Ritula
@ritula.bsky.social
Love asking questions, looking for answers. Broadcaster journalist
Classic FM exBBC
Classic FM exBBC
In Trump’s Second Term, Far-Right Agenda Enters the Mainstream www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u...
And the UK too?
And the UK too?
In Trump’s Second Term, Far-Right Agenda Enters the Mainstream
www.nytimes.com
August 23, 2025 at 9:17 PM
In Trump’s Second Term, Far-Right Agenda Enters the Mainstream www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/u...
And the UK too?
And the UK too?
Overheard on the train -
“They were planning a big wedding?”
“They decided to buy a house”
“They were planning a big wedding?”
“They decided to buy a house”
August 15, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Overheard on the train -
“They were planning a big wedding?”
“They decided to buy a house”
“They were planning a big wedding?”
“They decided to buy a house”
Reposted by Ritula
If you want more Marina, here she is from our event earlier this year in long form conversation with @ritula.bsky.social about the books that inspired her
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4L_...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4L_...
The Books That Made Me, with Professor Dame Marina Warner FBA
YouTube video by The British Academy
m.youtube.com
July 12, 2025 at 8:40 AM
If you want more Marina, here she is from our event earlier this year in long form conversation with @ritula.bsky.social about the books that inspired her
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4L_...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4L_...
What a woman! An absolute joy talking to her. Agree wholeheartedly @catrionaseth.bsky.social
How could one not want more Marina @hetanshah.bsky.social @ritula.bsky.social @BritishAcademy.bsky.social!
If you want more Marina, here she is from our event earlier this year in long form conversation with @ritula.bsky.social about the books that inspired her
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4L_...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4L_...
July 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
What a woman! An absolute joy talking to her. Agree wholeheartedly @catrionaseth.bsky.social
As someone who pays attention but less than I used to, Hannah White points to the trends which seem to be fairly ‘in yer face’ to everyone except the government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...
Parliament has changed – Keir Starmer’s welfare reform challenge won’t be a one-off | Institute for Government
The prime minister needs a new way of working with backbench Labour MPs.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
July 1, 2025 at 2:55 PM
As someone who pays attention but less than I used to, Hannah White points to the trends which seem to be fairly ‘in yer face’ to everyone except the government
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/parl...
Reposted by Ritula
A recently discovered 1974 speech by Stuart Hall on Walter Rodney—and why fascists fear ideas.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/whe...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/whe...
When We Are All Enemies of the State - Boston Review
A recently discovered 1974 speech by Stuart Hall on Walter Rodney—and why fascists fear ideas.
www.bostonreview.net
June 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
A recently discovered 1974 speech by Stuart Hall on Walter Rodney—and why fascists fear ideas.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/whe...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/whe...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Not pulling any punches.
Not pulling any punches.
Russia is at war with Britain and US is no longer a reliable ally, UK adviser says
Government defence expert Fiona Hill warns UK to respond to threats by becoming more cohesive and resilient
www.theguardian.com
June 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Not pulling any punches.
Not pulling any punches.
You go out for some dinner and all hell breaks loose. Rather enjoying dessert.
‘Breaking up is hard to do’ as Neil Sedaka once sang.
‘Breaking up is hard to do’ as Neil Sedaka once sang.
June 5, 2025 at 7:47 PM
You go out for some dinner and all hell breaks loose. Rather enjoying dessert.
‘Breaking up is hard to do’ as Neil Sedaka once sang.
‘Breaking up is hard to do’ as Neil Sedaka once sang.
Joseph Nye, who coined the term ‘soft power’, dies aged 88
So sorry to see this. I interviewed Joseph Nye a number of times and he was always generous and insightful. His death comes at a moment when America seems to be abandoning its soft power - difficult for those of us who value it.
So sorry to see this. I interviewed Joseph Nye a number of times and he was always generous and insightful. His death comes at a moment when America seems to be abandoning its soft power - difficult for those of us who value it.
May 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Joseph Nye, who coined the term ‘soft power’, dies aged 88
So sorry to see this. I interviewed Joseph Nye a number of times and he was always generous and insightful. His death comes at a moment when America seems to be abandoning its soft power - difficult for those of us who value it.
So sorry to see this. I interviewed Joseph Nye a number of times and he was always generous and insightful. His death comes at a moment when America seems to be abandoning its soft power - difficult for those of us who value it.
Reposted by Ritula
India launches attack on 9 sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir reut.rs/4krsv6z
India launches attack on 9 sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir
The Indian armed forces launched "Operation Sindoor," hitting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.
reut.rs
May 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
India launches attack on 9 sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir reut.rs/4krsv6z
In my superficial, self centred way, I looked at the UK/India trade deal and thought ‘ooh, lovely clothes may now be more affordable’. And then I read the comments. Instructive. In particular, the person who pointed out that we should wait for the detail. Hello devil.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK and India agree trade deal after three years of talks
The deal will improve access for UK whisky and cars to the Indian market, and cut taxes on India's clothing and footwear exports.
www.bbc.co.uk
May 6, 2025 at 4:23 PM
In my superficial, self centred way, I looked at the UK/India trade deal and thought ‘ooh, lovely clothes may now be more affordable’. And then I read the comments. Instructive. In particular, the person who pointed out that we should wait for the detail. Hello devil.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Ritula
Do join us at our Spring Conference on the 30 April in London - lots of discussions to be had about the future of public service media with @janemartinson.bsky.social @ritula.bsky.social @torindouglas.bsky.social To book head to payments.vlv.org.uk/event-search
April 9, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Do join us at our Spring Conference on the 30 April in London - lots of discussions to be had about the future of public service media with @janemartinson.bsky.social @ritula.bsky.social @torindouglas.bsky.social To book head to payments.vlv.org.uk/event-search
An interesting conclusion from James Marriott in The Times. Not least for those of us who were constantly defending ourselves from the criticism of ‘too many interruptions’. And while conducting an interview is on one level ‘just asking questions’ doing it well is more like playing chess.
March 22, 2025 at 9:13 AM
An interesting conclusion from James Marriott in The Times. Not least for those of us who were constantly defending ourselves from the criticism of ‘too many interruptions’. And while conducting an interview is on one level ‘just asking questions’ doing it well is more like playing chess.
In Trumpworld there are no friends, no allies, no mercy. Only potential deals. It is a ruthless business mentality applied to geopolitics. The ‘suckers’ - often the weaker party - get ‘done over’ (I won’t use the ruder term).
March 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In Trumpworld there are no friends, no allies, no mercy. Only potential deals. It is a ruthless business mentality applied to geopolitics. The ‘suckers’ - often the weaker party - get ‘done over’ (I won’t use the ruder term).
Will 50% of America please wake up now?
March 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Will 50% of America please wake up now?
The UK feels rather small and irrelevant this morning. And our domestic concerns even more parochial than usual. With friends like these etc. #Zelensky
March 1, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The UK feels rather small and irrelevant this morning. And our domestic concerns even more parochial than usual. With friends like these etc. #Zelensky
I have been brooding over this ever since I saw the clip. I have (publicly) wrestled with my sense of identity - English? British? But I’m horrified by this expression of unabashed ‘blood and soil nationalism’ How have we arrived here in 2025?
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
Of course Rishi Sunak is English
In his comments on English identity, Konstantin Kisin was giving voice to a racial essentialism dangerously prominent on the right.
www.newstatesman.com
February 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I have been brooding over this ever since I saw the clip. I have (publicly) wrestled with my sense of identity - English? British? But I’m horrified by this expression of unabashed ‘blood and soil nationalism’ How have we arrived here in 2025?
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
www.newstatesman.com/politics/soc...
Zelensky’s comments about the need for a European army are difficult to ignore. UK’s objection to grtr European defence co operation rested on the primacy of NATO and the transatlantic alliance. Now that appears to be over, is a European force the inevitable conclusion? And what would the UK do?
February 15, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Zelensky’s comments about the need for a European army are difficult to ignore. UK’s objection to grtr European defence co operation rested on the primacy of NATO and the transatlantic alliance. Now that appears to be over, is a European force the inevitable conclusion? And what would the UK do?
I’m always wary of politicians who claim insight purely because of personal experience (“speaking as a mother”etc). Kemi Badenoch takes my stance to another level - it’s as if she has no awareness at all of her own relationship to some of the policies she advocates.
Powell in Eastbourne even proposes a German-style Commonwealth guest worker scheme for "the temporary albeit often longterm intake of labour". His main concern is no settlement rights & above all doesn't want lots of British-born minority children with rights. (Eg Badenoch if her parents lived here)
February 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I’m always wary of politicians who claim insight purely because of personal experience (“speaking as a mother”etc). Kemi Badenoch takes my stance to another level - it’s as if she has no awareness at all of her own relationship to some of the policies she advocates.
Would consumer boycotts make an impact? (She says, typing on an iPhone)
Canadians have canceled trips south of the border, boycotted US alcohol and other products and even booed at sporting events after US President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on most of Canada's goods reut.rs/4jIZJ1C
Canadians cancel trips, ban American booze after Trump's tariffs
"It feels like Trump wants to restructure the world order," Drew Dilkens, mayor of the Canadian border city of Windsor, said.
reut.rs
February 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Would consumer boycotts make an impact? (She says, typing on an iPhone)
Reposted by Ritula
We're absolutely delighted to welcome @ritula.bsky.social @katefdixon.bsky.social @helenljay.bsky.social Catherine Johnson & @heshams.bsky.social as new Trustees to the VLV. They bring a wealth of expertise & a strong commitment to the mission of VLV, full release here vlv.org.uk/media-centre...
January 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
We're absolutely delighted to welcome @ritula.bsky.social @katefdixon.bsky.social @helenljay.bsky.social Catherine Johnson & @heshams.bsky.social as new Trustees to the VLV. They bring a wealth of expertise & a strong commitment to the mission of VLV, full release here vlv.org.uk/media-centre...
In the ‘new world order’ as declared by President Trump, there are it seems no real friends and allies. Can we finally say goodbye to the increasingly elusive ‘special relationship’?
January 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
In the ‘new world order’ as declared by President Trump, there are it seems no real friends and allies. Can we finally say goodbye to the increasingly elusive ‘special relationship’?