Ian Slater
@iansslater.bsky.social
Scot and new citizen of Germany, living in Cologne. Trying to escape from political economy, passionate about music, interested in literature, photography, travel, and culture generally.
Reposted by Ian Slater
X isn’t the platform it once was.
The social media platform dismantled its own guardrails, and harm followed.
The Bear argues it may be time for the UK to pull the plug – and explains why.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @bearlypolitics.co.uk
The social media platform dismantled its own guardrails, and harm followed.
The Bear argues it may be time for the UK to pull the plug – and explains why.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @bearlypolitics.co.uk
Is banning X censorship – or long-delayed accountability?
X’s AI tools producing sexualised deepfakes spark UK debate on safety, accountability and whether access should end
eastangliabylines.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 5:10 PM
X isn’t the platform it once was.
The social media platform dismantled its own guardrails, and harm followed.
The Bear argues it may be time for the UK to pull the plug – and explains why.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @bearlypolitics.co.uk
The social media platform dismantled its own guardrails, and harm followed.
The Bear argues it may be time for the UK to pull the plug – and explains why.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk @bearlypolitics.co.uk
Reposted by Ian Slater
Reposted by Ian Slater
How much did the Ayatollahs pay Trump to say "HELP IS ON ITS WAY"? www.ft.com/content/9147...
Trump says ‘help is on its way’ for Iranian protesters
US president calls on demonstrators to ‘take over’ the country’s institutions
www.ft.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:40 PM
How much did the Ayatollahs pay Trump to say "HELP IS ON ITS WAY"? www.ft.com/content/9147...
Reposted by Ian Slater
If you want to understand why the Ministry of Defence’s ‘strategic partnership’ with Palantir is so profoundly dangerous, please read my latest piece open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
January 13, 2026 at 7:26 PM
If you want to understand why the Ministry of Defence’s ‘strategic partnership’ with Palantir is so profoundly dangerous, please read my latest piece open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Reposted by Ian Slater
Reposted by Ian Slater
Fascism cannot be undone with words alone. It requires action.
January 13, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Fascism cannot be undone with words alone. It requires action.
Reposted by Ian Slater
Reposted by Ian Slater
Reading estimates of 2000-12000 dead in Iran as govt cracks down. Insane
FREE IRAN. Down with the regime
FREE IRAN. Down with the regime
January 13, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Reading estimates of 2000-12000 dead in Iran as govt cracks down. Insane
FREE IRAN. Down with the regime
FREE IRAN. Down with the regime
Good thread
A few things that people don't seem to understand about the Grok/X/Musk issue.
Firstly, the ability to create misogynist content, CSAM etc is a *feature*, not a bug. This isn't an accident, an oversight, some rogues finding an unfortunate use for an otherwise benign tool. It's how it works.
1/5
Firstly, the ability to create misogynist content, CSAM etc is a *feature*, not a bug. This isn't an accident, an oversight, some rogues finding an unfortunate use for an otherwise benign tool. It's how it works.
1/5
January 13, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Good thread
Reposted by Ian Slater
Iran has sent Russia $2.7 billion worth of missiles.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
January 13, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Iran has sent Russia $2.7 billion worth of missiles.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
Reposted by Ian Slater
Today I approached energy repairers on the street to thank them for what they do for us. They were extremely exhausted, dealing with a russian-made catastrophe of unimaginable scale.
Nearly 19h with no electricity at my home. But in this darkness, I see even more clearly that russia is a terrorist.
Nearly 19h with no electricity at my home. But in this darkness, I see even more clearly that russia is a terrorist.
January 13, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Today I approached energy repairers on the street to thank them for what they do for us. They were extremely exhausted, dealing with a russian-made catastrophe of unimaginable scale.
Nearly 19h with no electricity at my home. But in this darkness, I see even more clearly that russia is a terrorist.
Nearly 19h with no electricity at my home. But in this darkness, I see even more clearly that russia is a terrorist.
And Amerika, 2026
"They drag people out of their houses at any hour of the day and night…families are torn apart. Men, women, & children separated…children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”
- Anne Frank, 1942
- Anne Frank, 1942
January 13, 2026 at 5:20 PM
And Amerika, 2026
Reposted by Ian Slater
January 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Reposted by Ian Slater
Norwegian cartoonist called it 9 years ago...
January 12, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Norwegian cartoonist called it 9 years ago...
Reposted by Ian Slater
"The world until recently believed that US-China decoupling was on the way. It turns out that most countries are now scrambling to de-risk from America." My column.
as.ft.com/r/83099001-d...
as.ft.com/r/83099001-d...
How to de-risk from America
[FREE TO READ] There is no precedent of a dominant power abandoning its primacy, as Trump is doing
as.ft.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:05 PM
"The world until recently believed that US-China decoupling was on the way. It turns out that most countries are now scrambling to de-risk from America." My column.
as.ft.com/r/83099001-d...
as.ft.com/r/83099001-d...
Reposted by Ian Slater
Wer 2026 immer noch meint, die rechtsextreme AfD sei nicht durch und durch rechtsextrem, muss die letzten Jahre hinterm Mond gelebt haben. Denn um das zu erkennen, reicht schon ein Blick in die jüngere Vergangenheit der Partei – oder in diesem Text:
Warum die AfD immer noch eine rechtsextreme Partei ist (Kommentar) - Nachrichten aus dem Rems-Murr-Kreis - Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen
Warum die AfD immer noch eine rechtsextreme Partei ist (Kommentar) - Nachrichten aus dem Rems-Murr-Kreis - Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen
www.zvw.de
January 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Wer 2026 immer noch meint, die rechtsextreme AfD sei nicht durch und durch rechtsextrem, muss die letzten Jahre hinterm Mond gelebt haben. Denn um das zu erkennen, reicht schon ein Blick in die jüngere Vergangenheit der Partei – oder in diesem Text:
Reposted by Ian Slater
As the former pandemic vaccines minister, wasn’t Nadhim Zahawi “at all bothered that Reform had given a platform to a medic who said the king’s cancer had been caused by the Covid vaccine?”
Apparently not. Savagely brilliant piece @mrjohncrace.bsky.social 🔥
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Apparently not. Savagely brilliant piece @mrjohncrace.bsky.social 🔥
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Step forward, Nadhim Zahawi: the latest, highest-profile rat to flee the Tory ship | John Crace
As a member of Reform, Nadhim was adamant he had more to give. Even if none of us really wanted him
www.theguardian.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:38 PM
As the former pandemic vaccines minister, wasn’t Nadhim Zahawi “at all bothered that Reform had given a platform to a medic who said the king’s cancer had been caused by the Covid vaccine?”
Apparently not. Savagely brilliant piece @mrjohncrace.bsky.social 🔥
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Apparently not. Savagely brilliant piece @mrjohncrace.bsky.social 🔥
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
And more of….when they tell you what they are, believe them.
Or, when “Reform” aren’t neo-fascist enough for you….
Or, when “Reform” aren’t neo-fascist enough for you….
Ukip have submitted a new logo and slogan to the Electoral Commission, swapping the £ pound sterling symbol for a cross, that looks very much like it is modelled on the Iron Cross used by Prussia & Germany 1871-1918 and Hitler's Nazi regime from 1933-45
January 13, 2026 at 9:11 AM
And more of….when they tell you what they are, believe them.
Or, when “Reform” aren’t neo-fascist enough for you….
Or, when “Reform” aren’t neo-fascist enough for you….
Reposted by Ian Slater
Excellent balance from Nick Robinson (Tory) on #r4today talking about ex-Minister for Warm Horses Zahawi oozing to Reform with guests Tim Stanley (The Telegraph) and some clown from UnHerd, who used to write under the pen-name "Despotic Inroad" - and no, I'm not making this up.
January 13, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Excellent balance from Nick Robinson (Tory) on #r4today talking about ex-Minister for Warm Horses Zahawi oozing to Reform with guests Tim Stanley (The Telegraph) and some clown from UnHerd, who used to write under the pen-name "Despotic Inroad" - and no, I'm not making this up.
When they tell you what they are, believe them:
Kristi Noem’s podium at DHS is just a straight up Nazi slogan
"One of ours, all of yours" was a Nazi policy made when an SS officer was killed in a Czech Village and then the Nazis killed every single resident of that village in response…..but don’t you dare call them Nazis….not even hiding it
"One of ours, all of yours" was a Nazi policy made when an SS officer was killed in a Czech Village and then the Nazis killed every single resident of that village in response…..but don’t you dare call them Nazis….not even hiding it
January 13, 2026 at 8:29 AM
When they tell you what they are, believe them:
It’s high time that our societies taxed pestilential billionaires out of existence.
Billionaire Hedge Funder Bill Ackman Donates $10K to ICE Agent Who Fatally Shot Renee Good Mediaite
www.mediaite.com
Billionaire Hedge Funder Bill Ackman Donates $10K to ICE Agent Who Fatally Shot Renee Good
twp.ai
January 12, 2026 at 5:21 PM
It’s high time that our societies taxed pestilential billionaires out of existence.
Reposted by Ian Slater
I do enjoy these CCHQ quotes: "Yes another of the people we promoted to extremely important roles is a grifting wanker."
A Tory spokesperson goes in two-footed: "Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train. Their latest recruit used to say he'd be 'frightened to live in a country' run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale."
Former Conservative cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK
Having served in numerous ministerial positions for successive prime ministers, his defection will likely be seen as the most high-profile yet
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister," he said on Monday morning
Having served in numerous ministerial positions for successive prime ministers, his defection will likely be seen as the most high-profile yet
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister," he said on Monday morning
January 12, 2026 at 12:02 PM
I do enjoy these CCHQ quotes: "Yes another of the people we promoted to extremely important roles is a grifting wanker."
Reposted by Ian Slater
Reposted by Ian Slater
This is essential: a democracy *must* know who is paying its politicians and where that money is coming from.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Seven Select Committee Chairs have written jointly to the Prime Minister calling for an explicit ban on cryptocurrency donations in the forthcoming Elections Bill.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
This is not an argument about digital assets. It is an argument about democratic integrity.
January 12, 2026 at 9:24 AM
This is essential: a democracy *must* know who is paying its politicians and where that money is coming from.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Cryptocurrency is *designed* to make that impossible.
The whole point is to lift payments outside the scrutiny of the state.
Give me all your money,
And I’ll give you my Manuka honey,
Honey.
(With apologies to Courtney Barnett).
And I’ll give you my Manuka honey,
Honey.
(With apologies to Courtney Barnett).
January 12, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Give me all your money,
And I’ll give you my Manuka honey,
Honey.
(With apologies to Courtney Barnett).
And I’ll give you my Manuka honey,
Honey.
(With apologies to Courtney Barnett).