Oolon Calluphid
@calluphid.bsky.social
I do not spook easily and those who think I do are wasting their time with their suprise attacks.
Stone me, what a life.
It kills me to think, I'm no longer living just looking for excuses to drink.
Stone me, what a life.
It kills me to think, I'm no longer living just looking for excuses to drink.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the west
New research shows how incentives in the modern media ecosystem help explain rising division and negativity
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
A study earlier this month found that America’s more fragmented media landscape — particularly the takeoff of cable news — accounts for fully one third of the increase in cultural conflict in the US since the year 2000.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A study earlier this month found that America’s more fragmented media landscape — particularly the takeoff of cable news — accounts for fully one third of the increase in cultural conflict in the US since the year 2000.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
In other words, US politicians and pressure groups can pipe the party line directly into millions of households unchallenged, in a way that is much harder in the UK.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
In other words, US politicians and pressure groups can pipe the party line directly into millions of households unchallenged, in a way that is much harder in the UK.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
This has a huge impact both on trust and cohesion, and on whether politicians feel the need to appeal to moderates or just partisans.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Here’s the same data, but with trust broken down by political views (circles are trust among people on the left, +s the right).
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
It’s not just that the BBC is widely consumed — it also has solid trust on both left & right, whereas trust in the biggest US media brands is hugely polarised.
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
One nice detail that can easily be lost in this graph - even right wingers trust the BBC more than the right wing tabloids
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
“a group of politically-appointed directors has forced the hand of Samir Shah,the chair, and the departure of the two most senior people in the organisation. Their resignations should be called out for what they are: political interference..”1/
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:29 AM
‘Gibb’s supporters say he is trying to save the BBC from itself; he was also heard last year to say that if he didn’t get his way, he would “blow the place up”.’
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘Enforced veganism’: Ofcom lets GB News flout accuracy rules, say climate campaigners
Exclusive: Regulator has received 1,221 complaints about UK broadcasters since 2020 but found no breaches of its code
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Incredible that Robbie Gibb - most influential person on BBC board by many accounts and from journalists I speak in BBC - was involved in setting up GB News.
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
GB News of course has breached Ofcom rules on *multiple* occasions - no sign of resignations though
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Is Farage a poor judge of character or does he deliberately choose to mix with fraudsters as well as with Russian agents?
A criminal court in Brussels on Wednesday convicted two Polish nationals – including a current European Parliament assistant – of misusing EU funds tied to political entities associated with Brexit-backer Nigel Farage.
https://bit.ly/4oSrA0R
https://bit.ly/4oSrA0R
Belgian court convicts two for EU funds misuse linked to Nigel Farage's Brexit group | Euractiv
Verdict ends decade-long probe into alleged misuse of EU funds by associates of top Brexit campaigner
www.euractiv.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Is Farage a poor judge of character or does he deliberately choose to mix with fraudsters as well as with Russian agents?
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
I expect GB News hysterically yelling to start rioting, Farage on every news channel moaning that Britain is broken, Mo Yusuf on Newsnight apologising for wrongly thinking only asylum seekers are sexual offenders, and Pochin leading a national inquiry into white people are child sex offenders.
November 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I expect GB News hysterically yelling to start rioting, Farage on every news channel moaning that Britain is broken, Mo Yusuf on Newsnight apologising for wrongly thinking only asylum seekers are sexual offenders, and Pochin leading a national inquiry into white people are child sex offenders.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
🔴We Need to Talk About Michael Gove and Crony Covid Contracts
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Gove claims he had no “active role” in the procurement of Covid PPE during the pandemic, yet evidence suggests he was involved in multiple VIP deals worth over £1billion, reports Russell Scott
www.bylinesupplement.com/p/we-need-to...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
After the Leveson Inquiry, is the press now beyond control?
The Leveson Inquiry was meant to usher in a new era of press regulation, but have we gone from one ineffective regulator to another?
@cliffmitchell.bsky.social #TheHack
The Leveson Inquiry was meant to usher in a new era of press regulation, but have we gone from one ineffective regulator to another?
@cliffmitchell.bsky.social #TheHack
After the Leveson Inquiry, is the press now beyond control?
The Leveson Inquiry was meant to usher in a new era of press regulation, but have we gone from one ineffective regulator to another?
centralbylines.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 5:06 PM
After the Leveson Inquiry, is the press now beyond control?
The Leveson Inquiry was meant to usher in a new era of press regulation, but have we gone from one ineffective regulator to another?
@cliffmitchell.bsky.social #TheHack
The Leveson Inquiry was meant to usher in a new era of press regulation, but have we gone from one ineffective regulator to another?
@cliffmitchell.bsky.social #TheHack
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Exactly this. Found it chilling a few weeks ago when a BBC journalist asked Starmer if he would be comfortable with his daughter walking past an asylum hotel. Mainstream broadcasters seem to have decided it is not worth questioning the assumption Rob describes here.
It's obviously a bad thing if any prisoner is released by mistake, but why is it worse if it's an asylum-seeker?
It seems just to be taken for granted now that someone is more dangerous because they're an asylum-seeker than because they're a criminal.
Something very dangerous is building here.
It seems just to be taken for granted now that someone is more dangerous because they're an asylum-seeker than because they're a criminal.
Something very dangerous is building here.
Well, that was a very weird deputy PMQs. James Cartlidge asking the same question five times – could David Lammy guarantee no other jailed asylum seekers have been accidentally released rather than deported – and Lammy each time instead condemning the Tories' record on prisons and justice.
November 6, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Exactly this. Found it chilling a few weeks ago when a BBC journalist asked Starmer if he would be comfortable with his daughter walking past an asylum hotel. Mainstream broadcasters seem to have decided it is not worth questioning the assumption Rob describes here.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak
Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak
Director general under pressure after release of memo criticising reporting on Trump, trans rights and Gaza
Boris Johnson and figures linked to him are engaging in an effort to undermine the BBC’s leadership, insiders fear, after the leaking of a memo criticising its reporting of Donald Trump, trans rights and Gaza.
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, and other senior editorial staff are under pressure after the criticisms made in the document by Michael Prescott, a former independent external adviser to its editorial guidelines and standards committee (EGSC). Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Yes, Angela Rayner got scrutinized why aren’t Farage and his Russian mates investigated and in the media non stop like Rayner. Questions for Farage to answer, but he gets a free ride.
‘The threat couldn’t be more urgent and imminent. Yet here we are, still putting our head in the sand.’
@carolecadwalla.bsky.social says it’s ‘peculiar’ that the case of Farage ally Nathan Gill admitting to making pro-Russia speeches for cash isn’t being followed more closely.
@carolecadwalla.bsky.social says it’s ‘peculiar’ that the case of Farage ally Nathan Gill admitting to making pro-Russia speeches for cash isn’t being followed more closely.
October 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Yes, Angela Rayner got scrutinized why aren’t Farage and his Russian mates investigated and in the media non stop like Rayner. Questions for Farage to answer, but he gets a free ride.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Nigel Farage wants to get rid of the NHS and replace it with US Insurance which would be 4x more expensive and worse in every way.
Except for the £600bn a year profit for him and his mates.
Except for the £600bn a year profit for him and his mates.
October 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Nigel Farage wants to get rid of the NHS and replace it with US Insurance which would be 4x more expensive and worse in every way.
Except for the £600bn a year profit for him and his mates.
Except for the £600bn a year profit for him and his mates.
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
We're doing a winter beer festival!
10-13 December, Cambridge Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social @camraofficial.bsky.social
www.cambridgebeerfestival.com/event/cambri...
10-13 December, Cambridge Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social @camraofficial.bsky.social
www.cambridgebeerfestival.com/event/cambri...
Cambridge Winter Beer Festival 2025
10-13 December 2025. Cambridge Corn Exchange. 90+ real ales, ciders and perries, craft beer, and international beer. Food available
www.cambridgebeerfestival.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
We're doing a winter beer festival!
10-13 December, Cambridge Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social @camraofficial.bsky.social
www.cambridgebeerfestival.com/event/cambri...
10-13 December, Cambridge Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social @camraofficial.bsky.social
www.cambridgebeerfestival.com/event/cambri...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
A festival flyer spotted in the Elm Tree on Orchard Street.
See you 10-13 December for our winter festival at the Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social
See you 10-13 December for our winter festival at the Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A festival flyer spotted in the Elm Tree on Orchard Street.
See you 10-13 December for our winter festival at the Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social
See you 10-13 December for our winter festival at the Corn Exchange.
@cambridgecamra.bsky.social
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Farage is a Russian asset despite any phony protestations. His sycophants keep giving his game away.
searchlightmagazine.com/2025/10/refo...
searchlightmagazine.com/2025/10/refo...
Reform's Russian 'asset' - the Kremlin shadow over Nigel Farage | Searchlight
Nathan Gill - Russian asset On 26 September, former Welsh Brexit Party MEP and Reform UK official Nathan Gill pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight coun ...
searchlightmagazine.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Farage is a Russian asset despite any phony protestations. His sycophants keep giving his game away.
searchlightmagazine.com/2025/10/refo...
searchlightmagazine.com/2025/10/refo...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
🔴BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/06/b...
The Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/06/b...
BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The new Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 12:25 PM
🔴BBC Laura Kuenssberg Show Accused of Anti-Green Bias After Cancelling Zack Polanski Interview
The Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/06/b...
The Green Party leader was the only major party leader not to have been granted a conference interview on the flagship BBC show
bylinetimes.com/2025/10/06/b...
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
🔴NEW🔴
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem
Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...
bylinetimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
🔴NEW🔴
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Thread 🧵
@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
So after promising to cut "wasteful spending" and council tax Reform has:
- Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes
- Will now raise council tax by the full 5%
- Realised they don't control asylum spending
A staggering amount of failure in 5 months
- Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes
- Will now raise council tax by the full 5%
- Realised they don't control asylum spending
A staggering amount of failure in 5 months
Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters on.ft.com/4pTvJ62
Reform likely to raise Kent council tax after cost-cutting drive falters
Nigel Farage’s party promised to revive local authority finances by slashing wasteful spending
on.ft.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:55 AM
So after promising to cut "wasteful spending" and council tax Reform has:
- Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes
- Will now raise council tax by the full 5%
- Realised they don't control asylum spending
A staggering amount of failure in 5 months
- Found no waste and instead plans to cut invest-to-save schemes
- Will now raise council tax by the full 5%
- Realised they don't control asylum spending
A staggering amount of failure in 5 months
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Nine-jobs Farage hasn’t updated his MP register since May, hiding hundreds of thousands from GB News, Telegraph columns, Cameo, X, speaking gigs, and brand deals, nearly £1m total. He even flew to Vegas to push crypto donations and “exclusive” legislation plans. #ukpolitics
October 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Nine-jobs Farage hasn’t updated his MP register since May, hiding hundreds of thousands from GB News, Telegraph columns, Cameo, X, speaking gigs, and brand deals, nearly £1m total. He even flew to Vegas to push crypto donations and “exclusive” legislation plans. #ukpolitics
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Silent fields. No birdsong. No bees. No butterflies.
One Suffolk farmer is fighting back. “It’s my job to look after the land.”
🌿 This is her story – and it might restore your faith in biodiversity’s future | Rachel Fulcher
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
One Suffolk farmer is fighting back. “It’s my job to look after the land.”
🌿 This is her story – and it might restore your faith in biodiversity’s future | Rachel Fulcher
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
From silence to song: saving the farmland birds
Intensive farming silences the land – but a Suffolk farmer shows how she is creating a safe haven for birds
eastangliabylines.co.uk
October 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Silent fields. No birdsong. No bees. No butterflies.
One Suffolk farmer is fighting back. “It’s my job to look after the land.”
🌿 This is her story – and it might restore your faith in biodiversity’s future | Rachel Fulcher
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
One Suffolk farmer is fighting back. “It’s my job to look after the land.”
🌿 This is her story – and it might restore your faith in biodiversity’s future | Rachel Fulcher
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Reposted by Oolon Calluphid
Snowflake Farage filmed saying the violence is the fault of the Left, threatening to pick up a r🚫fle and
at🚫ack the Government. #ukpolitics
at🚫ack the Government. #ukpolitics
October 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Snowflake Farage filmed saying the violence is the fault of the Left, threatening to pick up a r🚫fle and
at🚫ack the Government. #ukpolitics
at🚫ack the Government. #ukpolitics