Luke Johnson
@ljohnson.bsky.social
Journalist in Berlin
Lukegjohnson.com
Publicsphere.news
Lukegjohnson.com
Publicsphere.news
Reposted by Luke Johnson
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
A lot of news yesterday, but this @JasonDeParle scoop deserves your attention: The administration plans to slash support for long-term housing programs by two thirds, shifting funding stream to 2-year sobriety & treatment programs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Trump Administration Expected to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A lot of news yesterday, but this @JasonDeParle scoop deserves your attention: The administration plans to slash support for long-term housing programs by two thirds, shifting funding stream to 2-year sobriety & treatment programs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Full video from my interview with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social yesterday, on his new book "War and Power: Who Wins Wars -- And Why." youtu.be/g6dvLYGY1h0
Why realists were WRONG about Ukraine: An interview with Phillips O'Brien
YouTube video by Public Sphere
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Full video from my interview with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social yesterday, on his new book "War and Power: Who Wins Wars -- And Why." youtu.be/g6dvLYGY1h0
"Putin 'hasn’t done anything to me,' Tino Chrupalla, the co-leader of the AfD, said on German public television. 'I don’t see any danger to Germany from Russia at the moment.'" www.politico.eu/article/germ...
AfD leader says Putin poses no threat to Germany, warning instead of Poland
The comments come as mainstream German politicians increasingly portray the far-right party as a fifth column promoting the Kremlin’s interests.
www.politico.eu
November 13, 2025 at 7:37 AM
"Putin 'hasn’t done anything to me,' Tino Chrupalla, the co-leader of the AfD, said on German public television. 'I don’t see any danger to Germany from Russia at the moment.'" www.politico.eu/article/germ...
I noticed this too. I thought, was Epstein somehow charming and charismatic in person? He seemed like the opposite.
Something that’s so striking in these emails is how…unimpressive Epstein is. He comes off as a pompous, sub-literate lech. Yes everyone is so mortifyingly solicitous of him! All fawning and flattery! Why?????
November 13, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I noticed this too. I thought, was Epstein somehow charming and charismatic in person? He seemed like the opposite.
Looking forward to the conversation today with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social on his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars — And Why” as well as the latest on Ukraine. Join at 1pm EST / 7PM CEST on the Substack app.
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Looking forward to the conversation today with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social on his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars — And Why” as well as the latest on Ukraine. Join at 1pm EST / 7PM CEST on the Substack app.
Budget experts reveal that nearly 40% of the increased debt load isn't being used for defense and infrastructure -- as drones keep being spotted near European airports and rail transit remains ever delayed. www.ft.com/content/3d1c...
Merz accused of using debt bazooka for welfare and tax cuts instead of investment
Two prominent institutes and the Bundesbank sound alarm over use of new borrowings
www.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Budget experts reveal that nearly 40% of the increased debt load isn't being used for defense and infrastructure -- as drones keep being spotted near European airports and rail transit remains ever delayed. www.ft.com/content/3d1c...
On Wednesday at 1pm ET/7pm CEST on Substack Live, I will be chatting with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social about his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars ― and Why” as well as the war in Ukraine, which he covers in his newsletter here -> phillipspobrien.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
On Wednesday at 1pm ET/7pm CEST on Substack Live, I will be chatting with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social about his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars ― and Why” as well as the war in Ukraine, which he covers in his newsletter here -> phillipspobrien.substack.com
Wild story about Trump officials using mafia-like threats to get small countries to back off an international agreement to cut pollution from cargo ships www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Wild story about Trump officials using mafia-like threats to get small countries to back off an international agreement to cut pollution from cargo ships www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
Courtesy of the world’s richest man who just got a trillion-dollar pay package from his feckless board: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Courtesy of the world’s richest man who just got a trillion-dollar pay package from his feckless board: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Russia, closing in on taking its first city in...2.5 years www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Russia Close to Its Biggest Capture of a Ukrainian City Since 2023
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Russia, closing in on taking its first city in...2.5 years www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Chatted with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social yesterday about his new book on China and Russia. Here's a clip from our conversation and a link to the full video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Chatted with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social yesterday about his new book on China and Russia. Here's a clip from our conversation and a link to the full video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
Looking forward to chatting with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social tomorrow on Substack Live at 12pmET/6pm Europe. (Download the Substack app to follow.)
November 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Looking forward to chatting with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social tomorrow on Substack Live at 12pmET/6pm Europe. (Download the Substack app to follow.)
The Trump Administration is floating military action against Venezuela and Nigeria, which don't actually threaten the U.S., while dialing back support for Ukraine and Taiwan, which face aggression from U.S. adversaries.
November 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The Trump Administration is floating military action against Venezuela and Nigeria, which don't actually threaten the U.S., while dialing back support for Ukraine and Taiwan, which face aggression from U.S. adversaries.
It's possible that Trump may have been trolled into making a huge change in policy by a nothingburger by Putin, if so, that's dangerous. publicsphere.news/p/trump-goes...
Trump Goes Nuclear
Was he trolled by Putin into announcing a major change in U.S. policy?
publicsphere.news
October 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's possible that Trump may have been trolled into making a huge change in policy by a nothingburger by Putin, if so, that's dangerous. publicsphere.news/p/trump-goes...
Heartbreaking quotes from Ukrainians still in Kherson: "To be honest, I am no longer a normal person, but somebody has to do these jobs, so the country will survive.” twogrumpyoldmenonukraine.substack.com/p/talking-to...
Talking to Ukrainians under the rain of Russian bombs
Far away from the futile Trump-Putin noise (will he? won’t he? why didn't he?), Ukrainians are being targeted and killed every day. I talked to friends and acquaintances in Kherson, a frontline city.
twogrumpyoldmenonukraine.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Heartbreaking quotes from Ukrainians still in Kherson: "To be honest, I am no longer a normal person, but somebody has to do these jobs, so the country will survive.” twogrumpyoldmenonukraine.substack.com/p/talking-to...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
Extraordinary reporting from Emily Baumgaertner Nunn on the malignant criminal network that turns girls in foster care into prostitutes on L.A.'s Figueroa Street -- and why the police can't stop it. Everyone should read this.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Extraordinary reporting from Emily Baumgaertner Nunn on the malignant criminal network that turns girls in foster care into prostitutes on L.A.'s Figueroa Street -- and why the police can't stop it. Everyone should read this.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
ICYMI: The White House's manipulation of memory to justify present actions echoes Russia, Turkey and Hungary publicsphere.news/p/the-east-w...
The East Wing Demolition and the Manipulation of History
The White House announces changes to the "About" page with a distorted reading of history and the 💅 emoji
publicsphere.news
October 27, 2025 at 1:52 PM
ICYMI: The White House's manipulation of memory to justify present actions echoes Russia, Turkey and Hungary publicsphere.news/p/the-east-w...
Pretty bleak start to the week with SNAP and other nutrition programs running out at the end of the week and more workers not getting paychecks. Other countries would find this barbaric. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
October 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Pretty bleak start to the week with SNAP and other nutrition programs running out at the end of the week and more workers not getting paychecks. Other countries would find this barbaric. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
NEW post on the "I'm rubber, your glue" style of argumentation that the Trump Administration is using to defend demolishing the East Wing publicsphere.news/p/the-east-w...
The East Wing Demolition and the Manipulation of History
The White House announces changes to the "About" page with a distorted reading of history and the 💅 emoji
publicsphere.news
October 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
NEW post on the "I'm rubber, your glue" style of argumentation that the Trump Administration is using to defend demolishing the East Wing publicsphere.news/p/the-east-w...
Always great to read a foreign correspondent's perspective on the US: Americans would rarely write like this. www.ft.com/content/1377...
The Trump Supremacy
Opponents in disarray, allies in line, followers enthralled — the US president is already on his way to building a new world order
www.ft.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Always great to read a foreign correspondent's perspective on the US: Americans would rarely write like this. www.ft.com/content/1377...
I don't quite agree with this framing: a lot depends on if the Trump sanctions are enforced AND the decision on the frozen assets was punted until December. But there's a great desire in European capitals to be seen as in lockstep with the US www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/w...
Ukraine’s ‘Coalition of the Willing’ Has the Wind at Its Back
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I don't quite agree with this framing: a lot depends on if the Trump sanctions are enforced AND the decision on the frozen assets was punted until December. But there's a great desire in European capitals to be seen as in lockstep with the US www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/w...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
I found this very satisfying:
“We do need support, but nobody’s playing the cards given by America. Nobody gives a flying fuck about JD Vance’s opinion.”-- Artem Chapeye
@ljohnson.bsky.social
“We do need support, but nobody’s playing the cards given by America. Nobody gives a flying fuck about JD Vance’s opinion.”-- Artem Chapeye
@ljohnson.bsky.social
The Ukrainian Anarchist Pacifist Writer Putin Drove to Take Up Arms
Artem Chapeye once spent his time translating Gandhi and Chomsky and getting published in The New Yorker. Then, in 2022, he joined the army.
newrepublic.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I found this very satisfying:
“We do need support, but nobody’s playing the cards given by America. Nobody gives a flying fuck about JD Vance’s opinion.”-- Artem Chapeye
@ljohnson.bsky.social
“We do need support, but nobody’s playing the cards given by America. Nobody gives a flying fuck about JD Vance’s opinion.”-- Artem Chapeye
@ljohnson.bsky.social
Putin bombed a kindergarten full of children today. Fortunately, none of the 48 children inside were killed, injured, or harmed.
Footage shows Russia’s deliberate strikes on a kindergarten in Kharkiv. At the time of the attack by three Shahed drones, 48 children were sheltering inside.
October 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Putin bombed a kindergarten full of children today. Fortunately, none of the 48 children inside were killed, injured, or harmed.
I was in Chernihiv last year, and I was very impressed by the people I met. This seems like white noise at this point, but it's against international law to target civilian infrastructure www.bbc.com/news/article...
Ukraine: Chernihiv in total blackout after 'massive' Russian assault
Across the wider region, four people are reported to have been killed and 10 others injured.
www.bbc.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:49 AM
I was in Chernihiv last year, and I was very impressed by the people I met. This seems like white noise at this point, but it's against international law to target civilian infrastructure www.bbc.com/news/article...