John Lyons aka The Lyons Den
@johnthelyonsden.bsky.social
Editor Americas/Washington Bureau Chief for ABC News. Newly released “Bunker in Kyiv”. Author several books including Harper Collins best-selling “Balcony Over Jerusalem.”Twice named Australian Journalist of the Year. Four Walkley awards. Personal account
Pinned
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv: huge thanks to the booksellers particularly BookPeople for selecting Balcony Over Jerusalem as one of the best Australian books of last 25 years. Your support for me & other Aussie authors hugely appreciated by us all. Thank you!
What do Trump, Musk & Murdoch have in common? All colliding with the Ghost of Epstein & risking reputational death spiral. A key question now is do Murdochs turn Fox News on Trump. Just as Banquo's Ghost hovered over Macbeth, Epstein haunts Oval Office. My new column: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein haunts the world's most powerful men
What do the most powerful man in the world, the wealthiest man in the world, and the most powerful media baron in the world, have in common? Their destinies are all colliding with the ghost of Jeffrey...
www.abc.net.au
July 22, 2025 at 2:54 AM
What do Trump, Musk & Murdoch have in common? All colliding with the Ghost of Epstein & risking reputational death spiral. A key question now is do Murdochs turn Fox News on Trump. Just as Banquo's Ghost hovered over Macbeth, Epstein haunts Oval Office. My new column: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Trump stands back as Israel tries bombing its way to a new neighbourhood… Israel’s real agenda & what role the US is really playing with Iran and Israel. Donald Trump & plausible deniability that the US is not involved. My latest analysis.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
Netanyahu's agenda is clear, but Trump wants plausible deniability
There are many things happening in the Middle East at the moment but beneath them lies one single through-line: Israel is attempting to reshape the political map of the region.
www.abc.net.au
June 16, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Trump stands back as Israel tries bombing its way to a new neighbourhood… Israel’s real agenda & what role the US is really playing with Iran and Israel. Donald Trump & plausible deniability that the US is not involved. My latest analysis.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
Thank you, Michael!
Reading ‘A Bunker in Kyiv’ now @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social always grounded, to the point, well-rounded. www.harpercollins.com.au/978073334349...
June 16, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Thank you, Michael!
Musk v Trump: These two men can destroy each other. They’re flirting with mutually assured destruction but they now probably will both step back from that precipice. Here are the reasons why. My latest column from Washington DC.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
Trump and Musk must hold back or risk mutually assured destruction
The US president believes he is a world-class negotiator and deal-maker. He will now have to use the strong negotiating skills he claims to have to reach a ceasefire deal with tech billionaire Elon Mu...
www.abc.net.au
June 7, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Musk v Trump: These two men can destroy each other. They’re flirting with mutually assured destruction but they now probably will both step back from that precipice. Here are the reasons why. My latest column from Washington DC.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
Has Trump created a monster? Musk v Trump. Support for @elonmusk from Fox News viewers will worry Trump who doesn’t want a public split with Musk. He also won’t like a sword-wielding Uma Thurman. Excellent analysis from my ABC colleague in Washington @BradRyan
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
Musk vs Republicans leaves Trump to wonder if he's created a monster
The anger with Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" is taking many creative forms of Elon Musk's X account. It's a different story on Trump's Truth Social.
www.abc.net.au
June 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Has Trump created a monster? Musk v Trump. Support for @elonmusk from Fox News viewers will worry Trump who doesn’t want a public split with Musk. He also won’t like a sword-wielding Uma Thurman. Excellent analysis from my ABC colleague in Washington @BradRyan
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...
Reposted by John Lyons aka The Lyons Den
“All bets are off. Does AUKUS mean anything these days? I'm not sure it means anything to the man who's on the balcony behind me.”
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social re Trump’s new decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%.
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social re Trump’s new decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%.
June 5, 2025 at 12:27 AM
“All bets are off. Does AUKUS mean anything these days? I'm not sure it means anything to the man who's on the balcony behind me.”
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social re Trump’s new decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%.
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social re Trump’s new decision to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%.
Reposted by John Lyons aka The Lyons Den
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv: huge thanks to the booksellers particularly BookPeople for selecting Balcony Over Jerusalem as one of the best Australian books of last 25 years. Your support for me & other Aussie authors hugely appreciated by us all. Thank you!
May 31, 2025 at 2:26 AM
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv: huge thanks to the booksellers particularly BookPeople for selecting Balcony Over Jerusalem as one of the best Australian books of last 25 years. Your support for me & other Aussie authors hugely appreciated by us all. Thank you!
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv: huge thanks to the booksellers particularly BookPeople for selecting Balcony Over Jerusalem as one of the best Australian books of last 25 years. Your support for me & other Aussie authors hugely appreciated by us all. Thank you!
May 31, 2025 at 2:26 AM
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv: huge thanks to the booksellers particularly BookPeople for selecting Balcony Over Jerusalem as one of the best Australian books of last 25 years. Your support for me & other Aussie authors hugely appreciated by us all. Thank you!
x.com
May 31, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Fascinating - on Elon Musk
NEW: Megan Twohey and I went deep on Elon Musk’s intense drug use as he rose to political power alongside Trump last year. He was using so much ketamine that he told people it was affecting his bladder. At SpaceX, he is getting warnings ahead of drug tests www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/u...
On the Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama
www.nytimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Fascinating - on Elon Musk
Reposted by John Lyons aka The Lyons Den
“The BBC recently reported six babies freezing to death because there were no blankets.
“Clearly, anybody but the most hardline supporters of Israel can see that this is a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions.”
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social
“Clearly, anybody but the most hardline supporters of Israel can see that this is a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions.”
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 11:28 PM
“The BBC recently reported six babies freezing to death because there were no blankets.
“Clearly, anybody but the most hardline supporters of Israel can see that this is a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions.”
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social
“Clearly, anybody but the most hardline supporters of Israel can see that this is a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions.”
- @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv. Looking forward to session this Sun @SydWritersFest with @PeterGreste. I'll be on video from US. We'll discuss Trump's intriguing rel'ship with Putin & the reality in Gaza. "Bunker" tells the story of heroic Ukrainians & why Putin can never conquer.
May 22, 2025 at 3:44 AM
From A Balcony Over Jerusalem to A Bunker in Kyiv. Looking forward to session this Sun @SydWritersFest with @PeterGreste. I'll be on video from US. We'll discuss Trump's intriguing rel'ship with Putin & the reality in Gaza. "Bunker" tells the story of heroic Ukrainians & why Putin can never conquer.
For those of you in Sydney: a discussion in Bondi this coming Tuesday evening MC’d by Paul Barry about my new book on Ukraine looking at Putin, Trump & where it goes from here. Please join is if you can
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
John Lyons: An Evening with the Author
Join John Lyons to discuss his new book 'A Bunker in Kyiv' in store at Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore.
urldefense.com
April 24, 2025 at 10:43 AM
For those of you in Sydney: a discussion in Bondi this coming Tuesday evening MC’d by Paul Barry about my new book on Ukraine looking at Putin, Trump & where it goes from here. Please join is if you can
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
“America’s credibility as an economic ally, strategic partner & global leader is trashed”: Professor Hugh White. The US has performed “one of the greatest acts of self-harm”: Former Australian Ambassador to China Geoff Raby. My latest column. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...
Trump assumed the US could dictate a new world order. China said no
Of all Trump's miscalculations this week, his biggest miscalculation of all may be assuming that China would not hit back, using the economic power that the Chinese Communist Party has been amassing f...
www.abc.net.au
April 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
“America’s credibility as an economic ally, strategic partner & global leader is trashed”: Professor Hugh White. The US has performed “one of the greatest acts of self-harm”: Former Australian Ambassador to China Geoff Raby. My latest column. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...
Cyclone Trump tariffs the world… The key to understanding the latest move is to understand Trump’s psychology. My new column:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...
Trump is the ultimate crash-through politician. Are tariffs his brick wall?
Donald Trump says his Liberation Day trade tariff bonanza will bring in a "golden age" for America but the self-confidence and psychology behind them will be tested in coming months, Americas editor J...
www.abc.net.au
April 3, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Cyclone Trump tariffs the world… The key to understanding the latest move is to understand Trump’s psychology. My new column:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04...
FIVE EYES: Aust & US's other key intel partners were already wrestling with Q's about how much they could trust their old ally. Now 18 top US national security officials plan on a non-secure app a bombing of Yemen. In any other presidency this story would rock the US.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
Group chat blunder won't help the world's fading faith in America
In any other presidency, the story would rock the US: top national security advisers mistakenly adding a journalist to their group chat. But Washington is not what it used to be.
www.abc.net.au
March 25, 2025 at 4:29 AM
FIVE EYES: Aust & US's other key intel partners were already wrestling with Q's about how much they could trust their old ally. Now 18 top US national security officials plan on a non-secure app a bombing of Yemen. In any other presidency this story would rock the US.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
Now Russia is under the pump. Will it bow to US pressure? Is Trump really a Russia whisperer? Zelenskyy's willingness to sign a temporary ceasefire suggests he's learnt to play Trump's game. Amid White House chaos, is there a master strategy? My new column www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
'The ball is now in their court': How Zelenskyy may have outwitted Putin
After Zelenskyy and Trump's disastrous Oval Office meeting, Russia had a major battlefield advantage. All of that could change.
www.abc.net.au
March 12, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Now Russia is under the pump. Will it bow to US pressure? Is Trump really a Russia whisperer? Zelenskyy's willingness to sign a temporary ceasefire suggests he's learnt to play Trump's game. Amid White House chaos, is there a master strategy? My new column www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
BREAKING: Australia to NOT receive exemption for steel and aluminium exports to US. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told media Trump "considered it & considered against it... If they want to be exempted they should consider moving steel manufacturing here." Presents a big challenge for PM.
March 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
BREAKING: Australia to NOT receive exemption for steel and aluminium exports to US. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told media Trump "considered it & considered against it... If they want to be exempted they should consider moving steel manufacturing here." Presents a big challenge for PM.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Was Trump loaded for bear? Did Trump & JD Vance ambush Zelensky? Trump’s very 1st comment to Zelensky & the 1st question from a “friendly” journalist suggest they did. Add to that Zelensky’s mishandling & the future of Ukraine is now in jeopardy. My chat to PK & FK
Was Trump loaded for bear? Did Trump & JD Vance ambush Zelensky? Trump’s very 1st comment to Zelensky & the 1st question from a “friendly” journalist suggest they did. Add to that Zelensky’s mishandling & the future of Ukraine is now in jeopardy. My chat to PK & FK
Albo's election plans blown off course || The Party Room - ABC listen
As communities on the east coast brace for the impact of Cyclone Alfred, speculation is rife that the storm will force the Prime Minister to delay calling the election. So, is a May election now likel...
www.abc.net.au
March 6, 2025 at 4:09 AM
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Was Trump loaded for bear? Did Trump & JD Vance ambush Zelensky? Trump’s very 1st comment to Zelensky & the 1st question from a “friendly” journalist suggest they did. Add to that Zelensky’s mishandling & the future of Ukraine is now in jeopardy. My chat to PK & FK
Was Trump loaded for bear? Did Trump & JD Vance ambush Zelensky? Trump’s very 1st comment to Zelensky & the 1st question from a “friendly” journalist suggest they did. Add to that Zelensky’s mishandling & the future of Ukraine is now in jeopardy. My chat to PK & FK
In the new hard world of Donald Trump, everything is about what a country has to offer. Australia has 2 things the US wants: the Pine Gap spy facility & proximity to China. As Trump upends geopolitics, what happens to 5-Eyes & AUKUS? My new column: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
Australia's perceived value to the US changes under Trump
Experts say Australia matters less to Trump than it did to Biden which has consequences for vital intelligence-sharing alliance Five Eyes as well as the AUKUS deal.
www.abc.net.au
February 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
In the new hard world of Donald Trump, everything is about what a country has to offer. Australia has 2 things the US wants: the Pine Gap spy facility & proximity to China. As Trump upends geopolitics, what happens to 5-Eyes & AUKUS? My new column: www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
Reposted by John Lyons aka The Lyons Den
Just finished reading your Balcony over Jerusalem, John. What a read! I thought I understood, at least on a ‘big picture’ level, the Israel-Palestine history and current situation, but your work is so illuminating. Thank you! Recommending it widely. 👏👏👏
February 15, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Just finished reading your Balcony over Jerusalem, John. What a read! I thought I understood, at least on a ‘big picture’ level, the Israel-Palestine history and current situation, but your work is so illuminating. Thank you! Recommending it widely. 👏👏👏
Two ghosts lurk behind Trump’s Gaza plan: one is Jared Kushner, his son in law, who floated the idea a year ago. The other is Bezalel Smotrich, who said Israel’s founder David Ben-Gurion should have “finished the job” when it came to Palestinians. Here’s my new column. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
Trump's Gaza plan stunned the world, but he borrowed it from a relative
To understand how Donald Trump's Gaza plan came about, it's worth considering some comments made to a forum at one of the most prestigious US universities last year.
www.abc.net.au
February 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Two ghosts lurk behind Trump’s Gaza plan: one is Jared Kushner, his son in law, who floated the idea a year ago. The other is Bezalel Smotrich, who said Israel’s founder David Ben-Gurion should have “finished the job” when it came to Palestinians. Here’s my new column. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
Reposted by John Lyons aka The Lyons Den
Thank you @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social for all you write on the maelstrom of Israel & Palestine www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
The battle for a two-state solution just got a whole lot harder
As Donald Trump reshapes America's relationship with Israel — from appointing right wing candidates as ambassadors to Israel and the UN and overturning sanctions on violent Jewish settlers — can the t...
www.abc.net.au
January 28, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Thank you @johnthelyonsden.bsky.social for all you write on the maelstrom of Israel & Palestine www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
This is the endgame for Israelis & Palestinians. Over the next 4 years Trump & Netanyahu can kill a 2-state solution. The far right in Israel & supporters in Aust will celebrate. But it will bequeath to the Mideast a future of dreadful violence. My new column:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
The battle for a two-state solution just got a whole lot harder
As Donald Trump reshapes America's relationship with Israel — from appointing right wing candidates as ambassadors to Israel and the UN and overturning sanctions on violent Jewish settlers — can the t...
www.abc.net.au
January 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
This is the endgame for Israelis & Palestinians. Over the next 4 years Trump & Netanyahu can kill a 2-state solution. The far right in Israel & supporters in Aust will celebrate. But it will bequeath to the Mideast a future of dreadful violence. My new column:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...
BREAKING: Foreign Min Penny Wong & Amb Kevin Rudd have just been to White House & met Trump nat security adviser Mike Waltz. It’s high level access on Day 1 of a new administration. If flies in the face of those who said Aus & Rudd would be frozen out. They’re now about to meet Sec State Marco Rubio
January 21, 2025 at 9:09 PM
BREAKING: Foreign Min Penny Wong & Amb Kevin Rudd have just been to White House & met Trump nat security adviser Mike Waltz. It’s high level access on Day 1 of a new administration. If flies in the face of those who said Aus & Rudd would be frozen out. They’re now about to meet Sec State Marco Rubio