Matthew Bodner
@bodner.bsky.social
NBC News international reporter. Moscow bureau exile. Now in London. Tweets on Russia, etc. Former Space Camp shuttle commander. Sailor.
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
When November 10th falls on the second weekday, that's Taconite Tuesday
November 10, 2025 at 7:58 PM
When November 10th falls on the second weekday, that's Taconite Tuesday
Damn, they were doing so well
October 27, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Damn, they were doing so well
I swear to god if I hear that song one more time today
August 27, 2025 at 11:09 AM
I swear to god if I hear that song one more time today
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
No, a world shaped by Trump’s mercurial temperament & might-is-right principles actually isn’t good for Putin - for as long as he indulges his illusion of total victory in Ukraine.
The Alaska summit won't change that.
My essay in @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/o...
The Alaska summit won't change that.
My essay in @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/o...
Opinion | Putin Should Be Careful What He Wishes For
www.nytimes.com
August 15, 2025 at 6:03 AM
No, a world shaped by Trump’s mercurial temperament & might-is-right principles actually isn’t good for Putin - for as long as he indulges his illusion of total victory in Ukraine.
The Alaska summit won't change that.
My essay in @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/o...
The Alaska summit won't change that.
My essay in @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/o...
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
Russia's foreign minister arrived in Alaska today wearing a "USSR" sweatshirt.
August 15, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Russia's foreign minister arrived in Alaska today wearing a "USSR" sweatshirt.
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
Trump has privately encouraged Ukraine to step up deep strikes on Russian territory, even asking Zelenskyy whether he could strike Moscow if the US provided long-range weapons, according to people briefed on the discussions.
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/b66f...
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/b66f...
Donald Trump asked Volodymyr Zelenskyy if Ukraine could hit Moscow, say people briefed on call
US president encouraged Ukrainian leader to step up deep strikes on Russia
www.ft.com
July 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Trump has privately encouraged Ukraine to step up deep strikes on Russian territory, even asking Zelenskyy whether he could strike Moscow if the US provided long-range weapons, according to people briefed on the discussions.
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/b66f...
w/ @henryjfoy.ft.com @maxseddon.bsky.social.
www.ft.com/content/b66f...
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
European messaging today in Paris was exemplary. Strong message that Europe won’t prematurely lift sanctions for sake of a terrible Black Sea deal. Efforts to goad Trump into seeing he’s being played. Signals that Europe won’t accept caps on Ukraine‘s military. And pressing on w/ coalition planning.
March 27, 2025 at 9:23 PM
European messaging today in Paris was exemplary. Strong message that Europe won’t prematurely lift sanctions for sake of a terrible Black Sea deal. Efforts to goad Trump into seeing he’s being played. Signals that Europe won’t accept caps on Ukraine‘s military. And pressing on w/ coalition planning.
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
The Kremlin has been messaging all day that it wanted a pause in arms deliveries to Ukraine as a condition of a full ceasefire. (As though Russia would cease taking deliveries from China, Iran and N. Korea.)
The absence of a full ceasefire suggests the White House didn't cave.
The absence of a full ceasefire suggests the White House didn't cave.
Reporting that Putin agreed to a 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure.
This is a delay tactic, designed to keep Trump at the table and extract pressure on Kyiv.
It is not a breakthrough.
meduza.io/news/2025/03...
This is a delay tactic, designed to keep Trump at the table and extract pressure on Kyiv.
It is not a breakthrough.
meduza.io/news/2025/03...
Кремль: Путин поддержал 30-дневный отказ от ударов по энергетике Украины и «дал такую команду военным». Трамп настаивал на полном прекращении огня — Meduza
Владимир Путин поддержал идею президента США Дональда Трампа о взаимном отказе России и Украины от ударов по энергетической инфраструктуре в течение 30 дней и «дал такую команду военным», сообщил Крем...
meduza.io
March 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The Kremlin has been messaging all day that it wanted a pause in arms deliveries to Ukraine as a condition of a full ceasefire. (As though Russia would cease taking deliveries from China, Iran and N. Korea.)
The absence of a full ceasefire suggests the White House didn't cave.
The absence of a full ceasefire suggests the White House didn't cave.
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
People have asked me recently... what if...? would you go...? My personal and strongly held opinion is that opportunists who rush back to Russia will get what they deserve, and probably won't have to wait long for it
But don't listen to me, here's @eribakova.bsky.social for the FT
on.ft.com/41OUjtE
But don't listen to me, here's @eribakova.bsky.social for the FT
on.ft.com/41OUjtE
There’s no money to be made in Russia
American companies shouldn’t assume that a thaw in US ties with Moscow will make doing business there easier
www.ft.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:13 AM
People have asked me recently... what if...? would you go...? My personal and strongly held opinion is that opportunists who rush back to Russia will get what they deserve, and probably won't have to wait long for it
But don't listen to me, here's @eribakova.bsky.social for the FT
on.ft.com/41OUjtE
But don't listen to me, here's @eribakova.bsky.social for the FT
on.ft.com/41OUjtE
Prediction: Putin is about to hit Trump with a major reality check.
March 13, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Prediction: Putin is about to hit Trump with a major reality check.
Crowdsourcing this: I know Putin has worn various military regalia in the past, but can anyone recall a single example of fatigues/an actual uniform rather than a field jacket/overcoat and funny hat?
March 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Crowdsourcing this: I know Putin has worn various military regalia in the past, but can anyone recall a single example of fatigues/an actual uniform rather than a field jacket/overcoat and funny hat?
One of the most fascinating sub-topics of this era is how so many "libertarians" claimed Rand as their ideological mother only to completely turn on all of her core assertions when Obama was elected...and then went on to *all of this*. (This is neither pro/anti-Rand, its just how many of them went).
Let's see how much of a Randian businessman Musk is in this moment.
March 11, 2025 at 7:54 AM
One of the most fascinating sub-topics of this era is how so many "libertarians" claimed Rand as their ideological mother only to completely turn on all of her core assertions when Obama was elected...and then went on to *all of this*. (This is neither pro/anti-Rand, its just how many of them went).
This was all covered in Babylon 5 btw
March 11, 2025 at 6:43 AM
This was all covered in Babylon 5 btw
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
'Ukraine appears to have steered away from America’s first brazen, extractive demands into something that is closer to a joint investment venture. The deal looks to be a good way short of the $500bn “payback”' www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
Ukraine hopes its minerals deal will dig it out of a hole with Trump
A provisional draft of the agreement is vague but better than feared
www.economist.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
'Ukraine appears to have steered away from America’s first brazen, extractive demands into something that is closer to a joint investment venture. The deal looks to be a good way short of the $500bn “payback”' www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
@covertshores.bsky.social Mr. Sutton hello! Hoping to chat with you for NBC News. Any chance you can point me to direct contact details?
February 18, 2025 at 9:26 AM
@covertshores.bsky.social Mr. Sutton hello! Hoping to chat with you for NBC News. Any chance you can point me to direct contact details?
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
Why is there not more talk of the Gaza deal creating a whole new wave of Islamic terrorism? Or is that unlikely?
February 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Why is there not more talk of the Gaza deal creating a whole new wave of Islamic terrorism? Or is that unlikely?
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
SCOOP: Elon Musk in multiple phone calls pressured USAID administrators and security to give the "Doge kids" access to personnel data and secure rooms. My insider piece on the tense meetings and chaotic standoffs at USAID as four young Musk acolytes shut it down. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Doge v USAid: How Elon Musk helped his acolytes infiltrate world’s biggest aid agency
Takeover of USAid agency by Doge operatives seen as a pilot for a large-scale overhaul of the federal government
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2025 at 6:43 PM
SCOOP: Elon Musk in multiple phone calls pressured USAID administrators and security to give the "Doge kids" access to personnel data and secure rooms. My insider piece on the tense meetings and chaotic standoffs at USAID as four young Musk acolytes shut it down. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I can’t believe we lived long enough to see the South Park movie become relevant again
February 2, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I can’t believe we lived long enough to see the South Park movie become relevant again
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
Russian lawmakers are expanding the definition of treason. Among other changes, the authorities will likely soon be able to charge foreigners with “providing assistance to enemies” and “confidential cooperation.”
Widening the net Russian lawmakers are expanding the definition of treason — including for foreigners. Here’s what you need to know. — Meduza
On December 12, the Russian State Duma is set to review the second reading of a draft amendment to the Criminal Code that would significantly expand the definition of state treason, as well as…
buff.ly
December 11, 2024 at 8:11 PM
Russian lawmakers are expanding the definition of treason. Among other changes, the authorities will likely soon be able to charge foreigners with “providing assistance to enemies” and “confidential cooperation.”
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
Russia Threatened to Ban a Ukrainian-Made Video Game. The Creator Responded with a Bounty on a Warship www.military.com/off-duty/gam...
Russia Threatened to Ban a Ukrainian-Made Video Game. The Creator Responded with a Bounty on a Warship
The latest installment of the acclaimed “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” first-person shooter series currently faces a ban in Russia due to developer GSC Game World’s financial support of the Ukrainian military amid ...
www.military.com
December 6, 2024 at 3:37 PM
Russia Threatened to Ban a Ukrainian-Made Video Game. The Creator Responded with a Bounty on a Warship www.military.com/off-duty/gam...
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
Germany’s dpa news agency said Wednesday that a Russian ship in the Baltic Sea fired signal ammunition at a German military helicopter. Reuters later reported that a German Defense Ministry spokesperson could not confirm the incident.
Russian ship reportedly fired signaling ammunition at German military helicopter in Baltic Sea — Meduza
Germany’s dpa news agency reported Wednesday that a Russian ship in the Baltic Sea fired signal ammunition at a German military helicopter.
buff.ly
December 4, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Germany’s dpa news agency said Wednesday that a Russian ship in the Baltic Sea fired signal ammunition at a German military helicopter. Reuters later reported that a German Defense Ministry spokesperson could not confirm the incident.
Reposted by Matthew Bodner
While this may well reflect the mood in the Kremlin, it’s worth remembering that nobody speaks for Putin but Putin. And even Putin doesn’t always speak for Putin.
Trump’s pledge to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is doomed if he doesn't involve broader talks on Moscow’s security concerns, Russian tycoon Malofeyev tells @maxseddon.bsky.social. “[Keith] Kellogg comes to Moscow with his plan, we take it and then tell him to screw himself."
www.ft.com/content/ac39...
www.ft.com/content/ac39...
Vladimir Putin to reject Donald Trump’s opening peace offer, says Russian tycoon
Konstantin Malofeyev says Russian president to engage in talks only if they include broader conflicts
www.ft.com
December 3, 2024 at 10:28 AM
While this may well reflect the mood in the Kremlin, it’s worth remembering that nobody speaks for Putin but Putin. And even Putin doesn’t always speak for Putin.