Luke Johnson
@ljohnson.bsky.social
Journalist in Berlin
Lukegjohnson.com
Publicsphere.news
Lukegjohnson.com
Publicsphere.news
From #MSC2026, how Europe could join forces and actually defend itself -- spending money is not enough publicsphere.news/p/to-de-risk...
To De-Risk From Trump, Europe Could Form a Costco For Defense
Europe is spending more on defense, but still is as reliant on the Americans as before
publicsphere.news
February 15, 2026 at 3:07 PM
From #MSC2026, how Europe could join forces and actually defend itself -- spending money is not enough publicsphere.news/p/to-de-risk...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
EU Leaders meet tomorrow to discuss measures to lift Europe's anaemic growth rate. But the summit risks turning into a nothing burger.
EU Leaders have cherry-picked a macroeconomically meaningless simplification agenda from the Draghi report
New oped.
1/
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
EU Leaders have cherry-picked a macroeconomically meaningless simplification agenda from the Draghi report
New oped.
1/
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Europe is chasing the wrong fix for its growth crisis
The continent’s old growth model no longer works in today’s world. And EU leaders need a plan that matches the scale of this shift.
www.politico.eu
February 11, 2026 at 9:34 AM
EU Leaders meet tomorrow to discuss measures to lift Europe's anaemic growth rate. But the summit risks turning into a nothing burger.
EU Leaders have cherry-picked a macroeconomically meaningless simplification agenda from the Draghi report
New oped.
1/
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
EU Leaders have cherry-picked a macroeconomically meaningless simplification agenda from the Draghi report
New oped.
1/
www.politico.eu/article/euro...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
With lots of attention on the increasingly brutal US deportation regime, it's important to remember the EU is employing similar tactics (and consulting with the US on how best to do it). Great reporting by Caitlin L. Chandler here:
Inside a Detention Site at the Heart of Europe’s Harsh New Approach to Immigration
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:17 AM
With lots of attention on the increasingly brutal US deportation regime, it's important to remember the EU is employing similar tactics (and consulting with the US on how best to do it). Great reporting by Caitlin L. Chandler here:
Watch this ->
My pal @ljohnson.bsky.social invited me on his show to talk about how we both ended up in the #EpsteinFiles--and what the files tell us about power.
youtu.be/19fg10POvQ4
youtu.be/19fg10POvQ4
We’re in the Epstein Files!! 🤦♂️
YouTube video by Political Junkie Substack
youtu.be
February 11, 2026 at 9:31 AM
Watch this ->
A fun discussion. Do watch ->
I was delighted to talk to Berlin-based journalist @ljohnson.bsky.social this morning about being in the recent #epsteinfilesrelease, and what it means that so many academics clustered around him.
youtu.be/19fg10POvQ4
youtu.be/19fg10POvQ4
We’re in the Epstein Files!! 🤦♂️
YouTube video by Political Junkie Substack
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 3:17 PM
A fun discussion. Do watch ->
My Super Bowl column arguing against too much "eat your vegetables" news coverage publicsphere.news/p/democracy-...
Democracy Dies Without a Sports Section 🏈
Too much "eat your vegetables" coverage means a less informed public
publicsphere.news
February 8, 2026 at 2:32 PM
My Super Bowl column arguing against too much "eat your vegetables" news coverage publicsphere.news/p/democracy-...
Excellent work by colleagues at Die Welt, here in English. This should be a wake-up call to European capitals www.wsj.com/world/europe...
A Wargame Shows Just How Vulnerable Europe Is to a Russian Attack
With America disengaging, Russia might be ready for a new war much sooner than previously estimated.
www.wsj.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Excellent work by colleagues at Die Welt, here in English. This should be a wake-up call to European capitals www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
The Wpost had shredded their coverage of the Middle East and Ukraine.
Take a moment to think about that.
Two areas where U.S. interests and involvement are critical, and where their reporters have produced award-winning work, (at great risk to their own lives).
Take a moment to think about that.
Two areas where U.S. interests and involvement are critical, and where their reporters have produced award-winning work, (at great risk to their own lives).
February 4, 2026 at 4:09 PM
The Wpost had shredded their coverage of the Middle East and Ukraine.
Take a moment to think about that.
Two areas where U.S. interests and involvement are critical, and where their reporters have produced award-winning work, (at great risk to their own lives).
Take a moment to think about that.
Two areas where U.S. interests and involvement are critical, and where their reporters have produced award-winning work, (at great risk to their own lives).
Reposted by Luke Johnson
"I realized that the Post wasn’t the same paper that had recruited me, and that I didn’t want to work for an owner and publisher who couldn’t articulate a vision and confused contempt for the newsroom with a business plan."
-- Ashley Parker, on why she jumped ship
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
-- Ashley Parker, on why she jumped ship
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Murder of The Washington Post
Today’s layoffs are the latest attempt to kill what makes the paper special.
www.theatlantic.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:53 PM
"I realized that the Post wasn’t the same paper that had recruited me, and that I didn’t want to work for an owner and publisher who couldn’t articulate a vision and confused contempt for the newsroom with a business plan."
-- Ashley Parker, on why she jumped ship
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
-- Ashley Parker, on why she jumped ship
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Luke Johnson
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
I left DC in 2021, but it's hard to see how it can stay a city with a beating heart when its only broadsheet is being bled to death www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
Washington Post Begins Sweeping Layoffs
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:41 PM
I left DC in 2021, but it's hard to see how it can stay a city with a beating heart when its only broadsheet is being bled to death www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/b...
In a normal peace process, Ukraine would walk away from talks because it would be obvious that Russia isn't serious about deescalating. But Trump would take that as evidence that Ukraine doesn't want peace and retaliate, so they continue.
A day before scheduled peace talks with Ukraine, Russia resumed strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Tuesday, hitting power plants in several regions in Kyiv. It's part of a major campaign intended to freeze Ukrainians into submission amid frigid temperatures. nyti.ms/4ag6dBf
February 3, 2026 at 3:40 PM
In a normal peace process, Ukraine would walk away from talks because it would be obvious that Russia isn't serious about deescalating. But Trump would take that as evidence that Ukraine doesn't want peace and retaliate, so they continue.
Talked with @markleongoldberg.bsky.social about the Board of Peace, the U.N.'s impending U.S.-caused financial disaster, and how it impacts global hotspots around the world publicsphere.news/p/trumps-boa...
Trump's Board of Peace is Making the U.N. Great Again
A discussion with international affairs journalist Mark Leon Goldberg about the U.N.'s unlikely renaissance -- and its staggering financial difficulties because of U.S. arrears
publicsphere.news
February 2, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Talked with @markleongoldberg.bsky.social about the Board of Peace, the U.N.'s impending U.S.-caused financial disaster, and how it impacts global hotspots around the world publicsphere.news/p/trumps-boa...
Doing a Substack Live with @markleongoldberg.bsky.social at 12pm EST/6pm CEST titled "Is Trump's Board of Peace Making the UN Security Council Great Again?" open.substack.com/live-stream/...
February 2, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Doing a Substack Live with @markleongoldberg.bsky.social at 12pm EST/6pm CEST titled "Is Trump's Board of Peace Making the UN Security Council Great Again?" open.substack.com/live-stream/...
What was TULSI GABBARD doing at a state elections office? publicsphere.news/p/the-big-li...
The Big Lie Part II
PLUS: A live discussion on Trump's Board of Peace with journalist Mark Leon Goldberg on February 2
publicsphere.news
February 1, 2026 at 2:04 PM
What was TULSI GABBARD doing at a state elections office? publicsphere.news/p/the-big-li...
How is Don Lemon and independent journalists being arrested a federal crime in the first place? www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Don Lemon arrested by federal authorities after protest at Minnesota church service
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a Friday post on X that Lemon was arrested alongside three others "in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota."
www.nbcnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:05 PM
How is Don Lemon and independent journalists being arrested a federal crime in the first place? www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
It's been such a long January. The Venezuela raid was in THIS SAME MONTH.
January 30, 2026 at 12:50 PM
It's been such a long January. The Venezuela raid was in THIS SAME MONTH.
Even if Putin follows Trump's request not to bomb Ukraine's energy sites for a week, it doesn't change the fact that he's bombed them for months, severely degrading the power system and leaving millions without heat, water, and power.
January 30, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Even if Putin follows Trump's request not to bomb Ukraine's energy sites for a week, it doesn't change the fact that he's bombed them for months, severely degrading the power system and leaving millions without heat, water, and power.
Reposted by Luke Johnson
Today's Reliable Sources lead: Is the Washington Post cutting its way to irrelevance? cnn.it/4tpahb9
January 29, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Today's Reliable Sources lead: Is the Washington Post cutting its way to irrelevance? cnn.it/4tpahb9
The FBI raided the Fulton County, Ga. elections office over unfounded voter fraud claims from over 5 years ago. It seems like an attempt to intimidate officials ahead of the 2026 midterms. www.bbc.com/news/article...
FBI raids Georgia election office in 2020 materials
President Trump has long claimed voter fraud led to his loss in the state - even though multiple investigations offered no proof.
www.bbc.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:51 AM
The FBI raided the Fulton County, Ga. elections office over unfounded voter fraud claims from over 5 years ago. It seems like an attempt to intimidate officials ahead of the 2026 midterms. www.bbc.com/news/article...
The de-escalation continues.
Trump just reposted a tweet calling Alex Pretti a "domestic terrorist"
January 29, 2026 at 8:45 AM
The de-escalation continues.
The demands on Iran to halt all uranium enrichment seem to be an implicit admission that June’s strikes did not "completely and totally obliterate” Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/u...
Trump Threatens Iran With ‘Massive Armada’ and Presses a Set of Demands
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:43 AM
The demands on Iran to halt all uranium enrichment seem to be an implicit admission that June’s strikes did not "completely and totally obliterate” Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/u...
Is this part of the efforts to "de-escalate" the situation in Minnesota...or? www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Trump continues to rail against Ilhan Omar after Minneapolis town hall attack – live
Trump calls Minnesota congresswoman a ‘fraud’ who ‘probably had herself sprayed’; Omar says ‘I don’t let bullies win’ in remarks after town hall attack
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Is this part of the efforts to "de-escalate" the situation in Minnesota...or? www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Reality check: "After seizing the initiative in 2024, Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 15 and 70 meters per day in their most prominent offensives, slower than almost any major offensive campaign in any war in the last century." www.csis.org/analysis/rus...
Russia’s Grinding War in Ukraine
Despite claims of success in Ukraine, new CSIS data shows that Russia is paying an extraordinary price for minimal gains, with over 1.2 million casualties. Russia is also in decline as a major economi...
www.csis.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Reality check: "After seizing the initiative in 2024, Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 15 and 70 meters per day in their most prominent offensives, slower than almost any major offensive campaign in any war in the last century." www.csis.org/analysis/rus...