Paul Simpson
@paulsimpsonjourno.bsky.social
Journalist, author, editor
Why does Trump think Putin has all the cards? Possibly because he gave them all to him?
November 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Why does Trump think Putin has all the cards? Possibly because he gave them all to him?
This Mirror story about Lennon’s killing is exploitative, gratuitous, and utterly shameful: apple.news/A-0ROnOMXS1W...
Disturbing details about John Lennon's final moments unearthed in autopsy report — The Mirror
John Lennon spent his final day in the recording studio before returning to his home, the Dakota, in New York City, where gunman Mark David Chapman shot him four times
apple.news
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM
This Mirror story about Lennon’s killing is exploitative, gratuitous, and utterly shameful: apple.news/A-0ROnOMXS1W...
“We are one step closer to answering the question, what did the president know and how old were these women when he knew it.” Great quip from Jimmy Kimmel about the Epstein files.
November 20, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“We are one step closer to answering the question, what did the president know and how old were these women when he knew it.” Great quip from Jimmy Kimmel about the Epstein files.
If England had the perfect World Cup qualifying campaign, Bulgaria are enduring the most wretched. Fewer points (0) than Andorra (1), as many goals (1) as San Marino and a worst goal difference (-17) than Armenia (-16). They’re not even favourites at home to Georgia on Wednesday.
November 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
If England had the perfect World Cup qualifying campaign, Bulgaria are enduring the most wretched. Fewer points (0) than Andorra (1), as many goals (1) as San Marino and a worst goal difference (-17) than Armenia (-16). They’re not even favourites at home to Georgia on Wednesday.
Abrupt ending to today’s charity book shift when, after intermittent reports of a funny smell, the store was closed because of a suspected gas leak.
November 14, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Abrupt ending to today’s charity book shift when, after intermittent reports of a funny smell, the store was closed because of a suspected gas leak.
Sometimes it’s astounding how topical period TV drama can be. Foyles War episode Trespass, set after WWII, features a Labour govt blamed for acting too slowly, tensions about immigrants and a right-wing demagogue who leads racist mob on a violent march in which innocent bystanders are killed.
November 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Sometimes it’s astounding how topical period TV drama can be. Foyles War episode Trespass, set after WWII, features a Labour govt blamed for acting too slowly, tensions about immigrants and a right-wing demagogue who leads racist mob on a violent march in which innocent bystanders are killed.
‘News’ from the Scottish Daily Record about Rasputin. Must admit I’d been wondering what he’d been up to lately.
November 13, 2025 at 3:54 PM
‘News’ from the Scottish Daily Record about Rasputin. Must admit I’d been wondering what he’d been up to lately.
Love this NewYorker cartoon.
November 13, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Love this NewYorker cartoon.
In a small, pyrrhic but nevertheless amusing triumph over AI I discovered that it can’t explain the meaning of Tanzanian proverbs, it just repeats or regurgitates them.
November 12, 2025 at 7:46 AM
In a small, pyrrhic but nevertheless amusing triumph over AI I discovered that it can’t explain the meaning of Tanzanian proverbs, it just repeats or regurgitates them.
The best thing that could happen to the BBC now is for Trump to sue it for $1bn which, in his finite wisdom, he plans to do. Hope this goes to court in UK. Can’t wait to see how his lawyers argue this has ‘irredeemably harmed’ the reputation of a man convicted of 34 felonies.
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The best thing that could happen to the BBC now is for Trump to sue it for $1bn which, in his finite wisdom, he plans to do. Hope this goes to court in UK. Can’t wait to see how his lawyers argue this has ‘irredeemably harmed’ the reputation of a man convicted of 34 felonies.
A bit left field but Genghis Khan, a historical and archaeological mystery, and proper old school journalism from @NatGeo, what’s not to like?
apple.news/ArKZeANtCS0a...
apple.news/ArKZeANtCS0a...
Genghis Khan’s burial place is a mystery. Can modern science solve it? — National Geographic
What cutting-edge technology has revealed in the 800-year-old search for the Mongol ruler's lost tomb.
apple.news
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
A bit left field but Genghis Khan, a historical and archaeological mystery, and proper old school journalism from @NatGeo, what’s not to like?
apple.news/ArKZeANtCS0a...
apple.news/ArKZeANtCS0a...
“A shadow is a man when the mosquito death approaches.” Keith Douglas was killed in France in 1944 when he was 24, a year younger than Wilfred Owen at his death. This is a brutal unsparing poem about the reality of war: poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/how-to-k…
https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/how-to-k…
November 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
“A shadow is a man when the mosquito death approaches.” Keith Douglas was killed in France in 1944 when he was 24, a year younger than Wilfred Owen at his death. This is a brutal unsparing poem about the reality of war: poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/how-to-k…
These days, it’s hard to know who is more furious: supporters of certain football clubs (like mine, #LCFC) or Strictly viewers suspecting nefarious conspiracy theories against their favourite.
November 9, 2025 at 8:21 AM
These days, it’s hard to know who is more furious: supporters of certain football clubs (like mine, #LCFC) or Strictly viewers suspecting nefarious conspiracy theories against their favourite.
“No rocket goes as far astray as man,” said Robert Lowell, who certainly knew what he was talking about.
November 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM
“No rocket goes as far astray as man,” said Robert Lowell, who certainly knew what he was talking about.
“I am looking at a sunlit picture of Hell.” Siegfried Sassoon reflecting on the first day of battle on the Somme in 1916.
I always try and read something in memory of the fallen around this time of year and Nicholas Murray’s book on the World War I poets is moving, nuanced and brilliant.
November 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
“I am looking at a sunlit picture of Hell.” Siegfried Sassoon reflecting on the first day of battle on the Somme in 1916.
I always try and read something in memory of the fallen around this time of year and Nicholas Murray’s book on the World War I poets is moving, nuanced and brilliant.
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I always try and read something in memory of the fallen around this time of year and Nicholas Murray’s book on the World War I poets is moving, nuanced and brilliant.
Am sharing this story about a helmet-mounted pistol because Pete Hegseth might want to reinvent it:
taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...
taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...
Behold the glory of the helmet gun
The VA still wouldn't find your TBI to be service connected.
taskandpurpose.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Am sharing this story about a helmet-mounted pistol because Pete Hegseth might want to reinvent it:
taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...
taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...
Someone has left a trail of those little blue pens you get in betting shops down our street. Carelessness? Coincidence? Or a crafty new guerrilla marketing strategy?
November 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Someone has left a trail of those little blue pens you get in betting shops down our street. Carelessness? Coincidence? Or a crafty new guerrilla marketing strategy?
Harsh on forward Kaj de Rooji to score twice for Zwolle and still lose 8-2 to Heracles in the Dutch Eredivisie.
November 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Harsh on forward Kaj de Rooji to score twice for Zwolle and still lose 8-2 to Heracles in the Dutch Eredivisie.
I’ve never owned a computer game or a console but I found this critique compelling: apple.news/AKbFey-3oT1y...
There shouldn’t ever be a PS6 or new Xbox console - Reader's Feature — Metro
With next generation consoles expected in 2027, a reader argues that both Sony and Microsoft should give up their plans and stick with the current hardware.
apple.news
November 2, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I’ve never owned a computer game or a console but I found this critique compelling: apple.news/AKbFey-3oT1y...
“Basil!” Great tribute to Prunella Scales by Mark Lawson: apple.news/AlXMEjnAaTwe...
‘Perfection’: how Prunella Scales’s Sybil Fawlty is one of TV comedy’s best characters — The Guardian
The accomplished classical actress had a perfect ear and the ability to effortlessly pull off demanding jokes. Her performance as Sybil alongside John Cleese in Fawlty Towers was one of sitcoms’ fines...
apple.news
November 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
“Basil!” Great tribute to Prunella Scales by Mark Lawson: apple.news/AlXMEjnAaTwe...
Highlight of today’s charity book shift: persuading an elderly customer she ought to take a punt on Eric Newby’s marvellous memoir Love and War in the Apennines.
October 31, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Highlight of today’s charity book shift: persuading an elderly customer she ought to take a punt on Eric Newby’s marvellous memoir Love and War in the Apennines.
Maybe it’s time The Times was given a new nickname. Not so much The Thunderer as the Blunderer: apple.news/ApoL_YSoVS0-...
'I never once said I was the mayor!': The Times of London humiliated after interviewing the wrong Bill De Blasio — We Got This Covered
apple.news
October 31, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Maybe it’s time The Times was given a new nickname. Not so much The Thunderer as the Blunderer: apple.news/ApoL_YSoVS0-...
This is the cover for the Spanish edition of my book The Colour Code which is nice.
October 31, 2025 at 7:51 AM
This is the cover for the Spanish edition of my book The Colour Code which is nice.
Consider yourself warned: staff at Google’s New York offices had to work from home after large stuffed animals on the premises raised the alarm about bedbugs. Courtesy of @Harpers
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Consider yourself warned: staff at Google’s New York offices had to work from home after large stuffed animals on the premises raised the alarm about bedbugs. Courtesy of @Harpers