Scribbler Pen

The 1918 Influenza Pandemic and the Rise of Italian Fascism: A Cross-City Quantitative and Historical Text Qualitative Analysis Evidence linking past experiences of worsening health with support for radical political views has generated concerns about the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The influenza pandemic that began in 1918 had a devastating health impact: 4.1 ...

A reminder of why things are as they are in 2026
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic and the Rise of the Italian Fascism
#Covid #politics

YouTube video by Mark 1333 Larry the cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office - 15 years on the job (UK/(Global)) 13/Feb/2026

Larry the Cat, celebrating 15 years on the job 😻

Why doesn't that surprise. If only it did.

There is No Scientific Justification to Revoke the Endangerment Finding The U.S. EPA's decision to repeal the Endangerment Finding will limit the government's ability to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Every time I've been to the US, I've had my breath taken away by the beauty of that land, the openness and diversity of its people. Its nature, its people deserve to be loved and cherished, looked after and treated with dignity. What is happening breaks my heart.
www.nature.org/en-us/newsro...

Thank you for reporting, this must have been hard to write. Child abuse pervades this administration and is institutionalised by it in multiple ways.

Trump's administration is working to dismantle US biosecurity. It's at war with the American people, first and foremost — there's no kind way of saying this. This is what a hostile actor's asset would do to a country.

On Nov. 16, a mental health counselor recorded in Kamilla’s medical records that her mother reported the girl had lost her appetite after being “served food that contained worms.” A week later, the couple said, children were told to gather in the gym for what they believed would be a Thanksgiving celebration. Excitement spread as families saw tables set with turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, they said. The children waited expectantly. But when a parent asked when the celebration would begin, Oksana said, staff told them the holiday meal was for employees, not detainees. The children, she said, watched despondently as the feast was packed away.

On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.

The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.

But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.

bsky.app/profile/chan...

PM ignoring and overruling warnings about the vetting of a No 10 appointee.(again). What could possibly go wrong?

YouTube video by Disability Talk With Steve Podcast DWP Report Admits to Targeting The Disabled

In news that should surprise absolutely no one, the Alan Milburn report for the DWP looking at young people not in employment, education and training (NEETs) has officially limited its scope to focus solely on #disabled young people youtu.be/bUTzOK5rXQc

Forget Valentine’s Day – here’s why you should celebrate Galentine’s Day this year Why Galentine’s Day on 13 February is a great time to show some love and support to all your female relations, colleagues, friends and besties

Happy Galentine's Day
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/forg...
from @yorkshirebylines.co.uk

The Covid inquiry reports are not being published until Summer 2027. What a complete joke. How many more will believe misinformation by then, have died from hospital infections or have long covid. It’s a travesty.

There is no justice in the UK from a government that won’t talk about it mitigate for Covid risks. Totally unforgivable. I will never trust the government ever again.

The Creatures’ Guide to Caring: How Animal Parents Teach Us That Humans Were Born to Care by Elizabeth Preston Science journalist Preston debuts with an engrossing and accessible account of the evolution of caretaking, in which she demonst...

Guess who got her first trade review?? www.publishersweekly.com/9780593657102 🧪

Frog Love Songs and the Sounds of Climate Change A good love song tells female frogs when the time is right for mating, finds a UC Davis study showing male frogs change their tune as the weather warms.

After a slow start in early spring, male frogs pick up the pace of their love songs as the weather warms. Lady frogs not only find "hotter" songs more attractive, it signals the temperature is right for laying their eggs, finds new @ucdavis.bsky.social study. ❤️🎵 www.ucdavis.edu/climate/news...

Starmer used to care about sleaze. What happened? Reflections on a tumultuous week...

Keir Starmer used to care about sleaze.

What happened?

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration attempt to cut $42M in health funding for Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Health call the move part of an “ongoing campaign of retribution against Minnesota” by the federal government.

'Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration attempt to cut $42M in health funding for Minnesota'

'The Minnesota Department of Health call the move part of an “ongoing campaign of retribution against Minnesota” by the federal government.'

bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne...

Sign the Petition Halt Further Limitations on Disability Benefits by Labour

Please sign this petition if you think 18 months of attacking disabled people's welfare, on top of 14 years, is enough and we don't need 3.5 years more.
www.change.org/p/halt-furth...
#disability #welfare

Looking tired in a very upmarket area must be the new wearing a loud shirt in a built-up area.

300,000 children face 10-year wait for settled status under UK plans, says IPPR Thinktank analysis says proposed ‘earned settlement’ changes could trap families in prolonged insecurity

When you are a child, 10 years is a lifetime. It's 10 years of not knowing if you can keep your friends, stay at school, get a higher education or a job, or call the country where you are growing up home.
This is performative cruelty politics to appease Reform.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Not if vying for the vacated Prince of Darkness title is anything to go by.

The Epstein Files tell a horrific and heavy story of abuse and corruption. But power protects itself through the expectation that we will feel paralysed by the sense of powerlessness.

Their release is a seminal moment.

That's why our new Byline Times print edition delves into the deeper story 👇

Sadly I don’t think political parties want to talk about COVID and it’s really the only way to beat Reform. If we can’t be transparent on this we have no hope.

On Monday, the final public hearings of the Covid-19 Inquiry begin.

Module 10 will examine the impact of the pandemic on society, including bereavement and bereavement support, mental health, and wider experiences across communities.

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This is deeply creepy. Middle aged misogynists are best kept as far away as possible from young girls.

In the get a goddamn move on department:

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves: “The future of our economy, security, resilience and defence is bound with Europe. Closer alignment isn't about choosing sides - it's about geography. “

Norwegian police search homes of ex-PM Jagland in Epstein probe Norwegian police searched the homes of former prime minister Thorbjoern Jagland on Thursday, his lawyer and police said, as part of an ongoing investigation into ties between prominent Norwegians and late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Norwegian police search homes of ex-PM Jagland in Epstein probe reut.rs/4rfp06Z

When shame left the room: racism, immigration, and Britain’s moral retreat Britain is sliding backwards into open racism, fuelled by political silence and immigration narratives. Can we reverse this tragic shift?

Britain is sliding backwards into open racism, fuelled by political silence and immigration narratives. Can we reverse this tragic shift?"" By Claire Jones. Full article in link -

westenglandbylines.co.uk/politics/imm...

A Reform by-election win is the worst scenario: they are Covid deniers, attack disability support, WFH, workplace rights. If they win, Labour will double down on "Let's be like Reform". If Labour win, they pat themselves on the back, nothing changes. But if a progressive wins, this changes the game.