iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14/10/2026

Great to meet/share a panel with Kiril Petrov, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria in Sofia today. Kiril was hugely important in helping Ukraine in the early stages of the Russian onslaught on Kiev and is still flying the flag for an open, liberal Europe. Thanks to Irish and Danish embassies (hosts)

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

An Anfield win built on 900 million quid’s worth of fraud.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

On the Today programme on RTE Radio One, I joined David McCullogh to discuss EU-UK relations and whether Prime Minister Burnham’s recent remarks about the UK potentially rejoining the EU is a realistic prospect (it isn’t) www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

rte.ie

From Brexit to Bremain – can the Brits go backwards

John O'Brennan Professor of European politics Maynooth University.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Albania’s breakneck development pace is dogged by serious allegations of corruption. While the EU does very little, Albania’s civil society has found its voice and is pushing back strongly against Edi Rama’s approach to development and building. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

theguardian.com

‘Starchitects go home’: what’s the truth behind Albania’s astonishing building boom?

Sixty top architecture firms from around the world have mooted 500 eye-catching projects across Albania, sparking fury and protests. Now they’re being celebrated in an 800-page tome that some are call...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Bond markets are increasingly jittery on both sides of the Atlantic, the @FT reports on Friday.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

After an electrifying speech at the Labour conference there is renewed speculation about the possibility of the UK making a bid to re-join the European Union. I think this is a very doubtful proposition, and joined Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk FM to discuss the issue www.newstalk.com/podcasts/hig...

newstalk.com

Could the UK rejoin the EU? | Newstalk

Following his first Labour conference speech as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnha...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Democracy indicators in the US are at their lowest in 50 years says the new annual report from the Global State of Democracy, IDEA. Globally, democracy has declined for a 11th straight year. And conflicts are at their highest since 1946. Read the report. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

theguardian.com

Democracy indicators in US at lowest levels for 50 years, data shows

Trump administration undermining rule of law at home and worldwide, according to intergovernmental report

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Canada is seeking a much closer relationship with the EU. This could be as an ‘Associate Member’. Mark Carney will be in Europe this week to make the case. This is welcome news - Canada is among Europe’s closest friend in an increasingly turbulent world. x.com/bbcworld/sta...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This is the third time the Russians have attacked this plant, as well as trying to poison its owner. And STILL the Bulgarian government goes to European Council summit meetings, fighting to take Russian oligarchs OFF the EU sanctions list.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

This is how much respect for 9/11 victims the grizzled old fraudster has…..

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

You will see a very large protest march in Dublin tomorrow

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

A reminder that the convicted sex pest and his deeply corrupt family are about to arrive in Ireland, where everyone involved in the Irish Open golf tournament will disgrace themselves in fawning over these criminal reprobate monsters. www.rte.ie/news/munster...

rte.ie

All the details on restrictions in Clare for Trump visit

Gardaí have said a "significant policing and security operation" is under way in Co Clare for US President Donald Trump's visit to Doonbeg for the Amgen Irish Open.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Once again, we see the close links between Bulgaria and Russia in the very murky world of private sector security training. Bulgaria has serious questions to answer if Russian nationals have been trained at this centre near Gabrovo. eualive.net/russian-link...

eualive.net

Russian links, Western veterans and a Bulgarian training camp raise security questions

A leaked Australian intelligence assessment has raised questions over alleged Russian military links to a ...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Brilliant column by @rafaelbehr - the AfD victory demonstrates that the unholy alliance between racist nationalism and untethered digital power is hurtling Europe back to the 1930s. Stefan Zweig would indeed recognise the symptoms of European sickness. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

European democracies are running out of time to turn away from the abyss | Rafael Behr

Far-right parties, Maga ideology and Kremlin money are conniving to suffocate liberal idealism for another generation, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Brilliant piece (as ever) from Simon Tisdall, on the age of tyrants, and the extraordinary damage they are doing all over the world. Compelling reading for anybody interested in the disorder and chaos unleashed by a bunch of criminal old men. 👍👍👍 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

The world is being driven to the brink by thugs and dictators, but there is a route to a brighter future | Simon Tisdall

It’s no surprise some analysts say we are already in the midst of the third world war, but ordinary people have more power than we think, says Guardian foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

While the wages of most US workers fails to keep pace with inflation, this is what this thundering vainglorious narcissist is spending his time on.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

One of the greatest Americans of her time, RIP Dolly Parton. Someone who lived her Christian values like few other rich stars. She did an enormous amount of good, particularly for child literacy. And then there is the music. A true original. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

theguardian.com

Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80

Songwriter of I Will Always Love You, Jolene and 9 to 5 also invested millions in child literacy, Covid-19 vaccine development and other causes

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Who knew? The only guy in history to bankrupt a casino…….

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

An excellent appraisal of how Trump and his surrogates might try to declare a national emergency to prevent Mid-term elections from happening, or grossly interfere with November vote. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

theguardian.com

Trump’s continued distrust in election integrity has experts eyeing his next move

President’s speech, declassification of documents and heightened claims of noncitizen voting have experts concerned

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

He’s such a pathetic hebephrenic narcissistic schoolboy.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Armenia seems determined to leave the Russian orbit quite decisively and move much closer to the European Union. Is a bid for EU membership on the cards? eualive.net/armenia-move...

eualive.net

Armenia moves towards EU membership bid as Russia warns of consequences

Armenia is preparing to begin the process of formally applying for European Union membership, Prime ...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Had Canada agreed to these outrageous American demands it wouldn’t have become a US state. It would have become a colony.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Trump is trying to browbeat Canada in the same way Putin tried to browbeat Ukraine. But the Canadians, just like the Ukrainians, are having none of it. Canada is not willing to become a slave of the United States. So Uncle Fester can take his tariffs back to Epstein island.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Canada’s determination not to be brow beaten by Mango Mussolini stands in marked contrast to the timidly and meekness of European leaders, who have shown Trump over and over again that he can walk all over them without complaint. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

theatlantic.com

How to Lose a Trade War

Trump’s bullying of Canada is failing.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Europe: this is how you deal with Trump.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

After all the sleaze of the Tory years, the UK Labour government could have come in and earned a lot of goodwill by: 1/ banning ALL second jobs for MPs 2/ banning ALL gifts to MPs and Ministers. Instead they have their faces giddily in the trough. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

theguardian.com

MPs ‘failing to learn lesson’ over freebies after accepting £400,000 of hospitality

MPs receive Harry Styles concert tickets worth £858, Chelsea flower show tickets worth £1,839, and £3,432 of hospitality at Brit awards

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A superb distillation of the ideas in this book about how phenomenally dangerous some tech titans (and their political supplicants) are for democracy. Chilling stuff. “The Nerd Reich": Author Gil Durán on Big Tech Fascism, Peter Thiel, JD ... youtu.be/sg7YNUbaV-8?si…

youtu.be

"The Nerd Reich": Author Gil Durán on Big Tech Fascism, Peter Thiel, JD Vance & the War on Democracy

YouTube video by Democracy Now!

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A fascinating report on the challenges Andy Burnham’s government faces in turning around Britain’s train services and linking this to regional and national economic growth. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

Back on track: can Burnham fix the north’s woeful rail services?

From a new high-speed line to better intercity links, the PM has a chance to tackle problems he criticised as Manchester mayor

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The more this bloviating bovine thug screams about Iran, the more it becomes obvious that the Iranians have him where they want him: squinting and spluttering like a deranged, Mad Cow-infected Colonel Kurtz imitator.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Standing up to a dictatorship is never easy, but in Turkey there seems genuine excitement at the emergence of the ‘New Party’, as a rival to Erdogan’s AKP. eualive.net/erdogans-par...

eualive.net

Erdogan’s party faces shock challenge as Özel’s new movement surges to 30% support

Turkey’s political landscape is being dramatically reshaped after a new party led by former Republican ...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

These platforms are actively helping vast amounts of lies circulate in our political systems. They are poisoning our societies. We shouldn’t be talking to them. We should be threatening them with closure. www.politico.eu/article/eu-m...

politico.eu

EU opens channel with Meta, TikTok to tackle Ceuta migrant crisis

Thousands of migrants crossing into a Spanish enclave in Morocco were reportedly spurred by misinformation.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Are the Russians at it again? An explosion at a Bulgaria arms factory in Tryavna leads to string suspicions after multiple previous incidents. Russia’s hybrid war on Europe is in full swing. eualive.net/explosion-at...

eualive.net

Explosion at Bulgarian arms plant revives Russian sabotage concerns

An explosion at the EMCO arms manufacturer’s storage facility near the mountain town of Tryavna ...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

The big problem Ukraine\European allies face -a chronic shortage of Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors. Russia continues to attack Ukraine with large numbers of ballistic missiles while interception is more difficult than ever without sufficient Patriots. www.politico.eu/article/euro...

politico.eu

Europe is running out of Patriot missiles as Ukraine braces for Russia’s winter attacks

New production will come too late, U.S. supplies are strained and leading donors say they have few interceptors to spare.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Does anything tell you how spectacularly the US is losing its war with Iran than this? Having to smuggle the president on to a different plane because of the threat of an Iranian attack? Of course they lied about it and put White House staff in danger too. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

theguardian.com

Trump hid in catering cart to board secret flight in Turkey amid Iran threat – reports

Elaborate ruse was used to transport president to military flight from Air Force One to return from Nato meet

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

That means taking rule of law abuses seriously and not, for example, handing some members of the European Council €10bn in withheld funding when they blackmail the EU.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Why add new provisions for acceding states (taking away subvention, for example) when the EU has signally failed to protect the rule of law within many of its own member states? In other words, put your own house in order and you will be ready for new accessions.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A good piece by @HenryJFoy in @FT on the future of EU Enlargement. My further argument: if the EU is concerned about rule of law in candidate states it should demonstrate its resolve by taking concrete demonstrative actions against its own corrupt and law abusing member states. Some further thoughts

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Let nobody think Trump has given up on taking Greenland. This is the latest act of lawlessness his acolytes are engaged in. Europe - you are about to be seriously tested. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

theguardian.com

Greenland issues ‘strong warning’ as Trump-linked oil firm prepares to drill

Island’s government says no approval given after Greenland Energy brings kit ashore for exploratory drilling

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

New figures suggest the Irish economy is boomjng, with record high tax receipts (not just corporate tax) and near record low unemployment.

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

There’s something grotesque about this: more border porn from @reformparty_uk as they turn the world’s poorest people into threatening Dickensian caricatures, to distract from the searching questions about their party’s funding by offshore billionaires. eualive.net/battery-cham...

eualive.net

Battery champion Bulgaria helps neighbours maintain electricity supplies

Bulgaria’s rapid expansion of battery storage and renewable electricity has unexpectedly turned the country into ...

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Brilliant piece by Jonathan Liew: Ceuta was turned into border porn by the far right, a locus for the, to present their apocalyptic fantasies about the danger of the brown man to white Christian Europe. Compelling reading. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

Ceuta was a carnival of anti-migrant content for hateful opportunists on the right – and a lesson for the left | Jonathan Liew

It was framed as a perfect storm because nativists dearly wanted it to be. Looking on, progressives failed to meet the moment too, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Liew

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Prof John O Brennan @jobmaynooth.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Elon Musk is all for free speech. Except when it comes to his dictatorial mates in Saudis Arabia and elsewhere. For them he will block every dissident account that displeases them. What a giant fraud the man is. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

Elon Musk’s X latest to block Saudi dissident accounts inside kingdom

Exclusive: More than 60 accounts on X have been made unavailable in Saudi Arabia, after similar action on Snapchat and Facebook

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