Mick Brooks
@mick666.bsky.social
Anything but Mike. Poole-based, retired from the NHS, with birdy, movie, music and politics interests 🏳️🌈🇵🇸 🏳️⚧️. Ex-Labour now Green. Ex-union rep (Unite). PhD in neutron physics.
Full bird list on eBird.com
Films: https://boxd.it/mBT
Full bird list on eBird.com
Films: https://boxd.it/mBT
Reposted by Mick Brooks
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Mick Brooks
The predictable crushing uniformity of the coverage of this Budget tells you an awful lot about the priorities of those papers, and also why there's actually quite a lot to praise in it bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/t...
November 27, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The predictable crushing uniformity of the coverage of this Budget tells you an awful lot about the priorities of those papers, and also why there's actually quite a lot to praise in it bylinetimes.com/2025/11/26/t...
Superb discussion on the Tech takeover
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZZ0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZZ0...
What happens when tech companies hold more power than governments? | Dr. Jaya Klara Brekke
YouTube video by Dr Myriam Francois
www.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Superb discussion on the Tech takeover
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZZ0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZZ0...
Reposted by Mick Brooks
It is IMO not possible to operate any kind of meaningful democracy when your national press is a joke and a travesty, but your mileage on that may vary. I think it’s incontestable that it is impossible to govern well and effectively, while being in hock to these pantomime clowns.
November 27, 2025 at 8:46 AM
It is IMO not possible to operate any kind of meaningful democracy when your national press is a joke and a travesty, but your mileage on that may vary. I think it’s incontestable that it is impossible to govern well and effectively, while being in hock to these pantomime clowns.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Are tax rises the result of 'out-of-control' welfare spending?
We've dug into the numbers to examine whether the scale of welfare spending has shifted, and how feasible it would be to cut it back significantly 👇
We've dug into the numbers to examine whether the scale of welfare spending has shifted, and how feasible it would be to cut it back significantly 👇
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Are tax rises the result of 'out-of-control' welfare spending?
We've dug into the numbers to examine whether the scale of welfare spending has shifted, and how feasible it would be to cut it back significantly 👇
We've dug into the numbers to examine whether the scale of welfare spending has shifted, and how feasible it would be to cut it back significantly 👇
Great interview with one of my all time favourite footballers:
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
‘It crushed my confidence. I’ve never got over it’: Karen Carney on online abuse – and how Strictly is rebuilding her
She’s the emerging star of this year’s dance show, wowing judges with her paso doble. The pundit and former footballer talks about gentleness, bullying, her love of the Lionesses and why she’s never b...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Great interview with one of my all time favourite footballers:
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Orwell diagnosed this problem generations ago
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Orwell diagnosed this problem generations ago
Reposted by Mick Brooks
"We will always be on the side of working people", Farage's 'Letter to the Nation' says today.
What he neglects to admit is that Reform plans to cut £300+ billion from the public services that these "working people" rely on every day.
What he neglects to admit is that Reform plans to cut £300+ billion from the public services that these "working people" rely on every day.
November 27, 2025 at 9:47 AM
"We will always be on the side of working people", Farage's 'Letter to the Nation' says today.
What he neglects to admit is that Reform plans to cut £300+ billion from the public services that these "working people" rely on every day.
What he neglects to admit is that Reform plans to cut £300+ billion from the public services that these "working people" rely on every day.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Like I say: in America, they have Fox News. In Britain everything is Fox News, whether in the screaming shit-up-the-walls version of the Mail or in the arm’s length Many People Would Contend We Need More Migrant Camps form of BBC News. And this is much, much worse.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Like I say: in America, they have Fox News. In Britain everything is Fox News, whether in the screaming shit-up-the-walls version of the Mail or in the arm’s length Many People Would Contend We Need More Migrant Camps form of BBC News. And this is much, much worse.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
I'm looking at the comms coming from some Tarde Unions in response to the budget and it's obvious Trade Union members deserve better than this sycophantic cap dothing from the elected leaders.
November 27, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I'm looking at the comms coming from some Tarde Unions in response to the budget and it's obvious Trade Union members deserve better than this sycophantic cap dothing from the elected leaders.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
PFI didn’t just burden NHS trusts with huge debt, it trapped them in decades of overpriced maintenance contracts.
One trust was charged + £300 to change a lightbulb. Outrageous.
And now the gov is exploring PFI-style schemes again. Fight back with us: bit.ly/NHSandBudget
One trust was charged + £300 to change a lightbulb. Outrageous.
And now the gov is exploring PFI-style schemes again. Fight back with us: bit.ly/NHSandBudget
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
PFI didn’t just burden NHS trusts with huge debt, it trapped them in decades of overpriced maintenance contracts.
One trust was charged + £300 to change a lightbulb. Outrageous.
And now the gov is exploring PFI-style schemes again. Fight back with us: bit.ly/NHSandBudget
One trust was charged + £300 to change a lightbulb. Outrageous.
And now the gov is exploring PFI-style schemes again. Fight back with us: bit.ly/NHSandBudget
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Immigration creates jobs, supports public services, & drives growth.
These are economic facts.
How is it that the only days we *dont* have the media banging on about immigration is on the days we’re handed the budget? #r4today
These are economic facts.
How is it that the only days we *dont* have the media banging on about immigration is on the days we’re handed the budget? #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Immigration creates jobs, supports public services, & drives growth.
These are economic facts.
How is it that the only days we *dont* have the media banging on about immigration is on the days we’re handed the budget? #r4today
These are economic facts.
How is it that the only days we *dont* have the media banging on about immigration is on the days we’re handed the budget? #r4today
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
November 27, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Today we’ll get latest net immigration figures - They’ll show immigration for work is plummeting.
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Why is this not part of the discussion on Rachel Reeves balancing her books & stalled growth?
For every 100,000 drop in net immigration, the OBR adds £7bn to the deficit. #r4today
Reposted by Mick Brooks
a side note: you can learn *a lot* about British journalism when you realize that Boris Johnson was fired from his first job in it for serial dishonesty, and then promptly hired into a new job, where he continued to make up lies.
Not to pat my profession on the back, for all of our problems, but I do think it's to the law's credit that every US bar association that reviewed Glass' application for a license went "fuuuuuuuuuuuck no."
November 27, 2025 at 6:19 AM
a side note: you can learn *a lot* about British journalism when you realize that Boris Johnson was fired from his first job in it for serial dishonesty, and then promptly hired into a new job, where he continued to make up lies.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
I am a little tired of being yelled at for this but apparently not tired about: heroin addiction is not RFK’s problem. He’s a sociopath. Most addicts aren’t. Honestly, walk into an NA meeting, grab the first person with a few years to be head of HHS and they’d probably do a better job than Bobby.
This is what happens when you put a privileged, 14 year heroin addict in charge of health. Duh
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I am a little tired of being yelled at for this but apparently not tired about: heroin addiction is not RFK’s problem. He’s a sociopath. Most addicts aren’t. Honestly, walk into an NA meeting, grab the first person with a few years to be head of HHS and they’d probably do a better job than Bobby.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Reposted by Mick Brooks
The HPV vaccine has been a public health triumph. Very depressing to see this potentially unravel while we're on the verge of essentially eradicating cervical cancer.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
This is terrible
Vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer have plummeted in Britain
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer have plummeted in Britain
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer have plummeted in Britain
Blame declining confidence, a lack of convenience and rising complacency
www.economist.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The HPV vaccine has been a public health triumph. Very depressing to see this potentially unravel while we're on the verge of essentially eradicating cervical cancer.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
As the article says, the problem is as much about the service as it is about parental attitudes.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Not only did Brexit not provide any extra money for the NHS - as liar-in-chief Boris Johnson promised - but Brexit is impoverishing the UK each year by an amount of money not far off the annual NHS budget.
Thanks Farage.
Thanks Farage.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Not only did Brexit not provide any extra money for the NHS - as liar-in-chief Boris Johnson promised - but Brexit is impoverishing the UK each year by an amount of money not far off the annual NHS budget.
Thanks Farage.
Thanks Farage.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
"Tweaks to taxation and spending aren’t going to un-break Britain.
A tax on multi-million-pound properties, while welcome, is not going to erode the extraordinary wealth of those at the top of our society – nor their grip over our democracy."
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
A tax on multi-million-pound properties, while welcome, is not going to erode the extraordinary wealth of those at the top of our society – nor their grip over our democracy."
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
Rachel Reeves is living on another planet
A country in crisis and a government in denial.
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
"Tweaks to taxation and spending aren’t going to un-break Britain.
A tax on multi-million-pound properties, while welcome, is not going to erode the extraordinary wealth of those at the top of our society – nor their grip over our democracy."
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
A tax on multi-million-pound properties, while welcome, is not going to erode the extraordinary wealth of those at the top of our society – nor their grip over our democracy."
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Reposted by Mick Brooks
I think he is having a Troke.
November 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I think he is having a Troke.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
A few more images now on my blog here :
Jwallfeatherfurphoto.blogspot.com
Jwallfeatherfurphoto.blogspot.com
John Wall Feather and Fur Photography
Jwallfeatherfurphoto.blogspot.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
A few more images now on my blog here :
Jwallfeatherfurphoto.blogspot.com
Jwallfeatherfurphoto.blogspot.com
Reposted by Mick Brooks
There are recordings of Donald calling Georgia officials asking them to fabricate 11,870 votes so that he could steal the 2020 election. And when that didn’t work, his goons seized election equipment and tried to sabotage the results. Now no one is being held accountable for these heinous actions.
November 26, 2025 at 6:46 PM
There are recordings of Donald calling Georgia officials asking them to fabricate 11,870 votes so that he could steal the 2020 election. And when that didn’t work, his goons seized election equipment and tried to sabotage the results. Now no one is being held accountable for these heinous actions.
Reposted by Mick Brooks
Why are they like this? (Yes, I do know why.)
November 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Why are they like this? (Yes, I do know why.)