Helene von Bismarck
@helenebismarck.bsky.social
Historian and Writer, Anglophile and European. Dr. Phil. FRHistS. Senior Associate Fellow, RUSI.
All views strictly my own.
All views strictly my own.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
What will happen to children of asylum seekers born here ? Will they be forcibly removed to a country they don’t know now deemed to be safe ? What will happen to older children who came with parents and doing well in education ? Will refugee parents be removed from British partners and children?
November 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
What will happen to children of asylum seekers born here ? Will they be forcibly removed to a country they don’t know now deemed to be safe ? What will happen to older children who came with parents and doing well in education ? Will refugee parents be removed from British partners and children?
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Just back from a week in Israel/West Bank. Fascinating trip, tho I'll spare the world my half-baked thoughts on the Middle East. But what struck this European was how often I heard Israelis of all stripes, including avowed leftists, repeat what are here usually regarded as far-right tropes (1/3)
November 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Just back from a week in Israel/West Bank. Fascinating trip, tho I'll spare the world my half-baked thoughts on the Middle East. But what struck this European was how often I heard Israelis of all stripes, including avowed leftists, repeat what are here usually regarded as far-right tropes (1/3)
Extraordinary
Liz Truss on Fox News supporting Trump suing the BBC
"There are lots of people in Britain who are cheering President Trump on and want him to sue the BBC"
"And I believe the organisation needs to be defunded"
"There are lots of people in Britain who are cheering President Trump on and want him to sue the BBC"
"And I believe the organisation needs to be defunded"
November 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Extraordinary
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
I concur, as a Canadian and therefore an outsider. The world would be a poorer place without the BBC. Without BBC News, BBC Earth, and here in Canada BBC First, frankly I would be bereft. We have the same fight here to protect our precious CBC. We're fighting the same faction: the rabid Right-wing.
November 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I concur, as a Canadian and therefore an outsider. The world would be a poorer place without the BBC. Without BBC News, BBC Earth, and here in Canada BBC First, frankly I would be bereft. We have the same fight here to protect our precious CBC. We're fighting the same faction: the rabid Right-wing.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Also, after a decade of Brexity "Europe get lost“-patriotism, it is bewildering to see people being so susceptible to what is blatant foreign Intervention.
What ever happened to sovereignty?
What ever happened to sovereignty?
November 15, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Also, after a decade of Brexity "Europe get lost“-patriotism, it is bewildering to see people being so susceptible to what is blatant foreign Intervention.
What ever happened to sovereignty?
What ever happened to sovereignty?
Indeed. The BBC is in my view one of Britain‘s most important institutions. It is imperfect.
Everything is.
You destroy it at your peril.
If ever there was a time to rally around something very British, it is now.
Just an outsider‘s opinion.
Everything is.
You destroy it at your peril.
If ever there was a time to rally around something very British, it is now.
Just an outsider‘s opinion.
So many social media patriots! Delighting in the hope that the president of a foreign nation might destroy a British institution that is envied around the world! 🇬🇧
November 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Indeed. The BBC is in my view one of Britain‘s most important institutions. It is imperfect.
Everything is.
You destroy it at your peril.
If ever there was a time to rally around something very British, it is now.
Just an outsider‘s opinion.
Everything is.
You destroy it at your peril.
If ever there was a time to rally around something very British, it is now.
Just an outsider‘s opinion.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Yesterday in Cologne, we saw one of the most difficult bomb disarmaments since 1945. 3(!) hospitals and 6.400 people had to be evacuated.
You wanna guess how many (mainly WWII) bombs are being disarmed PER YEAR in Germany?
5500.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/koe...
You wanna guess how many (mainly WWII) bombs are being disarmed PER YEAR in Germany?
5500.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/koe...
Köln: Aufwendigste Bombenentschärfung seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg - Tausende Anwohner und drei Kliniken betroffen
Experten haben in Köln eine Zehn-Zentner-Bombe aus dem Zweiten Weltkrieg kontrolliert gesprengt. Dafür mussten drei Krankenhäuser evakuiert werden und Tausende Menschen ihre Wohnungen verlassen.
www.spiegel.de
October 13, 2024 at 7:25 AM
Yesterday in Cologne, we saw one of the most difficult bomb disarmaments since 1945. 3(!) hospitals and 6.400 people had to be evacuated.
You wanna guess how many (mainly WWII) bombs are being disarmed PER YEAR in Germany?
5500.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/koe...
You wanna guess how many (mainly WWII) bombs are being disarmed PER YEAR in Germany?
5500.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/koe...
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Last night, in Hamburg, we had another disarmament.
Never forget the unbelievable long-term consequences of war.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/ham...
Never forget the unbelievable long-term consequences of war.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/ham...
Bombe im Hamburger Schanzenviertel entschärft
Der Großeinsatz von Polizei und Feuerwehr im Hamburger Schanzenviertel ist beendet, die Anwohner können zurück in ihre Wohnungen. Die Fliegerbombe aus dem Krieg ist entschärft.
www.spiegel.de
October 13, 2024 at 7:27 AM
Last night, in Hamburg, we had another disarmament.
Never forget the unbelievable long-term consequences of war.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/ham...
Never forget the unbelievable long-term consequences of war.
www.spiegel.de/panorama/ham...
Anyone lacking an FT subscription can register and read three articles monthly free at www.ft.com/register
November 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Well.
Homan: "I don't think the UK is a friend to this country and friend of the president"
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Well.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
But could I just add that this is not a competition on who is most jingoistic. It is a Situation Where Britain and Germany are faced with a similar and very serious Problem.
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
But could I just add that this is not a competition on who is most jingoistic. It is a Situation Where Britain and Germany are faced with a similar and very serious Problem.
I am not very keen on this headline.
And I also think that at times like these, it is important to be serious, without being alarmist. But this article is very much worth reading. Things are serious.
And I also think that at times like these, it is important to be serious, without being alarmist. But this article is very much worth reading. Things are serious.
Britain’s flag-wavers are being left behind as Germany prepares for war with Russia
Britain’s flag-wavers are being left behind as Germany prepares for war with Russia
Britain’s flag-wavers are being left behind as Germany prepares for war with Russia
www.independent.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I am not very keen on this headline.
And I also think that at times like these, it is important to be serious, without being alarmist. But this article is very much worth reading. Things are serious.
And I also think that at times like these, it is important to be serious, without being alarmist. But this article is very much worth reading. Things are serious.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
Come work with me
November 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Come work with me
My main takeaway of the whole Epstein thing is that women, on a very fundamental level, still don‘t really matter.
November 13, 2025 at 8:38 PM
My main takeaway of the whole Epstein thing is that women, on a very fundamental level, still don‘t really matter.
Reposted by Helene von Bismarck
In his first decade on the throne, George III saw 6 Prime Ministers come and go (some gone with his assistance, it must be said) before settling on his seventh, Lord North.
Newcastle
Bute
Grenville
Rockingham
Chatham (Pitt the Elder)
Grafton
North
Newcastle
Bute
Grenville
Rockingham
Chatham (Pitt the Elder)
Grafton
North
November 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
In his first decade on the throne, George III saw 6 Prime Ministers come and go (some gone with his assistance, it must be said) before settling on his seventh, Lord North.
Newcastle
Bute
Grenville
Rockingham
Chatham (Pitt the Elder)
Grafton
North
Newcastle
Bute
Grenville
Rockingham
Chatham (Pitt the Elder)
Grafton
North
Five years from now, David Cameron will lead the Tory campaign to bring Britain back into Europe.
It is groundhog day.
Verdict of one Labour grandee I just bumped into: “Ed Miliband is the person most likely to be the most next Prime Minister”.
November 13, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Five years from now, David Cameron will lead the Tory campaign to bring Britain back into Europe.
Nothing against Ed Miliband but I am finding the whole concept of yet another Prime Minister hard to cope with. Does it ever stop?
November 13, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Nothing against Ed Miliband but I am finding the whole concept of yet another Prime Minister hard to cope with. Does it ever stop?
It is groundhog day.
Verdict of one Labour grandee I just bumped into: “Ed Miliband is the person most likely to be the most next Prime Minister”.
November 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM
It is groundhog day.
I despair about all this who is briefing against who nonsense.
Could they just govern.
Could they just govern.
November 12, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I despair about all this who is briefing against who nonsense.
Could they just govern.
Could they just govern.
Currently in the process of trying to return something I have nostagically ordered from Britain, cursing Brexit once again.
November 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Currently in the process of trying to return something I have nostagically ordered from Britain, cursing Brexit once again.
On a more serious note: British politics have been in crisis mode for ten years and this is a real problem whatever your politics. It undermines trust in government and democracy, fuels populism, and makes the UK an unstable partner at a time when the geopolitical situation is very dangerous.
The important story behind this story is that someone in Downing Street is having a breakdown:
Starmer allies issue warning to PM’s rivals as fears grow over leadership challenge
No 10 said to be in ‘full bunker mode’ over fears of attempt to oust him after budget or May local elections
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM
On a more serious note: British politics have been in crisis mode for ten years and this is a real problem whatever your politics. It undermines trust in government and democracy, fuels populism, and makes the UK an unstable partner at a time when the geopolitical situation is very dangerous.
I am exhausted.
I need British politics to stop.
For God's sake.
I need British politics to stop.
For God's sake.
The important story behind this story is that someone in Downing Street is having a breakdown:
Starmer allies issue warning to PM’s rivals as fears grow over leadership challenge
No 10 said to be in ‘full bunker mode’ over fears of attempt to oust him after budget or May local elections
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:52 AM
I am exhausted.
I need British politics to stop.
For God's sake.
I need British politics to stop.
For God's sake.
👀
The U.K., which controls some territories in the Caribbean, operates an intelligence network in the area. In a major break between longtime allies, it has stopped sharing this intelligence with the U.S. government. trib.al/8CtoMyu
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
👀
Exactly
Nowhere in the hysterical pile-on against the BBC in the British press has anyone mentioned that BBC News now has 77 million viewers & listeners in the US and has established itself as the second most trusted news source there.
November 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Exactly
I sometimes work as a guest contributor on the BBC World Service. I once asked how many people wpuld listen (as I was freaking out). Not exactly clear, they said, but roughly 75 million, ten of them in the USA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
I sometimes work as a guest contributor on the BBC World Service. I once asked how many people wpuld listen (as I was freaking out). Not exactly clear, they said, but roughly 75 million, ten of them in the USA.