PianO
@oxooch.bsky.social
Realistically optimistic, which is a bit of a triumph in these hard times (and out of character for an O).
Largely swapped teaching History and Politics and worrying about 6th Form, for golf, and worrying about the Orient
Largely swapped teaching History and Politics and worrying about 6th Form, for golf, and worrying about the Orient
Reposted by PianO
I've criticized Obama in this vein, too. But the real question is where the hell are GWB & Mitt Romney (& John Kelly, Jim Mattis, Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Bob Gates, Hank Paulson, etc). Obama isn't going to convince the 10 people in Congress who can end this now
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
OPINION | Barack Obama might be one of the few people in politics left with his moral authority intact; his silence is deafening.
Barack Obama, Where the F--k Are You?
The former president, his moral authority intact, is missing in action.
trib.al
January 20, 2026 at 6:21 AM
I've criticized Obama in this vein, too. But the real question is where the hell are GWB & Mitt Romney (& John Kelly, Jim Mattis, Mike Pence, Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Bob Gates, Hank Paulson, etc). Obama isn't going to convince the 10 people in Congress who can end this now
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Reposted by PianO
was briefly so excited reading this until I realised he meant Davos
January 20, 2026 at 8:11 PM
was briefly so excited reading this until I realised he meant Davos
Reposted by PianO
This is nuts.
World leaders are trying to do diplomacy. Trump is screenshotting and posting private messages from heads of state like it’s a gossip session.
World leaders are trying to do diplomacy. Trump is screenshotting and posting private messages from heads of state like it’s a gossip session.
January 20, 2026 at 1:32 PM
This is nuts.
World leaders are trying to do diplomacy. Trump is screenshotting and posting private messages from heads of state like it’s a gossip session.
World leaders are trying to do diplomacy. Trump is screenshotting and posting private messages from heads of state like it’s a gossip session.
Reposted by PianO
Main impression after 2 days in London: any politician, official or commentator who now prioritizes party politics, petty scores or their personal career advancement over dealing with this crisis should find a new job.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
January 20, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Main impression after 2 days in London: any politician, official or commentator who now prioritizes party politics, petty scores or their personal career advancement over dealing with this crisis should find a new job.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
Time to be serious.
As a lot of serious people have said for a very long time.
Reposted by PianO
All it would take is for a bunch of these CEOs to confront Trump in front of the world and tell him he's unfit to run a hot-dog stand, and his presidency would be over. Seriously.
But none of them has the balls to do it.
But none of them has the balls to do it.
January 20, 2026 at 12:36 AM
All it would take is for a bunch of these CEOs to confront Trump in front of the world and tell him he's unfit to run a hot-dog stand, and his presidency would be over. Seriously.
But none of them has the balls to do it.
But none of them has the balls to do it.
Reposted by PianO
It's not totally irrational for the Euros to think they can suck up to him in-person at Davos and that might calm him down, it has before. The problem is even if that works, it only lasts a few days at best. You can't beat the creeps actually in the West Wing at the "last person he talked to" game.
January 20, 2026 at 8:31 AM
It's not totally irrational for the Euros to think they can suck up to him in-person at Davos and that might calm him down, it has before. The problem is even if that works, it only lasts a few days at best. You can't beat the creeps actually in the West Wing at the "last person he talked to" game.
Reposted by PianO
I like that the same day a guy was like “this place will never be Twitter” this thread gave us the most 2015 Twitter experience (complimentary) imaginable.
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 4:38 AM
I like that the same day a guy was like “this place will never be Twitter” this thread gave us the most 2015 Twitter experience (complimentary) imaginable.
Reposted by PianO
An FBI agent conducted an initial review of the Renee Good killing and determined sufficient grounds existed to open a civil rights probe into the actions of the ICE officer who shot her. Justice Department says no inquiry is warranted. @perrystein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
FBI opened probe on Minneapolis shooting; none exists now, Justice Dept. says
After the death of Renée Good in Minneapolis, FBI agents launched a civil rights probe into the shooting. The Justice Department says no such case now exists.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:59 PM
An FBI agent conducted an initial review of the Renee Good killing and determined sufficient grounds existed to open a civil rights probe into the actions of the ICE officer who shot her. Justice Department says no inquiry is warranted. @perrystein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by PianO
ICE is insanely out of control and we have a deranged lunatic for president.
Extending a big middle finger to the folks who told us we were being too dramatic when we said Donald Trump was going to destroy this country.
Congratulations, MAGAts, thanks to your stupidity, this country is FUBAR.
Extending a big middle finger to the folks who told us we were being too dramatic when we said Donald Trump was going to destroy this country.
Congratulations, MAGAts, thanks to your stupidity, this country is FUBAR.
January 19, 2026 at 8:31 PM
ICE is insanely out of control and we have a deranged lunatic for president.
Extending a big middle finger to the folks who told us we were being too dramatic when we said Donald Trump was going to destroy this country.
Congratulations, MAGAts, thanks to your stupidity, this country is FUBAR.
Extending a big middle finger to the folks who told us we were being too dramatic when we said Donald Trump was going to destroy this country.
Congratulations, MAGAts, thanks to your stupidity, this country is FUBAR.
Reposted by PianO
👇🏻🔥👇🏻🔥👇🏻🔥
As a historian of Manifest Destiny I should have some sort of witty response to this, but I cannot believe that the MAGAites are embracing a history of violence and dispossession so enthusiastically. Our history of "acquiring new lands" is littered with massacres of the prior inhabitants.
Cruz: "When it comes to Greenland, I want to commend President Trump for being single-mindedly focused on America first... I believe it is overwhelmingly in America's national interest to acquire Greenland... the whole history of America has been a history of acquiring new lands and new territories"
January 19, 2026 at 5:32 PM
👇🏻🔥👇🏻🔥👇🏻🔥
Reposted by PianO
What Trump means when he says "Venezuela's oil is now ours:" purest late 19th century natural resource imperialism. bsky.app/profile/atru...
VARNEY: Are we now actively selling the oil we're taking from Venezuelan tankers?
ENERGY SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Oh, absolutely
VARNEY: How much of that oil are we going to take?
WRIGHT: We'll take the majority of Venezuelan exports
ENERGY SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Oh, absolutely
VARNEY: How much of that oil are we going to take?
WRIGHT: We'll take the majority of Venezuelan exports
January 19, 2026 at 3:46 PM
What Trump means when he says "Venezuela's oil is now ours:" purest late 19th century natural resource imperialism. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by PianO
It's cool that these guys just use pepper spray casually now, against people who are wholly within their rights, without a moment's hesitation. Several shots of them using it as they climb into their cars and drive away, not even a pretense of urgency or need. Just a parting "fuck you" to them.
This is what happened in our neighborhood yesterday. ICE snatched a human being off of our streets, roughed them up badly, and then pepper sprayed legal observers as they documented it all. This is a daily occurrence happening all throughout Minnesota right now.
January 19, 2026 at 4:44 PM
It's cool that these guys just use pepper spray casually now, against people who are wholly within their rights, without a moment's hesitation. Several shots of them using it as they climb into their cars and drive away, not even a pretense of urgency or need. Just a parting "fuck you" to them.
Reposted by PianO
Sunday, at least 7 ICE agents stormed a house and took an elderly man out into the freezing cold, wearing only his underwear and a blanket.
He was a member of the Hmong community, which came to the area from Laos in the 1970s after siding with the US in the Vietnam War.
Notice the suppressors
1/2
He was a member of the Hmong community, which came to the area from Laos in the 1970s after siding with the US in the Vietnam War.
Notice the suppressors
1/2
January 19, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Sunday, at least 7 ICE agents stormed a house and took an elderly man out into the freezing cold, wearing only his underwear and a blanket.
He was a member of the Hmong community, which came to the area from Laos in the 1970s after siding with the US in the Vietnam War.
Notice the suppressors
1/2
He was a member of the Hmong community, which came to the area from Laos in the 1970s after siding with the US in the Vietnam War.
Notice the suppressors
1/2
Reposted by PianO
So basically Trump’s argument is that he only bothered talking about how much he supposedly wanted peace and performed substance-free publicity stunts to win a prize, but since that didn’t fool anyone he’s not going to bother with that charade anymore and will just invade Europe.
January 19, 2026 at 1:29 PM
So basically Trump’s argument is that he only bothered talking about how much he supposedly wanted peace and performed substance-free publicity stunts to win a prize, but since that didn’t fool anyone he’s not going to bother with that charade anymore and will just invade Europe.
Reposted by PianO
Russia says President Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
January 19, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Russia says President Putin has been invited to join Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
Astonishing to invite one of history’s most egregious warmongers on to a peace board. The international rules are already in the bin.
Reposted by PianO
I see that King Lear is on the Royal Exchange this year. "Lear is a searing portrait of a king unable to distinguish truth from lies. As the storm rises and night falls, language, identity and meaning break down completely." www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/king-l...
January 19, 2026 at 9:53 AM
I see that King Lear is on the Royal Exchange this year. "Lear is a searing portrait of a king unable to distinguish truth from lies. As the storm rises and night falls, language, identity and meaning break down completely." www.royalexchange.co.uk/event/king-l...
Reposted by PianO
It’s truly a special kind of unhinged psychotic who will come up with “You didn’t give me the Nobel Peace Prize so I’m going to start World War 3.”
January 19, 2026 at 5:46 AM
It’s truly a special kind of unhinged psychotic who will come up with “You didn’t give me the Nobel Peace Prize so I’m going to start World War 3.”
Reposted by PianO
Norwegian PM Støre says Trump repeatedly raises—complains about, pleads for, and demands—the Nobel Peace Prize every time they meet. Støre gives same answer each time: decision is made independently by Norwegian Nobel Committee, with no role for Norwegian gov—a concept Trump appears unable to grasp.
January 18, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Norwegian PM Støre says Trump repeatedly raises—complains about, pleads for, and demands—the Nobel Peace Prize every time they meet. Støre gives same answer each time: decision is made independently by Norwegian Nobel Committee, with no role for Norwegian gov—a concept Trump appears unable to grasp.
Reposted by PianO
the only thing Democrats should be saying on Greenland is "this is evil and wrong and if we do it we will be punished"
like do i trust bernie would oppose the annexation? yes. do i think this is good messaging that is what EU allies need? no
January 19, 2026 at 4:11 AM
the only thing Democrats should be saying on Greenland is "this is evil and wrong and if we do it we will be punished"
Reposted by PianO
Everything Trump says here is verifiably untrue. During this period of time the number of US installations on Greenland went from 17 to 1 as a result of US determinations that they were not needed.
Trump: "NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that “you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.” Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump"
January 19, 2026 at 4:14 AM
Everything Trump says here is verifiably untrue. During this period of time the number of US installations on Greenland went from 17 to 1 as a result of US determinations that they were not needed.
Reposted by PianO
The Trump move on Greenland is celebrated as a huge victory on multiple fronts by Moscow. As Danish papers and the Danish intelligence service have documented, the whole effort to persuade Trump that he "needed" Greenland was born in the Kremlin. kyivindependent.com/russia-welco...
Russia welcomes Trump's tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland as 'collapse' of alliance
"The transatlantic alliance is over," Kremlin economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said.
kyivindependent.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:07 PM
The Trump move on Greenland is celebrated as a huge victory on multiple fronts by Moscow. As Danish papers and the Danish intelligence service have documented, the whole effort to persuade Trump that he "needed" Greenland was born in the Kremlin. kyivindependent.com/russia-welco...
Reposted by PianO
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
![NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreie7itpptx3xbxhpsnlaqmwk752h7pcrion5ija2apksljtax2adx4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 5:09 AM
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
Reposted by PianO
They're investigating the victim's wife, the victim's friends, the mayor and the governor too, but no, they're not even going to glance in the direction of the murderer.
BREAM: Is the FBI investigating the ICE agent who shot Renee Good?
BLANCHE: What happened has been reviewed by millions of Americans bc it was recorded. We investigate when it's appropriate. That is not the case here. We are not going to bow to pressure. So no, we are not investigating.
BLANCHE: What happened has been reviewed by millions of Americans bc it was recorded. We investigate when it's appropriate. That is not the case here. We are not going to bow to pressure. So no, we are not investigating.
January 18, 2026 at 10:16 PM
They're investigating the victim's wife, the victim's friends, the mayor and the governor too, but no, they're not even going to glance in the direction of the murderer.
Reposted by PianO
Pew Research Institute (2023):
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
January 18, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Pew Research Institute (2023):
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
Reposted by PianO
This is a very good point. The November 2025 US National Security Strategy never mentions the Arctic at all. The idea that it's a genuine security priority for the Trump administration is not credible.
January 18, 2026 at 6:07 PM
This is a very good point. The November 2025 US National Security Strategy never mentions the Arctic at all. The idea that it's a genuine security priority for the Trump administration is not credible.