Nick Barlow
@nickbwalking.bsky.social
Writer, walker, Who and Wolves fan. Lives in Whitehaven. Lots of other things that don't begin with W. https://linktr.ee/nickbarlow He/him
Avatar: Me (50ish man with greying hair and beard) smiling at the camera.
Avatar: Me (50ish man with greying hair and beard) smiling at the camera.
Waiting for the Avengers: Doomsday trailers to reach "who do you want in this? OK, they're back. Now please come and see it, please...."
January 6, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Waiting for the Avengers: Doomsday trailers to reach "who do you want in this? OK, they're back. Now please come and see it, please...."
They could have just called it "a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing".
The defeatists masking as realists are already calling for Europe to just abandon Greenland to the US.
January 6, 2026 at 2:03 PM
They could have just called it "a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing".
Most ridiculous and most middle-class: I once stabbed myself in the hand getting the stone out of an avocado.
What's the most ridiculous way you ever hurt yourself? I got out of the tub, skidded in water and tripped over the toilet. Ankle sprain.
😅
😅
January 6, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Most ridiculous and most middle-class: I once stabbed myself in the hand getting the stone out of an avocado.
The judge in the Maduro trial was born during FDR's first year as President and the US is not beating any of those gerontocracy claims any time soon.
January 5, 2026 at 10:08 PM
The judge in the Maduro trial was born during FDR's first year as President and the US is not beating any of those gerontocracy claims any time soon.
Absolutely not an expert, so would appreciate corrections/sources but it does feel like a group in the Venezuelan government got the US to do a palace coup for them.
January 5, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Absolutely not an expert, so would appreciate corrections/sources but it does feel like a group in the Venezuelan government got the US to do a palace coup for them.
I'm sure they've sacked Amorim with a clear plan in place for appointing a successor who'll be given reasonable expectations for his tenure. Now, time for a quick sip of coffee while I look up the last decade of Man Utd managerial appointments.
January 5, 2026 at 10:13 AM
I'm sure they've sacked Amorim with a clear plan in place for appointing a successor who'll be given reasonable expectations for his tenure. Now, time for a quick sip of coffee while I look up the last decade of Man Utd managerial appointments.
Reposted by Nick Barlow
This, tho. Lest we forget
January 5, 2026 at 10:08 AM
This, tho. Lest we forget
Realised that not only does my MP still have an account on X The CSAM Generwting App, he's the Children's Minister. Have written to him to ask if he's going to leave it, will report any response.
January 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Realised that not only does my MP still have an account on X The CSAM Generwting App, he's the Children's Minister. Have written to him to ask if he's going to leave it, will report any response.
Awaiting Liz Truss's contribution to Venezuela discourse. Could be anything from "woke civil servants stopped me from invading Venezuela" to "Trump should arrest and depose Starmer and appoint me as his viceroy to rule the UK".
January 5, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Awaiting Liz Truss's contribution to Venezuela discourse. Could be anything from "woke civil servants stopped me from invading Venezuela" to "Trump should arrest and depose Starmer and appoint me as his viceroy to rule the UK".
Could be have just one member of the government actually push back against the Brexiters on this? They ran the government for eight years after the referendum, and all we got was deceit and failure.
We’re going to do this for years aren’t we? Make tentative suggestions about heading back into the EU because Brexit is an isolating, costly moronathon that the country regrets. But Tories and Reform will keep howling ‘Betrayal!’, making progress and prosperity impossible.
(iPaper)
(iPaper)
January 5, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Could be have just one member of the government actually push back against the Brexiters on this? They ran the government for eight years after the referendum, and all we got was deceit and failure.
Reposted by Nick Barlow
This is obvious when you think about it, because Venezuela isn't filthy rich and hasn't turned its waterfronts into playgrounds for uber-wealthy Westerners to distract from their human rights abuses. If Venezuela's oil reserves were worth anything, they'd have already been exploited.
I happen to know quite a bit about Venezuelan oil.
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
TL;DR it’s hard to extract, notoriously investor-endangering, isn’t needed (global crude is oversupplied to the tune of 3.3 min bpd) and isn’t easily refined (it’s too dense so always sold at a heavy discount)
www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...
Venezuela has the world’s most oil: Why doesn’t it earn more from exports?
Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, more than five times more than the United States.
www.aljazeera.com
January 4, 2026 at 7:45 PM
This is obvious when you think about it, because Venezuela isn't filthy rich and hasn't turned its waterfronts into playgrounds for uber-wealthy Westerners to distract from their human rights abuses. If Venezuela's oil reserves were worth anything, they'd have already been exploited.
Catching up on Traitors and just when I thought I couldn't be more annoyed by Hugo, he quotes Sun Tzu .
January 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Catching up on Traitors and just when I thought I couldn't be more annoyed by Hugo, he quotes Sun Tzu .
Reposted by Nick Barlow
My friends in Austria sent this and I can't stop watching...wait for the end. 🤗💜
January 3, 2026 at 11:38 AM
My friends in Austria sent this and I can't stop watching...wait for the end. 🤗💜
JG Ballard's ghost is watching all this, nodding intently.
this is your mission. our pedophile president needs you to jump out of a helicopter to kidnap a head of state and his wife so some oil ceos can make a lot of money. we’ll be watching from a resort in florida that still serves wedge salad and checking how many retweets we get. good luck soldier
January 4, 2026 at 10:51 AM
JG Ballard's ghost is watching all this, nodding intently.
Fascinating that Actual Movie Star will probably affect the UK ratings for this less than Stacey from Gavin & Stacey and the host of The Masked Singer.
(I'm most surprised they've got Ianucci performing rather than directing for the first time in years)
(I'm most surprised they've got Ianucci performing rather than directing for the first time in years)
Officially revealed: The contestants in series 21 of Taskmaster
Officially revealed: The contestants in series 21 of Taskmaster
Including the second US-based comedian
dlvr.it
January 4, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Fascinating that Actual Movie Star will probably affect the UK ratings for this less than Stacey from Gavin & Stacey and the host of The Masked Singer.
(I'm most surprised they've got Ianucci performing rather than directing for the first time in years)
(I'm most surprised they've got Ianucci performing rather than directing for the first time in years)
The only divide in the US government is between kleptocrats who find fascism useful cover for their greed and fascists who think kleptocracy is useful for giving them the treats they deserve for being a good fascist.
January 4, 2026 at 6:03 AM
The only divide in the US government is between kleptocrats who find fascism useful cover for their greed and fascists who think kleptocracy is useful for giving them the treats they deserve for being a good fascist.
Reposted by Nick Barlow
I expect evil people to do evil things
I also expect people selling themselves as a bulwark against those evil people to fight tooth and nail against the evil things evil people do
only one of these groups is currently performing according to expectations
I also expect people selling themselves as a bulwark against those evil people to fight tooth and nail against the evil things evil people do
only one of these groups is currently performing according to expectations
January 3, 2026 at 9:22 PM
I expect evil people to do evil things
I also expect people selling themselves as a bulwark against those evil people to fight tooth and nail against the evil things evil people do
only one of these groups is currently performing according to expectations
I also expect people selling themselves as a bulwark against those evil people to fight tooth and nail against the evil things evil people do
only one of these groups is currently performing according to expectations
Do you like beef? Do you like cocaine? You're going to love Barry's lozenges!
Advert, Cyclists’ Touring Club Gazette, May 1882: “Cyclists ride 100 miles ... without fatigue by the use of
BARRY'S BEEF & COCA LOZENGES,
Which are composed of the Finest Extract of English Beef, combined with the Concentrated Preparation of [cocaine].”
BARRY'S BEEF & COCA LOZENGES,
Which are composed of the Finest Extract of English Beef, combined with the Concentrated Preparation of [cocaine].”
January 3, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Do you like beef? Do you like cocaine? You're going to love Barry's lozenges!
Reposted by Nick Barlow
"Why are we arresting Maduro and not Netanyahu?"
Because Netanyahu works for us, and Maduro didn't. That's really the difference. We are the global hegemon. We aren't the good guys. If Putin gave us oil and tribute, we'd sell him cheap weapons, just like Netanyahu.
Because Netanyahu works for us, and Maduro didn't. That's really the difference. We are the global hegemon. We aren't the good guys. If Putin gave us oil and tribute, we'd sell him cheap weapons, just like Netanyahu.
January 3, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"Why are we arresting Maduro and not Netanyahu?"
Because Netanyahu works for us, and Maduro didn't. That's really the difference. We are the global hegemon. We aren't the good guys. If Putin gave us oil and tribute, we'd sell him cheap weapons, just like Netanyahu.
Because Netanyahu works for us, and Maduro didn't. That's really the difference. We are the global hegemon. We aren't the good guys. If Putin gave us oil and tribute, we'd sell him cheap weapons, just like Netanyahu.
As a long time Wolves fan, have now convinced myself that Rob Edwards is going to turn things around, and lead us to the brink of a miraculous Premier League survival, and then all football will be suspended for WW3.
January 3, 2026 at 4:01 PM
As a long time Wolves fan, have now convinced myself that Rob Edwards is going to turn things around, and lead us to the brink of a miraculous Premier League survival, and then all football will be suspended for WW3.
Reposted by Nick Barlow
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by Nick Barlow
“and in other news, President Trump has ordered the bombing of Venezuela”
“Caracas?”
“not according to his doctors”
“Caracas?”
“not according to his doctors”
January 3, 2026 at 8:10 AM
“and in other news, President Trump has ordered the bombing of Venezuela”
“Caracas?”
“not according to his doctors”
“Caracas?”
“not according to his doctors”
Just like removing Gaddafi ushered Libya into a new era of peace and prosperity, I'm sure that all of the issues in Venezuela will just magically go away when Maduro is removed.
January 3, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Just like removing Gaddafi ushered Libya into a new era of peace and prosperity, I'm sure that all of the issues in Venezuela will just magically go away when Maduro is removed.
Next step is going to be something like Maduro meeting Trump and charming him into putting him back in power.
Sky News quotes sources within the Venezuelan opposition claiming that Maduro's capture was a "negotiated exit"
news.sky.com/story/venezu...
news.sky.com/story/venezu...
Venezuela latest: Venezuelan president Maduro captured after US strikes on country
Explosions have been heard in Venezuela's capital of Caracas. It comes after repeated threats of land operations by Donald Trump amid efforts to pressure President Nicolas Maduro to leave office. We'...
news.sky.com
January 3, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Next step is going to be something like Maduro meeting Trump and charming him into putting him back in power.
Reposted by Nick Barlow
It’s exhausting and boring, but because the wilful misunderstanders will be out in force some of us are going to have to spend a lot of time saying:
No, we do not like or support Maduro.
We like and support the rule of law.
No, we do not like or support Maduro.
We like and support the rule of law.
Maduro is a brutal and oppressive dictator of Venezuela.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
Trump has no legitimate legal basis for military action against Venezuela under United States or international law.
Both of those facts are simultaneously true.
January 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM
It’s exhausting and boring, but because the wilful misunderstanders will be out in force some of us are going to have to spend a lot of time saying:
No, we do not like or support Maduro.
We like and support the rule of law.
No, we do not like or support Maduro.
We like and support the rule of law.