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
Pinned
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...
Think I'm close enough to Blackheath to claim to be a literal YIMBY on this one. Build the houses!
January 28, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Think I'm close enough to Blackheath to claim to be a literal YIMBY on this one. Build the houses!
Reposted by Frank Podmore
It’ll ruin the character of their house prices
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Blackheath: Dominic Cooper and Sarah Hadland oppose housing plan
Lewisham Council faces calls to reconsider 45 new homes planned for Blackheath station car park.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 1:48 PM
It’ll ruin the character of their house prices
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Love how the author of this dreck is described as a “feminist historian” and there is absolutely nothing in her career, education or body of work to suggest she’s the latter.
A thesis undermined just a bit by the fact that Bassano was neither black nor Jewish
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shak...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shak...
Shakespeare was actually a black Jewish woman, new book claims
Feminist historian identifies Tudor poet Emilia Bassano as true author whose identity was hidden by literary establishment
www.standard.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Love how the author of this dreck is described as a “feminist historian” and there is absolutely nothing in her career, education or body of work to suggest she’s the latter.
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Reposted by Frank Podmore
The 'they're actually Tories' routine is overdone and doesn't help us electorally, whether we're doing it to the SNP, Plaid, Lib Dems or Greens – but it's worth remembering in the Green Party's case that it actually *was* founded by Tories!
January 28, 2026 at 11:49 AM
The 'they're actually Tories' routine is overdone and doesn't help us electorally, whether we're doing it to the SNP, Plaid, Lib Dems or Greens – but it's worth remembering in the Green Party's case that it actually *was* founded by Tories!
A thesis undermined just a bit by the fact that Bassano was neither black nor Jewish
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shak...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shak...
Shakespeare was actually a black Jewish woman, new book claims
Feminist historian identifies Tudor poet Emilia Bassano as true author whose identity was hidden by literary establishment
www.standard.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 11:56 AM
A thesis undermined just a bit by the fact that Bassano was neither black nor Jewish
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shak...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/shak...
Reposted by Frank Podmore
Reform UK talks like its anti-elite but its policies favour deregulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, and weaker workers’ rights.
January 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Reform UK talks like its anti-elite but its policies favour deregulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, and weaker workers’ rights.
I wasn't around when, e.g., email or the Web was invented, but did the UK provide 'free email training' to every adult in the UK? I sort of suspect not
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 9:49 AM
I wasn't around when, e.g., email or the Web was invented, but did the UK provide 'free email training' to every adult in the UK? I sort of suspect not
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
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.