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Prof John O Brennan

@jobmaynooth.bsky.social

7.4K followers 3.2K following 910 posts

Professor of European Politics, Maynooth University, Ireland. Posts on EU, Balkans and International Politics. Author: The Eastern Enlargement of the EU. Director, Centre for European and Eurasian Studies: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/europe

www.maynoothuniversity.ie

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · Aug 11

In this new piece, I argue that enacting the Occupied Territories Bill is not enough - Ireland should go further and institute a FULL trade embargo against Israel.

We should be aiming for a EU judicial test if the meaning of Article 2 of the Association agmt
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

A complete trade embargo with Israel is now needed

If Ireland really wanted to make a difference, and help end the genocidal Israeli onslaught on Palestinians, it should enact a comprehensive trade embargo on Israel and dare the EU authorities to inst...

www.irishexaminer.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 23h

Social Media apps and smartphones are doing enormous damage to young people everywhere.

I’m glad to see some governments are really grasping the nettle and taking serious action.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Denmark plans social media ban for under-15s as PM warns phones ‘stealing childhood’

Mette Frederiksen links social media use to anxiety, depression and lack of concentration

www.theguardian.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 7d

First Hungary. Then Poland. Now Slovakia is daily increasing attacks on marginalised communities and taking a wrecking ball to EU equality norms.

This is what happens when the EU is unprepared to defend its own values.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Slovakia marks ‘dark day’ as LGBTQ+ rights rolled back in parliament

Amendment to constitution stipulates that male and female are the only recognised sexes and makes adoption nearly impossible for same-sex couples

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Prof John O Brennan

Reuters @reuters.com · 8d

Fear, praise, and silence: Reactions to Trump's military gathering reut.rs/4o18NjK

Fear, praise, and silence: Reactions to Trump's military gathering

U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's speeches at a rare gathering of U.S. military leaders on Tuesday was met with sharp criticism from Democrats, praise from Republicans but a muted response so far from military officials themselves.

reut.rs

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 8d

Some people really understand what is happening in the United States.

You may think it unimaginable but what we are witnessing is the consolidation of a Fascist dictatorship that is weaponising the military against the American people.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

I hope it's clear to everyone now that Trump really is going for it - he's trying to become a dictator. I don't know if he'll succeed, but he's working to install himself as an autocrat unaccountable to voters. And he's weaponizing the military against Americans who oppose him as part of that effort

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 8d

This is the Trump gangster approach to leadership:
‘Applaud me. Worship me. Give me your loyalty.

And if you don’t, there will be trouble.’

It’s like watching a low-energy version of Adolf Hitler attempt to bring the German army under Nazi control in the 1930s.
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...

Trump, Hegseth rally troops at rare meeting, rail against "woke" standards

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touted the new name, the Department of War, saying "the era of the Department of Defense is over."

www.cbsnews.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 9d

Indeed, Edgar. I wonder how Mr Kirk would be categorised?

Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 9d

Brilliant (free) piece on the epic battle going on within the US between two different versions of American Christianity, exemplified by what happened at the Charlie Kirk Memorial.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Two versions of Christianity battle for America’s soul

Charlie Kirk’s memorial shows how politics is reshaping this religious faith.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Prof John O Brennan

EUwatch 🇪🇺 @euwatch.live · 10d

Polls open in Moldova in a tense parliamentary election plagued with reports of Russian interference

Polls open in Moldova's parliamentary elections

Police have arrested many people in hundreds of raids leading up to the vote as reports of Russian interference and planned disturbances plagued what many believe is the most consequential election in the country’s recent history.

www.euronews.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 10d

This is the most cogent and terrifying piece I have read on the post-literate age we have entered.

If you want to understand the collapse of literacy and its link to democratic regression, take 20 to 30 minutes to read and absorb this.

jmarriott.substack.com/p/the-dawn-o...

The dawn of the post-literate society

And the end of civilisation

jmarriott.substack.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11d

Democratic forces are under enormous pressure in Moldova as Russia tries to bribe and cheat its way to ending the pro EU direction of the country. Dr Keith Harrington analyses what is at stake in this election. Excellent piece.
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

Why Moldova's election is so important for Europe and Russia

Moldovans head to the polls on Sunday in an election whose outcome will be of crucial interest to both Moscow and Europe

www.rte.ie

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 12d

Every day, a new attempt to deflect from the Epstein files.

Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 13d

One of the most corrupt figures in modern European politics finally gets his comeuppance: Sarkozy found guilt by French court.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Nicolas Sarkozy given five-year prison sentence after Libya trial

Former French president found guilty of criminal conspiracy after being accused of pact with Gaddafi regime

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Prof John O Brennan

Casey Michel @cjcmichel.bsky.social · 14d

There's now an official U.S. governmental website hawking the "Trump gold card" visa scheme—selling American residency to any kleptocrat, cartel head, or oligarch who can afford it.

trumpcard.gov

Trump Gold Card

Available now.

trumpcard.gov

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14d

More vengeance, with the Justice system now fully locked and loaded against any and all that ever tried to take Trump down for his life of sordid criminality.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 14d

BREAKING on MSNBC:

Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to be indicted in the coming days in the Eastern District of Virginia, where a prosecutor who opposed bringing the case was recently fired, three sources familiar with the matter told MSNBC.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14d

It is really worth watching. For his humanity as much as the humour.

Wajahat Ali @wajali.bsky.social · 14d

Jimmy Kimmel's Monologue now has 14.3 MILLION VIEWS on YouTube.

It would be a shame for you to share it

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1tj...

Jimmy Kimmel is Back!

YouTube video by Jimmy Kimmel Live

www.youtube.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14d

This is the guy who referred to his boss as “America’s Hitler” not so long ago.

The Nazis were a lot more subtle in the way they employed propaganda.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 14d

Vance: "If you want stop political violence, stop telling your supporters that everybody who disagrees with you is a Nazi."

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Reposted by Prof John O Brennan

Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 14d

The US is a major importer of Indian products made of Russian oil @npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/09/08/n...

The U.S. is a major importer of Indian products made from Russian oil

The United States imports oil products from India's Reliance Industries refinery, which sources nearly half its oil from Russia.

www.npr.org

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14d

Lies and lying have come to define the Republican Party and the US government.

By far the most damage is being done to the environment.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 14d

Wright: "I predict in a few years President Trump will win the climate hero award because his policies, which are pro-natural gas & pro-nuclear, those are the only two needle-movers we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He's not doing it for that reason. That's nowhere near our biggest issue"

Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14d

The European Union continues to ignore Bulgaria’s slide into autocracy.

The crisis has been building for years.

Now the state has been completely captured by unscrupulous oligarchic forces.

Brussels’ answer is to do nothing.
www.politico.eu/article/bulg...

Jailed mayor urges EU to halt Bulgaria’s slide toward authoritarianism

Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev seeks “more pressure” on the Bulgarian government, while liberals in the EU Parliament call for Sofia to lose funding over his arrest.

www.politico.eu

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 15d

A badge of honour to be attacked by this far right platform.

Centrist people are now ‘extremists’.
gript.ie/perrins-john...

PERRINS: Ireland, where the establishment are extremist - Gript

Being a Christian is normal. Remembering your dead is a virtue. This is the dividing line. Those who think otherwise are the extremists

gript.ie

Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 15d

Truly honoured to be today’s target of vitriol of the lovely people at GRIPT.

I’m an ‘extremist’, doncha know?
gript.ie/perrins-john...

PERRINS: Ireland, where the establishment are extremist - Gript

Being a Christian is normal. Remembering your dead is a virtue. This is the dividing line. Those who think otherwise are the extremists

gript.ie

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 16d

The great division opening in our world is between people who are curious and read books to cement their knowledge and those who think that some random bollocks they read on Facebook equates to what decades of learning and layers of thought has taught bookish people.

Impossible to bridge the gap.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 16d

Not a bit, I would say. They cannot use them under any circumstances without seeing Moscow or Petersburg destroyed.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 17d

Russia is a pathetic third rate power yet it keeps provoking European neighbours.

A bully only understands the language of force.

When will Europe use appropriate force to deter the predator?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

German jets scrambled after Russian military plane flies over Baltic Sea

Russian Il-20M reconnaissance plane ignored requests to make contact, in latest of what are seen as provocative acts by Kremlin

www.theguardian.com

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 17d

The big lie at the heart of MAGA - that they were ever in favour of ‘free speech’.

They want to suppress any and all forms of dissent while Trump and his fellow Fascists loot the country and turn the US into Russia.
www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

The US right claimed free speech was sacred – until the Charlie Kirk killing

Rightwingers had long complained of a censorious leftwing ‘cancel culture’ but seem happy to now reframe that as ‘consequence culture’

www.theguardian.com

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