John Russell
@johnrussell40.bsky.social
A Yorkshireman in Devon, growing trees. Retired film maker. Heat pump, solar thermal & PV and EV user. Prioritising climate change, energy, sustainability, woodland, eco-building. Born 311ppm CO2.
Reposted by John Russell
Most average working Americans abide by laws and norms. Most are kind and decent. But there is growing rot at the top of our system. And its stench can no longer be ignored. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/sunday-thought-732
Sunday thought
The rot at the top
robertreich.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Most average working Americans abide by laws and norms. Most are kind and decent. But there is growing rot at the top of our system. And its stench can no longer be ignored. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/sunday-thought-732
Reposted by John Russell
“At the very moment the EU was supposedly fighting to include a roadmap to fossil fuel phaseout, von der Leyen, president of the EU said “we are not fighting fossil fuels, we are fighting the emissions from fossil fuels.” This statement directly undermines her position, it is in itself nonsensical.”
November 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
“At the very moment the EU was supposedly fighting to include a roadmap to fossil fuel phaseout, von der Leyen, president of the EU said “we are not fighting fossil fuels, we are fighting the emissions from fossil fuels.” This statement directly undermines her position, it is in itself nonsensical.”
"There is an ongoing coup against the constitution of the United States happening as we speak": Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRyP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRyP...
Trump RAGES as UNCONSTITUTIONAL MILITARY ORDERS GIVEN?!?
YouTube video by Legal AF
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
"There is an ongoing coup against the constitution of the United States happening as we speak": Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRyP...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRyP...
Reposted by John Russell
NEW: Nigel Farage is facing renewed calls to explain why he repeatedly aired tropes and conspiracy theories associated with antisemitism during interviews, after claims the Reform UK leader used racist language in his teens.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Farage urged to explain conspiracy theories linked to antisemitism he voiced in US media
Exclusive: The Reform UK leader discussed far-right talking points in web TV and radio appearances between 2009 and 2018
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 AM
NEW: Nigel Farage is facing renewed calls to explain why he repeatedly aired tropes and conspiracy theories associated with antisemitism during interviews, after claims the Reform UK leader used racist language in his teens.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by John Russell
I remain genuinely gobsmacked that this wasn’t picked up more. The Alex Jones who *repeatedly accused grieving parents of making up their children’s murders*.
Anyway, “after the news we’ll be joined by Nigel Farage & definitely won’t be asking him about any of this…”
Anyway, “after the news we’ll be joined by Nigel Farage & definitely won’t be asking him about any of this…”
On US TV shows and podcasts from 2009-18, Farage discussed supposed plots by bankers to create a global government, citing Goldman Sachs, the Bilderberg group and George Soros as threats to democracy. Included six guest slots with the disgraced far-right US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
I remain genuinely gobsmacked that this wasn’t picked up more. The Alex Jones who *repeatedly accused grieving parents of making up their children’s murders*.
Anyway, “after the news we’ll be joined by Nigel Farage & definitely won’t be asking him about any of this…”
Anyway, “after the news we’ll be joined by Nigel Farage & definitely won’t be asking him about any of this…”
Reposted by John Russell
Great thread demolishing the Bill Gates / Abundance / climate-isn't-everything narrative.
“Climate change isn’t everything“ is becoming a go-to justification for delaying action.
This is - deliberately or inadvertently - a misframing of the issue. The point isn’t CC is everything, it’s that it’s essential to deal with.
1/
This is - deliberately or inadvertently - a misframing of the issue. The point isn’t CC is everything, it’s that it’s essential to deal with.
1/
November 24, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Great thread demolishing the Bill Gates / Abundance / climate-isn't-everything narrative.
There are only two solutions to humidity build-up in homes. 1st is dehumidifiers. 2nd is ventilation. Moisture-laden air must be moved outside + lower-humidity air let in. Open windows/trickle vents or, ideally (not mentioned here), install controlled ventilation with heat recovery, e.g., MVHR.
As winter returns, and households dry laundry indoors, new research suggests this is contributing to dangerous mould problems in the home | Karen Reeve
The mould truth: Expert warns Brits of one common habit that brings damp into their homes
As winter returns, and households dry laundry indoors, new research suggests this is contributing to dangerous mould problems in the home
kentandsurreybylines.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 9:46 AM
There are only two solutions to humidity build-up in homes. 1st is dehumidifiers. 2nd is ventilation. Moisture-laden air must be moved outside + lower-humidity air let in. Open windows/trickle vents or, ideally (not mentioned here), install controlled ventilation with heat recovery, e.g., MVHR.
Reposted by John Russell
Most people hear “heat pump” and think of small air-source units at home. But Germany is building one of the world’s largest heat pumps in Mannheim: a 162 MW river-source system using heat from the Rhine.
Big reminder that heat-pumps scale far beyond households — they can decarbonise whole cities.
Big reminder that heat-pumps scale far beyond households — they can decarbonise whole cities.
November 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Most people hear “heat pump” and think of small air-source units at home. But Germany is building one of the world’s largest heat pumps in Mannheim: a 162 MW river-source system using heat from the Rhine.
Big reminder that heat-pumps scale far beyond households — they can decarbonise whole cities.
Big reminder that heat-pumps scale far beyond households — they can decarbonise whole cities.
Reposted by John Russell
Blaming the planning system for high prices of nuclear power is absurd
The EPR being built at Hinkley was way over budget in Finland, China & France
The AP1000 the USA is keen on bankrupted Westinghouse when built in S Carolina
Nuclear power is expensive. Period
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The EPR being built at Hinkley was way over budget in Finland, China & France
The AP1000 the USA is keen on bankrupted Westinghouse when built in S Carolina
Nuclear power is expensive. Period
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK is world's most expensive place to develop nuclear power, report says
Experts criticise “overly complex” rules and call for an overhaul of Britain's nuclear strategy.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Blaming the planning system for high prices of nuclear power is absurd
The EPR being built at Hinkley was way over budget in Finland, China & France
The AP1000 the USA is keen on bankrupted Westinghouse when built in S Carolina
Nuclear power is expensive. Period
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The EPR being built at Hinkley was way over budget in Finland, China & France
The AP1000 the USA is keen on bankrupted Westinghouse when built in S Carolina
Nuclear power is expensive. Period
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by John Russell
So the US government is basically an ally of Russia and hostile to Ukraine and the future of Europe! youtube.com/live/tHZuwrg...
Peace Deal or Surrender? Rory and Alastair React
YouTube video by The Rest Is Politics
youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
So the US government is basically an ally of Russia and hostile to Ukraine and the future of Europe! youtube.com/live/tHZuwrg...
Reposted by John Russell
We're now heading towards a critical juncture. This can be understood as an amount of environmental change that will fundamentally unpick the life-sustaining feedback loops of the Earth system. Tipping points are flashing red. This does not mean we are doomed but we have to stop wishful thinking 3/6
November 24, 2025 at 8:26 AM
We're now heading towards a critical juncture. This can be understood as an amount of environmental change that will fundamentally unpick the life-sustaining feedback loops of the Earth system. Tipping points are flashing red. This does not mean we are doomed but we have to stop wishful thinking 3/6
Reposted by John Russell
"Sit ye near some old Cavern's Mouth and brood,
Until ye start, as if the sea nymphs quired!"
Until ye start, as if the sea nymphs quired!"
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
"Sit ye near some old Cavern's Mouth and brood,
Until ye start, as if the sea nymphs quired!"
Until ye start, as if the sea nymphs quired!"
Reposted by John Russell
🚨 JUST PUBLISHED: CARBON BRIEF’S #COP30 SUMMARY 🚨
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
November 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
🚨 JUST PUBLISHED: CARBON BRIEF’S #COP30 SUMMARY 🚨
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
Reposted by John Russell
Reposted by John Russell
Does someone literally have to die before these “outbursts” merit a banner headline? Or even then, will they counsel us not to be alarmed—to consider the context? These people are going to help contextualize us into dictatorship. trib.al/Rjb6eVu
President Wants Legislators Hanged, and It’s Not Even the Lead Story
Donald Trump says he’d like to see lawmakers tried and executed, and The New York Times and The Washington Post just don’t seem to think it’s that big a deal. Why?
trib.al
November 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Does someone literally have to die before these “outbursts” merit a banner headline? Or even then, will they counsel us not to be alarmed—to consider the context? These people are going to help contextualize us into dictatorship. trib.al/Rjb6eVu
Reposted by John Russell
Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances. A new decade-long Brexit study explains it: a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
New: Boris Johnson’s ‘Brexit Titanic success’ was half right
Nearly ten years on, the first full assessment of Brexit confirms what millions warned: Britain made itself poorer
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Rachel Reeves says there’s a “hole” in the public finances. A new decade-long Brexit study explains it: a 6–8% hit to GDP – that's £180bn-£240bn a year – means less tax, less investment and less money for everything else.
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Brexit made Britain poorer. Much poorer.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Reposted by John Russell
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by John Russell
Stunning development: Senators now confirm the Trump admin’s 28-point “peace plan” for Ukraine wasn’t a U.S. plan at all. It was a Russian wish list. Follow along. This is crazy. 1/
November 23, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Stunning development: Senators now confirm the Trump admin’s 28-point “peace plan” for Ukraine wasn’t a U.S. plan at all. It was a Russian wish list. Follow along. This is crazy. 1/
Reposted by John Russell
"...Reform’s leadership continues to dismiss climate science as ‘green hysteria’. By the 2050s, climate-driven flooding across its ten authorities could impose average yearly damages of about £285mn – equivalent to roughly £7bn in cumulative losses by 2050 if no new defences are built."
Drowning in denial: one in five homes in Reform UK heartlands faces flooding in 25 years
Even as the party rolls back climate action, Reform-controlled councils sit on some of England’s worst rising flood risks
By Nafeez Ahmed
Even as the party rolls back climate action, Reform-controlled councils sit on some of England’s worst rising flood risks
By Nafeez Ahmed
Drowning in denial: one in five homes in Reform UK heartlands faces flooding in 25 years
Even as the party rolls back climate action, Reform-controlled councils sit on some of England’s worst rising flood risks
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
"...Reform’s leadership continues to dismiss climate science as ‘green hysteria’. By the 2050s, climate-driven flooding across its ten authorities could impose average yearly damages of about £285mn – equivalent to roughly £7bn in cumulative losses by 2050 if no new defences are built."
Reposted by John Russell
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Newmarket MP Matt Hancock gave a £37bn Covid testing contract to Jockey Club director Dido Harding, who subcontracted it to Grand National sponsor Randox, employer of Tory MP Owen Paterson, whose late wife chaired Aintree racecourse. That's how the Tories handled the pandemic.
Reposted by John Russell
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Powerful piece by @drrachelclarke.com on the COVID inquiry. Those who say it’s easy to be wise in hindsight are being utterly disingenuous. Many of us spoke out at the time, and it’s in the public record.
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
@independentsage.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by John Russell
COP30 TEXT ANALYSIS: One way to read dense COP text is to focus on the verbs. These are helpfully italicised – and for good reason.
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
COP30 TEXT ANALYSIS: One way to read dense COP text is to focus on the verbs. These are helpfully italicised – and for good reason.
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
MOSTLY INACTIVE: Carbon Brief analysis of the “global mutirão” text finds 69 inactive verbs, requiring no action, against 32 active verbs.
1/4
Europe (inc UK) needs to grow a pair. Putin is a major threat to us all. Forget any help from the USA for now. Since 2000 we've sent troops to Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan but we don't help Ukraine? Russia is small, weak and demoralised and a united show of force and Putin would back off in weeks.
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace
Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Europe (inc UK) needs to grow a pair. Putin is a major threat to us all. Forget any help from the USA for now. Since 2000 we've sent troops to Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan but we don't help Ukraine? Russia is small, weak and demoralised and a united show of force and Putin would back off in weeks.