James Butler
@piercepenniless.bsky.social
Writes & talks @lrb.co.uk
Logged into X for work reasons and amazed at the feed: astonishingly flagrant ultra-racism, peppered with a few entertaining but poisonous arguments about Your Party. As if specifically to annoy me, the top post was some pseudo-Cath grifter moron drivelling on about the sanctity of Shrove Tuesday.
February 18, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Logged into X for work reasons and amazed at the feed: astonishingly flagrant ultra-racism, peppered with a few entertaining but poisonous arguments about Your Party. As if specifically to annoy me, the top post was some pseudo-Cath grifter moron drivelling on about the sanctity of Shrove Tuesday.
Genuinely funny detail - involving, of all people, Boris Johnson - in Tina Brown's latest piece on the Epstein fallout. But the picture as a whole is very bleak. Send for the tumbrils!
tinabrown.substack.com/p/epstein-an...
tinabrown.substack.com/p/epstein-an...
February 18, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Genuinely funny detail - involving, of all people, Boris Johnson - in Tina Brown's latest piece on the Epstein fallout. But the picture as a whole is very bleak. Send for the tumbrils!
tinabrown.substack.com/p/epstein-an...
tinabrown.substack.com/p/epstein-an...
@profafinlayson.bsky.social Listening to you & @jemgilbert.bsky.social on Mandelson - just re: Parris outing him, he did actually name Mandelson and Chris Smith on air. I remember it - 11yo and cognisant I was gay - as a key reinforcement that there was something suspect + shameful about it.
February 17, 2026 at 6:50 PM
@profafinlayson.bsky.social Listening to you & @jemgilbert.bsky.social on Mandelson - just re: Parris outing him, he did actually name Mandelson and Chris Smith on air. I remember it - 11yo and cognisant I was gay - as a key reinforcement that there was something suspect + shameful about it.
Reposted by James Butler
There was a giant Mecha Lula at the Rio Carnival yesterday. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Giant robot tribute to Brazil's Lula leads start of Rio Carnival
Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival parades begin with a tribute to Brazil's President Lula, illustrating his rise from poverty to power.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 3:39 PM
There was a giant Mecha Lula at the Rio Carnival yesterday. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
There are strong incentives for political journalists to affect a hard-nosed realism, but I find this a genuinely shocking thing to say. It amounts to saying your body is not your own.
to be clear, Matthew Goodwin has one (1) child and should thus be penalised for failing to meet the replacement rate under the incentive scheme that he’s established here
February 16, 2026 at 2:21 PM
There are strong incentives for political journalists to affect a hard-nosed realism, but I find this a genuinely shocking thing to say. It amounts to saying your body is not your own.
Reposted by James Butler
I’m not normally that person but….
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
February 16, 2026 at 8:25 AM
I’m not normally that person but….
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
It’s really annoying that Democracy for Sale a has hardly been credited anywhere in last 24 hours for breaking story of Labour Together paying to spy on journalists *almost two weeks* ago
Hadn’t expected Tory press office to be the exception!
Reposted by James Butler
Britain’s global standing, and a service of tremendous value to the world, being destroyed by little, little people, with little, little imaginations, and their little, little accounting ledgers.
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Britain’s global standing, and a service of tremendous value to the world, being destroyed by little, little people, with little, little imaginations, and their little, little accounting ledgers.
Sultana is taking this line a lot and I have two worries about it: first, it trivialises a horrifying and serious situation and reduces it to a factional smear, with some infantile pleasure in using the epithet. Cf the 'besties with a nonce' line in the chamber.
Utterly moronic comment.
No wonder Your Party is circling the plughole.
No wonder Your Party is circling the plughole.
February 13, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Sultana is taking this line a lot and I have two worries about it: first, it trivialises a horrifying and serious situation and reduces it to a factional smear, with some infantile pleasure in using the epithet. Cf the 'besties with a nonce' line in the chamber.
Nice to have some good news. The Palestine Action ban was transparently and cynically confected, a nasty little piece of political chicanery. Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer and his entire government should feel deep shame, but I don't doubt they'll contest the decision.
February 13, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Nice to have some good news. The Palestine Action ban was transparently and cynically confected, a nasty little piece of political chicanery. Yvette Cooper, Keir Starmer and his entire government should feel deep shame, but I don't doubt they'll contest the decision.
Reposted by James Butler
‘I can't think of a more democratically damaging story, especially in the context of the global rise of the radical right, where people are saying to you, the system is broken – it's rigged for an elite.’
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social on Mandelson, on the podcast.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social on Mandelson, on the podcast.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 11/02/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:20 AM
‘I can't think of a more democratically damaging story, especially in the context of the global rise of the radical right, where people are saying to you, the system is broken – it's rigged for an elite.’
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social on Mandelson, on the podcast.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social on Mandelson, on the podcast.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
On the podcast: @piercepenniless.bsky.social, @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social discuss Mandelson’s influence and explore how the lobbying and advisory industries are undermining democratic legitimacy. Listen wherever you get podcasts.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 11/02/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM
On the podcast: @piercepenniless.bsky.social, @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social discuss Mandelson’s influence and explore how the lobbying and advisory industries are undermining democratic legitimacy. Listen wherever you get podcasts.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by James Butler
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) is joined by investigative journalists @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) is joined by investigative journalists @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 11/02/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) is joined by investigative journalists @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
James Butler (@piercepenniless.bsky.social) is joined by investigative journalists @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/o...
This is how you should imagine me at my desk every morning.
Always dress smartly before settling down to write.
Getty Ms. 114; Livre des faits de Jacques de Lalaing; c.1530 CE; Flanders, Belgium; f.10r @gettymuseum.bsky.social
Getty Ms. 114; Livre des faits de Jacques de Lalaing; c.1530 CE; Flanders, Belgium; f.10r @gettymuseum.bsky.social
February 12, 2026 at 9:16 AM
This is how you should imagine me at my desk every morning.
Reposted by James Butler
Of all the wealth of content produced on the subject this week none is better than this, very insightful, nuanced and trenchant
The Mandelson story is a rare glimpse into the private life of power, and the extent of state capture by unconstrained wealth. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @ethanshone.bsky.social joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to lay out just what that corruption means: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 02/11/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Of all the wealth of content produced on the subject this week none is better than this, very insightful, nuanced and trenchant
Reposted by James Butler
The Mandelson story is a rare glimpse into the private life of power, and the extent of state capture by unconstrained wealth. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @ethanshone.bsky.social joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to lay out just what that corruption means: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 02/11/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:01 AM
The Mandelson story is a rare glimpse into the private life of power, and the extent of state capture by unconstrained wealth. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @ethanshone.bsky.social joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to lay out just what that corruption means: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
Best of the pods on this so far 🫡 @piercepenniless.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/399w...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
open.spotify.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Best of the pods on this so far 🫡 @piercepenniless.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/399w...
Reposted by James Butler
This is a(nother) really good and necessary, if somewhat depressing, listen from the @lrb.co.uk
The Mandelson story is a rare glimpse into the private life of power, and the extent of state capture by unconstrained wealth. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @ethanshone.bsky.social joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to lay out just what that corruption means: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 02/11/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:37 AM
This is a(nother) really good and necessary, if somewhat depressing, listen from the @lrb.co.uk
Striking reading the Streeting-Mandelson Selected WhatsApp Correspondence how outdated and boilerplate PM's political 'insight' actually is. Governments should have economic policy. (Wow, really?) Maybe the Palestinian Authority is a solution, somehow. (Is it the 1990s still?)
February 11, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Striking reading the Streeting-Mandelson Selected WhatsApp Correspondence how outdated and boilerplate PM's political 'insight' actually is. Governments should have economic policy. (Wow, really?) Maybe the Palestinian Authority is a solution, somehow. (Is it the 1990s still?)
The Mandelson story is a rare glimpse into the private life of power, and the extent of state capture by unconstrained wealth. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @ethanshone.bsky.social joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to lay out just what that corruption means: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 02/11/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:01 AM
The Mandelson story is a rare glimpse into the private life of power, and the extent of state capture by unconstrained wealth. @petergeoghegan.bsky.social & @ethanshone.bsky.social joined me on @lrb.co.uk ON POLITICS to lay out just what that corruption means: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Reposted by James Butler
Outstanding @piercepenniless.bsky.social LRBpod with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social on scale of political capture - with a passing mention of Oborne's MacIntyre namedrop on last week's @secondcaptains.bsky.social #ultimatecrossoverevent podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
On Politics: Mandelson and the Private Life of Power
Podcast Episode · The LRB Podcast · 02/11/2026 · 1h 7m
podcasts.apple.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Outstanding @piercepenniless.bsky.social LRBpod with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and @ethanshone.bsky.social on scale of political capture - with a passing mention of Oborne's MacIntyre namedrop on last week's @secondcaptains.bsky.social #ultimatecrossoverevent podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
I did wonder today what would have happened had Mandelson succeeded in his campaign to become Chancellor of Oxford University. I don't think there's an obvious route for Congregation to remove the Chancellor.
February 10, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I did wonder today what would have happened had Mandelson succeeded in his campaign to become Chancellor of Oxford University. I don't think there's an obvious route for Congregation to remove the Chancellor.
The mood in No 10? I would describe it as upbeat, confident and positive.
February 9, 2026 at 3:06 PM
The mood in No 10? I would describe it as upbeat, confident and positive.
Meanwhile over at the crackhead convention:
February 9, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Meanwhile over at the crackhead convention:
Reposted by James Butler
‘As the Swedish diplomatic historian Anders Stephanson writes, “the alarming fact” is that “everyone on this earth has an enormous stake in how the United States chooses to be and act in this world.” Not just enormous, but existential.’
Adam Shatz’s Winter Lecture:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Shatz’s Winter Lecture:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Shatz · Another Country: Visions of America
Is America a dream or a nightmare, a democratic paradise or a bastion of white supremacy and religious intolerance? Is...
www.lrb.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
‘As the Swedish diplomatic historian Anders Stephanson writes, “the alarming fact” is that “everyone on this earth has an enormous stake in how the United States chooses to be and act in this world.” Not just enormous, but existential.’
Adam Shatz’s Winter Lecture:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Adam Shatz’s Winter Lecture:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...