John Appleby

The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project

"This is a moment that requires bravery in standing up for right. Organisations that value trans people should know not just that the law is on their side – but so, also, are many people who will step up to defend them if they have the courage to take a stand." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Telegraph headline: Employment slumps to 14-year low
Reality: employment today is 75% vs 70.3% in 2011
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

#ADHD 'activists'?
What, the people with the attention spans of Wotsits? The people who suffer anxiety and executive dysfunction, which causes debilitating procrastination and the inability to make decisions, the polar opposites of activity?

Analysis of the latest ACIP meeting at the CDC: Vaccines—and rigorous science—are increasingly under attack. A close look at how the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee under RFK Jr. again changed high-stakes recommendations without solid evidence.

Friends, Yesterday and today, I watched many hours of the CDC’s meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

It was painful.

But we learned a lot.

That bad news is that our kids are going to pay the price for RFK jr’s views.

insidemedicine.substack.com/p/analysis-o...

He’d effusively receive Birdseye’s Peas prize

Pipe on the go as he inspects fuel tank. Health and safety not gone mad

Farage’s defence of his persistent, malicious and directed racism seems now to have reduced to ‘others did it too in the 70s’. I’m no lawyer, but a defence that others also do bad things is much of a defence for doing bad things.

Can one say racist things *without* malice?

That’s great! Hope all goes well

Moon over north London tonight

Is it too simple to suppose that Trump’s presidency is just a money making opportunity for him and his cronies?

On the Englishness of Sir Tom Stoppard - British Future Sunder Katwala reflects on the life and shifting identity of playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, who has died aged 84.

My tribute to the Englishness of Sir Tom Stoppard
www.britishfuture.org/on-the-engli...

What’s the Monarchy For? review – David Dimbleby’s demolition of the royals is hugely entertaining Now he’s free of the BBC, he’s gone combative. He drives a horse and cart through a piece of Dominic Grieve sophistry, and tries his best to skewer the institution based around a jewelled velvet hat

#QTWTAIFA www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

I feel you are holding back a bit as you squint through the punter’s lens? Maybe not. But perspective certainly changes when you’re on the receiving end (it did when my aged dad was in hospital). More critical but also more admirable (of staff for eg) of a system flexing and coping …

European Commission plans ‘reparations loan’ to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets Leaders focus on bolstering Ukraine’s finances as US-Russia talks to end war make little progress

Why is Belgium holding up use of Russian cash to help Ukraine? Fear of legal reprisal from Russia? So what? What court is going to side with russia? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Reform council leader accused of racism after alleged remarks about Sadiq Khan Ian Cooper allegedly called Khan ‘narcissistic Pakistani’ and made comments about lawyer Shola Mos-Shogbamimu

Is Reform Party racist? QTWTAIY

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Spotify say my listening age is 78. Fair enough. But top album/songs goes to the adults are talking from the strokes latest album.

Right! Thanks Sam.

Yes, when I googled only came across FA (and as u say, it’s de facto) ban - but also the more longstanding issue of doping.

Thanks. Any examples? I think the FA have some restrictions (but not bans)…

On reflection you’re right! Haven’t seen original figure which may explain the disappearance of Lib Dems! I was reading it as reflection of circulation changes in general @samfr.bsky.social ?

The power of a good data vis

Women’s Institute will no longer accept trans women as members from April Exclusive: CEO says decision taken with ‘utmost regret and sadness’ after supreme court ruling on definition of a woman

Interested to know if any male only organisations have banned trans men. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Wouldn’t be a bad move for all departments had an OfVM . My experience in healthcare was poor understanding of the fundamental drivers of productivity in the NHS. Departmental OfVMs could tackle this, providing a guide to services’ investment/org strategies.

I guess raising the threshold (cost/benefit) implies nice will recommend higher cost and/or lower benefit drugs in future? In a sense it’s nice responding to a change in nhs budget constraint due to higher drug costs (not something it’s ever done re changes in nhs funding btw)..

If you think you’re hard enough. Ffs, bully threats from someone who’s failed to overrun Ukraine in 3 years. It’d be laughable if it wasn’t so serious

The whole interview is something of a car crash for Polanski. As he says, ‘I’m an actor’.

Pinched this video from @cjsnowdon.bsky.social on Twitter because Bluesky has to see it.

Nothing can prepare you for the punchline here.

Hey! If you listen to @resonancefm.bsky.social please take a few mins to complete our audience survey (and possibly win a Ruark smart radio!). Data will be really helpful to us.