Alexander Clarkson
@aphclarkson.bsky.social
Lecturer for European Politics and History at King's College London. Opinions my own. RT not always endorsement.
Also to be found at @APHClarkson
https://www.ullstein.de/werke/die-macht-der-diaspora/hardcover/978354910
Also to be found at @APHClarkson
https://www.ullstein.de/werke/die-macht-der-diaspora/hardcover/978354910
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
💯
If anything she is making Trump’s life more difficult.
And to add: in the wake of Maduro’s kidnapping, several countries such as France, but the EU as well, demanded that power goes to her party whereas Trump wants to keep the current chavista people in place as long as he’s getting the oil.
If anything she is making Trump’s life more difficult.
And to add: in the wake of Maduro’s kidnapping, several countries such as France, but the EU as well, demanded that power goes to her party whereas Trump wants to keep the current chavista people in place as long as he’s getting the oil.
January 16, 2026 at 7:07 AM
💯
If anything she is making Trump’s life more difficult.
And to add: in the wake of Maduro’s kidnapping, several countries such as France, but the EU as well, demanded that power goes to her party whereas Trump wants to keep the current chavista people in place as long as he’s getting the oil.
If anything she is making Trump’s life more difficult.
And to add: in the wake of Maduro’s kidnapping, several countries such as France, but the EU as well, demanded that power goes to her party whereas Trump wants to keep the current chavista people in place as long as he’s getting the oil.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
Move fast * and break ** things ***
* throw flash bombs and tear gas
** car windows
*** 6 month old babies
Tech is tech, but government is government
* throw flash bombs and tear gas
** car windows
*** 6 month old babies
Tech is tech, but government is government
January 16, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Move fast * and break ** things ***
* throw flash bombs and tear gas
** car windows
*** 6 month old babies
Tech is tech, but government is government
* throw flash bombs and tear gas
** car windows
*** 6 month old babies
Tech is tech, but government is government
Machado is in an impossible position made much worse by Trump, so the dumping on her for trying to eke out a result for her movement and many 1000s of people who sacrificed for it is a bit off.
January 16, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Machado is in an impossible position made much worse by Trump, so the dumping on her for trying to eke out a result for her movement and many 1000s of people who sacrificed for it is a bit off.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
Some of the stories in here are absolutely chilling. One US citizen of Somali descent was just riding an elevator with ICE agents and then they detained him for almost half an hour in the freezing cold despite him showing agents his passport card. They only let him go once protestors showed up.
January 16, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Some of the stories in here are absolutely chilling. One US citizen of Somali descent was just riding an elevator with ICE agents and then they detained him for almost half an hour in the freezing cold despite him showing agents his passport card. They only let him go once protestors showed up.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
These people genuinely don't understand that non American people speak English and watch American news
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the Danes agreed to form a working group to discuss the surrender of Greenland to Trump. "No we didn't" says the Danish foreign minister, indeed "there will be no discussion of turnover." www.berlingske.dk/indland/det-...
Det Hvide Hus: Arbejdsgruppe skal drøfte »erhvervelsen af Grønland« – Løkke afviser
Onsdagens møde og NATO-allieredes styrker i Grønland ændrer ikke Trumps ambitioner om, at USA skal erhverve Grønland, lyder det torsdag aften fra Det Hvide Hus.
www.berlingske.dk
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 AM
These people genuinely don't understand that non American people speak English and watch American news
If Greenland is now deemed eligible for the EU's Article 42/7 mutual defence clause by Brussels then so is Curacao
January 16, 2026 at 6:47 AM
If Greenland is now deemed eligible for the EU's Article 42/7 mutual defence clause by Brussels then so is Curacao
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
Happy National Bagel Day!
The Montreal-style bagel is famous across Canada, and is the only style of bagel to have ventured into space.
But what makes a bagel...Montreal-style?
This is the story!
🧵 1/8
The Montreal-style bagel is famous across Canada, and is the only style of bagel to have ventured into space.
But what makes a bagel...Montreal-style?
This is the story!
🧵 1/8
January 15, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Happy National Bagel Day!
The Montreal-style bagel is famous across Canada, and is the only style of bagel to have ventured into space.
But what makes a bagel...Montreal-style?
This is the story!
🧵 1/8
The Montreal-style bagel is famous across Canada, and is the only style of bagel to have ventured into space.
But what makes a bagel...Montreal-style?
This is the story!
🧵 1/8
Minnesotans are some of the nicest people around. God help us all when ICE tries to do this shit in Philadelphia.
January 15, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Minnesotans are some of the nicest people around. God help us all when ICE tries to do this shit in Philadelphia.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
The fact that they think they can occupy multiple cities at once, including New York, when they can’t pacify a city of 420k, means they’re both losing and totally out of their depth
January 15, 2026 at 9:13 PM
The fact that they think they can occupy multiple cities at once, including New York, when they can’t pacify a city of 420k, means they’re both losing and totally out of their depth
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
Pritzker: The Insurrection Act is designed for circumstances where your rights can’t be protected by local authorities
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
January 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Pritzker: The Insurrection Act is designed for circumstances where your rights can’t be protected by local authorities
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
This is exactly the opposite.
Your civil rights are being infringed upon by CBP and ICE, and then they want to call in troops claiming that they’re protecting CBP and ICE.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
So many of HE’s problems are the product of these efforts to generate market structures that just simply don’t work because the conditions that markets need to work really aren’t there, and all they do is create uncertainty (and financial problems) for students, staff, and institutions.
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 10:29 PM
So many of HE’s problems are the product of these efforts to generate market structures that just simply don’t work because the conditions that markets need to work really aren’t there, and all they do is create uncertainty (and financial problems) for students, staff, and institutions.
As the UK university finance implodes there is a non-trivial risk that a flailing Labour government that has made no plans for worst case scenarios ends up nationalising the higher education system by mistake
The single biggest thing (in cost terms) I’ve changed my mind about is UK tuition fees. Dreadful system, need to scrap it.
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 10:07 PM
As the UK university finance implodes there is a non-trivial risk that a flailing Labour government that has made no plans for worst case scenarios ends up nationalising the higher education system by mistake
Bovino's America is 1930s Germany in a timeline where Ernst Röhm becomes the Führer
A single federal agent with a long gun just walked through the crowd, slipped on the ice on his way under the police tape.
Dropped his loaded clip.
Dropped his loaded clip.
January 15, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Bovino's America is 1930s Germany in a timeline where Ernst Röhm becomes the Führer
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
So the message of this press conference is that Robert Jenrick thinks the Tory party killed Britain, but he might have stayed in it had Kemi Badenoch not read his secret speech.
January 15, 2026 at 5:07 PM
So the message of this press conference is that Robert Jenrick thinks the Tory party killed Britain, but he might have stayed in it had Kemi Badenoch not read his secret speech.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
One thing that people don't understand is that the community base opposing ICE is extremely committed to avoiding anything that could trigger rioting, I think largely because of the 2020 experience. Trump thinks he can redo 2020 but shoot the protesters this time, but Minneapolis isn't the same.
Ironically a lot of the base of Minnesota's activitists' response was laid as a result of the riots following Chauvin's murder of George Floyd. That's part of why I feel like this administration doesn't understand who they're messing with. The Twin Cities got organized in 2020 and remains so.
January 15, 2026 at 5:16 PM
One thing that people don't understand is that the community base opposing ICE is extremely committed to avoiding anything that could trigger rioting, I think largely because of the 2020 experience. Trump thinks he can redo 2020 but shoot the protesters this time, but Minneapolis isn't the same.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
Jenrick the latest conservative voice to use Poland & Bulgaria as rhetoric vehicles to advance the 'broken Britain' narrative, it's SO BAD that EVEN EASTERN EUROPEANS are (close to) doing better than us.
But Poland's success isn't UK's failure. Two different stories, mixed up.
But Poland's success isn't UK's failure. Two different stories, mixed up.
January 15, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Jenrick the latest conservative voice to use Poland & Bulgaria as rhetoric vehicles to advance the 'broken Britain' narrative, it's SO BAD that EVEN EASTERN EUROPEANS are (close to) doing better than us.
But Poland's success isn't UK's failure. Two different stories, mixed up.
But Poland's success isn't UK's failure. Two different stories, mixed up.
I'd agree with Bouie's points here about how the Trump/Miller administration hasn't got a path to blocking mid-terms, apart from an unlikely civil conflict scenario before September.
The concern I'd have more is how violent a clash between legislative and executive branch could get after mid-terms
The concern I'd have more is how violent a clash between legislative and executive branch could get after mid-terms
ICE can't even deal with irate middle-aged midwesterners. how does he occupy hundreds, if not thousands, of polling cites and precincts? trump v. illinois clarified that he has no legal authority to unilaterally commandeer national guards, how does he move forward from there?
January 15, 2026 at 4:59 PM
I'd agree with Bouie's points here about how the Trump/Miller administration hasn't got a path to blocking mid-terms, apart from an unlikely civil conflict scenario before September.
The concern I'd have more is how violent a clash between legislative and executive branch could get after mid-terms
The concern I'd have more is how violent a clash between legislative and executive branch could get after mid-terms
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
ICE can't even deal with irate middle-aged midwesterners. how does he occupy hundreds, if not thousands, of polling cites and precincts? trump v. illinois clarified that he has no legal authority to unilaterally commandeer national guards, how does he move forward from there?
January 15, 2026 at 4:32 PM
ICE can't even deal with irate middle-aged midwesterners. how does he occupy hundreds, if not thousands, of polling cites and precincts? trump v. illinois clarified that he has no legal authority to unilaterally commandeer national guards, how does he move forward from there?
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
what does he do about the fact that in most states midterms and statewides are on the same cycle, so "canceling the elections" might mean that tennessee doesn't have a governor next year. how does he convince tennessee republicans to give up power in their own states?
January 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
what does he do about the fact that in most states midterms and statewides are on the same cycle, so "canceling the elections" might mean that tennessee doesn't have a governor next year. how does he convince tennessee republicans to give up power in their own states?
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
here's what happens after house elections, which are conducted by each state and locality:
the state certifies the winner
the winners go to washington
they convene a new house
they choose a speaker
notice who isn't involved here? the president or the current speaker or the senate.
the state certifies the winner
the winners go to washington
they convene a new house
they choose a speaker
notice who isn't involved here? the president or the current speaker or the senate.
January 15, 2026 at 4:47 PM
here's what happens after house elections, which are conducted by each state and locality:
the state certifies the winner
the winners go to washington
they convene a new house
they choose a speaker
notice who isn't involved here? the president or the current speaker or the senate.
the state certifies the winner
the winners go to washington
they convene a new house
they choose a speaker
notice who isn't involved here? the president or the current speaker or the senate.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
i don't even know why i'm raising this here because i know i'm going to get a hundred replies of "Trump has god powers that will let him do whatever he wants and thus we have no choice but to bend to his will," but for those of you capable of complex thought, these are questions to ask yourself.
January 15, 2026 at 4:33 PM
i don't even know why i'm raising this here because i know i'm going to get a hundred replies of "Trump has god powers that will let him do whatever he wants and thus we have no choice but to bend to his will," but for those of you capable of complex thought, these are questions to ask yourself.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Starmer keeps using this line, & it's bonkers.
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
!["And this is what Keir Starmer’s press secretary has said about Robert Jenrick at the lobby briefing this morning.
[Highlighted] Robert Jenrick was the immigration minister in a government that presided over an open borders experiment [Highlighted], a health minister who left people stuck on waiting lists, and a Treasury minister during the worst decline in living standards on record.”
While Reform continues to welcome failed Tory retreads, this Labor government is putting the country back on track."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cixgmtrg7nzy4gkmyfeosaox/bafkreibe3jczrmbmzfnhj2adl4qe432lbpmcbn6m6qrentwih7vxj4fu7y@jpeg)
January 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
This dude is intense and correct
January 15, 2026 at 9:05 AM
This dude is intense and correct
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
the question to ask about this is, okay, he wants to cancel the midterms. how does he get the VA state board of elections to cancel the midterms? how does he get the georgia board of elections to do it? how does he convince republican house members to quit their jobs and give up their paychecks?
Reposted by Alexander Clarkson
The Trump administration’s ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, who is presumably at the center of these negotiations, is a former Green Beret colonel with El Salvador experience who then served as a CIA paramilitary officer in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan and senior CIA official.
The U.S. is escalating pressure on Mexico to permit the U.S. military to target fentanyl labs, according to American officials.
The U.S. Is Pressing Mexico to Allow U.S. Forces to Fight Cartels
The United States is escalating pressure on the Mexican government to permit the U.S. military to target fentanyl labs, according to American officials.
nyti.ms
January 15, 2026 at 4:03 PM
The Trump administration’s ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, who is presumably at the center of these negotiations, is a former Green Beret colonel with El Salvador experience who then served as a CIA paramilitary officer in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan and senior CIA official.