Thomas Penny
@thomaswpenny.bsky.social
Writer, editor, bereaved single Dad, Quaker, allotmenteer and very amateur musician.
Lover of strangers.
Lover of strangers.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
It’s especially ironic because the lecture is exactly about the ‘paralyzing cowardice’ of today’s elites.
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
About universities, corporations and media networks bending the knee to authoritarianism. /4
Reposted by Thomas Penny
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Ellen Ross on the humanitarian activities of a British Quaker, Francesca Wilson, in the Spanish Civil War and beyond.
This piece accompanies Ellen Ross and Tammy M Proctor’s recent article in History Workshop Journal Volume 99.
This piece accompanies Ellen Ross and Tammy M Proctor’s recent article in History Workshop Journal Volume 99.
On Writing and Relief Work
Ellen Ross on the humanitarian activities of a British Quaker, Francesca Wilson, in the Spanish Civil War and beyond.
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Ellen Ross on the humanitarian activities of a British Quaker, Francesca Wilson, in the Spanish Civil War and beyond.
This piece accompanies Ellen Ross and Tammy M Proctor’s recent article in History Workshop Journal Volume 99.
This piece accompanies Ellen Ross and Tammy M Proctor’s recent article in History Workshop Journal Volume 99.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Hang onto these pictures because Hegseth will have the offending sign removed as soon as he sobers up today.
November 23, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Hang onto these pictures because Hegseth will have the offending sign removed as soon as he sobers up today.
If Trump was a patriot, as he claims to be, he would understand why Ukraine can't just hand over its land to its expansionist neighbour.
He's not a patriot, and he has no empathy, so he can't comprehend it at all.
He's not a patriot, and he has no empathy, so he can't comprehend it at all.
November 21, 2025 at 10:25 PM
If Trump was a patriot, as he claims to be, he would understand why Ukraine can't just hand over its land to its expansionist neighbour.
He's not a patriot, and he has no empathy, so he can't comprehend it at all.
He's not a patriot, and he has no empathy, so he can't comprehend it at all.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Betty Mackereth, Philip Larkin's feisty long term secretary, immortalised in the 1962 poems Toads Revisited, has passed away today aged 101. Betty was a great supporter of the Philip Larkin Society. We send our condolences to her family.
November 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Betty Mackereth, Philip Larkin's feisty long term secretary, immortalised in the 1962 poems Toads Revisited, has passed away today aged 101. Betty was a great supporter of the Philip Larkin Society. We send our condolences to her family.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Some food for thought…
November 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Some food for thought…
Trump is on the ropes over his close links to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who also claimed to be close contact with Russia.
US "negotiators" take dictation from Moscow and prepare to sell-out Ukraine.
I'm sure the timing is entirely coincidental and there's no kompromat whatsoever...
US "negotiators" take dictation from Moscow and prepare to sell-out Ukraine.
I'm sure the timing is entirely coincidental and there's no kompromat whatsoever...
November 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Trump is on the ropes over his close links to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who also claimed to be close contact with Russia.
US "negotiators" take dictation from Moscow and prepare to sell-out Ukraine.
I'm sure the timing is entirely coincidental and there's no kompromat whatsoever...
US "negotiators" take dictation from Moscow and prepare to sell-out Ukraine.
I'm sure the timing is entirely coincidental and there's no kompromat whatsoever...
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Jeez. Trump reposted a call to execute six Democratic members of Congress, and it’s not on the front page of the NY Times, and this is the headline—no mention of hanging lawmakers.
November 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Jeez. Trump reposted a call to execute six Democratic members of Congress, and it’s not on the front page of the NY Times, and this is the headline—no mention of hanging lawmakers.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
More evidence that the Trump/Witkoff “peace plan” for Ukraine came straight from the Russians - it uses Russian syntax.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
November 21, 2025 at 3:58 PM
More evidence that the Trump/Witkoff “peace plan” for Ukraine came straight from the Russians - it uses Russian syntax.
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Island of strangers
Lessons in political science. This week: island of strangers
www.politicshome.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Thomas Penny
This is *nothing* like a peace plan.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
Breaking news: Ukraine is coming under intense pressure to accept a sweeping peace plan drawn up by the Trump administration with Moscow’s input to end Russia’s war in the country, according to Ukrainian officials. on.ft.com/3K0onha
November 20, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This is *nothing* like a peace plan.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
It is a surrender plan.
It is akin to what Hitler did to Czechoslovakia in 1938, browbeating its president into accepting brutal occupation.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark — and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
A Trump supporter started murdering his way through an assassination list of Democratic law makers FIVE MONTHS AGO. He murdered my colleague Melissa Hortman, and her husband Mark — and attempted to assassinate my dear friend John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. I was also on the hit list. WTF
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Well I mean if nothing else, Trump calling for the execution of Democratic members of Congress is unlikely to aid his lawsuit against the BBC.
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Well I mean if nothing else, Trump calling for the execution of Democratic members of Congress is unlikely to aid his lawsuit against the BBC.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Senator Murphy sounds the alarm as Trump calls for the deaths of Dems who served the country to be killed for reminding the military their loyalty is to the constitution not to him 🇺🇸
November 20, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Senator Murphy sounds the alarm as Trump calls for the deaths of Dems who served the country to be killed for reminding the military their loyalty is to the constitution not to him 🇺🇸
Reposted by Thomas Penny
I'm guessing the BBC edited this together to give the misleading impression he was threatening violence towards Congressional opponents.
November 20, 2025 at 5:44 PM
I'm guessing the BBC edited this together to give the misleading impression he was threatening violence towards Congressional opponents.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Having Johnson & Cummings in Downing Street when Covid struck was, just like Brexit, an entirely avoidable disaster caused largely by utterly appalling journalism. And now exactly the same clowns, arses & bigots with bylines are rolling out the red carpet for Farage.
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
Covid inquiry live: ‘Inexcusable’ delays under Johnson led to 23,000 deaths
Lockdowns may have been avoided if Boris Johnson’s government had acted faster, damning report finds
www.thetimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Having Johnson & Cummings in Downing Street when Covid struck was, just like Brexit, an entirely avoidable disaster caused largely by utterly appalling journalism. And now exactly the same clowns, arses & bigots with bylines are rolling out the red carpet for Farage.
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
Reposted by Thomas Penny
This will surely surprise most Americans today, but historians have recently discovered that before Donald Trump, it was actually incredibly rare for a president to demand the public execution of this political opponents and press critics.
November 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This will surely surprise most Americans today, but historians have recently discovered that before Donald Trump, it was actually incredibly rare for a president to demand the public execution of this political opponents and press critics.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
A perpetual quirk of voter psychology (and one I'm not really sure you can 'solve') is people automatically assuming that all punitive measures will apply to them. See ULEZ in London for another example
It does make pushing through policies harder than it probably should be
It does make pushing through policies harder than it probably should be
A thing that I remember vividly from GE2015 is when you'd knock on the door of a never-gonna-be-hit-by-the-mansion-tax house that was never going to be hit by a mansion tax who really thought their house's inflated price meant it might be close to it. Turns out that has spread to officials!
I sometimes feel like I am going mad.
Owning a £1.5m home is not normal in London or the South East of England.
Owning a £1.5m home is not normal in London or the South East of England.
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
A perpetual quirk of voter psychology (and one I'm not really sure you can 'solve') is people automatically assuming that all punitive measures will apply to them. See ULEZ in London for another example
It does make pushing through policies harder than it probably should be
It does make pushing through policies harder than it probably should be
You know how your Granny used to put a blanket over her lap to stay warm?...
It works!
It works!
November 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
You know how your Granny used to put a blanket over her lap to stay warm?...
It works!
It works!
Reposted by Thomas Penny
#OnThisDay 1943: wonderfully acidic Zec cartoon on the news that the British fascist leader, Oswald Mosley, was being released from prison on the grounds of ill-health...
November 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
#OnThisDay 1943: wonderfully acidic Zec cartoon on the news that the British fascist leader, Oswald Mosley, was being released from prison on the grounds of ill-health...
Reposted by Thomas Penny
I’ll believe Epstein files are really being released when we see a bunch of private jet flight paths to non extradition countries
November 20, 2025 at 4:51 AM
I’ll believe Epstein files are really being released when we see a bunch of private jet flight paths to non extradition countries
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Reminder - this doesnt just affect trans people.
Hannah Botterman is a icon and English legend - is scared to go to the loo alone in case people now challenge her.
And this advice would entirely empower them.
Hannah Botterman is a icon and English legend - is scared to go to the loo alone in case people now challenge her.
And this advice would entirely empower them.
November 19, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Reminder - this doesnt just affect trans people.
Hannah Botterman is a icon and English legend - is scared to go to the loo alone in case people now challenge her.
And this advice would entirely empower them.
Hannah Botterman is a icon and English legend - is scared to go to the loo alone in case people now challenge her.
And this advice would entirely empower them.
Reposted by Thomas Penny
Iowa City made its buses free in Aug 2023 as a 2-year experiment. Worked so well, city council extended for another year. Paid for with a 1% increase in utility taxes and by doubling most public parking rates to $2 from $1.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air.
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Iowa City made its buses free in Aug 2023 as a 2-year experiment. Worked so well, city council extended for another year. Paid for with a 1% increase in utility taxes and by doubling most public parking rates to $2 from $1.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
Reposted by Thomas Penny
John Major, "Our links to Europe and America may be loser now than once they were and that is a loss"
"The loss of trade with Europe alone costs us £100 billion of lost trade every year"
"That's a tax yield of £40 billion"
"How useful would that have been in recent months to the Chancellor?"
"The loss of trade with Europe alone costs us £100 billion of lost trade every year"
"That's a tax yield of £40 billion"
"How useful would that have been in recent months to the Chancellor?"
November 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
John Major, "Our links to Europe and America may be loser now than once they were and that is a loss"
"The loss of trade with Europe alone costs us £100 billion of lost trade every year"
"That's a tax yield of £40 billion"
"How useful would that have been in recent months to the Chancellor?"
"The loss of trade with Europe alone costs us £100 billion of lost trade every year"
"That's a tax yield of £40 billion"
"How useful would that have been in recent months to the Chancellor?"