Quite Wrightly
@wrightly.bsky.social
Armchair politics and economics. Memes where appropriate.
She's right, but let's start with Belgium
Prime Minister Meloni:
It would be "short-sighted to focus attention" only on Belgium, single holder of frozen Russian assets, when other partner countries "also have assets frozen in their respective financial systems."
It would be "short-sighted to focus attention" only on Belgium, single holder of frozen Russian assets, when other partner countries "also have assets frozen in their respective financial systems."
December 18, 2025 at 10:04 PM
She's right, but let's start with Belgium
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
UPDATE: House Democrats did not immediately respond for comment on why the Epstein Dropbox files were left open for comment but it appears that the feature has now been turned off. @evystadium.bsky.social gets into what happened.
@mjgault.bsky.social has the story: www.404media.co/the-governme...
@mjgault.bsky.social has the story: www.404media.co/the-governme...
December 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
UPDATE: House Democrats did not immediately respond for comment on why the Epstein Dropbox files were left open for comment but it appears that the feature has now been turned off. @evystadium.bsky.social gets into what happened.
@mjgault.bsky.social has the story: www.404media.co/the-governme...
@mjgault.bsky.social has the story: www.404media.co/the-governme...
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
"TO JEFF — YOU ARE THE GREATEST!" - Donald Trump, 1997
December 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
"TO JEFF — YOU ARE THE GREATEST!" - Donald Trump, 1997
This is a fantastic explainer on how the EU will fund Ukraine's defence efforts for the next year.
D-Day for Europe to shore up Ukraine funding.
As EU leaders huddle in Brussels, Stephen Paduano and I analyse the reparations loan in a new piece.
This is not only a "There Is No Alternative" (TINA) moment—but the financial and legal risks are also manageable.
1/
www.cer.eu/insights/ukr...
As EU leaders huddle in Brussels, Stephen Paduano and I analyse the reparations loan in a new piece.
This is not only a "There Is No Alternative" (TINA) moment—but the financial and legal risks are also manageable.
1/
www.cer.eu/insights/ukr...
The Ukraine Reparations Loan: How to fix Europe's financial plumbing
As US support for Ukraine vanishes, Europe must overcome Belgian opposition and improvise fiscally to provide Kyiv with €210 billion.
www.cer.eu
December 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
This is a fantastic explainer on how the EU will fund Ukraine's defence efforts for the next year.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Congrats to the Liberals for helping drive the country even further rightward on immigration by adopting the Conservative framing that it's bad for the country and responsible for the housing crisis.
Teaching the population that your opponents' ideas should be listened to is just good politics.
Teaching the population that your opponents' ideas should be listened to is just good politics.
Newly released polling finds Canadians have soured on immigration rather quickly
Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...
Canadians Sour on Immigration After Years of Record Intake
Even with immigration slowing, most Canadians now want the system tightened further
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Congrats to the Liberals for helping drive the country even further rightward on immigration by adopting the Conservative framing that it's bad for the country and responsible for the housing crisis.
Teaching the population that your opponents' ideas should be listened to is just good politics.
Teaching the population that your opponents' ideas should be listened to is just good politics.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Something I can't really stop thinking about is how after Sep 11, in Australia right-wingers basically spent 2.5 decades fantasising about and warning that a mass broad civilian-targeted terror attack on Australian soil was imminent, and the fact it never happened made them lose their minds
December 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Something I can't really stop thinking about is how after Sep 11, in Australia right-wingers basically spent 2.5 decades fantasising about and warning that a mass broad civilian-targeted terror attack on Australian soil was imminent, and the fact it never happened made them lose their minds
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Auditors and new officials have been turning over stones at the body in charge of Teesworks. Turns out the Tees Valley Combined Authority has been lending hundreds of millions of £ to connected orgs, without loan agreements, and those orgs are now struggling to repay
as.ft.com/r/ac457745-4...
as.ft.com/r/ac457745-4...
Auditors raise red flags at public body run by Ben Houchen
[FREE TO READ] EY said errors included ‘material misstatements’ in latest setback for Conservative metro mayor Lord Houchen
as.ft.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Auditors and new officials have been turning over stones at the body in charge of Teesworks. Turns out the Tees Valley Combined Authority has been lending hundreds of millions of £ to connected orgs, without loan agreements, and those orgs are now struggling to repay
as.ft.com/r/ac457745-4...
as.ft.com/r/ac457745-4...
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
You’ll never believe how this guy cleverly defied the council and avoided being forced out of his (mostly empty) second home by sneakily … putting it onto the holiday let market for at least 5 months of the year and letting it for at least 2.5 months to pay business rates instead.
‘We refuse to be forced out of our second home’
Holiday-home owners are being hit with double council tax, but some are finding clever ways to pay the bills and so hold on to their properties, finds Jack Simpson
www.thetimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:45 AM
You’ll never believe how this guy cleverly defied the council and avoided being forced out of his (mostly empty) second home by sneakily … putting it onto the holiday let market for at least 5 months of the year and letting it for at least 2.5 months to pay business rates instead.
I know we say this every day, but what the actual fuck?!
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I know we say this every day, but what the actual fuck?!
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
When oh when are the British people
going to receive an apology
from Nigel Farage and the other UKIP liars!
going to receive an apology
from Nigel Farage and the other UKIP liars!
December 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
When oh when are the British people
going to receive an apology
from Nigel Farage and the other UKIP liars!
going to receive an apology
from Nigel Farage and the other UKIP liars!
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
December 16, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Whenever I hear this kind of "last straw" stuff, I think about this routine from David Cross, which is definitely worth a watch to put this "bridge too far" stuff into context. www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1wk...
David Cross Is Starting To Regret His Vote for Trump...
YouTube video by Comedy Dynamics
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Whenever I hear this kind of "last straw" stuff, I think about this routine from David Cross, which is definitely worth a watch to put this "bridge too far" stuff into context. www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1wk...
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Pro-wrestling legend Mick Foley announced this morning that he's parting ways with WWE over the organization's "close relationship with Donald Trump," saying the president's "incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me."
December 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Pro-wrestling legend Mick Foley announced this morning that he's parting ways with WWE over the organization's "close relationship with Donald Trump," saying the president's "incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me."
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Good stuff. The U.K. system being based on spending limits, rather than donation limits, means we never thought enough about donation sources. In any case the spending constraint mechanism is increasingly broken by the nature of modern campaigns.
The Government launches an urgent review into 'foreign financial interference' in UK politics following Nathan Gill's conviction.
I hear the Gill case and Reform's £9 million donation from a Thailand-based crypto investor have woken ministers up to the potential threat
I hear the Gill case and Reform's £9 million donation from a Thailand-based crypto investor have woken ministers up to the potential threat
December 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Good stuff. The U.K. system being based on spending limits, rather than donation limits, means we never thought enough about donation sources. In any case the spending constraint mechanism is increasingly broken by the nature of modern campaigns.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Vanity Fair headline: "Susie Wiles Keeps Talking"
Like, they can't even believe she's still doing this
6/
Like, they can't even believe she's still doing this
6/
December 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Vanity Fair headline: "Susie Wiles Keeps Talking"
Like, they can't even believe she's still doing this
6/
Like, they can't even believe she's still doing this
6/
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Anyway, if you think it's vaguely fucked up that Nigel Farage could well become Prime Minister on just 30%-or-so of the vote
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
🎄 It's day 2 of our 12 Days of Democracy 🎄
Every day, we open a present and reveal one reason to support a fairer voting system.
Today is @zoejardiniere.bsky.social's turn...
Every day, we open a present and reveal one reason to support a fairer voting system.
Today is @zoejardiniere.bsky.social's turn...
December 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Anyway, if you think it's vaguely fucked up that Nigel Farage could well become Prime Minister on just 30%-or-so of the vote
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
Join the campaign for a fair & porportional voting system, before it's too late! 👇😱
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' honesty is not a sign of a rat fleeing a sinking ship
She's as much a narcissist as Trump is, and from her point of view, she's being a bit tongue-in-cheek with the Trump and Vance stuff, while stating truths about Vought and Bondi (both of whom she despises)
She's as much a narcissist as Trump is, and from her point of view, she's being a bit tongue-in-cheek with the Trump and Vance stuff, while stating truths about Vought and Bondi (both of whom she despises)
December 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' honesty is not a sign of a rat fleeing a sinking ship
She's as much a narcissist as Trump is, and from her point of view, she's being a bit tongue-in-cheek with the Trump and Vance stuff, while stating truths about Vought and Bondi (both of whom she despises)
She's as much a narcissist as Trump is, and from her point of view, she's being a bit tongue-in-cheek with the Trump and Vance stuff, while stating truths about Vought and Bondi (both of whom she despises)
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
The market has decided that unprofitably spending billions of dollars to build AI datacenters in the hopes that OpenAI can come up with $1.4T in spend is a bad bet.
The podcast interview between Sam Altman and Brad Gerstner was the nail in the coffin for investor confidence.
The podcast interview between Sam Altman and Brad Gerstner was the nail in the coffin for investor confidence.
December 16, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The market has decided that unprofitably spending billions of dollars to build AI datacenters in the hopes that OpenAI can come up with $1.4T in spend is a bad bet.
The podcast interview between Sam Altman and Brad Gerstner was the nail in the coffin for investor confidence.
The podcast interview between Sam Altman and Brad Gerstner was the nail in the coffin for investor confidence.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Jemma Forte, "You are defending a man who won't release the Epstein files"
Brian Coleman, "I have no time with this obsession with Epstein"
"Who cares what people did in private as long as it was legal"
Jemma Forte, "Wow! It wasn't legal"
Brian Coleman, "I have no time with this obsession with Epstein"
"Who cares what people did in private as long as it was legal"
Jemma Forte, "Wow! It wasn't legal"
December 16, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Jemma Forte, "You are defending a man who won't release the Epstein files"
Brian Coleman, "I have no time with this obsession with Epstein"
"Who cares what people did in private as long as it was legal"
Jemma Forte, "Wow! It wasn't legal"
Brian Coleman, "I have no time with this obsession with Epstein"
"Who cares what people did in private as long as it was legal"
Jemma Forte, "Wow! It wasn't legal"
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
You lot need Dick Van Dyke singing Let's Go Fly a Kite on his 100th birthday more than you know.
December 15, 2025 at 10:33 PM
You lot need Dick Van Dyke singing Let's Go Fly a Kite on his 100th birthday more than you know.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Am I missing something here or are British Gas and Octopus missing something in their messaging - will bills really go down by £150? Only if you benchmark them from November, the month they went up £150 (but nobody spoke of that)…….and then come spring you talk only about the budget reductions.
December 16, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Am I missing something here or are British Gas and Octopus missing something in their messaging - will bills really go down by £150? Only if you benchmark them from November, the month they went up £150 (but nobody spoke of that)…….and then come spring you talk only about the budget reductions.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Revealing on how much AI uptake is currently being driven by investor expectations - transmitted via boards - rather than people who actually execute stuff. Of course, if you're not an actual doer it is much more likely that you will be tempted by magical thinking.
A completely unhinged post from the head of Norway's oil fund: to hunt down the "leaders" of groups resisting AI implementation in companies and "remove" them
archive.ph/r0u2r
archive.ph/r0u2r
December 16, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Revealing on how much AI uptake is currently being driven by investor expectations - transmitted via boards - rather than people who actually execute stuff. Of course, if you're not an actual doer it is much more likely that you will be tempted by magical thinking.
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
This story is a follow-up from our recent undercover investigation with Led By Donkeys
We posed as an advisor to a Chinese AI company. The whole thing was fake but for £5,000, Howlett introduced us to more than 10 Labour MPs and ministers.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
We posed as an advisor to a Chinese AI company. The whole thing was fake but for £5,000, Howlett introduced us to more than 10 Labour MPs and ministers.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
BREAKING: Our fake Chinese AI investor bought access into heart of Labour government
Ex-Tory MP facilitated meetings with 10+ Labour MPs and met ministers in “cash-for-access operation”
democracyforsale.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This story is a follow-up from our recent undercover investigation with Led By Donkeys
We posed as an advisor to a Chinese AI company. The whole thing was fake but for £5,000, Howlett introduced us to more than 10 Labour MPs and ministers.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
We posed as an advisor to a Chinese AI company. The whole thing was fake but for £5,000, Howlett introduced us to more than 10 Labour MPs and ministers.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/breaking-o...
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
🚨 SCOOP: “I’m a Labour donor”
Ben Howlett is an ex-Tory MP, owner of influential PoliticsUK account, and the fixer we exposed selling access to Westminster
Turns out he's also involved in Labour fundraising, and discussing donations with Labour MPs
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/im-a-labou...
Ben Howlett is an ex-Tory MP, owner of influential PoliticsUK account, and the fixer we exposed selling access to Westminster
Turns out he's also involved in Labour fundraising, and discussing donations with Labour MPs
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/im-a-labou...
“I’m a Labour donor”: ex-Tory MP exposed in cash-for-access sting
Exclusive: Details of Ben Howlett’s fundraising for Labour prompts Green leader Zack Polanski to call on Starmer's party to “come clean” about its relationship with him.
democracyforsale.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:52 AM
🚨 SCOOP: “I’m a Labour donor”
Ben Howlett is an ex-Tory MP, owner of influential PoliticsUK account, and the fixer we exposed selling access to Westminster
Turns out he's also involved in Labour fundraising, and discussing donations with Labour MPs
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/im-a-labou...
Ben Howlett is an ex-Tory MP, owner of influential PoliticsUK account, and the fixer we exposed selling access to Westminster
Turns out he's also involved in Labour fundraising, and discussing donations with Labour MPs
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/im-a-labou...
Reposted by Quite Wrightly
Salisbury poisoning report concludes Putin approved terror operation
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
December 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Salisbury poisoning report concludes Putin approved terror operation
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.