@mpolachowska
@mpolachowska.bsky.social
Former Senior Producer BBC Newsnight, May 1989-2024. Freelance journalist, filmmaker. Foreign affairs, policy, history, investigations, environment.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
“failures of commissioning, journalistic and editorial standards do not by themselves give rise to a legal claim. We have looked carefully at your client’s claim as set out in your letter, and for the reasons below that claim is denied.”
#Trump #BBC
#Trump #BBC
NEW
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
By me. Enjoy.
emptycity.substack.com/p/the-letter...
The letter the BBC could send back to Trump
A proposal for a reply to his $1bn claim
emptycity.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Magic Weapons: Drones | "As Europe dithers, Russia’s successful drone offensive intensifies." @edwardlucas.bsky.social
Magic Weapons: Drones
As Russia’s disruption campaign increases in scale, it is clear that using drones against civil aviation comes close to being a magic weapon.
cepa.org
October 6, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Magic Weapons: Drones | "As Europe dithers, Russia’s successful drone offensive intensifies." @edwardlucas.bsky.social
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Read the new preface:
open.substack.com/pub/anneappl...
open.substack.com/pub/anneappl...
Autocracy, Inc
Sneak peek at the new preface
open.substack.com
August 30, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Read the new preface:
open.substack.com/pub/anneappl...
open.substack.com/pub/anneappl...
Reposted by @mpolachowska
The circle of hell.
@janemartinson.bsky.social: “What of the #BBC? Can it be and remain an honest broker? Can it reflect the views of those living in the country’s poorest neighbourhoods, who feel ignored by the media and politicians alike, and the concerns of refugees and those who support them?”
@janemartinson.bsky.social: “What of the #BBC? Can it be and remain an honest broker? Can it reflect the views of those living in the country’s poorest neighbourhoods, who feel ignored by the media and politicians alike, and the concerns of refugees and those who support them?”
A desperate, opportunist press and vicious politicians: no wonder the debate on refugees is so awful | Jane Martinson
Migration is one of the most important issues of our time and needs serious consideration. History will damn much of the UK media for failing to do that, says Guardian columnist Jane Martinson
www.theguardian.com
August 30, 2025 at 9:51 AM
The circle of hell.
@janemartinson.bsky.social: “What of the #BBC? Can it be and remain an honest broker? Can it reflect the views of those living in the country’s poorest neighbourhoods, who feel ignored by the media and politicians alike, and the concerns of refugees and those who support them?”
@janemartinson.bsky.social: “What of the #BBC? Can it be and remain an honest broker? Can it reflect the views of those living in the country’s poorest neighbourhoods, who feel ignored by the media and politicians alike, and the concerns of refugees and those who support them?”
Reposted by @mpolachowska
“It's a debate mired in political opportunism and submerged in mendacity, so that's a big ask of the BBC, but it must deliver.”
Every word of this by @janemartinson.bsky.social worth reading, in my view.
Every word of this by @janemartinson.bsky.social worth reading, in my view.
August 30, 2025 at 9:52 AM
“It's a debate mired in political opportunism and submerged in mendacity, so that's a big ask of the BBC, but it must deliver.”
Every word of this by @janemartinson.bsky.social worth reading, in my view.
Every word of this by @janemartinson.bsky.social worth reading, in my view.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
BREAKING: Ukraine Parliament ex-speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv
Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier
euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/30/u...
Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier
euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/30/u...
Ukraine Parliament ex-speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv
Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier,
euromaidanpress.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:13 AM
BREAKING: Ukraine Parliament ex-speaker Parubiy shot dead in Lviv
Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier
euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/30/u...
Former Ukrainian Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy was shot and killed around midday on 30 Aug. in Lviv, with the assailant reportedly disguised as a delivery courier
euromaidanpress.com/2025/08/30/u...
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Something good and hopeful for a change: 🦫😊
Julie Skentelbery - Baby beavers born in the wild in Cornwall - BBC Sounds
Laura Snell from Cornwall Wildlife Trust tells Julie the exciting news
www.bbc.co.uk
July 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Something good and hopeful for a change: 🦫😊
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Vorige week hadden we ons Tweejaarlijkse Forum on European Culture deze keer onder het motoo Art Against the Tyrants. Met oa @anneapplebaum.bsky.social en de Oekraïnse filosoof Volodymyr Yermolenko. Mijn gesprek met deze twee over democratie, oorlog en Oekraine kan je terugkijken.
At @debalie.bsky.social in Amsterdam, talking to the brilliant Volodymyr Yermonlenko. About Ukraine, but not only
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX10...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX10...
Anne Applebaum x Volodymyr Yermolenko
YouTube video by De Balie
www.youtube.com
July 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Vorige week hadden we ons Tweejaarlijkse Forum on European Culture deze keer onder het motoo Art Against the Tyrants. Met oa @anneapplebaum.bsky.social en de Oekraïnse filosoof Volodymyr Yermolenko. Mijn gesprek met deze twee over democratie, oorlog en Oekraine kan je terugkijken.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Donald Trump’s statement after Israeli attack on Iran:
June 13, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Donald Trump’s statement after Israeli attack on Iran:
Reposted by @mpolachowska
⚡️Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns.
"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns
"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said
kyivindependent.com
June 13, 2025 at 12:58 PM
⚡️Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns.
"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
"According to our intelligence, Russia has started to prepare strategic reserves, which indicates plans for combat operations not only in Ukraine," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Russia's Dizzying Drone Offensive
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Russia's Dizzying Drone Offensive
After Ukraine struck bomber bases, evidence of the Kremlin's industrial transformation
open.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Russia's Dizzying Drone Offensive
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Reposted by @mpolachowska
so no, I don't think anything about X is better, and I like the fact that I find interesting and sometimes unexpected things to read here. Thanks to everybody for posting.
June 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
so no, I don't think anything about X is better, and I like the fact that I find interesting and sometimes unexpected things to read here. Thanks to everybody for posting.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Something of a mini exodus at Channel 4, following the coming departure of Alex Mahon. Strategy chief Khalid Hayat is off, as is highly rated commissioner Ollie Madden.
Changing of the guard with a new chair and CEO coming in. Crucial moment for Channel 4 as pressure increases on broadcasters.
Changing of the guard with a new chair and CEO coming in. Crucial moment for Channel 4 as pressure increases on broadcasters.
June 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Something of a mini exodus at Channel 4, following the coming departure of Alex Mahon. Strategy chief Khalid Hayat is off, as is highly rated commissioner Ollie Madden.
Changing of the guard with a new chair and CEO coming in. Crucial moment for Channel 4 as pressure increases on broadcasters.
Changing of the guard with a new chair and CEO coming in. Crucial moment for Channel 4 as pressure increases on broadcasters.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
'It’s reminiscent of what I experienced in the Soviet Union'
Former Trump advisor Dr. Fiona Hill speaks to @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd about the rise of authoritarianism and the atmosphere in Washington during Trump’s second term
#Trump
Former Trump advisor Dr. Fiona Hill speaks to @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd about the rise of authoritarianism and the atmosphere in Washington during Trump’s second term
#Trump
June 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
'It’s reminiscent of what I experienced in the Soviet Union'
Former Trump advisor Dr. Fiona Hill speaks to @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd about the rise of authoritarianism and the atmosphere in Washington during Trump’s second term
#Trump
Former Trump advisor Dr. Fiona Hill speaks to @markurban.bsky.social and Amber Rudd about the rise of authoritarianism and the atmosphere in Washington during Trump’s second term
#Trump
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Thank you to @amnesty.org Media Awards for nominating us for Best Written Feature for our investigation into Press House in Gaza. It was part of the Gaza Project by @forbidden-stories.bsky.social. There's been no accountability for the deaths of Palestinian journalists. This is for them.
June 9, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Thank you to @amnesty.org Media Awards for nominating us for Best Written Feature for our investigation into Press House in Gaza. It was part of the Gaza Project by @forbidden-stories.bsky.social. There's been no accountability for the deaths of Palestinian journalists. This is for them.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
⚡️NATO's Rutte calls for 400% increase in air defenses to counter Russia, Bloomberg reports.
"Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
"Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
NATO's Rutte calls for 400% increase in air defenses to counter Russia, Bloomberg reports
"Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
kyivindependent.com
June 9, 2025 at 10:34 AM
⚡️NATO's Rutte calls for 400% increase in air defenses to counter Russia, Bloomberg reports.
"Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
"Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Fascinating. Born in Merseyside in 1978, Lucy cites the impact of watching the Hillsborough football disaster on TV as a child as one of the driving reasons of her decision to pursue a career in disaster management. She talks to @laurenlaverne.bsky.social
BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Professor Lucy Easthope, emergency planner
Lucy Easthope, emergency planner, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Fascinating. Born in Merseyside in 1978, Lucy cites the impact of watching the Hillsborough football disaster on TV as a child as one of the driving reasons of her decision to pursue a career in disaster management. She talks to @laurenlaverne.bsky.social
Tanks And The Dream of Victory
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Tanks And The Dream of Victory
After more than a century of action these machines defy the naysayers
open.substack.com
June 7, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Tanks And The Dream of Victory
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
open.substack.com/pub/markurba...
Reposted by @mpolachowska
At Juno Beach I realized that the democratic values that I had taken for granted didn't just happen.
They were paid for at an immense cost of lives and sacrifice.
Would we be willing to pay the same sacrifice if the darkness descended again?
My reflection on June 6.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
They were paid for at an immense cost of lives and sacrifice.
Would we be willing to pay the same sacrifice if the darkness descended again?
My reflection on June 6.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why Juno Beach Still Matters - And What It Demands of Us Today
It was 81 years ago today that Canadians stormed the beaches of Normandy.
substack.com
June 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
At Juno Beach I realized that the democratic values that I had taken for granted didn't just happen.
They were paid for at an immense cost of lives and sacrifice.
Would we be willing to pay the same sacrifice if the darkness descended again?
My reflection on June 6.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
They were paid for at an immense cost of lives and sacrifice.
Would we be willing to pay the same sacrifice if the darkness descended again?
My reflection on June 6.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by @mpolachowska
⚡️ Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says.
The attack was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities the same evening.
The attack was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities the same evening.
Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says
The drone attack on Bryansk was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities overnight on June 6.
kyivindependent.com
June 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
⚡️ Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says.
The attack was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities the same evening.
The attack was part of a broader Ukrainian operation targeting multiple Russian airfields and military facilities the same evening.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Reposted by @mpolachowska
Such joy.
I'm just glad one of these men has the nuclear codes and the other has all our personal data.
June 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Such joy.
Reposted by @mpolachowska
“WHO YOU CALLING A BUNCH OF PANSIES?!?”
June 3, 2025 at 12:51 PM
“WHO YOU CALLING A BUNCH OF PANSIES?!?”
Reposted by @mpolachowska
A little gobsmacked by this - No1 on Apple pods on our launch weekend for @crisisroompod.bsky.social which I co-host with Amber Rudd & @mpolymer1.bsky.social decoding international security developments weekly - sign up wherever you get your podcasts
May 31, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A little gobsmacked by this - No1 on Apple pods on our launch weekend for @crisisroompod.bsky.social which I co-host with Amber Rudd & @mpolymer1.bsky.social decoding international security developments weekly - sign up wherever you get your podcasts