Paul O’Brien
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ifdestroyed.bsky.social
Paul O’Brien
@ifdestroyed.bsky.social
Writes about comics at housetoastonish.com
So far as I can tell, the one opinion that genuinely unites those on both sides of the AI divide is that everyone finds Copilot useless.
January 19, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
guys guys the Americans are waking up. Everyone act normal and maybe they'll follow our lead. maybe.

good morning, americans
January 19, 2026 at 12:38 PM
What is fascinating to me is his obvious desperation to be respected coupled with his total inability to comprehend what that might require.
January 19, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre has now also confirmed to local media that it is genuine. www.vg.no/nyheter/i/q6...
Trump i melding til Støre: «Føler ikke lenger noen forpliktelse»
I en oppsiktsvekkende melding til statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre gjentar Donald Trump truslene om Grønland.
www.vg.no
January 19, 2026 at 7:47 AM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
The US has a 25th Amendment and an impeachment process but because cowardice is the defining characteristic of modern right wing politics, neither of these things will be exercised, even as this is the most glaring example of their being needed.
If this text is real (no reason to think it isn’t) we have to accept that the only solution here is Congress doing its job. He cannot be a president in this deteriorating mental state. But Congress won’t act.

We’re f*cked
There are, I promise you, still serious and important people who think that Trump is playing 3D chess — putting on an act to convince his laggard NATO allies to pony up their fare share.

But stuff like this is pretty clear evidence that he's *the* immediate risk to our collective security
January 19, 2026 at 7:31 AM
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Didn’t believe this was true but have checked and am told it was sent to the Norwegian government yesterday.
mad king moment

from the PBS Newshour correspondent
January 19, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
i feel like Americans don't get the level of eye-rolling this is getting from Europe
January 19, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
I suspect the vast majority of those Americans assume that one day they can simply say 'reset' to us, and all will be well.
It won't be. America has never ever threatened a European democracy with invasion. Until now. We are in a new era.
But Americans who want to save the alliance with Europe must have no illusions about how bad a condition this transatlantic partnership is in.
January 18, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
The incredibly lukewarm Democratic response on Greenland is being noticed in Europe, incidentally.

Chuck Schumer not finding a stronger word than “quixotic” for Trump’s plan to seize Greenland has been name checked to me more than once.
But Americans who want to save the alliance with Europe must have no illusions about how bad a condition this transatlantic partnership is in.
January 18, 2026 at 10:05 PM
What's interesting is that he would say this publicly.
Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre: every time I meet with Trump he immediately makes clear how angry he is that he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize and demands that Norway give it to him immediately. I explain that the Nobel Committee, not the government of Norway, awards this prize.
Støre til næringslivet etter Trumps tolltrussel: – Vi skal ivareta norske interesser
Statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre sier at han forstår at varselet om straffetoll fra USAs president Donald Trump vekker bekymring i norsk næringsliv.
www.aftenbladet.no
January 18, 2026 at 10:05 PM
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #69: The Cossack.
House to Astonish » Daredevil Villains #69: The Cossack
www.housetoastonish.com
January 18, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Professional wrestling: a beautiful artform in which you can clearly hear a German man pretending to be an American man pretending to be a Mexican wrestler pretending to fight a Mexican man tell the pretend referee to "tell him to be careful with my neck for fuck's sake."
January 18, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Note that these are the usually Atlanticist pro-American centre right parties. They have given up appeasing Trump.
Appears that the most recent negotiated EU-US trade deal is dead, with Renew Europe and EPP party leadership rejecting the deal in light of Trump’s recent threats.
January 17, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
There goes the EU-US trade deal. Always a humiliation to the European side, and now - it seems - an intolerable one.
EPP chair Manfred Weber says EP will not approve EU US tariff deal

"The EPP is in favour of the EU–U.S. trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage. The 0% tariffs on U.S. products must be put on hold."
January 17, 2026 at 8:35 PM
But also quickly enough to suggest that this response did not come as a surprise.
Feels like a sea-change tonight about Europe's approach to the US: moving from head-shaking and shrugs to real anger
January 17, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
FIFA would then try to punish European nations over it, which would have the bonus side effect of showing it up for what it is, too.
What Europe could do is threaten to boycott the World Cup. It won't. But that might actually work. Trump wants his big show.
January 17, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Macron now refers to "intimidation or threat", explicitly comparing US behaviour in Greenland to Russia's approach to Ukraine. Sweden's PM says: "We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed". Much, tougher language from Europeans than we have seen before, responding to the US escalation.
January 17, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Keir Starmer often takes 2-3 days to issue very mild criticism of US actions. This is both direct and issued fast.

I think there is a serious risk that the US miscalculated quite what a big deal the Greenland thing is to Europe (and in Europe).
NEW - Starmer says US "completely wrong" in threatening tariffs over Greenland
January 17, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
If there’s ever been a case for the UK imposing retaliatory tariffs it’s here. I will gladly pay 10% to defend democracy 🫡
January 17, 2026 at 4:43 PM
On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.
House to Astonish » Charts – 16 January 2026
www.housetoastonish.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:24 PM
On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.
House to Astonish » The X-Axis – 14 January 2026
www.housetoastonish.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:16 PM
On House to Astonish, annotations for Uncanny X-Men #22.
House to Astonish » Uncanny X-Men #22 annotations
www.housetoastonish.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
January 14, 2026 at 9:24 PM
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The House To Astonish 14th annual Homies awards was really great to listen to, specifically for me, because of how many listeners said very nice things about the Power Fantasy. Hugely touched. I bet it's nice for you to listen to too.
House to Astonish » House to Astonish Episode 216
housetoastonish.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
The new House to Astonish, with the results of the 2025 Homies awards, is live! Come hear @ifdestroyed.bsky.social talking about Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum, Fantastic Four and The Power Fantasy, and me talking about Assorted Crisis Events, The Phoenix and Hello Sunshine! bit.ly/astonish216
House to Astonish » House to Astonish Episode 216
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 5:34 PM