Timothy Gassin
@timothygassin.bsky.social
Historian, former Chair of Oz Kiwi, and student of Hokkien/Taiwanese.
A Melbournian living in Wellington.
A Melbournian living in Wellington.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Disgraceful news: the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Festival Board is disinviting a writer because she is of Palestinian heritage. Another arts org trashes its reputation & makes other people pay for its decision. The choice for other invitees & people with tickets is very unfair. And very clear.
January 8, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Disgraceful news: the 2026 Adelaide Writers' Festival Board is disinviting a writer because she is of Palestinian heritage. Another arts org trashes its reputation & makes other people pay for its decision. The choice for other invitees & people with tickets is very unfair. And very clear.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
My statement regarding my decision to withdraw from this year’s Adelaide Writers Festival.
January 8, 2026 at 9:55 AM
My statement regarding my decision to withdraw from this year’s Adelaide Writers Festival.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
As a former Director of Adelaide Writers' Week I am appalled that the Adelaide Festival Board has rescinded Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah's invitation to the 2026 AWW, explicitly linking its decision to the shattering crimes in Bondi.
A shocking decision that will and should have far-reaching consequences.
A shocking decision that will and should have far-reaching consequences.
January 8, 2026 at 4:50 AM
As a former Director of Adelaide Writers' Week I am appalled that the Adelaide Festival Board has rescinded Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah's invitation to the 2026 AWW, explicitly linking its decision to the shattering crimes in Bondi.
A shocking decision that will and should have far-reaching consequences.
A shocking decision that will and should have far-reaching consequences.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Announcement by Adelaide Writers Festival cancelling invitation to Randa Abdel-
Fattah
Fattah
Adelaide Festival Board Statement
www.adelaidefestival.com.au
January 8, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Announcement by Adelaide Writers Festival cancelling invitation to Randa Abdel-
Fattah
Fattah
Apparently they have learnt nothing at all from what happened in relation to the Bendigo Writers Festival.
The silencing of those of Palestinian background is disgraceful and writers are right to boycott the event.
The silencing of those of Palestinian background is disgraceful and writers are right to boycott the event.
people are withdrawing from Adelaide writers week faster than can be reported. In addition to the names listed here are Ren Wyld, Emma Shortis, and Fiona Katsaukas. Important detail: the only creative, Stephen Page, has left the Adelaide Festival board.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Authors withdraw from festival after Palestinian Australian author dropped
After Randa Abdel-Fattah was dropped from Adelaide Writers' Week by the Adelaide Festival Board, a slew of authors, including Michelle de Kretser, have withdrawn from the event.
www.abc.net.au
January 8, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Apparently they have learnt nothing at all from what happened in relation to the Bendigo Writers Festival.
The silencing of those of Palestinian background is disgraceful and writers are right to boycott the event.
The silencing of those of Palestinian background is disgraceful and writers are right to boycott the event.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
"MMH has offloaded responsibility of deleting their old accounts onto the patients but many people get signed up to such portals by their GPs switching to the platform. It should not be patients’ responsibility to delete accounts if they did not individually get into a contract with the platform"
Manage My Health data breach – Expert Reaction
Manage My Health data breach - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre
Hackers have reportedly threatened to release the health information of over 120,000 Kiwis unless a ransom is paid by 5 am tomorrow. Manage My Health, which holds health information on over 1.8 million...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
January 8, 2026 at 4:29 AM
"MMH has offloaded responsibility of deleting their old accounts onto the patients but many people get signed up to such portals by their GPs switching to the platform. It should not be patients’ responsibility to delete accounts if they did not individually get into a contract with the platform"
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
ICE officer executed a woman.
The murder was filmed by observers. The woman was trying to comply with ICE’s orders to leave the area, and she was shot multiple times point blank.
This is america - a police fascist state.
The murder was filmed by observers. The woman was trying to comply with ICE’s orders to leave the area, and she was shot multiple times point blank.
This is america - a police fascist state.
January 7, 2026 at 6:32 PM
ICE officer executed a woman.
The murder was filmed by observers. The woman was trying to comply with ICE’s orders to leave the area, and she was shot multiple times point blank.
This is america - a police fascist state.
The murder was filmed by observers. The woman was trying to comply with ICE’s orders to leave the area, and she was shot multiple times point blank.
This is america - a police fascist state.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Trump says he will force Venezuela to hand over millions of barrels of sanctioned oil, which the U.S. will sell off under his control.
Hello? This is naked extortion of a sovereign country. It’s far past time for Congress to grow a spine and rein in our tinpot dictator.
Hello? This is naked extortion of a sovereign country. It’s far past time for Congress to grow a spine and rein in our tinpot dictator.
January 7, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Trump says he will force Venezuela to hand over millions of barrels of sanctioned oil, which the U.S. will sell off under his control.
Hello? This is naked extortion of a sovereign country. It’s far past time for Congress to grow a spine and rein in our tinpot dictator.
Hello? This is naked extortion of a sovereign country. It’s far past time for Congress to grow a spine and rein in our tinpot dictator.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Mayor Jacob Frey: “To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis.”
January 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Mayor Jacob Frey: “To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis.”
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
The Trump administration’s brazen military assault risks causing a new human rights disaster for Venezuelans.
The US appears poised to actively encourage Venezuela to maintain Nicolás Maduro’s repressive apparatus as long as it furthers US interests.
The US appears poised to actively encourage Venezuela to maintain Nicolás Maduro’s repressive apparatus as long as it furthers US interests.
January 7, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The Trump administration’s brazen military assault risks causing a new human rights disaster for Venezuelans.
The US appears poised to actively encourage Venezuela to maintain Nicolás Maduro’s repressive apparatus as long as it furthers US interests.
The US appears poised to actively encourage Venezuela to maintain Nicolás Maduro’s repressive apparatus as long as it furthers US interests.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
What really drives U.S. foreign policy?
Listen to what Bernie Sanders had to say 20 years ago.
Listen to what Bernie Sanders had to say 20 years ago.
January 7, 2026 at 7:31 PM
What really drives U.S. foreign policy?
Listen to what Bernie Sanders had to say 20 years ago.
Listen to what Bernie Sanders had to say 20 years ago.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Today's events with ICE are an example of why I don't quibble about calling the Trump regime fascist. There's no utility in throwing around academic terms like 'competitive authoritarianism' when the President has a personal army invading cities and murdering citizens. It's fascism.
January 7, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Today's events with ICE are an example of why I don't quibble about calling the Trump regime fascist. There's no utility in throwing around academic terms like 'competitive authoritarianism' when the President has a personal army invading cities and murdering citizens. It's fascism.
In working through the grief at the loss of the US alliance, much of the western political class seems to be struggling to move on from from the denial stage.
January 6, 2026 at 8:11 PM
In working through the grief at the loss of the US alliance, much of the western political class seems to be struggling to move on from from the denial stage.
I doubt we'll see any real criticism of Trump's actions, especially under this govt.
Western leaders have sacrificed principle and undermined international norms on which their countries' security and prosperity depend in seeking to maintain the US as an ally, even as it has shown it is no ally.
Western leaders have sacrificed principle and undermined international norms on which their countries' security and prosperity depend in seeking to maintain the US as an ally, even as it has shown it is no ally.
NZ faces a foreign policy reckoning
Opinion: NZ cannot be indifferent to the events in Venezuela – and will soon have to make it clear where it stands, writes Dr Robert Patman.
newsroom.co.nz
January 6, 2026 at 8:11 PM
I doubt we'll see any real criticism of Trump's actions, especially under this govt.
Western leaders have sacrificed principle and undermined international norms on which their countries' security and prosperity depend in seeking to maintain the US as an ally, even as it has shown it is no ally.
Western leaders have sacrificed principle and undermined international norms on which their countries' security and prosperity depend in seeking to maintain the US as an ally, even as it has shown it is no ally.
'Nobody would realistically expect any of Nato’s 31 other members to defend Greenland militarily if the US sought to seize it'
This is the problem. Western leaders' repeated failure to stand up to Trump only confirms his view that he can do whatever the hell he wants.
This is the problem. Western leaders' repeated failure to stand up to Trump only confirms his view that he can do whatever the hell he wants.
How a US takeover of Greenland would undermine Nato from within
The alliance has no provision for the previously unthinkable: one of its members turning on another
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:54 PM
'Nobody would realistically expect any of Nato’s 31 other members to defend Greenland militarily if the US sought to seize it'
This is the problem. Western leaders' repeated failure to stand up to Trump only confirms his view that he can do whatever the hell he wants.
This is the problem. Western leaders' repeated failure to stand up to Trump only confirms his view that he can do whatever the hell he wants.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Careful silence when the US started killing people in international waters. Careful silence when a Canadian ICC justice was sanctioned by the US. Now we mumble vague things about international law and Venezuela. We’re losing more than just our voice.
January 5, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Careful silence when the US started killing people in international waters. Careful silence when a Canadian ICC justice was sanctioned by the US. Now we mumble vague things about international law and Venezuela. We’re losing more than just our voice.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
"The future of the free world, Jake, depends on America being able to assert ourselves and our interests without apology"
That doesn't sound like a very free world
That doesn't sound like a very free world
MILLER: The US is using its military to secure our interests unapologetically in our hemisphere. We're a superpower. It's absurd we'd allow a nation in our backyard to become a supplier of resources to our adversaries
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
January 6, 2026 at 12:07 AM
"The future of the free world, Jake, depends on America being able to assert ourselves and our interests without apology"
That doesn't sound like a very free world
That doesn't sound like a very free world
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Generations of scholars spilt ink trying to demonstrate that the US was in fact an empire despite its novel methods and rhetoric of respect for law/democracy etc.
Now it’s just naked imperialism. Bad men bullying whomever they want to.
Now it’s just naked imperialism. Bad men bullying whomever they want to.
MILLER: The US is using its military to secure our interests unapologetically in our hemisphere. We're a superpower. It's absurd we'd allow a nation in our backyard to become a supplier of resources to our adversaries
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
January 6, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Generations of scholars spilt ink trying to demonstrate that the US was in fact an empire despite its novel methods and rhetoric of respect for law/democracy etc.
Now it’s just naked imperialism. Bad men bullying whomever they want to.
Now it’s just naked imperialism. Bad men bullying whomever they want to.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Great quote from an excellent piece... The myth of Govt needing to 'save for a very rainy/shaky day' really holds NZ back. We need the capacity to respond.
open.substack.com/pub/susanbor...
open.substack.com/pub/susanbor...
January 6, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Great quote from an excellent piece... The myth of Govt needing to 'save for a very rainy/shaky day' really holds NZ back. We need the capacity to respond.
open.substack.com/pub/susanbor...
open.substack.com/pub/susanbor...
A US sttack on Greenland should obviously mean the end on NATO. It would certainly destroy its credibility as an alliance.
I can't help feeling, though, that some Western leaders would try to explain away Trump's actions and try to pretend nothing had changed.
I can't help feeling, though, that some Western leaders would try to explain away Trump's actions and try to pretend nothing had changed.
US attack on Greenland would mean end of Nato, says Danish PM
Mette Frederiksen criticises Donald Trump’s ‘unacceptable pressure’ as Greenland counterpart condemns ‘fantasies’
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:37 AM
A US sttack on Greenland should obviously mean the end on NATO. It would certainly destroy its credibility as an alliance.
I can't help feeling, though, that some Western leaders would try to explain away Trump's actions and try to pretend nothing had changed.
I can't help feeling, though, that some Western leaders would try to explain away Trump's actions and try to pretend nothing had changed.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Mark Carney turns off geolocation on phone just in case
Mark Carney turns off geolocation on phone just in case
OTTAWA - This morning, in an unscheduled press statement, the Prime Minister's Office has said that Prime Minister Mark Carney has turned off geolocation services for all his electronic devices "for n...
www.thebeaverton.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Mark Carney turns off geolocation on phone just in case
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
It’s my life.
I’m sick of it.
I’d like to live somewhere the Leader of the Government/Opposition doesn’t consider it overly ambitious to cut ties with fascist imperialist regimes.
I’m sick of it.
I’d like to live somewhere the Leader of the Government/Opposition doesn’t consider it overly ambitious to cut ties with fascist imperialist regimes.
It is 1990. I'm protesting in the street because my country has unjustly invaded a smaller country based on propaganda and lies.
It is 2003. I'm protesting in the street because my country has unjustly invaded a smaller country based on propaganda and lies.
It is 2026…
It is 2003. I'm protesting in the street because my country has unjustly invaded a smaller country based on propaganda and lies.
It is 2026…
January 3, 2026 at 11:00 PM
It’s my life.
I’m sick of it.
I’d like to live somewhere the Leader of the Government/Opposition doesn’t consider it overly ambitious to cut ties with fascist imperialist regimes.
I’m sick of it.
I’d like to live somewhere the Leader of the Government/Opposition doesn’t consider it overly ambitious to cut ties with fascist imperialist regimes.
Reposted by Timothy Gassin
Starmer and Farage both drape themselves in flags but once again it's really clear where their loyalty really is.
It's Trump first. They will always be on the side of the super rich and powerful - no matter how heinous the crime.
This is not patriotism. It's subservience.
It's Trump first. They will always be on the side of the super rich and powerful - no matter how heinous the crime.
This is not patriotism. It's subservience.
January 3, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Starmer and Farage both drape themselves in flags but once again it's really clear where their loyalty really is.
It's Trump first. They will always be on the side of the super rich and powerful - no matter how heinous the crime.
This is not patriotism. It's subservience.
It's Trump first. They will always be on the side of the super rich and powerful - no matter how heinous the crime.
This is not patriotism. It's subservience.