Reposted by Melanie
Could have been the UK, we had 3 times as much oil and gas.
Instead it was sold off by Thatcher for pennies and you got nothing.
Instead it was sold off by Thatcher for pennies and you got nothing.
January 1, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Could have been the UK, we had 3 times as much oil and gas.
Instead it was sold off by Thatcher for pennies and you got nothing.
Instead it was sold off by Thatcher for pennies and you got nothing.
Reposted by Melanie
AOC: New York City has chosen the ambitious pursuit of universal childcare, affordable rents and housing and clean and dignified public transit for all. We have chosen that over the distractions of bigotry and the barbarism of extreme income inequality
January 1, 2026 at 6:47 PM
AOC: New York City has chosen the ambitious pursuit of universal childcare, affordable rents and housing and clean and dignified public transit for all. We have chosen that over the distractions of bigotry and the barbarism of extreme income inequality
Reposted by Melanie
An extraordinary, brilliant line.
Mamdani: For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty
January 1, 2026 at 9:30 PM
An extraordinary, brilliant line.
Reposted by Melanie
In 2025 I read a bunch of books. Here are my favourites, in no particular order...
January 1, 2026 at 10:11 PM
In 2025 I read a bunch of books. Here are my favourites, in no particular order...
Reposted by Melanie
Oh my goodness, this Wall Street Journal piece about Trump's ailing health that includes an interview with him (gift link). There are a number of ridiculous details in it and I'll put a few of them in this thread. (1/6)
Exclusive | As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance
In an interview, President Trump—the oldest man to assume the office—said he has eschewed some advice from his doctors and regrets getting advanced imaging.
www.wsj.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Oh my goodness, this Wall Street Journal piece about Trump's ailing health that includes an interview with him (gift link). There are a number of ridiculous details in it and I'll put a few of them in this thread. (1/6)
Reposted by Melanie
"I write this letter, as I wrote my original letter ... simply because, in the light of having worked for nearly fifty years in education and mental health, I regard these pupils’ accounts to be painfully authentic and sadly consistent with Farage’s previously recorded views and behaviours."
‘Of course he abused pupils’: ex-Dulwich teacher speaks out about Farage racism claims
Exclusive: Chloë Deakin tells how she wrote to Dulwich college master to argue against Farage’s nomination as prefect
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:39 PM
"I write this letter, as I wrote my original letter ... simply because, in the light of having worked for nearly fifty years in education and mental health, I regard these pupils’ accounts to be painfully authentic and sadly consistent with Farage’s previously recorded views and behaviours."
Reposted by Melanie
This must be stopped: Netherlands New Year chaos sees two killed by fireworks www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Netherlands New Year chaos sees two killed by fireworks
A 17-year-old boy from Nijmegen and a 38-year-old man from Aalsmeer, were killed in fireworks accidents. Three others were left seriously injured.
www.dailymail.co.uk
January 1, 2026 at 2:06 PM
This must be stopped: Netherlands New Year chaos sees two killed by fireworks www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Melanie
Imagine trying to catch the US Defence Sec, during the short window after "tetchy", because he hasn't drunk enough yet, but before "maudlin", after he's had too much - so that he might read a status report from the battle front of a fkn war.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
January 1, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Imagine trying to catch the US Defence Sec, during the short window after "tetchy", because he hasn't drunk enough yet, but before "maudlin", after he's had too much - so that he might read a status report from the battle front of a fkn war.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Melanie
“It’s having zero effect. It’s maybe solidifying our core support" says Nigel Farage of the media scrutiny of the testimony of fellow Dulwich College pupils recalling antisemitic and racist abuse from Farage as a teenager
January 1, 2026 at 2:27 PM
“It’s having zero effect. It’s maybe solidifying our core support" says Nigel Farage of the media scrutiny of the testimony of fellow Dulwich College pupils recalling antisemitic and racist abuse from Farage as a teenager
Reposted by Melanie
From Geebeebies, no less.
If 90% of Deform UK's online support is Russian Bots, how about extrapolating that to online polling numbers?
If 90% of Deform UK's online support is Russian Bots, how about extrapolating that to online polling numbers?
December 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
From Geebeebies, no less.
If 90% of Deform UK's online support is Russian Bots, how about extrapolating that to online polling numbers?
If 90% of Deform UK's online support is Russian Bots, how about extrapolating that to online polling numbers?
Reposted by Melanie
Hysterical watching Iran’s Revolutionary Guard trying to bend reality to its will. The Fars News Agency which it runs: “the demonstration consisted of 200 people with about 5-10 chanting slogans that went beyond economic concerns”.
Videos shared by Iranians show thousands on the streets. 1/2
Videos shared by Iranians show thousands on the streets. 1/2
December 31, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Hysterical watching Iran’s Revolutionary Guard trying to bend reality to its will. The Fars News Agency which it runs: “the demonstration consisted of 200 people with about 5-10 chanting slogans that went beyond economic concerns”.
Videos shared by Iranians show thousands on the streets. 1/2
Videos shared by Iranians show thousands on the streets. 1/2
Reposted by Melanie
Eli Weinstein promised to reform — but after his release he took on an alias and started another Ponzi scheme.
Freed by Trump, a $200 Million Fraudster Started a New Scam
Eli Weinstein promised to reform — but after his release he took on an alias and started another Ponzi scheme.
bloom.bg
December 31, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Eli Weinstein promised to reform — but after his release he took on an alias and started another Ponzi scheme.
Reposted by Melanie
Mark Zuckerberg earned just $1 at Meta in 2024. Elon Musk made $0 at Tesla. They're not alone. A tax law professor explains how the ultrawealthy legally avoid income taxes while their wealth grows by billions annually.
Billionaires with $1 salaries – and other legal tax dodges the ultrawealthy use to keep their riches
The richest Americans can largely avoid paying income and other taxes. A new book explains the history.
buff.ly
December 31, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Mark Zuckerberg earned just $1 at Meta in 2024. Elon Musk made $0 at Tesla. They're not alone. A tax law professor explains how the ultrawealthy legally avoid income taxes while their wealth grows by billions annually.
Reposted by Melanie
DHS now says it's aiming for 100 million deportations. In an amazing coincidence, there are 104 million Black and Hispanic people living in the U.S. right now.
![@DHSgov on X: The peace of a nation no longer besieged by the third world.
[Image of a beach] America after 100 million deportations](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eppsmw5nfmdzhfeymtzd3xbe/bafkreiccvipzc5mayvbrzoo3cxhkp2iayuhphh4grk6lziqajuk7d2leee@jpeg)
December 31, 2025 at 11:04 PM
DHS now says it's aiming for 100 million deportations. In an amazing coincidence, there are 104 million Black and Hispanic people living in the U.S. right now.
Reposted by Melanie
The idea that we need to deport 100 million people - almost one out of every three Americans! - was, a year ago, a deranged claim you’d hear from neo-Nazis to give themselves permission for limitless mass violence. Now it’s coming directly from this horrific agency’s horrific press office
January 1, 2026 at 1:51 AM
The idea that we need to deport 100 million people - almost one out of every three Americans! - was, a year ago, a deranged claim you’d hear from neo-Nazis to give themselves permission for limitless mass violence. Now it’s coming directly from this horrific agency’s horrific press office
Reposted by Melanie
Georgia meets the year 2026 not just with more political prisoners per capita than in Russia, but also with 20% of the population receiving state assistance!
It’s 708,000 people out of less than 3.7 million population.
1/
It’s 708,000 people out of less than 3.7 million population.
1/
December 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Georgia meets the year 2026 not just with more political prisoners per capita than in Russia, but also with 20% of the population receiving state assistance!
It’s 708,000 people out of less than 3.7 million population.
1/
It’s 708,000 people out of less than 3.7 million population.
1/
Reposted by Melanie
NEW
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
December 31, 2025 at 1:32 PM
NEW
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
When should social media posts have legal consequences?
Comparing and contrasting the cases of Lucy Connolly and Alaa Abd El-Fattah
By me, at @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
Reposted by Melanie
What possible explanation could there be for this, other than making the conditions and suffering of Palestinians even more horrific and accelerating the genocide?
December 31, 2025 at 9:43 AM
What possible explanation could there be for this, other than making the conditions and suffering of Palestinians even more horrific and accelerating the genocide?
Reposted by Melanie
"Mar-a-Lago spa’s practice of dispatching workers to Epstein’s home has not been previously reported ... The Mar-a-Lago bosses told the message therapist Epstein preferred spa services in the privacy of his own home, and warned the employee Epstein sometimes exposed himself during massages."
Exclusive | The Incident That Prompted Trump to Ban Epstein From Mar-a-Lago’s Spa
Mar-a-Lago sent an 18-year-old spa worker on a house call to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. She complained to her bosses that Epstein pressured her for sex.
www.wsj.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
"Mar-a-Lago spa’s practice of dispatching workers to Epstein’s home has not been previously reported ... The Mar-a-Lago bosses told the message therapist Epstein preferred spa services in the privacy of his own home, and warned the employee Epstein sometimes exposed himself during massages."
Reposted by Melanie
Appropriately David Shipley managed to combine a job evangelizing for Brexit with a financial fraud.
His credibility is in the bin.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
His credibility is in the bin.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
'Brexit film' producer jailed for £500k loan application fraud - BBC News
David Shipley, who produced Brexit: The Movie, doctored his payslips in a bid to secure funds.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Appropriately David Shipley managed to combine a job evangelizing for Brexit with a financial fraud.
His credibility is in the bin.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
His credibility is in the bin.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-engl...
Reposted by Melanie
Good piece by @attorneynora.bsky.social ⬇️
December 31, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Good piece by @attorneynora.bsky.social ⬇️
Reposted by Melanie
We’d agree with you.
December 31, 2025 at 5:39 PM
We’d agree with you.
Reposted by Melanie
The Trump Justice Department has roughly 5.2 million pages of Epstein files documents still to be reviewed and released to the public.
All documents were supposed to be released on December 19.
The Department is in violation of the law Trump himself signed. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/u...
All documents were supposed to be released on December 19.
The Department is in violation of the law Trump himself signed. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/u...
Justice Dept. Is Now Said to Be Reviewing 5.2 Million Pages of Epstein Files
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The Trump Justice Department has roughly 5.2 million pages of Epstein files documents still to be reviewed and released to the public.
All documents were supposed to be released on December 19.
The Department is in violation of the law Trump himself signed. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/u...
All documents were supposed to be released on December 19.
The Department is in violation of the law Trump himself signed. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/u...
Reposted by Melanie
A rather glum New Year’s Eve Times column on Scottish independence and the rise of Reform UK.
www.thetimes.com/article/57aa...
www.thetimes.com/article/57aa...
Farage is pushing Scotland to independence
Wales and Northern Ireland may not be far behind as the further right Westminster goes, the more the Union falters
www.thetimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A rather glum New Year’s Eve Times column on Scottish independence and the rise of Reform UK.
www.thetimes.com/article/57aa...
www.thetimes.com/article/57aa...