Chris Johns
banner
chrisbjohns.bsky.social
Chris Johns
@chrisbjohns.bsky.social
Economist, podcaster, journalist, curious.
Reposted by Chris Johns
Trump's skin is thinner than a paper straw halfway through a McDonald's milkshake.
January 30, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
A message from Greenland…
January 26, 2026 at 3:07 AM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Lewis is right. And if that is the ultimate destination why must everything involve baby steps?
Ground rent cap is good news (though peppercorn would be better straight away). Also welcome is promised abolition of new leasehold properties. Better still would be the outright abolition of leasehold altogether, a feudal anachronism virtually unique to England and Wales.
January 27, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Chris Johns
It might be the only language they still understand.
“Danish citizens are organising a huge boycott that includes cancelling planned holidays in the US, cancelling subscriptions to on-demand services based in the US & more generally, recommending the use of EU services instead of those provided by American platforms.”

So, same as Canadians.
January 25, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
They know what they say is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.

The media know that what they repeat is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.

Their supporters know what they are told is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.

Telling the truth is not enough, unless people care about the truth.
January 24, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse serving veterans. He died trying to protect protestors being assaulted. A group of anonymous & masked men fired chemicals into his face, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him in broad daylight in front of witnesses. Then his government smeared him & defended his murder.
January 24, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Worth remembering when looking at the horrific scenes in the US right now that both Reform and the Tories have pledged to bring in ICE-style organisations to the UK if they win power
January 24, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Brilliant piece
Trump sincerely believes Norway stole “his” Nobel Peace Prize.

That isn’t a joke. It’s the key to understanding his second presidency.

We have to drop the self-delusion, over-intellectualisation and listen to him. America is no longer Europe’s ally.

My latest 👇

open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The Valueless Presidency
America is no longer Europe's ally. Stop bleating about NATO. It's already gone.
open.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
If you liked Mark Carney's speech, then have a listen to this podcast interview with the Canadian prime minister by @gideonrachman.bsky.social recorded just after that interview www.ft.com/content/19f1...
Mark Carney on a world in rupture — and what comes next
‘Globalisation is over, but like-minded countries can still work together’
www.ft.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
I think part of the reason everyone is so blown away by this Carney speech is it's so long since we heard an actual grown-up articulate serious thoughts about the world. Empty vessels have been making a lot of noise
Mark Carney's speech really is terrific: full text is here and very much worth your time.
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
paulwells.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Reposted by Chris Johns
It's so exhausting to to be constantly told by American leaders that the defining policy of the 80 odd years during which the US became the most wealthy and powerful country in the history of the world was a grossly unfair failure for them.
US trade secretary Howard Lutnick really not mincing his words here at Davos: "We are here to make a v clear point: globalisation has failed the West and the USA. It's a failed policy. It's what the WEF has stood for, which is, export, offshore, find the cheapest labour in the world."
January 20, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Well that finishes any idea of the EU as a serious player in the emerging world order.
European Parliament narrowly votes to request an ECJ opinion on EU-Mercosur, thereby potentially delaying ratification for 2 years.

And you thought this thing was done...
January 21, 2026 at 12:01 PM
January 21, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
The time for sane-washing is surely over.
January 20, 2026 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Chris Johns
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Does your #UnhingedHeadline spot have an “on this day” section? Thankfully I missed this first time around.
A year ago today Boris the Liar spaffed out this description of an event that didn't actually happen and the Daily Fail still put it on the front page because who cares about actual facts?
January 20, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Hungary and Czech Republic choose not to back Denmark. I hope they're not not looking for anyone to back them in in future. EU doesn't have the mechanisms but should suspend these two states from EU, meanwhile carry on dealing with Trump's absurd megolamania without them.
💥Viktor Orbán’s foreign minister Péter Szijjártó says Hungary is BLOCKING a joint EU statement on Greenland.

After years acting as a Trojan horse for Russia and China, Budapest now does the same for Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Orbán ally Andrej Babiš’s Czech government also refuses to back Denmark...
January 19, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
All of these people - Mogg, Farage, Carswell, Jenrick, Hannan and the rest need to be forever reminded of what they backed and supported
January 18, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
👏🏼
January 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Repressive occupying forces often believe that a few acts of horrifically unjustified violence will get the public to forfeit freedom and kowtow to them, especially if the violent is well publicized. But it usually does not work that way.
A woman recording an ICE agent tells him "Shame on you."

The agent responds, "Have you all not learned from the past couple of days?"

"Learned what?" she asks

Then he knocks her phone out of her hand
January 10, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Your eyes are lying to you, says the Dear Leader.
Indeed. Can it get worse than a president lying to cover up a murder bad?
January 7, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
I strongly encourage people to watch the videos circulating and decide whether they think the President’s claims are accurate.
Your eyes are lying to you, says the Dear Leader.
Indeed. Can it get worse than a president lying to cover up a murder bad?
January 7, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Interesting stylistic clash on Saturday night which dominated the post-match press chat

Munster are raging against rugby's trend of kicking and set-piece battles.

Leinster want to be more creative but think it's naive.

Who is right?

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Tadhg Beirne: ‘The style of the game has gone backwards’
Munster forward would prefer if rugby had more flow after defeat to Leinster in scrappy affair
www.irishtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Absolutely nothing going on here.
October 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Chris Johns
Grit and niggle aplenty, but enough quality to give punters their money's worth?

Report from Thomond ⬇️

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/...
Leinster show grit to beat Munster in scrappy URC clash at Thomond Park
Josh van der Flier shines in game lacking in attacking quality but full of physicality and niggle
www.irishtimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:55 PM