Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social
Associate editor and columnist @financialtimes.com. Post too often about culture, public policy, management, politics, nerd stuff, Arsenal, wosoc. Try my UK politics newsletter for free here: www.ft.com/tryinsidepolitics
Pinned
Stephen Bush
@stephenkb.bsky.social
· Feb 22
I sat through that so when my column gets factchecked I can say “yes, that line is accurate”. Such is the FT’s commitment to bringing you our best understanding of the truth. Subscribe here: subs.ft.com/products
Santens is a man who is unable to parse the difference between 'UBI should not be our policy response to zero employment' and 'UBI is bad'.
There's a lot we know and a lot you definitely don't know. People definitely aren't the people you think they are. They aren't beasts of burden who for their own good need to be forced into jobs you want them to do, who just won't do anything at all if they get their basic needs met regardless.
Eduardo Porter is Still Wrong About UBI and AI: A Response to The Guardian
Universal Basic Income Isn’t a Job Replacement Plan—It’s an AI Dividend and Stable Income Floor That Protects Work, Wages, and Democracy
scottsantens.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Santens is a man who is unable to parse the difference between 'UBI should not be our policy response to zero employment' and 'UBI is bad'.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Ridiculous people. One reason *I* advocate a basic income is that I think most people would do *more* productive, interesting, useful work if they didn't have to do useless makework drudgery to survive.
February 3, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Ridiculous people. One reason *I* advocate a basic income is that I think most people would do *more* productive, interesting, useful work if they didn't have to do useless makework drudgery to survive.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Keep saying it but: what we have isn’t AI. So scaling that won’t ever lead to 100% unemployment. But we do have lots of money trying to get AI and it’s worth thinking about what that means. We’re also closer than ever. Just like in 2016 we didn’t have self driving cars, but we might soon.
February 3, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Keep saying it but: what we have isn’t AI. So scaling that won’t ever lead to 100% unemployment. But we do have lots of money trying to get AI and it’s worth thinking about what that means. We’re also closer than ever. Just like in 2016 we didn’t have self driving cars, but we might soon.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
sorry but that snide Auschwitz reference is a fucking horrific thing to bring to the debate
February 3, 2026 at 2:38 PM
sorry but that snide Auschwitz reference is a fucking horrific thing to bring to the debate
Reposted by Stephen Bush
"you can't" so often translates to "it would take political will to"
February 3, 2026 at 2:38 PM
"you can't" so often translates to "it would take political will to"
Reposted by Stephen Bush
"You can't uninvent Asbestos!"
February 3, 2026 at 2:36 PM
"You can't uninvent Asbestos!"
Reposted by Stephen Bush
"You can't uninvent CFCs!"
February 3, 2026 at 2:35 PM
"You can't uninvent CFCs!"
What is it about some UBI advocates that makes them unable to read properly? I literally argue for work being voluntary in the piece!
What is it about being a highly educated person working at a place like the Financial Times that makes one think Arbeit Macht Frei? What is it about the thought of work being voluntary that makes one think we all will choose not to do anything? It's so frustrating to see them think they're so wise.
My column today: on why if AI creates a world where almost everyone has to live off UBI, we should throw away the machine instead:
February 3, 2026 at 2:35 PM
What is it about some UBI advocates that makes them unable to read properly? I literally argue for work being voluntary in the piece!
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Also, wrt autarky. There are a *lot* more countries that don't have nukes than do.
February 3, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Also, wrt autarky. There are a *lot* more countries that don't have nukes than do.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
And indeed we use quite a lot of the same basic process for generation (relatively) clean power.
February 3, 2026 at 2:30 PM
And indeed we use quite a lot of the same basic process for generation (relatively) clean power.
My column today: on why if AI creates a world where almost everyone has to live off UBI, we should throw away the machine instead:
UBI fans must remember a job is about more than the money
The value of work often gets left out of discussions about AI
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:32 PM
My column today: on why if AI creates a world where almost everyone has to live off UBI, we should throw away the machine instead:
"Since prison for Epstein’s fellow abusers gets unlikelier over time, America’s deeper question is whether it can restore a culture of shame." - marvellous, marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social:
The Epstein rot goes deep
America must now ask itself if it can restore a culture of shame
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:30 PM
"Since prison for Epstein’s fellow abusers gets unlikelier over time, America’s deeper question is whether it can restore a culture of shame." - marvellous, marvellous column by @edwardluce.bsky.social:
Reposted by Stephen Bush
February 3, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Another scoop from the Epstein files by @pickardje.bsky.social:
Peter Mandelson lobbied against US bank reforms on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein and Jes Staley
Former UK business secretary used talking points in conversations with US official about financial crisis measures
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Another scoop from the Epstein files by @pickardje.bsky.social:
Reposted by Stephen Bush
The party's current economic policies are generally wishcasting at best and terrible at worst. This has almost always been the weakest area, but especially so now. Ed Davey has the power (and the background!) to change that.
I really don't understand why some Libdems are allegedly getting bothered by Ed Davey's leadership. The LDs have to fight for airtime constantly. Davey hasn't done much wrong, and a new leader is very likely to be much less recognisable so much less impact.
Makes no sense.
Makes no sense.
February 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM
The party's current economic policies are generally wishcasting at best and terrible at worst. This has almost always been the weakest area, but especially so now. Ed Davey has the power (and the background!) to change that.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
I think that pretty much everyone and their mum will agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social's take on the newest Mandelson scandal this morning.
Mandelson row hits Starmer already at rock bottom
Morgan McSweeney could be forced out over misjudgment, raising stakes for PM’s survival
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:50 AM
I think that pretty much everyone and their mum will agree with @stephenkb.bsky.social's take on the newest Mandelson scandal this morning.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Those conservation groups would rather try and get that god awful manky marquee listed than build something else.
February 3, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Those conservation groups would rather try and get that god awful manky marquee listed than build something else.
Reposted by Stephen Bush
I'm sorry, "too flashy"? This is their idea of "too flashy"??? A rockery and a plain glass box?
February 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM
I'm sorry, "too flashy"? This is their idea of "too flashy"??? A rockery and a plain glass box?
The most fascinating genre of “objection from conservation group” is when they’re objecting to a thing that is already happening de facto:
British Museum building plans 'like a wine bar', say opponents
The British Museum's plans for new security buildings face opposition from conservation groups.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 9:55 AM
The most fascinating genre of “objection from conservation group” is when they’re objecting to a thing that is already happening de facto:
Reposted by Stephen Bush
for connoisseurs of local journalism traffic farming, this is the latest frontier – you reprint ancient facts from Wikipedia and present them as news, in order to create curiosity gap headlines that appear in Google Discover / Apple News
February 2, 2026 at 2:12 PM
for connoisseurs of local journalism traffic farming, this is the latest frontier – you reprint ancient facts from Wikipedia and present them as news, in order to create curiosity gap headlines that appear in Google Discover / Apple News
Reposted by Stephen Bush
Not all the chief executives had agreed on a figure. More still were confused by what exactly they had signed.
“It was a total pantomime. I’ve never seen anything like it"
www.ft.com/content/78d1...
“It was a total pantomime. I’ve never seen anything like it"
www.ft.com/content/78d1...
Inside Trump’s $550bn ‘shakedown’ of Japan Inc
Tokyo signed the US president’s biggest deal yet. Will the investments ever materialise?
www.ft.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:23 AM
Not all the chief executives had agreed on a figure. More still were confused by what exactly they had signed.
“It was a total pantomime. I’ve never seen anything like it"
www.ft.com/content/78d1...
“It was a total pantomime. I’ve never seen anything like it"
www.ft.com/content/78d1...
Reposted by Stephen Bush
also, changing attitudes surely means comparatively little WITHOUT then delivering? "Our attitude has changed." "Great, what will you do now?" "Oh, still nothing. But our attitude to doing it will be fundamentally different"
February 3, 2026 at 8:52 AM
also, changing attitudes surely means comparatively little WITHOUT then delivering? "Our attitude has changed." "Great, what will you do now?" "Oh, still nothing. But our attitude to doing it will be fundamentally different"
Curious false binary, this. Changing the attitudes in Downing Street is a prerequisite to improving delivery. In general I don’t understand why the “need [x], not delivery” meme is so strong, when the “x” is always inextricably linked to the government’s delivery problems.
Hadn't previously thought this, but if this Labour government wants to show any understanding of the situation then McSweeney's position is untenable. Now. Not after May.
The change needed is in attitudes more than delivery.
The change needed is in attitudes more than delivery.
February 3, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Curious false binary, this. Changing the attitudes in Downing Street is a prerequisite to improving delivery. In general I don’t understand why the “need [x], not delivery” meme is so strong, when the “x” is always inextricably linked to the government’s delivery problems.
Seriously though, how to people in regular-sized houses not spend their *entire lives* searching for their keys and their phones?
February 3, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Seriously though, how to people in regular-sized houses not spend their *entire lives* searching for their keys and their phones?
Breaking news from 2013: what a great record 'Pure Heroine' is. Stay tuned for whether Mary Landrieu can hold Louisiana for the Democrats!
February 3, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Breaking news from 2013: what a great record 'Pure Heroine' is. Stay tuned for whether Mary Landrieu can hold Louisiana for the Democrats!