Phillips OBrien
@phillipspobrien.bsky.social
Professor of Strategic Studies, Author, Lover of Sicily
Changing tack here. I was in Boston today and went to the matinee at @BostonSymphony . I saw one of the future superstars of classical music, a last minute conductor replacement who had never handled the BSO before named Anna Handler.
November 22, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Changing tack here. I was in Boston today and went to the matinee at @BostonSymphony . I saw one of the future superstars of classical music, a last minute conductor replacement who had never handled the BSO before named Anna Handler.
Trump is pushing Ukraine to commit strategic suicide by Thanksgiving.
November 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Trump is pushing Ukraine to commit strategic suicide by Thanksgiving.
Zelensky admitting that the pressure Trump is putting on Ukraine to take this grotesque deal is immense.
November 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Zelensky admitting that the pressure Trump is putting on Ukraine to take this grotesque deal is immense.
Here is White House spokesperson K Leavitt taking ownership of the plan for the president.
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Here is White House spokesperson K Leavitt taking ownership of the plan for the president.
Oh, nothing to see here but the President of the USA calling for the execution of political opponents. Just a normal day in crazy-town.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Oh, nothing to see here but the President of the USA calling for the execution of political opponents. Just a normal day in crazy-town.
This is Trump, its always been Trump. And now we have incontrovertible evidence of what Trump thinks. It is not pretty. Here is the conclusion of the piece.
November 20, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This is Trump, its always been Trump. And now we have incontrovertible evidence of what Trump thinks. It is not pretty. Here is the conclusion of the piece.
The details of the plan that are being linked show that the Trump administration is planning to devastate Ukraine. Ukraine will be asked to cede land Russia has not conquered. The USA and other countries will be asked to recognize Crimea and other lands as Russian…
November 19, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The details of the plan that are being linked show that the Trump administration is planning to devastate Ukraine. Ukraine will be asked to cede land Russia has not conquered. The USA and other countries will be asked to recognize Crimea and other lands as Russian…
Well, we finally have an answer about what MAGA believes. It has one and only one philosophical position, and that is that Trump’s lies about having nothing to do with Epstein must be accepted unquestioningly. It’s the whole movement distilled.
November 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Well, we finally have an answer about what MAGA believes. It has one and only one philosophical position, and that is that Trump’s lies about having nothing to do with Epstein must be accepted unquestioningly. It’s the whole movement distilled.
The Democrats in the Senate who handed the GOP a lifeline with the shutdown cave in stopped a massive Trump cave in that would have happened sooner rather than later. With the busiest flying season approaching, Trump desperately needed a deal. Sadly Democrats gave it to him.
November 11, 2025 at 1:05 PM
The Democrats in the Senate who handed the GOP a lifeline with the shutdown cave in stopped a massive Trump cave in that would have happened sooner rather than later. With the busiest flying season approaching, Trump desperately needed a deal. Sadly Democrats gave it to him.
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.
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.
Indeed, election perversion operations are being pushed right now.
Though the palpable air of panic is at least something to behold
Though the palpable air of panic is at least something to behold
November 5, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Indeed, election perversion operations are being pushed right now.
Though the palpable air of panic is at least something to behold
Though the palpable air of panic is at least something to behold
It points out just how ponderous Russian advances have been, a snail would be embarrassed to go that fast. Also, China calls BS on Trump's "sanctions" on Russia. Its painful to watch. Here is a quote from the update.
November 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
It points out just how ponderous Russian advances have been, a snail would be embarrassed to go that fast. Also, China calls BS on Trump's "sanctions" on Russia. Its painful to watch. Here is a quote from the update.
The markets are speaking. They saw Trump fold on China yesterday, and have concluded that his “sanctions” on Russia will have “limited” value (to put it kindly). Oil analysts aren’t going to be fooled like MAGA propagandists. www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/comm...
October 31, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The markets are speaking. They saw Trump fold on China yesterday, and have concluded that his “sanctions” on Russia will have “limited” value (to put it kindly). Oil analysts aren’t going to be fooled like MAGA propagandists. www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/comm...
Worth noting that Trump came out and admitted that he will not do anything about Chinese purchases of "sanctioned" Russian oil. Its too important to China, it seems. www.politico.eu/article/dona...
October 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Worth noting that Trump came out and admitted that he will not do anything about Chinese purchases of "sanctioned" Russian oil. Its too important to China, it seems. www.politico.eu/article/dona...
In Trump’s world, telling the truth is a crime and deserves punishment. Reagan was a committed free trader and the Canadian summary of the speech was spot on.
October 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
In Trump’s world, telling the truth is a crime and deserves punishment. Reagan was a committed free trader and the Canadian summary of the speech was spot on.
So much for the idea that the US has supported the Ukrainian long range strike campaign.
October 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
So much for the idea that the US has supported the Ukrainian long range strike campaign.
Christ, Trump just admitted he gave Zelensky nothing, but forced him to travel all the way to Washington to be told he needed to make concessions to Putin for "peace". He really just tortured the Ukrainian president because it makes him feel good.
October 17, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Christ, Trump just admitted he gave Zelensky nothing, but forced him to travel all the way to Washington to be told he needed to make concessions to Putin for "peace". He really just tortured the Ukrainian president because it makes him feel good.
Present headline from NY Times. This is what I mean by the press needing to be honest. Trump is not "equivocating" on sending Tomahawks to Ukraine. He is not sending them--and coming up with excuses why he does not have to. If he wanted to send them, he can and would.
October 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Present headline from NY Times. This is what I mean by the press needing to be honest. Trump is not "equivocating" on sending Tomahawks to Ukraine. He is not sending them--and coming up with excuses why he does not have to. If he wanted to send them, he can and would.
And which of these do you like better?
October 17, 2025 at 9:23 AM
And which of these do you like better?
Which one do you like better?
October 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Which one do you like better?
Trump and Putin are amazingly best friends again, will meet in Budapest to settle the war. They will try to screw Ukraine I’m sure
October 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Trump and Putin are amazingly best friends again, will meet in Budapest to settle the war. They will try to screw Ukraine I’m sure
Btw, Trump and Putin are now having a long chat which they will both report about it now. I’m sure it’s about all the tomahawks Trump will send to Ukraine and all the sanctions he will put on Russia.
October 16, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Btw, Trump and Putin are now having a long chat which they will both report about it now. I’m sure it’s about all the tomahawks Trump will send to Ukraine and all the sanctions he will put on Russia.
If you’re interested, here are some early opinions from Paul Krugman, Francis Fukuyama and Alexander Vindman.
October 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
If you’re interested, here are some early opinions from Paul Krugman, Francis Fukuyama and Alexander Vindman.
What Trump said just a little while ago about sending Tomahawks to Ukraine. Nothing has changed, he hasn’t agreed to send them and seems very reluctant to do so.
October 13, 2025 at 3:41 PM
What Trump said just a little while ago about sending Tomahawks to Ukraine. Nothing has changed, he hasn’t agreed to send them and seems very reluctant to do so.