Anthony Painter
@anthonypainter.bsky.social
Policy. Political economy. Increasing bewilderment.
"The Three Economies" Substack here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anthonypainter
#ynwa
"The Three Economies" Substack here: https://open.substack.com/pub/anthonypainter
#ynwa
Post war western Europe is simply the best society that this species has ever managed to create. Never forget it. Defend it for all we're worth.
January 25, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Post war western Europe is simply the best society that this species has ever managed to create. Never forget it. Defend it for all we're worth.
Yet, you can see a social media effect here perhaps. (Though arguably the timelines don't match neatly). Interestingly, things do seem to be slightly improving which matches the primary care data.
January 23, 2026 at 8:11 AM
Yet, you can see a social media effect here perhaps. (Though arguably the timelines don't match neatly). Interestingly, things do seem to be slightly improving which matches the primary care data.
For a start, here is the long depressing climb of teenage/young person's ill health. Difficult to see a social media effect here is it not? In fact, things may be improving recently (see next post)- but still deeply concerning.
January 23, 2026 at 8:06 AM
For a start, here is the long depressing climb of teenage/young person's ill health. Difficult to see a social media effect here is it not? In fact, things may be improving recently (see next post)- but still deeply concerning.
Hell of an argument for banning social media for under 16s from Kemi this.
Get kids off it so we can be free to carry on destroying our democracy and tearing apart our society without them.
Get kids off it so we can be free to carry on destroying our democracy and tearing apart our society without them.
January 21, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Hell of an argument for banning social media for under 16s from Kemi this.
Get kids off it so we can be free to carry on destroying our democracy and tearing apart our society without them.
Get kids off it so we can be free to carry on destroying our democracy and tearing apart our society without them.
Surprise, surprise. Yusuf talking nonsense. Here's the graph with pensions stripped out. The complete opposite of what he claims.
Keep numbers away from Yusuf as you would fire from a toddler.
Keep numbers away from Yusuf as you would fire from a toddler.
January 21, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Surprise, surprise. Yusuf talking nonsense. Here's the graph with pensions stripped out. The complete opposite of what he claims.
Keep numbers away from Yusuf as you would fire from a toddler.
Keep numbers away from Yusuf as you would fire from a toddler.
Bit of a tell this from Jonathan Haidt on impact of under-16 social media ban in Australia.
If it doesn't improve mental health, then we'll just look at lots of other variables. Something is bound to improve so we can say we were right.
If it doesn't improve mental health, then we'll just look at lots of other variables. Something is bound to improve so we can say we were right.
January 19, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Bit of a tell this from Jonathan Haidt on impact of under-16 social media ban in Australia.
If it doesn't improve mental health, then we'll just look at lots of other variables. Something is bound to improve so we can say we were right.
If it doesn't improve mental health, then we'll just look at lots of other variables. Something is bound to improve so we can say we were right.
It is absurd that there are three different customs arrangements for territories on these islands full stop. Whatever happens with Trump.
The whole Brexit deal is absurd. Brexit is absurd. All of it.
The whole Brexit deal is absurd. Brexit is absurd. All of it.
January 19, 2026 at 6:38 PM
It is absurd that there are three different customs arrangements for territories on these islands full stop. Whatever happens with Trump.
The whole Brexit deal is absurd. Brexit is absurd. All of it.
The whole Brexit deal is absurd. Brexit is absurd. All of it.
I am so close to posting "if you read 300 pages of Haidt, you can read this".
www.nationalacademies.org/read/27396/c...
www.nationalacademies.org/read/27396/c...
January 19, 2026 at 5:58 PM
I am so close to posting "if you read 300 pages of Haidt, you can read this".
www.nationalacademies.org/read/27396/c...
www.nationalacademies.org/read/27396/c...
Strong statement this.
Surreal times. But here we are.
Surreal times. But here we are.
January 18, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Strong statement this.
Surreal times. But here we are.
Surreal times. But here we are.
Not only is hell hole London too but four European cities in the top ten in the global power index.
Only one US city. Four Asian.
Alive and kicking.
Only one US city. Four Asian.
Alive and kicking.
January 17, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Not only is hell hole London too but four European cities in the top ten in the global power index.
Only one US city. Four Asian.
Alive and kicking.
Only one US city. Four Asian.
Alive and kicking.
We're in a real pickle.
There aren't any European flags on this.....
There aren't any European flags on this.....
January 14, 2026 at 7:15 PM
We're in a real pickle.
There aren't any European flags on this.....
There aren't any European flags on this.....
I have no doubt that under-16s will be banned from social media before the next election.
For all its many faults, It's a bad idea to ban things that you have simply failed to regulate or educate about properly.
But we will nonetheless.
For all its many faults, It's a bad idea to ban things that you have simply failed to regulate or educate about properly.
But we will nonetheless.
January 13, 2026 at 8:28 AM
I have no doubt that under-16s will be banned from social media before the next election.
For all its many faults, It's a bad idea to ban things that you have simply failed to regulate or educate about properly.
But we will nonetheless.
For all its many faults, It's a bad idea to ban things that you have simply failed to regulate or educate about properly.
But we will nonetheless.
This spectacularly misses the point.
It's not just about what kids might see. It's what their image might be used for. The issue is CSAM not a social media watershed.
It's not just about what kids might see. It's what their image might be used for. The issue is CSAM not a social media watershed.
January 12, 2026 at 6:28 PM
This spectacularly misses the point.
It's not just about what kids might see. It's what their image might be used for. The issue is CSAM not a social media watershed.
It's not just about what kids might see. It's what their image might be used for. The issue is CSAM not a social media watershed.
So, in fact, the idealists are the realists. The realists are romantics driven by nostalgia.
We need hard-headed idealism right now.
And can you get more condescending and obfuscatory than this Minister?
We need hard-headed idealism right now.
And can you get more condescending and obfuscatory than this Minister?
January 11, 2026 at 8:27 AM
So, in fact, the idealists are the realists. The realists are romantics driven by nostalgia.
We need hard-headed idealism right now.
And can you get more condescending and obfuscatory than this Minister?
We need hard-headed idealism right now.
And can you get more condescending and obfuscatory than this Minister?
The real question here: why is Rory Stewart living rent free in his head?
January 10, 2026 at 9:11 PM
The real question here: why is Rory Stewart living rent free in his head?
By way of comparison this guy, gets massive reach/engagement from 750k followers.
Oh and he's, well, I'll let his post do the talking.
Oh and he's, well, I'll let his post do the talking.
January 9, 2026 at 7:34 PM
By way of comparison this guy, gets massive reach/engagement from 750k followers.
Oh and he's, well, I'll let his post do the talking.
Oh and he's, well, I'll let his post do the talking.
The DG of the BBC said this week that it remains on X because it has to reach a worldwide audience.
40m followers....
40k views and 92 likes.
A local Facebook group has more reach.
40m followers....
40k views and 92 likes.
A local Facebook group has more reach.
January 9, 2026 at 6:09 PM
The DG of the BBC said this week that it remains on X because it has to reach a worldwide audience.
40m followers....
40k views and 92 likes.
A local Facebook group has more reach.
40m followers....
40k views and 92 likes.
A local Facebook group has more reach.
This is apparently an agenda that the soft left/progressives are against or unfocused on.
What's the argument here?
What's the argument here?
January 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
This is apparently an agenda that the soft left/progressives are against or unfocused on.
What's the argument here?
What's the argument here?
Feels slightly odd that centre-left/liberals are the security hawks and the right are the doves nowadays.
Apart from when it comes to backing Trump's military expansionism.
They love a bit of Donroe.
Apart from when it comes to backing Trump's military expansionism.
They love a bit of Donroe.
January 7, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Feels slightly odd that centre-left/liberals are the security hawks and the right are the doves nowadays.
Apart from when it comes to backing Trump's military expansionism.
They love a bit of Donroe.
Apart from when it comes to backing Trump's military expansionism.
They love a bit of Donroe.
I just looked at Keir Starmer's latest tweet on X. Three times as many hostile replies and quote tweets than likes and RTs. Plus a community note attached. 850k views - a massive chunk of that to hostile accounts given above.
Is this really high quality reach?
Is this really high quality reach?
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 PM
I just looked at Keir Starmer's latest tweet on X. Three times as many hostile replies and quote tweets than likes and RTs. Plus a community note attached. 850k views - a massive chunk of that to hostile accounts given above.
Is this really high quality reach?
Is this really high quality reach?
Objectively, it is an issue tbf.
And, before I'm cancelled, the issue absolutely is owners.
Pandemic wave.
And, before I'm cancelled, the issue absolutely is owners.
Pandemic wave.
January 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Objectively, it is an issue tbf.
And, before I'm cancelled, the issue absolutely is owners.
Pandemic wave.
And, before I'm cancelled, the issue absolutely is owners.
Pandemic wave.
Yes, I'd love to hear your forecast for 2026.
January 1, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Yes, I'd love to hear your forecast for 2026.
The number of people who are proud of Britain's political influence in the world is plummeting.
A big legitimacy question here. It also questions whether deals with Trump will get domestic credit. Israel is a factor too no doubt.
A big legitimacy question here. It also questions whether deals with Trump will get domestic credit. Israel is a factor too no doubt.
December 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The number of people who are proud of Britain's political influence in the world is plummeting.
A big legitimacy question here. It also questions whether deals with Trump will get domestic credit. Israel is a factor too no doubt.
A big legitimacy question here. It also questions whether deals with Trump will get domestic credit. Israel is a factor too no doubt.