Siobhán Dowling
@siobhandowling.bsky.social
Dubliner, Ex-Berliner, Editor at Internationale Politik Quarterly
@ipq.bsky.social. Doing an MPhil in literary translation at TCD. @tclctdublin.bsky.social she/her
@ipq.bsky.social. Doing an MPhil in literary translation at TCD. @tclctdublin.bsky.social she/her
Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt, shot in 1927 archive.org/details/berl...
Berlin: Symphony of a Great City : Walter Ruttmann : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
archive.org
January 6, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt, shot in 1927 archive.org/details/berl...
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
The deadline for applications to our Ten by Ten workshop is tomorrow, Tuesday 6th January at 5pm Irish time.
Make sure to read the submission guidelines and get your application in before the deadline. @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social
stingingfly.org/the-ten-by-t...
Make sure to read the submission guidelines and get your application in before the deadline. @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social
stingingfly.org/the-ten-by-t...
January 5, 2026 at 12:27 PM
The deadline for applications to our Ten by Ten workshop is tomorrow, Tuesday 6th January at 5pm Irish time.
Make sure to read the submission guidelines and get your application in before the deadline. @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social
stingingfly.org/the-ten-by-t...
Make sure to read the submission guidelines and get your application in before the deadline. @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social
stingingfly.org/the-ten-by-t...
Just registered for this conference on (mostly) German literature later this week at TCD. @langslitscultures.bsky.social
www.tickettailor.com/events/trini...
www.tickettailor.com/events/trini...
Select tickets – Writing on the Edge: Literary Transgression and Resistance around 1900 – The Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin
Writing on the Edge: Literary Transgression and Resistance around 1900 – The Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin, Thu 8 Jan 2026 - Fri 9 Jan 2026 - Literary change can be understood as the continuou...
www.tickettailor.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Just registered for this conference on (mostly) German literature later this week at TCD. @langslitscultures.bsky.social
www.tickettailor.com/events/trini...
www.tickettailor.com/events/trini...
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
"Vassal" talk is a bit much, but those Starmer (and other EU leaders tbf) statements read like all these people still believe, if we can just hold our breath for three more years, this nightmare will be over and we'll be back to singing Atlantic Kumbaya
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
WH sources say Venezuela's opposition leader committed the "ultimate sin": She accepted the Nobel Peace prize.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 5, 2026 at 3:02 AM
WH sources say Venezuela's opposition leader committed the "ultimate sin": She accepted the Nobel Peace prize.
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
“If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one said.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
“.. If what has happened in Caracas sets a new standard, those who praise the might of the American hammer while ignoring its dangers will bitterly regret their complacency when their own interests, just as arbitrarily, are crushed to dust.”
@lemonde.fr
www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/a...
@lemonde.fr
www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/a...
January 4, 2026 at 6:48 PM
“.. If what has happened in Caracas sets a new standard, those who praise the might of the American hammer while ignoring its dangers will bitterly regret their complacency when their own interests, just as arbitrarily, are crushed to dust.”
@lemonde.fr
www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/a...
@lemonde.fr
www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/a...
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
Prof @hcrichardson.bsky.social on why the Venezuela operation marks a huge crisis for the United States and the whole world:
“If you break all the internationally and nationally established rules to get rid of Maduro, you destroy the rules based world order and align the U.S. with Putin’s Russia.”
“If you break all the internationally and nationally established rules to get rid of Maduro, you destroy the rules based world order and align the U.S. with Putin’s Russia.”
Understanding the U.S. Strike on Venezuela | Explainer
YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson
www.youtube.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Prof @hcrichardson.bsky.social on why the Venezuela operation marks a huge crisis for the United States and the whole world:
“If you break all the internationally and nationally established rules to get rid of Maduro, you destroy the rules based world order and align the U.S. with Putin’s Russia.”
“If you break all the internationally and nationally established rules to get rid of Maduro, you destroy the rules based world order and align the U.S. with Putin’s Russia.”
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
January 4, 2026 at 2:36 AM
During Fiona Hill's testimony to Congress on Oct 14, 2019, she described how Trump and Putin discussed exchanging Ukraine for Venezuela. The quid pro quo was if Trump refuses to help Ukraine fight off a Russian invasion, Putin would not help Venezuela (a Russian ally) resist a US takeover.
Oona Hathaway, a professor at Yale Law School:
"what’s troubling here is not just that the President has used force in clear violation of domestic law and international law but that it’s clear he couldn’t care less about the fact that he’s breaking these rules."
"what’s troubling here is not just that the President has used force in clear violation of domestic law and international law but that it’s clear he couldn’t care less about the fact that he’s breaking these rules."
Paywall free version because it's worth reading if you're feeling gaslit by the rest of the media today: archive.is/202601032249...
January 3, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Oona Hathaway, a professor at Yale Law School:
"what’s troubling here is not just that the President has used force in clear violation of domestic law and international law but that it’s clear he couldn’t care less about the fact that he’s breaking these rules."
"what’s troubling here is not just that the President has used force in clear violation of domestic law and international law but that it’s clear he couldn’t care less about the fact that he’s breaking these rules."
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
1/2 Remember that the great disruptions of past 11 1/2 months are from the WHIM OF ONE MAN:
—Upheaval of world economy via tariffs
—Effective dissolution of longest-standing Western alliances (NATO, North Amer partners, cultural-scientific-educ-aid institutions, US "soft power" overall.)
—Now this.
—Upheaval of world economy via tariffs
—Effective dissolution of longest-standing Western alliances (NATO, North Amer partners, cultural-scientific-educ-aid institutions, US "soft power" overall.)
—Now this.
January 3, 2026 at 5:02 PM
1/2 Remember that the great disruptions of past 11 1/2 months are from the WHIM OF ONE MAN:
—Upheaval of world economy via tariffs
—Effective dissolution of longest-standing Western alliances (NATO, North Amer partners, cultural-scientific-educ-aid institutions, US "soft power" overall.)
—Now this.
—Upheaval of world economy via tariffs
—Effective dissolution of longest-standing Western alliances (NATO, North Amer partners, cultural-scientific-educ-aid institutions, US "soft power" overall.)
—Now this.
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
I’m not sure the world has ever seen a leader who was simultaneously so cruel and so terribly, terribly dumb
Trump posts footage of the Maduro raid set to "Fortunate Son" -- a protest song about the Vietnam War draft
January 3, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I’m not sure the world has ever seen a leader who was simultaneously so cruel and so terribly, terribly dumb
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
I’m thinking this morning about all the people I spoke to last year who were absolutely convinced, and tried to convince me, that Trump would be antiwar compared to Biden and Harris.
In the past week alone he has attacked Nigeria and then Venezuela and also threatened to attack Iran (again).
In the past week alone he has attacked Nigeria and then Venezuela and also threatened to attack Iran (again).
January 3, 2026 at 1:18 PM
I’m thinking this morning about all the people I spoke to last year who were absolutely convinced, and tried to convince me, that Trump would be antiwar compared to Biden and Harris.
In the past week alone he has attacked Nigeria and then Venezuela and also threatened to attack Iran (again).
In the past week alone he has attacked Nigeria and then Venezuela and also threatened to attack Iran (again).
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
I'm an international law scholar and I'm genuinely at a loss for words.
January 3, 2026 at 12:54 PM
I'm an international law scholar and I'm genuinely at a loss for words.
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
A Mad King has usurped the power of Congress—which represents the American people. That is, he has seized power that belongs to you and me collectively. He has declared war without consultation with or approval from Congress. And with no imminent threat. This is a profound betrayal of the republic.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 AM
A Mad King has usurped the power of Congress—which represents the American people. That is, he has seized power that belongs to you and me collectively. He has declared war without consultation with or approval from Congress. And with no imminent threat. This is a profound betrayal of the republic.
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
Worth noting the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has been encouraging Trump to do exactly this ever since she won the prize. Another one to add to the dismal record of that prize committee, too. bsky.app/profile/elio...
A very embarrassing moment for the FIFA Peace Prize committee
JUST IN: Trump says the U.S. has captured Maduro and his wife and flown them out of the country.
January 3, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Worth noting the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize has been encouraging Trump to do exactly this ever since she won the prize. Another one to add to the dismal record of that prize committee, too. bsky.app/profile/elio...
Kidnapping the leader of a foreign state without any declaration of war and announcing it via social media is full-on rogue state stuff. From the world’s number one superpower.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
Venezuela is a sovereign country, not a non-state actor. It is not developing any offensive capabilities that would threaten US safety. There has been no argument to Congress—the only entity that can declare war—that the United States must undertake military operations. This is beyond illegal.
Every representative, regardless of party. There’s a tendency to assume that Republicans are unbothered by public opinion. But if your federal representatives don’t object to this, they object to their own existence. There’s a non-partisan reason to reject this, and we should argue it.
Any D who doesn't push for impeachment should get primaried. This is it. No excuses. No more.
January 3, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Venezuela is a sovereign country, not a non-state actor. It is not developing any offensive capabilities that would threaten US safety. There has been no argument to Congress—the only entity that can declare war—that the United States must undertake military operations. This is beyond illegal.
"All of the shit we see every day, the AI dreck clogging up our browsers and enshittifying our online and real-world experiences, is merely what $700bn worth of seed capital buys you: a dog and pony show intended to fool credulous investors that all of this is going somewhere."
In what's now become an annual tradition, I've written another piece for The Gist about how and why I hate A.I.
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
On a bubble about to burst, a future rotted to its core, and the limits of the Mrs Doyle Theory of artificial intelligence.
www.thegist.ie/guest-gist-2...
Guest Gist: 2026, Our Already Rotting Future
Seamus O'Reilly warns of AI maximum bubbledrive this year.
www.thegist.ie
January 2, 2026 at 11:39 AM
"All of the shit we see every day, the AI dreck clogging up our browsers and enshittifying our online and real-world experiences, is merely what $700bn worth of seed capital buys you: a dog and pony show intended to fool credulous investors that all of this is going somewhere."
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
Fyodor Dostoevsky's manuscript draft of The Brothers Karamazov.
December 29, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Fyodor Dostoevsky's manuscript draft of The Brothers Karamazov.
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
Protests Erupt in Iran over Currency’s Collapse and Dire Economic Conditions
Protests Erupt in Iran over Currency's Collapse and Dire Economic Conditions
In Iran, protests erupted Monday over the country's falling currency and dire economic situation.
www.democracynow.org
December 30, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Protests Erupt in Iran over Currency’s Collapse and Dire Economic Conditions
Reposted by Siobhán Dowling
“Nostalgia (as much as it can be comforting) can be incredibly dangerous, b/c when nostalgia begins to seep into politics, it may persuade that you can get back to a world that never really existed & in doing so, fighting to restore a place that never was, can end up destroying the place that is.”
December 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“Nostalgia (as much as it can be comforting) can be incredibly dangerous, b/c when nostalgia begins to seep into politics, it may persuade that you can get back to a world that never really existed & in doing so, fighting to restore a place that never was, can end up destroying the place that is.”