@julianrgsmith.bsky.social
Enthusiast and Eternalist. Husband, Father, Reader, Collector.
Reposted
A relative moved back to the UK with their US partner, and neither of them could believe the level of service provided by the NHS
Medicare for 65+ and those who qualify (which isn't free) is nothing like NHS provision, and basic health insurance in the USA is $450–$680 PER MONTH
It's jaw dropping
Medicare for 65+ and those who qualify (which isn't free) is nothing like NHS provision, and basic health insurance in the USA is $450–$680 PER MONTH
It's jaw dropping
The UK is very different from Medicare. In Medicare you can mostly go to a specialist of your choice. Not in the UK
This is how most UHC works. Will Americans be ok with this change to Medicare ?
Referrals for specialist care - NHS share.google/X84C9oCy1rE1...
This is how most UHC works. Will Americans be ok with this change to Medicare ?
Referrals for specialist care - NHS share.google/X84C9oCy1rE1...
December 28, 2025 at 11:45 PM
A relative moved back to the UK with their US partner, and neither of them could believe the level of service provided by the NHS
Medicare for 65+ and those who qualify (which isn't free) is nothing like NHS provision, and basic health insurance in the USA is $450–$680 PER MONTH
It's jaw dropping
Medicare for 65+ and those who qualify (which isn't free) is nothing like NHS provision, and basic health insurance in the USA is $450–$680 PER MONTH
It's jaw dropping
Reposted
Don't need to imagine, Sinatra had something to say about multicultural liberal democracies 🧵
December 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Don't need to imagine, Sinatra had something to say about multicultural liberal democracies 🧵
Reposted
He'll start a war to:
1. Distract from the Epstein Files
2. Steal oil
3. Justify emergency powers
4. Justify use of the AEA for deportation/internment
5. Help the drug lord he just pardoned
1. Distract from the Epstein Files
2. Steal oil
3. Justify emergency powers
4. Justify use of the AEA for deportation/internment
5. Help the drug lord he just pardoned
December 17, 2025 at 2:08 AM
He'll start a war to:
1. Distract from the Epstein Files
2. Steal oil
3. Justify emergency powers
4. Justify use of the AEA for deportation/internment
5. Help the drug lord he just pardoned
1. Distract from the Epstein Files
2. Steal oil
3. Justify emergency powers
4. Justify use of the AEA for deportation/internment
5. Help the drug lord he just pardoned
Reposted
This is both disgusting and expected.
The Scumbag-in-Chief
The Scumbag-in-Chief
December 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM
This is both disgusting and expected.
The Scumbag-in-Chief
The Scumbag-in-Chief
Reposted
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted
The grasshopper gets it — divide and conquer. Today’s robber barons use the same playbook. But together, we have all the power. Watch.
November 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
The grasshopper gets it — divide and conquer. Today’s robber barons use the same playbook. But together, we have all the power. Watch.
Reposted
13k comments on one tweet is a massive payout. All of the tweets follow a certain formula, so the content is likely automated using AI technology (e.g., AI generated images and text). Basically running it as a money printing machine. But for those in the US, it translates to low simmering rage.
November 23, 2025 at 9:47 AM
13k comments on one tweet is a massive payout. All of the tweets follow a certain formula, so the content is likely automated using AI technology (e.g., AI generated images and text). Basically running it as a money printing machine. But for those in the US, it translates to low simmering rage.
Reposted
Hard for me to say how this is different from Fox News's entire business model, except that it's less sophisticated. This is transparently and obviously bad — and Elon should ban these accounts — but the spirit here of trading rage for money is pretty much a lot of right-wing media.
November 23, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Hard for me to say how this is different from Fox News's entire business model, except that it's less sophisticated. This is transparently and obviously bad — and Elon should ban these accounts — but the spirit here of trading rage for money is pretty much a lot of right-wing media.
Reposted
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted
Blanche didn’t ask Maxwell a single question about any of these emails. Then he moved her to Club Fed where she is served individual meals and has a puppy and numerous other special privileges while she prepares her clemency petition. WHY?
November 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Blanche didn’t ask Maxwell a single question about any of these emails. Then he moved her to Club Fed where she is served individual meals and has a puppy and numerous other special privileges while she prepares her clemency petition. WHY?
Reposted
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
Reposted
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
Reposted
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted
“When I was [at the BBC], at the height of Boris Johnson’s strength, that fear was ubiquitous. Scripts were sometimes written with a view not solely to their impartiality or truth, but the management of perception of impartiality from one side of the spectrum.“ @lewisgoodall.com
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:21 PM
“When I was [at the BBC], at the height of Boris Johnson’s strength, that fear was ubiquitous. Scripts were sometimes written with a view not solely to their impartiality or truth, but the management of perception of impartiality from one side of the spectrum.“ @lewisgoodall.com
Reposted
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted
It blows my mind that there are real people who see a post like this and actually believe the whole “Christmas is being cancelled by Muslims” BS 🙄
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
November 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
It blows my mind that there are real people who see a post like this and actually believe the whole “Christmas is being cancelled by Muslims” BS 🙄
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Let’s have a quick look at what’s happening to Sheffield so you can put your Express reading uncle’s mind at ease!😆
1/15
🧵
Reposted
The BBC should serve as an example to all that there is nothing you can give the far rabid right that will satisfy it.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
November 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The BBC should serve as an example to all that there is nothing you can give the far rabid right that will satisfy it.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
It has simpered, pandered, soft-balled and fluff-jobbed, both-sidesed and debased itself into being a platform for liars to look down the camera and lie on, & it still gets fucked.
Reposted
I don't know what is more depressing. That the BBC seems to have no clue what democratic socialism is or that someone who comments on politics for a living thinks it's the same as communism.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
I don't know what is more depressing. That the BBC seems to have no clue what democratic socialism is or that someone who comments on politics for a living thinks it's the same as communism.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
Jesus wept, indeed. GCSE, Introduction to Politics, Chapter 1, stuff.
Reposted
Mayor-elect Mamdani directly addresses President Trump: “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”
November 5, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Mayor-elect Mamdani directly addresses President Trump: “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”
Reposted
Reposted
This isn't a closing election argument, it's Vidkun Quisling explaining why surrender is better than resistance.
November 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
This isn't a closing election argument, it's Vidkun Quisling explaining why surrender is better than resistance.
Reposted
Today, Mike Johnson will keep the House adjourned for the 91st day out of the last 103.
12 days of work in 103 days.
With full pay and benefits.
The senate has been working, so this is not about the shutdown.
It is about avoiding a vote to release the Epstein files.
12 days of work in 103 days.
With full pay and benefits.
The senate has been working, so this is not about the shutdown.
It is about avoiding a vote to release the Epstein files.
November 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Today, Mike Johnson will keep the House adjourned for the 91st day out of the last 103.
12 days of work in 103 days.
With full pay and benefits.
The senate has been working, so this is not about the shutdown.
It is about avoiding a vote to release the Epstein files.
12 days of work in 103 days.
With full pay and benefits.
The senate has been working, so this is not about the shutdown.
It is about avoiding a vote to release the Epstein files.