Gaby Hinsliff
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social
Guardian columnist & writer, author of Half a Wife, sometimes on telly/Guardian Politics Weekly podcast. No, I didn't write the headline. Event host & speaker https://www.specialistspeakers.com/?p=2705
mainly boggling at the idea that any British media organisation has $1billion to be sued for (did Elon not tell him that we are but a simple land of hobbits, going about our hobbit business in the shires?)
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Donald Trump threatens to sue the BBC for $1billion
President Trump has set a deadline of 5pm EST (10pm in the UK) this Friday to 'comply' with his demands.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
mainly boggling at the idea that any British media organisation has $1billion to be sued for (did Elon not tell him that we are but a simple land of hobbits, going about our hobbit business in the shires?)
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
CONFIRMED: BBC Director-General Tim Davie to step down
November 9, 2025 at 6:08 PM
CONFIRMED: BBC Director-General Tim Davie to step down
the most French teenager who ever lived
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:28 PM
the most French teenager who ever lived
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
November 6, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I cannot inagine how it feels to be this boy’s parents. What on earth are we doing, with everything we know about the ways unregulated social media have changed us, letting it happen all over again but worse with chatbots? www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
ChatGPT encouraged college graduate to commit suicide, family claims in lawsuit against OpenAI | CNN
A 23-year-old man killed himself in Texas after ChatGPT ‘goaded’ him to commit suicide, his family says in a lawsuit.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:33 AM
I cannot inagine how it feels to be this boy’s parents. What on earth are we doing, with everything we know about the ways unregulated social media have changed us, letting it happen all over again but worse with chatbots? www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
We campaign in TikTok, we govern in Excel.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
The bad news for Zohran Mamdani is that now he has to actually be mayor of New York, which is a truly *horrible* job.
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 AM
We campaign in TikTok, we govern in Excel.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
As the older Cuomo didnt say.
There must be a replacement for road tax at some point, great, but…making EVs more expensive/less attractive *right now* is nuts. www.ft.com/content/9f90...
Reeves poised to unveil Budget plan for EV drivers to pay per mile charges
Chancellor looks to offset a forecast sharp drop in government revenue from fuel duty
www.ft.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:20 AM
There must be a replacement for road tax at some point, great, but…making EVs more expensive/less attractive *right now* is nuts. www.ft.com/content/9f90...
if the curriculm review does nothing else, binning the fronted adverbials nonsense in Year 6 (if you know you know) means it was worth it frankly www.theguardian.com/education/20...
England curriculum should focus less on exams and more on life skills, finds review
Experts say pupils should spend less time in exam halls and more time on activities like life skills, sport and work experience
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 10:57 AM
if the curriculm review does nothing else, binning the fronted adverbials nonsense in Year 6 (if you know you know) means it was worth it frankly www.theguardian.com/education/20...
I dont agree with all the ideas in this but theyre all better than what’s happening right now, which is nothing, nada, zip of interest open.substack.com/pub/peterhym...
How to make Keir Starmer a social media star
Five ways for the PM to connect with voters, without tap-dancing naked down Camden High Street
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I dont agree with all the ideas in this but theyre all better than what’s happening right now, which is nothing, nada, zip of interest open.substack.com/pub/peterhym...
So a weird thing happened to me in Aldi that I cdn't quite place until I was listening to Gabby Bertin talking about choking in porn on the radio this am. (NB: this is 100% not a sex thing). Having the usual polite chitchat with the cashier who is tired from working extra shifts to make £ for xmas..
November 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
So a weird thing happened to me in Aldi that I cdn't quite place until I was listening to Gabby Bertin talking about choking in porn on the radio this am. (NB: this is 100% not a sex thing). Having the usual polite chitchat with the cashier who is tired from working extra shifts to make £ for xmas..
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
Really interesting (and very wide ranging) discussion on where things stand, at the moment! With @pippacrerar.bsky.social & @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social #polsky #UK
‘The centre cannot hold’: John Curtice on the collapse of two-party politics – podcast
No one likes being unpopular, so you could forgive both of the UK’s main political parties for wanting to look away when another damning poll dropped this week. Support for both parties has never been...
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Really interesting (and very wide ranging) discussion on where things stand, at the moment! With @pippacrerar.bsky.social & @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social #polsky #UK
this whole thread is interesting esp on Green surge but what jumps out: 'fringe' parties are now occupying the space in voters' heads that the mainstream parties used to (Reform/Green vote share combined > Labour/Tory). And it's not that the fringe parties have adopted more mainstream ideas
🆕 Reform back to a 33% high in our Voting Intention. The combined Green/Reform vote hits 44% - 5 points higher than the Tory/Labour vote
➡️ REF UK 33% (+2)
🌹 LAB 21% (-1)
🌳 CON 18% (-1)
🔶 LIB DEM 12% (-1)
🌍 GREEN 11% (+1)
🟡 SNP 2% (-)
N 2,030 | 24 -27/10 | Change w 20/10
➡️ REF UK 33% (+2)
🌹 LAB 21% (-1)
🌳 CON 18% (-1)
🔶 LIB DEM 12% (-1)
🌍 GREEN 11% (+1)
🟡 SNP 2% (-)
N 2,030 | 24 -27/10 | Change w 20/10
October 29, 2025 at 11:02 AM
this whole thread is interesting esp on Green surge but what jumps out: 'fringe' parties are now occupying the space in voters' heads that the mainstream parties used to (Reform/Green vote share combined > Labour/Tory). And it's not that the fringe parties have adopted more mainstream ideas
Good news everyone, the successor to social media is here and it’s even worse
These numbers are shocking. It’s also worth remembering that OpenAI is largely marking its own work here
“The company designed its own benchmarks, and it's unclear how these metrics translate into real-world outcomes”
“The company designed its own benchmarks, and it's unclear how these metrics translate into real-world outcomes”
OpenAI Says Hundreds of Thousands of ChatGPT Users May Show Signs of Manic or Psychotic Crisis Every Week
OpenAI says hundreds of thousands of ChatGPT users may show signs of manic or psychotic crisis every week.
www.wired.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Good news everyone, the successor to social media is here and it’s even worse
Sadly a whole nerdy hour on tax policy is exactly what I want, and since you are on Bluesky you want it too, don’t lie
We're giving the people what they want: more than an hour of content about how we could better tax wealth in the UK.
Do listen/watch and let us know what you think.
Do listen/watch and let us know what you think.
NEW PODCAST: How to fix wealth taxes
@helenmiller.bsky.social, Stuart Adam and @benzaranko.bsky.social unpack how the UK taxes savings, capital gains and wealth, and ask what a fair, efficient system would look like, in our new IFS Zooms In episode.
🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
@helenmiller.bsky.social, Stuart Adam and @benzaranko.bsky.social unpack how the UK taxes savings, capital gains and wealth, and ask what a fair, efficient system would look like, in our new IFS Zooms In episode.
🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how...
October 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Sadly a whole nerdy hour on tax policy is exactly what I want, and since you are on Bluesky you want it too, don’t lie
Genuinely wondering how long til the first politician caught doing a Definitely Not Racism, I Was Just Making A very Important Point Actially responds with something along the lines of ‘ok it was a bit racist but I said what I said’
October 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Genuinely wondering how long til the first politician caught doing a Definitely Not Racism, I Was Just Making A very Important Point Actially responds with something along the lines of ‘ok it was a bit racist but I said what I said’
can't decide whether a robot army in Elon Musk's control or a robot army completely out of Elon Musk's control is worse, i dunno maybe this robot army thing is not a great idea?
ELON MUSK: “If we build this robot army, do I have at least a strong influence over this robot army? … I don't feel comfortable building that robot army unless I have a strong influence.” Read the full piece from @aarianmarshall.bsky.social on @wired.com www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Elon Musk Wants ‘Strong Influence’ Over the ‘Robot Army’ He’s Building
In a Tesla earnings call Wednesday, the world’s richest man pondered the future of his company’s Optimus robots—and his control over them.
www.wired.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
can't decide whether a robot army in Elon Musk's control or a robot army completely out of Elon Musk's control is worse, i dunno maybe this robot army thing is not a great idea?
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
Breaking - Five grooming gang survivors tell PM they will stay on panel only if Jess Phillips REMAINS in post.
They say Phillips has “devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
They say Phillips has “devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Five grooming gang survivors tell PM they will stay on panel only if Jess Phillips remains in post
Exclusive: In fresh controversy, the women write to Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood to speak up for safeguarding minister
www.theguardian.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Breaking - Five grooming gang survivors tell PM they will stay on panel only if Jess Phillips REMAINS in post.
They say Phillips has “devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
They say Phillips has “devoted her life to hearing and amplifying the voices of women and girls who would have otherwise been unheard”.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
really interesting - a Zelensky effect? Or just Americans paying attention to Ukraine now that Trump’s talking about it?
NEW Economist/YouGov Oct 17-20: Ukraine aid
35% of Americans want to increase U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a record high since our polls began asking in Sep 2022
21% want to decrease or stop U.S. military aid to Ukraine, the lowest share in three years
today.yougov.com/politics/art...
35% of Americans want to increase U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a record high since our polls began asking in Sep 2022
21% want to decrease or stop U.S. military aid to Ukraine, the lowest share in three years
today.yougov.com/politics/art...
October 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
really interesting - a Zelensky effect? Or just Americans paying attention to Ukraine now that Trump’s talking about it?
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
Just asked Michael Heseltine at the Wimbledon bookfest if he might consider a run for the Tory leadership if there's a vacancy after May next year. His answer: "I cannot foresee the circumstances in which I would..." Good answer!
October 21, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Just asked Michael Heseltine at the Wimbledon bookfest if he might consider a run for the Tory leadership if there's a vacancy after May next year. His answer: "I cannot foresee the circumstances in which I would..." Good answer!
Off to interview @tommctague.bsky.social and @jeremyhuntmp.bsky.social at Wimbledon Book Festival, and wondering if we’ll ever really stop re-litigating Brexit (on the day Rachel Reeves is blaming it for putting up taxes)
October 21, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Off to interview @tommctague.bsky.social and @jeremyhuntmp.bsky.social at Wimbledon Book Festival, and wondering if we’ll ever really stop re-litigating Brexit (on the day Rachel Reeves is blaming it for putting up taxes)
confused that everyone is so obsessed with Andrew's titles & weirdly not with where a man with absolutely zero judgment, and some exceedingly dodgy friends, is getting the millions to keep up Royal Lodge/settle Epstein lawsuit etc www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
MPs urged to confront royal family over Prince Andrew’s Epstein links
Calls grow for parliamentary rule changes to strip Andrew of titles and ask questions of royals
www.theguardian.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
confused that everyone is so obsessed with Andrew's titles & weirdly not with where a man with absolutely zero judgment, and some exceedingly dodgy friends, is getting the millions to keep up Royal Lodge/settle Epstein lawsuit etc www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
V late to this (it’s a weekend, family stuff, etc) but..I agree with Ben. Both Katie Lam’s interview about deporting people with legal status (and the way STimes treated it) & the Christian Calgie business are disturbing egs of forgetting that ‘normal on X these days’ is very much not normal
Apropos of nothing, I really do think UK journalists and politicians need some reminding that mass deportation of LEGAL immigrants, particularly those with permanent status, is far more extreme than even Trump's America and would basically place Britain completely on its own among democracies.
October 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM
V late to this (it’s a weekend, family stuff, etc) but..I agree with Ben. Both Katie Lam’s interview about deporting people with legal status (and the way STimes treated it) & the Christian Calgie business are disturbing egs of forgetting that ‘normal on X these days’ is very much not normal
A perfect eg of the problem with using polling to discern what voters want, which is that voters quite often don’t know what you’re talking about
All very amusing, but especially this:
"The most popular was an “Australian-style points-based immigration system,” with a net 46 percent support. The least popular was “Britain’s current immigration policy,” with -39 percent support."
www.politico.eu/article/labo...
"The most popular was an “Australian-style points-based immigration system,” with a net 46 percent support. The least popular was “Britain’s current immigration policy,” with -39 percent support."
www.politico.eu/article/labo...
Brits are pining for the pre-Brexit migration system
The idea was that leaving the bloc would give the U.K. back “control” of its borders and create a fairer system. But the widespread perception is it didn’t turn out that way.
www.politico.eu
October 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
A perfect eg of the problem with using polling to discern what voters want, which is that voters quite often don’t know what you’re talking about
Reposted by Gaby Hinsliff
🎧Tinker, Tailor, Starmer, Spies?
Latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast is out now!
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social @theguardian.com joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @amberdellar.bsky.social @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @timdurrant.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
Latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast is out now!
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social @theguardian.com joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @amberdellar.bsky.social @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @timdurrant.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
Tinker, Tailor, Starmer, Spies? | Institute for Government
The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff joins the podcast team explore the row and what it says about the UK’s relations with Beijing.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 16, 2025 at 10:23 AM
🎧Tinker, Tailor, Starmer, Spies?
Latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast is out now!
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social @theguardian.com joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @amberdellar.bsky.social @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @timdurrant.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
Latest @instituteforgovernment.org.uk podcast is out now!
@gabyhinsliff.bsky.social @theguardian.com joins @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @amberdellar.bsky.social @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @timdurrant.bsky.social
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/podcast/insi...
been quite the week in British counter-terrorism
My front page story for Wednesday’s South Wales Evening Post - A former soldier who is now in charge of protecting UK energy infrastructure from terrorism and cyber threats drunkenly beat up a man in a Swansea / Abertawe bar.
October 15, 2025 at 8:45 PM
been quite the week in British counter-terrorism