Stu Bates
@stuartbates.bsky.social
Software engineer with product manager tendencies. Obsessed BJJ white belt. 5am club entrepreneur. Recent dad of two. Tired. Living in Bristol, UK.
Reposted by Stu Bates
This detailed demolition of @gullyfoyleuk.bsky.social's "75 Brexit Benefits" by @alanbeattie.bsky.social deserves wider circulation.
Intellectual garbage disposal is a valuable public service!
Intellectual garbage disposal is a valuable public service!
OK, let's take this seriously. I had an odd half an hour and via Apple Books had a quick look at the three claims I knew most about - two re the post-Brexit bilateral preferential trade agreements replicated from the EU versions and one about cheaper bananas. All are wrong or wildly implausible. 1/n
October 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
This detailed demolition of @gullyfoyleuk.bsky.social's "75 Brexit Benefits" by @alanbeattie.bsky.social deserves wider circulation.
Intellectual garbage disposal is a valuable public service!
Intellectual garbage disposal is a valuable public service!
Reposted by Stu Bates
Next time Farage or one of his mates is on Question Time getting applause for stopping/reversing immigration, may I suggest the following riposte:
'Everyone who just applauded needs to think hard what they were applauding. Without significant immigration, this country will become a catastrophe.' /1
'Everyone who just applauded needs to think hard what they were applauding. Without significant immigration, this country will become a catastrophe.' /1
September 30, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Next time Farage or one of his mates is on Question Time getting applause for stopping/reversing immigration, may I suggest the following riposte:
'Everyone who just applauded needs to think hard what they were applauding. Without significant immigration, this country will become a catastrophe.' /1
'Everyone who just applauded needs to think hard what they were applauding. Without significant immigration, this country will become a catastrophe.' /1
What disturbs me about this flag campaign is the mass display on public streets, creating false impressions of unanimous support when many of the motivations behind it are clearly racist.
September 28, 2025 at 11:17 AM
What disturbs me about this flag campaign is the mass display on public streets, creating false impressions of unanimous support when many of the motivations behind it are clearly racist.
Some of the networks should send their war correspondents to Portland and just have them cover the weekend brunch scene, vintage clothes markets and artisanal cheese tastings.
“The president should be removed from office because he is plainly insane.”
I mean, there is no war in Portland. There just isn’t. You can’t & won’t avoid reporting this story. But you’ll still find a way to try to report it in a way that gives him the benefit of the doubt.
And that’s wrong.
I mean, there is no war in Portland. There just isn’t. You can’t & won’t avoid reporting this story. But you’ll still find a way to try to report it in a way that gives him the benefit of the doubt.
And that’s wrong.
September 28, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Some of the networks should send their war correspondents to Portland and just have them cover the weekend brunch scene, vintage clothes markets and artisanal cheese tastings.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Starmer has no choice. Those pointing to Carney as proof are missing the fact that the UK isn’t Canada.
The US wields significant power over both, but it has genuine economic dependencies on Canada - oil, timber, and integrated cross-border manufacturing supply chains.
The US wields significant power over both, but it has genuine economic dependencies on Canada - oil, timber, and integrated cross-border manufacturing supply chains.
September 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Starmer has no choice. Those pointing to Carney as proof are missing the fact that the UK isn’t Canada.
The US wields significant power over both, but it has genuine economic dependencies on Canada - oil, timber, and integrated cross-border manufacturing supply chains.
The US wields significant power over both, but it has genuine economic dependencies on Canada - oil, timber, and integrated cross-border manufacturing supply chains.
Reposted by Stu Bates
Warmly recommend the Substack of @hcrichardson.bsky.social for following what is happening in US.
Each post is headed by just a date and provides a daily detailed - and not sensationalised - account and evaluation of the day's political events.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
Each post is headed by just a date and provides a daily detailed - and not sensationalised - account and evaluation of the day's political events.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Warmly recommend the Substack of @hcrichardson.bsky.social for following what is happening in US.
Each post is headed by just a date and provides a daily detailed - and not sensationalised - account and evaluation of the day's political events.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
Each post is headed by just a date and provides a daily detailed - and not sensationalised - account and evaluation of the day's political events.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
Well that didn't take as long as I expected 😏
Prediction: By the end of the Trump presidency, Musk will no longer be the richest man in the world.
September 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Well that didn't take as long as I expected 😏
Reposted by Stu Bates
Reposted by Stu Bates
Yes, the stakes here are large. Very large.
August 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Yes, the stakes here are large. Very large.
Reposted by Stu Bates
On the left, my warning from September 2024 about what Trump 2.0 would look like. On the right, recent headlines.
I wish I'd been wrong. But because Trump is following a classic authoritarian playbook, it’s up to state and local governments to push back on this tyranny while it’s still possible.
I wish I'd been wrong. But because Trump is following a classic authoritarian playbook, it’s up to state and local governments to push back on this tyranny while it’s still possible.
August 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
On the left, my warning from September 2024 about what Trump 2.0 would look like. On the right, recent headlines.
I wish I'd been wrong. But because Trump is following a classic authoritarian playbook, it’s up to state and local governments to push back on this tyranny while it’s still possible.
I wish I'd been wrong. But because Trump is following a classic authoritarian playbook, it’s up to state and local governments to push back on this tyranny while it’s still possible.
Reposted by Stu Bates
Was reminded of Bentham’s argument that fear of crime can be a worse harm than crime itself. Everyone can be affected by fear of crime but relatively few people experience serious crime. And fear of crime can easily be manipulated for nefarious purposes.
August 12, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Was reminded of Bentham’s argument that fear of crime can be a worse harm than crime itself. Everyone can be affected by fear of crime but relatively few people experience serious crime. And fear of crime can easily be manipulated for nefarious purposes.
Reposted by Stu Bates
Baby voice: Things can be good without being perfect. You must learn to grasp this fact. If you are unable to do so, you will have a very thankless life, politically and personally.
July 17, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Baby voice: Things can be good without being perfect. You must learn to grasp this fact. If you are unable to do so, you will have a very thankless life, politically and personally.
Reposted by Stu Bates
The left better start figuring out how to weaponize today's decision rather than just (rightfully) criticizing it.
- Go back into Judge Kaczmaryk's court to dissolve all of his nationwide orders.
- Pass gun bans and insist any order applies only to plaintiffs.
- Go back into Judge Kaczmaryk's court to dissolve all of his nationwide orders.
- Pass gun bans and insist any order applies only to plaintiffs.
June 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The left better start figuring out how to weaponize today's decision rather than just (rightfully) criticizing it.
- Go back into Judge Kaczmaryk's court to dissolve all of his nationwide orders.
- Pass gun bans and insist any order applies only to plaintiffs.
- Go back into Judge Kaczmaryk's court to dissolve all of his nationwide orders.
- Pass gun bans and insist any order applies only to plaintiffs.
Reposted by Stu Bates
I’ve been saying for *years* that publications should be putting their fact checks right next to the original posts like this. I’m absolutely delighted they’re starting to do it.
Elon Musk is now trying to claim he doesn’t do drugs. Here’s our response @nytimes.com
June 1, 2025 at 4:42 AM
I’ve been saying for *years* that publications should be putting their fact checks right next to the original posts like this. I’m absolutely delighted they’re starting to do it.
Reposted by Stu Bates
Trade policy update.
May 28, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Trade policy update.
Reposted by Stu Bates
This is so 'core', I'd go as far as saying Starmer has just shortened his tenure as PM.
He's acting like he's in Badenoch's position: in opposition, shattered/fractious party, chasing other parties' votes.... but he's got a huge majority and four more years of government.
Total insanity.
He's acting like he's in Badenoch's position: in opposition, shattered/fractious party, chasing other parties' votes.... but he's got a huge majority and four more years of government.
Total insanity.
May 12, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This is so 'core', I'd go as far as saying Starmer has just shortened his tenure as PM.
He's acting like he's in Badenoch's position: in opposition, shattered/fractious party, chasing other parties' votes.... but he's got a huge majority and four more years of government.
Total insanity.
He's acting like he's in Badenoch's position: in opposition, shattered/fractious party, chasing other parties' votes.... but he's got a huge majority and four more years of government.
Total insanity.
Reposted by Stu Bates
My colleagues detail, step by the step, what was behind the unexplained pause in US military aid to Ukraine earlier this year. It was a verbal order from Hegseth, which caught the White House (and Kyiv) completely off guard www.reuters.com/world/us/ord...
Exclusive: Order by Hegseth to cancel Ukraine weapons caught White House off guard
Roughly a week after Donald Trump started his second term as president, the U.S. military issued an order to three freight airlines operating out of Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and a U.S. base in the United Arab Emirates: Stop 11 flights loaded with artillery shells and other weaponry and bound for Ukraine.
www.reuters.com
May 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
My colleagues detail, step by the step, what was behind the unexplained pause in US military aid to Ukraine earlier this year. It was a verbal order from Hegseth, which caught the White House (and Kyiv) completely off guard www.reuters.com/world/us/ord...
Reposted by Stu Bates
🧵Is it true that 85% of autistic adults are unemployed?
This stat is everywhere:
News sites. Blogs. Social media.
After RFK Jr.’s recent comments, it’s spreading again.
So I went down the rabbit hole to try and find out!
Ready to follow me…?🕳️
1/21
This stat is everywhere:
News sites. Blogs. Social media.
After RFK Jr.’s recent comments, it’s spreading again.
So I went down the rabbit hole to try and find out!
Ready to follow me…?🕳️
1/21
April 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
🧵Is it true that 85% of autistic adults are unemployed?
This stat is everywhere:
News sites. Blogs. Social media.
After RFK Jr.’s recent comments, it’s spreading again.
So I went down the rabbit hole to try and find out!
Ready to follow me…?🕳️
1/21
This stat is everywhere:
News sites. Blogs. Social media.
After RFK Jr.’s recent comments, it’s spreading again.
So I went down the rabbit hole to try and find out!
Ready to follow me…?🕳️
1/21
Reposted by Stu Bates
Retailers should post the Trump Tariffs as an additional sales tax.
Cost xx.xx
Sales tax. xx.xx
Trump Tariff xx.xx
___________________
TOTAL $ XXX.XX
Cost xx.xx
Sales tax. xx.xx
Trump Tariff xx.xx
___________________
TOTAL $ XXX.XX
April 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Retailers should post the Trump Tariffs as an additional sales tax.
Cost xx.xx
Sales tax. xx.xx
Trump Tariff xx.xx
___________________
TOTAL $ XXX.XX
Cost xx.xx
Sales tax. xx.xx
Trump Tariff xx.xx
___________________
TOTAL $ XXX.XX
To think the US election was won largely off the back of anti-incumbent sentiment over high inflation and the cost of living crisis. It's the economy stupid...
April 5, 2025 at 5:27 AM
To think the US election was won largely off the back of anti-incumbent sentiment over high inflation and the cost of living crisis. It's the economy stupid...
Reposted by Stu Bates
Wall Street bets discord is so goddamn funny right now
April 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Wall Street bets discord is so goddamn funny right now
In a world of cooperation and globalisation, America is still likely the biggest absolute winner but not the biggest relative winner, that’s probably China.
Their current mentality appears to be making sure they are the relative winners, even if that means being worse off in absolute terms.
Their current mentality appears to be making sure they are the relative winners, even if that means being worse off in absolute terms.
March 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
In a world of cooperation and globalisation, America is still likely the biggest absolute winner but not the biggest relative winner, that’s probably China.
Their current mentality appears to be making sure they are the relative winners, even if that means being worse off in absolute terms.
Their current mentality appears to be making sure they are the relative winners, even if that means being worse off in absolute terms.
Reposted by Stu Bates
Canadian travel to the US is absolutely cratering.
March 27, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Canadian travel to the US is absolutely cratering.
Reposted by Stu Bates
BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner is one of the UK’s most experienced & knowledgable journalists.
His disdain for Witkoff is a joy:
“Steve Witkoff isn't a professional negotiator, he knows very little about foreign affairs. He’s a New York property tycoon who plays golf with Donald Trump.”
His disdain for Witkoff is a joy:
“Steve Witkoff isn't a professional negotiator, he knows very little about foreign affairs. He’s a New York property tycoon who plays golf with Donald Trump.”
March 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM
BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner is one of the UK’s most experienced & knowledgable journalists.
His disdain for Witkoff is a joy:
“Steve Witkoff isn't a professional negotiator, he knows very little about foreign affairs. He’s a New York property tycoon who plays golf with Donald Trump.”
His disdain for Witkoff is a joy:
“Steve Witkoff isn't a professional negotiator, he knows very little about foreign affairs. He’s a New York property tycoon who plays golf with Donald Trump.”