Chris Dickenson
@cpdickenson.bsky.social
Ancient historian/archaeologist. British. Live in the Netherlands. Hobbies: reading (obviously!), writing fiction, music (pop/Classical), painting miniatures. Tentatively getting back into blogging: https://thefourthsophistic.wordpress.com
Pinned
Chris Dickenson
@cpdickenson.bsky.social
· Oct 14
Political polarization is an unhelpful myth. Only one side is becoming more extreme. There is nothing extreme in standing firm in opposing rightwing extremism.
Why is the European press playing along with the idea that Trump is trying to help Ukraine?
February 18, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Why is the European press playing along with the idea that Trump is trying to help Ukraine?
So Robert Jenrick says net zero is a distraction? The real distraction is immigration. It’s the thing the far right use to get people riled up and to make themselves relevant so that there’s no attention for their real agenda which is dismantling democracy for the benefit of malign billionaires.
February 18, 2026 at 9:24 AM
So Robert Jenrick says net zero is a distraction? The real distraction is immigration. It’s the thing the far right use to get people riled up and to make themselves relevant so that there’s no attention for their real agenda which is dismantling democracy for the benefit of malign billionaires.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
At this very moment both the BBC News and Sky News channels are yet again showing a live speech by Nigel Farage. When will they start showing every speech by @zackpolanski.bsky.social and @eddavey.libdems.org.uk live as well?
February 17, 2026 at 11:34 AM
At this very moment both the BBC News and Sky News channels are yet again showing a live speech by Nigel Farage. When will they start showing every speech by @zackpolanski.bsky.social and @eddavey.libdems.org.uk live as well?
Three days ago the Independent ran an editorial saying Starmer was rightl to seek closer ties to Europe. Today it thinks Robert Jenrick spouting nonsense about climate change is the world’s top story. It’s 90% pushing Trumpism while throwing occasional a few crumbs to keep fools like me reading.
February 18, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Three days ago the Independent ran an editorial saying Starmer was rightl to seek closer ties to Europe. Today it thinks Robert Jenrick spouting nonsense about climate change is the world’s top story. It’s 90% pushing Trumpism while throwing occasional a few crumbs to keep fools like me reading.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
It’s President’s Day and we have nobody to honor. 🇺🇸
February 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
It’s President’s Day and we have nobody to honor. 🇺🇸
Yeah it’s the tough immigration policies and Christian conservatism. Nothing to do with the dismantling democracy and costing up to Putin. Shameless normalization from the Independent here. Again.
February 17, 2026 at 7:19 AM
Yeah it’s the tough immigration policies and Christian conservatism. Nothing to do with the dismantling democracy and costing up to Putin. Shameless normalization from the Independent here. Again.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
On July 27, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against Nixon which all were approved on bipartisan votes.
🎯Obstructing justice & mounting a cover-up
🎯Defying congressional subpoenas
🎯Interfering with and misusing the FBI/DOJ
Trump is outdoing Nixon by far.
🎯Obstructing justice & mounting a cover-up
🎯Defying congressional subpoenas
🎯Interfering with and misusing the FBI/DOJ
Trump is outdoing Nixon by far.
February 16, 2026 at 12:12 AM
On July 27, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against Nixon which all were approved on bipartisan votes.
🎯Obstructing justice & mounting a cover-up
🎯Defying congressional subpoenas
🎯Interfering with and misusing the FBI/DOJ
Trump is outdoing Nixon by far.
🎯Obstructing justice & mounting a cover-up
🎯Defying congressional subpoenas
🎯Interfering with and misusing the FBI/DOJ
Trump is outdoing Nixon by far.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Matt Goodwin said in a post on X: “Welcome to the UK. Where you go to prison for 18 months for anti-immigration tweets. This is insane.”
No. What is insane is shrugging off incitement to racial murder.
Put this man in the bin, not the House of Commons.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
No. What is insane is shrugging off incitement to racial murder.
Put this man in the bin, not the House of Commons.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reform candidate called it ‘insane’ to jail man who said ‘burn asylum hotels’
Exclusive: It comes after The Independent revealed that Matt Goodwin called for ‘young girls’ to be given ‘biological reality’ check
www.independent.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 7:32 AM
Matt Goodwin said in a post on X: “Welcome to the UK. Where you go to prison for 18 months for anti-immigration tweets. This is insane.”
No. What is insane is shrugging off incitement to racial murder.
Put this man in the bin, not the House of Commons.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
No. What is insane is shrugging off incitement to racial murder.
Put this man in the bin, not the House of Commons.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
As if we needed more proof of how thankful the country should be that her premiership was mercifully short lived www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘Right about everything’: Liz Truss tweets photo of meeting with Trump
Unclear how encounter between Britain’s shortest-serving PM and US president was initiated and how long it lasted
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 6:42 AM
As if we needed more proof of how thankful the country should be that her premiership was mercifully short lived www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Are we ready??? Senate and Congress seem to be losing…..
February 14, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Are we ready??? Senate and Congress seem to be losing…..
Political polls aren’t just for gathering opinion but also steering it. Imagine if the UK had polls with the questions: do you approve of Donald Trump’s assault on US democracy? is Trump a friend to the UK? How likely are you to vote for a Trump supporting party like the Tories or Reform?
February 15, 2026 at 8:32 AM
Political polls aren’t just for gathering opinion but also steering it. Imagine if the UK had polls with the questions: do you approve of Donald Trump’s assault on US democracy? is Trump a friend to the UK? How likely are you to vote for a Trump supporting party like the Tories or Reform?
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Please be careful in London. I have spent 25 years there, but I have never heard a story as frightening as this one from today in which nothing at all happened.
February 14, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Please be careful in London. I have spent 25 years there, but I have never heard a story as frightening as this one from today in which nothing at all happened.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission 👏
President of the European Commission 👏
February 14, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission 👏
President of the European Commission 👏
Especially on defending democracy. And we need to be very clear where the threats are coming from. There has been an international effort to destroy democracy the last decade or so. The current US government is now fully signed up to that agenda.
Europe and the UK should come closer together – on security, on economy or on defending our democracies.
Ten years on from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.
So, it is in our common interest to be ambitious about our partnership.
Ten years on from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.
So, it is in our common interest to be ambitious about our partnership.
February 14, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Especially on defending democracy. And we need to be very clear where the threats are coming from. There has been an international effort to destroy democracy the last decade or so. The current US government is now fully signed up to that agenda.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Europe and the UK should come closer together – on security, on economy or on defending our democracies.
Ten years on from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.
So, it is in our common interest to be ambitious about our partnership.
Ten years on from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.
So, it is in our common interest to be ambitious about our partnership.
February 14, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Europe and the UK should come closer together – on security, on economy or on defending our democracies.
Ten years on from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.
So, it is in our common interest to be ambitious about our partnership.
Ten years on from Brexit, our futures are as bound as ever.
So, it is in our common interest to be ambitious about our partnership.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
I prefer it when ‘Traitors’ describes the TV program, not the people potentially electing the next government.
2024 Reform UK voters are also less likely to describe themselves as anti-Russia (48%) than other voters (66-79%)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
February 14, 2026 at 11:14 AM
I prefer it when ‘Traitors’ describes the TV program, not the people potentially electing the next government.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Caretakers of managed decline?!!! The only decline is the one they are deliberately trying to inflict. The decline into authoritarianism and rampant corruption www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
US won’t be ‘caretakers’ of West’s ‘managed decline’, Rubio warns in Munich: Live
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told security summit that the US wants ‘allies who can defend themselves’
www.independent.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Caretakers of managed decline?!!! The only decline is the one they are deliberately trying to inflict. The decline into authoritarianism and rampant corruption www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
February 14, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Just checking, it's now ok to flee your homeland, because you're afraid for your safety, and seek refuge in another Country?
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Glad we've cleared that up. Let's hear no more about immigration and refugees then.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Pure Donald Trump delusional insanity amplifying his mental state.
February 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Pure Donald Trump delusional insanity amplifying his mental state.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
These people are unbearable, their ideas are toxic, we have to defeat them and stump them into the ground.
Caretakers of managed decline?!!! The only decline is the one they are deliberately trying to inflict. The decline into authoritarianism and rampant corruption www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
US won’t be ‘caretakers’ of West’s ‘managed decline’, Rubio warns in Munich: Live
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told security summit that the US wants ‘allies who can defend themselves’
www.independent.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 9:07 AM
These people are unbearable, their ideas are toxic, we have to defeat them and stump them into the ground.
Caretakers of managed decline?!!! The only decline is the one they are deliberately trying to inflict. The decline into authoritarianism and rampant corruption www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
US won’t be ‘caretakers’ of West’s ‘managed decline’, Rubio warns in Munich: Live
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told security summit that the US wants ‘allies who can defend themselves’
www.independent.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Caretakers of managed decline?!!! The only decline is the one they are deliberately trying to inflict. The decline into authoritarianism and rampant corruption www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
AOC: "Extreme level of wealth inequality leads to social instability and drives authoritarianism, right-wing populism, and really dangerous domestic internal politics. That is a direct outcome of the failure of democracies over decades to deliver."
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
AOC: "Extreme level of wealth inequality leads to social instability and drives authoritarianism, right-wing populism, and really dangerous domestic internal politics. That is a direct outcome of the failure of democracies over decades to deliver."
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
Sanders: The American people do not want this country to be an authoritarian society or an oligarchy. We have our differences, that’s what democracy is about—we argue it out. We don’t throw people who disagree in jail. We don’t intimidate the media. We don’t send ICE agents to shoot people.
February 13, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Sanders: The American people do not want this country to be an authoritarian society or an oligarchy. We have our differences, that’s what democracy is about—we argue it out. We don’t throw people who disagree in jail. We don’t intimidate the media. We don’t send ICE agents to shoot people.
Reposted by Chris Dickenson
When a person who tried to steal an election with an orchestrated insurrection tells you he’s going to protect future elections, you’re fucked. The time to deal with him is now America. The rest of us are doing our part. Your turn.
Sincerely,
The Free World
Sincerely,
The Free World
February 13, 2026 at 11:47 PM
When a person who tried to steal an election with an orchestrated insurrection tells you he’s going to protect future elections, you’re fucked. The time to deal with him is now America. The rest of us are doing our part. Your turn.
Sincerely,
The Free World
Sincerely,
The Free World
You can fight Reform without talking about their ties to the global antidemocratic project. You can’t do that without saying “look what Trump is doing in the US”.
February 14, 2026 at 7:59 AM
You can fight Reform without talking about their ties to the global antidemocratic project. You can’t do that without saying “look what Trump is doing in the US”.