Fionna O’Leary
@fascinatorfun.bsky.social
Retired Lawyer, cook, Europhile, books, music, good conversations, gardens, walking. Bird site refugee 🇬🇧 🇮🇪
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
4/ Robbie Gibb was heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way with the BBC, he would “blow the place up”.
Someone has certainly blown the place up very effectively.
observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
Someone has certainly blown the place up very effectively.
observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 4:23 PM
4/ Robbie Gibb was heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way with the BBC, he would “blow the place up”.
Someone has certainly blown the place up very effectively.
observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
Someone has certainly blown the place up very effectively.
observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
"I worked with extraordinarily talented colleagues... reporting of which I am deeply proud, yet likewise it was a time of profound disillusionment with an organisation I had revered since I was a boy. I could feel the place lose its nerve, against a Conservative govt of which it was deeply afraid"
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
goodallandgoodluck.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
"I worked with extraordinarily talented colleagues... reporting of which I am deeply proud, yet likewise it was a time of profound disillusionment with an organisation I had revered since I was a boy. I could feel the place lose its nerve, against a Conservative govt of which it was deeply afraid"
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
"As a peace offering, I have dispatched to the White House a bit of gold-effect plastic moulding that I stole from a Blackpool brothel a few years back. I’m pleased to see that it has already been superglued to the wall of the Oval Office."
Crisis at the Critic Sketchcasting Corporation!
Crisis at the CSC | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
From the desk of Lord Kronsteen, founder and proprietor of the Critic Sketchcasting Corporation. To all staff, It is with a heavy heart that I take pen in hand to inform you of the resignation of both…
thecritic.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
"As a peace offering, I have dispatched to the White House a bit of gold-effect plastic moulding that I stole from a Blackpool brothel a few years back. I’m pleased to see that it has already been superglued to the wall of the Oval Office."
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Alan Rusbridger, "The BBC is headless, it's been decapitated"
"We're 3.5 years off from a general election where a populist right government could get in"
"We're 3.5 years off from a general election where a populist right government could get in"
November 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Alan Rusbridger, "The BBC is headless, it's been decapitated"
"We're 3.5 years off from a general election where a populist right government could get in"
"We're 3.5 years off from a general election where a populist right government could get in"
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Alex Karp and Peter Thiel are two of the worst people on this planet running one of the most evil companies to ever exist—we should do whatever we can to make Palantir go bankrupt.
Palantir CEO Karp twice slams short sellers as stock suffers worst week since April
Palantir CEO Alex Karp twice confronted short sellers this week as the company's shares suffered a double-digit drop.
www.cnbc.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Alex Karp and Peter Thiel are two of the worst people on this planet running one of the most evil companies to ever exist—we should do whatever we can to make Palantir go bankrupt.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
The CURRENT sitting MP for Clacton earns £511,000 as a presenter for GB News and took £281,000 as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion.
So maybe sit this one out, you rancid herring.
So maybe sit this one out, you rancid herring.
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The CURRENT sitting MP for Clacton earns £511,000 as a presenter for GB News and took £281,000 as a brand ambassador for Direct Bullion.
So maybe sit this one out, you rancid herring.
So maybe sit this one out, you rancid herring.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
I assume Germany was asked if they want to participate but...
November 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I assume Germany was asked if they want to participate but...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
November 10, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Trump and his cronies have the BBC in their sights. Leaders can’t stay silent while one of our great institutions is attacked.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
We must defend its independence, end political appointments, and remove Robbie Gibb from the Board.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
I spoke to CNN about how demoralizing it was to watch Stanford leadership stay silent while contrarians on campus launched unscientific attacks to stifle Stanford researchers. Now, those attacks have gone nationwide and much of MAHA leadership have ties to Stanford.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
The Trump-MAHA-Stanford nexus of US health policy | CNN Politics
In early 2022, Stanford medical student Santiago Sanchez set out to organize a campus debate with Jay Bhattacharya — a professor at the university whose outspoken denunciations of pandemic lockdowns m...
www.cnn.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I spoke to CNN about how demoralizing it was to watch Stanford leadership stay silent while contrarians on campus launched unscientific attacks to stifle Stanford researchers. Now, those attacks have gone nationwide and much of MAHA leadership have ties to Stanford.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
"Working at the BBC, I felt that there was a strong awareness to be checking potential liberal left biases – and few coming from the other direction," says Lewis Goodall.
Memo leaks claim the BBC has been captured by left wing politics. What's going on?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/insi...
Memo leaks claim the BBC has been captured by left wing politics. What's going on?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/insi...
Inside the BBC bias allegations | The News Agents
The News Agents, all of whom spent years working for the BBC, discuss the “existential moment” facing their former employer, with top-level resignations after allegations of systemic bias in its…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
"Working at the BBC, I felt that there was a strong awareness to be checking potential liberal left biases – and few coming from the other direction," says Lewis Goodall.
Memo leaks claim the BBC has been captured by left wing politics. What's going on?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/insi...
Memo leaks claim the BBC has been captured by left wing politics. What's going on?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/insi...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
There should be a way to make it impossible to buy fuel or charge at a petrol/fuel/charging station without having
-A valid driving licence
-proof of insurance
-A valid driving licence
-proof of insurance
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) said, based on claims from over 26,000 victims each year.
news.sky.com/story/worst-...
news.sky.com/story/worst-...
Worst areas for uninsured driving revealed - as hit-and-run victim says he was 'left for dead'
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, according to data from the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
news.sky.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:33 AM
There should be a way to make it impossible to buy fuel or charge at a petrol/fuel/charging station without having
-A valid driving licence
-proof of insurance
-A valid driving licence
-proof of insurance
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
At the Independent "I was constantly blocked from mentioning the visceral opposition or complacency of the powerful UK and global billionaire-owned media to the urgent climate action that is required."
"Any time I tried to mention this in a column, it was immediately censored."
"Any time I tried to mention this in a column, it was immediately censored."
How the Not-So Independent Media Censors Criticism of Its Billionaire Owners
Former Independent columnist Donnachadh McCarthy on how the UK's billionaire-owned media silences those journalists trying to speak out against them
bylinetimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
At the Independent "I was constantly blocked from mentioning the visceral opposition or complacency of the powerful UK and global billionaire-owned media to the urgent climate action that is required."
"Any time I tried to mention this in a column, it was immediately censored."
"Any time I tried to mention this in a column, it was immediately censored."
For those who got hooked on the House at No 48, here’s another gripping one…The Fort..and it seems appropriate given Remembrance Day coming up.
True story told by the soldiers who carried out a gruelling assault on Jugroom Fort in Afghanistan & an astonishing rescue.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
True story told by the soldiers who carried out a gruelling assault on Jugroom Fort in Afghanistan & an astonishing rescue.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
The History Podcast - The Fort - Trailer - BBC Sounds
A mission gone wrong. A daring rescue attempt. Told by the soldiers who were there.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
For those who got hooked on the House at No 48, here’s another gripping one…The Fort..and it seems appropriate given Remembrance Day coming up.
True story told by the soldiers who carried out a gruelling assault on Jugroom Fort in Afghanistan & an astonishing rescue.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
True story told by the soldiers who carried out a gruelling assault on Jugroom Fort in Afghanistan & an astonishing rescue.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) said, based on claims from over 26,000 victims each year.
news.sky.com/story/worst-...
news.sky.com/story/worst-...
Worst areas for uninsured driving revealed - as hit-and-run victim says he was 'left for dead'
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, according to data from the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
news.sky.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) said, based on claims from over 26,000 victims each year.
news.sky.com/story/worst-...
news.sky.com/story/worst-...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Great interview with Andrew Lownie about his book on the former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson & the reaction to it by the palace. With a mention of the @fpalondon.bsky.social! We invited him for a press briefing in September when the UK media still tried to ignore the book.
Andrew Lownie wrote an explosive book about Prince Andrew
Then came the backlash.
Legal threats. Journalists were told they’d lose Palace access if they spoke to him
Anonymous social media accounts accused Lownie of visiting sex workers.
This is how ‘the Firm’ works youtu.be/OJHaVsDVv-c?...
Then came the backlash.
Legal threats. Journalists were told they’d lose Palace access if they spoke to him
Anonymous social media accounts accused Lownie of visiting sex workers.
This is how ‘the Firm’ works youtu.be/OJHaVsDVv-c?...
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Great interview with Andrew Lownie about his book on the former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson & the reaction to it by the palace. With a mention of the @fpalondon.bsky.social! We invited him for a press briefing in September when the UK media still tried to ignore the book.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
About 300 employees of a nuclear facility in Russian Ulyanovsk region have gone on a massive strike because they are not paid any salary.
"At the moment, the salary delay has reached two months. Lunches have been canceled, there has been no food provided for a long time.
"At the moment, the salary delay has reached two months. Lunches have been canceled, there has been no food provided for a long time.
November 9, 2025 at 8:01 AM
About 300 employees of a nuclear facility in Russian Ulyanovsk region have gone on a massive strike because they are not paid any salary.
"At the moment, the salary delay has reached two months. Lunches have been canceled, there has been no food provided for a long time.
"At the moment, the salary delay has reached two months. Lunches have been canceled, there has been no food provided for a long time.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
more backbone than the USA Federal workers being treated the same way.
About 300 employees of a nuclear facility in Russian Ulyanovsk region have gone on a massive strike because they are not paid any salary.
"At the moment, the salary delay has reached two months. Lunches have been canceled, there has been no food provided for a long time.
"At the moment, the salary delay has reached two months. Lunches have been canceled, there has been no food provided for a long time.
November 9, 2025 at 10:12 AM
more backbone than the USA Federal workers being treated the same way.
🚨 ‼️ Russia seems to have a direct line of information to 🇺🇸 Gov databases, due to MUSK’s DOGE including energy & nuclear regulatory .
20 Russia logins using the new logins and passwords within 15 minutes of the DOGE changes.
And the witness whistleblower who saw it being done was threatened
20 Russia logins using the new logins and passwords within 15 minutes of the DOGE changes.
And the witness whistleblower who saw it being done was threatened
Why isn’t this all over the news?
Big moment on CNN with Jake Tapper the NLRB whistleblower just dropped serious allegations about a DODGE Russia information breach. This is a serious national security threat!
#NLRB #Whistleblower #Russia #CNN #JakeTapper
#USDemocracy
#Pinks
Big moment on CNN with Jake Tapper the NLRB whistleblower just dropped serious allegations about a DODGE Russia information breach. This is a serious national security threat!
#NLRB #Whistleblower #Russia #CNN #JakeTapper
#USDemocracy
#Pinks
November 9, 2025 at 10:08 AM
🚨 ‼️ Russia seems to have a direct line of information to 🇺🇸 Gov databases, due to MUSK’s DOGE including energy & nuclear regulatory .
20 Russia logins using the new logins and passwords within 15 minutes of the DOGE changes.
And the witness whistleblower who saw it being done was threatened
20 Russia logins using the new logins and passwords within 15 minutes of the DOGE changes.
And the witness whistleblower who saw it being done was threatened
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
The Ukrainians are now openly discussing shutting off the power to Moscow while the USA has helped Russia over the last few months by slow walking Patriots to Ukraine.
Also, a Pokrovsk update (the narrative finally has shifted) and US oil sanctions are shown to be toothless.
Also, a Pokrovsk update (the narrative finally has shifted) and US oil sanctions are shown to be toothless.
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
The Ukrainians are now openly discussing shutting off the power to Moscow while the USA has helped Russia over the last few months by slow walking Patriots to Ukraine.
Also, a Pokrovsk update (the narrative finally has shifted) and US oil sanctions are shown to be toothless.
Also, a Pokrovsk update (the narrative finally has shifted) and US oil sanctions are shown to be toothless.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Hi All, Just released my latest free weekend update. No. 158--which amazingly enough comes out almost exactly three years after the first one. Its been quite a trip.
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Weekend Update #158: The Long Dark Winter Has Come Early
Pokrovsk Update; Sanctions Bluster Unravelling
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Hi All, Just released my latest free weekend update. No. 158--which amazingly enough comes out almost exactly three years after the first one. Its been quite a trip.
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Today, the focus is on blackouts. Darkness is coming early to both Russia and Ukraine this winter. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say
Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Greg Bovino, everybody.
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Greg Bovino, everybody.
“Even where survivors have strong evidence, the system rewards defendants who can outspend, out-delay, or out-threaten them. Part 36 offers — the settlement tools routinely used by corporate lawyers — can bankrupt a claimant who dares to reject a lowball offer and fight on.”
🔥 Harrods: What do the survivors do now??
The courts, the redress scheme, the police — all form part of the same legal abyss.
◾ Survivors cannot access the courts, let alone for trafficking
◾ Harrods’ “redress” is run by the institution itself
◾ The Met refuses to name the crimes as trafficking
The courts, the redress scheme, the police — all form part of the same legal abyss.
◾ Survivors cannot access the courts, let alone for trafficking
◾ Harrods’ “redress” is run by the institution itself
◾ The Met refuses to name the crimes as trafficking
When power is untouchable: the legal abyss facing Harrods survivors
Survivors of abuse connected to Mohamed Al Fayed’s Harrods empire are discovering what “no one is above the law” really means
sussexbylines.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:58 AM
“Even where survivors have strong evidence, the system rewards defendants who can outspend, out-delay, or out-threaten them. Part 36 offers — the settlement tools routinely used by corporate lawyers — can bankrupt a claimant who dares to reject a lowball offer and fight on.”