Luke Johnson
@ljohnson.bsky.social
Journalist in Berlin
Lukegjohnson.com
Publicsphere.news
Lukegjohnson.com
Publicsphere.news
The key question remains how Europe will respond. Will Europeans grant Ukraine an interest-free loan on Russian assets so it can survive, or hand it over to the Americans with the U.S. getting a chunk of it, for some reason publicsphere.news/p/how-will-e...
How Will Europeans Respond to the Trump-Russia Ukraine Plan?
Europe is the pivotal actor as Ukraine is faced with a bad Trump deal
publicsphere.news
November 24, 2025 at 9:48 AM
The key question remains how Europe will respond. Will Europeans grant Ukraine an interest-free loan on Russian assets so it can survive, or hand it over to the Americans with the U.S. getting a chunk of it, for some reason publicsphere.news/p/how-will-e...
And we're back at Ukraine didn't say "thank you" enough.
November 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
And we're back at Ukraine didn't say "thank you" enough.
The big question: How will Europeans react to the Trump-Russia deal for Ukraine? publicsphere.news/p/how-will-e...
How Will Europeans Respond to the Trump-Russia Ukraine Plan?
Europe is the pivotal actor as Ukraine is faced with a bad Trump deal
publicsphere.news
November 21, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The big question: How will Europeans react to the Trump-Russia deal for Ukraine? publicsphere.news/p/how-will-e...
Washington Post: U.S. pushing Ukraine to sign deal by Thanksgiving or lose support // what support? www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
U.S. pushing Ukraine to sign peace deal by Thanksgiving or lose support
The U.S. is now sending “signals” that everything could be off the table if Kyiv does not quickly sign a proposal, which was drawn up by special envoy Witkoff.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Washington Post: U.S. pushing Ukraine to sign deal by Thanksgiving or lose support // what support? www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
For a handful of reasons it can be really hard to report well on advancing domestic US government surveillance. This by @byrontau.bsky.social is so well done.
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:54 PM
For a handful of reasons it can be really hard to report well on advancing domestic US government surveillance. This by @byrontau.bsky.social is so well done.
Counterintuitive take: the more appalling these peace plans are for Ukraine, the better it is for Kyiv as it can say to the Europeans that they need to stand firm.
The new Trump proposal for Ukraine is somehow even worse than the ones before: it would have the US recognize not just Crimea as Russian, but all of Ukraine's occupied territories as Russian.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/w...
November 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Counterintuitive take: the more appalling these peace plans are for Ukraine, the better it is for Kyiv as it can say to the Europeans that they need to stand firm.
Ternopil is about as far as Paris is from Berlin, but for many Europeans, it's much further from the mind -- and it shouldn't be. bsky.app/profile/wart...
The State Emergency Service reported that in Ternopil, 19 people are already known to have been killed and 66 injured, including 16 children.
November 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Ternopil is about as far as Paris is from Berlin, but for many Europeans, it's much further from the mind -- and it shouldn't be. bsky.app/profile/wart...
fwiw, the Trump Administration has already completely turned off the funding for Ukraine, so it doesn't have leverage over Kyiv. The real question is how the Europeans react.
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
fwiw, the Trump Administration has already completely turned off the funding for Ukraine, so it doesn't have leverage over Kyiv. The real question is how the Europeans react.
Reposted by Luke Johnson
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination
Audio recordings, intercepted phone calls and other intelligence link Mohammed bin Salman to killing that Saudis say was conducted by rogue elements.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A reminder that seven years ago almost to the day, the CIA determined that Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the killing of @washingtonpost.com journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
I hired and worked with Jamal for a year.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/nation...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
A lot of news yesterday, but this @JasonDeParle scoop deserves your attention: The administration plans to slash support for long-term housing programs by two thirds, shifting funding stream to 2-year sobriety & treatment programs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Trump Administration Expected to Drastically Cut Housing Grants
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
A lot of news yesterday, but this @JasonDeParle scoop deserves your attention: The administration plans to slash support for long-term housing programs by two thirds, shifting funding stream to 2-year sobriety & treatment programs.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/u...
Full video from my interview with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social yesterday, on his new book "War and Power: Who Wins Wars -- And Why." youtu.be/g6dvLYGY1h0
Why realists were WRONG about Ukraine: An interview with Phillips O'Brien
YouTube video by Public Sphere
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Full video from my interview with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social yesterday, on his new book "War and Power: Who Wins Wars -- And Why." youtu.be/g6dvLYGY1h0
"Putin 'hasn’t done anything to me,' Tino Chrupalla, the co-leader of the AfD, said on German public television. 'I don’t see any danger to Germany from Russia at the moment.'" www.politico.eu/article/germ...
AfD leader says Putin poses no threat to Germany, warning instead of Poland
The comments come as mainstream German politicians increasingly portray the far-right party as a fifth column promoting the Kremlin’s interests.
www.politico.eu
November 13, 2025 at 7:37 AM
"Putin 'hasn’t done anything to me,' Tino Chrupalla, the co-leader of the AfD, said on German public television. 'I don’t see any danger to Germany from Russia at the moment.'" www.politico.eu/article/germ...
I noticed this too. I thought, was Epstein somehow charming and charismatic in person? He seemed like the opposite.
Something that’s so striking in these emails is how…unimpressive Epstein is. He comes off as a pompous, sub-literate lech. Yes everyone is so mortifyingly solicitous of him! All fawning and flattery! Why?????
November 13, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I noticed this too. I thought, was Epstein somehow charming and charismatic in person? He seemed like the opposite.
Looking forward to the conversation today with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social on his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars — And Why” as well as the latest on Ukraine. Join at 1pm EST / 7PM CEST on the Substack app.
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Looking forward to the conversation today with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social on his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars — And Why” as well as the latest on Ukraine. Join at 1pm EST / 7PM CEST on the Substack app.
Budget experts reveal that nearly 40% of the increased debt load isn't being used for defense and infrastructure -- as drones keep being spotted near European airports and rail transit remains ever delayed. www.ft.com/content/3d1c...
Merz accused of using debt bazooka for welfare and tax cuts instead of investment
Two prominent institutes and the Bundesbank sound alarm over use of new borrowings
www.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Budget experts reveal that nearly 40% of the increased debt load isn't being used for defense and infrastructure -- as drones keep being spotted near European airports and rail transit remains ever delayed. www.ft.com/content/3d1c...
On Wednesday at 1pm ET/7pm CEST on Substack Live, I will be chatting with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social about his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars ― and Why” as well as the war in Ukraine, which he covers in his newsletter here -> phillipspobrien.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 AM
On Wednesday at 1pm ET/7pm CEST on Substack Live, I will be chatting with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social about his new book, “War and Power: Who Wins Wars ― and Why” as well as the war in Ukraine, which he covers in his newsletter here -> phillipspobrien.substack.com
Wild story about Trump officials using mafia-like threats to get small countries to back off an international agreement to cut pollution from cargo ships www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Trump Officials Accused of Bullying Tactics to Kill a Climate Measure
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Wild story about Trump officials using mafia-like threats to get small countries to back off an international agreement to cut pollution from cargo ships www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/c...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
Courtesy of the world’s richest man who just got a trillion-dollar pay package from his feckless board: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Courtesy of the world’s richest man who just got a trillion-dollar pay package from his feckless board: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Russia, closing in on taking its first city in...2.5 years www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Russia Close to Its Biggest Capture of a Ukrainian City Since 2023
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Russia, closing in on taking its first city in...2.5 years www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Chatted with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social yesterday about his new book on China and Russia. Here's a clip from our conversation and a link to the full video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
November 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Chatted with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social yesterday about his new book on China and Russia. Here's a clip from our conversation and a link to the full video.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWch...
Looking forward to chatting with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social tomorrow on Substack Live at 12pmET/6pm Europe. (Download the Substack app to follow.)
November 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Looking forward to chatting with @mcfaulmike.bsky.social tomorrow on Substack Live at 12pmET/6pm Europe. (Download the Substack app to follow.)
The Trump Administration is floating military action against Venezuela and Nigeria, which don't actually threaten the U.S., while dialing back support for Ukraine and Taiwan, which face aggression from U.S. adversaries.
November 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The Trump Administration is floating military action against Venezuela and Nigeria, which don't actually threaten the U.S., while dialing back support for Ukraine and Taiwan, which face aggression from U.S. adversaries.
It's possible that Trump may have been trolled into making a huge change in policy by a nothingburger by Putin, if so, that's dangerous. publicsphere.news/p/trump-goes...
Trump Goes Nuclear
Was he trolled by Putin into announcing a major change in U.S. policy?
publicsphere.news
October 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
It's possible that Trump may have been trolled into making a huge change in policy by a nothingburger by Putin, if so, that's dangerous. publicsphere.news/p/trump-goes...
Heartbreaking quotes from Ukrainians still in Kherson: "To be honest, I am no longer a normal person, but somebody has to do these jobs, so the country will survive.” twogrumpyoldmenonukraine.substack.com/p/talking-to...
Talking to Ukrainians under the rain of Russian bombs
Far away from the futile Trump-Putin noise (will he? won’t he? why didn't he?), Ukrainians are being targeted and killed every day. I talked to friends and acquaintances in Kherson, a frontline city.
twogrumpyoldmenonukraine.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Heartbreaking quotes from Ukrainians still in Kherson: "To be honest, I am no longer a normal person, but somebody has to do these jobs, so the country will survive.” twogrumpyoldmenonukraine.substack.com/p/talking-to...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
Extraordinary reporting from Emily Baumgaertner Nunn on the malignant criminal network that turns girls in foster care into prostitutes on L.A.'s Figueroa Street -- and why the police can't stop it. Everyone should read this.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
Can Anyone Rescue the Trafficked Girls of L.A.’s Figueroa Street?
www.nytimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Extraordinary reporting from Emily Baumgaertner Nunn on the malignant criminal network that turns girls in foster care into prostitutes on L.A.'s Figueroa Street -- and why the police can't stop it. Everyone should read this.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/26/m...