David Mac Dougall
@davidmacdougall.bsky.social
Journalist covering Finland and the wider NB8 region. Columnist at Helsingin Sanomat. MSc student at Stirling University.
Dog walker. Retired rugby player. Unabashed Fennophile.
Dog walker. Retired rugby player. Unabashed Fennophile.
Reposted by David Mac Dougall
Le Monde: The Barents Observer is a «target of intimidation from the Kremlin»
December 26, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Le Monde: The Barents Observer is a «target of intimidation from the Kremlin»
Some wise words from @monkemma.bsky.social worth sharing again:
"Good luck to those who have tricky relatives at this time of year. Remember, it is not your job to change their minds or win the argument (no matter how much you want to!)"
"Good luck to those who have tricky relatives at this time of year. Remember, it is not your job to change their minds or win the argument (no matter how much you want to!)"
December 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Some wise words from @monkemma.bsky.social worth sharing again:
"Good luck to those who have tricky relatives at this time of year. Remember, it is not your job to change their minds or win the argument (no matter how much you want to!)"
"Good luck to those who have tricky relatives at this time of year. Remember, it is not your job to change their minds or win the argument (no matter how much you want to!)"
Reposted by David Mac Dougall
An offensive gesture by Sarah Dzafce led to her being stripped of the Miss Finland title, while MPs from the hard-right Finns Party imitated her in support
The beauty queen whose Chinese slur exposed ugly side of Finland
www.thetimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
An offensive gesture by Sarah Dzafce led to her being stripped of the Miss Finland title, while MPs from the hard-right Finns Party imitated her in support
🧵New from me in @thetimes.com, as the #Finland racism scandal lumbers towards the end of its news cycle, I talked with SFP/RKP leader and education minister @adleande.bsky.social; and Asian people who made Finland their homes, about why they've been speaking out. www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
The beauty queen whose Chinese slur exposed ugly side of Finland
An offensive gesture by Sarah Dzafce led to her being stripped of the Miss Finland title, while MPs from the hard-right Finns Party imitated her in support
www.thetimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
🧵New from me in @thetimes.com, as the #Finland racism scandal lumbers towards the end of its news cycle, I talked with SFP/RKP leader and education minister @adleande.bsky.social; and Asian people who made Finland their homes, about why they've been speaking out. www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
A very familiar subject in @hs.fi today. I broke this story a couple of months ago and actually offered it to several editors in Hesari, and none of them were interested at the time. LOL.
www.hs.fi/alueet/art-2...
www.hs.fi/alueet/art-2...
Saamelaiset | Orpon ehdottama anteeksipyyntö ei saamelaisille riitä – Vaativat miljoonakorvauksia
Saamelaispaliskunnan 35 osakasta kanteli YK:n ihmisoikeuskomiteaan porolaidunten tuhoamisesta hakkuilla.
www.hs.fi
December 19, 2025 at 6:11 PM
A very familiar subject in @hs.fi today. I broke this story a couple of months ago and actually offered it to several editors in Hesari, and none of them were interested at the time. LOL.
www.hs.fi/alueet/art-2...
www.hs.fi/alueet/art-2...
I was particularly blunt yesterday with a comment about @adleande.bsky.social who immediately showed what kind of politician he is by agreeing to do an interview with me this morning. That's very classy. Of course I apologised to Anders for being sometimes too passionate about racism in politics.
December 19, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I was particularly blunt yesterday with a comment about @adleande.bsky.social who immediately showed what kind of politician he is by agreeing to do an interview with me this morning. That's very classy. Of course I apologised to Anders for being sometimes too passionate about racism in politics.
Prime Minister Orpo is on a "virtual apology tour" notes @thetimes.com today. Surely among the lowest moments for this government and for #Finland (although with the far-right Basic Finns in power, there are quite many low moments to choose from...)
December 18, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Prime Minister Orpo is on a "virtual apology tour" notes @thetimes.com today. Surely among the lowest moments for this government and for #Finland (although with the far-right Basic Finns in power, there are quite many low moments to choose from...)
She nailed it.
Niin makaa kuin petaa.
Sitä kylvää, mitä niittää.
Sitä saa, mitä tilaa.
Sitä kylvää, mitä niittää.
Sitä saa, mitä tilaa.
Pääkirjoitus: Pääministeri Orpo maksaa taas hallituspohjansa hintaa
Pääministeri Petteri Orpo joutui pyytämään anteeksi perussuomalaisten toimintaa, tällä kertaa kolmella kielellä.
www.is.fi
December 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM
She nailed it.
I am going away to find that clip from Veep season 2 episode 5 where they are in Finland and talk about "the Never Ending Apology" (it's funnier when you watch it). In the meantime Finland's PM Orpo is on a humiliating (virtual) apology tour of his own. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uX6...
Finland’s PM Apologizes to Asia After Racism Scandal
YouTube video by Proxio Media
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
I am going away to find that clip from Veep season 2 episode 5 where they are in Finland and talk about "the Never Ending Apology" (it's funnier when you watch it). In the meantime Finland's PM Orpo is on a humiliating (virtual) apology tour of his own. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uX6...
Come on Scotland - Fife - and Kirkcaldy in particular, do better. How has any of this become normalised? Well,there are a few rather too obvious signs you could point to where people in Scotland became more intolerant, and start to embrace far-right ideologies against minority groups...
In Scotland, a man has been charged after ~40 Raith Rovers 'ultras' were pictured giving Nazi salutes with an SS flag. The club has dissociated itself from and condemned the 'ultras,' saying they "unequivocally condemn any display of fascist or racist imagery"
www.thenational.scot/news/2570286...
www.thenational.scot/news/2570286...
Man charged after Scottish football 'ultra' fans perform Nazi salutes
ONE man has been charged after a group of "ultra" football fans posed for a photograph while performing Nazi salutes
www.thenational.scot
December 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Come on Scotland - Fife - and Kirkcaldy in particular, do better. How has any of this become normalised? Well,there are a few rather too obvious signs you could point to where people in Scotland became more intolerant, and start to embrace far-right ideologies against minority groups...
Reposted by David Mac Dougall
With time, it's become more and more clear that the Belgian objections to giving Russian frozen assets to Ukraine are not just legal/technical.
When Italy's Meloni joined the anti-assets fight, it became clear that this is about US pressuring 🇪🇺capitals.
When Italy's Meloni joined the anti-assets fight, it became clear that this is about US pressuring 🇪🇺capitals.
The EU’s problem isn’t Belgium — it’s Trump
As European leaders prepare to meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss Ukraine funding, they do so under huge and unprecedented pressure from the U.S.
www.politico.eu
December 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
With time, it's become more and more clear that the Belgian objections to giving Russian frozen assets to Ukraine are not just legal/technical.
When Italy's Meloni joined the anti-assets fight, it became clear that this is about US pressuring 🇪🇺capitals.
When Italy's Meloni joined the anti-assets fight, it became clear that this is about US pressuring 🇪🇺capitals.
No niin... 🇫🇮📊
December 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
No niin... 🇫🇮📊
Such an open secret. So open that we joked about it. So open that students who passed academic essays then mysteriously struggled at more individual or creative non-academic skill assignments like writing journalism...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Essay cheating at universities an 'open secret' despite new law
An essay mill owner says he's made millions, while an ex-lecturer says he quit due to rife cheating.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Such an open secret. So open that we joked about it. So open that students who passed academic essays then mysteriously struggled at more individual or creative non-academic skill assignments like writing journalism...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
And now the latest Finnish government racism scandal is impacting Finnair in Japan, with calls not to visit and not to fly with Finnair. There are consequences to being openly racist towards Asian people... www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/3e...
Finnairin sometileille alkoi ilmestyä kovaa tekstiä: ”Älkää matkustako tähän maahan”
Finnairin viestintäpäällikkö Mia Eloranta kertoo, että Suomen hallituksen rasismikohu on vaikuttanut jo Finnairiin ja maabrändiin.
www.iltalehti.fi
December 16, 2025 at 12:01 PM
And now the latest Finnish government racism scandal is impacting Finnair in Japan, with calls not to visit and not to fly with Finnair. There are consequences to being openly racist towards Asian people... www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/3e...
What a smart follow-up from @joonasimmo.bsky.social at @iltasanomat.bsky.social taking a second pass at the fake / bogus journalist / influencer and whether China tries to conduct information operations against Finnish interests. TLDR: yes.
www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-...
www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-...
Supo: Kova arvio Kiinan toimista Suomessa
Supon mukaan Kiina on merkittävä valtiollisen vakoilun ja vaikuttamisen uhka Suomelle. Se on myös tietyissä tilanteissa valmis vaikuttamaan julkiseen keskusteluun.
www.is.fi
December 16, 2025 at 10:56 AM
What a smart follow-up from @joonasimmo.bsky.social at @iltasanomat.bsky.social taking a second pass at the fake / bogus journalist / influencer and whether China tries to conduct information operations against Finnish interests. TLDR: yes.
www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-...
www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-...
Reposted by David Mac Dougall
Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title after appearing to mock the Chinese — but she won support from members of the hard-right Finns Party ⬇️
Finnish government embroiled in beauty queen’s racism row
Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title after appearing to mock the Chinese — but she won support from members of the hard-right Finns Party
www.thetimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title after appearing to mock the Chinese — but she won support from members of the hard-right Finns Party ⬇️
New from me in @thetimes.com today, with (slightly different) versions in print and online: the beauty queen who sparked yet another government scandal in #Finland, and what is says about racism in the Nordic nation. #politiikka
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
Finnish government embroiled in beauty queen’s racism row
Sarah Dzafce was stripped of her Miss Finland title after appearing to mock the Chinese — but she won support from members of the hard-right Finns Party
www.thetimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
New from me in @thetimes.com today, with (slightly different) versions in print and online: the beauty queen who sparked yet another government scandal in #Finland, and what is says about racism in the Nordic nation. #politiikka
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
A bit of a muddy Sunday.
December 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A bit of a muddy Sunday.
How many times already in the course of this administration has Orpo said some version of 'we won't tolerate racism in government'?
www.hs.fi/politiikka/a...
www.hs.fi/politiikka/a...
Rasismi | Orpo Ylellä: Perussuomalaisten silmienvenytyskuvat olivat lapsellista käytöstä
Pääministerin mukaan kuvien julkaiseminen ”ei ollut hyväksyttävää tai järkevää”.
www.hs.fi
December 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
How many times already in the course of this administration has Orpo said some version of 'we won't tolerate racism in government'?
www.hs.fi/politiikka/a...
www.hs.fi/politiikka/a...
New from me today in the @hs.fi media column: Should Finnish public broadcaster Yle take part in the @eurovision.tv Song Contest if Israel is also there? #euroviisut 🇫🇮
Four different writers, and four different thoughts on the subject: www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
Four different writers, and four different thoughts on the subject: www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
Media | Pitääkö Ylen boikotoida Euroviisuja Israelin takia?
Yleisradio aikoo osallistua Euroviisuihin, vaikka Israel on laulukilpailussa mukana. Neljä median tuntijaa pohtii, pitäisikö Ylen jättää viisut väliin.
www.hs.fi
December 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New from me today in the @hs.fi media column: Should Finnish public broadcaster Yle take part in the @eurovision.tv Song Contest if Israel is also there? #euroviisut 🇫🇮
Four different writers, and four different thoughts on the subject: www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
Four different writers, and four different thoughts on the subject: www.hs.fi/paakirjoituk...
Reposted by David Mac Dougall
The Lucia Feast & Parade in Helsinki is one of the city's most cherished traditions, when every year a young maiden is chosen to represent St. Lucia on Lucia Day, December 13th. Lucia is crowned in the Cathedral at 5pm with the parade starting from Senate Sq around 6pm:
www.lucia.fi/SV/Sida/59/b...
www.lucia.fi/SV/Sida/59/b...
December 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM
The Lucia Feast & Parade in Helsinki is one of the city's most cherished traditions, when every year a young maiden is chosen to represent St. Lucia on Lucia Day, December 13th. Lucia is crowned in the Cathedral at 5pm with the parade starting from Senate Sq around 6pm:
www.lucia.fi/SV/Sida/59/b...
www.lucia.fi/SV/Sida/59/b...
#Finland is buying a job lot of American air-to-air missiles for the new F-35 fleet. #säkpol #turpo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSR1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSR1...
Finland Buys AMRAAM Missiles to Boost Defense
YouTube video by Proxio Media
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:22 PM
#Finland is buying a job lot of American air-to-air missiles for the new F-35 fleet. #säkpol #turpo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSR1...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSR1...
POV: You're looking for a comment from an MP for a story and they have so many different comms channels you end up emailing them, WhatsApping them and slipping into their Insta DMs as well.
One of those should catch their attention 🤞
One of those should catch their attention 🤞
December 12, 2025 at 4:10 PM
POV: You're looking for a comment from an MP for a story and they have so many different comms channels you end up emailing them, WhatsApping them and slipping into their Insta DMs as well.
One of those should catch their attention 🤞
One of those should catch their attention 🤞