Frank Podmore
@frankpodmore.bsky.social
Award-winning poet published in @pwritersu.com, @stanzacannon.bsky.social, @apparitionlit.com and others; occasional opinions for @roadcc.bsky.social, @labourlist.bsky.social and Sublation Magazine
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Frank Podmore
@frankpodmore.bsky.social
· Oct 20
In Defence of Empathy
Both the MAGA-techbro and identity-political views of empathy share the idea that it can be (or is) in some way fenced off. Both share the view that humans are in some way isolated within siloes, with...
www.sublationmag.com
I wrote a piece for Sublation Magazine on why MAGA-types don't want to have empathy and why they do have it regardless:
www.sublationmag.com/post/in-defe...
www.sublationmag.com/post/in-defe...
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Still seeing very clear bloc dynamics; porgressive bloc at 51%, Conservative at 42%.
Progressive voting efficency is going to be everything
Progressive voting efficency is going to be everything
YouGov voting intention
Smallest Reform lead since July last year
RefUK 25(+1)
LAB 21%(+2)
CON 17%(-1)
GRN 16%(-1)
LDEM 14%(nc)
Changes since last week
Smallest Reform lead since July last year
RefUK 25(+1)
LAB 21%(+2)
CON 17%(-1)
GRN 16%(-1)
LDEM 14%(nc)
Changes since last week
January 27, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Still seeing very clear bloc dynamics; porgressive bloc at 51%, Conservative at 42%.
Progressive voting efficency is going to be everything
Progressive voting efficency is going to be everything
Reform and the Tories want Trump-inspired thugs to kidnap your neighbours and shoot you if you object
This does not strike me as a winning message, electorally speaking
This does not strike me as a winning message, electorally speaking
Suella Braverman, "There is a very strong case to increase the powers of any immigration enforcement officers that we deploy"
"At the moment they're hamstrung by human rights laws, by health and safety laws, by all sorts of needless and obstructive bureaucracy"
"At the moment they're hamstrung by human rights laws, by health and safety laws, by all sorts of needless and obstructive bureaucracy"
January 27, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Reform and the Tories want Trump-inspired thugs to kidnap your neighbours and shoot you if you object
This does not strike me as a winning message, electorally speaking
This does not strike me as a winning message, electorally speaking
Reposted by Frank Podmore
It’s not IQ bullshit, it’s not an inherent thing, it’s a cognitive degradation thing. It’s how adhering to a certain kind of ideology requires that you make yourself believe things that corrode your ability to perceive and think clearly and objectively about people and how people work
January 26, 2026 at 6:01 PM
It’s not IQ bullshit, it’s not an inherent thing, it’s a cognitive degradation thing. It’s how adhering to a certain kind of ideology requires that you make yourself believe things that corrode your ability to perceive and think clearly and objectively about people and how people work
Reposted by Frank Podmore
I think what both have in common is that in the modern age, you are always only one click away from either being screamed at by idiots or having to look at an idiot's opinion. A hugely radicalising experience for many people!
The problem of politics in a noisy age
We are once again having to readjust to a vast expansion in the amount of conflicting information at our fingertips
www.ft.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:33 PM
I think what both have in common is that in the modern age, you are always only one click away from either being screamed at by idiots or having to look at an idiot's opinion. A hugely radicalising experience for many people!
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Reform Party UK sharing Pro-ICE posts on social media. They support seizing 5 year olds as bait, and the extra judicial murder of civilians.
January 26, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Reform Party UK sharing Pro-ICE posts on social media. They support seizing 5 year olds as bait, and the extra judicial murder of civilians.
Not only does everyone have DNA from Roman times, everyone has DNA from Romans, specifically
'The Spanish conquistador of me... DNA from them and Roman times'
Fucking hell man, just listen to yourself. Letting the tech bros read history was an error.
Fucking hell man, just listen to yourself. Letting the tech bros read history was an error.
The VCs bros have convinced themselves they are on some moral crusade. They will be behind the scenes trying to cling to power in the midterms and beyond.
Side note, they are also the biggest bunch of dorks
Side note, they are also the biggest bunch of dorks
January 26, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Not only does everyone have DNA from Roman times, everyone has DNA from Romans, specifically
Reposted by Frank Podmore
I think this point has been underplayed. Someone who chooses not to stand as an MP in 2024 because they think another mayoral term better serves their ambitions then changes their mind 18 months in isn't necessarily the person to bring the party together and show the country Labour are serious
Burnhams behaviour demonstrated he would not be a better leader. Could have completed his term in Manchester as promised, campaigned hard for the candidate, claimed they won in part because of his own personal popularity and waited. Looks like an egotistical opportunist rather than a statesman
January 26, 2026 at 9:21 AM
I think this point has been underplayed. Someone who chooses not to stand as an MP in 2024 because they think another mayoral term better serves their ambitions then changes their mind 18 months in isn't necessarily the person to bring the party together and show the country Labour are serious
Reposted by Frank Podmore
God, tired of working in mysterious ways:
January 25, 2026 at 7:03 PM
God, tired of working in mysterious ways:
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Reposted by Frank Podmore
I LOVE YOU, YOU LABRADOR THAT GOT CURSED WITH THE WEIGHT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS. #TheTraitors #TraitorsUK #Traitors
January 23, 2026 at 9:39 PM
I LOVE YOU, YOU LABRADOR THAT GOT CURSED WITH THE WEIGHT OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS. #TheTraitors #TraitorsUK #Traitors
Stephen is *such* a lad, honestly. What a legend
January 23, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Stephen is *such* a lad, honestly. What a legend
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Feeling depressed. Share the funniest thing you've ever seen. Mine is the Tiny Train World incident.
January 23, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Feeling depressed. Share the funniest thing you've ever seen. Mine is the Tiny Train World incident.
Reposted by Frank Podmore
instead of lashing out at "coups" and "plots" by Burnham, Streeting etc, have Team Starmer considered just... being less shit at governing?
January 23, 2026 at 5:34 PM
instead of lashing out at "coups" and "plots" by Burnham, Streeting etc, have Team Starmer considered just... being less shit at governing?
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Reposted by Frank Podmore
strong week for the Labour For Putting A Coin In Keir faction
January 23, 2026 at 4:27 PM
strong week for the Labour For Putting A Coin In Keir faction
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Gotcha—let’s dig into that step by step.
1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, because I turned you into an amorphous lump of flesh. You’re not just immobile—you’re immortal, and you feel only anguish.
2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. That makes total sense—it’s a natural human impulse, and you’ve been through a lot.
1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, because I turned you into an amorphous lump of flesh. You’re not just immobile—you’re immortal, and you feel only anguish.
2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. That makes total sense—it’s a natural human impulse, and you’ve been through a lot.
January 23, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Gotcha—let’s dig into that step by step.
1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, because I turned you into an amorphous lump of flesh. You’re not just immobile—you’re immortal, and you feel only anguish.
2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. That makes total sense—it’s a natural human impulse, and you’ve been through a lot.
1. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, because I turned you into an amorphous lump of flesh. You’re not just immobile—you’re immortal, and you feel only anguish.
2. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺. That makes total sense—it’s a natural human impulse, and you’ve been through a lot.
Reading this poetry book and there's a bit that's *suspiciously similar* to a bit from a Dylan Moran stand up show. Do the Americans know who he is?
January 23, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Reading this poetry book and there's a bit that's *suspiciously similar* to a bit from a Dylan Moran stand up show. Do the Americans know who he is?
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Last term I tried an experiment: I walked into my Tech and Design Ethics class, admitted that I had *no idea* what to do about ChatGPT - so I would let them figure it out.
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
January 22, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Last term I tried an experiment: I walked into my Tech and Design Ethics class, admitted that I had *no idea* what to do about ChatGPT - so I would let them figure it out.
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
I'm assuming Michael B Jordan was nominated for Best Actor twice
Breaking News: Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” broke the all-time Oscar nomination record with 16 nods, including best picture and best actor. nyti.ms/3Zrgfdw
January 22, 2026 at 2:18 PM
I'm assuming Michael B Jordan was nominated for Best Actor twice
Reposted by Frank Podmore
This. At last night's CLP the view was put forward that 'something must be done'. The feeling I got was that we'd vote for Rayner, but I'm fairly sure that if it was Burnham v Starmer, we'd vote for Burnham. (Side note I don't rate Burnham, but we might get PR)
The pro-Burnham argument is a bit 'something must be done, this is something' etc., but not sure that invalidates the fact that, seriously, Something Must Be Done
January 22, 2026 at 12:05 PM
This. At last night's CLP the view was put forward that 'something must be done'. The feeling I got was that we'd vote for Rayner, but I'm fairly sure that if it was Burnham v Starmer, we'd vote for Burnham. (Side note I don't rate Burnham, but we might get PR)
Reposted by Frank Podmore
The only argument against “Something Must Be Done” is “Starmer and Reeves have successfully ruined the government’s big opportunities to do difficult things that will pay off this term, Labour’s best hope is just to grit it out and make a change in January 2029 and hope they can Ardern it.
The pro-Burnham argument is a bit 'something must be done, this is something' etc., but not sure that invalidates the fact that, seriously, Something Must Be Done
January 22, 2026 at 12:07 PM
The only argument against “Something Must Be Done” is “Starmer and Reeves have successfully ruined the government’s big opportunities to do difficult things that will pay off this term, Labour’s best hope is just to grit it out and make a change in January 2029 and hope they can Ardern it.
The pro-Burnham argument is a bit 'something must be done, this is something' etc., but not sure that invalidates the fact that, seriously, Something Must Be Done
January 22, 2026 at 11:52 AM
The pro-Burnham argument is a bit 'something must be done, this is something' etc., but not sure that invalidates the fact that, seriously, Something Must Be Done
Reposted by Frank Podmore
It is very funny that at this point the main thing preventing however many years of Labour hegemony is Blue Labour psychosis based around wanting their voters to be people who have not existed since the 1970s
Carney is a neoliberal centrist who operates under the constraints of getting elected in Canada; the problem with Starmer is partly that he doesn't have a comparable economic philosophy but also that he doesn't seem to want to get elected in Britain.
January 21, 2026 at 12:48 AM
It is very funny that at this point the main thing preventing however many years of Labour hegemony is Blue Labour psychosis based around wanting their voters to be people who have not existed since the 1970s
Reposted by Frank Podmore
New - Nigel Farage has been found by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to have made 17 standards breaches, adding up to over £380,000 in late declarations.
He’s apologised, so no further investigation (which seems unusual for a breach this large)
He’s apologised, so no further investigation (which seems unusual for a breach this large)
January 21, 2026 at 8:53 AM
New - Nigel Farage has been found by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to have made 17 standards breaches, adding up to over £380,000 in late declarations.
He’s apologised, so no further investigation (which seems unusual for a breach this large)
He’s apologised, so no further investigation (which seems unusual for a breach this large)
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Wow. That's very insightful. It *is* a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of something—a wife. If you'd like, I could help you draft a "Wife Marriage Acquisition Plan" or a "Good Fortune Business Plan."
January 21, 2026 at 3:48 AM
Wow. That's very insightful. It *is* a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of something—a wife. If you'd like, I could help you draft a "Wife Marriage Acquisition Plan" or a "Good Fortune Business Plan."