Mark MacKinnon
@markmackinnon.bsky.social
Senior International Correspondent for The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper. Now based in London, after stops in Moscow, Beijing and the Middle East. Author of The New Cold War (the book, not the thing).
Add me to your top-secret group chats!
Add me to your top-secret group chats!
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
The International Olympic Committee has disqualified a Ukrainian sled athlete over his refusal to remove images of war dead from his helmet in competition. n.pr/3Ztg0Pk
Ukrainian Olympian disqualified over images of war dead on his helmet
The International Olympic Committee has disqualified a Ukrainian sled athlete over his refusal to remove images of war dead from his helmet in competition.
n.pr
February 12, 2026 at 9:32 AM
The International Olympic Committee has disqualified a Ukrainian sled athlete over his refusal to remove images of war dead from his helmet in competition. n.pr/3Ztg0Pk
If only you still had a foreign desk to, well, know these things...
Correction: A previous version of this post misidentified the South Caucasus as belonging to Russia. The region, made up of territory in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, is not part of Russia. We deleted the previous post.
February 12, 2026 at 11:01 AM
If only you still had a foreign desk to, well, know these things...
This was apparently a false alarm - a test carried out at the Kapustin Yar launch site in Russia...
❗️❗️Threat of using the Oreshnik IRBM across the entire territory of Ukraine, – monitoring channels
February 12, 2026 at 11:01 AM
This was apparently a false alarm - a test carried out at the Kapustin Yar launch site in Russia...
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
❗️❗️Threat of using the Oreshnik IRBM across the entire territory of Ukraine, – monitoring channels
February 12, 2026 at 10:29 AM
❗️❗️Threat of using the Oreshnik IRBM across the entire territory of Ukraine, – monitoring channels
Oh good. America now has its own ВЦИОМ…
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years thehill.com/homenews/med...
February 11, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Oh good. America now has its own ВЦИОМ…
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Et tu, Canada?
After previously saying that Canada would enforce the #ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu, the government of @MarkJCarney has allowed the Israeli PM to fly through Canadian airspace en route to Washington. www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #Gaza
After previously saying that Canada would enforce the #ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu, the government of @MarkJCarney has allowed the Israeli PM to fly through Canadian airspace en route to Washington. www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #Gaza
Netanyahu again flies through Canadian airspace en route to Washington | CBC News
Online flight trackers show that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew hundreds of kilometres through Canadian airspace on his way to meet U.S. President Donald Trump this week — despite Prim...
www.cbc.ca
February 11, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Et tu, Canada?
After previously saying that Canada would enforce the #ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu, the government of @MarkJCarney has allowed the Israeli PM to fly through Canadian airspace en route to Washington. www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #Gaza
After previously saying that Canada would enforce the #ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu, the government of @MarkJCarney has allowed the Israeli PM to fly through Canadian airspace en route to Washington. www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #Gaza
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
"While his father Steve Witkoff acts as President Trump’s all-purpose special envoy, 32-year-old Zach Witkoff now heads up World Liberty, which has doled out at least $1.4 billion to both families"
extraordinary reporting from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
extraordinary reporting from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
One Generation Runs the Country. The Next Cashed In on Crypto.
Sons of top Trump administration officials made billions for their families, but their investors didn’t always fare so well.
www.wsj.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:17 PM
"While his father Steve Witkoff acts as President Trump’s all-purpose special envoy, 32-year-old Zach Witkoff now heads up World Liberty, which has doled out at least $1.4 billion to both families"
extraordinary reporting from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
extraordinary reporting from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
Trump appears to know precisely one thing about Canada - that we play and cherish something called “Ice Hockey.”
Please, no one tell him about three-down football, or our use of the metric system. Hostilities would become inevitable.
Please, no one tell him about three-down football, or our use of the metric system. Hostilities would become inevitable.
Trump, in the middle of his latest unhinged Truth Social screed, claims that if Canada makes a trade deal with China, "the first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup."
February 10, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Trump appears to know precisely one thing about Canada - that we play and cherish something called “Ice Hockey.”
Please, no one tell him about three-down football, or our use of the metric system. Hostilities would become inevitable.
Please, no one tell him about three-down football, or our use of the metric system. Hostilities would become inevitable.
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of sabotaging efforts to improve bilateral relations and of undermining negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/09/n...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/09/n...
‘No Rosy Future’: Lavrov Slams Trump Administration in Interview - The Moscow Times
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of sabotaging efforts to improve bilateral relations and of undermining negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. “Despite all the st...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of sabotaging efforts to improve bilateral relations and of undermining negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/09/n...
www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/09/n...
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Four Russian ballistic missiles have targeted Vasylkiv near Kyiv 15 minutes ago
Air defenses were active.
Air defenses were active.
February 8, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Four Russian ballistic missiles have targeted Vasylkiv near Kyiv 15 minutes ago
Air defenses were active.
Air defenses were active.
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Liberal Democratic Party on course for large majority in Japan election ft.trib.al/XSUIAT9
Liberal Democratic Party on course for large majority in Japan election
Exit polls suggest Sanae Takaichi’s ruling party and its coalition partner could win 366 seats
ft.trib.al
February 8, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Liberal Democratic Party on course for large majority in Japan election ft.trib.al/XSUIAT9
Trumpmenbashi.
Trump wanted Dulles Airport and Penn Station named after him as condition of releasing rail tunnel funds
Trump wanted Dulles Airport and Penn Station named after him as condition of releasing rail tunnel funds
Funding for the Gateway Project has been held up since October.
dlvr.it
February 6, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Trumpmenbashi.
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
In show of support, Canada, France open consulates in Greenland
In show of support, Canada, France open consulates in Greenland
Canada and France, which both adamantly oppose Donald Trump's wish to control Greenland, will open consulates in the Danish autonomous territory's capital on Friday, in a strong show of support for the local government.
rfi.my
February 6, 2026 at 10:13 AM
In show of support, Canada, France open consulates in Greenland
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
❗️👀 An attempt was made in Moscow on the first deputy head of the GRU, Lieutenant General of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Vladimir Alekseev.
An unknown person shot the general in the back several times near his house and fled the scene.
An unknown person shot the general in the back several times near his house and fled the scene.
February 6, 2026 at 7:48 AM
❗️👀 An attempt was made in Moscow on the first deputy head of the GRU, Lieutenant General of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Vladimir Alekseev.
An unknown person shot the general in the back several times near his house and fled the scene.
An unknown person shot the general in the back several times near his house and fled the scene.
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
“Rows of gravestones have been removed, the topsoil has been churned up and a substantial earth berm can be seen running across the middle of the affected area. It is of a size that suggests the use of heavy equipment.”
Revealed: Israel bulldozed part of Gaza war cemetery containing allied graves
Satellite images and witness testimony show destruction as IDF claims it was forced to take defensive measures
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:50 AM
“Rows of gravestones have been removed, the topsoil has been churned up and a substantial earth berm can be seen running across the middle of the affected area. It is of a size that suggests the use of heavy equipment.”
Stupider and stupider we go…
February 4, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Stupider and stupider we go…
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
A publisher who lays off a reporter whose pen is freezing because she's covering a frigid war zone while dodging missiles is not an editor you want to work for, in a more perfect world
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A publisher who lays off a reporter whose pen is freezing because she's covering a frigid war zone while dodging missiles is not an editor you want to work for, in a more perfect world
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
February 4, 2026 at 2:34 PM
A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
February 4, 2026 at 2:54 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Very good piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com....
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
How steep is Trump’s democratic backsliding?
The erosion of established norms has been dramatic but institutions are holding up
www.ft.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Very good piece by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com....
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
The US under Trump 2.0 has shifted towards authoritarianism as record speed but unlike other examples (e.g. Putin, Orban) it's happened by bypassing institutions rather than permanently corrupting them...
www.ft.com/content/b474...
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Iranians seal windows and store food and water as they prepare for attack - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iranians-seal-windows-store-food-water-prepare-for-attack
Iranians seal windows and store food and water as they prepare for attack
While the US builds up its military assets in the Gulf, Iranians quietly brace for a new war
www.middleeasteye.net
January 31, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Iranians seal windows and store food and water as they prepare for attack - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iranians-seal-windows-store-food-water-prepare-for-attack
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
Ukrainian energy ministry says blackouts in Ukraine and Moldova were caused by the “simultaneous disconnection” of two main transmission lines, between Romania and Moldova and between western and central Ukraine, causing cascading failures across the grid. No cause of disconnections given.
January 31, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Ukrainian energy ministry says blackouts in Ukraine and Moldova were caused by the “simultaneous disconnection” of two main transmission lines, between Romania and Moldova and between western and central Ukraine, causing cascading failures across the grid. No cause of disconnections given.
Reposted by Mark MacKinnon
BREAKING: At least 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, according to medical sources speaking to Al Jazeera.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/yd606g
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/yd606g
January 31, 2026 at 10:43 AM
BREAKING: At least 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn, according to medical sources speaking to Al Jazeera.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/yd606g
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/yd606g