James Murphy
@jamespmurphy.bsky.social
Teaching, learning and behaviour. Director at Thinking Reading. Working with secondary schools to eradicate illiteracy.
Web: thinkingreading.com
Web: thinkingreading.com
Exactly this. Instead of judging everything by focus group feedback, or worse by your feed on X, just be decent.
The fact that a bunch of people got radicalised on social media does not mean the rest of us should treat them as if batsh*t ideas are reasonable ways to run a country.
The fact that a bunch of people got radicalised on social media does not mean the rest of us should treat them as if batsh*t ideas are reasonable ways to run a country.
the whole thing is of course completely revolting. 20 YEARS to settlement for refugees? no settlement if you’ve ever had a criminal conviction or a tax debt? 10 YEARS added if you’ve ever received benefits? partners and children on their own routes to settlement? What are you even TALKING about
February 11, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Exactly this. Instead of judging everything by focus group feedback, or worse by your feed on X, just be decent.
The fact that a bunch of people got radicalised on social media does not mean the rest of us should treat them as if batsh*t ideas are reasonable ways to run a country.
The fact that a bunch of people got radicalised on social media does not mean the rest of us should treat them as if batsh*t ideas are reasonable ways to run a country.
Trump is a symptom of America ‘s illness, not the cause. Here, for example, a guy shoots his own daughter and faces no consequences. Presumably his MAGA credentials carried more weight.
x.com/bbcnews/stat...
x.com/bbcnews/stat...
BBC News (UK) on X: "Dad shot daughter after 'arguing about Donald Trump' https://t.co/ybx5XDpNiE" / X
Dad shot daughter after 'arguing about Donald Trump' https://t.co/ybx5XDpNiE
x.com
February 10, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Trump is a symptom of America ‘s illness, not the cause. Here, for example, a guy shoots his own daughter and faces no consequences. Presumably his MAGA credentials carried more weight.
x.com/bbcnews/stat...
x.com/bbcnews/stat...
Reposted by James Murphy
In 2019, just 16.7% of rural India had access to tap water. By 2026, over 80%. That's 125 million rural households connected to clean, running water in just seven years. The biggest, fastest sanitation drive in human history. Headline news?
news.fixthenews.com/GXw6J6M
news.fixthenews.com/GXw6J6M
February 8, 2026 at 7:00 PM
In 2019, just 16.7% of rural India had access to tap water. By 2026, over 80%. That's 125 million rural households connected to clean, running water in just seven years. The biggest, fastest sanitation drive in human history. Headline news?
news.fixthenews.com/GXw6J6M
news.fixthenews.com/GXw6J6M
Interesting, given that Obama used The Lion King to roast Trump over his birther conspiracism. I often think that that’s where this all started.
BREAKING: Trump says he 'didn't make a mistake' with his racist video post.
Q: "A number of Republicans are calling on you to apologize for that post. Is that something you're going to do?"
Trump: "No, I didn't make a mistake."
He adds later: "I guess it was a take off on the Lion King."
Q: "A number of Republicans are calling on you to apologize for that post. Is that something you're going to do?"
Trump: "No, I didn't make a mistake."
He adds later: "I guess it was a take off on the Lion King."
February 7, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Interesting, given that Obama used The Lion King to roast Trump over his birther conspiracism. I often think that that’s where this all started.
Reposted by James Murphy
Some really important points to consider here. A must read thread. 👏
You don't improve behaviour by reducing suspensions. You reduce suspensions by improving behaviour.
One of these things is really easy to do. The other requires far more widely reaching change.
You don't improve behaviour by reducing suspensions. You reduce suspensions by improving behaviour.
One of these things is really easy to do. The other requires far more widely reaching change.
January 29, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Some really important points to consider here. A must read thread. 👏
You don't improve behaviour by reducing suspensions. You reduce suspensions by improving behaviour.
One of these things is really easy to do. The other requires far more widely reaching change.
You don't improve behaviour by reducing suspensions. You reduce suspensions by improving behaviour.
One of these things is really easy to do. The other requires far more widely reaching change.
Reposted by James Murphy
Journalists/podcasters: the central premise of my Anna Sharpe novel, out last week, is that (spoiler) an Epstein-like figure corrupts a British politician in order to conceal criminal acts. So suddenly rather relevant. I'm a criminal justice solicitor as well as a writer so happy to chat.
February 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Journalists/podcasters: the central premise of my Anna Sharpe novel, out last week, is that (spoiler) an Epstein-like figure corrupts a British politician in order to conceal criminal acts. So suddenly rather relevant. I'm a criminal justice solicitor as well as a writer so happy to chat.
Ben makes so many good points here. I would be less conciliatory. This feels like ideological capture.
Expect a certain organisation to announce major funding from the government to tell schools how to implement this advice. Without any consideration of the tradeoffs Ben talks about.
Expect a certain organisation to announce major funding from the government to tell schools how to implement this advice. Without any consideration of the tradeoffs Ben talks about.
January 30, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Ben makes so many good points here. I would be less conciliatory. This feels like ideological capture.
Expect a certain organisation to announce major funding from the government to tell schools how to implement this advice. Without any consideration of the tradeoffs Ben talks about.
Expect a certain organisation to announce major funding from the government to tell schools how to implement this advice. Without any consideration of the tradeoffs Ben talks about.
Reposted by James Murphy
Further misery for #Ukraine a frigid Siberian blast will consume region this weekend into early next week.
Temps will fall more than 15C below average sometimes 20C below. Life threatening cold. The situation becoming critical when many apartment buildings remain without heating.
Temps will fall more than 15C below average sometimes 20C below. Life threatening cold. The situation becoming critical when many apartment buildings remain without heating.
January 28, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Further misery for #Ukraine a frigid Siberian blast will consume region this weekend into early next week.
Temps will fall more than 15C below average sometimes 20C below. Life threatening cold. The situation becoming critical when many apartment buildings remain without heating.
Temps will fall more than 15C below average sometimes 20C below. Life threatening cold. The situation becoming critical when many apartment buildings remain without heating.
Palantir is providing software to ICE which they can then use with other data sources to profile, track, and arrest people including it would seem US citizens. Good thing they don’t have access to any sensitive date in the UK oh wait
SCOOP: Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
WIRED obtained Slack conversations + an updated internal Palantir wiki defending the company's work for ICE to outraged workers.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
WIRED obtained Slack conversations + an updated internal Palantir wiki defending the company's work for ICE to outraged workers.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
“In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this,” one worker wrote on Slack.
www.wired.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Palantir is providing software to ICE which they can then use with other data sources to profile, track, and arrest people including it would seem US citizens. Good thing they don’t have access to any sensitive date in the UK oh wait
Awful to see that so many DO approve of his approach
American approval of President Trump's immigration policy fell to its lowest level since his return to the White House in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, with a majority of Americans saying his crackdown on immigration has gone too far reut.rs/4k2SJgC
January 26, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Awful to see that so many DO approve of his approach
Reposted by James Murphy
Some breaking art historical news for you - a lost portrait of Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn was unveiled today at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. It’s been missing for more than 200 years.
1/3
1/3
January 22, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Some breaking art historical news for you - a lost portrait of Robert Burns by Sir Henry Raeburn was unveiled today at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. It’s been missing for more than 200 years.
1/3
1/3
Reposted by James Murphy
They know what they say is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
The media know that what they repeat is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Their supporters know what they are told is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Telling the truth is not enough, unless people care about the truth.
The media know that what they repeat is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Their supporters know what they are told is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Telling the truth is not enough, unless people care about the truth.
January 24, 2026 at 11:25 PM
They know what they say is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
The media know that what they repeat is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Their supporters know what they are told is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Telling the truth is not enough, unless people care about the truth.
The media know that what they repeat is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Their supporters know what they are told is untrue, they do not care it is untrue.
Telling the truth is not enough, unless people care about the truth.
Not an apology. Je demeaned people wi sacrificed everything and things that a fake compliment will make it ok.
He’s gone. Delusional.
He’s gone. Delusional.
Trump is getting pushed back on every front. There’s a lesson here.
January 24, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Not an apology. Je demeaned people wi sacrificed everything and things that a fake compliment will make it ok.
He’s gone. Delusional.
He’s gone. Delusional.
Just another man dictating how a woman may or may not express an emotion. She’s only allowed to be sad. She can’t be angry. Apparently.
Trump on Renee Good: "When she was shot, there was another woman that was screaming 'Shame. Shame Shame Shame.' So loud. Like a professional opera singer. She was so loud. And so professional. She wasn't a woman that was hurt like, 'Oh my heart is injured.' She was a professional."
January 21, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Just another man dictating how a woman may or may not express an emotion. She’s only allowed to be sad. She can’t be angry. Apparently.
He is over the edge and won’t come back. They may drug him enough to keep him upright and largely silent, but he no longer has the mental capacity to do his job.
Trump, who is not mad, has made 30 Truth Social posts in the last 30 minutes, topics including Muslims in the UK, Biden stealing the election, how right he is on Greenland, and other topics.
January 20, 2026 at 5:20 PM
He is over the edge and won’t come back. They may drug him enough to keep him upright and largely silent, but he no longer has the mental capacity to do his job.
My goodness this so well phrased, so powerful in its simplicity, so lucid in its structure. This speech will go down among the best.
Here is the full text of Carney's speech. Very much worth reading.
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
paulwells.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:13 PM
My goodness this so well phrased, so powerful in its simplicity, so lucid in its structure. This speech will go down among the best.
We are way into Article 25 territory and the responsibility now lies with those who won’t trigger it.
There is no strategy
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 20, 2026 at 9:57 AM
We are way into Article 25 territory and the responsibility now lies with those who won’t trigger it.
Reposted by James Murphy
Brave Ukrainian energy workers,day and night,in severe frost,are repairing Ukraine’s energy networks destroyed by Russia
Russia is trying to organize a “cold holodomor” -an energy genocide
Russia is killing the weak&the helpless.It subjects them to torture.We are talking about millions of people.
Russia is trying to organize a “cold holodomor” -an energy genocide
Russia is killing the weak&the helpless.It subjects them to torture.We are talking about millions of people.
January 17, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Brave Ukrainian energy workers,day and night,in severe frost,are repairing Ukraine’s energy networks destroyed by Russia
Russia is trying to organize a “cold holodomor” -an energy genocide
Russia is killing the weak&the helpless.It subjects them to torture.We are talking about millions of people.
Russia is trying to organize a “cold holodomor” -an energy genocide
Russia is killing the weak&the helpless.It subjects them to torture.We are talking about millions of people.
Reposted by James Murphy
I decided to share with you a Facebook post by Lesia Lytvynova, a well-known Ukrainian volunteer.
" 'We are running out.' I have read this phrase countless times in recent days from acquaintances and not-so-volunteers. We are running out. Our strength is not infinite. We are running out.
" 'We are running out.' I have read this phrase countless times in recent days from acquaintances and not-so-volunteers. We are running out. Our strength is not infinite. We are running out.
January 17, 2026 at 10:21 PM
I decided to share with you a Facebook post by Lesia Lytvynova, a well-known Ukrainian volunteer.
" 'We are running out.' I have read this phrase countless times in recent days from acquaintances and not-so-volunteers. We are running out. Our strength is not infinite. We are running out.
" 'We are running out.' I have read this phrase countless times in recent days from acquaintances and not-so-volunteers. We are running out. Our strength is not infinite. We are running out.
Just another day of Stephen Miller’s goons pushing well past the limits
January 16, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Just another day of Stephen Miller’s goons pushing well past the limits
“Not extract wealth from the American people”
The most effective leverage the world has against this nonsensical pretext to ban people from the US is for World Cup fans to refuse to come here, although that is probably an impossible ask for rabid fans.
January 14, 2026 at 5:19 PM
“Not extract wealth from the American people”
Reposted by James Murphy
In parallel to this the government should also invest in community spaces for under 16s, unless you want kids on Roblox all day instead.
Many Labour MPs back an Australian led ban on social media for under 16s.
The UK Government should give it full consideration.
The UK Government should give it full consideration.
Sensible safeguarding
January 14, 2026 at 10:08 AM
In parallel to this the government should also invest in community spaces for under 16s, unless you want kids on Roblox all day instead.
Reposted by James Murphy
Clear statement abt the big difference between voluntary reductions/pooling of sovereignty and involuntary loss of sovereignty through conquest/annexation. For yrs, some have ridiculously claimed Ukraine joining EU/NATO is the same as being conquered by Ru and now I see similar claims abt Greenland.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen announced that "If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the EU."
January 13, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Clear statement abt the big difference between voluntary reductions/pooling of sovereignty and involuntary loss of sovereignty through conquest/annexation. For yrs, some have ridiculously claimed Ukraine joining EU/NATO is the same as being conquered by Ru and now I see similar claims abt Greenland.
How do they keep doing this stuff? Incredible fortitude.
"Khartiia" has established control over the Kupiansk City Council building, with the Ukrainian flag already flying above it. The Defense Forces of Ukraine are completing the clearance of the city, according to the corps’ press service.
t.me/c/1477552474...
t.me/c/1477552474...
January 12, 2026 at 11:06 PM
How do they keep doing this stuff? Incredible fortitude.