Thomas Cheney
@thomascheney.bsky.social
Academic, (outer) Space Governance at Northumbria University. Legal geography and environmental humanities of space governance (space resources, planetary protection, astrobiology, settlement etc). Working on project 'Life the Ultimate Frontier'. He/him.
Pinned
Thomas Cheney
@thomascheney.bsky.social
· Jan 24
Now that I've signed the contract and its properly official, very excited to announce that I'm writing a book for Bloomsbury Academic titled: Space, the Final Resource Frontier? The Governance of Planetary and Extraplanetary Natural Resources which should be published sometime in 2028 (ish)
FACO is sounds a bit cruder than TACO but maybe we should make it a thing
Err, am I going to watch Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Normally, absolutely no, but am kind of interested in what Nigel Farage will say in the presence of the US Speaker.
I mean, almost, probably definitely not worth watching. I think.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
I mean, almost, probably definitely not worth watching. I think.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC One - Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Nigel Farage, Lisa Nandy and Mike Johnson
Laura Kuenssberg is joined by Nigel Farage, Lisa Nandy and US Speaker Mike Johnson.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 12:01 PM
FACO is sounds a bit cruder than TACO but maybe we should make it a thing
I do quite like how this is basically a mini morality tale of 'endless growth' capitalism - like hey yeah pandemic driven consumer trends didn't last forever and luxury goods are the first things people cut back on in an economic downturn, shocking!
www.ft.com/content/9e6f...
www.ft.com/content/9e6f...
Demand drop leaves drinks makers with lake of unsold spirits
Groups are halting production and cutting prices to shift stock as sales declines accelerate in key markets
www.ft.com
January 18, 2026 at 10:30 AM
I do quite like how this is basically a mini morality tale of 'endless growth' capitalism - like hey yeah pandemic driven consumer trends didn't last forever and luxury goods are the first things people cut back on in an economic downturn, shocking!
www.ft.com/content/9e6f...
www.ft.com/content/9e6f...
Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, the only change in Greenland's political and legal status should be independence, as, when, and in what form the people of Greenland want it
Copenhagen town hall square, Denmark right now.
Massive solidarity with Greenland demonstrations.
Source: dr.dk
Massive solidarity with Greenland demonstrations.
Source: dr.dk
January 17, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Greenland belongs to Greenlanders, the only change in Greenland's political and legal status should be independence, as, when, and in what form the people of Greenland want it
reading a book on the US in the Antarctic and it is interesting how its portraying the US as the dominant force in the creation of the Antarctic Treaty - which is kind of true if you look at and only look at what becomes the Antarctic Treaty - but it ignores the UK's efforts to try and avoid
January 17, 2026 at 2:17 PM
reading a book on the US in the Antarctic and it is interesting how its portraying the US as the dominant force in the creation of the Antarctic Treaty - which is kind of true if you look at and only look at what becomes the Antarctic Treaty - but it ignores the UK's efforts to try and avoid
hahahahahaha
January 17, 2026 at 10:21 AM
hahahahahaha
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Apparently the State Department, led Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, released a strategic plan. Goal 1 is U.S. National Sovereignty. Goal 2 is "The Western Hemisphere and Establishment of the Donroe Doctrine."
There's more, but take that in.
www.state.gov/agency-strat...
There's more, but take that in.
www.state.gov/agency-strat...
Agency Strategic Plan - United States Department of State
The Agency Strategic Plan sets forth the vision and direction for how the Department will implement U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance.
www.state.gov
January 16, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Apparently the State Department, led Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, released a strategic plan. Goal 1 is U.S. National Sovereignty. Goal 2 is "The Western Hemisphere and Establishment of the Donroe Doctrine."
There's more, but take that in.
www.state.gov/agency-strat...
There's more, but take that in.
www.state.gov/agency-strat...
indeed, hes shot his shot with Tariffs and most of the noise about impact is coming from America, the rest of the world is fine, so yeah impose tariffs, well match them and boycott American goods and companies
Trump: “I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security.”
Trade war incoming!
Does he really think people are so scared of tariffs? Probably, as he clearly doesn’t understand what they are.
Trade war incoming!
Does he really think people are so scared of tariffs? Probably, as he clearly doesn’t understand what they are.
January 16, 2026 at 5:38 PM
indeed, hes shot his shot with Tariffs and most of the noise about impact is coming from America, the rest of the world is fine, so yeah impose tariffs, well match them and boycott American goods and companies
my first post uni job was as an admin in children's social services - they were overloaded and under-resourced then and that was in 2012 and they were just starting to deal with 'austerity' driven poverty, in my 6 months in that job we lost at least 3 social workers to a better offer in Australia
January 16, 2026 at 9:22 AM
my first post uni job was as an admin in children's social services - they were overloaded and under-resourced then and that was in 2012 and they were just starting to deal with 'austerity' driven poverty, in my 6 months in that job we lost at least 3 social workers to a better offer in Australia
hmm...
BREAKING Kemi Badenoch has sacked Robert Jenrick from the shadow cabinet, removed the whip and suspended his party membership.
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
She says she was "presented with clear, irrefutable evidence that he was plotting in secret to defect" to Reform
January 15, 2026 at 11:10 AM
hmm...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Entirely with you on the frustrating at the shrugging about a vital sector outside said sector.
Trying to be hopeful at the recently established cross-party parliamentary group for #UKHE 🤞
Trying to be hopeful at the recently established cross-party parliamentary group for #UKHE 🤞
A briefing that starts "higher education is facing an existential crisis". All too true!
January 15, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Entirely with you on the frustrating at the shrugging about a vital sector outside said sector.
Trying to be hopeful at the recently established cross-party parliamentary group for #UKHE 🤞
Trying to be hopeful at the recently established cross-party parliamentary group for #UKHE 🤞
doing the regimes work - the articles I've seen have been trying to portray this as a normal thing when the statements made by European leaders are enough to prove the lie but US media has been captured by the regime so doesnt dare call things like they are
Most US media is downplaying this by talking about how few soldiers were sent to Greenland yesterday by the Nordic countries, but omits the fact that they’re all planning officers, preparing first for a large exercise followed by long term stay by a larger force.
The Danish foreign minister, coming out of a meeting with the Americans: "It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering Greenland."
I don't think that people have quite measured the severity of what is happening nor the intensity of the required response.
I don't think that people have quite measured the severity of what is happening nor the intensity of the required response.
January 15, 2026 at 10:13 AM
doing the regimes work - the articles I've seen have been trying to portray this as a normal thing when the statements made by European leaders are enough to prove the lie but US media has been captured by the regime so doesnt dare call things like they are
Jesus, hadn't realised it had gotten to over 13,000 jobs (academic and professional services) - any other industry facing this level of job losses would be having crisis meetings with government... (gov took emergency control of British Steel to save 2,700...)
Ninety UK universities to have posted accounts so far cut 13,300 jobs last year, spending £303 million on severance pay - sector-wide total clearly going to be well in excess of predicted 10,000. Great reporting by @patrickjack.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/pay-spe...
Pay-off spend up by two-thirds as universities shed 13,000 jobs
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Jesus, hadn't realised it had gotten to over 13,000 jobs (academic and professional services) - any other industry facing this level of job losses would be having crisis meetings with government... (gov took emergency control of British Steel to save 2,700...)
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
A briefing that starts "higher education is facing an existential crisis". All too true!
January 14, 2026 at 1:06 PM
A briefing that starts "higher education is facing an existential crisis". All too true!
So apparently 'prompt libraries' are a thing - so not only are these people so lazy that they outsource their 'thinking' to a advanced predictive text but they also cannot be bothered to come up with a question, they need to copy and paste one from a database...
January 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM
So apparently 'prompt libraries' are a thing - so not only are these people so lazy that they outsource their 'thinking' to a advanced predictive text but they also cannot be bothered to come up with a question, they need to copy and paste one from a database...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Excellent thread from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social on Northern Powerhouse Rail (in its various guises) - do read the whole things- but as a Leeds resident this is the bit that really stands out. There is a lot of skepticism up here about pretty much any major transport announcement
So you can go out and sell a more detailed plan than Osborne ever did, but people will be far less willing to believe you
January 15, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Excellent thread from @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social on Northern Powerhouse Rail (in its various guises) - do read the whole things- but as a Leeds resident this is the bit that really stands out. There is a lot of skepticism up here about pretty much any major transport announcement
imagine the Australian naval attaché in Paris is having a great time at the moment...
January 15, 2026 at 12:10 AM
imagine the Australian naval attaché in Paris is having a great time at the moment...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
I think the disconnect between Atlantic elites is that Americans think Donald Trump is a kid getting to drive a monster truck for Make A Wish and Europeans and Canadians think Donald Trump is the president of the United States.
January 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM
I think the disconnect between Atlantic elites is that Americans think Donald Trump is a kid getting to drive a monster truck for Make A Wish and Europeans and Canadians think Donald Trump is the president of the United States.
yep, people in my life keep asking me what this might mean and well we're all fucked is honestly the only real response
Yeah, I think this underestimates the impact of the collapse of the set of institutions that the western hemisphere has built over decades and that have delivered the greatest prosperity and stability for Europe and the US.
If Trump invades Greenland, the Europeans won't fight back, Republicans will defend it, Democrats will issue statements, there will be protests, and most Americans will disapprove of it enough to earn Democrats a bit more of the vote in November. Then on to the next thing.
January 14, 2026 at 11:58 PM
yep, people in my life keep asking me what this might mean and well we're all fucked is honestly the only real response
Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers
January 14, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers
starts on the 24th... we're sending an officer to Greenland to deter US aggression whilst 300 RAF personnel are in the US for a military exercise...
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
January 14, 2026 at 11:08 PM
starts on the 24th... we're sending an officer to Greenland to deter US aggression whilst 300 RAF personnel are in the US for a military exercise...
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
www.raf.mod.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
I feel like this is cursed monkey paw NATO 5%
Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and France will participate alongside Denmark to expanded military exercises in Greenland.
Scoop with @victorjack.bsky.social and Chris Lunday www.politico.eu/article/denm...
Scoop with @victorjack.bsky.social and Chris Lunday www.politico.eu/article/denm...
Denmark and allies boost Greenland military footprint as Trump ramps up pressure
The deployment comes as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies talk of taking over the Arctic island.
www.politico.eu
January 14, 2026 at 8:23 PM
I feel like this is cursed monkey paw NATO 5%
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
The Rubicon was and indeed remains a small stream in Italy. It’s not a raging river like the Po, Danube or Mississippi. You might not even notice that you’ve crossed it.
But you have.
But you have.
January 14, 2026 at 10:34 PM
The Rubicon was and indeed remains a small stream in Italy. It’s not a raging river like the Po, Danube or Mississippi. You might not even notice that you’ve crossed it.
But you have.
But you have.
For what its worth nothing in the wording of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty suggests it cannot be applied to an attack carried out by a NATO member against another NATO member - and ultimately it rests on the right of collective self defence under the UN Charter
January 14, 2026 at 10:28 PM
For what its worth nothing in the wording of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty suggests it cannot be applied to an attack carried out by a NATO member against another NATO member - and ultimately it rests on the right of collective self defence under the UN Charter
Reposted by Thomas Cheney
Danish Foreign Minster Lars Løkke Rasmussen speaks after WH meeting: "For us, ideas that would not respect the territorial of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are of course totally unacceptable. We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement."
January 14, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Danish Foreign Minster Lars Løkke Rasmussen speaks after WH meeting: "For us, ideas that would not respect the territorial of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are of course totally unacceptable. We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement."