This leaves the national statistical agency having to estimate numbers.
ONS is so bad. (This is about specifically British nationals.) www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...
November 18, 2025 at 11:54 AM
This shows how insane the immigration debate is in the UK.
There isn’t even a reliable official source of the numbers of migrants, since the Home Office isn’t capable of recording the numbers of people crossing the UK border. This leaves the national statistical agency having to estimate numbers.
There isn’t even a reliable official source of the numbers of migrants, since the Home Office isn’t capable of recording the numbers of people crossing the UK border. This leaves the national statistical agency having to estimate numbers.
Today was a very important day: the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Also a day when over 50,000 people went into the streets in Bratislava, despite a terrible rain storm, in protest of Fico’s government in Slovakia. Here’s why it really mattered. /1
November 18, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Today was a very important day: the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Also a day when over 50,000 people went into the streets in Bratislava, despite a terrible rain storm, in protest of Fico’s government in Slovakia. Here’s why it really mattered. /1
The Swiss publisher Ringier, a staunch defender of the rule of law, sells its stake of the most widely read Hungarian newspaper to a pro-Orbán media group, just before the most consequential election in Hungary’s recent history. Values first – just not today.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Shock as Orbán allies take ownership of Hungary’s most-read newspaper
Blikk, a tabloid with about 3 million online monthly readers, bought by pro-Orbán media group Indamedia
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The Swiss publisher Ringier, a staunch defender of the rule of law, sells its stake of the most widely read Hungarian newspaper to a pro-Orbán media group, just before the most consequential election in Hungary’s recent history. Values first – just not today.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Anton Spisak
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Experimental evidence of the effects of large language models versus web search on depth of learning
Abstract. The effects of using large language models (LLMs) versus traditional web search on depth of learning are explored. A theory is proposed that when
academic.oup.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Congratulations to my dear friend Gregor Valentovic on his debut film Nepela, out in cinemas this week. A powerful story of a Czechoslovak figure skater and the 1972 Olympic champion whose personal fight for freedom collided with the brutal wall of totalitarianism. And a cinematic masterpiece.
October 28, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Congratulations to my dear friend Gregor Valentovic on his debut film Nepela, out in cinemas this week. A powerful story of a Czechoslovak figure skater and the 1972 Olympic champion whose personal fight for freedom collided with the brutal wall of totalitarianism. And a cinematic masterpiece.
Weak goods exports have weighed on the UK’s post-pandemic growth more than any other factor – including weak investment.
And yet, this fact is almost entirely absent from Britain’s political debate about growth.
And yet, this fact is almost entirely absent from Britain’s political debate about growth.
@antonspisak.bsky.social of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social, a think-tank, observes that, after Brexit took effect at the end of 2020, Britain’s goods exports have grown less than those of any other economy in the G7 club of rich countries.
A dangerous post-Brexit world
Britain risks being an unwitting victim of EU-US trade wars
buff.ly
October 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Weak goods exports have weighed on the UK’s post-pandemic growth more than any other factor – including weak investment.
And yet, this fact is almost entirely absent from Britain’s political debate about growth.
And yet, this fact is almost entirely absent from Britain’s political debate about growth.
Reposted by Anton Spisak
@antonspisak.bsky.social of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social, a think-tank, observes that, after Brexit took effect at the end of 2020, Britain’s goods exports have grown less than those of any other economy in the G7 club of rich countries.
A dangerous post-Brexit world
Britain risks being an unwitting victim of EU-US trade wars
buff.ly
October 10, 2025 at 8:00 AM
@antonspisak.bsky.social of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social, a think-tank, observes that, after Brexit took effect at the end of 2020, Britain’s goods exports have grown less than those of any other economy in the G7 club of rich countries.
The Babis-Orban-Fico axis has been reborn within the EU. There we go again.
October 4, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The Babis-Orban-Fico axis has been reborn within the EU. There we go again.
Another nail in the coffin of Slovakia’s democracy. Parliament has today approved a constitutional amendment that enshrines recognition of “only two sexes” (male and female), restricts adoption to married heterosexual couples, and ends the primacy of EU law over “ethical and cultural matters”. 1/4
September 26, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Another nail in the coffin of Slovakia’s democracy. Parliament has today approved a constitutional amendment that enshrines recognition of “only two sexes” (male and female), restricts adoption to married heterosexual couples, and ends the primacy of EU law over “ethical and cultural matters”. 1/4
This is a serious proposal by Merz – and one that could help move the debate on frozen Russian assets forward.
September 25, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is a serious proposal by Merz – and one that could help move the debate on frozen Russian assets forward.
The last words of Czechoslovakia’s founder TG Masaryk were sealed for 90 years, but worth the wait:
“If people are uneducated and foolish, there is not much that can be done. People are glad to be foolish. Do not make it easy for them, and argue with them.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
“If people are uneducated and foolish, there is not much that can be done. People are glad to be foolish. Do not make it easy for them, and argue with them.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
Mysterious envelope to reveal secrets of Czechoslovakia’s founding father
The sealed document was entrusted to the National Archive in 2005
www.independent.co.uk
September 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
The last words of Czechoslovakia’s founder TG Masaryk were sealed for 90 years, but worth the wait:
“If people are uneducated and foolish, there is not much that can be done. People are glad to be foolish. Do not make it easy for them, and argue with them.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
“If people are uneducated and foolish, there is not much that can be done. People are glad to be foolish. Do not make it easy for them, and argue with them.”
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
An idea I’m confident all of Europe could unite behind: a European Solidarity Fund for the Redevelopment of Schuman.
September 18, 2025 at 8:18 AM
An idea I’m confident all of Europe could unite behind: a European Solidarity Fund for the Redevelopment of Schuman.
The world feels a bit much right now, so here’s Faustus the cat stretching out in the summer sun. Good week to all.
September 14, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The world feels a bit much right now, so here’s Faustus the cat stretching out in the summer sun. Good week to all.
When European policymakers talk about ‘economic security’, they’re really talking about China.
Chart from our new paper with @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social, in which we mapped EU and UK trade vulnerabilities (and offered some ideas why the two should collaborate), published earlier this week.
Chart from our new paper with @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social, in which we mapped EU and UK trade vulnerabilities (and offered some ideas why the two should collaborate), published earlier this week.
September 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM
When European policymakers talk about ‘economic security’, they’re really talking about China.
Chart from our new paper with @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social, in which we mapped EU and UK trade vulnerabilities (and offered some ideas why the two should collaborate), published earlier this week.
Chart from our new paper with @jbenford-berlin.bsky.social, in which we mapped EU and UK trade vulnerabilities (and offered some ideas why the two should collaborate), published earlier this week.
Something reassuring about this picture: truth cannot be erased, however determined the effort.
September 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Something reassuring about this picture: truth cannot be erased, however determined the effort.