@beldame.bsky.social
God, what a mess. 😞
Which parties do Britons say they ideally want and do not want to see form the next government?
Reform UK: 26% want / 48% do not want
Greens: 23% / 27%
Lib Dems: 21% / 21%
Conservatives: 21% / 38%
Labour: 20% / 45%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Reform UK: 26% want / 48% do not want
Greens: 23% / 27%
Lib Dems: 21% / 21%
Conservatives: 21% / 38%
Labour: 20% / 45%
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
January 8, 2026 at 10:42 AM
God, what a mess. 😞
Reposted
This explains so much.
People with psychopathic traits and low cognitive ability are over-represented in online political activity.
If someone is being cruel, obnoxious and ridiculous, don't try to reason with them. Chances are you won't get anywhere. Just block.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
People with psychopathic traits and low cognitive ability are over-represented in online political activity.
If someone is being cruel, obnoxious and ridiculous, don't try to reason with them. Chances are you won't get anywhere. Just block.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Dark personalities in the digital arena: how psychopathy and narcissism shape online political participation - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications - Dark personalities in the digital arena: how psychopathy and narcissism shape online political participation
www.nature.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:05 AM
This explains so much.
People with psychopathic traits and low cognitive ability are over-represented in online political activity.
If someone is being cruel, obnoxious and ridiculous, don't try to reason with them. Chances are you won't get anywhere. Just block.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
People with psychopathic traits and low cognitive ability are over-represented in online political activity.
If someone is being cruel, obnoxious and ridiculous, don't try to reason with them. Chances are you won't get anywhere. Just block.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted
Reporter: Did you speak with the oil companies before the operation? Did you tip them off?
Trump: Before and after. They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job.
Trump: Before and after. They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job.
January 5, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Reporter: Did you speak with the oil companies before the operation? Did you tip them off?
Trump: Before and after. They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job.
Trump: Before and after. They want to go in and they’re going to do a great job.
Reposted
Brad is 100% on the money: Europe should threaten to close the Irish tax haven if the Greenland threats don’t stop
January 5, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Brad is 100% on the money: Europe should threaten to close the Irish tax haven if the Greenland threats don’t stop
Reposted
What do Venezuela, Greenland, Honduras, Nigeria, and “Freedom Cities” have in common? The “network state” cabal—which includes Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, & Joe Lonsdale—has been circling them like vultures. Thread. ⬇️
What do Greenland, Honduras, Venezuela, and Nigeria have in common? The “network state” cabal—which includes Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, & Joe Lonsdale—has been circling them like vultures. 1/
January 3, 2026 at 10:00 PM
What do Venezuela, Greenland, Honduras, Nigeria, and “Freedom Cities” have in common? The “network state” cabal—which includes Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, & Joe Lonsdale—has been circling them like vultures. Thread. ⬇️
So: the US Government of President Trump won’t act to control energy prices and/or tax the profits of private oil companies, but apparently will seize the nationalised oil assets of a sovereign nation.
Got it.
*Brought to you by Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand and the Koch brothers, inter alia.
Got it.
*Brought to you by Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand and the Koch brothers, inter alia.
January 4, 2026 at 2:19 AM
So: the US Government of President Trump won’t act to control energy prices and/or tax the profits of private oil companies, but apparently will seize the nationalised oil assets of a sovereign nation.
Got it.
*Brought to you by Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand and the Koch brothers, inter alia.
Got it.
*Brought to you by Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand and the Koch brothers, inter alia.
Reposted
try to make sense of it
So fmr Honduran President Hernandez voluntarily surrendered, and was duly extradited, tried and convicted for drug trafficking, and Trump pardoned him 6w ago.
And this morning, Trump illegally attacks Venezuela and abducts its president and his wife purportedly to try them for drug trafficking.
And this morning, Trump illegally attacks Venezuela and abducts its president and his wife purportedly to try them for drug trafficking.
January 3, 2026 at 12:46 PM
try to make sense of it
Here’s to 2026. Happy New Year!
a woman says " can t get any worse " while holding a spoon in her mouth
ALT: a woman says " can t get any worse " while holding a spoon in her mouth
media.tenor.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Here’s to 2026. Happy New Year!
Reposted
Zack Polanski offering voters fantasy solutions, says head of Fabian Society
Zack Polanski offering voters fantasy solutions, says head of Fabian Society
Joe Dromey, head of the Labour thinktank, urges his party to take on the ‘twin populisms’ of Reform UK and the Greens
The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, is offering voters “unicorns” and Labour must confront his “fantasy” solutions such as the idea that a wealth tax would fix the public finances, according to the Fabian Society’s general secretary, Joe Dromey.
Much of the government’s fire is trained on Nigel Farage. But in an end-of-year interview, the head of Labour’s internal thinktank urges his party to take on the “twin populisms” of Reform and Polanski. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Zack Polanski offering voters fantasy solutions, says head of Fabian Society
Reposted
Australia belted, England vindicated and Test cricket wounded in MCG farce: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-27/australia-belted-england-vindicated-test-cricket-wounded-mcg/106181362
Australia belted, England vindicated and Test cricket wounded in MCG farce
As England deservedly celebrates a long-awaited Test win in Australia, everyone else involved counts the cost of a farcical and damaging two-day disaster at the MCG.
www.abc.net.au
December 27, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Australia belted, England vindicated and Test cricket wounded in MCG farce: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-27/australia-belted-england-vindicated-test-cricket-wounded-mcg/106181362
Yep, this.
Well done England on a belated victory. But there's a massive elephant in the room after this Test IMO. Two two-day Tests this series exposes an issue I think has been lurking for some time. And it's NOT about pitches. It's about the disappearance of both technique and sufficient....
December 27, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Yep, this.
Reposted
Good analysis from Sarah Martin, but misses a key point:
if the Bondi massacre is being hijacked by culture warriors like Howard and the anti-immigration right, it's because that's how mainstream media chooses to frame it.
They are lazy or complicit. #auspol
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
if the Bondi massacre is being hijacked by culture warriors like Howard and the anti-immigration right, it's because that's how mainstream media chooses to frame it.
They are lazy or complicit. #auspol
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
John Howard’s dog-whistle intervention in gun debate all but dashes any hope of meaningful reform
In the absence of strong, swift action from Anthony Albanese, the former PM is shifting political debate from gun control to a divisive culture war
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Good analysis from Sarah Martin, but misses a key point:
if the Bondi massacre is being hijacked by culture warriors like Howard and the anti-immigration right, it's because that's how mainstream media chooses to frame it.
They are lazy or complicit. #auspol
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
if the Bondi massacre is being hijacked by culture warriors like Howard and the anti-immigration right, it's because that's how mainstream media chooses to frame it.
They are lazy or complicit. #auspol
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted
Rob Reiner: I'm going to make a coming of age drama, a fantasy adventure story, a romantic comedy, a psychological horror and then a courtroom drama.
Us: Across your entire career?
Reiner: In a 6 year period.
Us: That sounds-
Reiner: -Each one will be arguably the best movie in that genre.
Us: Across your entire career?
Reiner: In a 6 year period.
Us: That sounds-
Reiner: -Each one will be arguably the best movie in that genre.
December 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Rob Reiner: I'm going to make a coming of age drama, a fantasy adventure story, a romantic comedy, a psychological horror and then a courtroom drama.
Us: Across your entire career?
Reiner: In a 6 year period.
Us: That sounds-
Reiner: -Each one will be arguably the best movie in that genre.
Us: Across your entire career?
Reiner: In a 6 year period.
Us: That sounds-
Reiner: -Each one will be arguably the best movie in that genre.
Reposted
Increase in productivity since 1979: 87%
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
December 14, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Increase in productivity since 1979: 87%
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
Increase in hourly pay since 1979: 32%
Just so happens that ~25% of workers were unionized in 1979. Today? 10%.
As unions declined, the super-rich have taken a larger share of wealth generated by labor. We must build back union power.
Reposted
"The global wealth gap has become so staggering, and its impact on economies and democratic institutions so corrosive, that policymakers should treat it as an emergency."
Richest 0.001% Now Own Three Times More Wealth Than Poorest Half of Humanity Combined | Common Dreams
A landmark report on global inequality shows that
the chasm between the richest slice of humanity and everyone else
continued to expand this year
www.commondreams.org
December 13, 2025 at 11:44 PM
"The global wealth gap has become so staggering, and its impact on economies and democratic institutions so corrosive, that policymakers should treat it as an emergency."
Reposted
Independent media depends on public support. Leaders in public policy, academia and the arts describe why Pearls and Irritations is vital to Australia’s democratic conversation – and why your donation counts.
#IndependentMedia #AusPol #PublicInterestJournalism
#IndependentMedia #AusPol #PublicInterestJournalism
Don’t take it from us – here’s what great Australians think of P&I
At the time of writing, Pearls & Irritations is still $23,405 short of its critically needed fundraising target, with just four days remaining. Leading Australian thinkers explain why independent, expert-led analysis matters more than ever.
johnmenadue.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Independent media depends on public support. Leaders in public policy, academia and the arts describe why Pearls and Irritations is vital to Australia’s democratic conversation – and why your donation counts.
#IndependentMedia #AusPol #PublicInterestJournalism
#IndependentMedia #AusPol #PublicInterestJournalism
Reposted
Important to remember that while the Murdoch and Ninefax outlets are under the covers 'fluffing up' the Libs, in the next few weeks the Vic Govt will deliver
- a whole new 5 stations & tunnel.
- a new river crossing/tunnel to the west.
And a month or two later
- a new, bigger Footscray hospital
- a whole new 5 stations & tunnel.
- a new river crossing/tunnel to the west.
And a month or two later
- a new, bigger Footscray hospital
November 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Important to remember that while the Murdoch and Ninefax outlets are under the covers 'fluffing up' the Libs, in the next few weeks the Vic Govt will deliver
- a whole new 5 stations & tunnel.
- a new river crossing/tunnel to the west.
And a month or two later
- a new, bigger Footscray hospital
- a whole new 5 stations & tunnel.
- a new river crossing/tunnel to the west.
And a month or two later
- a new, bigger Footscray hospital
Reposted
Superannuation and the Canberra Press Gallery’s fantasies https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/superannuation-and-the-canberra-press-gallerys-fantasies #auspol
Superannuation and the Canberra Press Gallery's fantasies
The Canberra Press Gallery was completely absorbed with the supposed politics of last week’s superannuation changes and completely failed to consider their merits and why the changes were therefore made.
johnmenadue.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Superannuation and the Canberra Press Gallery’s fantasies https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/superannuation-and-the-canberra-press-gallerys-fantasies #auspol
Reposted
I’m getting weary of this. This government is representative of what the people of this place want. The argument is with all of us. Turning it into a constant personalised political snipe belittles the nature of the problem.
Thanks to Murray and his ALP pals, weather reports like this will become increasingly scary and weird
October 22, 2025 at 7:50 AM
I’m getting weary of this. This government is representative of what the people of this place want. The argument is with all of us. Turning it into a constant personalised political snipe belittles the nature of the problem.
Reposted
World War 2 veterans, the original antifa, took part in the nationwide protests against the fascist Trump regime. #3E #NoKings #50501Movement #indivisible #wearetheflood
October 19, 2025 at 12:50 AM
World War 2 veterans, the original antifa, took part in the nationwide protests against the fascist Trump regime. #3E #NoKings #50501Movement #indivisible #wearetheflood
Reposted
Bertrand Russell to Oswald Mosley. Perfection.
October 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Bertrand Russell to Oswald Mosley. Perfection.
To which her response should be “no, sod off, this is the Labour Party”.
October 16, 2025 at 7:52 AM
To which her response should be “no, sod off, this is the Labour Party”.
Reposted
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.” —FDR, 1944
October 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.” —FDR, 1944