Laure James

By-elections required.

And once more!

I know "nothing ever changes" is part psychological defence and part easiest hedge bet, because it is so often true, but people should think before sharing their "everything will always be awful" take. First, it adds to collective depression, but also it becomes a personally disempowering mantra.

🫶🏽

Joanne Young and Gisèle Pelicot have caused women globally to give pause in 2025. Their bravery and strength in confronting the most hideous acts imaginable committed by their husbands is remarkable.

May they both find peace this Christmas and 2026.

There Have Been Fewer Mass Shootings In The US This Year—But Still Averaging More Than One Per Day At least one person has died every day, on average, from a mass shooting in the United States this year.

At least one person has died every day, on average, from a mass shooting in the United States this year.

My dad abhors any negative comments about immigrants. Asked him recently why he’s so strong on it: ‘Because we’re always happy to take the rich and clever ones. Which means it’s not about disliking immigrants. It’s about disliking the poor and vulnerable. And that’s a bad human instinct.’

‘True activism has to cost you something’: Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan on politics, paparazzi and parasocial fandom The diminutive Derry Girls star isn’t afraid to speak her mind, even if it costs her fans and followers

‘True activism has to cost you something’: Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan on politics, paparazzi and parasocial fandom

Hope is here: help us deliver it www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hopeishere...

YouTube video by Channel 4 News Is Labour being outflanked by Polanski and Farage? Reeves budget debate

Debate today with a Labour MP on the economy.

Also with a former advisor to George Osborne.

Very striking how much Labour & the Tories agree on our economic system.

Time for change. Let's make hope normal again. Enjoy! 🙌🏼👇🏼

youtu.be/1onr7pAEFRE?...

Revealed: Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war Figures from classified IDF database listed 8,900 named fighters as dead or probably dead in May, as overall death toll reached 53,000

"Figures from a classified Israeli military intelligence database indicate five out of six Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been civilians, an extreme rate of slaughter rarely matched in recent decades of warfare."

www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

My 96-year-old grandfather, John Durrant, spoke at a special commemorative event to mark how, 85 years ago today, 1200 schoolchildren left Harwich and Dovercourt, evacuated from a risk area targeted by German bombers.

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

How Dungannon Swifts went from king of the burgers to proud Irish Cup champions It’s not every day the tranquil surroundings of Shaw’s Bridge is disturbed by a raucous rendition of ‘Championes, Championes’…but that’s exactly what happened when the Dungannon Swifts’ team bus rocke...

This week's BelTel column

💙 'Nice burgers' : No one can patronise Dungannon Swifts again

🏟 I fear crowd restrictions for big cup finals could return

💚 Peter McParland was the star of NI's greatest team

🌈 Be kind when discussing trans issues

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/colu...

Her surname was no accident and I loved that wee Melody from Flack made a cameo.

It's absolutely charming. The dubbing is just about as flawless as it can be - impressive work from both leads to have trained so well for that.

Last night I was talking in a pub with my friend Dan about The Merchant of Venice and my friend Fiona happened to turn up with her boyfriend, also called Dan, and I said “A second Daniel come to judgement!” and tumbleweed, guys. Tumbleweed. That would have got me three series from Radio 4, ffs.

LA fires are a good reminder that the only difference between me and any refugee is luck.

Irish League half-term report cards, the briefest of jazz piano bridges and everyone sounding even more Northern Irish than I remember. Plus DJ!

Also available on Spotify.

on the brighter side, it was so good to see you and the gang again!