Don Syme
@dsyme.bsky.social
I ask myself if I'd have the courage, to stay filming if someone was murdered in front of me by violent government thugs.
Hopefully yes, but realistically I'm not sure. Hopefully yes.
Hopefully yes, but realistically I'm not sure. Hopefully yes.
January 27, 2026 at 10:44 AM
I ask myself if I'd have the courage, to stay filming if someone was murdered in front of me by violent government thugs.
Hopefully yes, but realistically I'm not sure. Hopefully yes.
Hopefully yes, but realistically I'm not sure. Hopefully yes.
What I love about Bylines' journalism is they don't shy away from the tough topics. This one is about a big one.
The digital era has brought us together (hi all!), yet mediates us by algorithm, device and now AI model
Come discuss loneliness, togetherness, solidarity and much more as it is in 21C
The digital era has brought us together (hi all!), yet mediates us by algorithm, device and now AI model
Come discuss loneliness, togetherness, solidarity and much more as it is in 21C
January 27, 2026 at 10:35 AM
What I love about Bylines' journalism is they don't shy away from the tough topics. This one is about a big one.
The digital era has brought us together (hi all!), yet mediates us by algorithm, device and now AI model
Come discuss loneliness, togetherness, solidarity and much more as it is in 21C
The digital era has brought us together (hi all!), yet mediates us by algorithm, device and now AI model
Come discuss loneliness, togetherness, solidarity and much more as it is in 21C
Zack would see the UK destitute, the banks all closed, trade ended, everyone hungry and even London bombed flat before he gives up on his quest for victory over all the powers and injustices of the world. He's utterly irresponsible in such a dangerous world.
January 4, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Zack would see the UK destitute, the banks all closed, trade ended, everyone hungry and even London bombed flat before he gives up on his quest for victory over all the powers and injustices of the world. He's utterly irresponsible in such a dangerous world.
Mehdi again and again you seem to think anarchic international relations are about consistency, norms and morality.
We are entering a phase where nations don't care about these things. Where raw power matters more than rules or consistency.
Think Mongol wars or British imperialism not UN and ICC
We are entering a phase where nations don't care about these things. Where raw power matters more than rules or consistency.
Think Mongol wars or British imperialism not UN and ICC
January 4, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Mehdi again and again you seem to think anarchic international relations are about consistency, norms and morality.
We are entering a phase where nations don't care about these things. Where raw power matters more than rules or consistency.
Think Mongol wars or British imperialism not UN and ICC
We are entering a phase where nations don't care about these things. Where raw power matters more than rules or consistency.
Think Mongol wars or British imperialism not UN and ICC
Yes not arguing with you at all. Just asking myself questions.
January 3, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Yes not arguing with you at all. Just asking myself questions.
I 100% agree with maximising UK+European hard defensive power and, where possible, reducing dependency.
January 3, 2026 at 11:41 PM
I 100% agree with maximising UK+European hard defensive power and, where possible, reducing dependency.
Not disagreeing, just thinking aloud. I'm in favour of aligning with Europe.
UK+Europe will not, however, be strong enough to be active defenders of the international order (eg right of navigation, or protecting other countries or distant islands against invasion). We must be realistic.
UK+Europe will not, however, be strong enough to be active defenders of the international order (eg right of navigation, or protecting other countries or distant islands against invasion). We must be realistic.
January 3, 2026 at 11:32 PM
Not disagreeing, just thinking aloud. I'm in favour of aligning with Europe.
UK+Europe will not, however, be strong enough to be active defenders of the international order (eg right of navigation, or protecting other countries or distant islands against invasion). We must be realistic.
UK+Europe will not, however, be strong enough to be active defenders of the international order (eg right of navigation, or protecting other countries or distant islands against invasion). We must be realistic.
You don't understand Lewis' tweet.
You're correct, but that's only because "The West" has hard power. Against the USA no one has hard power except those willing to drag them into a violent quagmire like Vietnam or Iraq.
Lewis is saying hard power is what matters now, not morality or consistency.
You're correct, but that's only because "The West" has hard power. Against the USA no one has hard power except those willing to drag them into a violent quagmire like Vietnam or Iraq.
Lewis is saying hard power is what matters now, not morality or consistency.
January 3, 2026 at 11:23 PM
You don't understand Lewis' tweet.
You're correct, but that's only because "The West" has hard power. Against the USA no one has hard power except those willing to drag them into a violent quagmire like Vietnam or Iraq.
Lewis is saying hard power is what matters now, not morality or consistency.
You're correct, but that's only because "The West" has hard power. Against the USA no one has hard power except those willing to drag them into a violent quagmire like Vietnam or Iraq.
Lewis is saying hard power is what matters now, not morality or consistency.
I don't know the right path ahead. Armed-to-the-teeth neutrality seems viable for core or UK/Europe for security. But we are very dependent on oil, gas, digital, safe seas, trade, food and much much more. We are very weak in action especially against US interests.
January 3, 2026 at 11:19 PM
I don't know the right path ahead. Armed-to-the-teeth neutrality seems viable for core or UK/Europe for security. But we are very dependent on oil, gas, digital, safe seas, trade, food and much much more. We are very weak in action especially against US interests.
Yes, but are we willing to deprioritise defending the international order? Human rights? Do we put self-preservation over morality?
If Greenland or Canada are invaded, what do we do? In truth we have little capability to help. There's no action we can take that wouldn't bring vast retaliation.
If Greenland or Canada are invaded, what do we do? In truth we have little capability to help. There's no action we can take that wouldn't bring vast retaliation.
January 3, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Yes, but are we willing to deprioritise defending the international order? Human rights? Do we put self-preservation over morality?
If Greenland or Canada are invaded, what do we do? In truth we have little capability to help. There's no action we can take that wouldn't bring vast retaliation.
If Greenland or Canada are invaded, what do we do? In truth we have little capability to help. There's no action we can take that wouldn't bring vast retaliation.
I think that's the world we face. But UK/Europe's moves need to be very, very careful. They must be made on security, economics and our mutual interest, not plain morality nor blindly defending a very weak international order.
The tensions between morality/security/economics will be extreme.
The tensions between morality/security/economics will be extreme.
January 3, 2026 at 11:11 PM
I think that's the world we face. But UK/Europe's moves need to be very, very careful. They must be made on security, economics and our mutual interest, not plain morality nor blindly defending a very weak international order.
The tensions between morality/security/economics will be extreme.
The tensions between morality/security/economics will be extreme.
We are enslaved to triple lock pensions, catastrophic infrastructure and other vast commitments to the future wealth of citizens
Plus huge debts to international bond markets who we rely on to borrow even more money to pay for basic things
And no we can't print money, if we are to buy gas and fuel
Plus huge debts to international bond markets who we rely on to borrow even more money to pay for basic things
And no we can't print money, if we are to buy gas and fuel
January 3, 2026 at 10:54 PM
We are enslaved to triple lock pensions, catastrophic infrastructure and other vast commitments to the future wealth of citizens
Plus huge debts to international bond markets who we rely on to borrow even more money to pay for basic things
And no we can't print money, if we are to buy gas and fuel
Plus huge debts to international bond markets who we rely on to borrow even more money to pay for basic things
And no we can't print money, if we are to buy gas and fuel
Lewis' tweet is saying the exact opposite.
There is no "global peace" or international human rights regime in the world ahead, for the coming years. Just hard power.
The UK and EU must rethink everything. We have very little hard power. What we have must be used very very wisely for our safety.
There is no "global peace" or international human rights regime in the world ahead, for the coming years. Just hard power.
The UK and EU must rethink everything. We have very little hard power. What we have must be used very very wisely for our safety.
January 3, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Lewis' tweet is saying the exact opposite.
There is no "global peace" or international human rights regime in the world ahead, for the coming years. Just hard power.
The UK and EU must rethink everything. We have very little hard power. What we have must be used very very wisely for our safety.
There is no "global peace" or international human rights regime in the world ahead, for the coming years. Just hard power.
The UK and EU must rethink everything. We have very little hard power. What we have must be used very very wisely for our safety.
"The rate of interest in London will not affect the price of gas..."
That statement is false and any economist saying it is not worth listening to.
IIf we lower our interest rates, we weaken our currency and pay more for gas. In Qatar. In Riyadh. In USA.
So embarrassing.
That statement is false and any economist saying it is not worth listening to.
IIf we lower our interest rates, we weaken our currency and pay more for gas. In Qatar. In Riyadh. In USA.
So embarrassing.
December 31, 2025 at 4:25 PM
"The rate of interest in London will not affect the price of gas..."
That statement is false and any economist saying it is not worth listening to.
IIf we lower our interest rates, we weaken our currency and pay more for gas. In Qatar. In Riyadh. In USA.
So embarrassing.
That statement is false and any economist saying it is not worth listening to.
IIf we lower our interest rates, we weaken our currency and pay more for gas. In Qatar. In Riyadh. In USA.
So embarrassing.
Your careful words are, in my eyes simply manipulation. Smoke and mirrors. With a sentence like that you should not be taken seriously on economic matters.
December 31, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Your careful words are, in my eyes simply manipulation. Smoke and mirrors. With a sentence like that you should not be taken seriously on economic matters.
OMG it's honestly so embarrassing.
We are talking about how many pounds are needed to buy gas.
The price of gas in Qatar for someone who possesses pounds - as we all do - is affected by the UK interest rate.
We are talking about how many pounds are needed to buy gas.
The price of gas in Qatar for someone who possesses pounds - as we all do - is affected by the UK interest rate.
December 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
OMG it's honestly so embarrassing.
We are talking about how many pounds are needed to buy gas.
The price of gas in Qatar for someone who possesses pounds - as we all do - is affected by the UK interest rate.
We are talking about how many pounds are needed to buy gas.
The price of gas in Qatar for someone who possesses pounds - as we all do - is affected by the UK interest rate.
Oh you're back. How glorious.
Let's start again.
"The rate of interest in London will not affect the price of gas in Qatar"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let's start again.
"The rate of interest in London will not affect the price of gas in Qatar"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Bank of England is wrong again: workers aren’t to blame for inflation | James Meadway
Why should we ‘accept we’re worse off’, when corporate greed and global shortages are really to blame, asks James Meadway of the Progressive Economy Forum
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Oh you're back. How glorious.
Let's start again.
"The rate of interest in London will not affect the price of gas in Qatar"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Let's start again.
"The rate of interest in London will not affect the price of gas in Qatar"
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Somehow he seems to think it's all cool because the gas remains in Qatar and we don't actually pay for it in pounds so it's OK if other people buy it in other people's unchanged currencies and we simply don't get any gas so look magic no problem!
December 31, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Somehow he seems to think it's all cool because the gas remains in Qatar and we don't actually pay for it in pounds so it's OK if other people buy it in other people's unchanged currencies and we simply don't get any gas so look magic no problem!