Bob Owen
@etotheipiadd1.bsky.social
Software Engineer, working for Mozilla on Firefox.
Reposted by Bob Owen
When the six Democrats said military officers ”can refuse illegal orders”, they were correct—indeed they went no further than the Department of Defense’s own guidance, writes @davidallengreen.bsky.social.
When is an order an ‘unlawful command’?
And why has Trump reacted so furiously to six members of Congress correctly stating the law?
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
When the six Democrats said military officers ”can refuse illegal orders”, they were correct—indeed they went no further than the Department of Defense’s own guidance, writes @davidallengreen.bsky.social.
Reposted by Bob Owen
🔴"FOI is the democratic canary in the coal mine. When official information flows freely, it signals that power is shared. When it’s withheld or delayed, it signals the opposite: power concentrated in the few."
Vital by Heather Brooke on Democracy 4 Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/why-the-br...
Vital by Heather Brooke on Democracy 4 Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/why-the-br...
The British state is addicted to secrecy - we need to fight back
Our politicians and officials are using public money to keep citizens in the dark, says Heather Brooke
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:15 AM
🔴"FOI is the democratic canary in the coal mine. When official information flows freely, it signals that power is shared. When it’s withheld or delayed, it signals the opposite: power concentrated in the few."
Vital by Heather Brooke on Democracy 4 Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/why-the-br...
Vital by Heather Brooke on Democracy 4 Sale democracyforsale.substack.com/p/why-the-br...
Reposted by Bob Owen
You would think the alleged indiscretions of the schoolboy Nigel Farage would have drawn outrage from a just, impartial British media. Strangely, it seems they have not.
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
November 30, 2025 at 11:37 AM
You would think the alleged indiscretions of the schoolboy Nigel Farage would have drawn outrage from a just, impartial British media. Strangely, it seems they have not.
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
This week’s column by Stewart Lee
www.thenerve.news/p/stewart-le...
Reposted by Bob Owen
Netanyahu "asks" the Israeli president Herzog to cancel his trial.
This is not a pardon request, in any meaningful sense. Netanyahu has not accepted any wrongdoing, and is not planning to step down.
There's a good chance Herzog accepts the request. Netanyahu made him president for this role.
This is not a pardon request, in any meaningful sense. Netanyahu has not accepted any wrongdoing, and is not planning to step down.
There's a good chance Herzog accepts the request. Netanyahu made him president for this role.
November 30, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Netanyahu "asks" the Israeli president Herzog to cancel his trial.
This is not a pardon request, in any meaningful sense. Netanyahu has not accepted any wrongdoing, and is not planning to step down.
There's a good chance Herzog accepts the request. Netanyahu made him president for this role.
This is not a pardon request, in any meaningful sense. Netanyahu has not accepted any wrongdoing, and is not planning to step down.
There's a good chance Herzog accepts the request. Netanyahu made him president for this role.
Reposted by Bob Owen
Gaza Death Toll From Israeli Genocide “Likely Exceeds” 100K, Study Finds truthout.org/articles/gaz...
Gaza Death Toll From Israeli Genocide “Likely Exceeds” 100K, Study Finds
The new research also found that Israel’s war led to a precipitous plunge in life expectancy in the Gaza Strip.
truthout.org
November 30, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Gaza Death Toll From Israeli Genocide “Likely Exceeds” 100K, Study Finds truthout.org/articles/gaz...
Reposted by Bob Owen
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
November 29, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement.
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph
Because this does NOT add up!
No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies…
🧵1/9
Reposted by Bob Owen
Fadi and Jum'ah abu Assi, 8 and 11 years old
killed by the IDF today as they were collecting firewood near Khan Younis.
IDF spokesperson announced the airforce and ground forces "eliminated an immediate threat to IDF forces"
killed by the IDF today as they were collecting firewood near Khan Younis.
IDF spokesperson announced the airforce and ground forces "eliminated an immediate threat to IDF forces"
November 29, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Fadi and Jum'ah abu Assi, 8 and 11 years old
killed by the IDF today as they were collecting firewood near Khan Younis.
IDF spokesperson announced the airforce and ground forces "eliminated an immediate threat to IDF forces"
killed by the IDF today as they were collecting firewood near Khan Younis.
IDF spokesperson announced the airforce and ground forces "eliminated an immediate threat to IDF forces"
Reposted by Bob Owen
I'm delighted to say we have won the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education with our work on OpenSAFELY, inventing new methods that let researchers analyse NHS GP data while protecting everyone's privacy, and with complete transparency, in a hugely productive platform!
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
OpenSAFELY team awarded Queen Elizabeth Prize for Higher and Further
Oxford’s OpenSAFELY team wins the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prize for revolutionising secure NHS data research, protecting patient privacy while unlocking life-saving health insights.
www.ox.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I'm delighted to say we have won the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education with our work on OpenSAFELY, inventing new methods that let researchers analyse NHS GP data while protecting everyone's privacy, and with complete transparency, in a hugely productive platform!
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Bob Owen
A YEAR of daily #GeorgiaProtests
"Just 50 protesters" - you can hear somebody mocking the regime's continuous claims.
📷 Ninia Kakabadze
"Just 50 protesters" - you can hear somebody mocking the regime's continuous claims.
📷 Ninia Kakabadze
November 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM
A YEAR of daily #GeorgiaProtests
"Just 50 protesters" - you can hear somebody mocking the regime's continuous claims.
📷 Ninia Kakabadze
"Just 50 protesters" - you can hear somebody mocking the regime's continuous claims.
📷 Ninia Kakabadze
Reposted by Bob Owen
Yay!! I couldn’t be there but Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring just won gold at the APA podcast awards!!
Whole thing was crowdfunded by @the-citizens.bsky.social to highlight 5-year legal case to get an investigation into Russian interference in UK politics. Power to the people!
Whole thing was crowdfunded by @the-citizens.bsky.social to highlight 5-year legal case to get an investigation into Russian interference in UK politics. Power to the people!
November 27, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Yay!! I couldn’t be there but Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring just won gold at the APA podcast awards!!
Whole thing was crowdfunded by @the-citizens.bsky.social to highlight 5-year legal case to get an investigation into Russian interference in UK politics. Power to the people!
Whole thing was crowdfunded by @the-citizens.bsky.social to highlight 5-year legal case to get an investigation into Russian interference in UK politics. Power to the people!
Reposted by Bob Owen
🚨🚨New episode 🚨🚨
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
Ukraine Crisis: Will Trump Force Moscow's Deal on Zelenskyy?
Podcast Episode · Behind The Lines with Arthur Snell · 25/11/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 AM
🚨🚨New episode 🚨🚨
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
With Ukraine possibly days from being forced to accept a surrender deal, I spoke to @globsec.bsky.social’s Iuliia Osmolovska as well as @sturdyalex.bsky.social about where this deal came from, the latest from Geneva and where go from here.
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
Reposted by Bob Owen
BRAND NEW 🍏 How Do You Like Them Apples? 🍎
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
BONUS - How Do You Like Them Golden Apples?
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 AM
BRAND NEW 🍏 How Do You Like Them Apples? 🍎
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Reposted by Bob Owen
Y'days post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
It is now generally (although not universally) accepted that those of us who campaigned vigorously against the government’s auster...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Y'days post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Why did the media hold Johnson to account for allowing lockdown parties in No.10, but did not hold him to account for allowing tens of thousands of preventable deaths from Covid?
Reposted by Bob Owen
“Soldiers testify that they have been told to burn down houses they have stayed in by pouring oil on curtains, books and mattresses.”
Read @aloner.bsky.social’s report on the destruction of Gaza’s cities.
Read @aloner.bsky.social’s report on the destruction of Gaza’s cities.
‘The directive was nothing left’: How Gaza’s cities were destroyed
Israel has razed large parts of the Gaza Strip since the war began in October 2023. The evidence points to systemic destruction
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
“Soldiers testify that they have been told to burn down houses they have stayed in by pouring oil on curtains, books and mattresses.”
Read @aloner.bsky.social’s report on the destruction of Gaza’s cities.
Read @aloner.bsky.social’s report on the destruction of Gaza’s cities.
Reposted by Bob Owen
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
It is now generally (although not universally) accepted that those of us who campaigned vigorously against the government’s auster...
mainlymacro.blogspot.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
New post: Expertise, Government, the Media and Covid
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
mainlymacro.blogspot.com/2025/11/expe...
The Covid inquiry shows not just political failure on a deadly scale, but of media failure to transmit expertise and to hold to account politicians that let tens of thousands die unnecessarily.
Reposted by Bob Owen
Truly stomach churning. What's esp disturbing is that this is completely normalized all over the west. Our govts and our press insist, that Israelis are 'civilized' and 'moral', while their victims, Palestinians are barely considered human. Their endless mass slaughter is reported as a 'ceasefire'
53.8% of Israelis surveyed agree that Palestinian citizens should be used as human shields by the IDF.
So there's that.
So there's that.
November 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Truly stomach churning. What's esp disturbing is that this is completely normalized all over the west. Our govts and our press insist, that Israelis are 'civilized' and 'moral', while their victims, Palestinians are barely considered human. Their endless mass slaughter is reported as a 'ceasefire'
Reposted by Bob Owen
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
“I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way”
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Nigel Farage responds to allegations of racist behaviour from when he was a teenager at school
@itvnewspolitics.bsky.social
Reposted by Bob Owen
In today’s Russian papers there’s scepticism over the current round of diplomacy. One paper: “The European-Ukrainian gang will ‘correct’ Trump’s plan so that it’s unacceptable for Russia.” Another: “I don’t think the Special Military Operation will end this year.” #ReadingRussia
In the Russian papers, much scepticism about the peace plan.
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 8:50 AM
In today’s Russian papers there’s scepticism over the current round of diplomacy. One paper: “The European-Ukrainian gang will ‘correct’ Trump’s plan so that it’s unacceptable for Russia.” Another: “I don’t think the Special Military Operation will end this year.” #ReadingRussia
Reposted by Bob Owen
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... - my new article, if of interest please share.
I endured an English public school. But that’s not the only reason I’m unsurprised about the Farage allegations |
Let’s put aside the schooldays accusations and look, instead, at the Reform leader’s path since then. I think a pretty clear picture of the man emerges, says author and podcaster Musa Okwonga
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:03 AM
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... - my new article, if of interest please share.
Reposted by Bob Owen
Dear Bluesky,
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
This is the Observer's coverage of the Reform Russian Spie Scandal... 600 words on page 22 of the printed newspaper.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
More MEPs investigated in Russian bribe probe | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Dear Bluesky,
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
www.thenerve.news is still tiny. We launched it with no dirty money (no money at all, lol!). But we're proving what's possible with a small expert team & no billionaire owners.
We knew the UK press wouldn't understand or properly cover this story, so we did. Thank you for the support!
Reposted by Bob Owen
November 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Bob Owen
Today marks 22 years since the Rose Revolution - the day that reshaped Georgia for the better and saved the country, at least for my generation. I will be forever grateful and will continue to fight for its values.
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Today marks 22 years since the Rose Revolution - the day that reshaped Georgia for the better and saved the country, at least for my generation. I will be forever grateful and will continue to fight for its values.
Reposted by Bob Owen
NEW: This is worth your time.
@thenerve_news has the receipts.
A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.
Please read & share.
@thenerve_news has the receipts.
A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.
Please read & share.
November 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
NEW: This is worth your time.
@thenerve_news has the receipts.
A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.
Please read & share.
@thenerve_news has the receipts.
A comprehensive timeline of Nathan Gill & Nigel Farage’s pro-Kremlin influencing activities & 2 other MEPs, David Cobourn & Jonathan Arnott.
Please read & share.
Reposted by Bob Owen
NEW There's no overstating how significant the Nathan Gill case is. On Friday, the close associate of Nigel Farage was jailed for over 10 years for taking bribes ultimately from a friend of Putin. It's a complex, detail-heavy story that raises questions about Farage’s claim Gill was ‘one bad apple’🧵
November 23, 2025 at 11:53 AM
NEW There's no overstating how significant the Nathan Gill case is. On Friday, the close associate of Nigel Farage was jailed for over 10 years for taking bribes ultimately from a friend of Putin. It's a complex, detail-heavy story that raises questions about Farage’s claim Gill was ‘one bad apple’🧵
Reposted by Bob Owen
From the wonderful @carolecadwalla.bsky.social and @thenerve.news some stunning journalism. 👏👏👏
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
Reform UK and Russian bribes: a Nathan Gill timeline
As Reform’s former leader in Wales is sentenced to ten and a half years for taking bribes from a pro-Russian actor, here's a chronology of his actions and the wider context of Putin, Ukraine and Brexi...
www.thenerve.news
November 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
From the wonderful @carolecadwalla.bsky.social and @thenerve.news some stunning journalism. 👏👏👏
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...
www.thenerve.news/p/nathan-gil...