Francesca S.
@stefafra.bsky.social
Botanist, scientist, on a bike from A to B.🧫🧬🥼🥦
Likes plants and fungi, in the lab and in the kitchen.
European in UK:🇪🇺 🇮🇹🇳🇱🇨🇭
She/her
Likes plants and fungi, in the lab and in the kitchen.
European in UK:🇪🇺 🇮🇹🇳🇱🇨🇭
She/her
Reposted by Francesca S.
Shame used to be a thing. "The Epstein scandal is taking down Europe’s political class. In the US, they’re getting a pass. As Europe moves to address its shame, it’s highlighting the comparative lack of accountability in the U.S." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
The Epstein scandal is taking down Europe’s political class. In the US, they’re getting a pass.
As Europe moves to address its shame, it’s highlighting the comparative lack of accountability in the U.S.
www.politico.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Shame used to be a thing. "The Epstein scandal is taking down Europe’s political class. In the US, they’re getting a pass. As Europe moves to address its shame, it’s highlighting the comparative lack of accountability in the U.S." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Reposted by Francesca S.
Inject that uber-woke net-zeroist rejoinerism straight into my veins
Yes, god help we risk a floundering government that feels like no one is in charge.
February 8, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Inject that uber-woke net-zeroist rejoinerism straight into my veins
Reposted by Francesca S.
I'm taking a punt here but going with the guy who appointed someone nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" claiming he had no idea that he was a wrong un' and they should all move on and support him regardless.
Oh for a time when PMs weren't spineless nerks and took responsibility for their actions.
Oh for a time when PMs weren't spineless nerks and took responsibility for their actions.
Labour MPs have been told Starmer will address the PLP tomorrow - wasn't expected to be him
February 8, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I'm taking a punt here but going with the guy who appointed someone nicknamed the "Prince of Darkness" claiming he had no idea that he was a wrong un' and they should all move on and support him regardless.
Oh for a time when PMs weren't spineless nerks and took responsibility for their actions.
Oh for a time when PMs weren't spineless nerks and took responsibility for their actions.
Reposted by Francesca S.
A Labour MP tells The House’s Sienna Rodgers McSweeney’s resignation will mean “full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist, rejoinerism”.
Which sounds good to me, but is also very telling of the beliefs of the faction McSweeney championed.
Which sounds good to me, but is also very telling of the beliefs of the faction McSweeney championed.
February 8, 2026 at 6:10 PM
A Labour MP tells The House’s Sienna Rodgers McSweeney’s resignation will mean “full speed ahead to uber-woke, net-zeroist, rejoinerism”.
Which sounds good to me, but is also very telling of the beliefs of the faction McSweeney championed.
Which sounds good to me, but is also very telling of the beliefs of the faction McSweeney championed.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Did you know… 🤔
#OnThisDay 100 years ago, William Bateson, first director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution, died on 8th February 1926.
Bateson was an important, sometimes controversial figure in the history of genetics. He coined the word “genetics” and Mendel’s theory of heredity 🧬
#OnThisDay 100 years ago, William Bateson, first director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution, died on 8th February 1926.
Bateson was an important, sometimes controversial figure in the history of genetics. He coined the word “genetics” and Mendel’s theory of heredity 🧬
February 8, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Did you know… 🤔
#OnThisDay 100 years ago, William Bateson, first director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution, died on 8th February 1926.
Bateson was an important, sometimes controversial figure in the history of genetics. He coined the word “genetics” and Mendel’s theory of heredity 🧬
#OnThisDay 100 years ago, William Bateson, first director of the John Innes Horticultural Institution, died on 8th February 1926.
Bateson was an important, sometimes controversial figure in the history of genetics. He coined the word “genetics” and Mendel’s theory of heredity 🧬
Reposted by Francesca S.
Uhm, I don't know how to break this to some people, but using a betting site as a gauge for who could be the next PM is about one step above using the paper fortune tellers we made at school to say who liked who.
February 8, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Uhm, I don't know how to break this to some people, but using a betting site as a gauge for who could be the next PM is about one step above using the paper fortune tellers we made at school to say who liked who.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Labour's structural position is bad (terrible inheritance etc + unwillingness to grasp certain nettles) but has been hugely damaged by an obsession with winning over people who will never vote for them, based on a misread of the 2024 election
February 8, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Labour's structural position is bad (terrible inheritance etc + unwillingness to grasp certain nettles) but has been hugely damaged by an obsession with winning over people who will never vote for them, based on a misread of the 2024 election
Reposted by Francesca S.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Right Prime Minister, this is an opportunity to dig us out of a hole for you appointing someone nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness", make it clear that you totally disavow McSweeney and blame him.
Gotcha.
How is Starmer so bad at this?
Gotcha.
How is Starmer so bad at this?
February 8, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Right Prime Minister, this is an opportunity to dig us out of a hole for you appointing someone nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness", make it clear that you totally disavow McSweeney and blame him.
Gotcha.
How is Starmer so bad at this?
Gotcha.
How is Starmer so bad at this?
Reposted by Francesca S.
A Historically BLACK University cannot say Black.
A Historically BLACK University cannot say Black.
A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY cannot say Black.
A Historically BLACK University cannot say Black.
A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY cannot say Black.
February 8, 2026 at 3:06 PM
A Historically BLACK University cannot say Black.
A Historically BLACK University cannot say Black.
A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY cannot say Black.
A Historically BLACK University cannot say Black.
A HISTORICALLY BLACK UNIVERSITY cannot say Black.
Reposted by Francesca S.
My body wasn't responding. I was scared, I cried, I thought to quit sport"
Italy's speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won gold today at the Winter Olympics, suffered for months for the effects of a viral infection, possibly mononucleosis
www.oasport.it/2026/01/fran...
Italy's speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won gold today at the Winter Olympics, suffered for months for the effects of a viral infection, possibly mononucleosis
www.oasport.it/2026/01/fran...
Francesca Lollobrigida:
Francesca Lollobrigida ha vissuto sin qui una stagione ampiamente al di sotto delle aspettative nel percorso di avvicinamento verso i Giochi Olimpici di
www.oasport.it
February 7, 2026 at 11:34 PM
My body wasn't responding. I was scared, I cried, I thought to quit sport"
Italy's speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won gold today at the Winter Olympics, suffered for months for the effects of a viral infection, possibly mononucleosis
www.oasport.it/2026/01/fran...
Italy's speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida, who won gold today at the Winter Olympics, suffered for months for the effects of a viral infection, possibly mononucleosis
www.oasport.it/2026/01/fran...
Reposted by Francesca S.
BASH: Is this measles outbreak a consequence of the administration undermining support for vaccines?
DR OZ: I don't believe so. Secretary Kennedy has been advocating for measles vaccines
BASH: Oh, come on
DR OZ: I don't believe so. Secretary Kennedy has been advocating for measles vaccines
BASH: Oh, come on
February 8, 2026 at 2:29 PM
BASH: Is this measles outbreak a consequence of the administration undermining support for vaccines?
DR OZ: I don't believe so. Secretary Kennedy has been advocating for measles vaccines
BASH: Oh, come on
DR OZ: I don't believe so. Secretary Kennedy has been advocating for measles vaccines
BASH: Oh, come on
Reposted by Francesca S.
Sort of extraordinary that there is only one obvious precedent for a prime minister winning a landslide election victory and then seeming like toast just two years later … and it’s the election *immediately* before this one.
February 8, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Sort of extraordinary that there is only one obvious precedent for a prime minister winning a landslide election victory and then seeming like toast just two years later … and it’s the election *immediately* before this one.
Reposted by Francesca S.
I think on this occasion just an accurate reflection of a dynamic that should never have existed, tbf.
February 8, 2026 at 2:40 PM
I think on this occasion just an accurate reflection of a dynamic that should never have existed, tbf.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Yes! I was just discussing this with my autistic daughter recently: small talk is making friendly noises to humans.
We autistic people tend to get caught up in the content (do I answer honestly to “how are you doing?” etc.) and feel pressure—and viewing it instead as a script to be performed helps.
We autistic people tend to get caught up in the content (do I answer honestly to “how are you doing?” etc.) and feel pressure—and viewing it instead as a script to be performed helps.
leveled up with this explanation, cos as an autistic person i pride myself on reacting appropriately to animals, to signal harmlessness, so why wouldn't i want to do this for human animals?
never occurred to me to stop listening to the words and instead recognise the BEHAVIOUR.
never occurred to me to stop listening to the words and instead recognise the BEHAVIOUR.
February 8, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Yes! I was just discussing this with my autistic daughter recently: small talk is making friendly noises to humans.
We autistic people tend to get caught up in the content (do I answer honestly to “how are you doing?” etc.) and feel pressure—and viewing it instead as a script to be performed helps.
We autistic people tend to get caught up in the content (do I answer honestly to “how are you doing?” etc.) and feel pressure—and viewing it instead as a script to be performed helps.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Reform’s former Deputy Leader of Worcestershire County Council Councillor David Taylor resigned from the party live on BBC Politics Midlands.
February 8, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Reform’s former Deputy Leader of Worcestershire County Council Councillor David Taylor resigned from the party live on BBC Politics Midlands.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Time to warm up.
Family Of ICE Agents Explain How They Really Feel About Their Relative's Job
www.comicsands.com
February 8, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Time to warm up.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Labour made a very deliberate choice to abandon progressives in favour of chasing Reform voters by pushing their ever more hostile and divisive policies attacking marginalised groups, including migrants, trans and non-binary individuals and disabled individuals. That wasn't on the previous lot. 3/
February 8, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Labour made a very deliberate choice to abandon progressives in favour of chasing Reform voters by pushing their ever more hostile and divisive policies attacking marginalised groups, including migrants, trans and non-binary individuals and disabled individuals. That wasn't on the previous lot. 3/
Reposted by Francesca S.
One of Labour's many, many problems is that despite some of their supporters shouting about how they have only been in power for x amount of time, it is the things they are doing in power which are losing them support more than the things they aren't. That's not on the previous government. 2/
February 8, 2026 at 9:22 AM
One of Labour's many, many problems is that despite some of their supporters shouting about how they have only been in power for x amount of time, it is the things they are doing in power which are losing them support more than the things they aren't. That's not on the previous government. 2/
Reposted by Francesca S.
The Daily Telegraph currently owned by a private equity vehicle RedBird IMI - based in the UAE and led by Italian American Gerry Cardinale and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Patriotic news. For patriotic people. Who don't want to pay taxes.
Patriotic news. For patriotic people. Who don't want to pay taxes.
February 8, 2026 at 9:34 AM
The Daily Telegraph currently owned by a private equity vehicle RedBird IMI - based in the UAE and led by Italian American Gerry Cardinale and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Patriotic news. For patriotic people. Who don't want to pay taxes.
Patriotic news. For patriotic people. Who don't want to pay taxes.
Reposted by Francesca S.
The Reach-ification of BBC News: top story this morning is this report on a murder from 2009, newly published with a garish headline just to promote a true crime series on iPlayer.
Swansea woman wrapped in wedding dress in body-in-suitcase murder
When the body of an unknown woman is found in a suitcase, forensics step in to solve the mystery.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 9:14 AM
The Reach-ification of BBC News: top story this morning is this report on a murder from 2009, newly published with a garish headline just to promote a true crime series on iPlayer.
Reposted by Francesca S.
If you wanted to design an organisation to kill journalism, you would create something very much like Reach.
Pushed by Reach newspapers on social media feeds: the death of Michael Sundin. Which happened in 1989. As if it’s a news story. So that you click.
February 8, 2026 at 7:55 AM
If you wanted to design an organisation to kill journalism, you would create something very much like Reach.
Reposted by Francesca S.
Terrifying that such powerful people have mad and dangerous religious extremist views.
Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the ‘end of modernity’ currently happening—and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example
fortune.com/2026/02/04/p...
*Not satire.
fortune.com/2026/02/04/p...
*Not satire.
Peter Thiel warns the Antichrist and apocalypse are linked to the ‘end of modernity’ currently happening—and cites Greta Thunberg as a driving example | Fortune
The Gen Z Swedish climate activist is a legionnaire of the Antichrist, Thiel claims, a “Luddite” who wants to halt technological progress in its tracks.
fortune.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Terrifying that such powerful people have mad and dangerous religious extremist views.
Reposted by Francesca S.
When they say he has let his boss down, I guess they mean Mandelson.
February 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM
When they say he has let his boss down, I guess they mean Mandelson.
Reposted by Francesca S.
don't buy sad-face McSweeney upset that he's "let his boss down".
The last most cynical operator that infiltrated Downing St. was Mandelson.
Letting him go "on his own terms", missing the opportunity to sack him, will be the final act of sad weakness by Starmer, a historically doomed Prime Minister
The last most cynical operator that infiltrated Downing St. was Mandelson.
Letting him go "on his own terms", missing the opportunity to sack him, will be the final act of sad weakness by Starmer, a historically doomed Prime Minister
February 7, 2026 at 11:19 PM
don't buy sad-face McSweeney upset that he's "let his boss down".
The last most cynical operator that infiltrated Downing St. was Mandelson.
Letting him go "on his own terms", missing the opportunity to sack him, will be the final act of sad weakness by Starmer, a historically doomed Prime Minister
The last most cynical operator that infiltrated Downing St. was Mandelson.
Letting him go "on his own terms", missing the opportunity to sack him, will be the final act of sad weakness by Starmer, a historically doomed Prime Minister