Stephen England
@stephenengland.bsky.social
Writer, Novelist, Raconteur - International bestselling author of the #ShadowWarriors and #LionofGod thrillers
Pinned
Greetings, BlueSky. Who am I and why am I here? Short version: I'm an American thriller novelist with a lifelong interest in the culture and history of the Middle East, a former conservative who has been politically homeless for nearly a decade, and who prefers his social media with fewer Nazis.
Reposted by Stephen England
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
February 7, 2026 at 10:25 PM
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
Reposted by Stephen England
ME: yeah could i get the impossible burger with cheese.
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
June 2, 2025 at 3:32 AM
ME: yeah could i get the impossible burger with cheese.
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
THE VIZIER WHO'S BEEN ADVISING ME: ahh, an excellent choice sire. an imitation of the genuine article. there are some "friends" of yours to whom it bears a passing similarity
ME: you want anything
VIZIER: [chuckles] what i want is of no import
Reposted by Stephen England
Written from inside a dark, freezing #Kyiv, POLITICO’s Ukraine correspondent Veronika Melkozerova’s "Survival guide to the Kremlin’s winter of terror in Kyiv" is painfully literal (link below).
Kyiv is enduring one of its harshest winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Kyiv is enduring one of its harshest winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
January 29, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Written from inside a dark, freezing #Kyiv, POLITICO’s Ukraine correspondent Veronika Melkozerova’s "Survival guide to the Kremlin’s winter of terror in Kyiv" is painfully literal (link below).
Kyiv is enduring one of its harshest winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Kyiv is enduring one of its harshest winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Reposted by Stephen England
On January 29, 🇺🇦Ukraine honors the memory of the Heroes of Kruty — young men who in 1918 stood up for Ukrainian statehood, fighting against an overwhelming enemy force and sacrificing their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine
The struggle continues.
And now its outcome is in our hands!
The struggle continues.
And now its outcome is in our hands!
January 29, 2026 at 4:05 PM
On January 29, 🇺🇦Ukraine honors the memory of the Heroes of Kruty — young men who in 1918 stood up for Ukrainian statehood, fighting against an overwhelming enemy force and sacrificing their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine
The struggle continues.
And now its outcome is in our hands!
The struggle continues.
And now its outcome is in our hands!
Reposted by Stephen England
It's 410 CE, and I'm your podcast host, Rossus Douthaticus. I'm here with Alaric the Visigoth, who recently sacked the Eternal City.
Alaric, why do you think people have lost faith in Rome? Is it a crisis of liberalism? Is it because of the feminization of the workplace?
Alaric, why do you think people have lost faith in Rome? Is it a crisis of liberalism? Is it because of the feminization of the workplace?
January 29, 2026 at 3:24 PM
It's 410 CE, and I'm your podcast host, Rossus Douthaticus. I'm here with Alaric the Visigoth, who recently sacked the Eternal City.
Alaric, why do you think people have lost faith in Rome? Is it a crisis of liberalism? Is it because of the feminization of the workplace?
Alaric, why do you think people have lost faith in Rome? Is it a crisis of liberalism? Is it because of the feminization of the workplace?
Reposted by Stephen England
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Saw a post earlier about how these "defenders of Western civ" rarely read the foundational texts they claim to defend--reminded me of a conversation with a conservative blogger a few years back, where I asked her essentially that: "What have you read from these 'Great Books' you advocate?" 1/3
January 28, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Saw a post earlier about how these "defenders of Western civ" rarely read the foundational texts they claim to defend--reminded me of a conversation with a conservative blogger a few years back, where I asked her essentially that: "What have you read from these 'Great Books' you advocate?" 1/3
Apparently MAGA stood for "Measles Are Great Again."
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Apparently MAGA stood for "Measles Are Great Again."
Reposted by Stephen England
Holy shit, there's an open carry #2A protest of ICE happening in Douglas County Colorado -- a very wealthy and very red suburb county of Denver. (I lived there for 16 years.) The Trump Administration pissing off committed gun owners sufficiently for them to join the protests against ICE is wild.
January 28, 2026 at 1:59 AM
Holy shit, there's an open carry #2A protest of ICE happening in Douglas County Colorado -- a very wealthy and very red suburb county of Denver. (I lived there for 16 years.) The Trump Administration pissing off committed gun owners sufficiently for them to join the protests against ICE is wild.
Reposted by Stephen England
English translation of statement from Ecuadorian Consulate regarding ICE’s attempt to enter their building in Minneapolis today:
January 27, 2026 at 11:53 PM
English translation of statement from Ecuadorian Consulate regarding ICE’s attempt to enter their building in Minneapolis today:
Reposted by Stephen England
A thread of MAGA protesting with guns and not getting murdered for it...
Arizona, November 2020
Arizona, November 2020
January 25, 2026 at 10:22 PM
A thread of MAGA protesting with guns and not getting murdered for it...
Arizona, November 2020
Arizona, November 2020
It really says a lot about the caliber of people in this administration that they're replacing Hugo Boss cosplay dude with the subject of a bribery investigation.
January 27, 2026 at 4:26 AM
It really says a lot about the caliber of people in this administration that they're replacing Hugo Boss cosplay dude with the subject of a bribery investigation.
I can see two completely different and distinct ways of pronouncing the name of this app. 🤔
January 26, 2026 at 5:04 AM
I can see two completely different and distinct ways of pronouncing the name of this app. 🤔
Well, it certainly looks like 2026 is going to be the year where the President's old "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" boast gets fully test driven.
January 25, 2026 at 3:54 AM
Well, it certainly looks like 2026 is going to be the year where the President's old "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" boast gets fully test driven.
Reposted by Stephen England
This is the best scene in the whole movie, marking a change in the action. Rick starts to stick his neck out. #Casablanca #TCMParty
a black and white photo of a man standing in a crowded restaurant .
ALT: a black and white photo of a man standing in a crowded restaurant .
media.tenor.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:17 AM
This is the best scene in the whole movie, marking a change in the action. Rick starts to stick his neck out. #Casablanca #TCMParty
Cue Casablanca: "We haven't quite decided yet whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape."
I grew up hearing stories from my father about how folks abducted by Franco’s secret police would routinely “escape” to the roof of police HQ and “commit suicide.” The obviousness of the lie was itself an intimidation tactic.
"agents told hospital staff that Castaneda Mondragon ... 'purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall.'”
January 21, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Cue Casablanca: "We haven't quite decided yet whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape."
Reposted by Stephen England
Amidst the fixation with semiconductors and geopolitics, how did Taiwan become a center of global electronics? Who were the people that powered its rise, and what happens when the tinkerer becomes the tycoon?
I review Honghong Tinn's Island Tinkerers @thenation.com:
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
I review Honghong Tinn's Island Tinkerers @thenation.com:
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
How Taiwan Became the Chipmaker for the World
A new book tells the story of the island-nation’s transformation into a central hub for technological development and manufacturing.
www.thenation.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Amidst the fixation with semiconductors and geopolitics, how did Taiwan become a center of global electronics? Who were the people that powered its rise, and what happens when the tinkerer becomes the tycoon?
I review Honghong Tinn's Island Tinkerers @thenation.com:
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
I review Honghong Tinn's Island Tinkerers @thenation.com:
www.thenation.com/article/worl...
Reposted by Stephen England
The Greenland slogan is funny, but the hats definitely made us do a double take at first we thought they were MAGA gear. It actually stands for Make America Go Away.
January 18, 2026 at 10:14 PM
The Greenland slogan is funny, but the hats definitely made us do a double take at first we thought they were MAGA gear. It actually stands for Make America Go Away.
A great article analyzing how this boondoggle may impact the US Navy going forward.
My analysis of the Trump-class "battleship" is out!
(TL;DR please just build more destroyers)
www.fpri.org/article/2026...
(TL;DR please just build more destroyers)
www.fpri.org/article/2026...
The Trump-Class Battleship: Spectacle Wins Out Over Combat Power - Foreign Policy Research Institute
After finishing my last article on the inability of the US Navy to build frigates, I was hopeful that I could have a bit of a break before the next crisis in
www.fpri.org
January 17, 2026 at 12:03 AM
A great article analyzing how this boondoggle may impact the US Navy going forward.
Reposted by Stephen England
Reposted by Stephen England
Absolutely delighted to be featured not once, but twice (!) on the peerless spy website, podcast and community Spybrary today!
First up, here I am in conversation with new Spybrary post Bryan Boling about A Reluctant Spy:
spybrary.com/david-goodma...
First up, here I am in conversation with new Spybrary post Bryan Boling about A Reluctant Spy:
spybrary.com/david-goodma...
A Reluctant Spy with Author David Goodman : Spybrary - Discover the Best Spy Books, Spy Movies, TV and More With Spybrary
David Goodman joins Spybrary to discuss his debut novel, A Reluctant Spy, modern espionage fiction and writing realistic spy thrillers
spybrary.com
January 15, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Absolutely delighted to be featured not once, but twice (!) on the peerless spy website, podcast and community Spybrary today!
First up, here I am in conversation with new Spybrary post Bryan Boling about A Reluctant Spy:
spybrary.com/david-goodma...
First up, here I am in conversation with new Spybrary post Bryan Boling about A Reluctant Spy:
spybrary.com/david-goodma...
Reposted by Stephen England
Inside the PLA’s Instant Messaging Ecosystem – China Technosphere: ‘In order to rein in soldiers’ internet behavior, the PLA maintains backdoors into their phones to peek inside, which of course undermines encryption. And if the PLA can read soldier communications – so can others.’
Why PLA Instant Messengers Are and Will Remain Insecure
China: Technosphere provides a biweekly deep-dive into China’s technological control at home and influence abroad.
https://chinatechnosphere.substack.com/p/pla-instant-messengers-security-vs?r=2ph69m&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay&triedRedirect=true‘In
January 15, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Inside the PLA’s Instant Messaging Ecosystem – China Technosphere: ‘In order to rein in soldiers’ internet behavior, the PLA maintains backdoors into their phones to peek inside, which of course undermines encryption. And if the PLA can read soldier communications – so can others.’
Reposted by Stephen England
How the PLA is reading a surprise attack on India
chinapower.csis.org/analysis/pla...
chinapower.csis.org/analysis/pla...
A ‘Cold Start’ Military Posture with Chinese Characteristics | ChinaPower Project
In this guest authored analysis, Suyash Desai explores the Chinese military's progress toward a "cold start" posture.
chinapower.csis.org
January 14, 2026 at 3:51 AM
How the PLA is reading a surprise attack on India
chinapower.csis.org/analysis/pla...
chinapower.csis.org/analysis/pla...
Reposted by Stephen England
NEW: The Iranian regime has shifted from labeling protesters as “rioters” to describing them as “terrorists,” which signals that the regime has taken an uncompromising stance toward the ongoing protests. (1/4)
Iran Update, January 10, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...
Iran Update, January 10, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...
January 11, 2026 at 1:41 AM
NEW: The Iranian regime has shifted from labeling protesters as “rioters” to describing them as “terrorists,” which signals that the regime has taken an uncompromising stance toward the ongoing protests. (1/4)
Iran Update, January 10, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...
Iran Update, January 10, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...
Reposted by Stephen England
✒️ Ottoman Calligraphic Wall Panel Written in Gold Ink on a Dried Natural Leaf, Syria, 1900s "O my Lord, make it easy and do not make it difficult. O my Lord, complete it with goodness."
January 10, 2026 at 3:50 PM
✒️ Ottoman Calligraphic Wall Panel Written in Gold Ink on a Dried Natural Leaf, Syria, 1900s "O my Lord, make it easy and do not make it difficult. O my Lord, complete it with goodness."