historysdevils.buzzsprout.com/2591267/epis... This week on HISTORY'S DEVILS, @rorycormac.bsky.social and myself look at the life and lies of the conman, bigamist and would-be killer of Vladimir Lenin, the so-called "Ace of Spies", Sidney Reilly #history #podcast

"Ace of Spies" or Ultimate Grifter? Sidney Reilly and the World of British Intelligence - History's Devils

This episode of HISTORY’S DEVILS delves into the life of Sidney Reilly, a dashing, semi-mythical MI6 officer who has often been referred to – without much reason – as the “Ace of Spies”. James Crossla...

historysdevils.buzzsprout.com

📢 Happy to say that my new podcast, HISTORY'S DEVILS, will be starting on 12 Feb with an episode on the origins of British Fascism. For now, here's the season 1 trailer @philmcraig.bsky.social @ww2tv.bsky.social @mikkibrock.bsky.social @rorycormac.bsky.social #history #podcast 🗃 🎬 🔽🔽

I’ve never been one to watch in a good way before

@nottspolitics.bsky.social · 7mo ago

📚 Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line Great to see the new upcoming publication from @rorycormac.bsky.social featured in the @observeruk.bsky.social's list of books to look out for in 2026 🔗 tinyurl.com/5ff8zwfm Book details➡️ tinyurl.com/mrbvwjs8

The Name of the Game is Death by Dan Marlowe The Chaos Agent Mark Greaney Elric Vol. 2 Michael Morecock The Anointed HP Lovecraft Covert Action by @magslong.bsky.social and @rorycormac.bsky.social The Present Age by Soren Kierkegaard Those Who Face Death Mark Grdovic

@rorycormac.bsky.social and I had a fantastic time with @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social on @theteamhouse.bsky.social - we talked #CovertAction; how and why states use it; and what we might miss if we apply the US approach too narrowly elsewhere. Watch it on #YouTube or listen on your fave #podcast app

Jack Murphy@jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Not going to leave you hanging during the holidays. Tonight we have a @theteamhouse.bsky.social episode with @magslong.bsky.social and @rorycormac.bsky.social about how various Intel agencies approach covert action. youtu.be/j5cCGxOpR8w?...

Not going to leave you hanging during the holidays. Tonight we have a @theteamhouse.bsky.social episode with @magslong.bsky.social and @rorycormac.bsky.social about how various Intel agencies approach covert action. youtu.be/j5cCGxOpR8w?...

How Different Countries Execute Covert Action

YouTube video by The Team House

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Well this is very generous and kind. Thanks @drichterova.bsky.social. So on trend it’s not even out yet! Thanks again for the advance read; I’m really looking forward to sharing it with everyone in the spring 😀

King's Centre for the Study of Intelligence (KCSI)@kcsi.uk · 8mo ago

📖 Dr Daniela Richterova (@drichterova.bsky.social) recommends "Fakers: A Top-Secret Tale of Phantoms and Forgeries on the Disinformation Front Line" by @rorycormac.bsky.social (2026).

My @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social podcast with @markstout.bsky.social, @magslong.bsky.social, and @rorycormac.bsky.social is now available. Learn more about covert action here: newbooksnetwork.com/covert-action

'Disinformation exploits gaps in Western alliances and domestic politics, often making countermeasures difficult' Read @rorycormac.bsky.social and Dan Lomas @sandbaggerone.bsky.social's written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on disinformation diplomacy ⬇️ tinyurl.com/eb3za49c

£48 royalties! Don’t worry kids, Christmas is saved!

a woman pushing a shopping cart in a grocery store with the words who 's on my list .

ALT: a woman pushing a shopping cart in a grocery store with the words who 's on my list .

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Today I learnt our uni has a “barrier committee” to determine when to open a recently installed (and much hated) barrier which prevents staff from driving from one side of campus to the other. And I just can’t stop laughing

a man wearing glasses and a lanyard is looking at the camera .

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Why, when the country is broke, is the DWP writing to advise me I’m entitled to my dead father’s winter fuel allowance??

Few things more depressing than a door locked that is usually open, a staircase roped off which is usually clear, and three security guards standing outside - as, hidden away from staff and students, council votes on whether to close music and languages. Terribly terribly sad day.

So proud! Another Cambridge UP book to add to the multiple “world leading” articles, £1.1m UKRI bid, fantastic community work, an app aimed at school kids etc etc etc. An absolute superstar!

Joanne Cormac@jcormac.bsky.social · 9mo ago

A lovely end to another crazy week: I’ve been offered a contract by Cambridge University Press for my new book: The Symphony in the North Atlantic World: A Transnational History (1800-1914). Woohoo!

It was quite something to hear a passionate call to protect music and languages during a Catholic Mass in Clifton estate yesterday. I worry about the reputational impact in our own great city, let alone beyond www.theguardian.com/education/20...

University of Nottingham considers axing language and music degrees

Total of 48 degrees could disappear from Russell Group institution, with falling revenues and rising costs blamed

theguardian.com

Personal experience of this one, sadly. I watched my dad die of a brain tumour over the past 6 months. The final couple of weeks were cruel, unnecessary, undignified, and neither in his wishes nor interests He begged me to let him die. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Peers suggest over 900 changes to assisted dying bill

Experts say the volume is a record, and backers of the bill fear opponents are using delaying tactics.

bbc.co.uk

Heartbroken to share the news that recruitment to Undergraduate Music courses at the University of Nottingham has been suspended. Please do contact us on protectuonmusic@gmail.com if you would like to support us.

This quotes a university employee emailing about: "Attempting to retain the business in China". The university says this doesn't reflect policy, but if it sees itself as a business, there's the issue. Universities, like councils & the BBC, are *not businesses*. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China

Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities

theguardian.com

“Propaganda operations in the Cold War were designed to undermine authority, chip away at orthodox ideas, and encourage questioning" @rorycormac.bsky.social reveals to @telegraphnews.bsky.social how the CIA once tried to recruit Sir Winston Churchill 🔗➡️ tinyurl.com/mvp47n4h Image cc: The Telegraph

@jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, and @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social's new article is a super read on an important but neglected area of covert action: www.cambridge.org/core/service...

Publishers: we have a strict word limit Also publishers: all dates in the endnotes must be written out in full

New article out with @rorycormac.bsky.social & @jrovner.bsky.social on Sabotage in World Politics: how does it work, what is it good for, and how is it different from subversion?

Cambridge University Press Political Science & IR@cambup-polsci.cambridge.org · 10mo ago

#OpenAccess from @ejisbisa.bsky.social - Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics - https://cup.org/4o2MQBc - @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social #FirstView

🔥 "Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics" from @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social, & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social is a must-read. 👉 Read this timely article here: cambridge.org/core/journal... cambridge.org/core/journal...

What is sabotage? How does it work as a tool of statecraft? And what are its limits? Check out my new article with @rorycormac.bsky.social and @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social. Open access

Cambridge University Press Political Science & IR@cambup-polsci.cambridge.org · 10mo ago

#OpenAccess from @ejisbisa.bsky.social - Sand in the gears: Sabotage in world politics - https://cup.org/4o2MQBc - @jrovner.bsky.social, @rorycormac.bsky.social & @lmaschmeyer.bsky.social #FirstView

When the MI5 chief warns that AI and hostile states are reshaping espionage in real time, it’s not a thriller plot - it’s just Thursday. (Ps interesting reference to “threat” in the context of China given the spy trial fiasco) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

MI5 operating in new era of terror and state threats, says chief

In an annual speech, Sir Ken McCallum says the security service is operating in

bbc.co.uk

The UK’s China spy trial collapsed because, legally, China wasn’t an “enemy” at the time. Apparently, you can’t spy for a country unless the government has officially decided it dislikes them enough 🤷‍♂️ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Government will publish evidence in collapsed China case, PM says

The Tories and Lib Dems had called for witness statements provided to prosecutors to be released.

bbc.co.uk

University inefficiency 101: - Arrive on campus at 11 after an off-campus meeting  - No parking anywhere  - Security won’t lift the stupid cross-campus barrier - Exit & drive around in heavy traffic to other entrance: also full - Drive home - Cycle back in - Miss 2 meetings 👏 Perfect 👏 system 👏

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Nerd that I am, I’ve been thinking about (theorising is too strong!!) covert action for 15 years. And this in the new Oxford Handbook National Security Intelligence offers a neat distillation:

I’ve got 6 excitable 8 year olds running around my house. I’ve just made a tactical switch from man marking to zonal marking. Wish me luck!

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media.tenor.com

Dr Dan Lomas @sandbaggerone.bsky.social recently contributed to this @thetimes.com piece on the priorities of the new MI6 chief Blaise Metreweli Read it here 🔗 tinyurl.com/4puhmcud Find out more about Dan and his research on intelligence services 🔗 nottingham.ac.uk/politics/people/daniel.lomas

MI6’s new chief aims to restore British influence in Middle East

Blaise Metreweli, 48, is the youngest ever boss of the Secret Intelligence Service

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