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The Old Country Newsletter – Pit Bull Owners & Trust in Government
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
October 03, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, October 3.
Today in 1962, Sweden’s (arguably) only truly successful talk show, Hylands hörna, made its debut on national television. Before the genre – or even the word “talk show” – existed, Lennart Hyland sat down with some of Sweden’s most famous figures.
For the first time, Swedes could see their prime minister interviewed up close, right in their own living rooms. Prime Minister Tage Erlander admitted beforehand that he feared his plain looks might cost him voters. But when he cracked a joke about a trigger-happy priest, the opposite happened – he charmed the public and might have gotten a number of new admirers. Hard to believe, as he by then had already been Sweden’s statsminister for 16 years (!).
That appearance is still remembered today as part of Swedish political folklore.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Word of the week
LÖV [luhv]
leave, leaves.
Half of Pit Bull Owners in Sweden Have Criminal Records
Attribution: Aftonbladet
A new investigation by Swedish broadcaster SVT has revealed a striking connection between certain dog breeds and their owners’ rap sheets—and it’s not flattering for pit bulls and their cousins.
By cross-referencing Sweden’s national dog registry with crime conviction data, reporters found that nearly half of pit bull owners have been convicted of a crime. For American bullies, amstaffs, and American bulldogs, more than one in three owners have a criminal record. In contrast, just 7% of golden retriever and labrador owners—Sweden’s most common breeds—have ever been convicted.
The numbers get even starker when looking at violent crime: pit bull owners are 13 times more likely to have been convicted than retriever owners. “People are buying these dogs for the wrong reasons,” said Robert Lindström, a police dog inspector, adding that status and intimidation often motivate ownership.
The American bully, in particular, has exploded in popularity over the past five years—at the same time it’s topped the charts for owners with criminal records. Researchers say gangs often use the breed as a way to project toughness, even as some owners insist they’re simply family pets.
Sirkku Sarenbo, a lecturer at Linnaeus University who has studied fighting dog breeds, put it bluntly: “Unfortunately, these dogs also attract criminal individuals who use them for the wrong purposes.”
The debate now brewing in Sweden: whether new regulations should target dangerous breeds, their owners, or both.
Postcard from the North
Lysekil, Bohuslän
In other news
💰Sweden will send a new civilian aid package worth just over one billion kronor ($92 million) to Ukraine, announced Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa. The funds will support infrastructure rebuilding, demining, independent media, and humanitarian assistance. Dousa emphasized that supporting Ukraine remains Sweden’s top foreign policy priority, with a total of 9.3 billion kronor allocated this year.
🗳️ Several voices within Sweden’s red-green bloc are warning that the opposition risks losing the next election despite currently leading (“bigly”) in the polls. Critics argue that the Social Democrats lack a clear agenda and are overly reliant on party leader Magdalena Andersson’s popularity, while failing to push their own issues into the debate. Figures like Daniel Suhonen and Lorentz Tovatt urge the red-green parties to unite around strong themes such as education, climate, rail investments, or welfare to avoid a right-wing victory.
⚽ Sweden’s national team goalkeeper Robin Olsen, 35, has announced his departure from the squad, criticizing coach Jon Dahl Tomasson for replacing him after a recent mistake. Olsen said he no longer wants to play under Tomasson’s leadership, calling the decision a matter of principle. Tomasson responded by expressing disappointment, accusing Olsen of betraying his teammates, while team manager Stefan Pettersson described the situation as unfortunate but rooted in Olsen’s emotions.
Greta Thunberg Among Activists Detained as Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla
Attribution: Omni
What started as a call for safe passage has ended with military boarding, detentions, and an uncertain future for a convoy of aid ships headed toward Gaza.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of about 50 vessels carrying activists and humanitarian supplies, set out with the goal of challenging what it calls Israel’s “illegal naval blockade” of Gaza. Among those on board was Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who, along with eight other Swedes, urged Stockholm to follow Spain and Italy’s lead in protecting their citizens and condemning any attempts to stop the ships. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard instead advised the activists to heed Israel’s warnings and unload their cargo elsewhere, citing security risks.
By midweek, Israeli naval forces intercepted multiple boats. Activists reported that cameras were disabled and crews were detained; Israel confirmed the boardings with a video showing Thunberg and assured that “Greta and her friends are safe.” Those detained are being taken to Israel for processing before deportation to Europe, according to the country’s foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, at least one ship, the Mikeno, was tracked entering Gaza’s territorial waters, though it remains unclear if Israeli forces will intervene. The flotilla claims many vessels are still continuing toward Gaza despite the risk.
The incident has echoes of previous high-profile confrontations between Israel and pro-Palestinian aid flotillas. This time, with Thunberg’s global profile, the clash has amplified calls for humanitarian corridors—while reinforcing Israel’s red line that its blockade will be enforced at sea.
Swede-ish Notes
Attribution: den offentliga sektorn
Swede-ish Note: The Swedish Confidence in Institutions
One of the enduring traits of Swedish society is the relatively high level of public trust in institutions – and, by extension, a more accepting posture toward authority.
Compared with many countries, Swedes are more willing to believe that the government, courts, police, and public agencies will act competently and fairly. In the latest OECD trust survey, 69 % of Swedes reported high or moderately high trust in the police, 64 % in the courts, and 43 % in the national government – the last figure somewhat lower, but still above the OECD average.
That doesn’t mean blind faith. Political parties are among the least trusted institutions (about 31 %), suggesting that Swedes distinguish between “the machinery of the state” and partisan politics.
Historically, the social contract in Sweden has leaned toward collective trust: high taxes in exchange for robust welfare, transparency in governance, and the “right to public documents” embedded in law since 1766.
Still, there’s a modern tension. Younger Swedes or those feeling alienated often express less faith that “people like them” have a say in decisions.
And during crises – like the COVID-19 pandemic – trust can be tested: Sweden’s trust in the government’s pandemic strategy lagged neighboring Denmark’s in independent polls. Yet when it came to vaccination, Swedes showed their confidence in institutions: around 75–80 % of the population received a full initial course, compared with about 63 % in the United States.
For Swedish-Americans reading this, it may be striking how different that is from the United States – where skepticism toward government is woven deeply into the political fiber. “[…] government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.“ In Sweden, authority often begins with a default posture of legitimacy, with critique built in, not disavowal.
With that being said: Sweden based its democratic institutions on the examples, and lessons, of those that came before – while the US was the very first modern democracy, forced to trial-and-error. Here, the decades old Swedish saying is quite relevant: “det är lätt att vara efterklok …”.