Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
National & financial security. Former UK civil servant and financial intelligence professional. Senior Associate Fellow @rusi.bsky.social CFS. Loves ideas, cult fiction, anomalous stuff, landscapes and sanity.
Views own.
Views own.
Pinned
Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
· Sep 12
“People sometimes tell me that they prefer barbarism to civilisation. I doubt if they have given it a long enough trial…they are bored by civilisation; but all the evidence suggests that the boredom of barbarism is infinitely greater.”
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
“I have a particular set of skills, and they’re all incredibly mundane.”
February 15, 2026 at 10:07 PM
“I have a particular set of skills, and they’re all incredibly mundane.”
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
If you think there’s NOTHING in our heritage (or in any nation’s) to be unapologetic about, you’re a fool. A dangerous fool.
February 15, 2026 at 9:53 PM
If you think there’s NOTHING in our heritage (or in any nation’s) to be unapologetic about, you’re a fool. A dangerous fool.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
FWIW, after 2+ decades in 🇬🇧 diplomacy my settled view is that BBCWS is *the* (not *a*) vital element of British soft power and the continued attacks on its funding are nothing short of barbaric and self defeating.
February 15, 2026 at 8:51 PM
FWIW, after 2+ decades in 🇬🇧 diplomacy my settled view is that BBCWS is *the* (not *a*) vital element of British soft power and the continued attacks on its funding are nothing short of barbaric and self defeating.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
You don't want a reputation for overpromising and then underdelivering if you want to help shape Europe's strategic future
February 15, 2026 at 8:29 PM
You don't want a reputation for overpromising and then underdelivering if you want to help shape Europe's strategic future
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
“At Shady Dealings Sunset Homes we provide a welcoming and caring environment for your loved ones.”
February 15, 2026 at 6:56 PM
“At Shady Dealings Sunset Homes we provide a welcoming and caring environment for your loved ones.”
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
For Britain's grand strategists this is not a defence problem.
This is a Treasury problem.
🙄
This is a Treasury problem.
🙄
Given budgetary constraints in the UK and France, I expect more stories like this going forward.
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
European allies ‘frustrated’ by UK defense paralysis
The U.K. rearmament efforts are hobbled by the country’s fiscal difficulties, which is angering the arms industry.
www.politico.eu
February 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
For Britain's grand strategists this is not a defence problem.
This is a Treasury problem.
🙄
This is a Treasury problem.
🙄
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
OTD in 2022 Russia's MOD announced that all Russian troops near Ukraine were returning home. And seeing as we weren't lying then, you can believe us in negotiations now.
In most cases the "withdrawal" placed the units closer to Ukraine.
In most cases the "withdrawal" placed the units closer to Ukraine.
February 15, 2026 at 9:38 AM
OTD in 2022 Russia's MOD announced that all Russian troops near Ukraine were returning home. And seeing as we weren't lying then, you can believe us in negotiations now.
In most cases the "withdrawal" placed the units closer to Ukraine.
In most cases the "withdrawal" placed the units closer to Ukraine.
I’m reliably informed by young people that today is St Valentine’s Day. It might be late, but oodles of love to all my Bluesky chums.
February 14, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I’m reliably informed by young people that today is St Valentine’s Day. It might be late, but oodles of love to all my Bluesky chums.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
I hadn’t realised until spotting it just now that @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social’s dissecting knife was of course just what I had been waiting for, for pellucid explanation of the latest Munich Security Carnival goings-on.
At last year's MSC, while Vance was hectoring Europe, other Americans were trying to persuade policymakers and commentators not to take it all too seriously. Many were eager to buy what these Europe-whisperers were selling. But it was, and is, an illusion.
February 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I hadn’t realised until spotting it just now that @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social’s dissecting knife was of course just what I had been waiting for, for pellucid explanation of the latest Munich Security Carnival goings-on.
Netflix reality show.
What kind of life is the deposed former president of Syria and his family living in Russia? With Pjotr Sauer and Will Christou
What the Assads did next - podcast
What kind of life is the deposed former president of Syria and his family living in Russia? With Pjotr Sauer and Will Christou
www.theguardian.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Netflix reality show.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
PM Frederiksen:
We have to recognize,we have to learn that Russia will not change&they aren’t interested in peace, unfortunately
I mean,it's like minus 25 °C &then you attack the energy system.I mean,it's so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing.But this’s how Russia is&it will not change
We have to recognize,we have to learn that Russia will not change&they aren’t interested in peace, unfortunately
I mean,it's like minus 25 °C &then you attack the energy system.I mean,it's so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing.But this’s how Russia is&it will not change
February 14, 2026 at 7:37 PM
PM Frederiksen:
We have to recognize,we have to learn that Russia will not change&they aren’t interested in peace, unfortunately
I mean,it's like minus 25 °C &then you attack the energy system.I mean,it's so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing.But this’s how Russia is&it will not change
We have to recognize,we have to learn that Russia will not change&they aren’t interested in peace, unfortunately
I mean,it's like minus 25 °C &then you attack the energy system.I mean,it's so crazy that only Russians would do such a thing.But this’s how Russia is&it will not change
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Statement from Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny's poisoning:
February 14, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Statement from Britain, Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands on Alexei Navalny's poisoning:
So I had this lovely lasagne to eat. I sat down to eat. Glass of red. Film on. Knock at the door. Put the plate down on the foot stool. Go to answer the door. Neighbour to collect parcel. Return. The dogs have eaten the lasagna.
Toast for dinner.
Toast for dinner.
February 14, 2026 at 7:56 PM
So I had this lovely lasagne to eat. I sat down to eat. Glass of red. Film on. Knock at the door. Put the plate down on the foot stool. Go to answer the door. Neighbour to collect parcel. Return. The dogs have eaten the lasagna.
Toast for dinner.
Toast for dinner.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Rubio’s speech at Munich was a massive free dose of fentanyl to an addict desperate not to get clean. And it worked. Europe is full of suckers.
February 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Rubio’s speech at Munich was a massive free dose of fentanyl to an addict desperate not to get clean. And it worked. Europe is full of suckers.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Trump orders an attack, sources say. -Reuters
February 13, 2026 at 11:21 PM
The U.S. military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Trump orders an attack, sources say. -Reuters
Your daily reminder that Trump is deluded and unwell old man that really doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.
February 13, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Your daily reminder that Trump is deluded and unwell old man that really doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about.
Nothing I enjoy more on a Friday eveningthan watching Inspector Morse riding roughshod over the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
February 13, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Nothing I enjoy more on a Friday eveningthan watching Inspector Morse riding roughshod over the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
C’mon, Chuck. You’re fighting to “rein in” ICE? DEFUND ICE.
This is why there must be a full, independent investigation of every incident that ICE has been involved in. DHS and this administration cannot be trusted to carry out investigations on their own.
And it’s why Democrats are fighting to rein in ICE.
And it’s why Democrats are fighting to rein in ICE.
February 13, 2026 at 10:28 PM
C’mon, Chuck. You’re fighting to “rein in” ICE? DEFUND ICE.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Viktor Orbán’s challenger Péter Magyar met Polish PM Donald Tusk in Munich and introduced his colleague Anita Orbán as “future minister of foreign affairs of Hungary,” joking that her surname is just a coincidence.
“My name is Donald 🤷♂️ ,” Tusk quipped in reply.
Reported by Szabolcs Panyi
“My name is Donald 🤷♂️ ,” Tusk quipped in reply.
Reported by Szabolcs Panyi
February 13, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Viktor Orbán’s challenger Péter Magyar met Polish PM Donald Tusk in Munich and introduced his colleague Anita Orbán as “future minister of foreign affairs of Hungary,” joking that her surname is just a coincidence.
“My name is Donald 🤷♂️ ,” Tusk quipped in reply.
Reported by Szabolcs Panyi
“My name is Donald 🤷♂️ ,” Tusk quipped in reply.
Reported by Szabolcs Panyi
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Was Epstein A Russian Spy?
Podcast Episode · The Rest Is Classified · 02/13/2026 · 57m
podcasts.apple.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
One of the most fascinating aspects of the America Crisis is how under Trump much of the US Homeland security apparatus seems to understand places like Minnesota or Maine as little as the US National security apparatus under Bush understood places like Anbar or Herat
Inexperienced and delusional rookies at the helm... check. Comically bad misreading of local politics... check. Trying to correct with "a surge" that makes things worse... check.
February 13, 2026 at 11:03 AM
One of the most fascinating aspects of the America Crisis is how under Trump much of the US Homeland security apparatus seems to understand places like Minnesota or Maine as little as the US National security apparatus under Bush understood places like Anbar or Herat
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Poland has become accustomed to provocations linked to Russia. But recent cyber-attacks mark a serious escalation of Russia’s digital subversion in Europe beyond Ukraine
Russia’s sabotage campaign is becoming bolder
Hacks against Polish energy plants suggest the FSB is involved
econ.st
February 13, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Poland has become accustomed to provocations linked to Russia. But recent cyber-attacks mark a serious escalation of Russia’s digital subversion in Europe beyond Ukraine
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
They haven’t heard you yet.
Please add your voice you this call:
Please add your voice you this call:
The Elections Bill is really very thin on political finance.
Some loopholes closed, some warm words, but still unlimited political donations.
That's why we're working with @38degrees.bsky.social to call for a cap on donations
Please sign and share: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
Some loopholes closed, some warm words, but still unlimited political donations.
That's why we're working with @38degrees.bsky.social to call for a cap on donations
Please sign and share: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
Take Big Money Out of Our Politics
British politics is awash with money from super rich donors. In 2023, two-thirds of all private donations came from just 19 people. These so-called ‘mega donors’ enjoy privileged access to political p...
you.38degrees.org.uk
February 12, 2026 at 9:22 PM
They haven’t heard you yet.
Please add your voice you this call:
Please add your voice you this call: