Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

OH GOD I CANNOT STOP LOOKING AT THAT IT IS LIKE A VORTEX SWALLOWING ME 6/

December 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

I feel compelled to write a review thread 🧵 for The Liz Truss Show because in the madness of the content, other aspects - vital aspects - are being missed.

1. The Aesthetics

Unless they were aiming for "Harley Street urologist waiting room circa 1992" this interview area is just unacceptable. 1/

December 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Naomi Smith

@pimlicat.bsky.social

Listen to two people who didn’t have to do National service talking about France & Germany’s moves to reintroduce it and whether it could work here. Plus a bunch of scary stuff about right wing content on TikTok.

🎧👇

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 16h

🆕 SUNDAY SCHOOL: Algorithm & Blues

🙉 How social media feeds us right-wing propaganda
🪖 National service in France, Germany... and UK?
🧺 Good news on the laundry front

With @pimlicat.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/4knY...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Sunday School: Algorithm & Blues

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 07/12/2025 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

December 7, 2025 at 9:32 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Penny Ewles-Bergeron

@abroadbrush.bsky.social

The way TikTok feeds users rightwing content discussed here. It’s just one horror on top of another.

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 16h

🆕 SUNDAY SCHOOL: Algorithm & Blues

🙉 How social media feeds us right-wing propaganda
🪖 National service in France, Germany... and UK?
🧺 Good news on the laundry front

With @pimlicat.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/4knY...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Sunday School: Algorithm & Blues

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 07/12/2025 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

December 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Venetia S-Booth

@venetiasb.bsky.social

Anyone who has listened to @quietriotpod.bsky.social morning and wants to know more about the Washing Machine Project can find an excellent program about it on BBC Sounds www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

People Fixing The World - A washing machine solution - BBC Sounds

The Sikh engineer who invented a hand crank, off-grid washing machine for his neighbour

www.bbc.co.uk

December 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Unch Crosswords

@unchcrosswords.com

Nice chat about a possible "slow but growing trend" towards physical media like magazines in opposition to getting everything online.

We're all for it! 📚

(tho online crosswords are cool too: @mycrossword.co.uk / @gnomoncryptics.bsky.social)

Ta, @pimlicat.bsky.social @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 16h

🆕 SUNDAY SCHOOL: Algorithm & Blues

🙉 How social media feeds us right-wing propaganda
🪖 National service in France, Germany... and UK?
🧺 Good news on the laundry front

With @pimlicat.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/4knY...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Sunday School: Algorithm & Blues

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 07/12/2025 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

December 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Jane

@swimbikerunjane.bsky.social

Fabulous episode, not least cos my friend @skybluebrunty.bsky.social gets a name check with Bertie the bottle collecting hound. Please do listen and share

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 7d

🏫 Sunday School: Oh! What a Lovely War 🚸

📊 Reeves' Budget battles cont'd
💷 Poor Widow Fallacy
🔥 Corbyn v Sultana final falling out?
🐏 LG Baa T
👹 Pope is a what, now?

With @sturdyalex.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/4dL4...

Sunday School: Oh! What a Lovely War

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 30/11/2025 · 1h 4m

podcasts.apple.com

December 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

🆕 SUNDAY SCHOOL: Algorithm & Blues

🙉 How social media feeds us right-wing propaganda
🪖 National service in France, Germany... and UK?
🧺 Good news on the laundry front

With @pimlicat.bsky.social & @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/4knY...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

Sunday School: Algorithm & Blues

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 07/12/2025 · 54m

podcasts.apple.com

December 7, 2025 at 7:16 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Patrick Reid

@oldmandoc.bsky.social

Aware about to be an episode behind but really good update on where the Uk-EU negotiations are and dissection of lessons from the 2024 GE!

Especially interesting about rh customs union considering David Lammys recent intervention.

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 7, 2025 at 1:40 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Peter Geoghegan

@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

🔴 Nigel Farage’s Reform is more reliant on super-rich backers than any major party in modern British political history

75% of *all* Reform donations *ever* have come from just three rich men

Is this what democracy looks like?

New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/75-of-refo...

75% of Reform UK’s donations have come from just three rich men

Calls grow for donation caps as Democracy for Sale research reveals that three-quarters of Reform’s funding comes from a trio of wealthy donors

democracyforsale.substack.com

December 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Pete Miles

@petermiles.bsky.social

Hi @sturdyalex.bsky.social I just listened to the latest (excellent) Quiet Riot podcast and heard you pleading with the government to put down the Ming Vase. I wondered if you had seen this (also excellent) blog post?

@warringfictions.bsky.social
@quietriotpod.bsky.social

bsky.app/profile/warr...

Chris Clarke @warringfictions.bsky.social · Oct 23

1/ I have written a paper/ 4-part blog series called ‘Putting Down the Vase’. It is about populism, trust, and how Labour can stop Reform. The central argument is that, in a climate of low trust, risk-aversion at the centre must be overcome.

The full paper can be read here: shorturl.at/jJ8nu

December 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Gildy Stern

@oldhamletsghost.bsky.social

I agree with every single word Alex utters in this week's burst of optimism, particularly true re the 'wall of news' at the local supermarket. People don't have to read newspapers to be influenced by them.

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 5, 2025 at 4:20 PM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

EXACTLY as predicted by @pimlicat.bsky.social and @samfr.bsky.social yesterday.

ARE WE GOOD OR ARE WE GOOD? A x

Lammy breaks ranks on Brexit
Joining customs union would boost growth, says Deputy PM days after PM rules it out
By Tony Diver
ASSOCIATE POLITICAL EDITOR
DAVID LAMMY has suggested that rejoining the EU customs union would boost economic growth amid mounting calls from within Downing Street to undo Brexit.
The Deputy Prime Minister refused seven times to rule out reversing the Brexit process, arguing that leaving the EU "badly damaged our economy" and that Labour should consider more inte gration with Brussels.
Mr Lammy said that rejoining the customs union was not "currently" the Government's policy, but that it was "self-evident" that other countries had "seen growth" after doing so.
His comments echo similar argu ments from Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, who said on Wednesday that Labour should undo "the economic damage done by Brexit", as well as Sir Keir Starmer's own chief economic adviser and some senior figures close to No10.
Sir Keir pledged not to return to the single market or customs union in Labour's manifesto last year, but is under increasing pressure from MPs and advisers to reconsider its approach in light of dire growth forecasts. (cont'd in next image)

(cont'd)
Mr Lammy, asked several times on the News Agents podcast whether he would like to see Britain rejoin the cus toms union, said: "That is not currently our policy. That's not currently where we are. But you can see countries like Turkey with a customs union seemingly benefiting and seeing growth in their economy, and again, that's self-evi dent." He added that his comments
were "subject to collective responsibil-ity", implying that he was not free to divert from Sir Keir's stance on Brexit.
Senior Labour sources last night expressed frustration at Mr Lammy's refusal to repeat that assurance, while sources close to him insisted: "He is in the same position as the PM."
Darren Jones, Sir Keir's chief secre-tary, rebuked Mr Lammy in the Com-mons yesterday, arguing that Labour's policy would be announced in Parlia-ment, not "on podcasts".
Downing Street has abandoned the party's policy of avoiding discussion of Brexit, amid concerns that Remain vot ers have been pushed away from Labour and towards the Liberal Demo-
You can see countries like Turkey with a customs union... seeing growth, that's self-evident'
crats. The Prime Minister is now openly arguing for a closer relationship with Brussels, saying earlier this week that it would be "utterly reckless" to use Brexit as "a template for our future foreign policy" and pledging a "closer relation-ship" by the end of Labour's first term.
While he claimed that the public were "mis-sold" on "wild promises" about Brexit, he maintained that the customs union was a "red line" that the Government would not cross.
But Mr Lammy's comments come after the Treasury raised concerns that the Budget will not secure eco-nomic growth.

December 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Perhaps my bitchiest moment on any podcast ever.

Naomi: "The OBR are looking for a new director after Richard Hughes fell on his sword."

Me: "Deliberately or did he just stumble?"

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Dr Sue Clayton

@topofthefield.bsky.social

Love @quietriotpod.bsky.social
Come for the erudite stay for the hope …or vice versa!

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 12:56 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Because, you see, buying influence is only a worry if a Labour peer donates a couple of "freebie" outfits to close friends. When a man, whose business is literally DARK MONEY, single-handedly rescues a near-bankrupt far-right party, leading in the polls, he's doing it because he believes in Nige.

December 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

Last year Sky News was rending its garments over Starmer's free eyeglasses: WHAT INFLUENCE DID LORD ALLI BUY?

Now, RefUK get £9m from a crypto bro, they have not one word about the donor's interests; just BRAVO NIGEL, barely concealed glee, and "what a huge boost... money goes where momentum is". 🤡

December 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

“I thought Gullis had already moved over to Reform. It's a bit like when somebody tells you a celebrity has died, that you assumed had died 10 years ago. You're like: God, they were still alive, were they?” @pimlicat.bsky.social

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

“We've spent months pointing out the absence of Brexit from Starmer's rhetoric. If that was important, then the re-emergence of it in his rhetoric must also be important.”

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Naomi Smith

@pimlicat.bsky.social

Always fab having Sam on the show.

We catch you up on everything eu uk related, plus the lessons from GE24 for left and right, and Alex reveals just how much of a board games nerd he was as a young thing.

🎧👇

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 7:42 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Eric Douglas

@ericdouglas999.bsky.social

Excellent episode, bringing together my favourite podcasters and substacker. Funny and insightful as always. Now, if only we could wean the Telegraph and Daily Mail readers off their regular daily dose of misinformed rage and prescribe them some of this instead.

December 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Peter Welsh

@peterwelsh68.bsky.social

Quiet Riot always helps me walk up the Thursday hill and is
far more banjo than banjaxed.

Really good to hear substack aristocracy @samfr.bsky.social drop by the show!

Take it from me. Sam may miss those Nativitys when it gets to Drama A Level showcase time and your 11 soliloquies in!

December 4, 2025 at 10:08 AM

Reposted by Quiet Riot

Alex Andreou

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

The One Where Alex Loses It Over Dungeons & Dragons

Quiet Riot @quietriotpod.bsky.social · 3d

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 5:38 AM

Quiet Riot

@quietriotpod.bsky.social

🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

What's past is prologue

Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m

podcasts.apple.com

December 4, 2025 at 5:37 AM