Chris Connolly
@edtechris.bsky.social
It’s a bit like when Susan Shirk was on her book tour for Fragile Superpower, and in America people would ask her “why fragile?” and in China people would ask “why superpower?”
January 13, 2026 at 1:26 PM
It’s a bit like when Susan Shirk was on her book tour for Fragile Superpower, and in America people would ask her “why fragile?” and in China people would ask “why superpower?”
The champions of free speech strike again.
The White House says the Smithsonian Institution must submit materials about current and upcoming exhibitions and events for a review that will determine whether they express "improper ideology." n.pr/4583d8f
Today is the Smithsonian's deadline to give thousands of documents to the White House
The White House says the Smithsonian Institution must submit materials about current and upcoming exhibitions and events for a review that will determine whether they express "improper ideology."
n.pr
January 13, 2026 at 1:22 PM
The champions of free speech strike again.
These are what pollsters refer to as the “Lizardman’s Constant”, ~4% of respondents in any poll will give a contrarian or bogus answer for shits and giggles.
January 13, 2026 at 1:19 PM
These are what pollsters refer to as the “Lizardman’s Constant”, ~4% of respondents in any poll will give a contrarian or bogus answer for shits and giggles.
(Dan Wang is even more scathing about Britain than America. Instead of being governed by lawyers, as America is, Britain’s governing class is people who get paid for sounding clever, which goes back to the O.P.)
January 13, 2026 at 12:35 PM
(Dan Wang is even more scathing about Britain than America. Instead of being governed by lawyers, as America is, Britain’s governing class is people who get paid for sounding clever, which goes back to the O.P.)
Starmer isn’t just boring and steady. He is also indecisive and refuses to engage in politics, has subcontracted policy to people who only think about strategy, and consequently is the world leader in the politics of needlessly pissing absolutely everybody off.
Hence the full-throated AlPal chorus.
Hence the full-throated AlPal chorus.
January 13, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Starmer isn’t just boring and steady. He is also indecisive and refuses to engage in politics, has subcontracted policy to people who only think about strategy, and consequently is the world leader in the politics of needlessly pissing absolutely everybody off.
Hence the full-throated AlPal chorus.
Hence the full-throated AlPal chorus.
I was about to say the same thing.
If you are interested in a deep dive into how it came to pass, I recommend Joel Andreas’s ‘Rise of the Red Engineers’.
If you are interested in a deep dive into how it came to pass, I recommend Joel Andreas’s ‘Rise of the Red Engineers’.
January 13, 2026 at 12:28 PM
I was about to say the same thing.
If you are interested in a deep dive into how it came to pass, I recommend Joel Andreas’s ‘Rise of the Red Engineers’.
If you are interested in a deep dive into how it came to pass, I recommend Joel Andreas’s ‘Rise of the Red Engineers’.
I have to admit fare dodging was something you didn’t used to see much of in London, and now it is something you see with every Tube journey. It also appears to be mainly carried out, from what I have seen, by young men who look like they are more recent arrivals in the city.
This is exactly what we heard in our focus groups, few thought that London had become Gotham city and were proud of their city - and didn’t wanted it talked down. But they were also frustrated by what is often (mistakenly imo) called low level crime
January 13, 2026 at 10:36 AM
I have to admit fare dodging was something you didn’t used to see much of in London, and now it is something you see with every Tube journey. It also appears to be mainly carried out, from what I have seen, by young men who look like they are more recent arrivals in the city.
They’re not sending their best.
January 13, 2026 at 10:31 AM
They’re not sending their best.
The Braid River.
My favorite Twitter prompt was "RT this with your home river," so reskeet this with your home river.
Mine is the Patuxent.
Mine is the Patuxent.
January 12, 2026 at 11:38 PM
The Braid River.
I think it’s because she has no idea what nightclubs serve.
January 12, 2026 at 11:26 PM
I think it’s because she has no idea what nightclubs serve.
CC: Brett Kavaunagh
January 12, 2026 at 11:23 PM
CC: Brett Kavaunagh
Reposted by Chris Connolly
ICE kidnap 17-year-old U.S. citizen working at Target then dump him bleeding and crying miles away in a Walmart parking lot… 🤬
January 12, 2026 at 3:58 PM
ICE kidnap 17-year-old U.S. citizen working at Target then dump him bleeding and crying miles away in a Walmart parking lot… 🤬
“Cost of living”
January 12, 2026 at 10:39 PM
“Cost of living”
Reposted by Chris Connolly
This is what the IRGC and Basij crackdown looks like on the ground in Iran, chasing protesters through alleys, firing at them from behind. Footage reportedly from January 4 shows the brutality firsthand. Thousands are already reported killed, even more wounded, with the real toll likely higher.
January 12, 2026 at 9:58 PM
This is what the IRGC and Basij crackdown looks like on the ground in Iran, chasing protesters through alleys, firing at them from behind. Footage reportedly from January 4 shows the brutality firsthand. Thousands are already reported killed, even more wounded, with the real toll likely higher.
Reposted by Chris Connolly
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.
The law was passed last summer, and has just been waiting for the Minister to commence the relevant section, which Grok has helpfully brought forward.
January 12, 2026 at 10:17 PM
The law was passed last summer, and has just been waiting for the Minister to commence the relevant section, which Grok has helpfully brought forward.
Reposted by Chris Connolly
Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran has become the first Oxfordshire MP to quit X (formerly Twitter). She said “I can’t sleep knowing that I’m leading traffic to a site that actively enables sexual exploitation of women and children.” Her Bluesky profile is @laylamoran.bsky.social .
January 12, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Oxford West & Abingdon MP Layla Moran has become the first Oxfordshire MP to quit X (formerly Twitter). She said “I can’t sleep knowing that I’m leading traffic to a site that actively enables sexual exploitation of women and children.” Her Bluesky profile is @laylamoran.bsky.social .
Reposted by Chris Connolly
The Fagash Fuhrer has a hissy fit when challenged. He’s a nasty little man
January 12, 2026 at 6:36 PM
The Fagash Fuhrer has a hissy fit when challenged. He’s a nasty little man
Nadim Zahawi is joining Reform UK because he is disgusted at the mess he left the country in.
Absolute charlatan.
Absolute charlatan.
a man is dressed as a clown with a rainbow wig
ALT: a man is dressed as a clown with a rainbow wig
media.tenor.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:29 PM
Nadim Zahawi is joining Reform UK because he is disgusted at the mess he left the country in.
Absolute charlatan.
Absolute charlatan.
Dear BBC News Northern Ireland.
The flag on the left is the Ulster Flag.
The flag on the right is the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland (1922-1972), commonly known as the “Ulster Banner”.
They are not the same thing; and neither is the flag of Northern Ireland.
The flag on the left is the Ulster Flag.
The flag on the right is the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland (1922-1972), commonly known as the “Ulster Banner”.
They are not the same thing; and neither is the flag of Northern Ireland.
January 12, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Dear BBC News Northern Ireland.
The flag on the left is the Ulster Flag.
The flag on the right is the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland (1922-1972), commonly known as the “Ulster Banner”.
They are not the same thing; and neither is the flag of Northern Ireland.
The flag on the left is the Ulster Flag.
The flag on the right is the flag of the Government of Northern Ireland (1922-1972), commonly known as the “Ulster Banner”.
They are not the same thing; and neither is the flag of Northern Ireland.