Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
@thestephenralph.bsky.social
🐦 exile
Retired Radiographer, English Scot, #Behçets ♿️ #RejoinEU 🇪🇺 #FBPE #FBPEGlobal #SlavaUkraini #NAFO #StandWithUkraine️ 🌻 #VoteBlue 💙 #Antifa #Mindfulness #Ambient #Badgers #Dementia #EVdriver He/Him 🖖🏻
Retired Radiographer, English Scot, #Behçets ♿️ #RejoinEU 🇪🇺 #FBPE #FBPEGlobal #SlavaUkraini #NAFO #StandWithUkraine️ 🌻 #VoteBlue 💙 #Antifa #Mindfulness #Ambient #Badgers #Dementia #EVdriver He/Him 🖖🏻
Pinned
In the ruined turbine hall of a DTEK power station, shattered by russian attacks, a choir sings Shchedryk.
Truly, a performance worth a million words 💔
Truly, a performance worth a million words 💔
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Darren Jones epitomises the useless and vapid nature of this government. Of course it’s for politicians to make judgments around international law!
When did it become ok for one country to attack another sovereign country and capture its leader without an official declaration of war or UN approval?
When did it become ok for one country to attack another sovereign country and capture its leader without an official declaration of war or UN approval?
BREAKING: “You must have a view about whether this was lawful?” - Trevor Philips Sky News
“It’s not for politicians to make judgments around international law” - Darren Jones Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister
“It’s not for politicians to make judgments around international law” - Darren Jones Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister
January 4, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Darren Jones epitomises the useless and vapid nature of this government. Of course it’s for politicians to make judgments around international law!
When did it become ok for one country to attack another sovereign country and capture its leader without an official declaration of war or UN approval?
When did it become ok for one country to attack another sovereign country and capture its leader without an official declaration of war or UN approval?
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Edited for accuracy
January 4, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Edited for accuracy
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
For reference,the original cartoon from 1900: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_...
“Political cartoon by Louis Dalrymple about U.S. expansionism; Uncle Sam straddles the Americas while wielding a big stick inscribed with the words "Monroe Doctrine 1824–1905". The stick is a metaphor for military force”
“Political cartoon by Louis Dalrymple about U.S. expansionism; Uncle Sam straddles the Americas while wielding a big stick inscribed with the words "Monroe Doctrine 1824–1905". The stick is a metaphor for military force”
January 4, 2026 at 10:57 AM
For reference,the original cartoon from 1900: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_...
“Political cartoon by Louis Dalrymple about U.S. expansionism; Uncle Sam straddles the Americas while wielding a big stick inscribed with the words "Monroe Doctrine 1824–1905". The stick is a metaphor for military force”
“Political cartoon by Louis Dalrymple about U.S. expansionism; Uncle Sam straddles the Americas while wielding a big stick inscribed with the words "Monroe Doctrine 1824–1905". The stick is a metaphor for military force”
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
A post by the spouse of a key White House adviser (Stephen Miller)
January 4, 2026 at 1:25 AM
A post by the spouse of a key White House adviser (Stephen Miller)
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
January 4, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
A post shared by the US Defence Secretary
January 4, 2026 at 1:24 AM
A post shared by the US Defence Secretary
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Why would anyone in their right minds move here from Denmark or Switzerland? For this ⬇️ kind of life?
January 4, 2026 at 10:42 AM
Why would anyone in their right minds move here from Denmark or Switzerland? For this ⬇️ kind of life?
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
In which Mumsnet women persuade each other that voting Reform will give the establishment “a kick in the arse”
Oh well done, you lot. Brexit again. Falling for the con and risking it all, cos that’ll teach them.
It won’t. It’ll just ruin life for everyone. Your children most of all.
(Sunday Times)
Oh well done, you lot. Brexit again. Falling for the con and risking it all, cos that’ll teach them.
It won’t. It’ll just ruin life for everyone. Your children most of all.
(Sunday Times)
January 4, 2026 at 9:28 AM
In which Mumsnet women persuade each other that voting Reform will give the establishment “a kick in the arse”
Oh well done, you lot. Brexit again. Falling for the con and risking it all, cos that’ll teach them.
It won’t. It’ll just ruin life for everyone. Your children most of all.
(Sunday Times)
Oh well done, you lot. Brexit again. Falling for the con and risking it all, cos that’ll teach them.
It won’t. It’ll just ruin life for everyone. Your children most of all.
(Sunday Times)
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Doomscrolling break...
Christmas decorations were left up until 2nd February in medieval England - otherwise known as Candlemas
Christmas decorations were left up until 2nd February in medieval England - otherwise known as Candlemas
Why you should leave up your Christmas decorations until February
To bring cheer to the winter months, follow medieval tradition and keep your Christmas decorations up until 2 February
www.english-heritage.org.uk
January 4, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Doomscrolling break...
Christmas decorations were left up until 2nd February in medieval England - otherwise known as Candlemas
Christmas decorations were left up until 2nd February in medieval England - otherwise known as Candlemas
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
January 3, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Hey America, just a reminder, you impeached Clinton for having his winky sucked. Perhaps there is something in the corruption, breaking international law, bombing another country, kidnapping, extrajudicial killing, rendering us citizens to foreign jails, alleged child rape, taking bribes, lying…
January 4, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Hey America, just a reminder, you impeached Clinton for having his winky sucked. Perhaps there is something in the corruption, breaking international law, bombing another country, kidnapping, extrajudicial killing, rendering us citizens to foreign jails, alleged child rape, taking bribes, lying…
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
This is now when nothing has actually gone wrong yet. Wait for when the roadside bombs start.
Jan 3 poll of 1,902 U.S. adults (+/-2.8 points)
% who support | oppose the U.S. running Venezuela following the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro
U.S. adults 34% | 41%
Democrats 16% | 64%
Independents 26% | 43%
Republicans 60% | 16%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
% who support | oppose the U.S. running Venezuela following the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro
U.S. adults 34% | 41%
Democrats 16% | 64%
Independents 26% | 43%
Republicans 60% | 16%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
January 4, 2026 at 10:56 AM
This is now when nothing has actually gone wrong yet. Wait for when the roadside bombs start.
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
It's all about the oil. But the world doesn't need Venezuelan oil right now.
Trump is probably focused on the money he wrongly thinks he'll make from Venezuelan oil. But he's not a details guy and nobody has thought through the details. Essentially, the US has taken over Venezuela by mistake. Stranger things have happened, but not many.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
Stranger Things
The 1980s Nostalgia of Trump's Foreign Policy is probably going to end up, like Stranger Things, as a horror show.
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:51 AM
It's all about the oil. But the world doesn't need Venezuelan oil right now.
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Apart from everything else, invading a country for oil in 2026 is somewhat like doing so for horses in 1931.
“We can secure access to additional wealth and resources, allowing the country to unlock them without spilling American blood,” said U.S. Defense Secretary (Secretary of War) Pete Hegseth, highlighting the strategic and economic rationale behind the Venezuela operation.
January 4, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Apart from everything else, invading a country for oil in 2026 is somewhat like doing so for horses in 1931.
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Darren Jones truly woeful on Times Radio right now. Managing to sound both condescending and craven.
Answering “I’m not a commentator” when asked to comment on the legality of the USA’s actions in Venezuela just comes across terribly. The government would’ve been better just putting no one up.
Answering “I’m not a commentator” when asked to comment on the legality of the USA’s actions in Venezuela just comes across terribly. The government would’ve been better just putting no one up.
January 4, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Darren Jones truly woeful on Times Radio right now. Managing to sound both condescending and craven.
Answering “I’m not a commentator” when asked to comment on the legality of the USA’s actions in Venezuela just comes across terribly. The government would’ve been better just putting no one up.
Answering “I’m not a commentator” when asked to comment on the legality of the USA’s actions in Venezuela just comes across terribly. The government would’ve been better just putting no one up.
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
*freeze frame* *record scratch*
Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here...
Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here...
January 4, 2026 at 11:01 AM
*freeze frame* *record scratch*
Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here...
Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here...
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Trump:
“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein's list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen & threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil."
“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein's list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen & threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil."
January 4, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Trump:
“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein's list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen & threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil."
“A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy. To keep Epstein's list from coming out, they send warships to kill fishermen & threaten our neighbor with invasion for their oil."
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
"We all recall the insecurities that defined our teenage years. Today’s cohort enters an online world specifically designed to prey on these fears," writes Joshua Edwicker.
https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/the-weaponisation-of-young-mens-frustration
https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/the-weaponisation-of-young-mens-frustration
January 4, 2026 at 10:25 AM
"We all recall the insecurities that defined our teenage years. Today’s cohort enters an online world specifically designed to prey on these fears," writes Joshua Edwicker.
https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/the-weaponisation-of-young-mens-frustration
https://bestforbritain.substack.com/p/the-weaponisation-of-young-mens-frustration
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Spain gets it right here. Trump is not to be trusted in terms of his motives for the US action. He can prove us all wrong by immediately taking the steps to change Venezuela back into a democratic state but the noises coming from the White House don’t exactly demonstrate this intention, do they?
Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez is 1st European leader to make a stronger statement following Trump's press conference where he said the US will run Venezuela and take its oil.
Sanchez has been ostracised by other 🇪🇺 leaders for his past criticism of Trump. Will they listen to him now?
Sanchez has been ostracised by other 🇪🇺 leaders for his past criticism of Trump. Will they listen to him now?
January 4, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Spain gets it right here. Trump is not to be trusted in terms of his motives for the US action. He can prove us all wrong by immediately taking the steps to change Venezuela back into a democratic state but the noises coming from the White House don’t exactly demonstrate this intention, do they?
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
BREAKING: “What is becoming increasingly apparent is the falsehoods that were peddled by Nigel Farage and others at the time of the Brexit referendum…all you had to do was leave the EU & you would have £350m a week for your NHS, well it hasn’t materialised”
PM Keir Starmer
PM Keir Starmer
January 4, 2026 at 10:07 AM
BREAKING: “What is becoming increasingly apparent is the falsehoods that were peddled by Nigel Farage and others at the time of the Brexit referendum…all you had to do was leave the EU & you would have £350m a week for your NHS, well it hasn’t materialised”
PM Keir Starmer
PM Keir Starmer
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Bent
REP. GOLDMAN: “Trump promised oil executives if they gave him $1 billion for his campaign, he’d do right by them. They gave about $500 million. This is a massive gift in violation of international law, essentially just co-opting an entire country's natural resources for the benefit of 🇺🇸 Companies.”
January 4, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Bent
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Epstein disclosures raise key question: why wasn’t he stopped earlier?
Epstein disclosures raise key question: why wasn’t he stopped earlier?
New documents reveal numerous missed opportunities as experts and victims condemn US authorities’ failures
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Epstein disclosures raise key question: why wasn’t he stopped earlier?
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Managers of Swiss bar where fire killed 40 during New Year's event face criminal investigation
Managers of Swiss bar where fire killed 40 during New Year's event face criminal investigation
The two managers of a Swiss bar where at least 40 people were killed in a devastating fire have been put under criminal investigation.
news.sky.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Managers of Swiss bar where fire killed 40 during New Year's event face criminal investigation
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Venezuelans around the US celebrated the downfall of Nicolás Maduro, expressing hope for the future of their country even as uncertainty swirls after the longtime leader’s forced removal and arrest by US forces.
Venezuelans in US Rejoice at Maduro Exit Even as Doubts Remain
Venezuelans around the US celebrated the downfall of Nicolás Maduro, expressing hope for the future of their country even as uncertainty swirls after the longtime leader’s forced removal and arrest by US forces.
bloom.bg
January 3, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Venezuelans around the US celebrated the downfall of Nicolás Maduro, expressing hope for the future of their country even as uncertainty swirls after the longtime leader’s forced removal and arrest by US forces.
Reposted by Stephen 🔶🌹💚 🏴 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
Wolf supermoon across the world – in pictures
Wolf supermoon across the world – in pictures
According to Nasa, a supermoon occurs when the moon, due to its proximity to Earth, appears up to 15% larger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Wolf supermoon across the world – in pictures