Philip O'Connor
@philipoconnor.bsky.social
"Love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night."
Irish journalist based in Stockholm, covering the world.
Irish journalist based in Stockholm, covering the world.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
January 3, 2026 at 5:55 PM
THREAD: I'll fact-check all the viral misinformation about the US military operation in Venezuela in this thread
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
This image, purporting to show the US military arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, is AI-generated.
According to Google's SynthID detector, it was created using Google AI.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
If Mexico, who border the mad colossus that is the United States, can unequivocally condemn this as an action of aggression then the EU, sheltered by the Atlantic, can do the same and not offer this subservient drivel.
Following very closely the situation in Venezuela.
We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition.
Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter.
We stand by the people of Venezuela and support a peaceful and democratic transition.
Any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter.
January 3, 2026 at 2:25 PM
If Mexico, who border the mad colossus that is the United States, can unequivocally condemn this as an action of aggression then the EU, sheltered by the Atlantic, can do the same and not offer this subservient drivel.
It takes some melon-sized pair of balls to say that Maduro surpressed his people, when Trump's goons have been snatching law-abiding people off the streets since he was inaugurated, not to mention his deploying of the National Guard against cities that oppose him.
a man is covering his nose with his hand while sitting in a chair .
ALT: a man is covering his nose with his hand while sitting in a chair .
media.tenor.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:38 PM
It takes some melon-sized pair of balls to say that Maduro surpressed his people, when Trump's goons have been snatching law-abiding people off the streets since he was inaugurated, not to mention his deploying of the National Guard against cities that oppose him.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
People are going to try and lure you into debates about whether Maduro was a good guy or not and the thing is, it doesn’t matter for the purposes of discussing whether violent kidnappings and extrajudicial murders by the US government are ok. No, they aren’t! End of convo.
January 3, 2026 at 2:01 PM
People are going to try and lure you into debates about whether Maduro was a good guy or not and the thing is, it doesn’t matter for the purposes of discussing whether violent kidnappings and extrajudicial murders by the US government are ok. No, they aren’t! End of convo.
It's a stick-up, a heist, pure and simple.
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
Trump: "We're going to have our very large United States oil companies go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure and start making money for the country. And we are ready to stage a second and much larger attack if we need to do so."
January 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
It's a stick-up, a heist, pure and simple.
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
#ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles
There was a lot of shit talked about Ukraine and elections that is about to come home to roost, never mind the pardoning of Hernández from Honduras, who was convicted of similar crimes (in a US court, no less!) to what Maduro is apparently to be accused of ...
Trump on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition"
January 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
There was a lot of shit talked about Ukraine and elections that is about to come home to roost, never mind the pardoning of Hernández from Honduras, who was convicted of similar crimes (in a US court, no less!) to what Maduro is apparently to be accused of ...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Remember how in 80s movies, especially family movies, the villains were often property developers.
And, somewhere along the way, they stopped being depicted as the bad guys.
Just thought that was interesting.
And, somewhere along the way, they stopped being depicted as the bad guys.
Just thought that was interesting.
January 3, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Remember how in 80s movies, especially family movies, the villains were often property developers.
And, somewhere along the way, they stopped being depicted as the bad guys.
Just thought that was interesting.
And, somewhere along the way, they stopped being depicted as the bad guys.
Just thought that was interesting.
Oh right.
Trump on Venezuela: "We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition"
January 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Oh right.
After yet another gullible display of boot-licking in December culminating in the international embarrassment that was giving FIFA's "peace price" to a sexual predator and insurrectionist, does Gianni Infantino have any choice but to resign?
January 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
After yet another gullible display of boot-licking in December culminating in the international embarrassment that was giving FIFA's "peace price" to a sexual predator and insurrectionist, does Gianni Infantino have any choice but to resign?
No.
Are you interested in a future fight between Katie Taylor and Holly Holm? 🥊
📰 mma-fighting.visitlink.me/Y-gqUW
📰 mma-fighting.visitlink.me/Y-gqUW
January 3, 2026 at 4:35 PM
No.
Lol
Global reaction to the US operation in Venezuela has been focused on the ramifications for international law.
jrnl.ie/6917013t
jrnl.ie/6917013t
Global reaction to US operation in Venezuela focused on ramifications for international law
Helen McEntee, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, has called for respect of international law principles.
jrnl.ie
January 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Lol
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Big congrats to the Nobel Committee for awarding the prize "for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy" just so she could immediately conspire with a foreign government to murder civilians on the high seas then invade and stage a coup.
I feel like the history of western imperialism is often like this, where there's an almost-plausible case for resource-grabbing, an almost plausible geopolitical explanation (first Caracas, then Havana), and a sort of liberal imperialist fig leaf to keep democrats from being too mad (the Nobel shit)
January 3, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Big congrats to the Nobel Committee for awarding the prize "for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy" just so she could immediately conspire with a foreign government to murder civilians on the high seas then invade and stage a coup.
As spineless as they come.
I have spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and our Ambassador in Caracas. The EU is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela.
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. (1/2)
January 3, 2026 at 12:31 PM
As spineless as they come.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Samarbete mellan Fifas och Nobels fredspristagare. www.nrk.no/urix/eksplos...
Eksplosjoner hørt i Venezuelas hovedstad Caracas
Venezuelas regjering sier at USA har gjennomført angrep flere steder i landet.
www.nrk.no
January 3, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Samarbete mellan Fifas och Nobels fredspristagare. www.nrk.no/urix/eksplos...
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
On a serious note, why should Gianni Infantino get away with this?
How can his position not be under the utmost scrutiny? What mechanism is there for him to be removed after his pathetic display of obsequiousness is shown to be the outright sham we all knew it to be?
Football deserves better.
How can his position not be under the utmost scrutiny? What mechanism is there for him to be removed after his pathetic display of obsequiousness is shown to be the outright sham we all knew it to be?
Football deserves better.
I woke up to see the news. I am aghast.
I can't believe the FIFA peace prize has been disrespected like this. Is nothing sacred anymore?
I can't believe the FIFA peace prize has been disrespected like this. Is nothing sacred anymore?
January 3, 2026 at 9:01 AM
On a serious note, why should Gianni Infantino get away with this?
How can his position not be under the utmost scrutiny? What mechanism is there for him to be removed after his pathetic display of obsequiousness is shown to be the outright sham we all knew it to be?
Football deserves better.
How can his position not be under the utmost scrutiny? What mechanism is there for him to be removed after his pathetic display of obsequiousness is shown to be the outright sham we all knew it to be?
Football deserves better.
The peace president just started another war, someone rouse Gianni.
BREAKING: Venezuela’s government has accused the US of launching attacks on civilian and military installations across several states, rejecting what it described as a "military aggression," according to an official statement.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/p3fqh2
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/p3fqh2
January 3, 2026 at 8:59 AM
The peace president just started another war, someone rouse Gianni.
Yeah, no.
January 3, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Yeah, no.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
What’s more absurd than Israel blocking aid organizations from Gaza is the fact that it’s accepted that Israel should have the power to decide how the people of Palestine live. Every story is framed as if it’s normal and natural for them to rule over another people like that.
January 2, 2026 at 9:35 PM
What’s more absurd than Israel blocking aid organizations from Gaza is the fact that it’s accepted that Israel should have the power to decide how the people of Palestine live. Every story is framed as if it’s normal and natural for them to rule over another people like that.
It literally only applies to foreigners Jon.
Requiring long term immigrants to learn the language of the country they are moving to within three years doesn’t sound particularly racist?
January 3, 2026 at 12:08 AM
It literally only applies to foreigners Jon.
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
The first things you learn in journalism school
•love America
•never apologize for it
•love America
•never apologize for it
January 2, 2026 at 11:38 PM
The first things you learn in journalism school
•love America
•never apologize for it
•love America
•never apologize for it
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
One of the more racist laws from Sweden's racist government came into force on Jan 1 - you have three years to learn Swedish from the moment you enroll in the state program, after that they cut you off.
And these monoglot wankers have the balls to talk about "integration ... " 🙄
And these monoglot wankers have the balls to talk about "integration ... " 🙄
January 2, 2026 at 11:14 PM
One of the more racist laws from Sweden's racist government came into force on Jan 1 - you have three years to learn Swedish from the moment you enroll in the state program, after that they cut you off.
And these monoglot wankers have the balls to talk about "integration ... " 🙄
And these monoglot wankers have the balls to talk about "integration ... " 🙄
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Reposted by Philip O'Connor
Want to be a better writer in 2026?
You'll be AMAZED at these 5 simple bits of clickb
Oh. Is this thing on?
You'll be AMAZED at these 5 simple bits of clickb
Oh. Is this thing on?
5 Easy Pieces
[your copyeditorial resolutions for 2026]
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Want to be a better writer in 2026?
You'll be AMAZED at these 5 simple bits of clickb
Oh. Is this thing on?
You'll be AMAZED at these 5 simple bits of clickb
Oh. Is this thing on?
ICYMI, @learnandsing.bsky.social does a wonderful podcast, "To Here Knows When," which deep-dives into great Irish albums from the past, interviewing those who made them.
It's an incredible treasure-trove of stories, so dip in and check them out.
open.spotify.com/show/0lGWXdN...
It's an incredible treasure-trove of stories, so dip in and check them out.
open.spotify.com/show/0lGWXdN...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:29 PM
ICYMI, @learnandsing.bsky.social does a wonderful podcast, "To Here Knows When," which deep-dives into great Irish albums from the past, interviewing those who made them.
It's an incredible treasure-trove of stories, so dip in and check them out.
open.spotify.com/show/0lGWXdN...
It's an incredible treasure-trove of stories, so dip in and check them out.
open.spotify.com/show/0lGWXdN...