Colin Wrafter
@wraftercolin.bsky.social
Retired Irish diplomat, occasional lecturer and seminar chair. Interests include foreign policy, Northern Ireland , human rights, philosophy, history. I enjoy golf but rarely win!
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
The SEC, the top federal regulator for the financial markets, eased up on more than 60% of its cases against the crypto industry that were ongoing when President Trump returned to the White House, The New York Times found. Many of the lawsuits involved companies that had ties to Trump.
The S.E.C. Was Tough on Crypto. It Pulled Back After Trump Returned to Office.
An investigation by The Times found the administration’s change in enforcement benefited the industry, including companies that had ties to the president.
nyti.ms
December 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The SEC, the top federal regulator for the financial markets, eased up on more than 60% of its cases against the crypto industry that were ongoing when President Trump returned to the White House, The New York Times found. Many of the lawsuits involved companies that had ties to Trump.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
16 now confirmed dead in the terror of Bondi, including a child. Impossible to comprehend such horror and what all those people have been through.
December 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
16 now confirmed dead in the terror of Bondi, including a child. Impossible to comprehend such horror and what all those people have been through.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
“All our work is being destroyed.”
The FBI spent a generation relearning how to catch spies. Then came Kash Patel.
The FBI spent a generation relearning how to catch spies. Then came Kash Patel.
The FBI Spent a Generation Relearning How to Catch Spies. Then Came Kash Patel.
As China’s spies grow more aggressive, the FBI is distracted and off-balance.
bit.ly
December 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
“All our work is being destroyed.”
The FBI spent a generation relearning how to catch spies. Then came Kash Patel.
The FBI spent a generation relearning how to catch spies. Then came Kash Patel.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Under proposed new rules, aside from having to turn over your social media & possibly your DNA to visit the US, if you install the Electronic System for Travel Authorization app, it'll collect & send your location data to the US government as a means to confirm that you have indeed left the country.
While most reporters focused on the 5yrs social media disclosure to visit the US, few noticed that US Customs and Border Protection could soon also demand your DNA as part of an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application just to visit the US. www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
DNA and family history: What US authorities could demand you hand over at the border
Exclusive: US Customs and Border Protection could soon demand your DNA as part of an Esta application
www.independent.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Under proposed new rules, aside from having to turn over your social media & possibly your DNA to visit the US, if you install the Electronic System for Travel Authorization app, it'll collect & send your location data to the US government as a means to confirm that you have indeed left the country.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
A senior Ukrainian official said the talks in Berlin are done for the night after more than five hours. The sides will pick up tomorrow where they left off. Zelenskyy will comment on the talks tomorrow, once they finish going through the key points of the peace proposal they're working on.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to give up on demands for Nato membership in exchange for security guarantees from the US and Europe, in a move aimed at advancing peace talks in Berlin on Sunday. on.ft.com/4iSMzii
December 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
A senior Ukrainian official said the talks in Berlin are done for the night after more than five hours. The sides will pick up tomorrow where they left off. Zelenskyy will comment on the talks tomorrow, once they finish going through the key points of the peace proposal they're working on.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Minister appeals to public to get flu jab amid ‘very severe’ strain
Minister appeals to public to get flu jab amid ‘very severe’ strain
Flu season expected to peak over Christmas, with current strain particularly virulent among children under 15
www.irishtimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Minister appeals to public to get flu jab amid ‘very severe’ strain
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Why next week’s Battle of Brussels is a defining moment for Europe, Keir Starmer’s dangerous dithering, how Ireland’s neutrality is costing it friends, can Europe break the Chinese siege and why we have passed peak human - my latest
Europe Under Attack
Thoughts on next week's Battle of Brussels, Starmer's dangerous dithering, how Ireland's neutrality is costing it friends, can Europe break the Chinese siege, and why we are past peak human
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Why next week’s Battle of Brussels is a defining moment for Europe, Keir Starmer’s dangerous dithering, how Ireland’s neutrality is costing it friends, can Europe break the Chinese siege and why we have passed peak human - my latest
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
In case you missed it
Is the tide turning? New post on my Brexit & Brexitism Blog. Renewed talk of a customs union may well come to nothing, but rapidly changing geo-politics mean the UK needs urgently to face up to the failure of the entire Brexit ‘strategy’: chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
December 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In case you missed it
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Predicting that some universities will soon pledge to provide AI-free instruction, and that this will be an advantage in recruiting and training top students
Nothing will make you an education AI skeptic faster than grading some college take home assignments. Admins who haven’t been in a classroom in years push it as a learning tool. Students are laughing at them as they use it as a cheating tool. It’s all instructors are texting about with each other.
December 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Predicting that some universities will soon pledge to provide AI-free instruction, and that this will be an advantage in recruiting and training top students
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
In America, we hold ourselves to a higher standard, and we can’t let this President or Secretary of Defense corrupt that. I’m grateful for Jeff Flake’s moral clarity.
When Leaders Mistake Brutality for Strength
Americans may disagree on many things, but they still distinguish between necessary force and needless killing.
www.theatlantic.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:59 PM
In America, we hold ourselves to a higher standard, and we can’t let this President or Secretary of Defense corrupt that. I’m grateful for Jeff Flake’s moral clarity.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
President Trump’s executive order limiting states’ power to regulate AI split his supporters and highlighted Silicon Valley’s growing influence over his agenda.
How Trump’s tech advisers overcame a MAGA rebellion over AI
President Trump’s executive order limiting states’ power to regulate AI split his supporters and highlighted Silicon Valley’s growing influence over his agenda.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
President Trump’s executive order limiting states’ power to regulate AI split his supporters and highlighted Silicon Valley’s growing influence over his agenda.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Israel's assassination of a senior Hamas commander threatens the viability of the Gaza ceasefire, the chief negotiator of the militant group has said, calling on US President Donald Trump to demand Israel comply with the terms of the truce.
Hamas says Israel killing commander threatens ceasefire
Israel's assassination of a senior Hamas commander threatens the viability of the Gaza ceasefire, the chief negotiator of the militant group has said, calling on US President Donald Trump to demand Is...
www.rte.ie
December 14, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Israel's assassination of a senior Hamas commander threatens the viability of the Gaza ceasefire, the chief negotiator of the militant group has said, calling on US President Donald Trump to demand Israel comply with the terms of the truce.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Australia ‘devastated’ by Bondi Beach shootings – broadcaster
www.channel4.com/news/austral...
www.channel4.com/news/austral...
Australia ‘devastated’ by Bondi Beach shootings – broadcaster
Australian broadcaster Hamish Macdonald is the presenter of Mornings on ABC Radio Sydney. We asked him what the mood is like in Sydney, just hours after the attack.
www.channel4.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Australia ‘devastated’ by Bondi Beach shootings – broadcaster
www.channel4.com/news/austral...
www.channel4.com/news/austral...
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
New podcast for you today: the revival of atomism in the 17th century! We look especially at Gassendi and Basso.
www.historyofphilosophy.net/revival-atom...
#philsky #atomism #gassendi #philosophy #earlymodern #podcast
www.historyofphilosophy.net/revival-atom...
#philsky #atomism #gassendi #philosophy #earlymodern #podcast
December 14, 2025 at 11:01 AM
New podcast for you today: the revival of atomism in the 17th century! We look especially at Gassendi and Basso.
www.historyofphilosophy.net/revival-atom...
#philsky #atomism #gassendi #philosophy #earlymodern #podcast
www.historyofphilosophy.net/revival-atom...
#philsky #atomism #gassendi #philosophy #earlymodern #podcast
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Transcendence for Beginners by Clare Carlisle review – a philosopher’s guide to enlightenment
Can we experience something bigger than ourselves in the midst of busy, humdrum lives? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a... #enlightenment #PhilosophySky #philsky
Can we experience something bigger than ourselves in the midst of busy, humdrum lives? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a... #enlightenment #PhilosophySky #philsky
Transcendence for Beginners by Clare Carlisle review – a philosopher’s guide to enlightenment
Can we experience something bigger than ourselves in the midst of busy, humdrum lives?
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Transcendence for Beginners by Clare Carlisle review – a philosopher’s guide to enlightenment
Can we experience something bigger than ourselves in the midst of busy, humdrum lives? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a... #enlightenment #PhilosophySky #philsky
Can we experience something bigger than ourselves in the midst of busy, humdrum lives? www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a... #enlightenment #PhilosophySky #philsky
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Excellent piece on many of the same themes here. The EU needs to regulate American big tech which appears to have been weaponised as a tool against democracy. Is the UK going to side with Europe or with the US? www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Brigid Laffan: Europe is in danger of becoming a plaything, not a player
Donald Trump’s administration wants to erase the achievements of European integration and destroy the project
www.irishtimes.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Excellent piece on many of the same themes here. The EU needs to regulate American big tech which appears to have been weaponised as a tool against democracy. Is the UK going to side with Europe or with the US? www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
This blog post by Prof Chris Grey is an absolute banger.
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
Is the tide turning?
<a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.online/@ChrisGrey">Mastodon</a>
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This blog post by Prof Chris Grey is an absolute banger.
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
For years, in his excellent blog (and a book) Chris has analysed the UK’s departure from the EU and its economic, legal and political impact. Here, strategic failure and necessary work.
chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/is-t...
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
At the moment European institutional disintegration is more likely as mainstream political leaders fail to find the paths and explanations out of decline, and populist nationalists have seductive words that will exacerbate the problems.
The simple fact is that domestic politics, security, geopolitics, and economics are all lining up for enormous institutional change at European level.
European values are in jeopardy and we can't just let them fade into the sunset. The UK needs to be at the heart of this change.
European values are in jeopardy and we can't just let them fade into the sunset. The UK needs to be at the heart of this change.
December 14, 2025 at 10:58 AM
At the moment European institutional disintegration is more likely as mainstream political leaders fail to find the paths and explanations out of decline, and populist nationalists have seductive words that will exacerbate the problems.
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Edward Burke: Drone sightings highlight worrying gaps in our national security
Edward Burke: Drone sightings highlight worrying gaps in our national security
Drones were probably meant as a reminder from Russia of the ominous costs of continued EU support for Kyiv
www.irishtimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Edward Burke: Drone sightings highlight worrying gaps in our national security
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Relearning some lessons from history. Reflections on the international disorder in my latest Inside-Out column
philipstephens.substack.com/p/making-sen...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/making-sen...
Making sense of international disorder
…Or how Britain’s retreat from the Caribbean in 1905 maps the new geopolitical landscape
philipstephens.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Relearning some lessons from history. Reflections on the international disorder in my latest Inside-Out column
philipstephens.substack.com/p/making-sen...
philipstephens.substack.com/p/making-sen...
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
With this latest mass shooting at Brown University, this might be a good time to mention that Bill Clinton’s assault weapons ban reduced mass shooting deaths by 43% - but after George W Bush & Republicans let it expire, mass shooting deaths spiked by 239%.
It's the guns!!! :(
It's the guns!!! :(
December 14, 2025 at 6:17 AM
With this latest mass shooting at Brown University, this might be a good time to mention that Bill Clinton’s assault weapons ban reduced mass shooting deaths by 43% - but after George W Bush & Republicans let it expire, mass shooting deaths spiked by 239%.
It's the guns!!! :(
It's the guns!!! :(
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Harry Cole of Sun interviews Connor Tomlinson - who advocates banning ethnic minority MPs from parliament
Tomlinson regrets sacrificing Suella Braverman but feels sure (on no evidence) she would sacrifice herself to remove the risk of Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel & Shabana Mahmood!
Tomlinson regrets sacrificing Suella Braverman but feels sure (on no evidence) she would sacrifice herself to remove the risk of Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel & Shabana Mahmood!
December 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Harry Cole of Sun interviews Connor Tomlinson - who advocates banning ethnic minority MPs from parliament
Tomlinson regrets sacrificing Suella Braverman but feels sure (on no evidence) she would sacrifice herself to remove the risk of Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel & Shabana Mahmood!
Tomlinson regrets sacrificing Suella Braverman but feels sure (on no evidence) she would sacrifice herself to remove the risk of Kemi Badenoch, Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel & Shabana Mahmood!
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the Hungarian capital Budapest to demand Prime Minister Viktor Orban's resignation due to perceived inaction over allegations of child abuse in state-run institutions.
u.afp.com/S7Lu
u.afp.com/S7Lu
December 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the Hungarian capital Budapest to demand Prime Minister Viktor Orban's resignation due to perceived inaction over allegations of child abuse in state-run institutions.
u.afp.com/S7Lu
u.afp.com/S7Lu
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
Why has today’s Senate, individually and collectively, surrendered its free will, backbone, and constitutional duties? The key is Trump. lnk.thebulwark.com/48UgS3H
Worst. Senate. Ever.
Republican senators surrendered to Trump, and now they own this catastrophe.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Why has today’s Senate, individually and collectively, surrendered its free will, backbone, and constitutional duties? The key is Trump. lnk.thebulwark.com/48UgS3H
Reposted by Colin Wrafter
The 25th anniversary of Bush v Gore is today. The conspiracy mongering & corruption of the GOP has been brewing for a long time.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Here's Sandra Day O'Connor endorsing News Max levels of voter fraud conspiracies in the 2000 election.
December 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The 25th anniversary of Bush v Gore is today. The conspiracy mongering & corruption of the GOP has been brewing for a long time.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.