@grumpyoldman1.bsky.social
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Morning all. Sensible step towards repositioning ID cards as 'convenient way of accessing services like they have in Europe' rather than 'punitive tool of state surveillance' but as ever raises the question, why does govt keep getting it wrong the first time www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK government rolls back key part of digital ID plans
Workers will be able to use other identification for right to work, meaning digital form not mandatory
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Morning all. Sensible step towards repositioning ID cards as 'convenient way of accessing services like they have in Europe' rather than 'punitive tool of state surveillance' but as ever raises the question, why does govt keep getting it wrong the first time www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
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Oh, look who's angling for a pardon now, but had all his former wealth confiscated.
January 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Oh, look who's angling for a pardon now, but had all his former wealth confiscated.
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Did you know?
The previous editor of BBC Reporting Scotland once said ‘only if Scottish Government fails a target does it get reported, anything else isn’t ‘news’’.
He later deleted the post.
The previous editor of BBC Reporting Scotland once said ‘only if Scottish Government fails a target does it get reported, anything else isn’t ‘news’’.
He later deleted the post.
January 6, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Did you know?
The previous editor of BBC Reporting Scotland once said ‘only if Scottish Government fails a target does it get reported, anything else isn’t ‘news’’.
He later deleted the post.
The previous editor of BBC Reporting Scotland once said ‘only if Scottish Government fails a target does it get reported, anything else isn’t ‘news’’.
He later deleted the post.
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The clip I always think about from Jan 6th was Lindsay Graham's enough-is-enough moment in the Senate that evening. By the next day he acted like he never said a word.
January 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
The clip I always think about from Jan 6th was Lindsay Graham's enough-is-enough moment in the Senate that evening. By the next day he acted like he never said a word.
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this is how every outlet should refer to X
January 6, 2026 at 5:11 PM
this is how every outlet should refer to X
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Yarvin was a Moral Maze guest on October 1st last year so not even ancient history
Curtis Yarvin has written a very long screed in defense of his post in which he said, “Hitler spoke the truth.”
A sampling of select portions is below and includes, in reference to Jewish people, the words:
“The only way to tell is the name and the nose.”
A sampling of select portions is below and includes, in reference to Jewish people, the words:
“The only way to tell is the name and the nose.”
January 6, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Yarvin was a Moral Maze guest on October 1st last year so not even ancient history
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Incredible 2004 memo by erstwhile Brexit cheerleader Frost about how "shared aims and aspirations within the EU" and a positive approach to Europe had "revolutionised" UK-Ireland relations, replacing "prickliness" with "a close working relationship". ~AA
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comm...
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comm...
January 5, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Incredible 2004 memo by erstwhile Brexit cheerleader Frost about how "shared aims and aspirations within the EU" and a positive approach to Europe had "revolutionised" UK-Ireland relations, replacing "prickliness" with "a close working relationship". ~AA
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comm...
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comm...
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This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
"Vassal" talk is a bit much, but those Starmer (and other EU leaders tbf) statements read like all these people still believe, if we can just hold our breath for three more years, this nightmare will be over and we'll be back to singing Atlantic Kumbaya
January 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
This is the correct read. Most European leaders have a 'white knuckle it until Governor Fungible (D-Nonsuch) gets 270 electoral votes in 2029' approach. Not a good idea IMV.
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My mom has informed me that 60 Minutes is "totally different now," and that they don't plan to keep on watching. Wondering how many Boomers across America have come to that conclusion. Hopefully more of them than not
January 5, 2026 at 4:36 AM
My mom has informed me that 60 Minutes is "totally different now," and that they don't plan to keep on watching. Wondering how many Boomers across America have come to that conclusion. Hopefully more of them than not
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This Right Here Folks! 👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾
January 5, 2026 at 6:52 AM
This Right Here Folks! 👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾
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The way Trump behaves with dictators shows that authoritarianism is not the reason he wants to take down Maduro.
Did he launch this war to use it as an excuse to cheat in the midterms, to distract from the Epstein files, or just because of oil?
Did he launch this war to use it as an excuse to cheat in the midterms, to distract from the Epstein files, or just because of oil?
January 3, 2026 at 7:53 AM
The way Trump behaves with dictators shows that authoritarianism is not the reason he wants to take down Maduro.
Did he launch this war to use it as an excuse to cheat in the midterms, to distract from the Epstein files, or just because of oil?
Did he launch this war to use it as an excuse to cheat in the midterms, to distract from the Epstein files, or just because of oil?
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Great powers have always, to some extent, written the rules for themselves. But this should be a reminder that for all we might lament the “rules based order”, it’s largely gone, if it ever existed. Hard power is the only thing which matters now. Europe needs to wake up to the new realities.
January 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Great powers have always, to some extent, written the rules for themselves. But this should be a reminder that for all we might lament the “rules based order”, it’s largely gone, if it ever existed. Hard power is the only thing which matters now. Europe needs to wake up to the new realities.
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Just woke up even angrier. Impeach, convict, remove. Draft articles now. Either we have a representative government or we don’t. Do not shut up about this until there’s a vote.
January 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Just woke up even angrier. Impeach, convict, remove. Draft articles now. Either we have a representative government or we don’t. Do not shut up about this until there’s a vote.
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Former CIA station chief distills Putin's approach to Trump
- Putin will understand very well what motivates Trump - his ego, his need for the spotlight - and he will play into that, like a good case officer should be able to do ..
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
- Putin will understand very well what motivates Trump - his ego, his need for the spotlight - and he will play into that, like a good case officer should be able to do ..
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
Former CIA station chief distills Putin's approach to Trump : Sources & Methods
Rob Dannenberg understands Vladimir Putin. He was CIA station chief in Moscow and served as the chief of operations for CIA's Counterterrorism Center. He now works as an independent consultant on geop...
www.npr.org
January 2, 2026 at 5:02 AM
Former CIA station chief distills Putin's approach to Trump
- Putin will understand very well what motivates Trump - his ego, his need for the spotlight - and he will play into that, like a good case officer should be able to do ..
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
- Putin will understand very well what motivates Trump - his ego, his need for the spotlight - and he will play into that, like a good case officer should be able to do ..
www.npr.org/transcripts/...
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Absolutely let's have it out in the open
January 1, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Absolutely let's have it out in the open
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A vulnerable child was groomed and trafficked and then subjected to the most shocking experiences imaginable including the deaths of her babies.
Instead of taking responsibility the British establishment stripped her of her citizenship and dumped her like old rubbish.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Instead of taking responsibility the British establishment stripped her of her citizenship and dumped her like old rubbish.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Shamima Begum: Home secretary to 'robustly defend' citizenship decision
The ECHR questions whether it was considered if Shamima Begum was a victim of grooming and trafficking.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 4:44 PM
A vulnerable child was groomed and trafficked and then subjected to the most shocking experiences imaginable including the deaths of her babies.
Instead of taking responsibility the British establishment stripped her of her citizenship and dumped her like old rubbish.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Instead of taking responsibility the British establishment stripped her of her citizenship and dumped her like old rubbish.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
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Wanna lose 250 pounds of useless weight this New Year? Impeach the creep.
December 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Wanna lose 250 pounds of useless weight this New Year? Impeach the creep.
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Look who turns 11 years old today!
Still acts like a puppy! 😍😍
Still acts like a puppy! 😍😍
December 30, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Look who turns 11 years old today!
Still acts like a puppy! 😍😍
Still acts like a puppy! 😍😍
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This is how you do it folks
December 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
This is how you do it folks
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Gift link for a fascinating & characteristically problematic NYTimes article:
What's problematic is the wholesale importation (pun intended) of the empty-headed zero-sum Trumpian view of trade. China sells & finances African solar, which is bad because...Africa won't build solar factories? C'mon
What's problematic is the wholesale importation (pun intended) of the empty-headed zero-sum Trumpian view of trade. China sells & finances African solar, which is bad because...Africa won't build solar factories? C'mon
Cheap Solar Is Transforming Lives and Economies Across Africa
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Gift link for a fascinating & characteristically problematic NYTimes article:
What's problematic is the wholesale importation (pun intended) of the empty-headed zero-sum Trumpian view of trade. China sells & finances African solar, which is bad because...Africa won't build solar factories? C'mon
What's problematic is the wholesale importation (pun intended) of the empty-headed zero-sum Trumpian view of trade. China sells & finances African solar, which is bad because...Africa won't build solar factories? C'mon
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Since when Putin's residence is not a valid military target?
December 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Since when Putin's residence is not a valid military target?