Laura Phillips
@lauraphillips.bsky.social
Campaigner to support the BBC, (not a BBC employee).It’s affected by savage UK govt cuts: c40% 2010-2024. BBC costs <48 pence/around 62 US cents a day per UK household. It’s a national public service broadcaster, respected worldwide for accurate reporting.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Council Tax has become increasingly regressive.
It now takes nearly 5% of income from the poorest families but barely 1% from the richest. For many, it's become a grinding monthly obligation to rival the Poll Tax.
It now takes nearly 5% of income from the poorest families but barely 1% from the richest. For many, it's become a grinding monthly obligation to rival the Poll Tax.
February 11, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Council Tax has become increasingly regressive.
It now takes nearly 5% of income from the poorest families but barely 1% from the richest. For many, it's become a grinding monthly obligation to rival the Poll Tax.
It now takes nearly 5% of income from the poorest families but barely 1% from the richest. For many, it's become a grinding monthly obligation to rival the Poll Tax.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
I've seen beached whales less out of their depth.
Pam Bondi starts ranting about the DOW and S&P in the middle of questions about the Epstein files.
February 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
I've seen beached whales less out of their depth.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
our FT story from June 2023 showed:
Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor
in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment
Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor
in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment
February 11, 2026 at 7:59 AM
our FT story from June 2023 showed:
Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor
in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment
Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s $77m townhouse in Manhattan in June 2009 while the financier was in prison for soliciting prostitution from minor
in 2010 and 2011 Epstein noted that “Petie” was with him in Paris, where the financier owned a sumptuous apartment
Reposted by Laura Phillips
So the feds ARE NOT considering an mRNA vaccine for the flu, which could save countless lives, but ARE backing research into whether horse dewormer can cure cancer, because the right views vaccines as elite and ivermectin as populist.
Cool.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Cool.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
FDA won’t review Moderna application for first mRNA-based flu vaccine
The decision, which shocked company officials, comes as the FDA says it will take a stricter approach to federal vaccine approvals.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:24 AM
So the feds ARE NOT considering an mRNA vaccine for the flu, which could save countless lives, but ARE backing research into whether horse dewormer can cure cancer, because the right views vaccines as elite and ivermectin as populist.
Cool.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Cool.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Reposted by Laura Phillips
You can joke about Pam Bondi’s ridiculous unprofessionalism all you want, but I’m deeply shocked by it: She acts as if she fears absolutely no consequences, convinced that there will be no more political power transfers. — This should shake everyone to their core.
February 11, 2026 at 5:48 PM
You can joke about Pam Bondi’s ridiculous unprofessionalism all you want, but I’m deeply shocked by it: She acts as if she fears absolutely no consequences, convinced that there will be no more political power transfers. — This should shake everyone to their core.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
A bit awkward for Jim, as only seven players in Manchester United’s 26-man first team squad are from the UK.
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
'The UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Britain has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the country's richest and most influential men, has told Sky News.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:43 PM
A bit awkward for Jim, as only seven players in Manchester United’s 26-man first team squad are from the UK.
Zelenskyy: ‘February 24 is a special date. Even if there were an intention or relevant steps toward bringing certain elections forward, I believe it would be an utterly stupid idea to use such a date to talk about politics. This is a very serious date – four years of war.’ 1/
February 11, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Zelenskyy: ‘February 24 is a special date. Even if there were an intention or relevant steps toward bringing certain elections forward, I believe it would be an utterly stupid idea to use such a date to talk about politics. This is a very serious date – four years of war.’ 1/
@camanpour.bsky.social: Exc: Nobel Cttee say they have credible reports that Iranian Nobel laureate NargesMohammadi has been severely beaten in custody. Allegations are graphic+horrific. Nobel chair Jørgen Frydnes: “cruel+inhumane treatment, a blatant violation of international human rights law.”
video.twimg.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:23 PM
@camanpour.bsky.social: Exc: Nobel Cttee say they have credible reports that Iranian Nobel laureate NargesMohammadi has been severely beaten in custody. Allegations are graphic+horrific. Nobel chair Jørgen Frydnes: “cruel+inhumane treatment, a blatant violation of international human rights law.”
@johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social’s ‘Unspun World’, BBC2 11pm then iPlayer, News Channel+World Service: how Hamas still runs things in Gaza; the heavy metal past of Japan’s female PM; how LA parents are trying to hold social media to acct for effects on children,+impact on S Africa of Trump’s aid cuts.
February 11, 2026 at 8:15 PM
@johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social’s ‘Unspun World’, BBC2 11pm then iPlayer, News Channel+World Service: how Hamas still runs things in Gaza; the heavy metal past of Japan’s female PM; how LA parents are trying to hold social media to acct for effects on children,+impact on S Africa of Trump’s aid cuts.
Typically thoughtful. The problem for voters - with funding and priority given to the political ‘stenographers’ - is that many of us struggle to hear enough of the *policies* being enacted, their effects and consequences. This leads to a democratic deficit+further concentration on Westminster drama.
Did our feral political press pack call time on Starmer prematurely? Accusations are flying . markurban.substack.com/p/did-the-lo...
Did the Lobby Misread the Starmer Story?
Our political press can be an asset or liability
markurban.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Typically thoughtful. The problem for voters - with funding and priority given to the political ‘stenographers’ - is that many of us struggle to hear enough of the *policies* being enacted, their effects and consequences. This leads to a democratic deficit+further concentration on Westminster drama.
Reposted by Laura Phillips
BREAKING NEWS | Trump quietly pulls National Guard from Chicago and Los Angeles after series of court losses
Trump quietly pulls National Guard from US cities after series of court losses
Supreme Court blocked Trump’s troop deployment in December in apparent rebuke of his attempt to send troops into cities
trib.al
February 11, 2026 at 4:41 PM
BREAKING NEWS | Trump quietly pulls National Guard from Chicago and Los Angeles after series of court losses
Reposted by Laura Phillips
The CIA shut down its World Factbook. Graham: "This is different from the [Trump] administration’s assault on truth... It’s a series of steps that by design or in effect block access to data, and in doing so erode the concept of a shared frame for all Americans." www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
America Is Losing the Facts That Hold It Together
The Trump administration is erasing the country’s shared understanding.
www.theatlantic.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:14 PM
The CIA shut down its World Factbook. Graham: "This is different from the [Trump] administration’s assault on truth... It’s a series of steps that by design or in effect block access to data, and in doing so erode the concept of a shared frame for all Americans." www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
What a surprise. @snellarthur.bsky.social:'“security vetting” isn’t carried out by the security services. It’s carried out by something called UK Security Vetting..technically part of the Cabinet Office but basically operates like a private sector business within government.' 1/
A fair amount of nonsense has been written and said about the "security vetting" process for Mandelson's appointment. I wrote about what "Developed Vetting" really involves and why it's perfectly possible that it found nothing useful about Mandelson.
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
arthursnell.substack.com/p/the-vettin...
The Vetting Myth
Understanding the realities of Mandelson's pre-appointment checks
arthursnell.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:50 PM
What a surprise. @snellarthur.bsky.social:'“security vetting” isn’t carried out by the security services. It’s carried out by something called UK Security Vetting..technically part of the Cabinet Office but basically operates like a private sector business within government.' 1/
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social Hard questions ducked in opposition have led to this: 'The number of names swirling around is an expression of panic in paralysis. It can be true that #Starmer is incapable of getting Labour out of trouble and also that the process of replacing him makes the trouble worse.'
On Labour’s certainty that Starmer has failed and paralysing fear of what a leadership contest actually involves www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Keir Starmer is the bandage Labour can’t rip off for fear of opening old wounds | Rafael Behr
The party’s MPs know their leader is failing but they are paralysed by fear of a contest with no obvious successor, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:21 PM
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social Hard questions ducked in opposition have led to this: 'The number of names swirling around is an expression of panic in paralysis. It can be true that #Starmer is incapable of getting Labour out of trouble and also that the process of replacing him makes the trouble worse.'
Reposted by Laura Phillips
"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm"
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
Palantir's Swiss Exit Highlights Global Data Sovereignty Challenge | NewsCase
Switzerland's military has terminated its contract with Palantir Technologies Inc. following a security audit. The review concluded that U.S. intelligence ag
www.newscase.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:05 AM
"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm"
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...
#R4Today
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Vernon Bogdanor, The Times
February 11, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Vernon Bogdanor, The Times
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Martin Wolf absolutely on the money here. Declining fertility rates are about structural changes in society- more equal opportunities.
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Why are fertility rates collapsing? Gender roles
A big part of female graduates’ decision to have children depends on how they expect their husbands to behave
giftarticle.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Martin Wolf absolutely on the money here. Declining fertility rates are about structural changes in society- more equal opportunities.
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reform and voices on the right want to turn back the clock on women's opportunity. Progressives should give it short shrift.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
@christopherjm.ft.com: ‘NEW: #Ukraine has begun planning presidential #elections alongside a #referendum on any #peace deal with #Russia, after the #Trump administration pressed Kyiv to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing proposed US security guarantees.
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
Zelenskyy planning elections in Ukraine and vote on peace deal
Trump administration has pressured Ukrainian leader to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing security guarantees
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:27 AM
@christopherjm.ft.com: ‘NEW: #Ukraine has begun planning presidential #elections alongside a #referendum on any #peace deal with #Russia, after the #Trump administration pressed Kyiv to hold both votes by May 15 or risk losing proposed US security guarantees.
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
w/ @maxseddon @HenryJFoy’
Reposted by Laura Phillips
Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after eight months as head coach
Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after eight months as head coach
*
Club five points above drop zone after Newcastle defeat
*
Spurs have not won in the Premier League in 2026
Thomas Frank has been sacked by Tottenham, the final straw for the head coach coming on Tuesday when his team lost at home to Newcastle, leaving them 16th, five points above the relegation zone.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd again rebelled against Frank, booing him and chanting that he would be sacked in the morning. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham after eight months as head coach
@jkbjournalist.bsky.social: “To make clear: when #Trump called the chief, it was after the Epstein story became public — when #Epstein was arrested. Palm beach police had been investigating the case since 2005.”
Breaking: Trump told Palm Beach police chief 'everyone' knew about Epstein and 'evil' Maxwell www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...
Trump told Palm Beach police chief ‘everyone’ knew about Epstein, Maxwell was ‘evil’
The new information comes as Ghislaine Maxwell was summoned to appear Monday before a Congressional committee.
www.miamiherald.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:11 AM
@jkbjournalist.bsky.social: “To make clear: when #Trump called the chief, it was after the Epstein story became public — when #Epstein was arrested. Palm beach police had been investigating the case since 2005.”
Reposted by Laura Phillips
🚨🚨Welcome news: The #EU is hatching an unprecedented plan that could give #Ukraine partial #membership in the bloc as early as next year, as Brussels tries to shore up the country’s position in Europe and away from #Moscow. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
5 steps to get Ukraine into the EU in 2027
Plans to bring Kyiv into the tent before it has completed all reforms and to remove Hungary’s veto signal a sense of urgency in Brussels.
www.politico.eu
February 11, 2026 at 9:43 AM
🚨🚨Welcome news: The #EU is hatching an unprecedented plan that could give #Ukraine partial #membership in the bloc as early as next year, as Brussels tries to shore up the country’s position in Europe and away from #Moscow. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...
www.politico.eu/article/5-st...