Joanna Nicolson
@joannanicolson.bsky.social
Artist, gardener. Keen to see an end to inequality, lies and culture wars
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
On Putin, the strategy of exporting chaos, how it works, why it ultimately (hopefully) fails www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Putin thinks democracy is the west’s weakness. We have to prove him wrong | Rafael Behr
The Russian strategy of exporting chaos to provoke extremism only works if liberals succumb to cynicism and despair, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:04 AM
On Putin, the strategy of exporting chaos, how it works, why it ultimately (hopefully) fails www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
”Documents seen by the BBC show integrated care boards, which are in charge of spending on behalf of NHS England, asking hospitals to make patients wait longer and reduce the numbers they treat until the end of the financial year.”
While politicians will ask you to blame resident doctors for cancelled surgery, in reality it is a deliberate slowdown to try to balance the books.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
NHS orders hospitals to cut back on treating patients
Documents seen by BBC show hospitals being ordered to slow down on activity to help balance the books.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 9:03 AM
”Documents seen by the BBC show integrated care boards, which are in charge of spending on behalf of NHS England, asking hospitals to make patients wait longer and reduce the numbers they treat until the end of the financial year.”
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
🎓 A reminder of the fantastic news that many will be waking up to this morning...
🥳 A win for our young people, our universities, and our economy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ng7ee9vwo
🥳 A win for our young people, our universities, and our economy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ng7ee9vwo
Erasmus scheme to return for UK students, BBC understands
The UK ended its participation in the scheme in 2020 after agreeing a Brexit deal with the EU.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 9:09 AM
🎓 A reminder of the fantastic news that many will be waking up to this morning...
🥳 A win for our young people, our universities, and our economy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ng7ee9vwo
🥳 A win for our young people, our universities, and our economy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ng7ee9vwo
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Jack Smith is testifying behind closed doors on Wednesday and there’s a lot to know about what the stakes are. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Jack Smith Testifies Before The House Judiciary Committee
Making sense of the circus
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Jack Smith is testifying behind closed doors on Wednesday and there’s a lot to know about what the stakes are. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
NEW
A guided tour of President Trump's 33-page, $5 billion lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation
How some parts are strong, some parts are weak - and why a strict legalistic analysis will not tell the whole story.
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-guided-t...
(£) at least for now
A guided tour of President Trump's 33-page, $5 billion lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation
How some parts are strong, some parts are weak - and why a strict legalistic analysis will not tell the whole story.
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-guided-t...
(£) at least for now
A guided tour of President Trump's 33-page, $5 billion lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation
How some parts are strong, some parts are weak - and why a strict legalistic analysis will not tell the whole story.
emptycity.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
NEW
A guided tour of President Trump's 33-page, $5 billion lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation
How some parts are strong, some parts are weak - and why a strict legalistic analysis will not tell the whole story.
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-guided-t...
(£) at least for now
A guided tour of President Trump's 33-page, $5 billion lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation
How some parts are strong, some parts are weak - and why a strict legalistic analysis will not tell the whole story.
By me
emptycity.substack.com/p/a-guided-t...
(£) at least for now
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
"We like the idea of plucky heroes who win in the end and are uncomfortable with horrendous dictatorships that learn and have the ruthlessness to see a plan through.There's myriad of elements of incompetence in the Russian operation; that's absolutely true. But we underestimate Russia at our peril."
As Russia’s war against the West continues, encompassing a range of activities including fake peace negotiations, I spoke to former MP, author and military officer Bob Seely about his new book on “Total War” and Russian strategy.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 PM
"We like the idea of plucky heroes who win in the end and are uncomfortable with horrendous dictatorships that learn and have the ruthlessness to see a plan through.There's myriad of elements of incompetence in the Russian operation; that's absolutely true. But we underestimate Russia at our peril."
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
🔴 Exclusive: Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK's biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation
bylinetimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
🔴 Exclusive: Nigel Farage’s £9m Donor Profits From Putin Propaganda Platform While Holding MoD Stake
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Reform UK’s biggest donor is profiting from ties to a pro-Kremlin platform that hosts a Russian intelligence-backed influence operation.
@nafeez.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/16/n...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Ministers look at depoliticising top BBC jobs
Crucial talks begin on corporation’s future amid efforts to protect it from government influence
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...
Crucial talks begin on corporation’s future amid efforts to protect it from government influence
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...
Ministers look at depoliticising top BBC jobs as Farage rides high in polls
Crucial talks begin on corporation’s future amid efforts to protect it from government influence
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Ministers look at depoliticising top BBC jobs
Crucial talks begin on corporation’s future amid efforts to protect it from government influence
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...
Crucial talks begin on corporation’s future amid efforts to protect it from government influence
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/d...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
And just like that, the historic Employment Rights Bill lands. Sick pay from day one. Day-one parental leave. Unfair dismissal rights after six months. Ban fire-and-rehire. Bereavement leave. Protections for pregnant women. Tougher redundancy rules. Fair Work Agency to enforce rights. #ukpolitics
December 16, 2025 at 5:48 PM
And just like that, the historic Employment Rights Bill lands. Sick pay from day one. Day-one parental leave. Unfair dismissal rights after six months. Ban fire-and-rehire. Bereavement leave. Protections for pregnant women. Tougher redundancy rules. Fair Work Agency to enforce rights. #ukpolitics
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
December 16, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Would be very reassuring to know how the majority of Brits are reacting to the news of Trump suing the BBC for $Bns.
A: “Oh just fuck off”
Or
B: “Good for him”
My money is on A.
I can almost hear us all shouting it at the news this morning.
A: “Oh just fuck off”
Or
B: “Good for him”
My money is on A.
I can almost hear us all shouting it at the news this morning.
December 16, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Would be very reassuring to know how the majority of Brits are reacting to the news of Trump suing the BBC for $Bns.
A: “Oh just fuck off”
Or
B: “Good for him”
My money is on A.
I can almost hear us all shouting it at the news this morning.
A: “Oh just fuck off”
Or
B: “Good for him”
My money is on A.
I can almost hear us all shouting it at the news this morning.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
"Never Copy & Paste text if a pop-up or browser window asks you to, no matter what website tells you to - it will give access to your account. Its never legitimate."
Now you don't need to read the story.
Now you don't need to read the story.
Shut Down And Restart—New Microsoft Attack Beats Passwords, 2FA And Passkeys
Shut Down And Restart—New Microsoft Attack Beats Passwords, 2FA And Passkeys
If you see this message, your Microsoft account is under attack by hackers.
www.forbes.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:50 PM
"Never Copy & Paste text if a pop-up or browser window asks you to, no matter what website tells you to - it will give access to your account. Its never legitimate."
Now you don't need to read the story.
Now you don't need to read the story.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Uk to rejoin Erasmus scheme - set to be confirmed formally tomorrow
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme
Exclusive: British students will be able to participate in EU-wide scheme from January 2027, sources say
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Uk to rejoin Erasmus scheme - set to be confirmed formally tomorrow
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
HURRAH! Petitions are crap at making gov'ts do things they don't want to. But they are good for two things: First, making them explain why they won't do something, but second (and more important) nudging/giving them permission to do something they DO want, but that's been crowded out bandwidth-wise.
UK to hold inquiry into foreign financial interference in domestic politics
Review, which will focus on effectiveness of political finance laws, follows conviction of former Reform politician for accepting bribes
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:03 PM
HURRAH! Petitions are crap at making gov'ts do things they don't want to. But they are good for two things: First, making them explain why they won't do something, but second (and more important) nudging/giving them permission to do something they DO want, but that's been crowded out bandwidth-wise.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
It’s so predictable.
Interesting background on Paul Doyle, who drove his car into the Liverpool parade www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
December 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It’s so predictable.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
BREAKING: Keir Starmer has launched a formal investigation into foreign election interference after a former senior Reform UK politician accepted bribes to promote Russian interests in the European Parliament
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reform’s Russian bribe case prompts election interference inquiry
The PM has ordered an investigation into foreign influence in politics after the ex-leader of Reform in Wales was jailed for taking cash to parrot Kremlin lines
www.thetimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
BREAKING: Keir Starmer has launched a formal investigation into foreign election interference after a former senior Reform UK politician accepted bribes to promote Russian interests in the European Parliament
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
The enemy within
December 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The enemy within
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
MI6 Chief gives speech. Speech may contain words that are interesting. But because MI6 Chief is a woman @telegraph.co.uk prints an article about her appearance, with no mention of the speech’s content.
December 16, 2025 at 7:48 AM
MI6 Chief gives speech. Speech may contain words that are interesting. But because MI6 Chief is a woman @telegraph.co.uk prints an article about her appearance, with no mention of the speech’s content.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
The long read: Ten years after I first followed the proposed route, I retraced my steps to see what life was like along the world’s most expensive, heavily delayed railway line
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:49 AM
‘We hate it. It’s desecration’: the real cost of HS2
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
So, Trump sues the BBC for $5Bn and puts the technology deal with the UK on hold until the US gets more concessions.
Anyone still deluding themselves about that “special relationship”? No. Just the tedious parade of simpering MAGA dickheads - led, of course, by the traitorous Farage.
Anyone still deluding themselves about that “special relationship”? No. Just the tedious parade of simpering MAGA dickheads - led, of course, by the traitorous Farage.
December 16, 2025 at 7:20 AM
So, Trump sues the BBC for $5Bn and puts the technology deal with the UK on hold until the US gets more concessions.
Anyone still deluding themselves about that “special relationship”? No. Just the tedious parade of simpering MAGA dickheads - led, of course, by the traitorous Farage.
Anyone still deluding themselves about that “special relationship”? No. Just the tedious parade of simpering MAGA dickheads - led, of course, by the traitorous Farage.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Mears, Serco, and Clearsprings oversee most asylum accommodation in UK and make huge profits doing so, despite a significant proportion of accommodation being substandard. It isn't people seeking safety costing taxpayers money, it's the firms making profits off of them.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Mears: Life in the asylum hotels generating 'excessive profit'
Asylum accommodation provider Mears has had to return £13.8m to the Home Office after making more profit than its contracts allow.
www.bbc.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Mears, Serco, and Clearsprings oversee most asylum accommodation in UK and make huge profits doing so, despite a significant proportion of accommodation being substandard. It isn't people seeking safety costing taxpayers money, it's the firms making profits off of them.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
Hardly a surprise. Any ‘agreement’ with Trump is just the start of attempts to extort more, as his various tariffs on Canada & Mexico have shown. In that respect, his approach to negotiations is similar to Putin’s. Deals are essentially worthless.
The US has suspended the technology deal with the UK that was signed during Donald Trump's state visit
www.ft.com/content/afd4...
www.ft.com/content/afd4...
US suspends technology deal with the UK
Washington pushes for concessions from London on the broader trade relationship
www.ft.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Hardly a surprise. Any ‘agreement’ with Trump is just the start of attempts to extort more, as his various tariffs on Canada & Mexico have shown. In that respect, his approach to negotiations is similar to Putin’s. Deals are essentially worthless.
Reposted by Joanna Nicolson
I’m intrigued by the proposition that anyone would feel they have security “guarantees” from Trump. Not worth the paper they’re written on, I should think.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/w...
Ukraine and Allies Agree on Security Guarantee for Peace Proposal
www.nytimes.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:03 AM
I’m intrigued by the proposition that anyone would feel they have security “guarantees” from Trump. Not worth the paper they’re written on, I should think.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/w...