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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 47m

I hadn't realized Jenrick went to Newham and helped spray Union Jacks around the place. I certainly have happily draped myself in the flag a few times but using the flag as a weapon - don't forget you are in 'our' country now - is a disgraceful unpatriotic act.

Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1h

"No one should come to our country who is not fully fluent in English. Absolutely no one." Imagine if English retirees to Spain were kept out until they learned Spanish! Maybe you shouldn't be allowed to say such rubbish if you haven't learned to speak Pashto...

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1h

Jenrick: "I always read the comments under my articles in the Telegraph and find them incredibly useful". The mind boggles

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1h

Morbidly curious to hear what the loathsome Jenrick had to say. But I couldn't help thinking on seeing this pic "if you want to find a scary cultural ghetto, look no further"! And the backslapping public joviality I heard at this tory conference was painful...

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 12h

Wow - two stupid errors in only a few words. Putin's "communists"? And they can't even spell "principles"! The Daily Express continues to embarrass itself.

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 13h

I'm never actually going to need to write another comment piece again am I?

The right wing shit rags are just going to keep recruiting for us.

Folks - want a better country?

Join.greenparty.org.uk

The party even more dangerous than Starmers labour - UK's answer to Putin's communists

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 15h

Do they all have the wrong number of fingers?

Techmeme @techmeme.com · 21h

Sources: Tesla abandoned Elon Musk's goal to make thousands of Optimus robots in 2025 due to significant technical challenges, especially with the robots' hands (Theo Wayt/The Information)

Main Link | Techmeme Permalink

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 17h

I wonder if in Holland they have backlashes about car lanes? I would hope so!

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

SpinningHugo @spinninghugo.bsky.social · 1d

What on earth has happened to the Tories? This wouldn't have been acceptable in 1965 let alone 2025.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in part of Birmingham

Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on short visit

www.theguardian.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

It was just as interesting to see what was missing from The Economist's arguments. They didn't even discuss the claim that billionaires would dodge the tax, that it would damage growth or innovation or that it would be in some way unfair. Perhaps because they don't stand up to scrutiny?

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

The main arguments:
1) #Wealthtax, while popular now, might become less popular later. So? Then it could be changed later!
2) They might not raise as much money as hoped for. Well, it could always be raised?
3) "Many wealth-tax advocates almost certainly see a levy of 2% as just the start." Aha!

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

This to start with is just laughable from John Cochrane of Stanford University, “economists should analyse tax policy based on incentives, not moral sentiments" . Incentives to accomplish what and for whom? All economic choices are moral ones. siepr.stanford.edu/people/john-...

John Cochrane

Senior Fellow Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) Senior Fellow Hoover Institution

siepr.stanford.edu

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

🧵I was not that surprised to see @economist.com come out against a #wealthtax. But I figured if there was an intellectually credible argument against it, they would be the ones to look to. So I am pleased to see how weak their arguments actually seem to be. www.economist.com/finance-and-...

Don’t tax wealth

Even the most sophisticated arguments in favour of doing so make no sense

www.economist.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

This is the way it's supposed to work - it is taking longer than we would like for the results to be seen but (if we don't change direction) things should only get better from here?

Jess Ralston @jessralston.bsky.social · 1d

The results:
1) Wind farms cut the day-ahead wholesale price by up to a quarter (25%) in 2024, about £25/MWh

compared to if there was no/little wind, and gas instead

this hidden saving is not being considered by those who call to scrap renewables.

Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

So looks like the new Labour government in the UK is "winning the immigration battle" mainly by separating newcomer health and care sector workforce from their families? And soon ensuring they can't stay here unless they're better citizens than the rest of us? Grotesque.

James Bowes @jamesbowes01.bsky.social · 3d

The most recent net immigration figures were 431,000 year ending Dec 25. However, net immigration was already far lower than that even before the rules tightened Jul 25. Visa grants are much lower now than in the first half of 2024 primarily because of the Mar/Apr 24 salary threshold rises (2/x)

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Philip Eil @phileil.bsky.social · 2d

We really need to retire "contrarian" as a descriptor for Weiss immediately.

The reason she is getting this job right now is because of her *non-contrarian* sensibilities.

She espouses views that the US's current power structure likes.

NPR @npr.org · 2d

CBS' parent company will buy The Free Press and install Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News. n.pr/4o634cr

CBS' next top editor to be Bari Weiss of The Free Press

CBS' parent company will buy The Free Press and install Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

n.pr

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

The arc of the roundabout bends towards progress, though!

Nancy Pelosi Progress GIF by GIPHY News

giphy.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

It would be good to have independent verification of some of the more striking claims here but of course the Israeli military has been killing journalists in the region in droves which makes that pretty difficult!

Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 3d

““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+

Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags

Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water

www.theguardian.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 1d

🧵I have a lot of respect in general for @economist.com as a rational centre-right voice so was interested to read its critique of #weathtaxes. And surprised (and relieved) that it turns out to be so weak. www.economist.com/finance-and-...

Don’t tax wealth

Even the most sophisticated arguments in favour of doing so make no sense

www.economist.com

Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

In principle a worrying idea - but looking at the current compromised Supreme Court in the US, a solution will have to be found.

Reposted by Dr David R Brake

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 5d

Matthew 15:29-31: And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them after verifying their citizenship status.

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

Recently heard a CBC journalist call Trump's "green scam" rant to the UN "unhinged", and I have to say I am there for it. We can still call a spade a spade in Canada... For the moment.

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 5d

. @janefonda.com is so inspirational

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

Jane Fonda relaunches free speech group started by her father during the McCarthy era

In wake of the Trump administration’s censorship threats, the actor re-established the Committee for the First Amendment with A-list support

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Parker Butler @parkerbutler.bsky.social · 5d

Last year, CNN ran a “fact check” of Kamala HQ that claimed we were lying for saying Trump’s plan is Project 2025.

Now Trump is outright admitting it’s his plan.

Legacy media failed the country.

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 5d

If we could have collectively ignored Farage and Trump they might never have risen to prominence, but they aren't the enemy - it's their world views. And ignoring those views and what causes them hasn't worked so well.

Jenny Holzer @jennyholzer.bsky.social · 5d

IGNORING ENEMIES IS THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT

Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 5d

Welcome to "parasocial" media!

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 5d

when do we start using a term other than “social” media?

Josh Nicholas @joshnicholas.com · 5d

This is kinda sad