Svenja O'Donnell
@svenjaodonnell.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, editor. Reformed lobby hack. Owned by dachshund.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Reading about the rapid collapse of Eastern European governments in 1989 as completely rotten and corrupt leaderships disintegrated when people realised fear was all that was holding them up. Apropos of nothing.
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reading about the rapid collapse of Eastern European governments in 1989 as completely rotten and corrupt leaderships disintegrated when people realised fear was all that was holding them up. Apropos of nothing.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
The answer to this question is that British people could discuss this question till the end of time and not be done.
Could someone explain to me what is meant when a British person refers to "the middle class" ? Like, in the US, as I hear it, it basically just means a person who makes a certain amount of money, not too far below and not wildly above the median. Seems like a complex concept when UK writers use it?
November 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The answer to this question is that British people could discuss this question till the end of time and not be done.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
I wish I could write this fast.
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I wish I could write this fast.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Maybe Nigel Farage should refuse to appear on the BBC in protest.
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Maybe Nigel Farage should refuse to appear on the BBC in protest.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
This is an outstanding post on the criminal justice system. Do read.
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Flashing Red
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list"
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:22 AM
This is an outstanding post on the criminal justice system. Do read.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
November 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Glad that someone has finally taken responsibility for the appalling assault on democracy that was the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Slightly confused that it's the Director-General of the BBC, but what do I know?
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Another huge victory for mad shrieking about irrelevant rubbish
November 9, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Another huge victory for mad shrieking about irrelevant rubbish
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
There's lots to be written and read about Jim Crow in the US army in WW2. But this is good on how local Brits often refused to accept it.
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
“They treated us royally” The experiences of black Americans in Britain during the Second World War
During the Second World War, about 1.5 million American servicemen and women visited British shores. Around 150,000 of the US troops who came to Britain were black. Their arrival was heralded as a ‘fr...
share.google
November 9, 2025 at 11:49 AM
There's lots to be written and read about Jim Crow in the US army in WW2. But this is good on how local Brits often refused to accept it.
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
Experiences Of Black Americans In Britain During World War 2 share.google/39ZYPKITB1c9...
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Where's your fucking poppy
November 9, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Where's your fucking poppy
How many more bloody nights of fireworks does my poor dog have to endure?
November 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM
How many more bloody nights of fireworks does my poor dog have to endure?
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
perfect, no notes
Kwasi Kwarteng, the former UK chancellor whose infamous “mini” Budget under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss triggered a crisis in the gilts market, is backing the launch of a bitcoin investment company.
www.ft.com/content/c5a6...
www.ft.com/content/c5a6...
Former UK chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng backs bitcoin investment company
Ex-politician infamous for 2022 mini-Budget will become non-executive director of Stack Bitcoin Treasury
www.ft.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
perfect, no notes
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 AM
this is actually impressive, making up a brand new nobel peace prize replacement is a genuine innovation in bribery
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
absolutely nobody does corruption like FIFA
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Every single woman you know has had this happen to her. Even the goddamn president of Mexico.
Brava: “If I don’t file a complaint, then what message does that send to all Mexican women?” Ms. Sheinbaum said at her daily news conference, noting sexual harassment was a crime… “If this can happen to the president, what’s going to happen to all the young women & women across our country?”
Mexico’s President Presses Charges Against Man Who Groped Her on the Street
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Every single woman you know has had this happen to her. Even the goddamn president of Mexico.
YES!!!!
November 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM
YES!!!!
I rushed my dog, who is not, to put it mildly, a stoic, to a specialist vet for a £2.5k CT scan (thank god for insurance). Turns out there is nothing at all wrong save for a “slightly sprained” muscle. But she still welcomes all your treats and strokes.
November 4, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I rushed my dog, who is not, to put it mildly, a stoic, to a specialist vet for a £2.5k CT scan (thank god for insurance). Turns out there is nothing at all wrong save for a “slightly sprained” muscle. But she still welcomes all your treats and strokes.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
spread Samir Zitouni’s name far and wide
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
spread Samir Zitouni’s name far and wide
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Good news and fluffy owlets from our team in the South West!
Working closely with the West Cornwall Ringing Group, our ranger team has recorded the most successful barn owl breeding season in Cornwall. A total of 21 chicks were raised, a clear sign of a thriving population.
Working closely with the West Cornwall Ringing Group, our ranger team has recorded the most successful barn owl breeding season in Cornwall. A total of 21 chicks were raised, a clear sign of a thriving population.
November 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Good news and fluffy owlets from our team in the South West!
Working closely with the West Cornwall Ringing Group, our ranger team has recorded the most successful barn owl breeding season in Cornwall. A total of 21 chicks were raised, a clear sign of a thriving population.
Working closely with the West Cornwall Ringing Group, our ranger team has recorded the most successful barn owl breeding season in Cornwall. A total of 21 chicks were raised, a clear sign of a thriving population.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Let's normalize going to the women's bathroom to get relationship advice
November 2, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Let's normalize going to the women's bathroom to get relationship advice
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Taken from Facebook, but I love this.
This is how to do diplomacy.
This is how to do diplomacy.
November 2, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Taken from Facebook, but I love this.
This is how to do diplomacy.
This is how to do diplomacy.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
Sigh. Fireworks season is upon us, when my brave little dog decides she needs to confront the scary noises head on.
November 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Sigh. Fireworks season is upon us, when my brave little dog decides she needs to confront the scary noises head on.
Reposted by Svenja O'Donnell
You can't make this up.
November 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
You can't make this up.