Amanda Cole
@amandacole.bsky.social
Views are mine and not connected to my employer. I loathe Nigel Farage and his party
Reposted by Amanda Cole
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Who funds the Free Speech Union?
Toby Young’s outfit went to court to hide its donors. Today we reveal that funders include US anti-abortion groups, Brexit politicians and Tufton Street insiders.
open.substack.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:45 AM
It will not surprise you to learn that Toby Youngs 'Free Speech Union' has obtained a High Court injunction banning the publication of a list of its donors open.substack.com/pub/democrac...
Reposted by Amanda Cole
And while we’re recommending YouTube films, here’s the inimitable @petergeoghegan.bsky.social doing the Lord’s work. Because nothing says ‘free speech champions’ like, erm, going to Court to keep who funds your payroll secret.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0O...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0O...
Who Really Funds the Free Speech Union?
YouTube video by Democracy for Sale
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM
And while we’re recommending YouTube films, here’s the inimitable @petergeoghegan.bsky.social doing the Lord’s work. Because nothing says ‘free speech champions’ like, erm, going to Court to keep who funds your payroll secret.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0O...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0O...
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Today's Twitter advertisers include *NOW *Sure *CocaCola *Revolut *TheTimes *Lenovo *VisitMorocco *Ladbrokes *WilliamHill *Omaze www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ofcom investigates Elon Musk's X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes
The watchdog said it had received reports of the platform's Grok AI chatbot creating undressed images of people.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 13, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Today's Twitter advertisers include *NOW *Sure *CocaCola *Revolut *TheTimes *Lenovo *VisitMorocco *Ladbrokes *WilliamHill *Omaze www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Amanda Cole
How profoundly stupid do you have to be to believe (or even pretend to believe) that Greenland is remotely like Venezuela ?
Rep. Randy Fine on his bill to make Greenland the 51st state: "We need to make sure we assert our dominance over the Western Hemisphere ... the last thing we need is Greenland to become another Venezuela where we have huge problems we have to deal with in the future."
January 13, 2026 at 1:35 PM
How profoundly stupid do you have to be to believe (or even pretend to believe) that Greenland is remotely like Venezuela ?
Reposted by Amanda Cole
New piece by me
🔴The EU’s ‘Farage Clause’ Shows the Damage Reform Is Already Doing to the UK
As well as making us poorer each year, Farage’s Brexit is also making us more vulnerable to those who wish to do us harm, argues @chrisgrey.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/13/t...
As well as making us poorer each year, Farage’s Brexit is also making us more vulnerable to those who wish to do us harm, argues @chrisgrey.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2026/01/13/t...
The EU's 'Farage Clause' Shows the Damage Reform Is Already Doing to the UK
As well as making us poorer each year, Farage's Brexit is also making us more vulnerable to those who wish to do us harm, argues Chris Grey
bylinetimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:07 PM
New piece by me
Reposted by Amanda Cole
"What will I do when they start murdering civilians & blatantly lying about it?"
I think a lot of people will, somewhere deep inside, be surprised to discover their actual answer to this question. Mostly 'free speech' campaigners, terminally online 'classical liberals' & self-styled 'libertarians'.
I think a lot of people will, somewhere deep inside, be surprised to discover their actual answer to this question. Mostly 'free speech' campaigners, terminally online 'classical liberals' & self-styled 'libertarians'.
January 9, 2026 at 8:48 AM
"What will I do when they start murdering civilians & blatantly lying about it?"
I think a lot of people will, somewhere deep inside, be surprised to discover their actual answer to this question. Mostly 'free speech' campaigners, terminally online 'classical liberals' & self-styled 'libertarians'.
I think a lot of people will, somewhere deep inside, be surprised to discover their actual answer to this question. Mostly 'free speech' campaigners, terminally online 'classical liberals' & self-styled 'libertarians'.
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Imo “Nigel Farage doesn’t believe in Covid vaccines” would tank his polling if more people knew about it (though you could say that for a number of his policies)
Farage: "I believe in vaccinations when they're vaccinations. I don't think what happened with Covid were vaccinations. You have to keep having them every 6 months."
Conspiratorial nonsense.
Some vaccinations like Covid shots require multiple/seasonal doses because immunity fades & viruses change.
Conspiratorial nonsense.
Some vaccinations like Covid shots require multiple/seasonal doses because immunity fades & viruses change.
January 7, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Imo “Nigel Farage doesn’t believe in Covid vaccines” would tank his polling if more people knew about it (though you could say that for a number of his policies)
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Sen. Murphy: They're trying to rationalize violence. Part of the reason Trump rewrote the narrative on January 6th, that they rushed to call this person in Minneapolis a domestic terrorist, is they want you to believe violence is normal. They are thinking they might need violence to stay in power
January 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Sen. Murphy: They're trying to rationalize violence. Part of the reason Trump rewrote the narrative on January 6th, that they rushed to call this person in Minneapolis a domestic terrorist, is they want you to believe violence is normal. They are thinking they might need violence to stay in power
Reposted by Amanda Cole
The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.
January 7, 2026 at 8:26 PM
The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Just seen Grok putting the body of the victim of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis into a bikini. Digital corpse desecration now available to the public.
January 8, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Just seen Grok putting the body of the victim of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis into a bikini. Digital corpse desecration now available to the public.
Reposted by Amanda Cole
I read this paragraph four times. Not because it's murky, but to let the message sink in. www.cjr.org/tow_center/b...
If an information company is clear and determined in supporting (not "saving') democracy, then it can be a home for good journalism. If not then the press must disengage. Now.
If an information company is clear and determined in supporting (not "saving') democracy, then it can be a home for good journalism. If not then the press must disengage. Now.
January 8, 2026 at 3:51 PM
I read this paragraph four times. Not because it's murky, but to let the message sink in. www.cjr.org/tow_center/b...
If an information company is clear and determined in supporting (not "saving') democracy, then it can be a home for good journalism. If not then the press must disengage. Now.
If an information company is clear and determined in supporting (not "saving') democracy, then it can be a home for good journalism. If not then the press must disengage. Now.
Reposted by Amanda Cole
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 3:35 PM
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Walz: "I couldn't help but think, and it scares me a bit -- 'The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most important directive.' It certainly feels like that in this moment."
January 8, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Walz: "I couldn't help but think, and it scares me a bit -- 'The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most important directive.' It certainly feels like that in this moment."
Reposted by Amanda Cole
I know expecting sense from Heath is like expecting haiku from a Basset hound, but this is a particularly wild piece. Why would the United Kingdom *ever* have an interest in being influential over American policy towards Venezuela?
January 8, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I know expecting sense from Heath is like expecting haiku from a Basset hound, but this is a particularly wild piece. Why would the United Kingdom *ever* have an interest in being influential over American policy towards Venezuela?
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Channel 4 News close to examplary this evening. It pains me to point out that some people working for the broadcast partner of Bari Weiss's CBS News, the BBC, could learn a lot from Matt Frei & Anushka Asthana. But I also wonder how much 'balance' we give to obvious liars, however powerful they are.
January 8, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Channel 4 News close to examplary this evening. It pains me to point out that some people working for the broadcast partner of Bari Weiss's CBS News, the BBC, could learn a lot from Matt Frei & Anushka Asthana. But I also wonder how much 'balance' we give to obvious liars, however powerful they are.
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Except when they question Nigel Farage☹️
British reporters often ask the best, most direct questions
British reporter: "You REALLY believe after seeing this video she intentionally tried to hit this agent?"
JD Vance shorter "I don't know"
JD Vance shorter "I don't know"
January 8, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Except when they question Nigel Farage☹️
Reposted by Amanda Cole
And here it is.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
Trump Lays Out a Vision of Power Restrained Only by ‘My Own Morality’
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:39 PM
And here it is.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/u...
Reposted by Amanda Cole
US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals
Federal law required majority of documents to be released by 19 December, but only 125,575 pages have been published
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:11 PM
US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Chatted to my great uncle yesterday – a northern, working-class guy, not that political. I told him my job involved exposing Farage.
His first question was: “who funds him?”
Investigations into Farage’s donors can have a major impact on Reform’s support – as this research has already shown 👇
His first question was: “who funds him?”
Investigations into Farage’s donors can have a major impact on Reform’s support – as this research has already shown 👇
New research reveals the best attack lines to use against Reform
How to stop Farage...
writesbright.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Chatted to my great uncle yesterday – a northern, working-class guy, not that political. I told him my job involved exposing Farage.
His first question was: “who funds him?”
Investigations into Farage’s donors can have a major impact on Reform’s support – as this research has already shown 👇
His first question was: “who funds him?”
Investigations into Farage’s donors can have a major impact on Reform’s support – as this research has already shown 👇
Reposted by Amanda Cole
Because our politics is in such a terrible place, I think we downplay quite how awful Kemi Badenoch has been.
In any other era the leader of the Conservatives saying 'only migrants commit sex crimes - mass deportations now' would have not just been career ending but would've sunk the whole party
In any other era the leader of the Conservatives saying 'only migrants commit sex crimes - mass deportations now' would have not just been career ending but would've sunk the whole party
December 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Because our politics is in such a terrible place, I think we downplay quite how awful Kemi Badenoch has been.
In any other era the leader of the Conservatives saying 'only migrants commit sex crimes - mass deportations now' would have not just been career ending but would've sunk the whole party
In any other era the leader of the Conservatives saying 'only migrants commit sex crimes - mass deportations now' would have not just been career ending but would've sunk the whole party
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Here's a lovely unsentimental Christmas song by Tim Minchin - thought I'd send in case you don't know it. Bless you James
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNv...
White Wine In The Sun by Tim Minchin
YouTube video by Tim Minchin
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:44 AM
@mrjamesob.bsky.social Here's a lovely unsentimental Christmas song by Tim Minchin - thought I'd send in case you don't know it. Bless you James
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNv...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCNv...