TMurr
@tmurr.bsky.social
Reposted by TMurr
genuinely fascinating to me that even after an american is executed in the street by the state your instinct is not to condemn and discuss this on its own terms but to use it as fodder for abstraction and discourse policing
It’s not even so much about “sane” vs. “insane” anymore, as it so often was circa 2020. The fundamental split today is between the *decent* and the *indecent.* It is monstrous to desire, excuse, sanitize, whitewash avoidable killing even of one’s perceived foes.
January 10, 2026 at 6:04 PM
genuinely fascinating to me that even after an american is executed in the street by the state your instinct is not to condemn and discuss this on its own terms but to use it as fodder for abstraction and discourse policing
Reposted by TMurr
“With the resources of the world’s richest nation and most powerful military at his disposal, Trump is claiming borderless license to turn on his perceived enemies. That should terrify us all.”
January 10, 2026 at 12:19 PM
“With the resources of the world’s richest nation and most powerful military at his disposal, Trump is claiming borderless license to turn on his perceived enemies. That should terrify us all.”
Reposted by TMurr
Another great episode, but, if I may, I feel you miss the temporary upside of the focus on hemispheres which means, at least for now, that it is official US policy that the earth is not fully flat.
Also kudos for Natalie’s clarity on the undignified bind Starmer finds himself in vs the US.
Also kudos for Natalie’s clarity on the undignified bind Starmer finds himself in vs the US.
January 9, 2026 at 10:23 AM
Another great episode, but, if I may, I feel you miss the temporary upside of the focus on hemispheres which means, at least for now, that it is official US policy that the earth is not fully flat.
Also kudos for Natalie’s clarity on the undignified bind Starmer finds himself in vs the US.
Also kudos for Natalie’s clarity on the undignified bind Starmer finds himself in vs the US.
Reposted by TMurr
The leaders of all five Greenland political parties, including the PM, have issued a joint statement:
“We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.”
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders… We must decide our country's future ourselves.”
“We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.”
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders… We must decide our country's future ourselves.”
January 10, 2026 at 12:20 PM
The leaders of all five Greenland political parties, including the PM, have issued a joint statement:
“We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.”
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders… We must decide our country's future ourselves.”
“We don't want to be Americans, we don't want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.”
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders… We must decide our country's future ourselves.”
Reposted by TMurr
Stephen Colbert on the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good: “The message from this administration is clear. Only they determine the truth. And when their forces come to your city: obey or die. And if you die, you clearly didn’t obey. This should be an alarm bell for the entire country.”
January 9, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Stephen Colbert on the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good: “The message from this administration is clear. Only they determine the truth. And when their forces come to your city: obey or die. And if you die, you clearly didn’t obey. This should be an alarm bell for the entire country.”
Reposted by TMurr
Markets run on trust. If the ref starts live-tweeting the score before kickoff, don’t be shocked when fans stop buying tickets—and investors stop buying stocks.
January 9, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Markets run on trust. If the ref starts live-tweeting the score before kickoff, don’t be shocked when fans stop buying tickets—and investors stop buying stocks.
Reposted by TMurr
I think it is probably a bad idea to put clearly unhinged, angry psychopaths in federal law enforcement positions.
January 9, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I think it is probably a bad idea to put clearly unhinged, angry psychopaths in federal law enforcement positions.
Reposted by TMurr
A lot of people on here have ideas about a great reckoning where Americans come to terms with what happened and hold the perpetrators accountable, and that it sure didn't happen when American police served as an instrument of horrific evil violence in service of state racism.
January 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
A lot of people on here have ideas about a great reckoning where Americans come to terms with what happened and hold the perpetrators accountable, and that it sure didn't happen when American police served as an instrument of horrific evil violence in service of state racism.
Reposted by TMurr
Yes, agree with this and something I'm going to look at more in coming weeks. If the only way to get things done is end run the system then you need to change the system....
This & the HdZ one last week v good as everyone says. but also v depressing? Both essentially say you must ignore the system to get stuff done in govt - bring it all into No10 (Bew), or don't bother working cross-govt (HdZ). That's probably right in the moment, but v bad for long run state capacity
New post out:
We have an interview with John Bew - one of the most influential people in British politics over the past decade + foreign policy adviser to four PMs.
(Free to read)
samf.substack.com/p/interview-...
We have an interview with John Bew - one of the most influential people in British politics over the past decade + foreign policy adviser to four PMs.
(Free to read)
samf.substack.com/p/interview-...
January 9, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Yes, agree with this and something I'm going to look at more in coming weeks. If the only way to get things done is end run the system then you need to change the system....
Reposted by TMurr
The works of Plato are now being banned at schools in the United States.
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Plato Has Been Censored; What Next?
PEN America condemns and calls absurd Texas A&M censoring Plato readings and discussions related to race and gender
pen.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:34 AM
The works of Plato are now being banned at schools in the United States.
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Tell me again how censorship is a European problem? 🤔
Reposted by TMurr
Naming a police officer is not doxxing. We aren’t supposed to have secret police in America.
January 9, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Naming a police officer is not doxxing. We aren’t supposed to have secret police in America.
Reposted by TMurr
Major issues with basic education=a dumb/insular population; Reagan’s ‘trickle down’ bullshit+rise of corp power; cult-like evangelicals; voting gerrymandering; poor immigration policy; allowing the Clinton weapons ban to elapse under Bush - a melting pot of disaster……
January 8, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Major issues with basic education=a dumb/insular population; Reagan’s ‘trickle down’ bullshit+rise of corp power; cult-like evangelicals; voting gerrymandering; poor immigration policy; allowing the Clinton weapons ban to elapse under Bush - a melting pot of disaster……
Reposted by TMurr
Imo we really let people off the hook unjustly when we don’t attempt to campaign in certain places. I feel like we need to set the expectation that Americans should not be voting for the GOP anytime or anywhere.
January 8, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Imo we really let people off the hook unjustly when we don’t attempt to campaign in certain places. I feel like we need to set the expectation that Americans should not be voting for the GOP anytime or anywhere.
Reposted by TMurr
Rare case when a ban would be both justified (it’s doing crimes 24/7) and effective
January 8, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Rare case when a ban would be both justified (it’s doing crimes 24/7) and effective
Reposted by TMurr
Ice shouldn’t be killing people period paragraph
This is not controversial
This is not controversial
January 8, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Ice shouldn’t be killing people period paragraph
This is not controversial
This is not controversial
Reposted by TMurr
Yesterday I posted my last ever Tweet and called on the Government to do the same.
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
It is time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter
Grok is just one of many reasons why Westminster should finally get off the website.
www.politicshome.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Yesterday I posted my last ever Tweet and called on the Government to do the same.
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Read more below on why I think it’s time to leave the cesspit formerly known as Twitter.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by TMurr
Always worth remembering that Rupert Murdoch will die having been the most malignant force in the world of the past 80 years.
One of the few of whom you can say the world would be better had he never been born.
One of the few of whom you can say the world would be better had he never been born.
Stuff like this is the reason why the good Lord blessed humanity with the gifts of tar and feathers
January 9, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Always worth remembering that Rupert Murdoch will die having been the most malignant force in the world of the past 80 years.
One of the few of whom you can say the world would be better had he never been born.
One of the few of whom you can say the world would be better had he never been born.
Reposted by TMurr
Pete Buttigieg on Kristi Noem.
January 9, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Pete Buttigieg on Kristi Noem.
This is a great thread. Further: I don't think enough is made of the fact that by having an algorithm intermediating between the 'speaker' and the 'listener', the only entity with actual free speech is the platform owner. Which invalidates arguments about "going to the audience" or "reach".
4. We have seems this week that government policy is vibes > evidence: misunderstanding + exaggerate the public reach of X
Overestimates its own reach on X. It may prove less influential than others (BBC, football, weather, trains) in moving traffic on, but would influence media + other policy
Overestimates its own reach on X. It may prove less influential than others (BBC, football, weather, trains) in moving traffic on, but would influence media + other policy
January 9, 2026 at 9:25 PM
This is a great thread. Further: I don't think enough is made of the fact that by having an algorithm intermediating between the 'speaker' and the 'listener', the only entity with actual free speech is the platform owner. Which invalidates arguments about "going to the audience" or "reach".
Reposted by TMurr
3. Beyond protecting unlawful content, the radicalised site owner is committed to promoting extremist narratives that are legal. These include promoting the Great Replacement Theory; overt ethnonationalism + racism; that civil war is inevitable in Britain, + violence will be legit when it comes
January 9, 2026 at 8:06 PM
3. Beyond protecting unlawful content, the radicalised site owner is committed to promoting extremist narratives that are legal. These include promoting the Great Replacement Theory; overt ethnonationalism + racism; that civil war is inevitable in Britain, + violence will be legit when it comes
Reposted by TMurr
5. The government has a mixed story. It has got stronger today on the law mattering on child abuse + sexism.
Its discussion of "reaching people where they are" + "counter narratives" on X + "fighting racism with everything we have got" and celebrating "free speech" of extremist events get muddled
Its discussion of "reaching people where they are" + "counter narratives" on X + "fighting racism with everything we have got" and celebrating "free speech" of extremist events get muddled
January 9, 2026 at 8:16 PM
5. The government has a mixed story. It has got stronger today on the law mattering on child abuse + sexism.
Its discussion of "reaching people where they are" + "counter narratives" on X + "fighting racism with everything we have got" and celebrating "free speech" of extremist events get muddled
Its discussion of "reaching people where they are" + "counter narratives" on X + "fighting racism with everything we have got" and celebrating "free speech" of extremist events get muddled
Reposted by TMurr
As in this evidence to Women & Equalities Committee, I think it useful to separate/sequence
1) The law applies to everyone, however rich. So Insist on a lawful system (eg remove hate crimes, don't defend).
2) national security + extremism
3) strategic political interest to shift audiences elswhere
1) The law applies to everyone, however rich. So Insist on a lawful system (eg remove hate crimes, don't defend).
2) national security + extremism
3) strategic political interest to shift audiences elswhere
January 9, 2026 at 8:52 PM
As in this evidence to Women & Equalities Committee, I think it useful to separate/sequence
1) The law applies to everyone, however rich. So Insist on a lawful system (eg remove hate crimes, don't defend).
2) national security + extremism
3) strategic political interest to shift audiences elswhere
1) The law applies to everyone, however rich. So Insist on a lawful system (eg remove hate crimes, don't defend).
2) national security + extremism
3) strategic political interest to shift audiences elswhere
Reposted by TMurr
This is a popular, winnable argument that mainstream populists can not openly contest if you get the framing, the examples right (and are clear about not banning stuff that is free speech, but banning stuff that is racist abuse)
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Women and Equalities Select Committee on Community Cohesion: there is a wide range of parliamentary interest in pressure in the regulator noticing and acting on the compelling evidence that these breaches on unlawful content are sustained and systemic
committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...
January 9, 2026 at 8:45 PM
This is a popular, winnable argument that mainstream populists can not openly contest if you get the framing, the examples right (and are clear about not banning stuff that is free speech, but banning stuff that is racist abuse)
bsky.app/profile/sund...
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Reposted by TMurr
It is a government narrative to worry out loud about the mysterious return of the racist slurs of the 1970s + 1980s.
It should not be difficult to join these dots!
You cut through the "free speech" debate if you choose + deploy examples that 95%+ of people can agree on
bsky.app/profile/sund...
It should not be difficult to join these dots!
You cut through the "free speech" debate if you choose + deploy examples that 95%+ of people can agree on
bsky.app/profile/sund...
January 9, 2026 at 8:42 PM
It is a government narrative to worry out loud about the mysterious return of the racist slurs of the 1970s + 1980s.
It should not be difficult to join these dots!
You cut through the "free speech" debate if you choose + deploy examples that 95%+ of people can agree on
bsky.app/profile/sund...
It should not be difficult to join these dots!
You cut through the "free speech" debate if you choose + deploy examples that 95%+ of people can agree on
bsky.app/profile/sund...
Reposted by TMurr
Don't accept "pick and mix" approach to the laws that Mr Musk reluctantly obeys (child abuse + ISIS terrorism), the really dangerous ones that he can not be bothered about (far right incitement to violence on his platform during flashpoint moments) + the laws he despises (racist, sexist hate crimes)
January 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Don't accept "pick and mix" approach to the laws that Mr Musk reluctantly obeys (child abuse + ISIS terrorism), the really dangerous ones that he can not be bothered about (far right incitement to violence on his platform during flashpoint moments) + the laws he despises (racist, sexist hate crimes)