James Butler
@piercepenniless.bsky.social
Writes & talks @lrb.co.uk
Thinking of a phrase of Tacitus's today, in the Annals, when speaking of political inventions and fake news: fingebant simul credebantque. That they believed what they had just made up.
January 3, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Thinking of a phrase of Tacitus's today, in the Annals, when speaking of political inventions and fake news: fingebant simul credebantque. That they believed what they had just made up.
The median American read two books in 2025.
And perhaps even more startlingly, the median American with a postgraduate degree read only five books.
yougovamerica.substack.com/p/most-ameri...
And perhaps even more startlingly, the median American with a postgraduate degree read only five books.
yougovamerica.substack.com/p/most-ameri...
Most Americans didn't read many books in 2025
Welcome to YouGov's weekly newsletter The Surveyor, with new polling data, insights, and charts on politics, life, and other topical issues — from our U.S. News team.
yougovamerica.substack.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:46 AM
The median American read two books in 2025.
And perhaps even more startlingly, the median American with a postgraduate degree read only five books.
yougovamerica.substack.com/p/most-ameri...
And perhaps even more startlingly, the median American with a postgraduate degree read only five books.
yougovamerica.substack.com/p/most-ameri...
Reposted by James Butler
‘Never has so long a period passed without Labour or the Conservatives leading in the polls. The anti-systemic mood is not a fleeting one.’
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the misery of Britain and the challenges facing Labour:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the misery of Britain and the challenges facing Labour:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
James Butler · Short Cuts: Labour’s Complacency
The few optimists in Labour claim that polling numbers aren’t meaningful this far from an election: faced with a...
www.lrb.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 9:02 AM
‘Never has so long a period passed without Labour or the Conservatives leading in the polls. The anti-systemic mood is not a fleeting one.’
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the misery of Britain and the challenges facing Labour:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the misery of Britain and the challenges facing Labour:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by James Butler
‘If, in January, it could be argued that the jury was still out on a relatively new government, by December that verdict has hardened. Starmer vies with Macron for the accolade of least popular European leader.’
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the state we’re in.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the state we’re in.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
James Butler · Short Cuts: Labour’s Complacency
The few optimists in Labour claim that polling numbers aren’t meaningful this far from an election: faced with a...
www.lrb.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 10:50 AM
‘If, in January, it could be argued that the jury was still out on a relatively new government, by December that verdict has hardened. Starmer vies with Macron for the accolade of least popular European leader.’
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the state we’re in.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
@piercepenniless.bsky.social on the state we’re in.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by James Butler
‘Follow the money.’ That was George W. Bush’s directive to the US Treasury after 9/11. Choking off al-Qaida’s finances proved complicated — but what happened next went far beyond that.
Episode 5 of our new podcast series ‘Aftershock’ is available now:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...
Episode 5 of our new podcast series ‘Aftershock’ is available now:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...
Episode 5: In Dollars We Trust
Podcast Episode · Aftershock: The War on Terror · EP5 · 59m
podcasts.apple.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
‘Follow the money.’ That was George W. Bush’s directive to the US Treasury after 9/11. Choking off al-Qaida’s finances proved complicated — but what happened next went far beyond that.
Episode 5 of our new podcast series ‘Aftershock’ is available now:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...
Episode 5 of our new podcast series ‘Aftershock’ is available now:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...
Milton uses the word a couple of times for Satan's seductive but ultimately hollow and deceitful speech. Most notably when tempting Eve in PL IX -- 'so glozed the tempter...'
Top analysis as ever, and as a bonus, an outstanding new (to me) word for Wes Streeting
I wrote about the current state of things for the last @lrb.co.uk of the year.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
December 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Milton uses the word a couple of times for Satan's seductive but ultimately hollow and deceitful speech. Most notably when tempting Eve in PL IX -- 'so glozed the tempter...'
Reposted by James Butler
Top analysis as ever, and as a bonus, an outstanding new (to me) word for Wes Streeting
I wrote about the current state of things for the last @lrb.co.uk of the year.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
December 18, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Top analysis as ever, and as a bonus, an outstanding new (to me) word for Wes Streeting
I wrote about the current state of things for the last @lrb.co.uk of the year.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
December 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I wrote about the current state of things for the last @lrb.co.uk of the year.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by James Butler
The BBC is in crisis, again. In the latest episode of On Politics, @lewisgoodall.com and @dannyhinduk.bsky.social join @piercepenniless.bsky.social to discuss whether the BBC is capable of surviving in the digital era.
Listen here:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Listen here:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
On Politics: The Bust-up at the BBC
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 26/11/2025 · 1h 5m
podcasts.apple.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The BBC is in crisis, again. In the latest episode of On Politics, @lewisgoodall.com and @dannyhinduk.bsky.social join @piercepenniless.bsky.social to discuss whether the BBC is capable of surviving in the digital era.
Listen here:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Listen here:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
The BBC is in crisis, again. In the latest episode of On Politics, @lewisgoodall.com and @dannyhinduk.bsky.social join @piercepenniless.bsky.social to discuss whether the BBC is capable of surviving in the digital era.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
November 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The BBC is in crisis, again. In the latest episode of On Politics, @lewisgoodall.com and @dannyhinduk.bsky.social join @piercepenniless.bsky.social to discuss whether the BBC is capable of surviving in the digital era.
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by James Butler
‘It is possible a large block of former Pink Tide voters are just defecting to the new option, right? These are swing voters in the largest possible sense.’
On the pod, Tony Wood, Camila Vergara and @piercepenniless.bsky.social discuss the Latin American right.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On the pod, Tony Wood, Camila Vergara and @piercepenniless.bsky.social discuss the Latin American right.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Latin America’s Right-Wing Shift
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 11/12/2025 · 1h 9m
podcasts.apple.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:56 AM
‘It is possible a large block of former Pink Tide voters are just defecting to the new option, right? These are swing voters in the largest possible sense.’
On the pod, Tony Wood, Camila Vergara and @piercepenniless.bsky.social discuss the Latin American right.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On the pod, Tony Wood, Camila Vergara and @piercepenniless.bsky.social discuss the Latin American right.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Weber: "He who seeks the salvation of the soul, of his
own and of others, should not seek it along the avenue of politics..."
(Temperamentally, I prefer politicians who fear they may be bad to those who are certain they are good; many I otherwise share views with tend to incline otherwise.)
own and of others, should not seek it along the avenue of politics..."
(Temperamentally, I prefer politicians who fear they may be bad to those who are certain they are good; many I otherwise share views with tend to incline otherwise.)
There's a certain type of politician that needs to believe themselves to be too moral to get involved in the dirtiness of politics and gets caught in the cognitive dissonance of hiring other people to do it for them.
Gordon Brown was like that with Ed Balls and Damian McBride.
Gordon Brown was like that with Ed Balls and Damian McBride.
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Weber: "He who seeks the salvation of the soul, of his
own and of others, should not seek it along the avenue of politics..."
(Temperamentally, I prefer politicians who fear they may be bad to those who are certain they are good; many I otherwise share views with tend to incline otherwise.)
own and of others, should not seek it along the avenue of politics..."
(Temperamentally, I prefer politicians who fear they may be bad to those who are certain they are good; many I otherwise share views with tend to incline otherwise.)
I don't really mind setting an upper bound on the scheme but... (1) WHY is the government spending any time on this tiny thing? (2) why not reform the scheme to broaden it to allow 0% loans for bike purchase more widely? (3) you should want to stimulate demand for storefront bike shops!
Rachel Reeves is setting the Cycle to Work scheme on fire as part of the war on salary sacrifice policies! on.ft.com/4oKXNrC
Rachel Reeves to curb bike purchases through salary sacrifice in Budget
Introduction of new cap comes after retailers warned some higher-rate taxpayers were exploiting the perk
on.ft.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I don't really mind setting an upper bound on the scheme but... (1) WHY is the government spending any time on this tiny thing? (2) why not reform the scheme to broaden it to allow 0% loans for bike purchase more widely? (3) you should want to stimulate demand for storefront bike shops!
Pink Tide governments inspired the left worldwide. Now strongmen, crypto scammers & sharp-toothed ultra-rightists are taking their place. What happened? Tony Wood & Camila Vergara joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to talk about the long ebb of the marea rosa. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Latin America’s Right-Wing Shift
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 11/12/2025 · 1h 9m
podcasts.apple.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Pink Tide governments inspired the left worldwide. Now strongmen, crypto scammers & sharp-toothed ultra-rightists are taking their place. What happened? Tony Wood & Camila Vergara joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to talk about the long ebb of the marea rosa. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
New @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS: I speak with @danielagabor.bsky.social & Andy Haldane on bond markets, gilt vigilantes, and the role of Britain's central bank. Instructive and hugely illuminating conversation on finance, democracy, & how we get out of the doom loop.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Do bond markets and the Bank of England run Britain?
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 10/29/2025 · 1h 6m
podcasts.apple.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
New @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS: I speak with @danielagabor.bsky.social & Andy Haldane on bond markets, gilt vigilantes, and the role of Britain's central bank. Instructive and hugely illuminating conversation on finance, democracy, & how we get out of the doom loop.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
Why are governments are so afraid of ‘bond vigilantes’? Should the Bank of England remain independent? What room for manoeuvre does Rachel Reeves have?
For On Politics this week, James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) talks to Andy Haldane and Daniela Gabor.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
For On Politics this week, James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) talks to Andy Haldane and Daniela Gabor.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Do bond markets and the Bank of England run Britain?
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 10/29/2025 · 1h 6m
podcasts.apple.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Why are governments are so afraid of ‘bond vigilantes’? Should the Bank of England remain independent? What room for manoeuvre does Rachel Reeves have?
For On Politics this week, James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) talks to Andy Haldane and Daniela Gabor.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
For On Politics this week, James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) talks to Andy Haldane and Daniela Gabor.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
New @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS: I speak with @danielagabor.bsky.social & Andy Haldane on bond markets, gilt vigilantes, and the role of Britain's central bank. Instructive and hugely illuminating conversation on finance, democracy, & how we get out of the doom loop.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Do bond markets and the Bank of England run Britain?
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 10/29/2025 · 1h 6m
podcasts.apple.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
New @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS: I speak with @danielagabor.bsky.social & Andy Haldane on bond markets, gilt vigilantes, and the role of Britain's central bank. Instructive and hugely illuminating conversation on finance, democracy, & how we get out of the doom loop.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
I was delighted to speak to Alan Finlayson for the @lrb.co.uk's On Politics. We take on the digital right (and online left), the champions of inegalitarianism, print and social democracy, Farage as influencer and... whether the internet is just right-wing.
October 16, 2025 at 7:41 AM
I was delighted to speak to Alan Finlayson for the @lrb.co.uk's On Politics. We take on the digital right (and online left), the champions of inegalitarianism, print and social democracy, Farage as influencer and... whether the internet is just right-wing.
Few of the challenges to progressive politics are really new. But the massive change in the means of communication, and what that does to politics (which has to be conducted through it), really is new and difficult.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
September 23, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Few of the challenges to progressive politics are really new. But the massive change in the means of communication, and what that does to politics (which has to be conducted through it), really is new and difficult.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
Reposted by James Butler
‘One of the questions that has hung over this whole conversation is about the void at the centre of the Labour party.’
— James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on his new On Politics podcast.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
— James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on his new On Politics podcast.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
September 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
‘One of the questions that has hung over this whole conversation is about the void at the centre of the Labour party.’
— James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on his new On Politics podcast.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
— James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on his new On Politics podcast.
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
‘It took the Tories ten years to reach this degree of perpetual crisis; Labour has managed it in fourteen months.’
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems, from the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems, from the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
James Butler | Labour’s Problems
Keir Starmer is in trouble. ‘Phase two’ of his government launched on 1 September and was immediately derailed by...
www.lrb.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 9:05 AM
‘It took the Tories ten years to reach this degree of perpetual crisis; Labour has managed it in fourteen months.’
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems, from the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems, from the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
Reposted by James Butler
After the revolution, comrades, James Butler will present 'In Our Time'. This will do for now
James discusses Starmer’s predicament on his new podcast ‘On Politics’, out now.
He’s joined by former Labour MP and minister Chris Mullin, 𝘎𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 columnist Andy Beckett and journalist Morgan Jones (@morganj0nes.bsky.social).
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
He’s joined by former Labour MP and minister Chris Mullin, 𝘎𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 columnist Andy Beckett and journalist Morgan Jones (@morganj0nes.bsky.social).
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
On Politics: Labour's Problems
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 17/09/2025 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:58 PM
After the revolution, comrades, James Butler will present 'In Our Time'. This will do for now
Reposted by James Butler
‘Keir Starmer is in trouble.’
New on the blog: James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
New on the blog: James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
September 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
‘Keir Starmer is in trouble.’
New on the blog: James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
New on the blog: James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) on Labour’s problems.
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/se...
Reposted by James Butler
Really cool to be on the first episode of this new series, talking about the (unfortunately, sad) state of the Labour government:
Launching today: James Butler’s (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) new podcast series ‘On Politics’ goes beyond the headlines and push notifications to get at the real forces transforming our politics here and abroad.
Listen and subscribe now.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Listen and subscribe now.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
September 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Really cool to be on the first episode of this new series, talking about the (unfortunately, sad) state of the Labour government:
Reposted by James Butler
Launching today: James Butler’s (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) new podcast series ‘On Politics’ goes beyond the headlines and push notifications to get at the real forces transforming our politics here and abroad.
Listen and subscribe now.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Listen and subscribe now.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
September 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Launching today: James Butler’s (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) new podcast series ‘On Politics’ goes beyond the headlines and push notifications to get at the real forces transforming our politics here and abroad.
Listen and subscribe now.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Listen and subscribe now.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...