John Mann

Random musings of a DC-based corporate comms exec. Formerly a bigwig in Moscow. Russia/CIS, US politics, US/DC life, soccer. Chelsea fan. Beer drinker.

[Mukhtar @I_amMukhtar]

Big up, Uncle Ian Wright for speaking up, and he's 100% correct.

Look how Qatar got dragged when they were hosting the World Cup.

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

This just about sums the 2026 World Cup 😂

[Paddy Power @paddypower]

What happens when an American consultant meets the FIFA Executives…

18+ GambleAware | #WorldCup | #FIFAWorldCup

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

@IvorCrotty Are we responsible for the sins of our fathers?
Also, doesn't change the fact that he's just a teenager and found a serious geopolitical smoking gun.

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

This is epic

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Open Letter
To the President of the Russian Federation
From the President of Ukraine

When you came to power in Russia more than 26 years ago, many people in Ukraine viewed you positively. That is how it was. But that is now in the past.
Now, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg, covering a distance of more than 1,000 kilometers. As you know very well, that distance is not the limit of our capabilities.

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

The most politically active thing I did in high school was start a local chapter of Amnesty International. This kid has that beat by a mile!

[Alexander Browder @Alexbrowder_]

Proud to be the first high school student in the world to ever be sanctioned by an authoritarian regime for uncovering corruption. It just proves that the work I’ve done to expose Russias sanctions evasion stablecoin, A7A5, has touched a raw nerve.

https://t.co/b0voHBkqG7

[NYTPitchbot @DougJBalloon]

Whether it’s Donald Trump stealing $1.7 billion from the treasury to share with his friends or Hillary Clinton using a private email server to share risotto recipes with her friends, there’s been plenty of inappropriate sharing on both sides.

[Men in Blazers @MenInBlazers]

POUR SCOTLAND'S WORLD CUP SQUAD RELEASE VIDEO INTO YOUR MORNING CUP OF COFFEE 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴�

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

This is the definition of betrayal.

Trump Is Said to Be in Talks to Send Afghans Who Aided U.S. Forces to Congo https://t.co/ga3oZ9LXD0

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

Everyone: Russia's bombing of Ukrainian power plants and other civilian infrastructure is barbaric and criminal.

Trump: We'll bomb every bridge and power plant in Iran

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

This is a dark, insidious form of economic warfare. Hard to justify whatever you think of the Cuban regime.

Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say https://t.co/vrv5lo6L8f

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

Wow. That's some serious trolling.

[Patricia Marins @pati_marins64]

Iran doesn't seem intimidated at all and has just released another Lego video mocking the coalition.

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

This ad resonates for the US almost as well as for the UK.

[Aaron Bastani @AaronBastani]

Superb political ad. One of the best you’ll see.

This is better, and resonates more, than anything coming from Labour or the Tories.

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

@IvorCrotty Seriously, one of the best months of my life!
(and I could afford to go to 12 games, including the opening, semi and final)

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

This is why we can't have nice things.
Combined with insane ticket prices and general price gouging (transport, hotels) beyond anything I saw at the past 4 tournaments, the US is doing everything possible to make this World Cup a disaster.

[Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_]

Exclusive @TheAthleticFC

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) plans to almost quadruple usual prices for return train ticket from center of Boston to Gillette Stadium during World Cup.

Up from $20 for NFL games to above $75.

W/@mjshrimper

https://t.co/M9wKfNsLym

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

https://t.co/cGL1O0baDf

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

"This is going to be a World Cup for either the financially irresponsible or the 1%."

Planning on going to a World Cup game this summer? If you are, which organ are you planning on selling?

It's going to be a ridiculously expensive summer for supporters, as @HenryBushnell explains...

[Brian Allen @allenanalysis]

BREAKING: The Iranian Embassy in The Hague just posted this video. Watch until the end.

This is a diplomatic mission of a sovereign nation publishing this on an official channel — during an active military conflict with the United States.

[ian bremmer @ianbremmer]

which government had the more deranged social post in the last 24 hours:

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

Are you f$&@king kidding me?! Unf$&%king believable.

Trump Removes Sanctions on Russia to Help Oil Flow Amid Iran Conflict https://t.co/ScAymR0zuK

[ChrisO_wiki @ChrisO_wiki]

From this morning's Financial Times comments section. It's hard to disagree...

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

Missiles headed to Turkey shot down by NATO.
Azerbaijan hit by Iranian drones.
Coming up on 20 countries from 3 continents directly involved now, plus NATO....
So when does this become a World War?

[John Mann @JohnMannII]

I count 15 countries now involved in this conflict.
How many do you need before we call it a World War?