Ben Tonra
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bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra
@bentonra.bsky.social
3.9K followers 860 following 1.9K posts

Professor of International Relations at UCD Dublin; Dundrum Methodist Church; Royal Irish Academy; Azure Forum, IDSA and Gym Dad. Mix of Mayo, Kerry, West Virginia and suburban Maryland.

Videos
Political science 84%
Sociology 11%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Ben Tonra

saskiadekkers.bsky.social
Saskia Dekkers @saskiadekkers.bsky.social · 3h
FT: “Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary-general who enjoys a warm relationship with Trump, has been unusually absent on such a critical security issue. Suggestions from Paris and other capitals for enhanced Nato activity in Greenland have not yet been taken up.”

www.ft.com/content/d297...
Nato silence on Donald Trump’s Greenland threats rattles European allies
Military alliance yet to issue public statement asserting territorial integrity of Arctic island and kingdom of Denmark
www.ft.com

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 10h
Christianity with purpose and with God.

As opposed to the idolatrous trolls cosplaying Crusades.
clancyny.bsky.social Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 1d
At last night’s candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire announced he had asked the clergy of the diocese to get their affairs in order and to make sure they have their wills written ...,

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 10h
😂

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 11h
💯

Reposted by Ben Tonra

lightnews.app
Lightnews @lightnews.app · 11h
Europe Rejects Trump Seizing Greenland

European leaders and ministers rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to seize Greenland, saying only Denmark and Greenland could decide the island's future, and NATO remained silent.

With replies by 🎓Michael McFaul, 🎓Bryan D. Jones +82 more scholars.
Europe Rejects Trump Seizing Greenland
Replies by 🎓Michael McFaul, 🎓Bryan D. Jones, 🎓Anders Aslund, 🎓Steve Peers, 🎓Victor Asal +79 more scholars
www.lightnews.app

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 12h
NATO’s formal institutional silence over Greenland is deafening.

How’s ‘Daddyz’ cheerleader doing?’
lightnews.app Lightnews @lightnews.app · 12h
Andersson backs EU Greenland deployment

Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson said she could support sending Swedish soldiers to Greenland as part of an EU force, likely prompting political debate.

With posts by 🎓James Cameron, 🎓Anders Nilsson, 🎓Alan Richardson.
Andersson backs EU Greenland deployment
Replies by 🎓James Cameron, 🎓Anders Nilsson, 🎓Alan Richardson
www.lightnews.app

Reposted by Ben Tonra

lightnews.app
Lightnews @lightnews.app · 12h
Andersson backs EU Greenland deployment

Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson said she could support sending Swedish soldiers to Greenland as part of an EU force, likely prompting political debate.

With posts by 🎓James Cameron, 🎓Anders Nilsson, 🎓Alan Richardson.
Andersson backs EU Greenland deployment
Replies by 🎓James Cameron, 🎓Anders Nilsson, 🎓Alan Richardson
www.lightnews.app

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 12h
What’s the accurate German translation of “WTAF” when he meets US interlocutors?!

Reposted by Ben Tonra

ronsteenblik.bsky.social
Ronald Steenblik @ronsteenblik.bsky.social · 12h
The Slovenian magazine, “Objektiv”, is getting accolades for this brilliant cover design.
Cover of the 9 January 2026 edition of Slovenia’s magazine, “Objektiv”, showing a face-on photo of U.S. President, Donald J. Trump, with crude oil leaking out of his nostrils, forming the shape of a Hitler (toothbrush) moustache.

Reposted by Nicholas Birns, Ben Tonra

buziashvili.bsky.social
Eto Buziashvili @buziashvili.bsky.social · 12h

Reposted by Joanna Bryson, Rebecca Solnit, Dorothy Bishop , and 18 more

chrismurphyct.bsky.social
Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 22h
I can't believe I'm posting this video - but we actually have to have a conversation about the real world implications of America going to war over Greenland.

Let me walk you through it. It doesn't turn out well for us.

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 23h
“he head-spinning events of the past week indicate that either Trump is stark raving mad or his elevation to the US presidency was the greatest undercover coup in the history of Soviet and Russian intelligence.”

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Lara Marlowe: Europe may have as little as 20 days to avert the irreparable. There are still things it can do
Head-spinning events of the past week indicate that either Trump is stark raving mad or the result of the greatest undercover coup in the history of Soviet intelligence
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Robert W. Wallace, Rosemary A. Joyce, Michelle Everson , and 12 more

clancyny.bsky.social
Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 1d
At last night’s candlelight vigil for Renee Nicole Good, Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire announced he had asked the clergy of the diocese to get their affairs in order and to make sure they have their wills written ...,

Reposted by Ben Tonra

kathylove.bsky.social
Kathy Love @kathylove.bsky.social · 1d
We are all awash in questions we've never asked before, Andrew. Nuclear weapons are just one of them. If you're interested, last spring Chatham House did a good survey of the UK's tactical options

www.chathamhouse.org/2025/03/uks-...
The UK’s nuclear deterrent relies on US support – but there are no other easy alternatives
Now that Washington is potentially an unreliable ally, the UK needs to revisit its nuclear strategy. But going alone is costly, and partnering with France poses its own risks.
www.chathamhouse.org

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
💯

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 1d
Europe may have just 20 days to avert the irreparable. There are still things it can do

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Lara Marlowe: Europe may have as little as 20 days to avert the irreparable. There are still things it can do
Head-spinning events of the past week indicate that either Trump is stark raving mad or the result of the greatest undercover coup in the history of Soviet intelligence
www.irishtimes.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

“Any attempt to seize Greenland, whether by force or the far likelier method of economic coercion, would fatally undermine the world’s most important military alliance,” James Kirchick writes.
Opinion | Trump Is Threatening Greenland and Europe
Any attempt to seize Greenland from Denmark would fatally undermine the world’s most successful military alliance.
nyti.ms

Reposted by Ben Tonra

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d
Trump: "We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not because if we don't it, Russia or China will take over Greenland. If we don't do it the easy way we're gonna do it the hard way."

Reposted by Ben Tonra

patrickdunleavy.bsky.social
Patrick Dunleavy @patrickdunleavy.bsky.social · 2d
Appeasing Trump Makes Him More Dangerous by the Day www.socialeurope.eu/appeasing-tr...
Appeasing Trump Makes Him More Dangerous by the Day
Europe's leaders, paralysed by fear, are repeating the mistakes of the 1930s—and hastening their own irrelevance.
www.socialeurope.eu

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d
So proud that @ucddublin.bsky.social has this access to X premium service.

“Specific UCD accounts that are verified (and thus Premium users) include:
University College Dublin: (@ucddublin)
UCD Students' Union: (@UCDSU)
myUCD: (@myucd)
UCD Global: (@ucd_global)
UCD University Club: (@ucd_club)”
eicathomefinn.bsky.social Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2d
'The UK government says Elon Musk's platform X limiting Grok AI image edits to paid users is "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.

Speaking on Friday, Downing Street said the move "simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service".'
Limiting Grok AI image edits to paid users 'insulting' to victims, says No 10
It comes after government urged Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
www.bbc.co.uk

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 2d
Outstanding.
newschambers.bsky.social Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 2d
🚨 AI Minister Niamh Smyth says it isn't appropriate for the Government to maintain a presence on X and will speak to the Taoiseach on the matter.

Says the European Commission should immediately suspend Grok while investigations are continuing.

More on @virginmedianews.bsky.social

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Edgar Morgenroth, Ben Tonra , and 1 more

newschambers.bsky.social
Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 2d
🚨 AI Minister Niamh Smyth says it isn't appropriate for the Government to maintain a presence on X and will speak to the Taoiseach on the matter.

Says the European Commission should immediately suspend Grok while investigations are continuing.

More on @virginmedianews.bsky.social

Reposted by Ben Tonra

eicathomefinn.bsky.social
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2d
'The UK government says Elon Musk's platform X limiting Grok AI image edits to paid users is "insulting" to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.

Speaking on Friday, Downing Street said the move "simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service".'
Limiting Grok AI image edits to paid users 'insulting' to victims, says No 10
It comes after government urged Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Richard E. Lenski, Jon Pierre, Michael A. Clemens , and 8 more

carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 2d
GERMAN PRESIDENT STEINMEIER:

“.. the United States has broken with the values that it helped to establish ..

“.. we have now moved beyond the stage where we can lament the lack of respect for international law or the erosion of the international order; we are far beyond that, I believe.”

Reposted by Kori Schake, Ben Tonra, Franz C. Mayer , and 2 more

chathamhouse.org
Chatham House @chathamhouse.org · 3d
If the US continues to make threats, European countries could refuse to refuel American ships in European ports, require higher payments for the stationing of US troops — or even close US military bases entirely.
US intentions towards Greenland threaten NATO’s future. But European countries are not helpless
US threats to annex Greenland following the attack on Venezuela should be taken seriously. European countries have important leverage they should be prepared to use.
www.chathamhouse.org

Reposted by Ben Tonra

thejournal.ie
The Journal @thejournal.ie · 3d
Former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, writes for The Journal today, looking at Trump's actions in Venezuela and what it means for global politics, particularly the EU.

"We need to re-arm Europe and recharge our economic model for growth", he writes.

jrnl.ie/6920563
Leo Varadkar: The end of Maduro is welcome. The way it happened is not
The former Taoiseach say we now face a new global reality, and Europe must strengthen its defences and recharge economically, if it wishes to remain free.
jrnl.ie

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 3d
💯
taryndevere.bsky.social Taryn de Vere @taryndevere.bsky.social · 3d
X is based in Ireland. Under Irish law what they are doing is illegal. I didn't have "Irish government arguing against removing CSA images" on my 2026 bingo card. I'm fully astonished by FFG here. Anyone who voted for them want to weigh in?
#Speirgorm
davidmacredmond.bsky.social David Mac Redmond @davidmacredmond.bsky.social · 3d
X not responsible for child sexual abuse images, individual users are - Media Minister jrnl.ie/6921190

Reposted by Ben Tonra

taryndevere.bsky.social
Taryn de Vere @taryndevere.bsky.social · 3d
X is based in Ireland. Under Irish law what they are doing is illegal. I didn't have "Irish government arguing against removing CSA images" on my 2026 bingo card. I'm fully astonished by FFG here. Anyone who voted for them want to weigh in?
#Speirgorm

bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra @bentonra.bsky.social · 3d
Is this a ‘government’ minister - or some semi conscious bystander?!?!
newschambers.bsky.social Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 3d
My word. (Again.)

Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Tobias Lock, Peter Campbell , and 5 more

newschambers.bsky.social
Richard Chambers @newschambers.bsky.social · 3d
My word. (Again.)

Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan: "At the end of the day, it's the choice of a person to make these images... technology is moving so fast... even if the law is changed there's no doubt about... the advances are far faster than law is able to respond..."