Bernadette Meaden
@ducklings.bsky.social
Reading, writing, pictures, and ducks.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I don't think this was actually deliberately published as ragebait, but the entitlement contained within is remarkable and a classic example of the sort of sentiment governments sometimes just have to face down inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...?
We were hit with a £148k inheritance tax bill when mum died at 97 - it's disgusting
Jill Lemon has labelled inheritance tax as 'cruel', 'horrible' and 'unfair'
inews.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
I don't think this was actually deliberately published as ragebait, but the entitlement contained within is remarkable and a classic example of the sort of sentiment governments sometimes just have to face down inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...?
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Of course I would say this, but we need to talk about the moral & ideological case for play & leisure more than ever. So much political discourse - especially from the super-rich - assumes we ought to construct society around forcing citizens to spend most of their one, unrepeatable life working.
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Of course I would say this, but we need to talk about the moral & ideological case for play & leisure more than ever. So much political discourse - especially from the super-rich - assumes we ought to construct society around forcing citizens to spend most of their one, unrepeatable life working.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I have first hand experience of this as a independent visitor volunteer to young people in care. The abandonment of children in supported accommodation is something we should be utterly ashamed of as a nation. Good to see his urgent issue being highlighted by the @nuffieldfoundation.org .
New gov stats show 10,800 teens in care are in supported accommodation, often with limited day-to-day adult involvement.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
For @bigissue.com, @nuffieldfjo.bsky.social's @lisaharker.bsky.social builds on her feature for our Grown Up? programme and examines the impact of these living arrangements.
Shocking number of children in care live without consistent love of an adult
Lisa Harker of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, analyses figures on supported accommodation and what they mean for children in care.
www.bigissue.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I have first hand experience of this as a independent visitor volunteer to young people in care. The abandonment of children in supported accommodation is something we should be utterly ashamed of as a nation. Good to see his urgent issue being highlighted by the @nuffieldfoundation.org .
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
*sighs*
How about just the odd time supporting your actual real human Illustrators for goodness sake
We generally know how many hands/eyes someone is supposed to have
How about just the odd time supporting your actual real human Illustrators for goodness sake
We generally know how many hands/eyes someone is supposed to have
November 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
*sighs*
How about just the odd time supporting your actual real human Illustrators for goodness sake
We generally know how many hands/eyes someone is supposed to have
How about just the odd time supporting your actual real human Illustrators for goodness sake
We generally know how many hands/eyes someone is supposed to have
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I’m usually giving counsel of despair so let me offer a hopeful note now: all this is the desperate thrashing of a dying generation, horrified to see up close the consequences of raising their children to believe violence and racism are wrong, and that people should treat each other decently.
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz says Jewish students shouldn’t have smartphones until they finish high school — so they don’t see the “carnage” Israel and the U.S. have carried out in Gaza.
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 AM
I’m usually giving counsel of despair so let me offer a hopeful note now: all this is the desperate thrashing of a dying generation, horrified to see up close the consequences of raising their children to believe violence and racism are wrong, and that people should treat each other decently.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz says Jewish students shouldn’t have smartphones until they finish high school — so they don’t see the “carnage” Israel and the U.S. have carried out in Gaza.
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
As we rightly condemn reckless and incompetent leadership during the early days of #Covid, can we also acknowledge our teenagers and young adults, who were more selfless and responsible than perhaps we had a right to expect.
Thank you to a great generation
www.ekklesia.co.uk/2021/03/31/t...
Thank you to a great generation
www.ekklesia.co.uk/2021/03/31/t...
Thank you to a great generation - Ekklesia
This generation will at best have missed out on many of the important things they should have experienced over the past year, and at worst will have been traumatised from working in care homes, hospit...
www.ekklesia.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 4:53 PM
As we rightly condemn reckless and incompetent leadership during the early days of #Covid, can we also acknowledge our teenagers and young adults, who were more selfless and responsible than perhaps we had a right to expect.
Thank you to a great generation
www.ekklesia.co.uk/2021/03/31/t...
Thank you to a great generation
www.ekklesia.co.uk/2021/03/31/t...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
The fact we have any food banks is the best indicator that wages have been flatlined as corporate profits surge. our system is broken and needs a re-set. .GOV should not need to top up folks wages and folk should not need charity to eat in the 21st century. We've gone wrong somewhere.
November 23, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The fact we have any food banks is the best indicator that wages have been flatlined as corporate profits surge. our system is broken and needs a re-set. .GOV should not need to top up folks wages and folk should not need charity to eat in the 21st century. We've gone wrong somewhere.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
I would like a single political commentator to explain to me how the UK's super-wealthy plan to pick up their West London property portfolios and lift them out of the country tout court – preferably one who also spent the past two decades comparing national economic policy to a household budget.
November 23, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I would like a single political commentator to explain to me how the UK's super-wealthy plan to pick up their West London property portfolios and lift them out of the country tout court – preferably one who also spent the past two decades comparing national economic policy to a household budget.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
We were in Rwanda when news of a potential pandemic was breaking...we had hand sanitising and masks everywhere and social distancing was the norm...we flew back to Heathrow... absolutely nothing at all and then we watched Cheltenham races in utter disbelief. Rwanda had so few deaths 💔
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 PM
We were in Rwanda when news of a potential pandemic was breaking...we had hand sanitising and masks everywhere and social distancing was the norm...we flew back to Heathrow... absolutely nothing at all and then we watched Cheltenham races in utter disbelief. Rwanda had so few deaths 💔
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Teenager prosecuted over £1.67 in unpaid tax on a car.
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Teenager convicted over £1.67 unpaid tax bill for 18th birthday gift
The prosecution of the teenager happened in the controversial Single Justice Procedure
www.standard.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Teenager prosecuted over £1.67 in unpaid tax on a car.
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
In the press conference Trump brought up Mamdani’s use of the word ‘affordability’ and said how there was another word for this – ‘groceries’. You could write an entire article about the chasm of difference between how these two men understand the world just about that. Instead, we get this drivel.
Every article by a 'savvy' political analyst reads like a focus group transcript with a low-information voter.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
November 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
In the press conference Trump brought up Mamdani’s use of the word ‘affordability’ and said how there was another word for this – ‘groceries’. You could write an entire article about the chasm of difference between how these two men understand the world just about that. Instead, we get this drivel.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
An extraordinary statement. How do you move a city of 10 million people to somewhere they can find water?
"If it doesn’t rain in Tehran by late November, we’ll have to ration water. If it still doesn’t rain, we’ll have to evacuate Tehran." — President Pezeshkian
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
"If it doesn’t rain in Tehran by late November, we’ll have to ration water. If it still doesn’t rain, we’ll have to evacuate Tehran." — President Pezeshkian
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
Iran's capital must relocate due to dire water situation, president insists
Tehran's troubles are a red flag for thirsty cities around the globe.
www.motherjones.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
An extraordinary statement. How do you move a city of 10 million people to somewhere they can find water?
"If it doesn’t rain in Tehran by late November, we’ll have to ration water. If it still doesn’t rain, we’ll have to evacuate Tehran." — President Pezeshkian
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
"If it doesn’t rain in Tehran by late November, we’ll have to ration water. If it still doesn’t rain, we’ll have to evacuate Tehran." — President Pezeshkian
www.motherjones.com/environment/...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Socialism is what they called public power.
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
Socialism is what they called social security.
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.
—Harry Truman, 1952
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
There has literally never been a universal basic income trial program that didn't deliver real and measurable results above and beyond any other form of social welfare, and every time another concludes with the same findings the powers that be go "interesting! Anyway," and pretend it wouldn't work.
November 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM
There has literally never been a universal basic income trial program that didn't deliver real and measurable results above and beyond any other form of social welfare, and every time another concludes with the same findings the powers that be go "interesting! Anyway," and pretend it wouldn't work.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Painting by John Moore ‘Post’ 2011.
Oil on canvas.
Dimensions 177.8 x 152.4 cm.
Oil on canvas.
Dimensions 177.8 x 152.4 cm.
November 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Painting by John Moore ‘Post’ 2011.
Oil on canvas.
Dimensions 177.8 x 152.4 cm.
Oil on canvas.
Dimensions 177.8 x 152.4 cm.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
One strange thing about the BBC/Trump row is that the programme in question was actually made by an independent production company. Yes, the BBC producers and Panorama’s editor should have checked everything before it was broadcast. But…
1/3
1/3
November 10, 2025 at 11:02 PM
One strange thing about the BBC/Trump row is that the programme in question was actually made by an independent production company. Yes, the BBC producers and Panorama’s editor should have checked everything before it was broadcast. But…
1/3
1/3
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Chilling piece on employment effects of AI on early careers. Includes this line, which will probably become the norm for many firms: "Managers at Shopify must now justify hiring a human by first explaining why AI can’t do the job."
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
‘There’s Just No Reason to Deal With Young Employees’
AI is taking entry-level jobs. What happens when Gen-Z-ers can’t start their careers?
nymag.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Chilling piece on employment effects of AI on early careers. Includes this line, which will probably become the norm for many firms: "Managers at Shopify must now justify hiring a human by first explaining why AI can’t do the job."
nymag.com/intelligence...
nymag.com/intelligence...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
A very good boy! 🐾🐕😍
An amazing c. 3,400 year-old ancient Egyptian dog carved from ivory. This leaping dog opens and closes its mouth as if barking by using a lever below its chest.
The Met 📷 by me
#Archaeology
An amazing c. 3,400 year-old ancient Egyptian dog carved from ivory. This leaping dog opens and closes its mouth as if barking by using a lever below its chest.
The Met 📷 by me
#Archaeology
November 22, 2025 at 9:37 AM
A very good boy! 🐾🐕😍
An amazing c. 3,400 year-old ancient Egyptian dog carved from ivory. This leaping dog opens and closes its mouth as if barking by using a lever below its chest.
The Met 📷 by me
#Archaeology
An amazing c. 3,400 year-old ancient Egyptian dog carved from ivory. This leaping dog opens and closes its mouth as if barking by using a lever below its chest.
The Met 📷 by me
#Archaeology
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
"How could we not feel this rage, after watching children zip-tied in the middle of the night, teachers kidnapped from their workplaces, and fathers killed by law enforcement?"
sojo.net/articles/opi...
sojo.net/articles/opi...
Chicago Is in a State of Holy Rage
On Nov. 14, clergy from a variety of faiths gathered outside the ICE processing facility in Broadview, Ill., to articulate God’s rage.
sojo.net
November 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM
"How could we not feel this rage, after watching children zip-tied in the middle of the night, teachers kidnapped from their workplaces, and fathers killed by law enforcement?"
sojo.net/articles/opi...
sojo.net/articles/opi...
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
An X user asks Elon Musk why they’re seeing tweets from left-wing lawmakers.
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
November 21, 2025 at 12:34 AM
An X user asks Elon Musk why they’re seeing tweets from left-wing lawmakers.
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Musk: “Because we are failing very badly with the recommendations algorithm. Doing my best to address this.”
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
The massive question all the "the rich are overtaxed" people need to answer: if that's true, how come there has been so much accumulation of wealth and assets at the top of society, while the poor and middle have slowly had their wealth squeezed or outright removed?
As a non Brit, your Public Services are drastically underfunded and need serious reforms. But the problem is not that the state has gone too hard on the rich lmao
November 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The massive question all the "the rich are overtaxed" people need to answer: if that's true, how come there has been so much accumulation of wealth and assets at the top of society, while the poor and middle have slowly had their wealth squeezed or outright removed?
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
Militarism is a major driver of climate change. Expanding spending on weapons of war is self-defeating, driving insecurity and conflict while diverting resources away from tackling root causes of war.
We maintain our commitments to peace and to climate justice, and see these goals as inseparable.
We maintain our commitments to peace and to climate justice, and see these goals as inseparable.
Quakers join global call to expose hidden military emissions at COP30
As global leaders meet in Brazil for COP30, Quakers and others are urging them to confront the climate impact of war and rising military spending.
www.quaker.org.uk
November 21, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Militarism is a major driver of climate change. Expanding spending on weapons of war is self-defeating, driving insecurity and conflict while diverting resources away from tackling root causes of war.
We maintain our commitments to peace and to climate justice, and see these goals as inseparable.
We maintain our commitments to peace and to climate justice, and see these goals as inseparable.
Reposted by Bernadette Meaden
NHS private finance diverts money away from healthcare, towards the pockets of private shareholders.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
November 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
NHS private finance diverts money away from healthcare, towards the pockets of private shareholders.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.
Cat Eccles MP’s motion can force the government to drop their NHS private finance plans from the Autumn Budget.
✉️Take 2 mins now to email your MP to sign the motion and protect patients.