Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
National & financial security. Former UK civil servant and financial intelligence professional. Senior Associate Fellow @rusi.bsky.social CFS. Loves ideas, cult fiction, anomalous stuff and landscapes.
Views own.
Views own.
Pinned
Matthew Redhead
@matthewrr.bsky.social
· Sep 12
“People sometimes tell me that they prefer barbarism to civilisation. I doubt if they have given it a long enough trial…they are bored by civilisation; but all the evidence suggests that the boredom of barbarism is infinitely greater.”
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Kenneth Clark, ‘Civilisation’.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Russia was behind attempted 2024 arson attack, Lithuania says reut.rs/3Zdx2AH
Russia was behind attempted 2024 arson attack, Lithuania says
Lithuanian authorities accused Russia's GRU military intelligence service on Friday of masterminding attempted arson attacks on a plant that supplies radio wave scanners to Ukraine's army.
reut.rs
January 16, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Russia was behind attempted 2024 arson attack, Lithuania says reut.rs/3Zdx2AH
Happy birthday, sir.
January 16, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Happy birthday, sir.
The words David Frost do it for me.
January 16, 2026 at 10:04 AM
The words David Frost do it for me.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Would have been easier to get one off of eBay.
January 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Would have been easier to get one off of eBay.
I wish Ethel Kennedy were still alive to call this crap out.
January 15, 2026 at 10:24 PM
I wish Ethel Kennedy were still alive to call this crap out.
Vance. Rubio. RFK Jnr. All the lads.
January 15, 2026 at 10:21 PM
Vance. Rubio. RFK Jnr. All the lads.
You are a benevolent provider, it is true.
January 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
You are a benevolent provider, it is true.
My thought exactly.
January 15, 2026 at 10:18 PM
My thought exactly.
Never The Twain?
January 15, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Never The Twain?
I’ve just told my mum how they found out about Jenrick leaving (the speech on the printer) and all I can say is the last time she laughed so much was Bob Mortimer’s Chris Rea story on ‘Would I Lie To You?’
January 15, 2026 at 10:15 PM
I’ve just told my mum how they found out about Jenrick leaving (the speech on the printer) and all I can say is the last time she laughed so much was Bob Mortimer’s Chris Rea story on ‘Would I Lie To You?’
Is there one for ‘It Ain’t Arf Hot Mum’? or ‘Citizen Smith’?
January 15, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Is there one for ‘It Ain’t Arf Hot Mum’? or ‘Citizen Smith’?
I’ll be listening.
January 15, 2026 at 10:12 PM
I’ll be listening.
I’m abstaining. 52 this year.
January 15, 2026 at 9:24 PM
I’m abstaining. 52 this year.
The equivalent in Gloucestershire is *much* better.
January 15, 2026 at 8:18 PM
The equivalent in Gloucestershire is *much* better.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Just in case @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com is too modest to repost it, the best portrait of Robert Jenrick you'll read is the one she wrote for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social back in October. Might be paywalled, but, hey, good journalism has to be financed somehow.
Robert Jenrick, the hollow man
This opportunistic ‘saviour’ could kill off the Tories completely
www.thenewworld.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Just in case @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com is too modest to repost it, the best portrait of Robert Jenrick you'll read is the one she wrote for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social back in October. Might be paywalled, but, hey, good journalism has to be financed somehow.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Time for a drink.
January 15, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Time for a drink.
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
if westminster hacks don’t cover Jenrick’s defection by focusing on his hypocrisy & Reform becoming a sanctuary for washed-up inadequates who wrecked the country, then they’re wasting everyone’s time
January 15, 2026 at 5:52 PM
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Pay close attention to targeting Bank Melli's money laundering network....
Iran’s “shadow banking” is primary way Iran facilitates billion$ in annual trade using the “rahbar” company to managing intl transactions via web of front companies & exchange houses content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UST...
Iran’s “shadow banking” is primary way Iran facilitates billion$ in annual trade using the “rahbar” company to managing intl transactions via web of front companies & exchange houses content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UST...
Secretary Bessent Announces Sanctions Against Architects of Iran’s Brutal Crackdown on Peaceful Protests
content.govdelivery.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Pay close attention to targeting Bank Melli's money laundering network....
Iran’s “shadow banking” is primary way Iran facilitates billion$ in annual trade using the “rahbar” company to managing intl transactions via web of front companies & exchange houses content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UST...
Iran’s “shadow banking” is primary way Iran facilitates billion$ in annual trade using the “rahbar” company to managing intl transactions via web of front companies & exchange houses content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UST...
I suppose if Jenrick going is such a huge moment, it shows how small certain parts of the British right have become.
January 15, 2026 at 5:09 PM
I suppose if Jenrick going is such a huge moment, it shows how small certain parts of the British right have become.
Reposted by Matthew Redhead
Uh, that’s not good.
Upon doing a little more digging to support this piece, I noticed the Trump Administration had USGS treat Canada as a strategic threat in scenario planning.
That’s how it reached “critical mineral” designations for potash, lead, and rhenium. It’s so stupid.
🔌💡
That’s how it reached “critical mineral” designations for potash, lead, and rhenium. It’s so stupid.
🔌💡
Good morning everyone!
My latest post is now up over at Tailings.
This week, I tackle the wonky debate over defining and designating "critical minerals,” why it matters, and why we need a broader policy reorientation toward downstream materials.
🔌💡 ⛏️🪨
tailings.substack.com/p/what-exact...
My latest post is now up over at Tailings.
This week, I tackle the wonky debate over defining and designating "critical minerals,” why it matters, and why we need a broader policy reorientation toward downstream materials.
🔌💡 ⛏️🪨
tailings.substack.com/p/what-exact...
January 15, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Uh, that’s not good.