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Luke McGee

@lukemcgee.bsky.social
21K followers 2.6K following 3.6K posts

Emmy-award-winning journalist lukemcgee.substack.com luke@luke-mcgee.com

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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 19h
European allies push back against US-led NATO VIP club www.politico.eu/article/euro...
politico.eu
European allies push back against US-led NATO VIP club
Washington’s move to gather favored allies could undermine NATO unity, some countries excluded from the group say.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 20h
The Ukrainians are absolutely amazing kyivindependent.com/new-automati...
kyivindependent.com
New automatic gun turrets successfully down first Russian jet-powered drones, Air Force says
President Volodymyr Zelensky previously announced that twelve such turrets had been installed where Russian jet-powered drones have been particularly active, including around Kyiv.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Hard to say without seeing details etc etc but if this is how the Tories are is framing it, it’s pretty silly. Britain could not replicate iron dome and it wouldn’t address a lot of problems (that can otherwise be addressed through allied approach).
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Europe is monitoring “very closely” a suspected case of pneumonic plague in eastern Russia, following the death of a lab worker, a European Commission spokesperson said Monday. www.politico.eu/article/eu-v...
politico.eu
Suspected plague in Russia puts EU on alert
“We are aware of the reports concerning the laboratory incident in Russia, seemingly involving a pathogen-causing plague,” says European Commission spokesperson.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"In fact Muslims make up perhaps 6-10% of the population in western Europe. Even big cities such as London and Paris, where the Muslim share of the population is closer to 15%, are no less safe than American ones." www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
economist.com
Why MAGA hates and loves Europe
Three big reasons explain the New Right’s hostility to Europeans
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Ukraine will hit Russian refineries in response to Moscow's 'new doctrine' of airstrikes. Putin becoming more unhinged www.reuters.com/business/aer...
reuters.com
EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine will hit Russian refineries in response to Moscow's 'new doctrine' of airstrikes
Ukrainian intelligence has documents showing ​that Vladimir Putin called for military attacks on a much broader range of civilian targets ahead of this winter, Zelenskiy told Reuters in an interview.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Jane Doe’s story is not an aberration. It is a routine, predictable consequence of a system that reinforces the ugliest expressions of masculinity, and casts women as playthings whose humanity is subordinate to the whims of the pack. www.thenewworld.co.uk/holly-thomas...
thenewworld.co.uk
The Cornell rape case is a direct consequence of the fraternity system
The Cornell rape case is a direct consequence of the fraternity system If you keep teaching young men that they’re exceptional and that women are playthings, then yes – this is how they will behave
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
We shouldn’t be surprised that no men in the Snapchat group interceded that night. To gain access to the chat in the first place, they had to pledge their allegiance to a brotherhood defined by its brutality, entry to which is gained via torture. www.thenewworld.co.uk/holly-thomas...
thenewworld.co.uk
The Cornell rape case is a direct consequence of the fraternity system
The Cornell rape case is a direct consequence of the fraternity system If you keep teaching young men that they’re exceptional and that women are playthings, then yes – this is how they will behave
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I wrote about why no one in the Chi Phi Snapchat spoke up. "While there are so many environments where misogyny and rape culture flourish, few are designed with so little friction and so much institutional support as fraternities." www.thenewworld.co.uk/holly-thomas...
thenewworld.co.uk
The Cornell rape case is a direct consequence of the fraternity system
The Cornell rape case is a direct consequence of the fraternity system If you keep teaching young men that they’re exceptional and that women are playthings, then yes – this is how they will behave
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
While it may not be to everyone's taste, sincerely very impressive that @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is 10 years old with 500 issues under its belt. Launching a print weekly in 2016 must have sounded completely insane. Congrats to the whole team.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I love how he can’t get the words out properly. What a dweeb
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"There was a time when EU staffers would open meetings with a pointed question about Brexit. That reflexive response to an English accent has faded, as the UK has slipped down the EU’s list of priorities." www.thenewworld.co.uk/luke-mcgee-t...
thenewworld.co.uk
The problem is they just don’t care about us any more
But when you come to Brussels, you realise how far down the list of priorities we have not fallen
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The reason for all major parties agreeing is that a lot of it would require acts of parliament, so you would need to ensure there isn't a blockage that end. It's not impossible, it is just more complicated than Macron and UCDL saying "oh yes please come back"
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The short version of that means even if we hold a referendum and there is a result one way, the process could outlast the government, meaning whole thing gets cancelled. For it to work, you would need such a huge referendum result that major parties all agree to support rejoin
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Reminder: some EU leaders saying we can rejoin doesn't change very much in reality. Main problem is how long it takes. There are stakeholders at every stage who have national/regional interests (cash), meaning it will take years – probably more than a single parliament.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The reason for all major parties agreeing is that a lot of it would require acts of parliament, so you would need to ensure there isn't a blockage that end. It's not impossible, it is just more complicated than Macron and UCDL saying "oh yes please come back"
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The short version of that means even if we hold a referendum and there is a result one way, the process could outlast the government, meaning whole thing gets cancelled. For it to work, you would need such a huge referendum result that major parties all agree to support rejoin
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Reminder: some EU leaders saying we can rejoin doesn't change very much in reality. Main problem is how long it takes. There are stakeholders at every stage who have national/regional interests (cash), meaning it will take years – probably more than a single parliament.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"To be clear, this idea that a window is closing is only met with moderate regret. Europe has a lot to be getting on with and doesn’t have much capacity to worry about the UK." My latest for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social www.thenewworld.co.uk/luke-mcgee-t...
thenewworld.co.uk
The problem is they just don’t care about us any more
But when you come to Brussels, you realise how far down the list of priorities we have not fallen
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
"Those of us in Britain, still mostly seeing Europe through the narrow lens of Brexit, should be able to see why there is so little incentive for the EU to indulge a country that stormed out once and still cannot say what it wants" www.thenewworld.co.uk/luke-mcgee-t...
thenewworld.co.uk
The problem is they just don’t care about us any more
But when you come to Brussels, you realise how far down the list of priorities we have not fallen
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Trump's chatbot having some teething problems
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Trump launches an AI chatbot. Right, thats the next 12 hours of my life gone www.newsweek.com/trump-launch...
newsweek.com
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
38 sailors, Marines wounded this month in Middle East www.navytimes.com/news/your-na...
navytimes.com
38 sailors, Marines wounded this month in Middle East
The Pentagon's Defense Casualty Analysis System said 29 sailors and 9 Marines were wounded in the Middle East in September.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Wrote about how Facebook's attempt to keep up with TikTok gave it the makings of a far-right cesspit. www.thenewworld.co.uk/holly-thomas...
thenewworld.co.uk
Rupert Lowe is coming for your parents – and he’ll get them on Facebook
The social media platform was once a harmless place, full of friends and family. But now it has become much darker and politically manipulative
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
When male managers have daughters, women at their company are paid more. This suggests two things. One, many men don’t fully appreciate women’s humanity until they’ve “made” one of their own. Two, they are capable of empathy, given a nudge. Wrote this: www.independent.co.uk/voices/world...
independent.co.uk
It shouldn’t take having a daughter for men to start caring about women’s rights
As the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Gender Gap report shows, on current trends, it will take 120 years for a girl to be born into a world in which opportunities are truly equal. Holly Thomas ask...
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The alleged Cornell gang rape looks like an obvious consequence of segregating men and women by sex and placing them in environments where they're expected to perform "peak" masculinity/femininity. No wonder women are dehumanised; no wonder men don't feel like they are friends worth speaking for.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It's so telling that the "I didn't see it" excuse is almost never deployed in any other context. Men only become scrupulous in this way when reality threatens to inconvenience them. And the "he's always been good to me" line effectively translates to "my welfare is more important than hers"
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Every time something like this happens, I think of the many, many instances in which I've heard men acknowledge their friends' bad behaviour towards women, and conclude that there's nothing they can do, because either 1) they didn't witness it first-hand, or 2) "he's always been a good mate to me"
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Chi Phi members named in the lawsuit are defendants Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. Here's a shot of the Snapchat messages some of them allegedly sent. www.cornellsun.com/article/2026...
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Sorry for such a bleak post, but I can't stop thinking about the men who were in that Cornell fraternity and presumably saw the Snapchat message allegedly advertising "free pussy," and did nothing, tacitly allowing their friends to allegedly commit gang rape. Men, your passivity destroys lives.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Swiss say no to hardening neutrality principle, safeguarding sanctions on Russia www.politico.eu/article/swis...
politico.eu
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Rupert Lowe is coming for your parents – and he’ll get them on Facebook by @holstat.bsky.social www.thenewworld.co.uk/holly-thomas...
thenewworld.co.uk
Rupert Lowe is coming for your parents – and he’ll get them on Facebook
The social media platform was once a harmless place, full of friends and family. But now it has become much darker and politically manipulative
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Indeed tho worth noting HAYI uses more Russian style tactics these days
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
“The British government gave authorisation to the US to use RAF Fairford to ​carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait ⁠of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that any base used in strikes would be ​a legitimate target.” www.reuters.com/world/uk/sec...
reuters.com
Men arrested in major incident at UK air base used by US
British police said on Sunday they ‌had arrested several men on suspicion of explosives offences and Army bomb disposal experts were examining a number of vehicles in a "major incident" near an air ba...
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“The more that Washington seems to have just one phone number—namely that of the Trump family—the more Europeans should cherish their multiple numbers.” foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/24/e...
foreignpolicy.com
Thank Goodness Europe Doesn’t Have a Phone Number
U.S. policymakers like complaining about one of the sources of the European Union’s strength.
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“Friedrich Merz now has his work cut out for him, with new urgency. How Germany’s partners adapt will be crucial for Europe’s ability to defend its shared interests.” foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/24/g...
foreignpolicy.com
Germany Is Officially Adrift
The German chancellor’s power is ebbing at home—and the consequences will be global.
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András Forgács W @andraswf.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Instead of Owen Jones' dumb book, may I recommend this informative thread instead
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Bloody hell www.dailymail.com/sport/footba...
dailymail.com
Manchester City found guilty on all-but one of 115 rule-break charges
There is a growing confidence within the Premier League that they have triumphed in their 115 charges battle with Manchester City.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
OK, this ups the ante. Still not clear on the exact charges, though. bsky.app/profile/yeom...
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
"Criminal damage" is a very broad descriptor "Simple" (not a legal term) damage costing < £5,000 carries a max penalty of a fine of up to £2,500, up to 3 months in custody, or both. But racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage dealt with in the Crown Court carries a max 14-year sentence.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Oh, and finally, it's time to cut Xander a *bit* of slack. I hated him through the late 2010s and early 2020s too, but he was so young — and consistently really brave when it came down to the wire, despite being the least gifted of everyone. Also, his home life sounded appalling.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
THAT BEING SAID I'm only up to season 3 on the rewatch, so doubtless I'll have more thoughts on that down the line (please just mute me)
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The etymology of *that* Spike bathroom scene in season 6 (as in, mining everyone's trauma in the writers' room) is far more problematic than its existence in the story. Spike's a soulless mass murderer; of course his response to being dumped is vile and abusive!
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
…championing Michelle Trachtenberg, going to bat for Kristine Sutherland when Joyce died… and all while working 20-hour days for years and, by all accounts, remaining word-perfect after basically glancing at the script. SMG, cast protector!! (I’m really sorry)
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
On the same note, Sarah Michelle Gellar doesn’t get nearly enough credit for her on-set behaviour. Making sure guest stars were warm and fed, giving the producers hell if the stunts were too dangerous for them, shifting filming times if guests didn’t feel prepared enough…
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It’s fine to watch Buffy despite the Joss Whedon stuff. Honestly, the only people I know who’ve boycotted have been Gen X men whose thinking doesn’t appear to have gone much further than “I’m being a feminist, right?” while giving *him* entirely too much credit for a show made by many more people.
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Holly Thomas @holstat.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I’m too tired to concentrate, and I’ve been rewatching Buffy for the (redacted) time lately, so for no other reason than I need to get these thoughts out of my head in the hope that they make space for more profitable ones, here are a few Buffy takes I’ve been sitting on!
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Why Europe’s populists don’t criticise China www.economist.com/europe/2026/...
economist.com
Why Europe’s populists don’t criticise China
An ideal target gets a free pass from the demagogues
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If all Trump is going to say to Zelenskyy in New York is "stop hitting oil facilities" that is extremely depressing, but at least tells us where Trump's head is. It also tells us that Ukraine *ahem* holds some cards.
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