ido
@ido.bsky.social
Editor of The Sidechannel, a new publication from Ingeniøren.
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ido
@ido.bsky.social
· Jul 7
My photos from Kyiv are published in this month’s Marie Claire Australia, illustrating Frances Mao’s excellent and moving report on relationships during the war.
Reposted by ido
This New Yorker piece about Claude is in turns scary and hilarious: www.newyorker.com/ma...
February 11, 2026 at 7:28 AM
This New Yorker piece about Claude is in turns scary and hilarious: www.newyorker.com/ma...
Don’t see why being a scientist of rockets or otherwise would give you particular insight into coordination between the Scottish Labour leader and the Health Secretary.
February 10, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Don’t see why being a scientist of rockets or otherwise would give you particular insight into coordination between the Scottish Labour leader and the Health Secretary.
Soft power
Massie on Howard Lutnick: "He should just resign. Three people in Great Britain resigned for less than what we've seen Howard Lutnick lie about. He clearly went to the island, if we believe what's in these files. He was in business with Jeffrey Epstein."
February 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Soft power
Reposted by ido
Holy shit, they actually got 310.
NHK has the LDP one seat short of a 310-seat supermajority, something the LDP has never done.
February 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Holy shit, they actually got 310.
Readers hate this kind of journalism. Chasing clicks and engagement devalues trusted brands, which in the age of slop is the only thing setting serious outlets apart.
"the data tells us what is valuable and where to focus" is killing half of the journalism industry
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 8, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Readers hate this kind of journalism. Chasing clicks and engagement devalues trusted brands, which in the age of slop is the only thing setting serious outlets apart.
Reposted by ido
Exclusive: The European Central Bank is working on opening up its liquidity facility to more countries, making it cheaper and easier to access in a bid to foster the international role of the euro, three sources told Reuters reut.rs/4r2973D
Exclusive: ECB to open up liquidity line to more countries in push for bigger euro role - sources
The European Central Bank is working on opening up its liquidity facility to more countries, making it cheaper and easier to access in a bid to foster the international role of the euro, three sources...
reut.rs
February 5, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Exclusive: The European Central Bank is working on opening up its liquidity facility to more countries, making it cheaper and easier to access in a bid to foster the international role of the euro, three sources told Reuters reut.rs/4r2973D
Reposted by ido
Breaking news about the new driving taxes in Iceland
Driver billed for circling Earth 25 times at the speed of sound - RÚV.is
A coach driver in Egilsstaðir flatly refuses to pay nearly ISK 20.000.000 for (allegedly) driving almost a million kilometres in January. This would mean his coach circling the Earth 25 times at the s...
www.ruv.is
February 4, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Breaking news about the new driving taxes in Iceland
Reposted by ido
Such is the outrage in Denmark over both Trump’s desire for Greenland and disparaging remarks about NATO that one of the country’s leading newspapers devoted their Saturday front and plenty of room inside to the bios of all 44 Danes slain during NATO missions in support of the US
February 1, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Such is the outrage in Denmark over both Trump’s desire for Greenland and disparaging remarks about NATO that one of the country’s leading newspapers devoted their Saturday front and plenty of room inside to the bios of all 44 Danes slain during NATO missions in support of the US
Maybe the wrongest part of a generally very wrong thread. Some of the books I’ve most enjoyed reading I picked up serendipitously from a second-hand bookshop not knowing anything about them or the author.
- Time spent in bookshops is mostly wasted (4)
Whatever you think you get from bookstores ("I didn't realise Ishiguro had a new book out!") you could get better in other ways. Read reviews. Speak to people about books they enjoyed.
Time spent browsing for books could be time spent reading instead.
Whatever you think you get from bookstores ("I didn't realise Ishiguro had a new book out!") you could get better in other ways. Read reviews. Speak to people about books they enjoyed.
Time spent browsing for books could be time spent reading instead.
January 23, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Maybe the wrongest part of a generally very wrong thread. Some of the books I’ve most enjoyed reading I picked up serendipitously from a second-hand bookshop not knowing anything about them or the author.
Reposted by ido
This piece is good on how the people running the US are pure posters. They're obsessed with posting on Twitter, finding something new to post on there, and running the FBI is just a great source of new #content. Cool vision of the 'everyone is just a content creator' future we're almost already at.
the most extraordinary piece of reporting: a year inside the FBI (and yes there are implications here for British security- the Five Eyes bit is bonkers) www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Kash Patel’s FBI Is Making America Less Safe, Current and Former Employees Say
Forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:02 AM
This piece is good on how the people running the US are pure posters. They're obsessed with posting on Twitter, finding something new to post on there, and running the FBI is just a great source of new #content. Cool vision of the 'everyone is just a content creator' future we're almost already at.
Reposted by ido
reads like the list of countries attending Russia's May 9 parades
Trump's "Board of Peace": Belarus, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Armenia, Egypt, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Albania, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia.
The US’s new sphere of influence.
The US’s new sphere of influence.
January 22, 2026 at 4:20 PM
reads like the list of countries attending Russia's May 9 parades
Torching your relationship with your closest allies for the square root of nothing all takes some doing.
January 22, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Torching your relationship with your closest allies for the square root of nothing all takes some doing.
Reposted by ido
“The strong do what they can" is what Athens said right before destroying itself. New piece on the Carney Doctrine, Vaclav’s grocer, and American hubris.
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
The Strong Will Suffer What They Must
Vaclav's Grocer and American Hubris
hegemon.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:54 PM
“The strong do what they can" is what Athens said right before destroying itself. New piece on the Carney Doctrine, Vaclav’s grocer, and American hubris.
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
Reposted by ido
"We have seen empires fall and civilizations crumble. But we’ve almost never seen a people renounce their leadership of the world—all at once, in full public view. That is what has happened in the 365 days since January 20, 2025."
This Is the End
Putinism abroad always morphs into Putinism at home. And we chose this path. Why? Because something-something the price of eggs.
lnk.thebulwark.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:00 AM
"We have seen empires fall and civilizations crumble. But we’ve almost never seen a people renounce their leadership of the world—all at once, in full public view. That is what has happened in the 365 days since January 20, 2025."
Is Washington’s friendship in the room with us right now?
"US President Donald Trump’s designs on the Danish territory of Greenland have forced Europe to confront an uncomfortable question: How much do they need Washington’s money, military might and ultimately its friendship?" writes Joseph Ataman and Clare Sebastian. | Analysis
Trump is crossing red lines. Why doesn’t Europe push him back? | CNN
US President Donald Trump’s designs on the Danish territory of Greenland have forced Europe to confront an uncomfortable question: How much do they need Washington’s money, military might and ultimate...
www.cnn.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Is Washington’s friendship in the room with us right now?
This scumbag. Article 5 has been triggered once, by America. Soldiers from allies from the UK to Denmark died because the US requested their help. And this fucking president says he’s not sure allies would come to the US’s defence.
January 21, 2026 at 2:21 PM
This scumbag. Article 5 has been triggered once, by America. Soldiers from allies from the UK to Denmark died because the US requested their help. And this fucking president says he’s not sure allies would come to the US’s defence.
What is the charge?
how advanced is your nation's sinophobia? very? extremely? you are like baby, we are inventing sinophobia the likes of which cannot be dreamt of
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
The Chinese restaurants surrounding our most sensitive military bases
The Daily Mail can reveal a bizarre anomaly in the distribution of Chinese restaurants across the country.
www.dailymail.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 11:58 AM
What is the charge?
Reposted by ido
Wow. That's very insightful. It *is* a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of something—a wife. If you'd like, I could help you draft a "Wife Marriage Acquisition Plan" or a "Good Fortune Business Plan."
January 21, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Wow. That's very insightful. It *is* a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of something—a wife. If you'd like, I could help you draft a "Wife Marriage Acquisition Plan" or a "Good Fortune Business Plan."
Reposted by ido
The Catholic archbishop of the U.S. military services said it “would be morally acceptable to disobey” orders if troops considered them against their conscience.
‘Morally acceptable’ for U.S. troops to disobey orders, archbishop says
Timothy P. Broglio, a Vatican senior cleric, expressed concern at President Donald Trump’s U.S. military policy as he pursues Greenland.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The Catholic archbishop of the U.S. military services said it “would be morally acceptable to disobey” orders if troops considered them against their conscience.
Pathetic. If you’re going to threaten an invasion at least have the dignity to recognise why your victims might be scared.
US Treasury Secretary Bessent brushes off 'hysteria' over Greenland reut.rs/3YKcxvr
US Treasury Secretary Bessent brushes off 'hysteria' over Greenland
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence on Tuesday that the United States and European countries would find a solution over the U.S. administration's aim to take over Greenland, brushing off "hysteria" about a possible trade war.
reut.rs
January 20, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Pathetic. If you’re going to threaten an invasion at least have the dignity to recognise why your victims might be scared.
I am not sure Americans grasp the degree of damage that’s been done. Trump could leave office tomorrow and it would take a generation to fix relations with the countries that used to be the US’s closest friends.
An Arctic Mujahedeen, eh? What a time to be alive.
Canada's Global & Mail: Military models Canadian response to hypothetical American invasion. www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Canada's Global & Mail: Military models Canadian response to hypothetical American invasion. www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
January 20, 2026 at 2:49 PM
I am not sure Americans grasp the degree of damage that’s been done. Trump could leave office tomorrow and it would take a generation to fix relations with the countries that used to be the US’s closest friends.
Reposted by ido
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 AM
Feels like something cracked today in the transatlantic alliance. Europeans have been swallowing their pride, bitting their tongues, and bending the knee. That strategy may have bought them time but it has now clearly failed. It also had a major cost - it has made the WH think Europe will cave. 1/
Enough appeasement. Europe didn’t ask for this and doesn’t want this but if the Americans want to behave like this it’s time to stand up for ourselves.
January 17, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Enough appeasement. Europe didn’t ask for this and doesn’t want this but if the Americans want to behave like this it’s time to stand up for ourselves.
Gemini is better anyway www.ft.com/content/ec16...
OpenAI brings advertising to ChatGPT in push for new revenue
$500bn start-up seeks ways to fund expansion and fend off competition from rivals Google and Anthropic
www.ft.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Gemini is better anyway www.ft.com/content/ec16...
Reposted by ido
I just don't see much of a point in pretending that it's 1993 and newsrooms with reporters who check sources and consult libel lawyers determine what people see. People are seeing a lot of propaganda instead. It is what it is.
January 15, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I just don't see much of a point in pretending that it's 1993 and newsrooms with reporters who check sources and consult libel lawyers determine what people see. People are seeing a lot of propaganda instead. It is what it is.