Martin McDonald
@martymcd.bsky.social
UK & US Politics and other stuff from the kitchen table, one tweet at a time.
Some say 'a totally undiscovered twitter treasure' apparently. Also tax. And law
Some say 'a totally undiscovered twitter treasure' apparently. Also tax. And law
Reposted by Martin McDonald
I’ll never get tired of this ad at our local indie theater 😂
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 AM
I’ll never get tired of this ad at our local indie theater 😂
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Two community members stand on the street corner of Central Ave and 18th St, watching over a local business in 5° temps with a wind chill of -15°. They are patrolling the area, keeping an eye out for ICE activity, doing what they can to protect their immigrant neighbors.
January 19, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Two community members stand on the street corner of Central Ave and 18th St, watching over a local business in 5° temps with a wind chill of -15°. They are patrolling the area, keeping an eye out for ICE activity, doing what they can to protect their immigrant neighbors.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Reposted by Martin McDonald
This is where we are at. For what? For nothing. For stupidity. For ego. For an old, demented malignant narcissist who expects the world to jump at his every whim. Well, when you follow international news you can see that the world has pretty much had enough of his bullshit.
January 18, 2026 at 11:51 PM
This is where we are at. For what? For nothing. For stupidity. For ego. For an old, demented malignant narcissist who expects the world to jump at his every whim. Well, when you follow international news you can see that the world has pretty much had enough of his bullshit.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
'this cant possibly be real' is what most democrats are thinking. that and 'americans are so profoundly solipsistic that getting them to care about a single thing outside the confines of their house is a sisyphean struggle.' re: the latter point its not hard to see how you get there post-2024
January 19, 2026 at 12:19 AM
'this cant possibly be real' is what most democrats are thinking. that and 'americans are so profoundly solipsistic that getting them to care about a single thing outside the confines of their house is a sisyphean struggle.' re: the latter point its not hard to see how you get there post-2024
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Big sense in Europe that they have bigger things to deal with thanks to Russia and this is being kicked when they are down, and big sense in Canada of very visceral betrayal, and neither of these are a single election away from trivial repair
January 18, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Big sense in Europe that they have bigger things to deal with thanks to Russia and this is being kicked when they are down, and big sense in Canada of very visceral betrayal, and neither of these are a single election away from trivial repair
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Weird that Reform is announcing the Andrew Rosindell defection without the usual press conference where we get to ask him questions for an hour.
January 18, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Weird that Reform is announcing the Andrew Rosindell defection without the usual press conference where we get to ask him questions for an hour.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
No no, on this point you've completely misread Europe. There is an absolute red line here actually shared by the European far right. There are no circumstances in which Greenland will simply be traded away. All the Euro far right parties are *nationalist* first, not Trumpist.
January 18, 2026 at 11:49 PM
No no, on this point you've completely misread Europe. There is an absolute red line here actually shared by the European far right. There are no circumstances in which Greenland will simply be traded away. All the Euro far right parties are *nationalist* first, not Trumpist.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Not really visible inside the US, but yes, transatlanticists in Europe are being humiliated and losing power, and whatever happens in the US from here, every leader in Europe and US allies for the next generation will remember it.
January 18, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Not really visible inside the US, but yes, transatlanticists in Europe are being humiliated and losing power, and whatever happens in the US from here, every leader in Europe and US allies for the next generation will remember it.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
The president of the worlds most powerful nation, and gaurenteer of the world system suddenly:
- acting like absolute monarch
- understanding IR in entirely zero sum terms
- having no real strategic vision and operating off gut instinct
Isnt something we're prepared for
- acting like absolute monarch
- understanding IR in entirely zero sum terms
- having no real strategic vision and operating off gut instinct
Isnt something we're prepared for
January 18, 2026 at 11:27 PM
The president of the worlds most powerful nation, and gaurenteer of the world system suddenly:
- acting like absolute monarch
- understanding IR in entirely zero sum terms
- having no real strategic vision and operating off gut instinct
Isnt something we're prepared for
- acting like absolute monarch
- understanding IR in entirely zero sum terms
- having no real strategic vision and operating off gut instinct
Isnt something we're prepared for
Reposted by Martin McDonald
fwiw when I was posted to Ottawa as an EU diplomat, 20 years ago, about the only genuine irritant that existed between the EU and Canada was the dispute between Canada and Denmark over a tiny uninhabited island between Ellesmere Island & Greenland. The Danes made damn sure it stayed on the agenda.
January 18, 2026 at 10:50 PM
fwiw when I was posted to Ottawa as an EU diplomat, 20 years ago, about the only genuine irritant that existed between the EU and Canada was the dispute between Canada and Denmark over a tiny uninhabited island between Ellesmere Island & Greenland. The Danes made damn sure it stayed on the agenda.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
The slowing down to look at a road accident of the nation.
January 18, 2026 at 11:28 PM
The slowing down to look at a road accident of the nation.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
I genuinely think Trump is a Outside Context Problem for other nations: a problem which they just dont have the intellectusl framework to understand, let alone properly respond to.
He'd make more sense to a 14thC mind than a modern one: and even then there were far more mechanisms to restrain him
He'd make more sense to a 14thC mind than a modern one: and even then there were far more mechanisms to restrain him
James is exactly right on Trump and European leaders (finally) waking up to him. But it’s the same problem as we have in our commentariat and elites. Trump doing terrible and dangerous this is how he works. We’ve known this for over a decade. Why has it taken so long for our leaders to wake up?
The mix of it and Venuzela I think - it shows he's willing to do mental shit and theyve increasingly realised he's serious.
I suspect initally they thought it waa a wind up - like the Canada stuff - and have realised its not
I suspect initally they thought it waa a wind up - like the Canada stuff - and have realised its not
January 18, 2026 at 11:27 PM
I genuinely think Trump is a Outside Context Problem for other nations: a problem which they just dont have the intellectusl framework to understand, let alone properly respond to.
He'd make more sense to a 14thC mind than a modern one: and even then there were far more mechanisms to restrain him
He'd make more sense to a 14thC mind than a modern one: and even then there were far more mechanisms to restrain him
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Who looks at Trump’s chaos and dangerous stupidity and goes, "Oh yeah, that's great! I'll absolutely attach myself to that!"
When Nigel Farage is calling in sick and even fantasy hiker Dan Hannan is distancing himself from this absurd madman, you know MAGA and its uk acolytes are in trouble.
When Nigel Farage is calling in sick and even fantasy hiker Dan Hannan is distancing himself from this absurd madman, you know MAGA and its uk acolytes are in trouble.
January 18, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Who looks at Trump’s chaos and dangerous stupidity and goes, "Oh yeah, that's great! I'll absolutely attach myself to that!"
When Nigel Farage is calling in sick and even fantasy hiker Dan Hannan is distancing himself from this absurd madman, you know MAGA and its uk acolytes are in trouble.
When Nigel Farage is calling in sick and even fantasy hiker Dan Hannan is distancing himself from this absurd madman, you know MAGA and its uk acolytes are in trouble.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Semaphore at Holyhead. 20 April 2025. #railway #photography
July 18, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Semaphore at Holyhead. 20 April 2025. #railway #photography
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss tweets that Robert Jenrick is a "trojan horse" who is "getting his orders" from some unidentified shadowy force of global conspirators
January 18, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss tweets that Robert Jenrick is a "trojan horse" who is "getting his orders" from some unidentified shadowy force of global conspirators
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Horrific news coming out from Spain's high speed railway network this evening. My thoughts are with the emergency services, everyone onboard and those caught up directly and indirectly in such a tragedy
January 18, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Horrific news coming out from Spain's high speed railway network this evening. My thoughts are with the emergency services, everyone onboard and those caught up directly and indirectly in such a tragedy
Reposted by Martin McDonald
I think newspapers should definitely invite these two to continue their feud in their pages, I can see no downsides for their respective parties
Liz Truss hits out at Robert Jenrick over his comments in The Times asking why she is still a Tory member
January 18, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I think newspapers should definitely invite these two to continue their feud in their pages, I can see no downsides for their respective parties
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Looks like we could be getting the first of the planned Downing Street press conferences tomorrow.
And the topic is a big one: Trump / Greenland / tariffs and the joint approach with allies.
This wasn't what the PM initially had planned for tomorrow - which was a speech about the cost of living.
And the topic is a big one: Trump / Greenland / tariffs and the joint approach with allies.
This wasn't what the PM initially had planned for tomorrow - which was a speech about the cost of living.
January 18, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Looks like we could be getting the first of the planned Downing Street press conferences tomorrow.
And the topic is a big one: Trump / Greenland / tariffs and the joint approach with allies.
This wasn't what the PM initially had planned for tomorrow - which was a speech about the cost of living.
And the topic is a big one: Trump / Greenland / tariffs and the joint approach with allies.
This wasn't what the PM initially had planned for tomorrow - which was a speech about the cost of living.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
oh it's going to be a Recession recession
January 18, 2026 at 10:56 PM
oh it's going to be a Recession recession
Reposted by Martin McDonald
"Trade is not fundamentally about competition. It's not us versus Canada. It's us and Canada." It's really about cooperation. And if the United States won't cooperate reliably with Canada, we shouldn't be surprised when Canada looks for new friends to cooperate with. And Americans miss out.
January 18, 2026 at 10:56 PM
"Trade is not fundamentally about competition. It's not us versus Canada. It's us and Canada." It's really about cooperation. And if the United States won't cooperate reliably with Canada, we shouldn't be surprised when Canada looks for new friends to cooperate with. And Americans miss out.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
We found three cars full of masked ICE agents in a residential car park. Our guide asked them if they had a warrant, they refused to answer. I asked them several questions about what they were doing. They then made obscene gestures at us. Shortly afterwards, a drone appeared circling our car.
January 18, 2026 at 10:14 PM
We found three cars full of masked ICE agents in a residential car park. Our guide asked them if they had a warrant, they refused to answer. I asked them several questions about what they were doing. They then made obscene gestures at us. Shortly afterwards, a drone appeared circling our car.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Deeply weird and menacing scenes in Minneapolis. ICE agents sat in masks and balaclavas in unmarked, often blacked out cars, watching local residents. They themselves being observed by a network of locals, trying to deter them from mounting raids. Profoundly abnormal.
January 18, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Deeply weird and menacing scenes in Minneapolis. ICE agents sat in masks and balaclavas in unmarked, often blacked out cars, watching local residents. They themselves being observed by a network of locals, trying to deter them from mounting raids. Profoundly abnormal.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
Remember all those Tory defectors to the Lib Dems in 2019...? Gone, like tears in the rain.
It’s by no means impossible that Reform could fall back somewhat in the polls and be overtaken by the Conservatives - at which point it will be fascinating/priceless to watch the response of all the defectors.
January 18, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Remember all those Tory defectors to the Lib Dems in 2019...? Gone, like tears in the rain.
Reposted by Martin McDonald
I'm pleased to welcome Andrew Rosindell to Reform. With any luck most people will have forgotten he was a Tory MP, because he didn't come into Parliament for nearly two years while he was being investigated for sexual assault and rape.
January 18, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I'm pleased to welcome Andrew Rosindell to Reform. With any luck most people will have forgotten he was a Tory MP, because he didn't come into Parliament for nearly two years while he was being investigated for sexual assault and rape.