Ian Betteridge
@ianbetteridge.com
He of the eponymous law. FRSA. Good at writing and sums. Degrowther, and not a fan of capitalism. Your pal. The Eye of Sauron, but for headlines. Made by socialism and immigration, which seems to annoy people. Come for the headlines, stay for the Gramsci.
Pinned
Ian Betteridge
@ianbetteridge.com
· Dec 15
People have a right to speak. They don’t have a right for anyone else to have to listen. That’s why block lists etc exist. I don’t give people the benefit of assuming good faith in the same way I wouldn’t if someone followed me down the street demanding I debate them. I’d call the cops, to be honest
Pinning this one to my profile for the hard for reading.
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
J. R. R. Tolkien was born in South Africa, Paddy Ashdown in India, JG Ballard in China, Gyles Brandreth Germany, Harry H Corbett Myanmar, Gerald Durrell India....
December 30, 2025 at 12:18 PM
J. R. R. Tolkien was born in South Africa, Paddy Ashdown in India, JG Ballard in China, Gyles Brandreth Germany, Harry H Corbett Myanmar, Gerald Durrell India....
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
Today you can pre-order my next novel, "A Wall Is Also a Road" for 25% off if you are a Barnes & Noble member (membership is free). If you liked the cute/weird robots in "Automatic Noodle," I'm pretty sure you'll like these cute/weird slime mold grad students. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-wall-is-...
A Wall Is Also a Road
From bestselling author Annalee Newitz, A Wall Is Also a Road is a thought-provoking science fiction adventure about the meaning of life and love, seen through the many eyes of an alien grad student s...
www.barnesandnoble.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Today you can pre-order my next novel, "A Wall Is Also a Road" for 25% off if you are a Barnes & Noble member (membership is free). If you liked the cute/weird robots in "Automatic Noodle," I'm pretty sure you'll like these cute/weird slime mold grad students. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-wall-is-...
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
So Boris Johnson, Prince Phillip, Andrew Bonar Law, Freddie Mercury, George I, George II, Richard E Grant, Douglas Carswell, Rudyard Kipling, Cliff Richard, Joanna Lumley and Spike Milligan weren't British?
Interesting
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Interesting
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Number of people who say Britons must be born in UK is rising, study shows
Exclusive: Research finds ‘worrying’ surge in support for hard-right narratives on national identity
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
So Boris Johnson, Prince Phillip, Andrew Bonar Law, Freddie Mercury, George I, George II, Richard E Grant, Douglas Carswell, Rudyard Kipling, Cliff Richard, Joanna Lumley and Spike Milligan weren't British?
Interesting
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Interesting
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Slop Is Slop
"I wrote just a few months ago that I firmly believe generative AI tools not only can be, but already are, used to create genuine art. My problem with AI slop isn’t the AI, it’s the slop."
I know this is a position which ... https://technovia.co.uk/2025/12/30/slop-is-slop-i-wrote.html
"I wrote just a few months ago that I firmly believe generative AI tools not only can be, but already are, used to create genuine art. My problem with AI slop isn’t the AI, it’s the slop."
I know this is a position which ... https://technovia.co.uk/2025/12/30/slop-is-slop-i-wrote.html
December 30, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Slop Is Slop
"I wrote just a few months ago that I firmly believe generative AI tools not only can be, but already are, used to create genuine art. My problem with AI slop isn’t the AI, it’s the slop."
I know this is a position which ... https://technovia.co.uk/2025/12/30/slop-is-slop-i-wrote.html
"I wrote just a few months ago that I firmly believe generative AI tools not only can be, but already are, used to create genuine art. My problem with AI slop isn’t the AI, it’s the slop."
I know this is a position which ... https://technovia.co.uk/2025/12/30/slop-is-slop-i-wrote.html
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
The Marjorie Taylor Greene conciliation tour is fascinating to watch - it doesn't accomplish its stated goals of damaging Trump any more than she was willing to do on her own, but it's still an excuse for centrists to browbeat leftists for "failing to think strategically"
December 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The Marjorie Taylor Greene conciliation tour is fascinating to watch - it doesn't accomplish its stated goals of damaging Trump any more than she was willing to do on her own, but it's still an excuse for centrists to browbeat leftists for "failing to think strategically"
“Competition is for losers,” said Peter Thiel. So Meta bought Manus.
This is what capitalism is: innovation occurs, but it’s absorbed by large companies that will never allow competition to flourish. Too big to fail, remember?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
This is what capitalism is: innovation occurs, but it’s absorbed by large companies that will never allow competition to flourish. Too big to fail, remember?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Meta to Buy Manus, an AI Startup With Chinese Roots
Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to buy Manus, a popular Singapore-based artificial intelligence agent with Chinese roots, in its effort to build a business around its massive AI investment.
www.bloomberg.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
“Competition is for losers,” said Peter Thiel. So Meta bought Manus.
This is what capitalism is: innovation occurs, but it’s absorbed by large companies that will never allow competition to flourish. Too big to fail, remember?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
This is what capitalism is: innovation occurs, but it’s absorbed by large companies that will never allow competition to flourish. Too big to fail, remember?
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
The Economist: Brexit has deepened the British economy’s flaws and dulled its strengths
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Brexit has deepened the British economy’s flaws and dulled its strengths
The question is what to do about it
www.economist.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The Economist: Brexit has deepened the British economy’s flaws and dulled its strengths
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
www.economist.com/britain/2025...
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
"We don’t have to wonder what that future will look like. We can glimpse it already in communities across the country where measles and whooping cough are resurgent and where infants and young children have already died from both." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/o...
Opinion | This Is the Damage Kennedy Has Done in Less Than a Year
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
"We don’t have to wonder what that future will look like. We can glimpse it already in communities across the country where measles and whooping cough are resurgent and where infants and young children have already died from both." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/o...
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
Really good from @simonkuper.bsky.social on the increasing appeal to Europeans of importing foreigners to do their dirty work while keeping them in a second-class status, as in Gulf states. This is the gist of Dutch moves to make immigrants wait longer for citizenship.
Excellent piece on that in the paper recently:
Europe’s second-class citizens
Countries that looked down on the Gulf’s ‘kafala’ system are edging closer to creating their own
www.ft.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Really good from @simonkuper.bsky.social on the increasing appeal to Europeans of importing foreigners to do their dirty work while keeping them in a second-class status, as in Gulf states. This is the gist of Dutch moves to make immigrants wait longer for citizenship.
Great thread as always, and it highlights something to take into 2026: the culture wars nonsense is not going to go away. The right - with deep pockets to continue bombarding people with it - think it's a winner, long-term. And I'm not sure they are wrong, if we just ignore it.
This is a very silly headline in The Times
December 30, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Great thread as always, and it highlights something to take into 2026: the culture wars nonsense is not going to go away. The right - with deep pockets to continue bombarding people with it - think it's a winner, long-term. And I'm not sure they are wrong, if we just ignore it.
This one gets a pass
One of the few exceptions to @ianbetteridge.com's Law, I guess...
December 30, 2025 at 12:18 AM
This one gets a pass
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
Hay Google, show me something that didn't happen.
Being GC is a belief, you can't tell my beliefs by looking at me,you can only do that if I manifest my beliefs thru actions.
So either they did that and were bared for their actions or they didn't and the story is completely fake
Being GC is a belief, you can't tell my beliefs by looking at me,you can only do that if I manifest my beliefs thru actions.
So either they did that and were bared for their actions or they didn't and the story is completely fake
They were allowed to continue drinking in the pub after the owner of Wetherspoons personally intervened.
December 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Hay Google, show me something that didn't happen.
Being GC is a belief, you can't tell my beliefs by looking at me,you can only do that if I manifest my beliefs thru actions.
So either they did that and were bared for their actions or they didn't and the story is completely fake
Being GC is a belief, you can't tell my beliefs by looking at me,you can only do that if I manifest my beliefs thru actions.
So either they did that and were bared for their actions or they didn't and the story is completely fake
Trying to remember the last time I travelled from Bristol on a train and it wasn’t delayed/cancelled/otherwise knackered. Not sure I was old enough to drink back then.
December 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Trying to remember the last time I travelled from Bristol on a train and it wasn’t delayed/cancelled/otherwise knackered. Not sure I was old enough to drink back then.
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
im much more horrified by nick wallis
'when i first came across der sturmer i could quite believe the stuff they were posting bcos it seemed so extreme. i have been a reader for a while...'
this is confirmation bias nick. it's a nazi publication ran by a white supremacist who is on gov watch lists
'when i first came across der sturmer i could quite believe the stuff they were posting bcos it seemed so extreme. i have been a reader for a while...'
this is confirmation bias nick. it's a nazi publication ran by a white supremacist who is on gov watch lists
December 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM
im much more horrified by nick wallis
'when i first came across der sturmer i could quite believe the stuff they were posting bcos it seemed so extreme. i have been a reader for a while...'
this is confirmation bias nick. it's a nazi publication ran by a white supremacist who is on gov watch lists
'when i first came across der sturmer i could quite believe the stuff they were posting bcos it seemed so extreme. i have been a reader for a while...'
this is confirmation bias nick. it's a nazi publication ran by a white supremacist who is on gov watch lists
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
I’ve just created a Journalists starter pack, featuring journalists that I recommend! I’ll be adding to it over time, like my other packs. go.bsky.app/KhNg7od
December 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I’ve just created a Journalists starter pack, featuring journalists that I recommend! I’ll be adding to it over time, like my other packs. go.bsky.app/KhNg7od
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
Labour living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks it has plenty of time to turn Britain around.
Fascism awaits. Tariff wars, UK is outside the biggest trading block (EU). Poverty/Inequality rising.
Finance industry deregulated, mega crash incubating.
Must abandon neoliberalism. Need redistribution.
Fascism awaits. Tariff wars, UK is outside the biggest trading block (EU). Poverty/Inequality rising.
Finance industry deregulated, mega crash incubating.
Must abandon neoliberalism. Need redistribution.
Labour is living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks it has plenty of time to turn Britain around | Larry Elliott
Going into 2026, the economy has little forward momentum and things may get worse before they get better, says Guardian columnist Larry Elliott
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Labour living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks it has plenty of time to turn Britain around.
Fascism awaits. Tariff wars, UK is outside the biggest trading block (EU). Poverty/Inequality rising.
Finance industry deregulated, mega crash incubating.
Must abandon neoliberalism. Need redistribution.
Fascism awaits. Tariff wars, UK is outside the biggest trading block (EU). Poverty/Inequality rising.
Finance industry deregulated, mega crash incubating.
Must abandon neoliberalism. Need redistribution.
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
Why should billionaires be able to pass on billions tax free?
December 27, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Why should billionaires be able to pass on billions tax free?
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
December 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
This is literally what the Telegraph campaigned for.
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
December 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
An Essex man who offered himself as a spy to assist the Russian Intelligence Service has been jailed for seven years
www.counterterrorism.police.uk/an-essex-man...
www.counterterrorism.police.uk/an-essex-man...
An Essex man who offered himself as a spy to assist the Russian Intelligence Service has been jailed for seven years
Howard Phillips, 66, has been sentenced to 7 years after an undercover investigation by the Counter Terrorism Policing London found he was willing to assist and support Russian espionage activities.
www.counterterrorism.police.uk
December 27, 2025 at 6:58 AM
An Essex man who offered himself as a spy to assist the Russian Intelligence Service has been jailed for seven years
www.counterterrorism.police.uk/an-essex-man...
www.counterterrorism.police.uk/an-essex-man...
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
This. Is. IMMORAL. it is *GASLIGHTING.* And far worse than garden-variety gaslighting, as the victim has much- reduced chances of ever *catching* you at it. It’s not about *them* feeling any better. It’s about YOU feeling better. Anyone who would do this to a relative has abandoned their humanity. 😡
The comments on this are all about how sweet it is and I feel insane. Using AI to make fake memories of your grandma with dementia and telling her they happened and then filming her reaction
December 26, 2025 at 4:34 PM
This. Is. IMMORAL. it is *GASLIGHTING.* And far worse than garden-variety gaslighting, as the victim has much- reduced chances of ever *catching* you at it. It’s not about *them* feeling any better. It’s about YOU feeling better. Anyone who would do this to a relative has abandoned their humanity. 😡
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Texas A&M won’t reinstate fired lecturer despite findings
A vice chancellor upheld the firing of Melissa McCoul, seen in a viral video being confronted by a student on her gender identity teachings, saying the termination was done with “good cause.”
www.texastribune.org
December 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Texas A&M University will not reinstate a lecturer who was fired after a video of her teaching about gender identity in a children’s literature class went viral, despite a faculty appeals panel unanimously concluding that her dismissal was not justified.
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
This will piss the right wingers off, but I’d say this chap is far more a patriot that the wankers painting roundabouts and hanging flags.
What a legend!
What a legend!
December 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This will piss the right wingers off, but I’d say this chap is far more a patriot that the wankers painting roundabouts and hanging flags.
What a legend!
What a legend!
Reposted by Ian Betteridge
To me this is what Christmas is about. And I have my own story.
Some years ago, we'd just finished dinner when there was a knock at the door. It was one of my brother's friends.
His mum had gone on holiday with her bf & left him behind. He didn't have a Christmas dinner or presents.
Some years ago, we'd just finished dinner when there was a knock at the door. It was one of my brother's friends.
His mum had gone on holiday with her bf & left him behind. He didn't have a Christmas dinner or presents.
December 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
To me this is what Christmas is about. And I have my own story.
Some years ago, we'd just finished dinner when there was a knock at the door. It was one of my brother's friends.
His mum had gone on holiday with her bf & left him behind. He didn't have a Christmas dinner or presents.
Some years ago, we'd just finished dinner when there was a knock at the door. It was one of my brother's friends.
His mum had gone on holiday with her bf & left him behind. He didn't have a Christmas dinner or presents.