Iain MacGilleBhràith
@aeonmach.bsky.social
I LIKE a *lot* of shit: sci & tech (my day job!), environment & energy (ecomodernism), politics (~moderate, social-liberalism), culture & language(s), outdoors (mountains, cycling/MTB, sailing), travel, nuance & irony.
I HATE black-&-white simplism!
I HATE black-&-white simplism!
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
'Labour politicians urgently need to adopt the Conservative/Reform view of public opinion—that it’s movable, and it’s their job to move it.'
Discuss.
Discuss.
"Democratic politicians urgently need to adopt the GOP view of public opinion—that it’s movable, and it’s their job to move it." newrepublic.com/article/2058...
Instead of Pandering, Democrats Should Try Changing Voters’ Minds
How can the party of liberalism make liberal ideas more popular? By creating a more liberal electorate. Yes, it can be done. Here are five ways how.
newrepublic.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:47 AM
'Labour politicians urgently need to adopt the Conservative/Reform view of public opinion—that it’s movable, and it’s their job to move it.'
Discuss.
Discuss.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
I wrote for the Guardian about why Jim Ratcliffe's talk of Britain being "colonised" by immigrants crosses the line between legitimate debate and inflammatory rhetoric. It fuses echoes of Powellism with great replacement conspiracies of "civilisational erasure"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Forget Jim Ratcliffe’s half-apology: to speak of immigrants ‘colonising’ Britain is wrong and sinister | Sunder Katwala
He fused an echo of Enoch Powell with the spirit of the far right’s great replacement theory. This is no way to progress a humane migration debate, says Sunder Katwala, director of British Future
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
I wrote for the Guardian about why Jim Ratcliffe's talk of Britain being "colonised" by immigrants crosses the line between legitimate debate and inflammatory rhetoric. It fuses echoes of Powellism with great replacement conspiracies of "civilisational erasure"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
It’s not easy being PM in challenging geopolitical times, under 24 hr watch. But, that’s why mere tinkering, piecemeal reforms, or catchy slogan initiatives aren’t the answer. We need more profound, HONEST, review of our constitutional setup, national security posture, international relations. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 2:52 PM
It’s not easy being PM in challenging geopolitical times, under 24 hr watch. But, that’s why mere tinkering, piecemeal reforms, or catchy slogan initiatives aren’t the answer. We need more profound, HONEST, review of our constitutional setup, national security posture, international relations. 🧵
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
If you are using the phrase "full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist, rejoinerism", especially if you are of the left, a loved one should take your phone off you and send you to Baden-Baden or somewhere for a month.
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 5:44 PM
If you are using the phrase "full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist, rejoinerism", especially if you are of the left, a loved one should take your phone off you and send you to Baden-Baden or somewhere for a month.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Three posts on phones and social media.
1. Instead of being 'pro' or 'anti', we should think of phones like cars - useful, but dangerous - and social media like alcohol - fun, but addictive.
They have their place, but need age limits and precautions.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/phones-are...
1. Instead of being 'pro' or 'anti', we should think of phones like cars - useful, but dangerous - and social media like alcohol - fun, but addictive.
They have their place, but need age limits and precautions.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/phones-are...
February 7, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Three posts on phones and social media.
1. Instead of being 'pro' or 'anti', we should think of phones like cars - useful, but dangerous - and social media like alcohol - fun, but addictive.
They have their place, but need age limits and precautions.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/phones-are...
1. Instead of being 'pro' or 'anti', we should think of phones like cars - useful, but dangerous - and social media like alcohol - fun, but addictive.
They have their place, but need age limits and precautions.
www.edrith.co.uk/p/phones-are...
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
In honor of the recently held National Prayer Breakfast, tonight's Low Quality Ad is for this Gay the Pray Away shirt. Anyone who has actually read the Bible would know it explicitly states the key to getting into heaven is to be as gay as humanly possible.
collabs.shop/d8avwb
collabs.shop/d8avwb
February 6, 2026 at 11:42 PM
In honor of the recently held National Prayer Breakfast, tonight's Low Quality Ad is for this Gay the Pray Away shirt. Anyone who has actually read the Bible would know it explicitly states the key to getting into heaven is to be as gay as humanly possible.
collabs.shop/d8avwb
collabs.shop/d8avwb
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
The blunt truth is that if Karen Pierce had been a man, then she would still be US ambassador now and Keir Starmer's government would not be on the brink of death.
February 5, 2026 at 11:16 PM
The blunt truth is that if Karen Pierce had been a man, then she would still be US ambassador now and Keir Starmer's government would not be on the brink of death.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
"In retrospect Prime Minister, was his nickname of The Prince of Darkness not a tiny bit of a red flag?"
February 4, 2026 at 10:42 AM
"In retrospect Prime Minister, was his nickname of The Prince of Darkness not a tiny bit of a red flag?"
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Nowhere near as serious in the UK, but it is really interesting to see exactly the same dynamics in the UK anti-fascist movement.
Deliberate attempts to narrow its support base as far as possible and to drive away normal people.
Entirely counterproductive to their stated goal - and revealing.
Deliberate attempts to narrow its support base as far as possible and to drive away normal people.
Entirely counterproductive to their stated goal - and revealing.
yeah if you have the kind of goals that are helped by getting more voters on your side, you might not want to listen to this guy.
apparently some people need to hear: if more voters had gotten on this side in 2024, Minneapolis wouldn't be filled with jump-out squads
apparently some people need to hear: if more voters had gotten on this side in 2024, Minneapolis wouldn't be filled with jump-out squads
February 4, 2026 at 7:36 AM
Nowhere near as serious in the UK, but it is really interesting to see exactly the same dynamics in the UK anti-fascist movement.
Deliberate attempts to narrow its support base as far as possible and to drive away normal people.
Entirely counterproductive to their stated goal - and revealing.
Deliberate attempts to narrow its support base as far as possible and to drive away normal people.
Entirely counterproductive to their stated goal - and revealing.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
You could make the same argument for Labour in the UK. Too much electoral strategy, not enough political vision and leadership.
This part of our response essay is where I'm at. Boiling down all of politics to electoralism has been absolutely terrible for resisting rising authoritarianism.
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-no...
February 4, 2026 at 2:49 AM
You could make the same argument for Labour in the UK. Too much electoral strategy, not enough political vision and leadership.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
it’s good night from me
February 3, 2026 at 6:45 PM
it’s good night from me
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Gordon Brown played a blinder during the financial crisis. Little wonder he's pissed off at the conduct of Mandelson at the time.
Brown will be history's most unappreciated PM. He was, and is, terrific IMHO.
Brown will be history's most unappreciated PM. He was, and is, terrific IMHO.
February 3, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Gordon Brown played a blinder during the financial crisis. Little wonder he's pissed off at the conduct of Mandelson at the time.
Brown will be history's most unappreciated PM. He was, and is, terrific IMHO.
Brown will be history's most unappreciated PM. He was, and is, terrific IMHO.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Well will you look at that 😁 "Door is open to customs union talks with UK, EU says"
"he also said Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between the UK and the bloc"
And we know it really happened! "Speaking after high-level talks with ministers"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"he also said Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between the UK and the bloc"
And we know it really happened! "Speaking after high-level talks with ministers"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Door is open to customs union talks with UK, EU Commissioner says
Valdis Dombrovskis says the EU is willing to engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.
www.bbc.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:17 AM
Well will you look at that 😁 "Door is open to customs union talks with UK, EU says"
"he also said Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between the UK and the bloc"
And we know it really happened! "Speaking after high-level talks with ministers"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
"he also said Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between the UK and the bloc"
And we know it really happened! "Speaking after high-level talks with ministers"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
"a Europe unified on trade but fragmented on defence will find its commercial power leveraged against its security dependence, as is happening now.”"
Current world order ‘dead’, Draghi warns Europe, as he outlines US and China threats – as it happened
Former Italian PM and ECB chief says Europe must urgently unify on defence and foreign affairs
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:13 AM
"a Europe unified on trade but fragmented on defence will find its commercial power leveraged against its security dependence, as is happening now.”"
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Interesting thought.
February 1, 2026 at 8:22 AM
Interesting thought.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵
February 2, 2026 at 8:20 AM
It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
February 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
I'm late to this but what on earth were Question Time doing putting Konstantin Kisin on the show? These are not serious people. They're controversialists-for-cash. The whole business model is to say increasingly outrageous things for the coverage and clicks. Next week: Lucy White.
January 30, 2026 at 10:21 AM
I'm late to this but what on earth were Question Time doing putting Konstantin Kisin on the show? These are not serious people. They're controversialists-for-cash. The whole business model is to say increasingly outrageous things for the coverage and clicks. Next week: Lucy White.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
This gets us one step closer toward the final form of Tesla, where the only thing it sells is pieces of paper that say “we swear this isn’t a Ponzi scheme.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Wednesday that the automaker is ending production of its Model S and X vehicles, and will use the factory in Fremont, California, to build Optimus humanoid robots. cnb.cx/4rp70Xq
January 30, 2026 at 4:28 AM
This gets us one step closer toward the final form of Tesla, where the only thing it sells is pieces of paper that say “we swear this isn’t a Ponzi scheme.”
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Rachel Reeves: "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to." I don't use local leisure centres and I don't drive, so will I be made exempt for taxation that pays for all that stuff? Or is it only education we'll be going after
January 29, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Rachel Reeves: "It is not right that people who don't go to university bear the cost for others to." I don't use local leisure centres and I don't drive, so will I be made exempt for taxation that pays for all that stuff? Or is it only education we'll be going after
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
On almost everything – fraud, polarisation, radicalisation, misinformation – evidence suggests that over 60s are in much more urgent need of online protection and education than teenagers.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
This was a minor story on London news this morning - but suspect is a real cautionary (and alarming) tale of an older man getting radicalised online.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sidcup man convicted aover explosive attack on Ulez camera
Kevin Rees's homemade bomb caused damage to vehicles and property including a child's bedroom.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 29, 2026 at 9:43 AM
On almost everything – fraud, polarisation, radicalisation, misinformation – evidence suggests that over 60s are in much more urgent need of online protection and education than teenagers.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
But that issue gets zero political attention, and is a total non-starter. Nothing good will come of it.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
I don’t think people have been sold a positive vision of the future they can believe in, so they’re trying to resurrect the past.
January 29, 2026 at 7:56 AM
I don’t think people have been sold a positive vision of the future they can believe in, so they’re trying to resurrect the past.
Reposted by Iain MacGilleBhràith
Sorry to sound so grumpy but this has the same vibe as people moaning about the state of public services at the same time as not wanting to pay more in tax. What's any government (right or left) supposed to do when people don't go shopping or to pubs as much as they used to - and never will again?
Labour risks election wipeout unless it improves Britain’s high streets, study finds
Decay of town centres a top issue among voters especially Reform UK supporters and is fuelling resentment against Westminster
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Sorry to sound so grumpy but this has the same vibe as people moaning about the state of public services at the same time as not wanting to pay more in tax. What's any government (right or left) supposed to do when people don't go shopping or to pubs as much as they used to - and never will again?