John P. Asling
@johnpasling.bsky.social
I write and edit, and read far too much. My latest book is a poetry collection: Love After Love Has Failed. At Amazon, of course, but get your local bookstore to order it.
Great to be part of the Broadstairs (UK) Book Fair on the weekend. My three books are on sale at Amazon.
April 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Great to be part of the Broadstairs (UK) Book Fair on the weekend. My three books are on sale at Amazon.
Reposted by John P. Asling
Nigel Farage, who has repeatedly accused migrants of making women in the UK unsafe, is now refusing to act against a fellow Reform MP who was jailed for beating up his own girlfriend, and is now calling for a 'debate' on restricting women's reproductive rights
bylinetimes.com/2024/11/29/n...
bylinetimes.com/2024/11/29/n...
Nigel Farage Teams Up With Extreme Anti-Abortion Group and Calls for Debate on Restricting Abortion Rights in UK
The Reform Leader is joining forces with a US-based Christian legal group, which campaigns for abortion to be outlawed around the world
bylinetimes.com
December 4, 2024 at 2:41 PM
Nigel Farage, who has repeatedly accused migrants of making women in the UK unsafe, is now refusing to act against a fellow Reform MP who was jailed for beating up his own girlfriend, and is now calling for a 'debate' on restricting women's reproductive rights
bylinetimes.com/2024/11/29/n...
bylinetimes.com/2024/11/29/n...
Reposted by John P. Asling
Why did Jeff Bezos appoint Rupert Murdoch's right-hand man to the top job at Washington Post? To do his bidding. And when he did journalists & readers rebelled.
This week, I write about a parallel revolt inside the Guardian & Observer & why press ownership matters
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
This week, I write about a parallel revolt inside the Guardian & Observer & why press ownership matters
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
All The President's Men
Rupert Murdoch, Jeff Bezos & why press ownership matters.
open.substack.com
December 2, 2024 at 10:43 AM
Why did Jeff Bezos appoint Rupert Murdoch's right-hand man to the top job at Washington Post? To do his bidding. And when he did journalists & readers rebelled.
This week, I write about a parallel revolt inside the Guardian & Observer & why press ownership matters
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
This week, I write about a parallel revolt inside the Guardian & Observer & why press ownership matters
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Reposted by John P. Asling
"With the pardon decision, like his stubborn insistence on running for a second term he couldn’t win, Biden chose to prioritize his own feelings over the defense of his country," writes Jonathan Chait:
Biden’s Unpardonable Hypocrisy
The president vowed not to pardon his son Hunter—and then did so anyway.
theatlantic.com
December 2, 2024 at 1:23 PM
"With the pardon decision, like his stubborn insistence on running for a second term he couldn’t win, Biden chose to prioritize his own feelings over the defense of his country," writes Jonathan Chait:
Reposted by John P. Asling
Article in the Eastern Daily Press by Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley on 26 November 2024. "The government should look again at its figures - and make sure its policies add up to a new deal for farmers. One which sees tax loopholes closed, family farms supported, food security protected."
November 28, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Article in the Eastern Daily Press by Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley on 26 November 2024. "The government should look again at its figures - and make sure its policies add up to a new deal for farmers. One which sees tax loopholes closed, family farms supported, food security protected."
Reposted by John P. Asling
1. The implicit deal behind Starmerism was this: you might not like what he stands for (or fails to stand for), but at least he knows how to win elections. If you want the Tories out, he’s your only hope.
But now? It’s as if he’s going out of his way to lose in 2029. 🧵
But now? It’s as if he’s going out of his way to lose in 2029. 🧵
November 29, 2024 at 8:21 AM
1. The implicit deal behind Starmerism was this: you might not like what he stands for (or fails to stand for), but at least he knows how to win elections. If you want the Tories out, he’s your only hope.
But now? It’s as if he’s going out of his way to lose in 2029. 🧵
But now? It’s as if he’s going out of his way to lose in 2029. 🧵
Reposted by John P. Asling
Reposted by John P. Asling
Reposted by John P. Asling
a haunting front page, and rightfully so: we should be haunted by this. www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11...
November 26, 2024 at 9:34 AM
a haunting front page, and rightfully so: we should be haunted by this. www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11...
Reposted by John P. Asling
I'm concerned about the language that @uklabour.bsky.social is using on getting young people (the pandemic generation') into work ...
'Target', 'must', 'will lose' etc.
Most people would want to work. But for some a *lot* of help is necessary.
'Target', 'must', 'will lose' etc.
Most people would want to work. But for some a *lot* of help is necessary.
Young people who refuse to work to lose benefits, says minister
Liz Kendall says young people will have a responsibility to take up new opportunities for
www.bbc.co.uk
November 26, 2024 at 8:21 AM
I'm concerned about the language that @uklabour.bsky.social is using on getting young people (the pandemic generation') into work ...
'Target', 'must', 'will lose' etc.
Most people would want to work. But for some a *lot* of help is necessary.
'Target', 'must', 'will lose' etc.
Most people would want to work. But for some a *lot* of help is necessary.
Reposted by John P. Asling
Musk has now threatened the leaders of Canada,Brazil, Germany. X helped create a riot in the UK. Now it seems he doesn't want the UK to make its own legal decisions. Time to act?
"He asked why British far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson had been imprisoned at all. Musk also approvingly shared Robinson’s documentary to his more than 200 million followers"
Musk's interventions should be taken seriously. The ideological leanings of oligarchical media barons can affect us all.
Musk's interventions should be taken seriously. The ideological leanings of oligarchical media barons can affect us all.
Elon Musk brands UK a ‘tyrannical police state’
X owner shares a petition demanding a UK general election and boosts a far-right activist.
www.politico.eu
November 26, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Musk has now threatened the leaders of Canada,Brazil, Germany. X helped create a riot in the UK. Now it seems he doesn't want the UK to make its own legal decisions. Time to act?
Reposted by John P. Asling
Conservative world view
People with farms worth over £3 million ask to pay inheritance tax the same as every other business = cruel
Child poverty, food banks, no fault evictions, homelessness, hungry children, record NHS waiting lists, deminishing life expectancy = not cruel
People with farms worth over £3 million ask to pay inheritance tax the same as every other business = cruel
Child poverty, food banks, no fault evictions, homelessness, hungry children, record NHS waiting lists, deminishing life expectancy = not cruel
November 16, 2024 at 9:43 AM
Conservative world view
People with farms worth over £3 million ask to pay inheritance tax the same as every other business = cruel
Child poverty, food banks, no fault evictions, homelessness, hungry children, record NHS waiting lists, deminishing life expectancy = not cruel
People with farms worth over £3 million ask to pay inheritance tax the same as every other business = cruel
Child poverty, food banks, no fault evictions, homelessness, hungry children, record NHS waiting lists, deminishing life expectancy = not cruel
Reposted by John P. Asling
Reposted by John P. Asling
How much more evidence do we need, after 29 failures, that the climate COPs are not fit for purpose? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
There have been many proposals for a process that would actually work, but all are ignored.
The talks are MEANT to fail.
There have been many proposals for a process that would actually work, but all are ignored.
The talks are MEANT to fail.
November 24, 2024 at 10:18 AM
How much more evidence do we need, after 29 failures, that the climate COPs are not fit for purpose? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
There have been many proposals for a process that would actually work, but all are ignored.
The talks are MEANT to fail.
There have been many proposals for a process that would actually work, but all are ignored.
The talks are MEANT to fail.
Morning All. If you happen to be on England’s Kent coast today. Do come to the Broadstairs Book Fair!
November 24, 2024 at 8:18 AM
Morning All. If you happen to be on England’s Kent coast today. Do come to the Broadstairs Book Fair!
Reposted by John P. Asling
Morning!
Can someone explain why anyone listens to Reform?
They lied about Brexit (spoiler: it’s a disaster).
Now they’re lying about climate change (apparently, it doesn’t exist).
And yet… millions still vote for them 🗳️.
What’s in the water? #MorningMadness
Can someone explain why anyone listens to Reform?
They lied about Brexit (spoiler: it’s a disaster).
Now they’re lying about climate change (apparently, it doesn’t exist).
And yet… millions still vote for them 🗳️.
What’s in the water? #MorningMadness
November 24, 2024 at 7:28 AM
Morning!
Can someone explain why anyone listens to Reform?
They lied about Brexit (spoiler: it’s a disaster).
Now they’re lying about climate change (apparently, it doesn’t exist).
And yet… millions still vote for them 🗳️.
What’s in the water? #MorningMadness
Can someone explain why anyone listens to Reform?
They lied about Brexit (spoiler: it’s a disaster).
Now they’re lying about climate change (apparently, it doesn’t exist).
And yet… millions still vote for them 🗳️.
What’s in the water? #MorningMadness
Reposted by John P. Asling
Thank you to the OSCE for inviting me to give the keynote at their summit on media freedom. And the opportunity to speak about the grave threat to press freedom that the Guardian’s hasty & - we believe - reckless bid to sell the Observer poses. Ownership matters.
Observer writer @carolecadwalla.bsky.social has been warned by Guardian management to "desist" after recently making statements about the proposed sale of the title to Tortoise. She has just denounced the deal at an international conference on press freedom pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/c...
Observer writer speaks out over 'grave threat' to title at press freedom conference
The Observer's Carole Cadwalladr has denounced plans to sell the title to Tortoise despite being reprimanded over previous statements.
pressgazette.co.uk
November 22, 2024 at 7:39 PM
Thank you to the OSCE for inviting me to give the keynote at their summit on media freedom. And the opportunity to speak about the grave threat to press freedom that the Guardian’s hasty & - we believe - reckless bid to sell the Observer poses. Ownership matters.
Reposted by John P. Asling
🔴Nigel Farage and an ‘Extraordinary Lack of Curiosity’ from Intelligence Services Over Possible Russian Interference in Brexit
“It did strike me as ridiculous that, given the overt nationalism of the Leave.EU campaign, it was involved in discussions with representatives of the Russian Government”
“It did strike me as ridiculous that, given the overt nationalism of the Leave.EU campaign, it was involved in discussions with representatives of the Russian Government”
Nigel Farage and an 'Extraordinary Lack of Curiosity' from UK Government and Intelligence Services Over Possible Russian Interference in Brexit
"It did strike me as ridiculous that, given the overt nationalism of the Leave.EU campaign, it was involved in discussions with representatives of the Russian Government"
bylinetimes.com
November 22, 2024 at 10:54 AM
🔴Nigel Farage and an ‘Extraordinary Lack of Curiosity’ from Intelligence Services Over Possible Russian Interference in Brexit
“It did strike me as ridiculous that, given the overt nationalism of the Leave.EU campaign, it was involved in discussions with representatives of the Russian Government”
“It did strike me as ridiculous that, given the overt nationalism of the Leave.EU campaign, it was involved in discussions with representatives of the Russian Government”
Reposted by John P. Asling
Don't forget that Dr. Oz:
- Pushed Medicare privatization plans on his show
- Owns up to $600k in stock in private insurers
- Has ties to pyramid scheme companies that promote fake medical cures
His main qualification to oversee Medicare & Medicaid is loyalty to Trump.
- Pushed Medicare privatization plans on his show
- Owns up to $600k in stock in private insurers
- Has ties to pyramid scheme companies that promote fake medical cures
His main qualification to oversee Medicare & Medicaid is loyalty to Trump.
November 20, 2024 at 8:08 PM
Don't forget that Dr. Oz:
- Pushed Medicare privatization plans on his show
- Owns up to $600k in stock in private insurers
- Has ties to pyramid scheme companies that promote fake medical cures
His main qualification to oversee Medicare & Medicaid is loyalty to Trump.
- Pushed Medicare privatization plans on his show
- Owns up to $600k in stock in private insurers
- Has ties to pyramid scheme companies that promote fake medical cures
His main qualification to oversee Medicare & Medicaid is loyalty to Trump.
Reposted by John P. Asling
All the evidence shows importance of greater access to nature, so cuts to England’s national parks are short-sighted & self-defeating. Instead Govt should reform them, give them a strong nature recovery focus & recognise their contribution to health & wellbeing www.theguardian.com/environment/...
England’s national parks facing financial peril due to budget cuts, say CEOs
Leaders warn cost savings will lead to mass redundancies and that spaces could become ‘paper parks’
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2024 at 9:20 AM
All the evidence shows importance of greater access to nature, so cuts to England’s national parks are short-sighted & self-defeating. Instead Govt should reform them, give them a strong nature recovery focus & recognise their contribution to health & wellbeing www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by John P. Asling
'This cannot go on': Hundreds of thousands of people turning to food banks for the first time
Food banks in the Trussell network are now handing out 69% more emergency food parcels than 5 years ago
Poverty in the UK is the big issue we should all be talking about
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Food banks in the Trussell network are now handing out 69% more emergency food parcels than 5 years ago
Poverty in the UK is the big issue we should all be talking about
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Hundreds of thousands of people turning to food banks for the first time
Campaigners are calling for the government to end "the normalisation of a charitable response to poverty", including food banks.
www.bigissue.com
November 20, 2024 at 11:29 AM
'This cannot go on': Hundreds of thousands of people turning to food banks for the first time
Food banks in the Trussell network are now handing out 69% more emergency food parcels than 5 years ago
Poverty in the UK is the big issue we should all be talking about
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Food banks in the Trussell network are now handing out 69% more emergency food parcels than 5 years ago
Poverty in the UK is the big issue we should all be talking about
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...
Reposted by John P. Asling
Zuckerberg owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post.
Elon Musk owns Twitter/X.
When multi-billionaires take control of our most vital platforms for communication, it’s not a win for free speech. It’s a win for oligarchy
Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post.
Elon Musk owns Twitter/X.
When multi-billionaires take control of our most vital platforms for communication, it’s not a win for free speech. It’s a win for oligarchy
November 19, 2024 at 5:01 PM
Zuckerberg owns Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post.
Elon Musk owns Twitter/X.
When multi-billionaires take control of our most vital platforms for communication, it’s not a win for free speech. It’s a win for oligarchy
Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post.
Elon Musk owns Twitter/X.
When multi-billionaires take control of our most vital platforms for communication, it’s not a win for free speech. It’s a win for oligarchy
Reposted by John P. Asling
If you bring central London to a halt in order to campaign against catastrophic climate change then you're a "barmy" eco "fanatic" who deserves to be locked up.
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
November 19, 2024 at 10:22 AM
If you bring central London to a halt in order to campaign against catastrophic climate change then you're a "barmy" eco "fanatic" who deserves to be locked up.
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
If you do the same to hang on to your multimillion pound inheritance tax exemption then you're a brave freedom fighter defying the odds
Reposted by John P. Asling
Jeremy Clarkson is turning up to the protest tomorrow.
A reminder that he bought his 312-acre farm in 2012 for £4.25million in HIS OWN WORDS so that he:
*would not be required pay death duties on the land*
A reminder that he bought his 312-acre farm in 2012 for £4.25million in HIS OWN WORDS so that he:
*would not be required pay death duties on the land*
November 18, 2024 at 11:01 PM
Jeremy Clarkson is turning up to the protest tomorrow.
A reminder that he bought his 312-acre farm in 2012 for £4.25million in HIS OWN WORDS so that he:
*would not be required pay death duties on the land*
A reminder that he bought his 312-acre farm in 2012 for £4.25million in HIS OWN WORDS so that he:
*would not be required pay death duties on the land*
Reposted by John P. Asling
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist”
- James Baldwin
- James Baldwin
November 18, 2024 at 5:15 AM
“We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist”
- James Baldwin
- James Baldwin