Ben Blackburn
@benjamin-bee.bsky.social
Politics and current affairs | public affairs in public transport | live South Pennines | photography enthusiast
Last week's listening...
2025 releases plus an oldie from 2008!
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water | Suede | Swans | Lorelle Meets The Obsolete | Vampire Weekend | Bright Eyes | Flock Of Dimes| Tortoise | A Guide To The Birdsong Of Migration
2025 releases plus an oldie from 2008!
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water | Suede | Swans | Lorelle Meets The Obsolete | Vampire Weekend | Bright Eyes | Flock Of Dimes| Tortoise | A Guide To The Birdsong Of Migration
December 8, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Last week's listening...
2025 releases plus an oldie from 2008!
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water | Suede | Swans | Lorelle Meets The Obsolete | Vampire Weekend | Bright Eyes | Flock Of Dimes| Tortoise | A Guide To The Birdsong Of Migration
2025 releases plus an oldie from 2008!
They Are Gutting A Body Of Water | Suede | Swans | Lorelle Meets The Obsolete | Vampire Weekend | Bright Eyes | Flock Of Dimes| Tortoise | A Guide To The Birdsong Of Migration
Albums of November
Some new, some old...
Jerskin Fendrix | Oh Sees / Ohsees | Mien | Pink Floyd | Pulp | Ethel Cain | Mono| Hydroplane| Elder
Some new, some old...
Jerskin Fendrix | Oh Sees / Ohsees | Mien | Pink Floyd | Pulp | Ethel Cain | Mono| Hydroplane| Elder
December 1, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Albums of November
Some new, some old...
Jerskin Fendrix | Oh Sees / Ohsees | Mien | Pink Floyd | Pulp | Ethel Cain | Mono| Hydroplane| Elder
Some new, some old...
Jerskin Fendrix | Oh Sees / Ohsees | Mien | Pink Floyd | Pulp | Ethel Cain | Mono| Hydroplane| Elder
A bleak day but still some great colours in the landscape.
November 29, 2025 at 5:19 PM
A bleak day but still some great colours in the landscape.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Trump re-pardons a Jan. 6 defendant to erase unrelated gun conviction
Trump re-pardons a Jan. 6 defendant to erase unrelated gun conviction
The new pardon ends a legal clash over the limits of Trump’s sweeping Day One clemency for those who stormed the Capitol.
dlvr.it
November 15, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Trump re-pardons a Jan. 6 defendant to erase unrelated gun conviction
Heartwarming - but intuitively feels a bit 'off' for the BBC to be promoting on a non-commercial platform an advert for, produced by and carrying the logo of, Chase Manhattan?
Watch: Footballer Bukayo Saka stuns pupils with school visit - www.bbc.com/news/videos/...
Watch: Footballer Bukayo Saka stuns pupils with school visit - www.bbc.com/news/videos/...
Arsenal footballer Bukayo Saka stuns pupils with school visit
Greenford pupils are giving a presentation on role models as the England player walks in.
www.bbc.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Heartwarming - but intuitively feels a bit 'off' for the BBC to be promoting on a non-commercial platform an advert for, produced by and carrying the logo of, Chase Manhattan?
Watch: Footballer Bukayo Saka stuns pupils with school visit - www.bbc.com/news/videos/...
Watch: Footballer Bukayo Saka stuns pupils with school visit - www.bbc.com/news/videos/...
One fantastic performance against a poor Sale. Ineffective against Northants at the weekend. Caluori makes the England squad.
Meanwhile Radwan continues to score for fun against pretty much everyone, has improved his defence and misses out yet again 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Meanwhile Radwan continues to score for fun against pretty much everyone, has improved his defence and misses out yet again 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Uncapped Noah Caluori named in England's 36-man squad for autumn internationals
Uncapped Saracens wing Noah Caluori is among the players named in Steve Borthwick's 36-man England squad for the autumn internationals.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
One fantastic performance against a poor Sale. Ineffective against Northants at the weekend. Caluori makes the England squad.
Meanwhile Radwan continues to score for fun against pretty much everyone, has improved his defence and misses out yet again 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Meanwhile Radwan continues to score for fun against pretty much everyone, has improved his defence and misses out yet again 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
BREAKING: Per new reporting, ICE recruits have shown up to training without full vetting under Kristi Noem. One was discovered to have a history of robbery and battery related to domestic violence while already in training.
October 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
BREAKING: Per new reporting, ICE recruits have shown up to training without full vetting under Kristi Noem. One was discovered to have a history of robbery and battery related to domestic violence while already in training.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Trump: "I don't think we're necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war, I think we're just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. We're going to kill them. They're going to be, like dead."
October 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Trump: "I don't think we're necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war, I think we're just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. We're going to kill them. They're going to be, like dead."
Always lovely to be putting in a new Bee Network bus service! Great to work with @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social and others to help bring it forward.
On Monday 27th October, we will introduce the third brand new service to the @BeeNetwork - the 629 between Platt Bridge and Golborne. 👍🏻
6/7
6/7
October 16, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Always lovely to be putting in a new Bee Network bus service! Great to work with @joshsimonsmp.bsky.social and others to help bring it forward.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
We are always looking at what things we can do, big and small, to make life better for our residents.
Here is the latest wave of improvements coming to GM. 🧵
1/7
Here is the latest wave of improvements coming to GM. 🧵
1/7
October 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
We are always looking at what things we can do, big and small, to make life better for our residents.
Here is the latest wave of improvements coming to GM. 🧵
1/7
Here is the latest wave of improvements coming to GM. 🧵
1/7
Glad to be trialling this again - should get really valuable data with a busy November expected on the network.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has launched a second trial of 24/7 free bus travel for older and disabled people across the city.
@andyburnham.bsky.social
publictransport.news/bus/greater-...
@andyburnham.bsky.social
publictransport.news/bus/greater-...
October 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Glad to be trialling this again - should get really valuable data with a busy November expected on the network.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
The Gen Z revolt continues to spread. After the Nepalese government was overthrown, we’re now in the seventh day of protest in Madagascar. 22 killed, more than a 100 injured.
Gen Z here were inspired by what happened in Nepal and similarly in Kenya.
Gen Z here were inspired by what happened in Nepal and similarly in Kenya.
October 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The Gen Z revolt continues to spread. After the Nepalese government was overthrown, we’re now in the seventh day of protest in Madagascar. 22 killed, more than a 100 injured.
Gen Z here were inspired by what happened in Nepal and similarly in Kenya.
Gen Z here were inspired by what happened in Nepal and similarly in Kenya.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
On their holiest day, Manchester’s Jews face their ‘darkest of moments’.
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
On their holiest day, Manchester’s Jews face their ‘darkest of moments’
Amid fasting and prayer, terror comes to Crumpsall
manchestermill.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
On their holiest day, Manchester’s Jews face their ‘darkest of moments’.
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
Our story about today’s attack.
manchestermill.co.uk/on-their-hol...
The Museum of #Liverpool on a fine autumnal day this week.
The texture in the cladding is very nice indeed.
#photography #abstract #architecture
The texture in the cladding is very nice indeed.
#photography #abstract #architecture
October 1, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The Museum of #Liverpool on a fine autumnal day this week.
The texture in the cladding is very nice indeed.
#photography #abstract #architecture
The texture in the cladding is very nice indeed.
#photography #abstract #architecture
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Trump just ordered the military into Portland, and he’s giving them the green light to use lethal force on American citizens.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
September 27, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Trump just ordered the military into Portland, and he’s giving them the green light to use lethal force on American citizens.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
Authoritarianism is an abstract concept but Trump is making its impacts real and tangible. Let’s be real about it: This is the beginning of dictatorship in America.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Great to see that government WILL ban moorland burning on peat deeper than 30cm, and over a much greater area than previously
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Burning banned on England’s deep peat to protect wildlife
Ban on burning heather and grass on deep peat extended to improve air quality for local communities, reduce flood risk and protect wildlife.
www.gov.uk
September 9, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Great to see that government WILL ban moorland burning on peat deeper than 30cm, and over a much greater area than previously
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
"Fears of mass unrest" over the appeal court over-ruling the high court. The Independent says police "braced" (again). There is once again a list of 23 locations where protests will be attempted. These v underwhelming (30-300 people) when previous protest "waves" announced last weekend & in July
August 30, 2025 at 7:59 AM
"Fears of mass unrest" over the appeal court over-ruling the high court. The Independent says police "braced" (again). There is once again a list of 23 locations where protests will be attempted. These v underwhelming (30-300 people) when previous protest "waves" announced last weekend & in July
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Polling on Lucy Connolly tweet following her release finds that 35% think her sentence too harsh, but the majority of Brits: 52% say it was about right or too lenient. Most 2024 Reform voters say too harsh, Tory voters split harsh or lenient/about right. Most Labour/LD/Green the latter
August 29, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Polling on Lucy Connolly tweet following her release finds that 35% think her sentence too harsh, but the majority of Brits: 52% say it was about right or too lenient. Most 2024 Reform voters say too harsh, Tory voters split harsh or lenient/about right. Most Labour/LD/Green the latter
Absolutely fascinating and more than a little worrying.
📣 New episode out 📣 @dorianlynskey.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social discuss Enoch Powell’s so-called “Rivers of Blood” speech, the explosive political speech that brought far-right ideas into the British mainstream.
Listen / watch ➡️ linktr.ee/originstoryp...
Listen / watch ➡️ linktr.ee/originstoryp...
August 27, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Absolutely fascinating and more than a little worrying.
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
A great many more people protested the plight of Sheffield Wednesday this month than have attended any protest against asylum hotels
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sheffield Wednesday fans hold Chansiri protest ahead of home game
Fans want owner Dejphon Chansiri to sell the club following a turbulent time.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
A great many more people protested the plight of Sheffield Wednesday this month than have attended any protest against asylum hotels
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
Small chart, big problem
August 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Small chart, big problem
Very very wonderful to see Sea Power at the Trades Club last night.
August 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Very very wonderful to see Sea Power at the Trades Club last night.
July 25, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Reposted by Ben Blackburn
"They took her in a car, in essence kidnapping her ... I met another young woman whose husband has quite literally disappeared" -- Newsom shares harrowing details of specific cases of ICE terrorizing immigrants in California
June 13, 2025 at 1:57 AM
"They took her in a car, in essence kidnapping her ... I met another young woman whose husband has quite literally disappeared" -- Newsom shares harrowing details of specific cases of ICE terrorizing immigrants in California