International affairs editor at The Conversation UK: @uk.theconversation.com. Interests include books, music, cooking, dogs, Tottenham Hotspur FC and travel, not necessarily in that order. And cricket. Did I mention cricket?https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3me3zko26ac2aHi @sandbaggerone.bsky.social -- keen to chat abut a story idea. Not sure of yr current email? Can you sent me an email and perhaps we can talk? Thanks!05 Feb 2026 08:58 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3me3zko26ac2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3m6lz32l3ys2a@sjasmith.bsky.social Hi Simon -- Jonathan here from The Conversation. I'm trying to get in touch with a story idea. Can you contact me via email and we can arrange to talk? Thanks!27 Nov 2025 09:01 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6lz32l3ys2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3m3vcohqpls2iEach Thursday I write a newsletter with a bit of commentary and a digest of some of the sharpest academic analysis of the big international stories of the week. This week: how both sides of the Ukraine conflict are manipulating Donald Trump. https://theconversation.com/putin-zelensky-and-the-art-of-playing-the-us-president-26824623 Oct 2025 21:31 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3vcohqpls2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3m3rjfd352s2jGreat piece from @stefwolff.bsky.social on @ConversationUK. Thanks to @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social and @rory-stewart.bsky.social for the mention. As ever, Stefan's analysis of thie complex and fast-moving issue is spot on. https://theconversation.com/trumps-heated-white-house-meeting-with-zelensky-shows-how-well-putin-is-playing-the-us-president-267760?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton22 Oct 2025 09:21 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3rjfd352s2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3m2ltt6kfvs2tThe two years of fighting since October 7 have transformed the Middle East: MIddle East expert Simon Mabon @profmabon.bsky.social looks into the aftermath of the Hamas attacks and Israel's war on Gaza https://theconversation.com/the-two-years-of-fighting-since-october-7-have-transformed-the-middle-east-266804?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton07 Oct 2025 09:46 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2ltt6kfvs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lykbydgdqk2x@historydafydd.bsky.social Keen to hear your thoughts on the terrible events in Utah last night. I've emailed you. All best, jonty11 Sep 2025 08:04 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lykbydgdqk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lmm7kd6lxk23Each Thursday I write a newsletter with a bit of commentary and a digest of some of the best academic analysis of the big stories of the week. This week: Trump's tariff backflip, Iran nuclear talks and a focus on Sudan. @uk.theconversation.com https://theconversation.com/trump-tariff-backflip-brings-a-us-trade-war-with-china-into-the-crosshairs-254326?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton12 Apr 2025 09:23 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmm7kd6lxk23https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3llnuzp2rmc2wDonald Trump is contemplating a third term as US president. Here's how Vladimir Putin was able to change Russia’s constitution and become ‘president for life’ https://theconversation.com/how-vladimir-putin-was-able-to-change-russias-constitution-and-become-president-for-life-247654?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton31 Mar 2025 07:55 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3llnuzp2rmc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3llj3igzvcs2yEach Thursday I write a newsletter with a bit of commentary and a digest of some of the best academic analysis of the big stories of the week. This week: Signal-gate - what it tells us about the Trump White House. https://theconversation.com/signal-gate-a-national-security-blunder-almost-without-parallel-253245?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton29 Mar 2025 10:08 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3llj3igzvcs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lkv2ik53d22nEach Thursday I write a newsletter with a bit of commentary and a digest of the best academic analysis of the big stories of the week. This week's focus is on Donald Trump's phone diplomacy and the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza. @uk.theconversation.com https://theconversation.com/has-donald-trump-been-outfoxed-by-putin-and-zelensky-252767?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton21 Mar 2025 10:56 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkv2ik53d22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ljufpuvdy225Floella Benjamin on #BBCSaturdayKitchen 👍🍾🍽️😄08 Mar 2025 11:20 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljufpuvdy225https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ligujefscc26Each Thursday I write a newsletter for subscribers to The Conversation UK with a digest of some of the best academic analysis of the top international stories. This week: is the US throwing Ukraine under the bus? https://theconversation.com/what-we-learned-from-trump-and-putins-phone-call-editors-briefing-249902?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton @uk.theconversation.com18 Feb 2025 08:42 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ligujefscc26https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ligtdx56fc24A short history of the separation of powers: from Cicero’s Rome to Trump’s America https://theconversation.com/a-short-history-of-the-separation-of-powers-from-ciceros-rome-to-trumps-america-249819?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton18 Feb 2025 08:21 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ligtdx56fc24https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lhlmtv6p622iEach Thursday I write a newsletter for subscribers with a bit of commentary and a digest of some of the best academic analysis of the top international stories. This week: Donald Trump is 'flooding the zone with shit'. https://theconversation.com/trumps-gaza-and-ukraine-plans-come-under-the-spotlight-249311?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton07 Feb 2025 12:43 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhlmtv6p622ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lgiawzwquc2uEach Thursday I write a newsletter for subscribers with a bit of commentary and a digest of the best analysis of the big global stories. This week was the Trump inauguration and I shamelessly nicked a good line from Rory Stewart @therestpolitics.bsky.social https://theconversation.com/donald-trump-returns-with-plans-to-fix-ukraine-immigration-and-put-america-first-248156?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com24 Jan 2025 11:07 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgiawzwquc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lg6unom5gk2mThis feels as if he is wandering off script.20 Jan 2025 17:33 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lg6unom5gk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lfuvstexr22zEach week I write a round-up of the top world news stories filed by our array of academic experts. This week, as you'd expect, the focus is on the Gaza ceasefire deal and Donald Trump's impending second presidency: https://theconversation.com/gaza-ceasefire-fragile-deal-offers-hope-for-peace-but-could-still-fall-apart-247618?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton @theconversation.com @uk.theconversation.com16 Jan 2025 18:27 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfuvstexr22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lfsqc5pdak26A Q&A with the very canny @scottlucas.bsky.social about the Gaza ceasefire deal. He's been delivering some of the sharpest analysis of the conflict for 15 months. We'll continue to update as more details emerge. https://theconversation.com/gaza-deal-what-it-means-for-peace-in-the-middle-east-expert-qanda-247414?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=bylineblueskybutton15 Jan 2025 21:43 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfsqc5pdak26https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lfflk2sgzk23Each week I write a commentary newsletter about some of our coverage of world news stories. Here's the latest which focuses on Donald Trump, Greenland and Panama Canal: https://theconversation.com/putting-donald-trumps-plans-for-greenland-and-the-panama-canal-into-context-24703710 Jan 2025 16:13 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfflk2sgzk23https://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lf5okcgst22iCambridge-based scholar Juliette Bretan @jcbretan.bsky.social spent time in Tartu, Estonia last year. Here she writes about Estonia's debate over language, culture and national identity in the face of pressure from Putin's Russia: https://theconversation.com/estonias-language-and-culture-are-becoming-battlegrounds-for-independence-from-putins-russia-246195 @uk.theconversation.com07 Jan 2025 12:45 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lf5okcgst22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ldnlzb34zk2dIs Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Here's what the law says: https://theconversation.com/gaza-why-its-difficult-to-reach-a-legal-judgment-of-genocide-against-israel-24619319 Dec 2024 09:52 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldnlzb34zk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ldlnmcc2tc2qWhat with all the heat and very little light over what's happening in Gaza, it's well worth reading this legal scholar who explains an important question that so many people are getting wrong: https://theconversation.com/gaza-why-its-difficult-to-reach-a-legal-judgment-of-genocide-against-israel-246193 @theconversation.com @uk.theconversation.com18 Dec 2024 15:16 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldlnmcc2tc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ldlkm43fuk2qThanks @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social for mentioning our piece about Syria and the HTS on TRIP: https://theconversation.com/i-interviewed-syrias-militias-at-the-start-of-the-war-they-will-listen-if-other-countries-engage-them-245551 We want to put the work of our expert authors in front of as many people as we can, so your plug was very helpful. We'd love to have you to our news conference one day!18 Dec 2024 14:22 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldlkm43fuk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3ld5u4n5o622yEach week I write a digest of the best of our coverage of the big international news stories. This week, what the UK's sharpest academic minds make of the fall of the house of Assad: https://theconversation.com/what-assads-fall-means-for-the-middle-east-and-russia-24586313 Dec 2024 03:35 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld5u4n5o622yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jonty98.bsky.social/post/3lcnkelsd4s2sThis is a terrific read: [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Dec 2024 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:qe4axbthm7vbzn7efxtj5xrb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcnkelsd4s2s