Dr Tom May
@dreamcargoes.bsky.social
Television historian, writing a book about Play for Today (BBC1, 1970-84). Associate Lecturer, Northumbria University. Book Reviews Admin for Critical Studies in Television journal.
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Trump is badly losing the war over ICE, not just on the streets, but also in the culture. As Bad Bunny shows, this has become a culture war unto itself. Trump-MAGA's initial hubris has been utterly deflated.
I've got fresh data illustrating the point. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
I've got fresh data illustrating the point. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
Trump Rages at Bad Bunny—and Accidentally Exposes a Big MAGA Weakness
MAGA’s hatred of the Super Bowl halftime performer reflects a hubris about what parts of the culture are “theirs.” But those assumptions are proving more wrong every day.
newrepublic.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Trump is badly losing the war over ICE, not just on the streets, but also in the culture. As Bad Bunny shows, this has become a culture war unto itself. Trump-MAGA's initial hubris has been utterly deflated.
I've got fresh data illustrating the point. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
I've got fresh data illustrating the point. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2062...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis
City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:09 AM
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
My review of Harris Dickinson's URCHIN (2025):
boxd.it/d2QRQv
boxd.it/d2QRQv
A ★★★½ review of Urchin (2025)
Strong characters and acting, and at times interestingly atypical settings for a British film. Yet I don't think the narrative arc was especially fresh or surprising in any way. It seemed to fit the m...
boxd.it
February 8, 2026 at 2:36 PM
My review of Harris Dickinson's URCHIN (2025):
boxd.it/d2QRQv
boxd.it/d2QRQv
Reposted by Dr Tom May
It’ll take more than a leadership change for Lab to begin rectifying this. They’d need to remove most of a generation, abandon a whole concept of politics they signed up to 30 years ago & open up an inclusive & pluralist politics that goes beyond parties.
Obviously that that won’t happen (5/)
Obviously that that won’t happen (5/)
February 7, 2026 at 3:30 PM
It’ll take more than a leadership change for Lab to begin rectifying this. They’d need to remove most of a generation, abandon a whole concept of politics they signed up to 30 years ago & open up an inclusive & pluralist politics that goes beyond parties.
Obviously that that won’t happen (5/)
Obviously that that won’t happen (5/)
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Should be default setting that AI is off and optional to switch it on, not the other way round
February 3, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Should be default setting that AI is off and optional to switch it on, not the other way round
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Extraordinary reporting. And a window on the two Londons - the one we live in and the phantom city of the online rage economy
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 11:09 AM
Extraordinary reporting. And a window on the two Londons - the one we live in and the phantom city of the online rage economy
Reposted by Dr Tom May
If people are going to make money from social media, it seems so wildly obvious that what can be broadcast by the platforms is regulated in the same was as TV is.
Hate-filled fake videos about London are everywhere. We've obtained a recording of a TikToker confessing to secretly filming Londoners in their homes for clicks.
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
He says it's not political. He just wants to make money from far-right anger.
Read what he says: www.londoncentric.media/p/london-tik...
February 8, 2026 at 9:04 AM
If people are going to make money from social media, it seems so wildly obvious that what can be broadcast by the platforms is regulated in the same was as TV is.
Reposted by Dr Tom May
The piece by @unamccormack.bsky.social in the latest DWM celebrating the crucial symbiosis of Doctor Who and the city of Liverpool, is without doubt, the greatest piece of writing it has carried this century.
February 6, 2026 at 1:02 PM
The piece by @unamccormack.bsky.social in the latest DWM celebrating the crucial symbiosis of Doctor Who and the city of Liverpool, is without doubt, the greatest piece of writing it has carried this century.
Reposted by Dr Tom May
The best worst lines in Doctor Who, the ones where you can take most delight in the sheer terribleness: lmmyles.com/2026/02/06/t...
The Best Worst Lines In Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a television show with hundreds of episodes and thousands of lines of dialogue. Some of those lines are brilliant, inspiring, profound, they can lift your day and/or understanding of …
lmmyles.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:08 PM
The best worst lines in Doctor Who, the ones where you can take most delight in the sheer terribleness: lmmyles.com/2026/02/06/t...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby”
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby”
February 7, 2026 at 8:41 AM
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby”
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby”
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Dinosaur cast and creators chat series two, filming in Scotland and creating warm-hearted comedy
https://www.europesays.com/uk/738581/
Published: 3 February 2026 Series two is confirmed to land on BBC iPlayer on Thursday 5 February from…#uk #news #uknews
https://www.europesays.com/uk/738581/
Published: 3 February 2026 Series two is confirmed to land on BBC iPlayer on Thursday 5 February from…#uk #news #uknews
Dinosaur cast and creators chat series two, filming in Scotland and creating warm-hearted comedy - United Kingdom
Published: 3 February 2026
www.europesays.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Dinosaur cast and creators chat series two, filming in Scotland and creating warm-hearted comedy
https://www.europesays.com/uk/738581/
Published: 3 February 2026 Series two is confirmed to land on BBC iPlayer on Thursday 5 February from…#uk #news #uknews
https://www.europesays.com/uk/738581/
Published: 3 February 2026 Series two is confirmed to land on BBC iPlayer on Thursday 5 February from…#uk #news #uknews
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.
Reposted by Dr Tom May
This stuff about student loans is absolutely grim. Student loans shouldn't be a thing. It's absolutely shameful that people can't just go to properly funded unis to study in this country. Whatever they want. With a grant, if necessary.
EDUCATION BENEFITS SOCIETY AND IS AN END UNTO ITSELF. #bbcqt
EDUCATION BENEFITS SOCIETY AND IS AN END UNTO ITSELF. #bbcqt
February 5, 2026 at 11:18 PM
This stuff about student loans is absolutely grim. Student loans shouldn't be a thing. It's absolutely shameful that people can't just go to properly funded unis to study in this country. Whatever they want. With a grant, if necessary.
EDUCATION BENEFITS SOCIETY AND IS AN END UNTO ITSELF. #bbcqt
EDUCATION BENEFITS SOCIETY AND IS AN END UNTO ITSELF. #bbcqt
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Sharon Forrester - Which Craft Is Witchcraft (UK, Soul) (1974)
https://redd.it/69y4w2
https://youtu.be/KmYOd71wmF0
https://redd.it/69y4w2
https://youtu.be/KmYOd71wmF0
Sharon Forrester - Which Craft Is Witchcraft (UK, Soul) (1974)
youtu.be
February 5, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Sharon Forrester - Which Craft Is Witchcraft (UK, Soul) (1974)
https://redd.it/69y4w2
https://youtu.be/KmYOd71wmF0
https://redd.it/69y4w2
https://youtu.be/KmYOd71wmF0
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Alex Burghart MP has now called for a review of the circumstances around the award of Palantir's £240m defence contract, and asked why Mandelson's visit to Palantir's offices in Washington was kept off the books while the company was being represented by his firm, Global Council.
🔴‘Peter Mandelson’s Fixing of Keir Starmer’s Visit to Spytech Firm Palantir Raises Serious Questions’
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com/2025/04/25/p...
'Peter Mandelson's Fixing of Keir Starmer’s Visit to Spytech Firm Palantir Raises Serious Questions'
Palantir was represented by a lobbying firm founded by Mandelson, Iain Overton and Max Colbert report
bylinetimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Alex Burghart MP has now called for a review of the circumstances around the award of Palantir's £240m defence contract, and asked why Mandelson's visit to Palantir's offices in Washington was kept off the books while the company was being represented by his firm, Global Council.
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Thread:
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
February 5, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Thread:
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
So on this day when one of the oligarchs of our digitized and dystopic world is emptying one of America's greatest newsrooms of trained and committed journalists, I thought I would regale you all with a wonderful little anecdote about our world to come. It involves two of the finest...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Steve: "I'm disappointed that you lied to me."
The App: I apologize for the mistake. You are right. I provided false information. I'm a large language model, my responses are generated based on patterns and associations, and sometimes this can lead to errors. I should not have claimed that the...."
The App: I apologize for the mistake. You are right. I provided false information. I'm a large language model, my responses are generated based on patterns and associations, and sometimes this can lead to errors. I should not have claimed that the...."
February 5, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Steve: "I'm disappointed that you lied to me."
The App: I apologize for the mistake. You are right. I provided false information. I'm a large language model, my responses are generated based on patterns and associations, and sometimes this can lead to errors. I should not have claimed that the...."
The App: I apologize for the mistake. You are right. I provided false information. I'm a large language model, my responses are generated based on patterns and associations, and sometimes this can lead to errors. I should not have claimed that the...."
Reposted by Dr Tom May
going out on a limb to argue that mandelson being a bully & a shit, his tantrums & threats when challenged, are *exactly* the behaviour those currently lamenting his fall from grace admired in him
(in particular the ones that write for the times are always already all in on this way of being)
(in particular the ones that write for the times are always already all in on this way of being)
February 4, 2026 at 12:27 PM
going out on a limb to argue that mandelson being a bully & a shit, his tantrums & threats when challenged, are *exactly* the behaviour those currently lamenting his fall from grace admired in him
(in particular the ones that write for the times are always already all in on this way of being)
(in particular the ones that write for the times are always already all in on this way of being)
Reposted by Dr Tom May
He was actually a very good commentator; one of the few on the BBC who could get across the gravity or excitement of a moment.
February 4, 2026 at 9:41 AM
He was actually a very good commentator; one of the few on the BBC who could get across the gravity or excitement of a moment.
Reposted by Dr Tom May
We've lost the great Allan Massie. An absolute giant of Scottish literature and journalism, and an inspirational, kind and generous man, too. I think his son @alexmassie.bsky.social is only sporadically on Bluesky, but he has written a beautiful obituary. alexmassie.substack.com/p/allan-mass...
Allan Massie, 1938-2026
Father died this afternoon.
alexmassie.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:35 PM
We've lost the great Allan Massie. An absolute giant of Scottish literature and journalism, and an inspirational, kind and generous man, too. I think his son @alexmassie.bsky.social is only sporadically on Bluesky, but he has written a beautiful obituary. alexmassie.substack.com/p/allan-mass...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Read the detail here and be afraid, be very afraid. "With the party putting together policies for a future government modelled on ICE in America, that’s a very scary prospect".
Tomorrow we are in the High Court suing Reform for breaching data processing rules. We think it's really quite important. 👇
Farage’s Reform is collecting your data: here’s why | Good Law Project
Reform is harvesting your data, and ignoring people when they get in touch – so we’re taking them to court
goodlaw.social
February 3, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Read the detail here and be afraid, be very afraid. "With the party putting together policies for a future government modelled on ICE in America, that’s a very scary prospect".
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Really wanted to write about this part but cut it. This is the widespread theft and privatization of the collective human effort to create a digital commons of all of humanity's knowledge. I'm so incredibly disgusted by all of it. www.thedissident.news/grokipedia-a...
Grokipedia and the Coup Against Reality Itself
Grokipedia, the copycat of Wikipedia launched by Elon Musk isn’t just a string of AI generated slop, it is a weapon. The launch of "grokipedia" is a calculated, strategic escalation by the billionaire...
www.thedissident.news
October 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Really wanted to write about this part but cut it. This is the widespread theft and privatization of the collective human effort to create a digital commons of all of humanity's knowledge. I'm so incredibly disgusted by all of it. www.thedissident.news/grokipedia-a...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Also backed by Epstein:
Bannon’s far-right “European Revolution” planned with Farage
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/19/d...
Bannon’s far-right “European Revolution” planned with Farage
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/19/d...
Dinner with Mr Brexit: Bannon’s European Revolution – Planned with Farage, Backed by Epstein
Nigel Farage was the figurehead and his partner Laure Ferrari started it. Steve Bannon and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were providing almost daily support
bylinetimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Also backed by Epstein:
Bannon’s far-right “European Revolution” planned with Farage
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/19/d...
Bannon’s far-right “European Revolution” planned with Farage
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/19/d...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
🚨🚨Striking but welcome development in Portugese politics: To stop the explosive growth of the ultranationalist #Chega party, Portugal’s leading conservatives are doing the previously unthinkable: endorsing the center-left candidate for president. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/port...
www.politico.eu/article/port...
Portugal’s conservatives back left-wing candidate to avoid a far-right president
Center-right leaders are taking pains to publicly reject the ultranationalist contender ahead of the country’s Feb. 8 vote.
www.politico.eu
February 2, 2026 at 2:33 PM
🚨🚨Striking but welcome development in Portugese politics: To stop the explosive growth of the ultranationalist #Chega party, Portugal’s leading conservatives are doing the previously unthinkable: endorsing the center-left candidate for president. 🧵
www.politico.eu/article/port...
www.politico.eu/article/port...
Reposted by Dr Tom May
Water for sale: from the Thames to the Amazon
Polluted rivers, collapsing ecosystems and communities left adrift. And now Britain’s water privatisation concept is being exported to Brazil.
theecologist.org/2026/feb/03/...
Polluted rivers, collapsing ecosystems and communities left adrift. And now Britain’s water privatisation concept is being exported to Brazil.
theecologist.org/2026/feb/03/...
Water for sale: from the Thames to the Amazon
Polluted rivers, collapsing ecosystems and communities left adrift. And now Britain’s water privatisation concept is being exported to Brazil.
theecologist.org
February 3, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Water for sale: from the Thames to the Amazon
Polluted rivers, collapsing ecosystems and communities left adrift. And now Britain’s water privatisation concept is being exported to Brazil.
theecologist.org/2026/feb/03/...
Polluted rivers, collapsing ecosystems and communities left adrift. And now Britain’s water privatisation concept is being exported to Brazil.
theecologist.org/2026/feb/03/...