Michael Batey
@mbatey.bsky.social
Content Director at If Collective.
The written word; house, disco and Balearic vinyl; active travel, running and cycling; Sheffield United
The written word; house, disco and Balearic vinyl; active travel, running and cycling; Sheffield United
Reposted by Michael Batey
The way this Govenrment are treating some of the most vulnerable people in the world is disgusting.
And they the audacity to pretend it's coming from a place of compassion and concern.
Their only actual concern seems to be dancing to the tune of the far right rather than tackle inequality.
And they the audacity to pretend it's coming from a place of compassion and concern.
Their only actual concern seems to be dancing to the tune of the far right rather than tackle inequality.
November 17, 2025 at 11:24 PM
The way this Govenrment are treating some of the most vulnerable people in the world is disgusting.
And they the audacity to pretend it's coming from a place of compassion and concern.
Their only actual concern seems to be dancing to the tune of the far right rather than tackle inequality.
And they the audacity to pretend it's coming from a place of compassion and concern.
Their only actual concern seems to be dancing to the tune of the far right rather than tackle inequality.
Reposted by Michael Batey
Covering Jamal Khashoggi's murder was one of the most disturbing things I've worked on. Hearing Trump say he was "extremely controversial" and people "didn't like him" is chilling. Hard to take any other way than he thinks there is moral ambiguity in the murder of a journalist.
November 18, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Covering Jamal Khashoggi's murder was one of the most disturbing things I've worked on. Hearing Trump say he was "extremely controversial" and people "didn't like him" is chilling. Hard to take any other way than he thinks there is moral ambiguity in the murder of a journalist.
Reposted by Michael Batey
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.
Your dad's obsessed with padel.
November 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Your dad's obsessed with padel.
Reposted by Michael Batey
Well I wasn’t expecting a Jon Voight rollercoaster this weekend. Saturday: watched The Odessa File (7.5/10). Sunday: this idiotic fashy bollocks
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Jon Voight Begs Trump to ‘Terminate’ Zohran Mamdani’s NYC Mayor Win: ‘Only He Can Stop This Horror’
Jon Voight posted a bizarre video message, begging President Trump to "terminate" Zohran Mamdani's election win to be New York City mayor.
variety.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Well I wasn’t expecting a Jon Voight rollercoaster this weekend. Saturday: watched The Odessa File (7.5/10). Sunday: this idiotic fashy bollocks
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Reposted by Michael Batey
They market their cars as weapons and we allow them on the same roads as children cycling to school.
And I still get weird middle-aged men in my notifications obfuscating for and defending this.
This is not a serious society.
And I still get weird middle-aged men in my notifications obfuscating for and defending this.
This is not a serious society.
November 13, 2025 at 9:43 PM
They market their cars as weapons and we allow them on the same roads as children cycling to school.
And I still get weird middle-aged men in my notifications obfuscating for and defending this.
This is not a serious society.
And I still get weird middle-aged men in my notifications obfuscating for and defending this.
This is not a serious society.
*encouraging* cycling – doesn't work ❌
*enabling* cycling – does work ✅
*enabling* cycling – does work ✅
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it’s not stopping.
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it's not stopping
The report delves into the nuances of Parisian cycling culture, exploring the vibrant community of riders who navigate the city's streets
momentummag.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:40 PM
*encouraging* cycling – doesn't work ❌
*enabling* cycling – does work ✅
*enabling* cycling – does work ✅
Microsoft Word for Mac. Just installed latest update. Copilot icon in bottom corner. It doesn't work (the options that pop out from it do nothing) *and* you can't get rid of it. Fucking golf clap.
November 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Microsoft Word for Mac. Just installed latest update. Copilot icon in bottom corner. It doesn't work (the options that pop out from it do nothing) *and* you can't get rid of it. Fucking golf clap.
Reposted by Michael Batey
Leading medical publication the British Medical Journal recognises SUVs as a danger to public health in a new editorial co-authored by T&E’s James Nix: bit.ly/4hVDlBC
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
November 12, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Leading medical publication the British Medical Journal recognises SUVs as a danger to public health in a new editorial co-authored by T&E’s James Nix: bit.ly/4hVDlBC
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
World's richest man repeatedly corncobbed by literary legend *on his own social media site* – 2025 is truly stranger than fiction
November 11, 2025 at 1:25 PM
World's richest man repeatedly corncobbed by literary legend *on his own social media site* – 2025 is truly stranger than fiction
Reposted by Michael Batey
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Reposted by Michael Batey
Jade Leung worked for OpenAI from 2021 to 2023. You would expect her to have shares, worth a lot of money - which will get more valuable if OpenAI remains only lightly regulated.
Now she is the Prime Minister’s AI Adviser in No 10 - advising on AI regulation.
2/5
Now she is the Prime Minister’s AI Adviser in No 10 - advising on AI regulation.
2/5
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Jade Leung worked for OpenAI from 2021 to 2023. You would expect her to have shares, worth a lot of money - which will get more valuable if OpenAI remains only lightly regulated.
Now she is the Prime Minister’s AI Adviser in No 10 - advising on AI regulation.
2/5
Now she is the Prime Minister’s AI Adviser in No 10 - advising on AI regulation.
2/5
Reposted by Michael Batey
So up for this 🙌
pet shop boys. obscure. electric ballroom. 6-10 april.
November 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
So up for this 🙌
'When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time'
Mhari Aurora asks a pretty fair question, is booed by the crowd and told off by Dear Leader. Then Noa Hoffman, lobs a dogwhistle soft ball about making "our high streets beautiful again", not "covered in illegal migrant vape shops," to great applause.
Genuinely ugly moment. ~AA
Genuinely ugly moment. ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
'When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time'
This is giving 'come on football, and score a goals'
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This is giving 'come on football, and score a goals'
Really poor reporting - the replies tell you why
Car fleeing police slams into bar in Tampa, killing 4 people and injuring 11
Car fleeing police slams into bar in Tampa, killing 4 people and injuring 11
Police say vehicle was involved in street racing before driver fled from authorities and then crashed into Ybor City bar
A speeding car fleeing police slammed into a crowded bar early on Saturday, killing four people and injuring 11 in a historic district of Tampa, Florida, known for its nightlife and tourists.
An air patrol unit with the Tampa police department spotted the car driving recklessly on a freeway at about 12.40am after police said the silver sedan had been seen street racing in another neighborhood, according to a police department statement. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Really poor reporting - the replies tell you why
Staying in York with a lovely view of ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶l̶l̶s̶ a wall.
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Staying in York with a lovely view of ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶l̶l̶s̶ a wall.
Just when you thought 2025 couldn't get any worse - Kae Tempest has done a cover of George Michael's 'Freedom'
November 4, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Just when you thought 2025 couldn't get any worse - Kae Tempest has done a cover of George Michael's 'Freedom'
Reposted by Michael Batey
"If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?" Billie Eilish speaking directly to Mark Zuckerberg, as she donates $11.5m to food poverty and climate justice organisations.
'Give your money away,' Billie Eilish tells billionaires
The singer called on the mega wealthy to donate more to charity, during a speech at the WSJ Awards attended by the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and George Lucas.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 8:28 AM
"If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?" Billie Eilish speaking directly to Mark Zuckerberg, as she donates $11.5m to food poverty and climate justice organisations.
Quite fancied Kate Bush's 'Best Of The Other Sides' on vinyl, but thirty-odd quid for a single LP is fucking nuts
October 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Quite fancied Kate Bush's 'Best Of The Other Sides' on vinyl, but thirty-odd quid for a single LP is fucking nuts
Reposted by Michael Batey
Early humans were online an hour, maybe two hours, per day
October 29, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Early humans were online an hour, maybe two hours, per day
Reposted by Michael Batey
"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
It’s racist, it’s extremist and it’s immoral
The right is still calling for deportations, and the government is still being cowardly about it. Also: London’s first green belt; some notes on a shark; and some news, on my next book.
jonn.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"The idea of deporting people with settled status is disgusting, and anyone proposing it should be immediately drummed out of polite society. Breaking promises made in good faith to our friends and neighbours is racist, extremist and immoral."
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.
I'm basically shouting at the sky here, but still.