Wouldn't he need congressional approval to actually do that? A, admittedly swift, Google suggests that congress passed a Bill last year to stop him doing precisely this.
January 20, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Wouldn't he need congressional approval to actually do that? A, admittedly swift, Google suggests that congress passed a Bill last year to stop him doing precisely this.
Id like to revise this bet to "Easter"
January 19, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Id like to revise this bet to "Easter"
I think this conversations makes an assumption - that all these pictures are being produced for sexual gratification - when I think a higher-than-you'd-expect number are being produced to troll. They're creating them to hurt people and prompt outrage. That's what they're really getting off to.
January 9, 2026 at 12:52 PM
I think this conversations makes an assumption - that all these pictures are being produced for sexual gratification - when I think a higher-than-you'd-expect number are being produced to troll. They're creating them to hurt people and prompt outrage. That's what they're really getting off to.
I mean honestly Liam, it was right there.
January 5, 2026 at 1:20 PM
I mean honestly Liam, it was right there.
Chelsea in 18 months.
January 5, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Chelsea in 18 months.
You can, and should, use information and entertainment in speeches. They're crucial for establishing credibility and connection. But they're not the end point. I often think that's what's missing in speeches I here. They think their points are the point.
December 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
You can, and should, use information and entertainment in speeches. They're crucial for establishing credibility and connection. But they're not the end point. I often think that's what's missing in speeches I here. They think their points are the point.
That means your first focus isn't your message, it's your audience. Where are they? Where do they need to be? Then you figure out how to get them from Point A to Point B. That's why you should start by writing the end. Then the start, then the middle.
December 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
That means your first focus isn't your message, it's your audience. Where are they? Where do they need to be? Then you figure out how to get them from Point A to Point B. That's why you should start by writing the end. Then the start, then the middle.
Presentations at work, in politics, etc are the same. The big question for any speech is "How do I want the hearer to think/act differently afterward"? "I want them to accept this restructure", "I want them to buy this", "I want their vote".
December 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Presentations at work, in politics, etc are the same. The big question for any speech is "How do I want the hearer to think/act differently afterward"? "I want them to accept this restructure", "I want them to buy this", "I want their vote".
And yes, Best man/maid of honour speeches, and eulogies at funerals, are still this. They're encouragement to praise the focus of the day, to elicit an emotional response of joy or grief (and almost always have value propositions in them, not for nothing)
December 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
And yes, Best man/maid of honour speeches, and eulogies at funerals, are still this. They're encouragement to praise the focus of the day, to elicit an emotional response of joy or grief (and almost always have value propositions in them, not for nothing)
Instead, consider that words spoken aloud to an audience are almost always for the sake of persuasion. I think the number of times this isn't true is statistically insignificant, and probably includes virtually every conversation we have (though often in that case, the persuasion is "like me").
December 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Instead, consider that words spoken aloud to an audience are almost always for the sake of persuasion. I think the number of times this isn't true is statistically insignificant, and probably includes virtually every conversation we have (though often in that case, the persuasion is "like me").
If you're just trying to inform an audience, a speech isn't the way to do it. Papers, seminars and classrooms are better.
Speeches just for entertainment are a specific genre. Usually comedians or celebrities give after-dinner speeches. Even then, the best of these do more than just entertain.
Speeches just for entertainment are a specific genre. Usually comedians or celebrities give after-dinner speeches. Even then, the best of these do more than just entertain.
December 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
If you're just trying to inform an audience, a speech isn't the way to do it. Papers, seminars and classrooms are better.
Speeches just for entertainment are a specific genre. Usually comedians or celebrities give after-dinner speeches. Even then, the best of these do more than just entertain.
Speeches just for entertainment are a specific genre. Usually comedians or celebrities give after-dinner speeches. Even then, the best of these do more than just entertain.
Ha! I confess I hadn't noticed that. I guess the accessibility of the full sentence is of more benefit than the asyndeton in written form?
December 7, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Ha! I confess I hadn't noticed that. I guess the accessibility of the full sentence is of more benefit than the asyndeton in written form?
Well, you're more cultured than me, clearly. Aaron Sorkin would certainly approve.
December 7, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Well, you're more cultured than me, clearly. Aaron Sorkin would certainly approve.
Apologies, I've responded to loads of different things on this, but it's because it's my passion and profession, and it's rare for these subjects to come up!
December 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Apologies, I've responded to loads of different things on this, but it's because it's my passion and profession, and it's rare for these subjects to come up!
You're of course absolutely right that delivery is a skill that's developed.
December 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
You're of course absolutely right that delivery is a skill that's developed.
You can prep and structure that in, to an extent. Sentence length, intentional asyndeton, storytelling can help with rhythm. I used to have 1,2,3 in paras alongside A,B,C. Numbers referred to pace, letters to pitch, as I prepped. I don't need to do that as I've gotten better, but it can help.
December 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
You can prep and structure that in, to an extent. Sentence length, intentional asyndeton, storytelling can help with rhythm. I used to have 1,2,3 in paras alongside A,B,C. Numbers referred to pace, letters to pitch, as I prepped. I don't need to do that as I've gotten better, but it can help.
The problem is ministers don't have loads of prep time, and prompters become a crutch. When you're reading someone elses words, even when they're writing for you, it's even harder to do that well from a prompter.
December 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The problem is ministers don't have loads of prep time, and prompters become a crutch. When you're reading someone elses words, even when they're writing for you, it's even harder to do that well from a prompter.
When preaching (usually for about 30 mins), I write a full manuscript and condense to bullets. You can structure a speech to make it easier to remember, but rehearsal and prep is key.
December 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
When preaching (usually for about 30 mins), I write a full manuscript and condense to bullets. You can structure a speech to make it easier to remember, but rehearsal and prep is key.
Speechwriter here (not Keirs). The delivery part is absolutely right. The problem isn't using short sentence long pause short sentence, it's using *only that*. The delivery becomes monotonous,the emotion is lost, the brain tunes it out. Different thoughts require different rhythm and sentence length
December 7, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Speechwriter here (not Keirs). The delivery part is absolutely right. The problem isn't using short sentence long pause short sentence, it's using *only that*. The delivery becomes monotonous,the emotion is lost, the brain tunes it out. Different thoughts require different rhythm and sentence length
Bloodletting in HO well reported, but DBT currently has 1 minister left who was there yesterday.
September 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Bloodletting in HO well reported, but DBT currently has 1 minister left who was there yesterday.