Fran
@franc-s.bsky.social
Belfast, angry, likes DnD, and has cat. (They/Them)
Reposted by Fran
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Watched BBC 6 o clock news. Just a completely unserious broadcast. Chris Mason, acting like a children's entertainer, giving a prolonged impenetrable editorial. Not a whiff of informative content about the Budget or what it means for the country. Just playschool blah blah bollocks.
December 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I wonder if it's time to retire the role of "political editor" altogether
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Return most of the coverage to the Economics Editor, the Health Editor, the Home Affairs team & so on.
Leave the "who-said-what-to-whom" & "what-does-it-mean-for-the-polls" to others. The BBC doesn't need to foreground this.
Reposted by Fran
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Fran
AI has absolutely ruined web searching. Whenever I’m trying to look for information on like, cat food or some shit- all I can find are clearly AI written articles that are horribly written and have no actual concept or understanding of the thing they’re even talking about.
That’s all there is now.
That’s all there is now.
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
AI has absolutely ruined web searching. Whenever I’m trying to look for information on like, cat food or some shit- all I can find are clearly AI written articles that are horribly written and have no actual concept or understanding of the thing they’re even talking about.
That’s all there is now.
That’s all there is now.
Greater combating of toxicity is of course welcome, however the 'social neighbourhoods' idea is awful. If I wanted an algorithm to dictate who I engage with/what I see; I'd be using any other platform. Blueskys strength is the quality of deliberation, selective discourse is not equal to quality.
Threads on Bluesky should feel more like conversations you’d have IRL.
We’re testing new systems to improve reply quality. See what’s coming: bsky.social/about/blog/1...
We’re testing new systems to improve reply quality. See what’s coming: bsky.social/about/blog/1...
Progress Update: Building Healthier Social Media - Bluesky
Over the next few months, we’ll be iterating on the systems that make Bluesky a better place for healthy conversations. Some experiments will stick, others will evolve, and we’ll share what we learn a...
bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Greater combating of toxicity is of course welcome, however the 'social neighbourhoods' idea is awful. If I wanted an algorithm to dictate who I engage with/what I see; I'd be using any other platform. Blueskys strength is the quality of deliberation, selective discourse is not equal to quality.
Reposted by Fran
I doubt anyone in 1910 seriously though the Liberal Party would one day be destroyed and Labour would emerge as a massive force in UK politics for the next more-than-a-century.
October 29, 2025 at 8:33 AM
I doubt anyone in 1910 seriously though the Liberal Party would one day be destroyed and Labour would emerge as a massive force in UK politics for the next more-than-a-century.
Reposted by Fran
Really important piece
October 29, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Really important piece
Reposted by Fran
Breaking: Disturbing scenes out of Portland, 2025 — authorities warn the situation could escalate.
October 11, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Breaking: Disturbing scenes out of Portland, 2025 — authorities warn the situation could escalate.
Reposted by Fran
Braids are a great way to keep your hair out of your face, especially when ICE teargasses you.
Also they don’t get caught in a respirator. 10/10 would recommend.
Also they don’t get caught in a respirator. 10/10 would recommend.
September 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Braids are a great way to keep your hair out of your face, especially when ICE teargasses you.
Also they don’t get caught in a respirator. 10/10 would recommend.
Also they don’t get caught in a respirator. 10/10 would recommend.
The BBC's 6 o'clock news was embarrassingly weak on Trump's Autism claims, how hard can it be to say 'Trump made an incorrect claim' rather than hiding behind the word "controversial".
They use the word so much it has lost meaning; The both sides approach to impartiality is a scourge on journalism.
They use the word so much it has lost meaning; The both sides approach to impartiality is a scourge on journalism.
September 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The BBC's 6 o'clock news was embarrassingly weak on Trump's Autism claims, how hard can it be to say 'Trump made an incorrect claim' rather than hiding behind the word "controversial".
They use the word so much it has lost meaning; The both sides approach to impartiality is a scourge on journalism.
They use the word so much it has lost meaning; The both sides approach to impartiality is a scourge on journalism.
Reposted by Fran
Pritzker's response is correct and it should be the rule, not the exception. The Dems' general condemnations of violence cede the field to Trump/Musk/GOP, who falsely blame the left for all/most political violence. (Even when a pro-Trump shooter murders elected Dems.)
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on the shooting of Charlie Kirk:
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
"Political violence, unfortunately, has ramped up in this country ... I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country. I think the president's rhetoric often foments it."
September 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Pritzker's response is correct and it should be the rule, not the exception. The Dems' general condemnations of violence cede the field to Trump/Musk/GOP, who falsely blame the left for all/most political violence. (Even when a pro-Trump shooter murders elected Dems.)
Reposted by Fran
I assume all of this is the reason he was appointed to his current role, rather than cause for firing him.
Peter Mandelson says he regrets 'very, very deeply' being taken in by 'charismatic, criminal liar' [Epstein]. He also palled around with sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Oh and he's a Trump suck up too. If only there was a pattern ...
September 10, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I assume all of this is the reason he was appointed to his current role, rather than cause for firing him.
Reposted by Fran
assurances from the NI Justice Minister herself that Nesbitt had no interest in prosecuting families.
Then, one month after the funding is announced Mike Nesbitt, the current NI Health Minister, orders another review, this time to be led by Hillary Cass.
It is absolutely shameless.
3/end
Then, one month after the funding is announced Mike Nesbitt, the current NI Health Minister, orders another review, this time to be led by Hillary Cass.
It is absolutely shameless.
3/end
September 4, 2025 at 9:41 PM
assurances from the NI Justice Minister herself that Nesbitt had no interest in prosecuting families.
Then, one month after the funding is announced Mike Nesbitt, the current NI Health Minister, orders another review, this time to be led by Hillary Cass.
It is absolutely shameless.
3/end
Then, one month after the funding is announced Mike Nesbitt, the current NI Health Minister, orders another review, this time to be led by Hillary Cass.
It is absolutely shameless.
3/end
Reposted by Fran
It’s a pretty common newsroom practice to say that protests of a few hundred (or even a few thousand) people aren’t headline news because they happen all the time. And it’s largely true.
What I can’t explain is why even Ofcom regulated TV is determined to make *these* protests news.
What I can’t explain is why even Ofcom regulated TV is determined to make *these* protests news.
Sunday protests seem to be < 500 nationwide, maybe < 300, across 4-6 locations
Yet ITV news using language of "erupt nationwide" (!)
Epping: 100-150
London: 20
Birmingham: 30
Stevenage: 30-50
Norwich: ? anything of any scale
Manchester: ? anything of any scale
Dudley: ? anything of any scale?
Yet ITV news using language of "erupt nationwide" (!)
Epping: 100-150
London: 20
Birmingham: 30
Stevenage: 30-50
Norwich: ? anything of any scale
Manchester: ? anything of any scale
Dudley: ? anything of any scale?
August 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
It’s a pretty common newsroom practice to say that protests of a few hundred (or even a few thousand) people aren’t headline news because they happen all the time. And it’s largely true.
What I can’t explain is why even Ofcom regulated TV is determined to make *these* protests news.
What I can’t explain is why even Ofcom regulated TV is determined to make *these* protests news.
Reposted by Fran
UK online safety law in practice.
Every time you walk around this gate, a sheep bites a random child
August 23, 2025 at 7:45 AM
UK online safety law in practice.
Reposted by Fran
I think fighting fascism involves not validating a lot of fascist framing about marginalized people and I think coalition building involves not pushing marginalized people out of the coalition. We have to stand against the narratives that say otherwise and hold leaders to that standard.
August 18, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I think fighting fascism involves not validating a lot of fascist framing about marginalized people and I think coalition building involves not pushing marginalized people out of the coalition. We have to stand against the narratives that say otherwise and hold leaders to that standard.
Reposted by Fran
I don't know why this lad is building a subterranean city for cats, but I'm all for it.
August 16, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I don't know why this lad is building a subterranean city for cats, but I'm all for it.
Reposted by Fran
"Outside of a modest community of journalists, politicians and think tankers on BlueSky, the British political class is basically strapped to a website which has been designed to encourage radicalisation."
@iandunt.bsky.social insight on the shite-stirring right.
@iandunt.bsky.social insight on the shite-stirring right.
Tinderbox Britain: How conservatives ended up praying for violence iandunt.substack.com/p/tinderbox-...
August 16, 2025 at 5:04 AM
"Outside of a modest community of journalists, politicians and think tankers on BlueSky, the British political class is basically strapped to a website which has been designed to encourage radicalisation."
@iandunt.bsky.social insight on the shite-stirring right.
@iandunt.bsky.social insight on the shite-stirring right.
Reposted by Fran
Eyeopening walkthrough of DC by this creator. If you aren’t in DC, worth a watch all the way to the end—
August 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Eyeopening walkthrough of DC by this creator. If you aren’t in DC, worth a watch all the way to the end—
Reposted by Fran
The U.K. Online Safety Act was (avowedly, as revealed in a recent High Court case) “not primarily aimed at protecting children” but at regulating “services that have a significant influence over public discourse.”
August 15, 2025 at 7:14 AM
The U.K. Online Safety Act was (avowedly, as revealed in a recent High Court case) “not primarily aimed at protecting children” but at regulating “services that have a significant influence over public discourse.”
Reposted by Fran
If you want to understand how transphobia infiltrated the UK media - this article tracks its growth, detailing its shocking explosion engulfing ALL mainstream news media in the UK 😞
Russell T Davies should be looking closer to home for the culprits in actively generating anti-trans/ LGBT hate!
Russell T Davies should be looking closer to home for the culprits in actively generating anti-trans/ LGBT hate!
Transphobia: How the trans-hostile media coverage began in the UK
Where the current ‘trans panic’ originated in the UK media, its origins and the publications and journalists behind promoting…
medium.com
August 11, 2025 at 9:45 AM
If you want to understand how transphobia infiltrated the UK media - this article tracks its growth, detailing its shocking explosion engulfing ALL mainstream news media in the UK 😞
Russell T Davies should be looking closer to home for the culprits in actively generating anti-trans/ LGBT hate!
Russell T Davies should be looking closer to home for the culprits in actively generating anti-trans/ LGBT hate!
Reposted by Fran
BBC among media misreportimg/exaggerating scale of asylum protests
Median protest is a few dozen, below 100.
"Usually Several hundred at a time" is false.
- should say *occasionally*
< 1/10 protests have 200 people
"Sometimes thousands"
I dont think a single 2025 protest had > 2000 people yet
Median protest is a few dozen, below 100.
"Usually Several hundred at a time" is false.
- should say *occasionally*
< 1/10 protests have 200 people
"Sometimes thousands"
I dont think a single 2025 protest had > 2000 people yet
August 9, 2025 at 8:02 AM
BBC among media misreportimg/exaggerating scale of asylum protests
Median protest is a few dozen, below 100.
"Usually Several hundred at a time" is false.
- should say *occasionally*
< 1/10 protests have 200 people
"Sometimes thousands"
I dont think a single 2025 protest had > 2000 people yet
Median protest is a few dozen, below 100.
"Usually Several hundred at a time" is false.
- should say *occasionally*
< 1/10 protests have 200 people
"Sometimes thousands"
I dont think a single 2025 protest had > 2000 people yet
Reposted by Fran
Calling, emailing and generally bothering your MP with your needs is so surprisingly and asymmetrically powerful a lever of democracy that the less engaged among them will very happily waste your time with this kinda nonsense just to clear their case load a little.
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Speak to Mark Sewards 24/7
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www.neural-voice.ai
August 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Calling, emailing and generally bothering your MP with your needs is so surprisingly and asymmetrically powerful a lever of democracy that the less engaged among them will very happily waste your time with this kinda nonsense just to clear their case load a little.
Reposted by Fran
We don't need a party in the UK that will just leave trans people alone. We need one that will actively fight for us and the only option now seems to be if @zackpolanski.bsky.social wins the Green leadership.
August 4, 2025 at 10:05 AM
We don't need a party in the UK that will just leave trans people alone. We need one that will actively fight for us and the only option now seems to be if @zackpolanski.bsky.social wins the Green leadership.
Reposted by Fran
Reposted by Fran
Let’s be clear. The problem is the Online Safety Act. It’s not Labour, it’s not the Tories, it’s both of them. The act had cross party support.
The act is the biggest piece of censorship in the U.K. since the Second World War.
The act is the biggest piece of censorship in the U.K. since the Second World War.
August 1, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Let’s be clear. The problem is the Online Safety Act. It’s not Labour, it’s not the Tories, it’s both of them. The act had cross party support.
The act is the biggest piece of censorship in the U.K. since the Second World War.
The act is the biggest piece of censorship in the U.K. since the Second World War.