Mark Chadbourn
@chadbourn.bsky.social
Everything is Connected.
Journalist, novelist, screenwriter. Always looking for stories. LDN, NYC, LA
Support my work at: https://substack.com/@chadbourn
Buy Me A Coffee: coff.ee/chadbourn
Journalist, novelist, screenwriter. Always looking for stories. LDN, NYC, LA
Support my work at: https://substack.com/@chadbourn
Buy Me A Coffee: coff.ee/chadbourn
Pinned
Mark Chadbourn
@chadbourn.bsky.social
· Dec 21
The theme for this feed is Everything is Connected.
The posts cover news and politics from all over the world, things that I think it’s worth paying attention to but which may not always get priority in other media.
Even if it happens 5000 miles away it can still roll up on your doorstep.
The posts cover news and politics from all over the world, things that I think it’s worth paying attention to but which may not always get priority in other media.
Even if it happens 5000 miles away it can still roll up on your doorstep.
The US military has shot down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, Reuters reports.
February 3, 2026 at 5:41 PM
The US military has shot down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, Reuters reports.
Taste-free zone.
I hadn't realised there was a design for the gargantuan planned 'Arc de Trump' in Washington DC. It's so gaudy! And much bigger than any other triumphal arch in the world (in fact, second only to Hitler's planned Berlin arch), so it will certainly stick out like a sore thumb.
February 3, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Taste-free zone.
A second senior Iranian diplomat has defected, according to Iran International. This time it’s Gholam-Reza Derikvand from Iran’s embassy in Austria who is seeking political asylum in Switzerland.
The last one was Ali-Reza Hokmabad of Iran’s mission to the UN in Geneva.
The last one was Ali-Reza Hokmabad of Iran’s mission to the UN in Geneva.
February 3, 2026 at 1:57 PM
A second senior Iranian diplomat has defected, according to Iran International. This time it’s Gholam-Reza Derikvand from Iran’s embassy in Austria who is seeking political asylum in Switzerland.
The last one was Ali-Reza Hokmabad of Iran’s mission to the UN in Geneva.
The last one was Ali-Reza Hokmabad of Iran’s mission to the UN in Geneva.
Mandelson on course for a meeting with the Old Bill.
Government refers material to police after review of Mandelson Epstein emails - live updates
PM Keir Starmer calls allegations that Lord Mandelson passed on sensitive government information to Epstein
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Mandelson on course for a meeting with the Old Bill.
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves meeting the EU’s Valdis Dombrovskis and Maroš Šefčovič just now.
Reeves: “In a changing world, the UK and the European Union are working together to tackle the challenges of our time.”
Reeves: “In a changing world, the UK and the European Union are working together to tackle the challenges of our time.”
February 3, 2026 at 11:31 AM
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves meeting the EU’s Valdis Dombrovskis and Maroš Šefčovič just now.
Reeves: “In a changing world, the UK and the European Union are working together to tackle the challenges of our time.”
Reeves: “In a changing world, the UK and the European Union are working together to tackle the challenges of our time.”
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez at the WGS: “While others look inwards, we look outwards, finding new partners in new regions and welcoming those who come from abroad.
“Spain builds bridges, not fences. It looks to the future, not to the past. It embraces cooperation, not fragmentation.”
“Spain builds bridges, not fences. It looks to the future, not to the past. It embraces cooperation, not fragmentation.”
February 3, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez at the WGS: “While others look inwards, we look outwards, finding new partners in new regions and welcoming those who come from abroad.
“Spain builds bridges, not fences. It looks to the future, not to the past. It embraces cooperation, not fragmentation.”
“Spain builds bridges, not fences. It looks to the future, not to the past. It embraces cooperation, not fragmentation.”
France getting serious with Musk.
Paris prosecutors raid France offices of Elon Musk’s X – Europe live
The raid is linked to a year-long investigation into alleged abuse of algorithms and fraudulent data extraction by X
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:56 AM
France getting serious with Musk.
"We will never have true strategic independence, absent our own nuclear deterrent."
Canada shouldn’t rule out acquiring nuclear weapons, former top soldier says
Retired general Wayne Eyre told an Ottawa crowd that developing a nuclear deterrent is not an immediate concern, but should be an option
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:45 AM
"We will never have true strategic independence, absent our own nuclear deterrent."
“Dombrovskis's intervention marked the strongest comments yet from Brussels about its willingness to re-engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.”
EU has 'open mind' on UK customs union debate, says commissioner
Valdis Dombrovskis says the EU is willing to engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 8:40 AM
“Dombrovskis's intervention marked the strongest comments yet from Brussels about its willingness to re-engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.”
The Clintons to testify.
Bill and Hillary Clinton agree to testify in House Epstein investigation
Decision to give testimony comes days before House was expected to vote to hold pair in contempt of Congress
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:14 AM
The Clintons to testify.
There’s a wall slowly being built around the US, from the outside.
International companies cut off business in the U.S. because of ICE — The Washington Post
French multinational Capgemini moved to distance itself “immediately” from ICE after criticism from French officials; a Canadian company has also canceled a sale to the agency.
apple.news
February 2, 2026 at 11:26 PM
There’s a wall slowly being built around the US, from the outside.
Musk merges SpaceX with xAI (and X).
Now you’ll probably never find out how badly TwitterX is doing.
Now you’ll probably never find out how badly TwitterX is doing.
Musk's SpaceX acquires xAI
Elon Musk's space firm SpaceX said on Monday it has acquired his artificial intelligence startup xAI, combining the rocket-and-satellite company with the maker of the Grok chatbot in a move aimed at u...
www.reuters.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Musk merges SpaceX with xAI (and X).
Now you’ll probably never find out how badly TwitterX is doing.
Now you’ll probably never find out how badly TwitterX is doing.
Trump on Iran: “We are talking to Iran right now, if we can work something out, that would be great.
“If we can't, probably bad things will happen."
“If we can't, probably bad things will happen."
February 2, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Trump on Iran: “We are talking to Iran right now, if we can work something out, that would be great.
“If we can't, probably bad things will happen."
“If we can't, probably bad things will happen."
“The most transparent administration in American history “.
February 2, 2026 at 9:36 PM
“The most transparent administration in American history “.
Trump’s planetary sized grudge against Thomas Massie.
February 2, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Trump’s planetary sized grudge against Thomas Massie.
CNN is reporting the real reason Trump is closing the Kennedy Centre for two years is not for renovation: “the Kennedy Center does not have a 2026/2027 season. There would not have been any programming to announce."
February 2, 2026 at 7:45 PM
CNN is reporting the real reason Trump is closing the Kennedy Centre for two years is not for renovation: “the Kennedy Center does not have a 2026/2027 season. There would not have been any programming to announce."
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are to meet on Friday in Istanbul, Axios reports.
February 2, 2026 at 7:05 PM
US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are to meet on Friday in Istanbul, Axios reports.
Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has called for the federalisation of Europe.
“Power requires Europe to move from confederation to federation. Where Europe has federated—on trade, competition, the single market, and monetary policy—we are respected as a power and negotiate as one.
1/2
“Power requires Europe to move from confederation to federation. Where Europe has federated—on trade, competition, the single market, and monetary policy—we are respected as a power and negotiate as one.
1/2
February 2, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has called for the federalisation of Europe.
“Power requires Europe to move from confederation to federation. Where Europe has federated—on trade, competition, the single market, and monetary policy—we are respected as a power and negotiate as one.
1/2
“Power requires Europe to move from confederation to federation. Where Europe has federated—on trade, competition, the single market, and monetary policy—we are respected as a power and negotiate as one.
1/2
Reposted by Mark Chadbourn
H.R.792 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): This bill directs the National Park Service to add the figure of President Donald Trump to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov
February 2, 2026 at 7:43 AM
H.R.792 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): This bill directs the National Park Service to add the figure of President Donald Trump to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
Looks like Australia is unfortunately catching up with other parts of the world when it comes to the populist Right.
Latest AFR/ RedBridge Accent poll.
Latest AFR/ RedBridge Accent poll.
February 2, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Looks like Australia is unfortunately catching up with other parts of the world when it comes to the populist Right.
Latest AFR/ RedBridge Accent poll.
Latest AFR/ RedBridge Accent poll.
