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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 8h

Apart from England, who voted Brexit. Wasn’t Scotland or NI

have had a deep suspicion ever since. Possibly unfairly and yet here we are again

Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 8h

Clubby, chummy

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

Chairman Moët @chairmanmoet.bsky.social · 12h

There's a touch of the Liz Truss about Kemi Badenoch. Both in the tax cut paid for by fantasy figures and also a belief there's This One Special Trick The British State Doesn't Want You To Know About! that will somehow solve everything.
Be rude to some civil servants and the UK's problems vanish!

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

Casper Hoed @telecasper.bsky.social · 16h

The sort of epistemological naiveté you wouldn't even accept from an undergraduate.

Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 17h

Matthew Syed, who recently wrote a long read about why he just joined the Conservatives, objected to his BBC introduction including this fact: "Yes, I just joined the Conservatives, but I still see myself, first and foremost, as an objective journalist, if I may say so."

Phew! Glad that's settled.

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 10h

This is true

And yet, whilst i support criticising starmer for this and much more, it feels like the regular, pre-Brexit, normal criticising we should be doing

Not the hysterical “change the PM every year” nonsense we hear from so many quarters

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

The i Paper @theipaper.com · 11h

Opinion | Starmer has not prioritised growth, not really. He has done what British governments have been doing for over a decade: prioritising anti-immigration policy and focusing on growth only where it does not interfere with it

🖋 @iandunt.bsky.social

Read more: trib.al/HHn51XN

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 10h

Was it room 101 that was originally a comedian venting about hates in the 90s. Became a multi-comedian format where you could tell none of the guests wrote a word

Garbage.

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 10h

“Secrets of the beehive” era David Sylvian

Jessica Ritchey @jmritchey.bsky.social · 11h

It's a given in the music industry that "I've fallen in love!" albums are usually regrettable, and "I've gotten a divorce!" ones often have some of the artist's best work. So question for the group, what are the best "I've fallen in love!" albums?

Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 10h

“Formats” killed tv

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

Sure some are. But no I don’t think all are. More like most are keen on building own brand regardless of who they report on

They could build the brand on being excellent

But I think the brand is instead built on “look at how thoughtful and able to look at people from angles i am”

Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

My favourite singer gave me his time after a public exchange and I was able to have a private conversation where, among other things, I was able to tell him how at various stage he had a profound impact on stages of my own life

He was beyond gracious and then within a year he was no longer with us

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

I wish the equation were that simple

So many journalists seem to be convinced they have the sage, objective, above the fray take - unaligned with their subject and yet completely unwilling or unable to analyse properly

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

What appears to be a typical, slight spat btw France/Apple (which will get cleared up quickly) has @gruber.foo finishing with:

“Amazing stuff continues to happen in EU”

Which, sure, fine

But given what’s happening in USA, Apple & Tim Cook does seem a bit of a deflection

daringfireball.net

Daring Fireball, by John Gruber

Commentary on Apple, technology, design, politics, and more.

daringfireball.net

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

I expect that from HER and other politicians

I also expect journalists to point out the problems, not fluff them

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

My favourite singer gave me his time after a public exchange and I was able to have a private conversation where, among other things, I was able to tell him how at various stage he had a profound impact on stages of my own life

He was beyond gracious and then within a year he was no longer with us

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 11h

As an example I give you The Times as of 6pm Oct 8th 2025

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

Ian Martin @ianmartin.bsky.social · 12h

ha ha ha

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I have been criticised for being part of the Riyadh comedy festival. This is why I did it | Omid Djalili

The headlines focus on money, but the gigs were great and I think there are different ways to achieve progress. Art, especially comedy, can be part of that, says stand-up comedian, Omid Djalili.

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

MrsVB @mrsivb.bsky.social · 12h

Daily Mail have gone all in for Badenoch. A barnstorming speech. Hodges declaring she has changed the political future of this country. I've just sewn my sides up.

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 12h

Yet again Badenoch has shown how the state and the policymaking community hate the young and listen only to the old. And some observers lap it up. We can't go on like this.

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 12h

I see the @theguardian.com going hard on the Saudi comedy festival defence with articles from Omid Djilali and reports of Bull Burr’s, erm, robust defence

Lads. Look. I’m sure the people who could afford a ticket had a blast. And good for them

But That isn’t why people were upset with you

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 13h

You also gotta love how the 'properly costed' runs through 'we will reduce the civil service to pre-Brexit levels. No, we don't really know how we will do this'.

Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 13h

Just imagine how great they'll be when they get down to 10%!

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 13h

Sorry Lewis, but “devastating” would be if things shifted because people bought what she was selling today

Uncosted, unserious financial promises which would be ruinous plus blaming culture war issues for problems caused by her government and Brexit polices over 14 years

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 13h

Had hoped for better here.

Badenoch speech was so riddled with holes it should be easy to point at them, the inconsistencies over last 14 years, how the reason uk lags isn’t because trans rights china etc, brexit etc

But no apparently it was a “strong speech”

Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 13h

Strong speech from Badenoch. Well delivered. Sharp critique of government. Focussed on politically fertile territory on the economy. Eye catching policy which will get a lot of v positive press attention.

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Reposted by Sean MacGabhann

Dr. Damien P. Williams Wants A Better Sociotechnical Paradigm @wolvendamien.bsky.social · 14h

I just… jfc why don't these companies and politicians listen?

👻 Autumn Nash 🎃 @withenoughcoffee.com · 14h

At first the Discord hack didn’t seem that bad because it was initially the third party help desk.

But then you find out they had got there age verification data. Come to find out they got 1.5 TB of government id and age verification data. This is going to become a case against age verification.

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Sean MacGabhann @seanmacgabhann.bsky.social · 13h

Absolutely correct

For example someone with same initials as David embarrassing themselves in the Mail today

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 13h

Sorry, but if you're saying those implausible and shallow Kemi Badenoch announcements constitute a good speech then you're part of the UK's political problem.

Same half-baked "tax cut good / international commitments bad" bearing no resemblance to well formed policy.