Koos Couvée

Man who works in sewer wonders why there's all this shit down here.

Another Labour MP messages: "I see Lucy Powell and others talking about Burnham like Haaland or a super sub. He's more like Paul Pogba - talent is there but massive ego, and goes missing when it matters most."

For non-Brits: Britain has a very odd formalised system where politicians are helped to anonymously insult and denounce each other, and generally hurl vexatious allegations and wreck each other’s projects. Yes, of course this empowers bullshit artists and shitehawks. No, it’s not clear what we gain.

Trump’s Board of Peace logo is basically the UN logo, except dipped in gold and edited so the world only includes America.

Three journalists among 11 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza Reporters had been in car on way to new camp, says media group, as two 13-year-old boys killed in separate incidents

Three journalists on their way to film a displacement camp in central Gaza were among at least 11 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday. Their vehicle was known to the Israeli military and their work was sponsored by the Egyptian Relief Committee www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Oh.

One reason I am gloomy about Britain’s ability to rise to this geopolitical moment is the sheer parochialism and unseriousness of much of its media. The Times, which used to be a serious paper, does not have a single comment piece today on the gravest international crisis in 80 years

Oh my God a literal wallet inspector

This is my 30th year as a journalist.

But I still continue to be shocked daily at the extent to which these same 'news'papers revel in wilful misinformation in order to relentlessly promote the ideology/interests of their senior editors and owners.

An utter disregard and contempt for their readers

Today’s Public Intellectuals Are More Likely to Serve Power Than Challenge It | Juliet Jacques 30 years ago, the BBC invited Palestinian thinker Edward Said to deliver six lectures on the public intellectual, writes Juliet Jacques. Can you imagine something so outlandish happening today?

This is a really good essay from Juliet Jacques on intellectuals & the politics of the media. novaramedia.com/2026/01/15/t...

I left university in 2019 with £49,600 of debt. A few months later, I became an MP and have since received a salary that puts me in the top 5% in the country. 6 years on, the repayments from my salary have brought this total to down to £48,600 - just £1,000 less.

🔥 As Starter Packs are doing the rounds again, here is a hastily updated #anticorruption pack with (mostly) a UK focus. 🙏 As always, any additions, deletions or edits much appreciated.

AI layoffs are looking more and more like corporate fiction that's masking a darker reality, Oxford Economics suggests | Fortune "Firms don't appear to be replacing workers with AI on a significant scale," the firm said. It suspects some are trying to "dress up layoffs" as good news.

New research from Oxford Economics casts doubt on the narrative that AI is replacing jobs on any significant scale. Findings suggest that companies may instead be using the technology as a cover for layoffs
fortune.com/2026/01/07/a...

❤️‍🔥Tory sources confirm that Nadhim Zahawi made approaches to senior members of Kemi Badenoch's team about getting a peerage just weeks before defecting to Reform UK - but was turned down.

Reform UK presents itself as a corrective to the social damage of neoliberalism, but in practice offers an intensified neoliberal programme rebranded through nationalism and a hollow conception of freedom.

One of the worst-conducted interviews I heard on the BBC for a long time, and that's saying something. Evan Davis should be deeply ashamed

If you think the corporation will stand up for democratic values, think again #BBCPM

Video: Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis An analysis of footage from three camera angles show that the vehicle appears to be turning away from a federal officer as he opened fire.

I need to see a freeze frame, but in the NYT video it looks to me like Ross unholsters his weapon before Good even switches the gear into drive. That is why his gun is out and in a position to shoot when she moves forward. Anticipatory "self-defense" www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...

This is also what Yvette Cooper, when she was UK Home Secretary, said about #PalestineAction. If you knew the secret stuff I know, you'd agree with me that they're terrorists. It's the cheapest and basest way for a politician to malign someone, and a clear sign of a flailing, undemocratic state.

Q: After you told ICE to get the F out, Republicans are criticizing you for escalating tensions

FREY: I'm sorry if I offered their Disney princess ears, but if we're talking about what's inflammatory, on one hand you got someone who dropped an F bomb & on other you have someone who killed someone

The Gaza bookshop that refuses to shut As bombs fell and famine took hold, Samir Mansour kept delivering books

The Gaza bookshop that refuses to shut
www.ft.com/content/7572...

Excellent point here from an expert in international relations. Trump’s brand of authoritarianism is, at its core, an aesthetic. He does not seek to achieve policy goals—he seeks a global reputation for appearing powerful.

Blows my mind that some of the same journalists who see Trump as a want-to-be dictator at home are earnestly discussing the "challenges" for this same man to "bring democracy" to a country it just illegal invaded. Please grow up.

Let's not forget that Trump just pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández - ex-Honduras president who backed a coup, committed election fraud, violently repressed activists, lawyers, Indigenous people, youth etc - and was entenced to 35 years by an American jury for trafficking drugs and weapons into the US

A very embarrassing moment for the FIFA Peace Prize committee

Mamdani's Executive Order Number 1, as described in the post.

I was wondering what Mamdani's first executive order would be, and I'm not disappointed by this.

He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.

Elon Musk teams with El Salvador to bring Grok chatbot to public schools President Nayib Bukele entrusting chatbot known for calling itself ‘MechaHitler’ to create ‘AI-powered’ curricula

El Salvador’s authoritarian crypto bro president Nayib Bukele has signed a deal with Elon Musk’s xAI to roll out Grok in 5,000 schools

Dystopian

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

.@pabloreports.bsky.social : Were you satisfied with the answers you’ve gotten so far in this classified briefing on Venezuela?

AOC: Oh, hell no. It was a joke. This was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was the communication of an opinion.

U.S. Moves to Drop Charges in International Soccer Corruption Case

Days after FIFA awarded Trump a fake peace prize, DOJ moves to drop charges in FIFA corruption case www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/n...

Possibly the most self-destructive reaction towards the US antagonism against the EU is by national leaders offering national partnerships.

This is exactly the kind of avenue for the US/Trump to split Europe and reign over smaller European countries.

Britain Letting Big Tech off the Hook on Fraud, Banking Chief Warns (£)
www.moneylaundering.com/news/britain...