Ben Tonra
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bentonra.bsky.social
Ben Tonra
@bentonra.bsky.social

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.

Political science 84%
Sociology 11%

US democracy is collapsing at pace. The Republic itself may well not stand.

The ‘city on the hill’ is crumbling.

Europe has to prepare accordingly.
I don’t see how this country survives until 2029 unless Trump is impeached and removed. This level of lawless malice is not sustainable. What fresh horrors await us this week?

Look at the Fed chairman’s statement.
Last man standing between US and monetary chaos.
Genuinely astonishing. This represents a concerted effort to hack down an independent branch of government and subordinate it to the executive. Fixing something that ain’t broke is never a good idea.
www.ft.com/content/a423...
US prosecutors launch criminal investigation into Federal Reserve’s Jay Powell
Chair says probe follows central bank’s refusal to bow to White House push for much lower interest rates
www.ft.com

Reposted by Ben Tonra

Genuinely astonishing. This represents a concerted effort to hack down an independent branch of government and subordinate it to the executive. Fixing something that ain’t broke is never a good idea.
www.ft.com/content/a423...
US prosecutors launch criminal investigation into Federal Reserve’s Jay Powell
Chair says probe follows central bank’s refusal to bow to White House push for much lower interest rates
www.ft.com
I don’t see how this country survives until 2029 unless Trump is impeached and removed. This level of lawless malice is not sustainable. What fresh horrors await us this week?
This is the sort of statement that was expected from every university president and law firm partner over the last year. That those statements weren’t made played a huge part in where we are now and people will remember.
Jerome Powell: "This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation."

Reposted by Ben Tonra

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

Christianity with purpose and with God.

As opposed to the idolatrous trolls cosplaying Crusades.
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 ...,
Ronald Reagan’s budget director.

😂

💯

Reposted by Ben Tonra

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

NATO’s formal institutional silence over Greenland is deafening.

How’s ‘Daddyz’ cheerleader doing?’
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

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

What’s the accurate German translation of “WTAF” when he meets US interlocutors?!

Reposted by Ben Tonra

The Slovenian magazine, “Objektiv”, is getting accolades for this brilliant cover design.
Sweden's paper of record says in light of where Trump is taking the US it's necessary to discuss "joint Nordic nuclear weapons – perhaps together with Germany".
www.dn.se/ledare/ingen...
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.

“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
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

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

💯

Reposted by Ben Tonra

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

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

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)”
'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

Outstanding.
🚨 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
🚨 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

'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