Philip O'Connor

The White House is asking people not to share pictures of the East Wing because it’s even worse today.

Column: Will Pope Leo XIV rewatch Game 1 on the 20th anniversary of the Chicago White Sox’s World Series? Hopefully, somewhere in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV pulls out the holy VCR and pops in the sacred videotape of him watching Bobby Jenks deal in the Chicago White Sox’s World Series win.

Pope Leo XIV isn’t paid to be a spokesman for the Chicago White Sox, but he sent a message from the Vatican last week that warmed the hearts of many Sox fans.

My place or yours? - Flags and the far right from someone who looks different to you By Alex Andreou

This is a very powerful read - if you want to hear what it feels like to live on our UK streets right now. As Alex @sturdyalex.bsky.social says, we hear daily about the 'legitimate concerns' of people against less represented groups, but rarely hear this

bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...

RFK Jr. says there aren't autistic poets. We asked an autistic poet. "I will challenge RFK Jr. to write a poem as good as me any day of the week."

RFK Jr. says there are no autistic poets, so we interviewed one.

Hear from Elizabeth McClellan, @popelizbet.bsky.social, an award-winning poet, attorney, and legal educator based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Gordon D’Arcy: Irish organisation must stymie French flair in what could be a mesmirising contest Saturday’s eagerly-awaited showdown as much a battle of structures as it is coaching philosophies

Gordon D’Arcy: Irish organisation must stymie French flair in what could be a mesmirising contest

If you work at the Washington Post, now is the time to resign. You’re a part of this now.

Posted by @vatniksoup.bsky.social on another platform.

Pass it on.
#StandWithUkraine

RFK Jr.'s "radical transparency" means ending a 54-year-old transparency policy The Nixon-era policy gave the public the ability to comment on HHS decisions relating to “public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.“ RFK Jr. ended that on Friday.

NEW: RFK Jr.'s "radical transparency" means ending a 54-year-old transparency policy.

A Nixon-era policy gave the public the ability to comment on HHS decisions relating to “public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts.“ RFK Jr. ended that on Friday. www.lawdork.com/p/rfk-jr-rad...

The first measles death in the US in a decade -- the tragic, preventable death of a child whose parents chose not to protect them with vaccination -- should spark an immediate nation-wide campaign to ensure all children are protected against preventable diseases. Anything less is unconscionable.

Please share this fact sheet on Ukraine with anyone who needs it

understandingwar.org/backgrounder...

The German election explained through seven essential questions Who will be chancellor and will the AfD enter government?

The German election explained through seven essential questions theconversation.com/the-german-e...

A reminder: Vladimir Putin could end the war in Ukraine right now, just by ordering his soldiers to go home. No need for treaties or negotiations.

If they’re trying to deter people from risking their lives crossing the channel then they’ve got to back that up with safe route options. Otherwise it’s a cruel abomination.

Remainers were NOT asleep during the referendum.

We knew exactly what we were doing.

We’ve never been responsible for how leave voters voted, oddly enough.

Bonkers is a good word for all of this.

RFK Jr. Just Admitted To Spreading A Bonkers Medical Conspiracy Theory During Contentious Hearing What are we even doing here?

How have we even gotten to this point?

I said on Times Radio that one essential foundation for any serious policy debate about immigration choices in Britain is a structured policy process for an Immigration Plan [analogous to a spending review & budget]

For last 15 years, slogans on numbers/targets had no link to policy-making process

👏

What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. CARL SAGAN

Google Maps to rename 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' for US users Google Maps will change the name of "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America" once it is officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System, it said in an X post on Monday.

I know that millions of Americans find this deeply embarrassing. And my sympathy with them

But honestly, this is the sort of petty crap that failing autocratic countries engage in.

www.reuters.com/world/us/goo...

This is a very interesting article. President Trump's impetuosity could well open South America even further to the Chinese.

EU medicines agency quits X, moves to Bluesky The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Monday it would no longer post on X and would use rival Bluesky instead, becoming the latest organisation to quit a social media platform that some have criticised for its content.

EU medicines agency quits X & moves to Bluesky

"EMA will no longer post updates and content on X. We believe the X platform no longer suits our communication needs” the agency said in a statement

www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Hapless Reform MP Rupert Lowe having bants with far right extremist James Goddard.

To be fair to him, Lowe may not realise who Goddard is - but the praise speaks volumes.

In other news @bsky.app continues to fly 👏

How *you* can protect democracy 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect our system of government

Don't give up - do something. A great list for civic minded Americans, from @protectdemocracy.org

open.substack.com/pub/protectd...

very excited to see what happens when you make a deeply compromised addict the leader of the department of defense and subordinate to a madman

I don't know. It's more than four years off, and lots can happen and develop.

If Labour continues blindly down this route, then I can see the Lib Dems gaining even more seats next time round.

UK will not accept EU offer to join pan-European customs union ‘at present time’, minister says – UK politics live Housing minister shoots down idea floated by Maroš Šefčovič designed to help reset UK-EU discussions

UK will not accept EU offer to join pan-European customs union 'at present time', minister says

Heaven help us

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...