Phillips OBrien
@phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Professor of Strategic Studies, Author, Lover of Sicily
Pinned
War and Power
A bold, revisionist study of modern warfare, showing that military victory is rooted not in large armies and decisive battles, but in the full spectrum of ec...
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
Hi All, my latest book, War and Power: Who Wins Wars and Why, is being released in North America in two weeks. The Publisher, Basic Books/Hatchette, has just released a discount code for 20% if you buy through them. Code is WAR&POWER (not case sensitive). www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/phill...
Hi All, New, free Europe Dispatch column by @alanderminna.bsky.social just released. She looks at the prospect of nuclear war and how the leaders such as Trump seem to be encouraging nuclear proliferation. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Fictional Intelligence: Imagining the Future of (Nuclear) War
In a new Europe Dispatch, Minna Ålander writes about FICINT and what movies tell us about the present and the future. And how Trump is encouraging nuclear proliferation.
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Hi All, New, free Europe Dispatch column by @alanderminna.bsky.social just released. She looks at the prospect of nuclear war and how the leaders such as Trump seem to be encouraging nuclear proliferation. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Two things here are true. 1) Trump is MAGA and the movement will back whatever he wants. 2) the pivot to confront China by Trump was, is, and always will be a sham. He has strengthened China and weakened US allies.
November 11, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Two things here are true. 1) Trump is MAGA and the movement will back whatever he wants. 2) the pivot to confront China by Trump was, is, and always will be a sham. He has strengthened China and weakened US allies.
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
Shaheen and the other Democratic Senators who voted for this betrayal are exactly what’s wrong with the Democratic Party today.
Until we grow a pair, Americans will continue to look at us as weak and incompetent.
Meanwhile billionaires get tax cuts and health insurance premiums skyrocket.
Until we grow a pair, Americans will continue to look at us as weak and incompetent.
Meanwhile billionaires get tax cuts and health insurance premiums skyrocket.
Shaheen: "When I talk to my constituents in New Hampshire, you know what they say to me? They say, 'Why can't you all just work together to address the problems that are facing this country?'"
November 10, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Shaheen and the other Democratic Senators who voted for this betrayal are exactly what’s wrong with the Democratic Party today.
Until we grow a pair, Americans will continue to look at us as weak and incompetent.
Meanwhile billionaires get tax cuts and health insurance premiums skyrocket.
Until we grow a pair, Americans will continue to look at us as weak and incompetent.
Meanwhile billionaires get tax cuts and health insurance premiums skyrocket.
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
🔥 Russian media report missile strike on power plant in Russia's Voronezh
Russian media report missile strike on power plant in Russia's Voronezh
Explosions were heard in the Russian city of Voronezh on the night of 8-9 November. Russian media later reported that the Voronezh-1 combined heat and power plant may have been hit by missiles.
www.pravda.com.ua
November 9, 2025 at 8:44 AM
🔥 Russian media report missile strike on power plant in Russia's Voronezh
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
November 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
1/ The US Government has quietly removed a memorial to Black soldiers who died in World War II from the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg. The move follows a complaint from the right-wing Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission. ⬇️
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
Helpful update as always. It contains a link to this insightful article about the potential of the Ukrainian campaign against Russian energy infrastructure: www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4...
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Helpful update as always. It contains a link to this insightful article about the potential of the Ukrainian campaign against Russian energy infrastructure: www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/4...
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
"What is [...] noteworthy is that [the Ukrainian attacks on Russian power grids] and the resulting blackouts are now being openly discussed in Ukraine as the symmetrical response to Russian attacks against Ukrainian power generation."
Hi All, Just released my latest free weekend update. No. 158--which amazingly enough comes out almost exactly three years after the first one. Its been quite a trip.
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #158: The Long Dark Winter Has Come Early
Pokrovsk Update; Sanctions Bluster Unravelling
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:21 AM
"What is [...] noteworthy is that [the Ukrainian attacks on Russian power grids] and the resulting blackouts are now being openly discussed in Ukraine as the symmetrical response to Russian attacks against Ukrainian power generation."
Hi All, Just released my latest free weekend update. No. 158--which amazingly enough comes out almost exactly three years after the first one. Its been quite a trip.
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #158: The Long Dark Winter Has Come Early
Pokrovsk Update; Sanctions Bluster Unravelling
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Hi All, Just released my latest free weekend update. No. 158--which amazingly enough comes out almost exactly three years after the first one. Its been quite a trip.
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
I’m shocked…..
Orban says Hungary obtained complete, indefinite US sanctions exemption for TurkStream and Druzhba pipelines.
November 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I’m shocked…..
Just sent out this piece--maybe the most depressing I have written (sorry). The future of war is emerging in front of our eyes, and its terrifying. It is a combination of ranged fires in mass and a willingness to commit war crimes. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Are War Crimes and Ranged Fires The Future Of War?
Hello All,
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Just sent out this piece--maybe the most depressing I have written (sorry). The future of war is emerging in front of our eyes, and its terrifying. It is a combination of ranged fires in mass and a willingness to commit war crimes. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
This is a Trump lie. Btw the first time he said India had stopped buying Russian oil was August 2. India bought more Russian oil after the sanctions were announced than before, and overall bought more Russian oil in October than September.
President Trump on talks with President Modi:
It's going good. He largely stopped buying oil from Russia.
It's going good. He largely stopped buying oil from Russia.
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
This is a Trump lie. Btw the first time he said India had stopped buying Russian oil was August 2. India bought more Russian oil after the sanctions were announced than before, and overall bought more Russian oil in October than September.
The reality is that if the 2026 mid term elections are run fairly in the USA, the Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives and maybe even the Senate. The other reality is that the Trump Administration will not want that to happen. Do the math...
November 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The reality is that if the 2026 mid term elections are run fairly in the USA, the Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives and maybe even the Senate. The other reality is that the Trump Administration will not want that to happen. Do the math...
Man, the Mamdani truthers on Bsky seem to be identical to MAGA truthers on Twitter, just on the left. Personally insulting and rude. Go for it guys, drive away the center and enjoy your losses.
November 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Man, the Mamdani truthers on Bsky seem to be identical to MAGA truthers on Twitter, just on the left. Personally insulting and rude. Go for it guys, drive away the center and enjoy your losses.
A very important article in @foreignaffairs.com The real sanctions hurting the Russian economy are the Ukrainian long-ranged sanctions on Russian oil refining and production. Unlike Trump's sham "sanctions", these are real ones which are taking a real toll. www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/slow-...
The Slow Death of Russian Oil
Why Ukraine’s campaign against Moscow’s energy sector is working.
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A very important article in @foreignaffairs.com The real sanctions hurting the Russian economy are the Ukrainian long-ranged sanctions on Russian oil refining and production. Unlike Trump's sham "sanctions", these are real ones which are taking a real toll. www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/slow-...
Btw, the government shutdown fight by the Democrats shows how to deal with Trump. Fight. Always Fight and never let him get away with his BS.
November 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Btw, the government shutdown fight by the Democrats shows how to deal with Trump. Fight. Always Fight and never let him get away with his BS.
Hello All Republicans--you should definitely prove Trump right by making your embrace of him central to your reelection campaigns. Because last night was in no way a repudiation of his disastrous leadership, no, not at all....
Trump to Republican senators: "I thought we'd have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented and what we should do about it and also about the shutdown and how that relates to last night. If you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for Republicans."
November 5, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Hello All Republicans--you should definitely prove Trump right by making your embrace of him central to your reelection campaigns. Because last night was in no way a repudiation of his disastrous leadership, no, not at all....
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
This is an interesting observation in the aftermath.
bsky.app/profile/phil...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
Btw, the press obsessing about Mamdani seems weird. He seriously underperformed the Democratic vote in NYC compared to recent elections, barely scraping 50%. Moderate Democrats in VA and NJ dramatically overperformed. That seems the real story
November 5, 2025 at 12:53 PM
This is an interesting observation in the aftermath.
bsky.app/profile/phil...
bsky.app/profile/phil...
The story of the vote in the USA last night is that the Democrats have an amazing opportunity to retake the center ground of US politics and have a strong working majority--while forcing the GOP to the far right. If the Dems do not do this, they have only themselves to blame.
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The story of the vote in the USA last night is that the Democrats have an amazing opportunity to retake the center ground of US politics and have a strong working majority--while forcing the GOP to the far right. If the Dems do not do this, they have only themselves to blame.
Just sent out this short, free piece. Yesterday's election in the USA might represent a chance for Ukraine supporters. Previously, fear of Trump who wants to work with Putin, has enfeebled Ukraine supporters in Congress. Now Trump is a liability--and that is good. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Yesterday's US Vote
Any Good News For Ukraine?
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Just sent out this short, free piece. Yesterday's election in the USA might represent a chance for Ukraine supporters. Previously, fear of Trump who wants to work with Putin, has enfeebled Ukraine supporters in Congress. Now Trump is a liability--and that is good. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
After blustering and threatening for weeks, the Republicans are going to fold on the Government shutdown like cheap lawn furniture.
November 5, 2025 at 4:05 AM
After blustering and threatening for weeks, the Republicans are going to fold on the Government shutdown like cheap lawn furniture.
Reposted by Phillips OBrien
Looking possible that the Democrats might sweep the board today--which means attempts to pervert the 2026 Congressional election will go into hyperdrive.
Get ready.
Get ready.
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Looking possible that the Democrats might sweep the board today--which means attempts to pervert the 2026 Congressional election will go into hyperdrive.
Get ready.
Get ready.
Looking possible that the Democrats might sweep the board today--which means attempts to pervert the 2026 Congressional election will go into hyperdrive.
Get ready.
Get ready.
November 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Looking possible that the Democrats might sweep the board today--which means attempts to pervert the 2026 Congressional election will go into hyperdrive.
Get ready.
Get ready.
Just sent out this piece. Last week was refreshingly honest in one way. The Trump administration could finally stop pretending that it was pivoting to Asia to confront China, and tell the truth that it was pivoting to work with China. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
The Pivot To Confront China Was Really A Pivot To Work With China
At least the Administration is being honest about it now.
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Just sent out this piece. Last week was refreshingly honest in one way. The Trump administration could finally stop pretending that it was pivoting to Asia to confront China, and tell the truth that it was pivoting to work with China. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
So far, Indian purchases of Russian crude are UP since Trump put “sanctions” on Russia. If harsh secondary sanctions are not imposed by the US on 21 November….
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ind...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ind...
Too early for Trump sanctions impact? India’s crude oil imports from Russia rise in October despite US pressure; what’s in store for November? - The Times of India
India Business News: India's Russian crude oil imports saw a slight increase in October, defying US pressure. However, this trend is expected to reverse following US sanct
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
So far, Indian purchases of Russian crude are UP since Trump put “sanctions” on Russia. If harsh secondary sanctions are not imposed by the US on 21 November….
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ind...
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ind...
Damn, if this was true, I should have received a Nobel Prize by now…
studyfinds.org/dark-chocola...
studyfinds.org/dark-chocola...
A Bite Of Dark Chocolate Could Sharpen Your Memory For The Next Hour
Dark chocolate's memory benefits may work through taste-triggered stress responses rather than absorption.
studyfinds.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Damn, if this was true, I should have received a Nobel Prize by now…
studyfinds.org/dark-chocola...
studyfinds.org/dark-chocola...