Ivor Middleton

It's almost as if, with Starmer-McSweeney era Labour, EVERY rock you look under will have something damning lurking under it.

Timely

Just your regularly scheduled share of this masterpiece by @tomgauld.bsky.social

People in Iran have been sharing their reaction to Supreme Leader Khamenei's death with BBC Persian. All names are pseudonyms for safety reasons. "People feel anxious and elated all at once, says Sahar in Tehran. "With every explosion, some shout with joy from their windows... The celebrations began the very moment they heard the strikes."

Pouya in Pardis says it "feels as though the air itself has cleared since [Khamenel's] death - as if something unclean has been lifted from it" People were "incredibly happy last night" says Amir in Tehran - who suggests the state is still trying to exert some level of control. "l think the timing of the announcement of Khamenei's death on state television was deliberate... to prevent people from pouring into the streets to protest. They announced it just before the call to prayer in the early hours of the morning." Sina in Karaj says people are concerned the oppression could return: "Their main concern is that the US might make a deal and the authorities begin oppressing people all over again." He is prepared to "take to the streets and protest" if required, as the US has encouraged the people of Iran to do. But while many are celebrating, others gathered in Tehran to mourn Khamenei's death earlier today.

Maybe this is what Iranians are saying: I’ve never been there, I have no idea. But damn, British media outlets never struggle to find people who are overjoyed to be bombed by America, do they.

#REPORT | Settlers attacked two solidarity activists, including an 18-year-old young woman, earlier today in Douma.

The settlers are armed with clubs and pepper spray. Amit Orfali report

(1/3/2026)

The lighting of the light - look at the exposure on this tremendous shot. I had no idea it was orb of flame; It’s like the opening act of the universe, something the James Webb telescope will eventually photograph for us.

Made a friend and spent a while in conversation.

Usually in the middle of a field, but now chattering away on the path. I very much liked the Harry Partch crossed with Grand Guinal nature of this beast. Would flip between rapid EDM to funeral march depending on the breeze. Would spin to slice you.

Green Party website

Here's where to join the Green Party:
join.greenparty.org.uk

On the Media The Peabody Award-winning On the Media podcast is your guide to examining how the media sausage is made. Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger examine threats to free speech and government transparency, cast a skeptical eye on media coverage of the week’s big stories and unravel hidden political narratives in everything we read, watch and hear.

“Media capture,” is a phrase scholars have been using to describe the phenomena of public interests losing possession of the press to political and corporate players. @victorpickard.bsky.social on why the American system was set up to be snatched away from the start lnk.to/onthemedia/b...

This is also supported by individual level data, which shows Labour losing more voters to the Greens than to Reform. The rise of Reform in traditional Labour areas does not mean that Labour voters in those places are all shifting to Reform. That’s an ecological fallacy (cf. @tabouchadi.bsky.social)

2 Palestinians were killed... Sunday evening in an Israeli artillery shelling of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip.

...shelling targeted the Al-Jurn area of ​​Jabalia.

...death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,096, and the number of injured to 171,791..."

english.wafa.ps/Pages/Detail...

DHS calls leaks a threat. Here’s what we wouldn’t know without them Recent leaks have exposed DHS’s warrantless home invasions, targeting of protesters, surveillance overreach, and propaganda campaigns

DHS calls whistleblowers a “threat to national security.”

But without leaks to the press, the public wouldn’t know that ICE is entering homes without warrants, labeling protesters “domestic terrorists,” building surveillance tools, or pushing propaganda.

Dearest people who don’t read or remember history:

The reason Iran is ruled by Ayatollahs now is because the U.S. overthrew the democratically-elected Iranian President in 1953 to help American oil interests.

"Iran can end this now"

This from Kier Starmer defies all sense. Iran was at the negotiating table when Trump and Netanyahu attacked. Neither leader is entirely rational, yet Starmer suggests Iran has some agency here.

He's not a credible prime minister. It's embarrassing, shameful, horrifying.

The United States & Israel have launched an illegal and unprovoked attack on Iran.

Keir Starmer condemns Iran.

What will war in Iran do to the global economy? Conflict has exposed how much growth depends on energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz

Useful discussion of various scenarios for oil price and inflation.

Roughly:
$80 per barrel: no problem
$100: 0.7pp ish on inflation. Difficult for BoE
$120+: bad news all round

www.ft.com/content/31bf...

B'TSELEM was correct in this post from yesterday.

Under cover of the Israeli-American offensive on Iran, which could cost countless lives and plunge the entire Middle East into a spiral of violence and destruction, armed settler militias continue to launch organized violent attacks against

In order to understand UK politics in 2026 you must realise that a plumber & plasterer doesn't represent the interests of the working class because she is left-wing but a wealthy broadcaster & former academic does represent the interests of the working class because he is right-wing. Hope this helps

Back my asylum overhaul or risk Trump inspired ICE-style raids, warns Mahmood The home secretary invokes the spectre of a US inspired "far-right" immigration crackdown as she tries to win Labour support for tougher asylum laws.

what exactly is the point of a Labour government

news.sky.com/story/back-m...

Won't speak for The Left, but my "taking AI seriously" take is that it is misallocated investment, a financial bubble, and a privacy and security nightmare which will only get worse. Seems a bit more serious than "AI will be god soon and all fun and friendship will be replaced with AI tamagotchis"

i've talked to quite a few people who've attempted to lobby the gov & the always talk about appealing to 'the working class'

apparently if you say 'i am a working class person & i support trans people' they look at you like you have 3 heads, it just doesn't compute

like this is a baffling response for so many reasons, but like what does she think just happened?

a less affluent suburb of manchester just elected a plumber & those who insist we listen to the working class are furious

turns out it doesn't count if you're pro-trans & pro-immigration

YouTube video by Jimi for ever ♥ 3 Jimi for ever ♥ FULL Jam with John McLaughlin Record Plant, New York March 25, 1969

Guitar legends Jimi Hendrix & John McLaughlin Jam with Dave Holland (bass), Jim McCarty & Buddy Miles (drums) at the Record Plant, 25 March 1969.
youtu.be/uG3Z-2wnVIU

Just the BBC’s Clive Myrie and Justin Webb rationalising an @theonion.com headline as if it were a valid viewpoint rather than satire 🤯
#Iran.

Really concerned to hear the Defence Secretary refuse to rule out UK's involvement in future strikes on Iran.

Iraq lessons must be learned.
Further escalation in the Middle East makes us all less safe.

Starmer must rule out UK involvement immediately.

The short and long of it is, men, will ye spit fire or not?

I was born in an Iranian prison. My parents were held in their jails. My uncles lie in their mass graves. Nothing you can tell me about the crimes of the Iranian regime that I haven't lived in blood and bone. That doesn't mean I want my people bombed, maimed, killed, their homes in ruins. If your vision of liberation comes only through the destruction of innocent lives, then it's not freedom you're after. Sahar Delijani, Iranian author

I am pro Iranian people. I stand with them against their own government’s repression AND against the imperial violence in the form of bombs dropped from the sky from Israel & the US who have already killed hundreds.

I support neither imperialism or dictatorship.

Sahar Delijani said it best:

Apollo with the dodgeball of prophecy

Years ago in another life I gave a guest lecture at The Hague warning “AI weapons” could be invoked to remove accountability for war crimes from the chain of command. I said “there are no autonomous weapons, only unsupervised ones,” and sadly it seems I was cooking with that one

Er, #BBCLauraK, negotiation was an option, because negotiation was happening.

Shall we evaluate its effectiveness?. After three days? A week? Oh, Iran has been blown up.