Duncan Martin
@duncanm23.bsky.social
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran has become the first Oxfordshire MP to quit X (formerly Twitter). She said “I can’t sleep knowing that I’m leading traffic to a site that actively enables sexual exploitation of women and children.” Her Bluesky profile is @laylamoran.bsky.social .
January 12, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran has become the first Oxfordshire MP to quit X (formerly Twitter). She said “I can’t sleep knowing that I’m leading traffic to a site that actively enables sexual exploitation of women and children.” Her Bluesky profile is @laylamoran.bsky.social .
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Ultimately it’s not a hard question, or shouldn’t be: if there were a website called creepywank dot org, where you could upload any picture or screengrab of anyone and get AI to produce a photorealistic picture of that person, regardless of age, in a state of undress…should it be legal in the UK?
Stephen has been bang on with this aspect of Badenoch's leadership from the start, and it has culminated in a position of being squeamish on banning a site mass-producing CSAM images because something something "Labour might ban it"
The premise of everything Kemi says and does is “if Labour are doing it, it must be bad”, and everything else is about her making intellectual pretzel shapes around that.
January 12, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Ultimately it’s not a hard question, or shouldn’t be: if there were a website called creepywank dot org, where you could upload any picture or screengrab of anyone and get AI to produce a photorealistic picture of that person, regardless of age, in a state of undress…should it be legal in the UK?
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Beginning to think this Mandelson guy might just be a power hungry sycophant who sucks up to anyone who might toss him a crumb of advantage
Mandelson is either ignorant, or pretending to be. The US already has military bases in Greenland.
It's very kind of Lord Mandelson to remind everyone that, come on guys, the Trump administration in the US doesn't *need* to use military force in Greenland or against Nato allies because, well just look what happened to Venezuela.
January 11, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Beginning to think this Mandelson guy might just be a power hungry sycophant who sucks up to anyone who might toss him a crumb of advantage
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Longtime mining journalist here.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
People have been exploring for minerals in Greenland for a very, very long time, and yet there are less than 5 mines there. Why? Simply not economic!
And that is not taking into account environmental damage and indigenous rights. Which one should.
And that is not taking into account environmental damage and indigenous rights. Which one should.
January 11, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Longtime mining journalist here.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
This is 100% correct.
Plus, there's no infrastructure to bring in machines or people, or to transfer mined metals out to ports.
The costs of that alone would be enormous.
Reposted by Duncan Martin
“Six months in, they’ve handed a contract to a firm with 10 serious pollution incidents, whose licence is under public inquiry, and whose owner openly supports the local party. If this is Reform’s ‘new politics’, it looks remarkably like the old politics.”
https://goodlaw.social/kip5
https://goodlaw.social/kip5
Reform council that promised cuts delivers payday for party backer
Reform councils have increased spending and handed out a £30,000 contract to a company owned by a party supporter which was involved with 10 serious pollution incidents in 2024.
goodlaw.social
January 11, 2026 at 1:17 PM
“Six months in, they’ve handed a contract to a firm with 10 serious pollution incidents, whose licence is under public inquiry, and whose owner openly supports the local party. If this is Reform’s ‘new politics’, it looks remarkably like the old politics.”
https://goodlaw.social/kip5
https://goodlaw.social/kip5
Reposted by Duncan Martin
you know how if you try and make LLMs more racist, they also end up more sexist and pro-genocide? this is the human example of that. evil isn't a single thing, if you start down one path you keep ending up at the same destination.
January 9, 2026 at 4:38 PM
you know how if you try and make LLMs more racist, they also end up more sexist and pro-genocide? this is the human example of that. evil isn't a single thing, if you start down one path you keep ending up at the same destination.
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Holy Jesus I didn't look close enough, saw the green logo quickly and thought this was The Onion and started chuckling man what have we done lol
Trump Gets Up, Walks Away From Meeting To Stare Out Window At Ballroom
Trump Gets Up, Walks Away From Meeting To Stare Out Window At Ballroom
Trump Gets Up, Walks Away From Meeting To Stare Out Window At Ballroom
www.huffpost.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Holy Jesus I didn't look close enough, saw the green logo quickly and thought this was The Onion and started chuckling man what have we done lol
Reposted by Duncan Martin
As Alex Harrowell says, the saving grace of the Office for Budget Responsibility is that they are the only people prepared to tell the British public the truth about immigration.
The immigration doom loop in full swing.
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
Chasing the xenophobes is a doomed strategy both economically *and* politically.
(1/3)
archive.ph/pyVLg
January 10, 2026 at 12:07 PM
As Alex Harrowell says, the saving grace of the Office for Budget Responsibility is that they are the only people prepared to tell the British public the truth about immigration.
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Meanwhile, over on Mastodon: mastodon.social/@mhoye/11586...
January 10, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Meanwhile, over on Mastodon: mastodon.social/@mhoye/11586...
Reposted by Duncan Martin
oh fuck it, free to read www.patreon.com/posts/alrigh...
January 10, 2026 at 12:32 AM
oh fuck it, free to read www.patreon.com/posts/alrigh...
Reposted by Duncan Martin
AOC: “I understand that VP Vance believes shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, & I do not — That is a fundamental difference between VP Vance & I — I do not believe the American people should be assassinated in the street”
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
AOC: “I understand that VP Vance believes shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, & I do not — That is a fundamental difference between VP Vance & I — I do not believe the American people should be assassinated in the street”
Reposted by Duncan Martin
We believe in a better Oxfordshire, and nothing is made better by posting on X. Thank you to all our wonderful readers who have already followed us here. We’ll also be posting newsletter links to Facebook, for those who haven’t signed up to Bluesky.
Onward and upward!
oxfordclarion.uk
Onward and upward!
oxfordclarion.uk
Oxford Clarion
Oxford's number one newsletter for news, events and long reads.
oxfordclarion.uk
January 9, 2026 at 12:35 PM
We believe in a better Oxfordshire, and nothing is made better by posting on X. Thank you to all our wonderful readers who have already followed us here. We’ll also be posting newsletter links to Facebook, for those who haven’t signed up to Bluesky.
Onward and upward!
oxfordclarion.uk
Onward and upward!
oxfordclarion.uk
Reposted by Duncan Martin
11 days from now marks one year since this guy got away with doing a Nazi salute on live TV. Since then, he - the world's richest man - has gutted govt programmes causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children and turned his microblogging website into a child porn generator. Consequences!
January 9, 2026 at 12:23 AM
11 days from now marks one year since this guy got away with doing a Nazi salute on live TV. Since then, he - the world's richest man - has gutted govt programmes causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children and turned his microblogging website into a child porn generator. Consequences!
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Thread.
When I tell you I have no distance from this Minneapolis story.
I can't muster composure. I did human rights observing in N. Ireland for 10 yrs. In the U.S., I video'd cop violence.
2008, St. Paul cops kicked in the door pointing guns at me and my crew. Days later a battering ram was at my office.
I can't muster composure. I did human rights observing in N. Ireland for 10 yrs. In the U.S., I video'd cop violence.
2008, St. Paul cops kicked in the door pointing guns at me and my crew. Days later a battering ram was at my office.
January 8, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Thread.
Reposted by Duncan Martin
A reminder that Kemi Badenoch wants to create a UK “Removals Force” explicitly modelled on ICE
January 8, 2026 at 9:06 AM
A reminder that Kemi Badenoch wants to create a UK “Removals Force” explicitly modelled on ICE
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski: “The European Union’s economy is nine to ten times larger than Russia’s.
“We fought Russia successfully before the United States even existed — so we should be capable of doing it today.”
“We fought Russia successfully before the United States even existed — so we should be capable of doing it today.”
January 8, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski: “The European Union’s economy is nine to ten times larger than Russia’s.
“We fought Russia successfully before the United States even existed — so we should be capable of doing it today.”
“We fought Russia successfully before the United States even existed — so we should be capable of doing it today.”
Reposted by Duncan Martin
this knowledge is incalculable
January 7, 2026 at 10:16 PM
this knowledge is incalculable
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Trump pulls US out of 66 international bodies, including key UN climate treaty
Trump pulls US out of 66 international bodies, including key UN climate treaty
President’s order suspends support for UNFCCC climate framework, UN population agency and other entities
The Trump administration will withdraw from dozens of international organizations, including the UN’s population agency and the UN treaty that establishes international climate negotiations, as the US further retreats from global cooperation.
Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending US support for 66 organizations, agencies and commissions following his instructions for his administration to review participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the UN, according to a White House statement on social media. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Trump pulls US out of 66 international bodies, including key UN climate treaty
Reposted by Duncan Martin
uh, yep
"US oil companies want “serious guarantees” from Washington before they make splashy investments in Venezuela
...
“No one wants to go in there when a random fucking tweet can change the entire foreign policy of the country,” said one private equity investor who specialises in energy"
"US oil companies want “serious guarantees” from Washington before they make splashy investments in Venezuela
...
“No one wants to go in there when a random fucking tweet can change the entire foreign policy of the country,” said one private equity investor who specialises in energy"
January 8, 2026 at 2:27 AM
uh, yep
"US oil companies want “serious guarantees” from Washington before they make splashy investments in Venezuela
...
“No one wants to go in there when a random fucking tweet can change the entire foreign policy of the country,” said one private equity investor who specialises in energy"
"US oil companies want “serious guarantees” from Washington before they make splashy investments in Venezuela
...
“No one wants to go in there when a random fucking tweet can change the entire foreign policy of the country,” said one private equity investor who specialises in energy"
Reposted by Duncan Martin
1/ The ghost drifts closer, squints at the page, and lets out a dry, ectoplasmic chuckle.
Ah yes. A handwritten sermon from The Good Reverend Roger, composed in a Gothic hand so solemn it looks like it ought to be nailed to a cathedral door—or at least a laser printer with a union grievance.
Ah yes. A handwritten sermon from The Good Reverend Roger, composed in a Gothic hand so solemn it looks like it ought to be nailed to a cathedral door—or at least a laser printer with a union grievance.
January 8, 2026 at 6:28 AM
1/ The ghost drifts closer, squints at the page, and lets out a dry, ectoplasmic chuckle.
Ah yes. A handwritten sermon from The Good Reverend Roger, composed in a Gothic hand so solemn it looks like it ought to be nailed to a cathedral door—or at least a laser printer with a union grievance.
Ah yes. A handwritten sermon from The Good Reverend Roger, composed in a Gothic hand so solemn it looks like it ought to be nailed to a cathedral door—or at least a laser printer with a union grievance.
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Folks, @womensaidireland.bsky.social have closed their X account on principle. Follow them here, give them some real engagement to acknowledge both the rightness of that decision, but also of letting go of high follower numbers (even if the algorithm meant that no longer signified actual reach).
January 8, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Folks, @womensaidireland.bsky.social have closed their X account on principle. Follow them here, give them some real engagement to acknowledge both the rightness of that decision, but also of letting go of high follower numbers (even if the algorithm meant that no longer signified actual reach).
Reposted by Duncan Martin
With snow forecast to fall in the high areas of the county, Oxfordshire schools are being asked to use a secret codeword when deciding weather-related closures, to prevent prankster children emailing the County Council claiming that their school is closed.
January 8, 2026 at 9:16 AM
With snow forecast to fall in the high areas of the county, Oxfordshire schools are being asked to use a secret codeword when deciding weather-related closures, to prevent prankster children emailing the County Council claiming that their school is closed.
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Laila Cunningham grew up in the 1980s, when relatively central parts of London looked like this:
January 7, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Laila Cunningham grew up in the 1980s, when relatively central parts of London looked like this:
Reposted by Duncan Martin
Glad we made this decision today
I know colleagues, the government and other organisations think they will be ceding ground and an important public discussion space if they leave X
It has been twisted too far into an unsafe, malign and destructive tool to morally use, & thereby endorse, anymore
I know colleagues, the government and other organisations think they will be ceding ground and an important public discussion space if they leave X
It has been twisted too far into an unsafe, malign and destructive tool to morally use, & thereby endorse, anymore
January 7, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Glad we made this decision today
I know colleagues, the government and other organisations think they will be ceding ground and an important public discussion space if they leave X
It has been twisted too far into an unsafe, malign and destructive tool to morally use, & thereby endorse, anymore
I know colleagues, the government and other organisations think they will be ceding ground and an important public discussion space if they leave X
It has been twisted too far into an unsafe, malign and destructive tool to morally use, & thereby endorse, anymore
Reposted by Duncan Martin
It is genuinely one of the funniest bits of memory-holing the extent to which, other than a handful of dyed-in-the-wool Jenrickites, everyone to the right of Nick Clegg in British politics has forgotten that Badenoch inherited a party on the up in both the polls and local elections.
"Moving up quite impressively"
Lol.
Lol.
January 7, 2026 at 4:57 PM
It is genuinely one of the funniest bits of memory-holing the extent to which, other than a handful of dyed-in-the-wool Jenrickites, everyone to the right of Nick Clegg in British politics has forgotten that Badenoch inherited a party on the up in both the polls and local elections.