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Reposted by Matthew Ford

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4d

Centrists promise but can't deliver enhanced growth in one country leading to better services, populists promise simple solutions to everything founded on immigration control and mostly deliver chaos. Alternatives are thin on the ground.

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Reposted by Matthew Ford

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 4d

Right populists v centrists with the further left usually marginalised is the new electoral geography. Like in other fields like economics, there's a struggle to come to terms with this emerging world

Finbarr Bermingham @fbermingham.bsky.social · 4d

Looks like populist billionaire Andrej Babis will come out on top in Czech election

Known to be much friendlier to China than current government. Will this see an extension of Beijing’s "silk curtain" running through Budapest, Belgrade, Bratislava?

Populist billionaire Babis on track to win Czech election

A victory would raise the prospect of a government that would boost Europe's anti-immigration camp and reduce support for Ukraine.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Matthew Ford

tadaaa.bsky.social @tadaaa.bsky.social · 4d

Same vibe tbh

Picture of a book titled "one hundred proofs that the earth is not a globe"

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 5d

Saturday morning wholesome goodness…

IRL “social connections of all shapes and sizes contribute to our wellbeing”.

Key takeaways: stop doomscrolling. Start chatting to people.😀 www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-bo...

Social fitness is the biggest predictor of a happy life. Here’s how to improve yours | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Enjoying the weather? Did you see the game? Small-talk and simple face-to-face interactions have a bigger effect on our wellbeing than you might think. So, do you fancy a cuppa?

www.sciencefocus.com

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Reposted by Matthew Ford

MatthTheGeek 🇫🇷 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @matththegeek.bsky.social · 5d

Almost as if giving Palantir / Anduril access to anything important was a terrible idea from the start. Crazy dat.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 5d

What a surprise:

“The Army should treat the NGC2 prototype version as “very high risk” because of the “likelihood of an adversary gaining persistent undetectable access”
www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Anduril and Palantir battlefield communication system has deep flaws, Army memo says

The much-needed modernization of the U.S. Army's battlefield communications network being undertaken by Anduril, Palantir and others is rife with "fundamental security" problems and vulnerabilities, and should be treated as a "very high risk," according to a recent internal Army memo.

www.reuters.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

I think we need a magic money trees

Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

Is British defence policy just a case of moving deckchairs around the titanic?

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

And as the tech won’t work first time around we’re defo going to need the capacity to sustain a long war.

But still. Silver bullets.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

We need growth.

Or we need to eat grass.

Or we need AI.

Or we need conscription.

Can someone choose how to pay for it. And if the AI can’t be made to work then what we do to make up for the shortfall between ambition and reality?

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

I’m all for global responsibilities. But can we also temper this with a realistic appraisal of what UK can afford. And tailor the strategy accordingly?

a sad cat is looking at the camera with the words pretty pretty please written below it .

ALT: a sad cat is looking at the camera with the words pretty pretty please written below it .

media.tenor.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

Brits struggling to come to terms with the reality. Can’t afford it all and unwilling to make choices accordingly.

Three years in and we’re still dicking about

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

Brits struggling to come to terms with the reality. Can’t afford it all and unwilling to make choices accordingly.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

One of those days

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

SS Britain

a man and woman are flying through the air in the ocean

ALT: a man and woman are flying through the air in the ocean

media.tenor.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 6d

Is British defence policy just a case of moving deckchairs around the titanic?

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 7d

Old Whiskers looking mighty fine this morning…

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 7d

cc @hurstpublishers.bsky.social @greyhoundliterary.bsky.social @michaeldwyer.bsky.social

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 7d

Someone went into my local bookshop and actually bought my book!

No pressure sales were applied! I promise!

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 8d

New policy initiative:

Fire fat generals and restart the federal government…

Reduce the officer corp budget and the size of the nation’s debt all with one policy!😀

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Hegseth: "It all starts with physical fitness and appearance. If the secretary of war can do regular hard PT, so can every member of our joint force. Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations and see fat troops. Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals."

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 8d

Build a European officer corps.

Start by establishing an EU Higher Officers course to educate half colonels and above.

Link career progress to completing this course.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 8d

The European Union was designed for peace – it is never going to be a war machine | Anand Menon

Reacting to the Russian military threat would require the bloc to be agile and decisive. It is many great things, but it is not that, says Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe

www.theguardian.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 8d

Pot v Kettle

Kevin Rothrock @kevinrothrock.me · 8d

Oh welp: "Russia remained the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the U.S. last year, even after a ban on Russian enriched uranium imports became law in May, data from the Energy Dept. show." This, as Trump lectures Europe and others to curb reliance on Russian oil and natural gas.

Russia Still Top Supplier of US Nuclear Fuel Despite Import Ban

Russia remained the top supplier of nuclear reactor fuel to the US last year, even after a ban on enriched uranium imports from the country became law in May, data from the Department of Energy shows.

www.bloomberg.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 8d

Starting with the Commander-in-Chief 😀

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 8d

Hegseth: "It all starts with physical fitness and appearance. If the secretary of war can do regular hard PT, so can every member of our joint force. Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations and see fat troops. Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals."

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 15d

This was good fun. I’d just landed in Tampa and was properly jet lagged but the good folks at GNSI successfully made me sound almost coherent! 💪💪💪

Pre-publication interview on my book.

youtu.be/jyb3n0fs5Dc

War in the Smartphone Age: How Civilians and Media Are Shaping Modern War | GNSI Video Series

YouTube video by Global and National Security Institute

youtu.be

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 15d

Trump baby

a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants .

ALT: a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants .

media.tenor.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 15d

Golden brains u-turn

a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants .

ALT: a baby is walking through a hallway while wearing a black shirt and white pants .

media.tenor.com

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