Avery Bowser

We owe it to Epstein’s victims and to British democracy to demand historic change | Gordon Brown The abuse of women by figures such as Epstein, and of political power by the likes of Mandelson, must be confronted. As far as I am able, I will play my part, says former UK prime minister Gordon Brow...

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This was a ridiculously good show. Bowie was steeped in rock n roll -sometimes I could almost hear Jerry Lee. Listening to Modern Love I wondered why Madness and Roxy Music never had a crack at covering it.

National Commission on Electoral Reform: Terms of Reference APPG for Fair Elections

🔑 Key takeaways:

📊💥 Record political fragmentation has broken First Past The Post

📉 Public distrust is driving the public towards populist parties

‼️ FPTP may now harm Labour and the Conservatives

🗳️ Westminster needs a National Commission on Electoral Reform

www.fairelections.uk/national-com...

Doonesbury cartoon from 2004 about Donald Trump on The Apprentice which shows that not much has changed

2004 people. He told us who he was. Hasn't changed.

Continuity Conservatives

Ben Jennings on Donald Trump and his ‘board of peace’ – cartoon The US president has claimed the world is ‘richer, safer and much more peaceful than it was just one year ago’

Latest @theguardian.com cartoon

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No wonder we keep getting governments that most of the public want gone.

"Only a fifth of the eligible electorate actually voted for the current majority government."

Under First Past the Post, that's enough for a "landslide".

@robfordmancs.bsky.social for @ukandeu.bsky.social 👇

I'm not saying Trump is a Russian asset, just that I can't think of anything he'd be doing differently if he were.

YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic Petition calling for a full, public inquiry into RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN UK DEMOCRACY hits threshold

🚨BREAKING: Parliament is going to debate the petition Calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy on 9 February.

This is why it’s so important👇

youtu.be/Cnl8MNhwEY0?...

This has been the plan all along.
- Foment violence and chaos in the streets of MN
- Implement the Insurrection Act
- Declare Martial Law
- Suspend elections

Cartoon by Adam Zyglis

Little Sparrow please

Sounds brilliant

Stylised painting with two crows in a golden field, in the background a white hare sprints left

In certain folklore, the hare is a mystical creature symbolizing fertility, rebirth, speed, and the moon, often linked to goddesses. Artwork by Catherine Hyde #WomensArt

A dominant theme of Hitler's speeches in the late 1930s is that Germany was surrounded by threats. These threats were imaginary: it was Nazi Germany that threatened other nations. But they were used to justify pre-emptive attacks. Trump is following this script.

Fucking hell. The cherry on top of this hideous confection of race-baiting brutality is, of course, immigration agents targeting Native Americans. Say it slowly: Native Americans.
This isn't about immigration. It isn't even about immigrants. It's all raw white supremacy.

Another absolute belter. Love these deep dives with biographers who really know their stuff accompanied by a carefully curated play list. Again, when I was at school Another Brick in the Wall was on Top of the Pops. Imagine.

Snow covered countryside

Snow covered farmyard

So is South Derry

The top 10% of richest Americans own 87% of stocks.

The top 1% alone own roughly half of all stocks.

It's worth pointing out once again that the stock market is not the economy.

This was brilliant too. Many bands would consider a Beatles outtake their greatest work.

This was a great show with instant playlist. How crazy to have been alive when music like this was actually in the charts. I well remember being at a pre social media school gate and someone announcing that The Jam had gone straight to No 1

It was

Cover of For and Against a United Ireland by Fintan O'Toole and Sam McBride

This is an excellent and timely book. Makes an important contribution now but will continue to be a primer for the conversation going forward. Most importantly it makes you think. Also, readable and well written.

YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg "Russian industry has entered a perfect storm" warns Russian paper.

How does Moscow view Donald Trump at the end of 2025? One Russian paper today: “The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World…he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold to be destroyed…” #ReadingRussia youtu.be/7EwZNk6KgHU

Most Europeans think state pensions will become unaffordable, polling shows YouGov survey finds many say payments are too low and oppose reforms such as raising retirement age or cuts

Total cakeism: people know that current state pension systems are unaffordable but they don’t want to pay more or work longer. No wonder democratic government is failing. Anyone telling the truth loses the election.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Miriam O’Callaghan’s best books of the year, and Sophie White’s, Dr Marie Cassidy’s, and Joseph O’Connor’s too Miriam O’Callaghan

'a brilliant, luminous work that blends the mystical and the contemporary, interrogating power, gender, and transformation with precision and lyric grace.’ - @elainefeeney.bsky.social, Sunday Independent, on @jesstraynor.bsky.social's New Arcana. @independent.ie
www.independent.ie/entertainmen...

So lovely to have New Arcana listed as a book of the year in the Irish Independent in fantastic company. Big thanks to the brilliant @elainefeeney.bsky.social ✨️

@bloodaxebooks.bsky.social

Can you spare a minute to help this campaign? CalebsCauseNI Create legislation for Post-19 Special Educational Needs Northern Ireland

c.org/SnsVpqnsHx

This weekend's @theipaper.com cartoon
#TIME #TimeMagazine #ai #personoftheyear

Ben Jennings on Trump’s plan to scrutinise tourists’ social media histories – cartoon Visitors to the US from 42 countries would have to reveal their social media activity stretching back five years

Latest @theguardian.com cartoon

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