Due to the fact that I am hosting an event next week on the 40th anniversary of Top Gun, I must rewatch it for the thousandth time this evening to check I haven't missed anything. I am so dedicated to my job. Registration here: www.fpri.org/event/2026/t...

Apropos of absolutely nothing at all, that Mark Twain quote was actually from Clarence Darrow, and it's: "I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction."

I can hear "Hey Jude" drifting over my little English village and it's really rather lovely

I'd bet quite a lot of money that some big guy called Jude did well at the Battle of Stamford Bridge too

The real problem here is that anyone stupid enough to start this war is also too stupid to get out of it www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I am so delighted that the rest of the world is discovering the truly wonderful British tradition of comedy candidates. Having to stand next to someone at the vote count dressed as a bin-alien or a fox or a mad hatter is our equivalent of the whispered "remember you are human" at a Roman triumph.

I have discovered it is possible to buy catering-size bags of gari (the pink pickled ginger you eat with sushi) online for not very much money and I fear what I will do with this knowledge

I'm not sure about you guys but I'm starting to think he isn't a real bin? Britain needs answers!

If you listen very carefully you can hear Thomas Schelling screaming at this from the afterlife

I'm on my fourth media comment in an afternoon, each about a different crisis, so if anyone needs me I'll be here

Some thoughts from me in here about the Russians buzzing our carrier ⬇️ inews.co.uk/news/russias...

If Count Binface wins, I'm going to apply to be his Chief of Staff. I have 17 years of Parliamentary experience, a deep antipathy to fash, and a full commitment to the bit, plus I used to work for a former Clacton MP. How about it @countbinface.bsky.social?

The only candidate standing against Farage is Count Binface. PLEASE, CLACTON, MAKE HIM LOSE TO BINFACE

Live footage from Nigel Farage's lengthy statement on how poor and attacked he is

The guy with the Totenkopf tattoo is a bad person. The guy with the Jerusalem Cross, Deus Vult, and kafir tattoos is a bad person.

Email from a past publisher: "Dear Author, please be wary of the following scams" Me: "AUTHOR"

I suspect I'm not alone in having Steinbeck's work ruined for me by how I was taught EngLit at school, but 25 years later I'm back in it and in love. Teaching themes and literary devices is important but studying the same book for two years (Of M&M) completely bludgeoned the wonder out of it.

Happy Treason Day, ungrateful colonials! I do not like your yam and his minions, but I sure do love the rest of you - and your beautiful, diverse, frustrating, glorious country 🇺🇸

I may have bought 8 used books today but my total was under £30 so it's FINE

Once again America insists on outdoing us

I have been very kindly invited to speak at a cool conference but my favourite part is that they have listed me as "Strategic Foresight Expert EU/NATO" 🥹

My take on the top notes of the Defence Investment Plan and, in particular, the Hybrid Navy. BLUF: it all sounds pretty great but there isn't enough money, the timeline is too long, and we still aren't having the hard conversations. www.fpri.org/article/2026...

If there's one thing I know and love about Americans, it's that they will go to just about anything to have a look and buy portable food items - except, gloriously, the fash state fair. ❤️

Deeper analysis to follow but so far I don't hate it tbh

Thar she blows www.gov.uk/government/p...

Me waiting for the actual Defence Investment Plan document to be published so I can finally read the gd thing

My latest commute audiobook, from the esteemed pen of @alanallport.bsky.social

Back on AJE this afternoon talking about strikes in the Strait of Hormuz

A ceasefire in which all sides keep fighting seems appropriate for a war that was never a war except when it was and has already been won already

When it's hot in the UK and someone asks you if you want anything from the shop, you are legally required to respond with this

Casual text from a friend that he's just given some of my work to the NATO Secretary General, nbd 🫠

Some thoughts from me here on the future of the Strait of Hormuz www.jpost.com/middle-east/...

UK heatwave update: I was dreading doing a podcast recording this morning because my smoke alarm kept going off every 20 mins last night due to the humidity, but we had to reschedule anyway because the heat has knocked out the host's internet connection

Carrier aviation nerds! Want to see a panel of fellow carrier aviation nerds - including a naval aviator - get real nerdy about Top Gun? July 16 brings you just such a chance. Register for free here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

This isn't a surprise, but the whole thing is deeply frustrating. Germany should have ordered MEKOs in the first place - then they'd have some hulls by now. Add this to the LCS, Constellation, etc etc litany of shipbuilding woes. www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Really enjoying the slew of texts as America wakes up - "Who tf is Andy Burnham and why is your country weird" - but I think you're all just jealous that we can get rid of an unpopular leader

My boss told me the UK keeps eating its PMs so I asked him how many PMs the UK has eaten and he says he just goes to Makerfield and gets a new PM afterwards so I said it sounds like he's just feeding PMs to the UK and a SpAd started crying

At least the Russians still believe in us

I just finished Slow Gods by Claire North and it's absolutely incredible

Answering the Father's Day lunch "how's work?" question took a while

I am reading about the Gallipoli campaign because I thought there might be a couple, perhaps a few interesting comparisons to the Strait of Hormuz and I think I've broken myself screaming at the walls

I have just realised that Trump deliberately waited to sign the Iran memo in **Versailles** and whoever is writing this timeline's script really needs to take a seat

Might frame this and hang it in my house, absolute art

Is this from Sun Tzu

Despite having been to Germany many times, I am finally going to Berlin for the first time next month. Food and nerd recommendations appreciated! I'll be staying somewhere very central. (Obviously my first visit will be to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.)

American IRS paperwork is already overly complex and annoying compared to the UK version, but what really makes me chuckle every time is: "For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see separate instructions."

I got to visit her recently and I was very impressed. Converting a commercial hull is also generally a great model for drone motherships.

In the space of one scene, Peter Stormare manages to be the best Devil in the history of film and I am also accepting no further questions here

Crowdsourcing naming options: Operation Market Khargen Dumbkirk Faillipoli Operation Overboard Operation Unjust Cause Add your own!

Looks like your gal's going to be wheeled back out onto the airwaves to explain why taking Kharg Island is incredibly dumb... again.