Rob
@robg8.bsky.social
Welshman living across the bridge. Interested in 🇪🇦🇫🇷🇬🇷🇪🇺 and Latin America. And in history, law, & politics - and sci-fi!
Reposted by Rob
The creation of CSAM on X is unrelated to whether children use the site or not. So what Badenoch appears to be arguing is that only adults should be allowed to look at CSAM. She’s also implying that that it’s rather judgy and illiberal of the govt to “not like” a CSAM generator
Kemi going to bat for the non-consensual, violent, child porn app formerly known as X.
January 12, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The creation of CSAM on X is unrelated to whether children use the site or not. So what Badenoch appears to be arguing is that only adults should be allowed to look at CSAM. She’s also implying that that it’s rather judgy and illiberal of the govt to “not like” a CSAM generator
Reposted by Rob
One basic pattern here is that DHS officials are engaging in violence simply because they are irritated at citizens protesting them. There is no plausible threat of violence here. He just wants to inflict pain, and believes there will be no penalty for doing so.
Big clash this afternoon between DHS agents and protesters in a residential street in Minneapolis, following a DHS agent hitting another vehicle. Tear gas was deployed in people’s yards and agents pepper prayed people.
January 12, 2026 at 10:09 PM
One basic pattern here is that DHS officials are engaging in violence simply because they are irritated at citizens protesting them. There is no plausible threat of violence here. He just wants to inflict pain, and believes there will be no penalty for doing so.
Reposted by Rob
there should be some sort of rule prohibiting describing the politicians who held roles in the Johnson interregnum period (after everyone resigned and before the Truss interregnum) as really holding the office they were appointed to for 6 weeks or so.
January 12, 2026 at 12:30 PM
there should be some sort of rule prohibiting describing the politicians who held roles in the Johnson interregnum period (after everyone resigned and before the Truss interregnum) as really holding the office they were appointed to for 6 weeks or so.
Reposted by Rob
Barely anyone is going to see this, but if you’ve ever asked why X isn’t banned in the UK yet despite creating CSAM, it’s because the US government has enforced a worldwide policy of blackmail protecting the American tech oligarchy. It’s why TikTok can be banned but X cannot.
“Why can’t we have any regulations for US tech in Britain?”
Because the US trade rep has gone to every country including Britain and said if we regulate tech in a way that favours our people, industries and national interests, the US will bury us in tariffs and ruin our economy.
Because the US trade rep has gone to every country including Britain and said if we regulate tech in a way that favours our people, industries and national interests, the US will bury us in tariffs and ruin our economy.
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Barely anyone is going to see this, but if you’ve ever asked why X isn’t banned in the UK yet despite creating CSAM, it’s because the US government has enforced a worldwide policy of blackmail protecting the American tech oligarchy. It’s why TikTok can be banned but X cannot.
Reposted by Rob
"Disappointing Number Of Deaths in the Deadliest Place On Earth", writes the Telegraph
January 12, 2026 at 7:09 AM
"Disappointing Number Of Deaths in the Deadliest Place On Earth", writes the Telegraph
Reposted by Rob
This is how authoritarian regimes operate
Use the law, and the agencies of enforcement, against *anyone* who stands in your way
Partly to punish them, but mainly to make sure everyone else does what you want
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Use the law, and the agencies of enforcement, against *anyone* who stands in your way
Partly to punish them, but mainly to make sure everyone else does what you want
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
US prosecutors launch criminal investigation into Federal Reserve’s Jay Powell
Chair says probe follows central bank’s refusal to bow to White House push for much lower interest rates
giftarticle.ft.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:46 AM
This is how authoritarian regimes operate
Use the law, and the agencies of enforcement, against *anyone* who stands in your way
Partly to punish them, but mainly to make sure everyone else does what you want
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Use the law, and the agencies of enforcement, against *anyone* who stands in your way
Partly to punish them, but mainly to make sure everyone else does what you want
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Rob
hey quick q Bari Weiss, is it good if the Golden Globes host feels able to make jokes about how bad things are going at your job not even six months into you doing it
January 12, 2026 at 9:11 AM
hey quick q Bari Weiss, is it good if the Golden Globes host feels able to make jokes about how bad things are going at your job not even six months into you doing it
Reposted by Rob
I see the fearsome no-bullshit no-snowflake chads running America are frightened about marauding "gangs of wine mums".
Don't tell them about the book club triads or the knitting circle mafia, they'll wet themselves.
Don't tell them about the book club triads or the knitting circle mafia, they'll wet themselves.
January 11, 2026 at 9:28 PM
I see the fearsome no-bullshit no-snowflake chads running America are frightened about marauding "gangs of wine mums".
Don't tell them about the book club triads or the knitting circle mafia, they'll wet themselves.
Don't tell them about the book club triads or the knitting circle mafia, they'll wet themselves.
Reposted by Rob
"i am sorry for what i have done in the past and don't yet know how to fix it, but don't want to make it worse" is legitimately about the level best you can hope for someone like this to say, and it should be strongly encouraged anywhere we see it
Losing my shit at Ashley St Clair doing a reverse Naomi Wolf.
January 11, 2026 at 8:13 PM
"i am sorry for what i have done in the past and don't yet know how to fix it, but don't want to make it worse" is legitimately about the level best you can hope for someone like this to say, and it should be strongly encouraged anywhere we see it
Reposted by Rob
Mad: a woman has bren forced to stop running the Spine Race Challenger (108 miles up the pennine way) because of death threats.
She was raising money for Afghan women and aid.
So some fucks decided to threaten to kill her. For running.
You can donage here:
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
She was raising money for Afghan women and aid.
So some fucks decided to threaten to kill her. For running.
You can donage here:
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
Donate to Sarah Porter Spine Race 2026, organized by Maria Hughes
Run for freedom.
A challenge like no other for a cause like no other.
The Spine Ultram… Maria Hughes needs your support for Sarah Porter Spine Race 2026
www.gofundme.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:08 AM
Mad: a woman has bren forced to stop running the Spine Race Challenger (108 miles up the pennine way) because of death threats.
She was raising money for Afghan women and aid.
So some fucks decided to threaten to kill her. For running.
You can donage here:
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
She was raising money for Afghan women and aid.
So some fucks decided to threaten to kill her. For running.
You can donage here:
www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-port...
Reposted by Rob
This is essential: a democracy *must* know who is paying its politicians and where that money is coming from.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Seven Select Committee Chairs have written jointly to the Prime Minister calling for an explicit ban on cryptocurrency donations in the forthcoming Elections Bill.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
January 12, 2026 at 9:24 AM
This is essential: a democracy *must* know who is paying its politicians and where that money is coming from.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Reposted by Rob
Reading through the 1920s newspapers was about rise of Fascism, occupation of Ruhr, and civil wars in Russia and Ireland. And then ”markets continue to thrive”.
January 12, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Reading through the 1920s newspapers was about rise of Fascism, occupation of Ruhr, and civil wars in Russia and Ireland. And then ”markets continue to thrive”.
Reposted by Rob
Reading through the FT at the moment is a strange experience: revolution, war, disaster, brutal autocratic oppression, mad dictator shit....and then "markets continue to thrive"; "record profits".
January 12, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Reading through the FT at the moment is a strange experience: revolution, war, disaster, brutal autocratic oppression, mad dictator shit....and then "markets continue to thrive"; "record profits".
Reposted by Rob
Hellhole not actually a hellhole.
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade
Sadiq Khan says ‘public health’ approach has made the capital one of the safest cities in the western world
London’s murder rate has dropped to its lowest in more than a decade with police in the capital and the mayor saying it is now one of the safest cities in the western world.
The figures come as those on the radical right criticise the city for having a crime problem, hoping to gain politically from such claims being believed. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Hellhole not actually a hellhole.
Reposted by Rob
Serious and compelling analysis from @philipstephens.bsky.social, which is consonant with @martinsandbu.ft.com's piece today: www.ft.com/content/1da0... (and FWVLIW with my latest blogpost). We Europeans (whether EU MS or not) are going to have to face up to this, and the sooner the better. 1/2
January 11, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Serious and compelling analysis from @philipstephens.bsky.social, which is consonant with @martinsandbu.ft.com's piece today: www.ft.com/content/1da0... (and FWVLIW with my latest blogpost). We Europeans (whether EU MS or not) are going to have to face up to this, and the sooner the better. 1/2
Reposted by Rob
Fundamentally, these numbers are just silly so it is better to understand this system as a de facto graduate tax that your parents can buy your way out of.
It's not strictly accurate but it does probably lead you to a better assessment for policy making purposes.
It's not strictly accurate but it does probably lead you to a better assessment for policy making purposes.
Student loans went from 'zero' to 'not zero but largely repayable' to 'large and largely not repayable'
January 11, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Fundamentally, these numbers are just silly so it is better to understand this system as a de facto graduate tax that your parents can buy your way out of.
It's not strictly accurate but it does probably lead you to a better assessment for policy making purposes.
It's not strictly accurate but it does probably lead you to a better assessment for policy making purposes.
Reposted by Rob
This is not exercising freedom of speech. This is misogynistic intimidation.
January 11, 2026 at 3:56 PM
This is not exercising freedom of speech. This is misogynistic intimidation.
Reposted by Rob
a true stealth tax. enormous rise in income tax on the top half of the distribution, but grandfathered in so it didn't hit Tory voters.
Student loans went from 'zero' to 'not zero but largely repayable' to 'large and largely not repayable'
January 11, 2026 at 7:57 PM
a true stealth tax. enormous rise in income tax on the top half of the distribution, but grandfathered in so it didn't hit Tory voters.
Reposted by Rob
Look, does our university fee system create an active market in higher education? No.
But does it function to incentivise investment in your education and encourage aspiration? Well, also no.
But at least it does fund the universities? Ha, you're not going to believe this.
But does it function to incentivise investment in your education and encourage aspiration? Well, also no.
But at least it does fund the universities? Ha, you're not going to believe this.
Not least because if you actually *want* more people to do high paying tertiary qualifications, you’re creating a weird situation where an electrician on a higher salary is paying less tax than an English teacher. Not clear what the value of this is.
January 11, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Look, does our university fee system create an active market in higher education? No.
But does it function to incentivise investment in your education and encourage aspiration? Well, also no.
But at least it does fund the universities? Ha, you're not going to believe this.
But does it function to incentivise investment in your education and encourage aspiration? Well, also no.
But at least it does fund the universities? Ha, you're not going to believe this.
Reposted by Rob
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Slashing jury trials could clear courts backlog within a decade, says Lammy
Exclusive: Lord chancellor urges MPs to back judge-only trials in thousands of criminal cases in England and Wales
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Properly funding the court system would clear the backlog even more quickly.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Rob
An interesting point is that while centre left parties are terrified about upsetting those who don't like their ideas (good or bad ones), the right absolutely do not give a monkeys about c. 60% of the country thinking they are hideous.
Labour must demonstrably and vocally own:
1. Closer ties with the EU
2. Net zero
3. A respectful, no more, relationship with the US
4. Uncompromising hostility to racism
Then hope the economy improves. Yes, it's what I want but it's also what most voters want. Only Reform voters don't. Forget them.
1. Closer ties with the EU
2. Net zero
3. A respectful, no more, relationship with the US
4. Uncompromising hostility to racism
Then hope the economy improves. Yes, it's what I want but it's also what most voters want. Only Reform voters don't. Forget them.
January 11, 2026 at 10:35 AM
An interesting point is that while centre left parties are terrified about upsetting those who don't like their ideas (good or bad ones), the right absolutely do not give a monkeys about c. 60% of the country thinking they are hideous.
Reposted by Rob
There's a stat about halfway through that skilled worker visas are down 36%, something Mike Tapp is very proud of, and it just exposes the key flaw in this strategy.
They have made Britain a poorer, less appealing place to be to attack a group the public quite likes and so confidence falls further.
They have made Britain a poorer, less appealing place to be to attack a group the public quite likes and so confidence falls further.
January 11, 2026 at 7:50 AM
There's a stat about halfway through that skilled worker visas are down 36%, something Mike Tapp is very proud of, and it just exposes the key flaw in this strategy.
They have made Britain a poorer, less appealing place to be to attack a group the public quite likes and so confidence falls further.
They have made Britain a poorer, less appealing place to be to attack a group the public quite likes and so confidence falls further.
Reposted by Rob
Oh, don’t worry guys, you won’t be ‘Americans’. The regime that is going to invade your nation doesn’t even think Barack Obama is an American, so they’re definitely not going to extend the courtesy to you.
Greenlanders ‘don’t want to be Americans’, say political leaders amid Trump threats
Greenlanders ‘don’t want to be Americans’, say political leaders amid Trump threats
Five parties issue joint statement after US president warns he would occupy island ‘the nice way or the more difficult way’
Greenlanders “don’t want to be Americans” and must decide the future of the Arctic island themselves, politicians in the self-governing Danish territory have said, after Donald Trump warned the US would “do something whether they like it or not”.
The leaders of five political parties in the Greenlandic parliament issued a united statement on Friday night, soon after the US president reiterated his threats to acquire the mineral-rich island. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Oh, don’t worry guys, you won’t be ‘Americans’. The regime that is going to invade your nation doesn’t even think Barack Obama is an American, so they’re definitely not going to extend the courtesy to you.
Reposted by Rob
I’m pretty sceptical of unity of the virtues, but the modern world gives more examples of unity of the vices than I’d expected.
you know how if you try and make LLMs more racist, they also end up more sexist and pro-genocide? this is the human example of that. evil isn't a single thing, if you start down one path you keep ending up at the same destination.
Graham's all about 'protecting women'
January 9, 2026 at 6:04 PM
I’m pretty sceptical of unity of the virtues, but the modern world gives more examples of unity of the vices than I’d expected.
Reposted by Rob
Sen. Murphy: They're trying to rationalize violence. Part of the reason Trump rewrote the narrative on January 6th, that they rushed to call this person in Minneapolis a domestic terrorist, is they want you to believe violence is normal. They are thinking they might need violence to stay in power
January 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Sen. Murphy: They're trying to rationalize violence. Part of the reason Trump rewrote the narrative on January 6th, that they rushed to call this person in Minneapolis a domestic terrorist, is they want you to believe violence is normal. They are thinking they might need violence to stay in power