Dr_Aust_PhD
@draustphd.bsky.social
Grumpy old lab scientist (retd.), Uni teacher & centrist dad. Irked by trendy nonsense, own waistline, hair 📉 etc. NOT a medic - other ½ of NHS doctor. Long-ago 70s punk rock fan/ guitarist. 2 kids & now no dog (RIP). Personal views.
Yup. It all sounds terribly... familiar.
Nativist, supremacist, anti-intellectual, anti-welfare state. The manufactured threat of decadence replaced by undefined 'wokeness'. Immigrants i.e. Muslims are the new scapegoats.
November 26, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Yup. It all sounds terribly... familiar.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
A democracy where a coordinated effort by national leaders of one party to subvert an election outcome does not lead to any real consequences is a democracy unlikely to last long
Judge dismisses Georgia criminal case against Donald Trump
Judge dismisses Georgia criminal case against Donald Trump
It was the last remaining prosecution he faced over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
dlvr.it
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
A democracy where a coordinated effort by national leaders of one party to subvert an election outcome does not lead to any real consequences is a democracy unlikely to last long
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
wild that this happened within 24 hours of bolsanaro going to prison. will be a timeless textbook example of what works to save a democracy and what doesn’t
Breaking News: The last pending criminal prosecution against President Trump was dismissed by a judge in Georgia, effectively ending efforts to hold Trump criminally responsible for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. trib.al/EnJu57H
November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
wild that this happened within 24 hours of bolsanaro going to prison. will be a timeless textbook example of what works to save a democracy and what doesn’t
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Margaret Sullivan discusses the abysmal ethics of NYT's Epstein coverage, including the paper's radio silence following disclosure of the fact that its lead Epstein correspondent was seeking money from Epstein. The corruption goes far in explaining NYT's editorially deranged Epstein coverage.
Three lessons in unethical media behavior
Plus: Some moments that made me proud to be a journalist
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Margaret Sullivan discusses the abysmal ethics of NYT's Epstein coverage, including the paper's radio silence following disclosure of the fact that its lead Epstein correspondent was seeking money from Epstein. The corruption goes far in explaining NYT's editorially deranged Epstein coverage.
We are often told by commentators that Glasman's Blue Labour agenda is completely non-overlapping with what in the 1920s & 30s used to be called 'national socialism'. Though chumming around with Farage and Bannon, both unashamed admirers of coercive far-right authoritarianism, might make you wonder.
Here's Labour peer and founder of Blue Labour, Maurice Glasman, apologising to Nigel Farage on GB News because Keir Starmer called him a racist. HE calls Farage a friend, he admires and consorts with Steve Bannon and was invited to Trump's 2025 inauguration by JD Vance. Who needs the Tories?
November 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
We are often told by commentators that Glasman's Blue Labour agenda is completely non-overlapping with what in the 1920s & 30s used to be called 'national socialism'. Though chumming around with Farage and Bannon, both unashamed admirers of coercive far-right authoritarianism, might make you wonder.
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Is anyone going to bother listening to Kemi Badenoch? We all know what she's going to say and how she's going to say it. She will call Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor ever and demand her resignation. She does it every week. Time for lunch.
#Budget2026 #PoliticsLive
#Budget2026 #PoliticsLive
November 26, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Is anyone going to bother listening to Kemi Badenoch? We all know what she's going to say and how she's going to say it. She will call Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor ever and demand her resignation. She does it every week. Time for lunch.
#Budget2026 #PoliticsLive
#Budget2026 #PoliticsLive
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Rachel Reeves just thanked Joe Powell in the budget for his representations on high street tax evasion and pledged more resources to track down "fraudulent business owners who vanish without paying their taxes". This is one of the issues Joe raised with the chancellor.
What's up with the Harry Potter shops in central London?
London Centric's investigation into their finances was raised in the House of Commons by Kensington and Bayswater Labour MP Joe Powell. He asked ministers what it will take to get HMRC officials to check the shops are paying their taxes.
London Centric's investigation into their finances was raised in the House of Commons by Kensington and Bayswater Labour MP Joe Powell. He asked ministers what it will take to get HMRC officials to check the shops are paying their taxes.
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Rachel Reeves just thanked Joe Powell in the budget for his representations on high street tax evasion and pledged more resources to track down "fraudulent business owners who vanish without paying their taxes". This is one of the issues Joe raised with the chancellor.
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Labour seems frozen by “twin fears…that swing voters would freak out if they thought Reeves was a tax-and-spend fiend or Starmer might smuggle remainer convictions into Downing St”
But, the foreign state that benefits most from Brexit inaction is Putin’s Russia.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
But, the foreign state that benefits most from Brexit inaction is Putin’s Russia.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr
Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament, asks Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Labour seems frozen by “twin fears…that swing voters would freak out if they thought Reeves was a tax-and-spend fiend or Starmer might smuggle remainer convictions into Downing St”
But, the foreign state that benefits most from Brexit inaction is Putin’s Russia.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
But, the foreign state that benefits most from Brexit inaction is Putin’s Russia.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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For me the most exciting thing is that mRNA tech could allow more rapid pivoting against unexpected breakout strains - though I am not sure how quick the timelines are, they have to be faster than the egg-based alternative…
Experimental mRNA #flu vaccine shows superior efficacy against symptomatic illness
The vaccine is 100% effective against both symptomatic and febrile flu, compared with 85% and 100% with the conventional 4-strain vaccine.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
Photo: Penn State / Flickr cc
The vaccine is 100% effective against both symptomatic and febrile flu, compared with 85% and 100% with the conventional 4-strain vaccine.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
Photo: Penn State / Flickr cc
November 26, 2025 at 8:58 AM
For me the most exciting thing is that mRNA tech could allow more rapid pivoting against unexpected breakout strains - though I am not sure how quick the timelines are, they have to be faster than the egg-based alternative…
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WTF! Witcoff and his Russian counterpart discussing strategy?
The audio leak of Steve Witkoff advising the Russian side what to do, what to say and how to progress is nothing more but collaboration with Moscow, probably even more. It further confirms what I was writing on Sunday when the US Senators were actively rejected this.
November 26, 2025 at 9:06 AM
WTF! Witcoff and his Russian counterpart discussing strategy?
Indeed. The ubiquitous TV gambling ads talking about 'taking breaks' & 'setting limits' are sensible-washing. If the central appeal is via addiction - as a big profits rise in a time of austerity suggests - the ads are 'merchants of doubt' fodder. Did we learn nothing from the long saga of smoking?
A billion-pound jump in gambling income in a single year is not a success story — it’s a warning. We need stronger taxes and urgent action to protect people from an industry built on addiction.
#PublicHealth #EconomicJustice
#PublicHealth #EconomicJustice
November 26, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Indeed. The ubiquitous TV gambling ads talking about 'taking breaks' & 'setting limits' are sensible-washing. If the central appeal is via addiction - as a big profits rise in a time of austerity suggests - the ads are 'merchants of doubt' fodder. Did we learn nothing from the long saga of smoking?
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On Today before 7 a former Trump official claimed without challenge that US spending on Ukraine far outweighs that of Europe (at least contestable) and that Europe was now irrelevant to the peace talks. 30 mins later Steve Rosenberg made clear that Europe’s irrelevance was a Kremlin talking point
November 26, 2025 at 7:53 AM
On Today before 7 a former Trump official claimed without challenge that US spending on Ukraine far outweighs that of Europe (at least contestable) and that Europe was now irrelevant to the peace talks. 30 mins later Steve Rosenberg made clear that Europe’s irrelevance was a Kremlin talking point
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Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Yep - the government is consistently failing to make the case as to why it is investing more in defence and how the changing geopolitical system plus that whole war going on means it is increasingly needed
Utterly surreal that a key part of the pre Budget narrative from the government hasn’t been ‘Russian planes keep buzzing the Essex coast, US support for NATO is looking shaky, and thanks to the Tories our army fits in Old Trafford - that’s why we need to raise taxes’.
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Yep - the government is consistently failing to make the case as to why it is investing more in defence and how the changing geopolitical system plus that whole war going on means it is increasingly needed
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Farage nasty - not to be trusted on any level
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Farage nasty - not to be trusted on any level
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🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
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Trump is Putin’s Puppet
Lie after lie after lie. If they get something Ukraine can even work with Putin won’t sign it!! It’s everything Putin wants or nothing at all. Just like how it is with trump!
November 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Trump is Putin’s Puppet
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
It’s Tuesday.
Trump ignores questions from reporters while leaving the White House for a long Thanksgiving weekend
November 26, 2025 at 1:09 AM
It’s Tuesday.
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November 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
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WTF .... Orwell is turning in his grave.
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:26 AM
WTF .... Orwell is turning in his grave.
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Here's Labour peer and founder of Blue Labour, Maurice Glasman, apologising to Nigel Farage on GB News because Keir Starmer called him a racist. HE calls Farage a friend, he admires and consorts with Steve Bannon and was invited to Trump's 2025 inauguration by JD Vance. Who needs the Tories?
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Here's Labour peer and founder of Blue Labour, Maurice Glasman, apologising to Nigel Farage on GB News because Keir Starmer called him a racist. HE calls Farage a friend, he admires and consorts with Steve Bannon and was invited to Trump's 2025 inauguration by JD Vance. Who needs the Tories?
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
A great article in @foreignaffairs.com about the "toothless" Trump sanctions on Russian oil, that people have been getting wrong. China is still buying lots of oil, and without secondary sanctions, this will protect Moscow
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
America’s Toothless Sanctions on Russian Oil
Last month, the Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, signaling a renewed desire to drive Moscow to the negotiating table in its war a...
www.foreignaffairs.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
A great article in @foreignaffairs.com about the "toothless" Trump sanctions on Russian oil, that people have been getting wrong. China is still buying lots of oil, and without secondary sanctions, this will protect Moscow
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Update: The US National Debt has now surpassed $39 trillion. It was $36 trillion when Trump took office earlier this year. Trump’s tariff manipulation has also nearly wiped out entire industries across the United States, countless now unemployed.
The official statement from the MAGA White House as the US hits a rapidly increasing all-time high $38 trillion national debt, is:
“At this moment in time, the ballroom is really the president's main priority.”
“At this moment in time, the ballroom is really the president's main priority.”
November 25, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Update: The US National Debt has now surpassed $39 trillion. It was $36 trillion when Trump took office earlier this year. Trump’s tariff manipulation has also nearly wiped out entire industries across the United States, countless now unemployed.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
'Bolsonaro, 70, was in September convicted over a scheme to stop Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 elections that included a plot to kill the veteran leftist'.
Brazil's Bolsonaro begins 27-year jail term for coup bid
Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a failed coup, after he exhausted all appeals.
www.france24.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
'Bolsonaro, 70, was in September convicted over a scheme to stop Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 elections that included a plot to kill the veteran leftist'.