Tom Elliot
@writingnotes.bsky.social
Yorkshire based. International Relations & War at KCL🦁 Comprehensive Security researcher. Unions are important
Pinned
Tom Elliot
@writingnotes.bsky.social
· Aug 8
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
...
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
- Wendell Berry
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
...
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
- Wendell Berry
I can't wait for my thesis to be finished so I can start reading for joy again🥲
August 8, 2025 at 9:46 PM
I can't wait for my thesis to be finished so I can start reading for joy again🥲
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
...
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
- Wendell Berry
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
...
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
- Wendell Berry
August 8, 2025 at 9:42 PM
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
...
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
- Wendell Berry
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
...
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
- Wendell Berry
Great thread. Very succinctly explains the growing issue of public distrust of democratic institutions.
🧵 Several people have raised questions about what I meant by "deservedly so" when referring to the decline of institutional trust. It's a fair question, so I want to explain that, because it sits at the heart of my work on how democracies collapse when their epistemic foundations rot.
The conditions that have led to what’s happening in the US today exist in democracies around the world.
They are an inevitable outcome of our collective failure to adapt to fundamental changes in the information ecosystem on which our democracies were originally built.
They are an inevitable outcome of our collective failure to adapt to fundamental changes in the information ecosystem on which our democracies were originally built.
June 10, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Great thread. Very succinctly explains the growing issue of public distrust of democratic institutions.
Interestingly, the first person to die in the Revolution was removed from this painting: Crispus Attucks. He was commemorated in the original painting, but was removed in subsequent ones because he was black.
So, the Revolution began with the killing of a black protestor.
So, the Revolution began with the killing of a black protestor.
June 9, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Interestingly, the first person to die in the Revolution was removed from this painting: Crispus Attucks. He was commemorated in the original painting, but was removed in subsequent ones because he was black.
So, the Revolution began with the killing of a black protestor.
So, the Revolution began with the killing of a black protestor.
@eliothiggins.bsky.social can I drop you a DM about some research I am doing for my MA thesis at KCL?
In short, part of the thesis is about societal resilience and the need for greater digital education and disinformation awareness (comparing Nordics and Baltics to UK). Love your work🙏
In short, part of the thesis is about societal resilience and the need for greater digital education and disinformation awareness (comparing Nordics and Baltics to UK). Love your work🙏
June 9, 2025 at 7:39 AM
@eliothiggins.bsky.social can I drop you a DM about some research I am doing for my MA thesis at KCL?
In short, part of the thesis is about societal resilience and the need for greater digital education and disinformation awareness (comparing Nordics and Baltics to UK). Love your work🙏
In short, part of the thesis is about societal resilience and the need for greater digital education and disinformation awareness (comparing Nordics and Baltics to UK). Love your work🙏
For my sins, I went back to Twitter for a while (it is better for OSINT and war studies content, sadly).
It is scary how much engagement farming there is on there. It is just endless manufactured outrage by anonymous Bluetick accounts. On any subject, too.
It is scary how much engagement farming there is on there. It is just endless manufactured outrage by anonymous Bluetick accounts. On any subject, too.
June 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
For my sins, I went back to Twitter for a while (it is better for OSINT and war studies content, sadly).
It is scary how much engagement farming there is on there. It is just endless manufactured outrage by anonymous Bluetick accounts. On any subject, too.
It is scary how much engagement farming there is on there. It is just endless manufactured outrage by anonymous Bluetick accounts. On any subject, too.
A "defence levy" wealth tax would be popular. I'm fed up with hearing that to increase defence spending we must take from other places such as education or social care. It's untrue.
A "defence levy" that can be colloquially known as the "Trump tax" is definitely an option now.
I reckon you’d now almost certainly get big majorities of support for a special ‘support Ukraine’ tax increase after that spectacle
March 1, 2025 at 11:11 AM
A "defence levy" wealth tax would be popular. I'm fed up with hearing that to increase defence spending we must take from other places such as education or social care. It's untrue.
Reposted by Tom Elliot
MAGA are mad at Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit for an official White House meeting.
Meanwhile:
Meanwhile:
February 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
MAGA are mad at Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit for an official White House meeting.
Meanwhile:
Meanwhile:
Reposted by Tom Elliot
Fuck this guy.
Fuck all the snivelling apologists for the far right. Toadying little creeps trying to ingratiate themselves to the big bully boys.
Fuck all the snivelling apologists for the far right. Toadying little creeps trying to ingratiate themselves to the big bully boys.
You can always rely on Wes Streeting to amplify far right talking points. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
NHS diversity practices hindered by ‘misguided approaches’, says Streeting
Health secretary gives example of staff member promoting ‘anti-whiteness’, but stresses need for DEI policies
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Fuck this guy.
Fuck all the snivelling apologists for the far right. Toadying little creeps trying to ingratiate themselves to the big bully boys.
Fuck all the snivelling apologists for the far right. Toadying little creeps trying to ingratiate themselves to the big bully boys.
I will confess, I did not anticipate this happening quite so quickly. It was clearly coming, but my lord that was fast.
🚨 BREAKING: Reform lead with **YouGov**
🟣 REF 25% (+2)
🔴 LAB 24% (-3)
🔵 CON 21% (-1)
🟠 LD 14% (-)
🟢 GRN 9% (-)
Via YouGov, 2-3 Feb (+/- vs 26-27 Jan)
🟣 REF 25% (+2)
🔴 LAB 24% (-3)
🔵 CON 21% (-1)
🟠 LD 14% (-)
🟢 GRN 9% (-)
Via YouGov, 2-3 Feb (+/- vs 26-27 Jan)
February 3, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I will confess, I did not anticipate this happening quite so quickly. It was clearly coming, but my lord that was fast.
A terrifying question I've asked myself a few times recently:
"If the internet randomly goes down, how much do I actually OWN?"
The answer is basically nothing. Digital subscriptions aren't ownership. The only things you really own these days are books and clothes😬
"If the internet randomly goes down, how much do I actually OWN?"
The answer is basically nothing. Digital subscriptions aren't ownership. The only things you really own these days are books and clothes😬
My 2025 hobby is helping my pals de-centre tech from their lives.
Acquire CDs, records, DVDs, paper books, reference books, magazines, dictionaries, etc. Go to the library!
Going analog is a small way to stop relying on tech bro monsters & helps preserve knowledge they're literally deleting.
Acquire CDs, records, DVDs, paper books, reference books, magazines, dictionaries, etc. Go to the library!
Going analog is a small way to stop relying on tech bro monsters & helps preserve knowledge they're literally deleting.
February 2, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A terrifying question I've asked myself a few times recently:
"If the internet randomly goes down, how much do I actually OWN?"
The answer is basically nothing. Digital subscriptions aren't ownership. The only things you really own these days are books and clothes😬
"If the internet randomly goes down, how much do I actually OWN?"
The answer is basically nothing. Digital subscriptions aren't ownership. The only things you really own these days are books and clothes😬
Reposted by Tom Elliot
Back on the grind tomorrow
January 20, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Back on the grind tomorrow
Reposted by Tom Elliot
New polling shows 75% of people back rent caps, including 44% of landlords!
"The polling found there was also support among the general public for higher capital gains tax on second homes (68 per cent) and buy-to-let properties (62 per cent)"
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
"The polling found there was also support among the general public for higher capital gains tax on second homes (68 per cent) and buy-to-let properties (62 per cent)"
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Landlords at odds with Rayner over rent controls - but not in the way you might think
Ministers are resisting introducing a blunt rent cap but say they are empowering tenants to appeal unreasonable rent rises
inews.co.uk
January 20, 2025 at 9:10 AM
New polling shows 75% of people back rent caps, including 44% of landlords!
"The polling found there was also support among the general public for higher capital gains tax on second homes (68 per cent) and buy-to-let properties (62 per cent)"
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
"The polling found there was also support among the general public for higher capital gains tax on second homes (68 per cent) and buy-to-let properties (62 per cent)"
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Tom Elliot
God Herself could take physical form, float down to Streeting's constituency office, and deposit there a tablet inscribed "The Cass Review is pseudo-scientific bunkum" and still @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social would not shift.
Because it's not about the truth - it's about what's good for Wesley. 🧵
Because it's not about the truth - it's about what's good for Wesley. 🧵
Cass Review.
New article in the New England Journal of Medicine, founded in 1812 and amongst the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. Its 2023 impact factor was 96.2, ranking it 2nd out of 168 journals in the category "Medicine, General & Internal".
New article in the New England Journal of Medicine, founded in 1812 and amongst the most prestigious peer-reviewed medical journals. Its 2023 impact factor was 96.2, ranking it 2nd out of 168 journals in the category "Medicine, General & Internal".
January 20, 2025 at 3:27 PM
God Herself could take physical form, float down to Streeting's constituency office, and deposit there a tablet inscribed "The Cass Review is pseudo-scientific bunkum" and still @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social would not shift.
Because it's not about the truth - it's about what's good for Wesley. 🧵
Because it's not about the truth - it's about what's good for Wesley. 🧵
Reposted by Tom Elliot
Good to see people like Scholz make statements like this, but it will make for a more effective & meaningful political agenda when it comes with a recognition that the threat to democracy isn't just Musk himself but the concentration of wealth & power he has been enabled to accumulate
Better waking up late than never?https://www.politico.eu/article/olaf-scholz-elon-musk-is-a-danger-to-european-democracy/
Scholz: Elon Musk is a danger to European democracy
Musk “endangers the democratic development of Europe,” Scholz raged.
www.politico.eu
January 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Good to see people like Scholz make statements like this, but it will make for a more effective & meaningful political agenda when it comes with a recognition that the threat to democracy isn't just Musk himself but the concentration of wealth & power he has been enabled to accumulate
Going to the cinema by yourself is class and I won't hear otherwise
January 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Going to the cinema by yourself is class and I won't hear otherwise
Reposted by Tom Elliot
I fear there is deep truth here.
January 11, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I fear there is deep truth here.
Yet another reason why Britain needs to make military expansion, particularly in reserve forces, a key priority.
The future is very, very unpredictable and preparation is key.
The future is very, very unpredictable and preparation is key.
Trump, who says he wants peace in Ukraine, sends a curious message to Putin and other autocrats with his bizarre 'we want Greenland, the Panama canal' comments. What next for this new imperialism? Invade Britain?
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump refuses to rule out using military to take Panama Canal and Greenland
Remarks likely to set off alarm bells around the world as Trump prepares to return to the White House this month
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Yet another reason why Britain needs to make military expansion, particularly in reserve forces, a key priority.
The future is very, very unpredictable and preparation is key.
The future is very, very unpredictable and preparation is key.
The thing about Goodwin, is that he absolutely crumbles when faced with in-person debate. He was a disaster when he debated Medhi Hassan.
I suspect it would be the same if he did a live debate with @zoejardiniere.bsky.social
I suspect it would be the same if he did a live debate with @zoejardiniere.bsky.social
This is the third day that Goodwin has quote tweeted me deliberately misrepresenting me on teh grooming stuff and sent a bunch of rabbid racist twats on me.
Yes, it is getting a bit old. I'll be real with you.
Yes, it is getting a bit old. I'll be real with you.
January 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The thing about Goodwin, is that he absolutely crumbles when faced with in-person debate. He was a disaster when he debated Medhi Hassan.
I suspect it would be the same if he did a live debate with @zoejardiniere.bsky.social
I suspect it would be the same if he did a live debate with @zoejardiniere.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Elliot
I don't want my fridge to have a camera or Wi-Fi. I don't want my dishwasher to be smart. I don't want my washing machine to text me.
In fact, I kinda miss knobs and dials and knowing big appliances would last 20 years and could still be repaired.
In fact, I kinda miss knobs and dials and knowing big appliances would last 20 years and could still be repaired.
January 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I don't want my fridge to have a camera or Wi-Fi. I don't want my dishwasher to be smart. I don't want my washing machine to text me.
In fact, I kinda miss knobs and dials and knowing big appliances would last 20 years and could still be repaired.
In fact, I kinda miss knobs and dials and knowing big appliances would last 20 years and could still be repaired.
Reposted by Tom Elliot
good sources of news from Ukraine
Now that Ukraine has become very active in the Kursk region, we would like everyone that hasn't found us on BlueSky, to be aware of the latest updates.
Therefore, we would like to ask you to share this post in order to reach as many people as possible. Let's aim for 75.000 followers 👍
Therefore, we would like to ask you to share this post in order to reach as many people as possible. Let's aim for 75.000 followers 👍
January 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
good sources of news from Ukraine
Reposted by Tom Elliot
Now that Ukraine has become very active in the Kursk region, we would like everyone that hasn't found us on BlueSky, to be aware of the latest updates.
Therefore, we would like to ask you to share this post in order to reach as many people as possible. Let's aim for 75.000 followers 👍
Therefore, we would like to ask you to share this post in order to reach as many people as possible. Let's aim for 75.000 followers 👍
January 5, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Now that Ukraine has become very active in the Kursk region, we would like everyone that hasn't found us on BlueSky, to be aware of the latest updates.
Therefore, we would like to ask you to share this post in order to reach as many people as possible. Let's aim for 75.000 followers 👍
Therefore, we would like to ask you to share this post in order to reach as many people as possible. Let's aim for 75.000 followers 👍
Reposted by Tom Elliot
Wes Streeting plans for your private medical data, held by Palantir, to be sold. https://buff.ly/40i76Wa
UK studies pricing plan for selling NHS patient data
Access to information could be increased by centralising anonymised records
buff.ly
January 2, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Wes Streeting plans for your private medical data, held by Palantir, to be sold. https://buff.ly/40i76Wa
Reposted by Tom Elliot
Mental health support systems, in general, are beyond broken.
With young people, we need and immediate shift to "needs led support", over "diagnosis led", but we also need support to be available in the first place. That takes more investment and better training.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
With young people, we need and immediate shift to "needs led support", over "diagnosis led", but we also need support to be available in the first place. That takes more investment and better training.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Urgent referrals of children in mental health crisis in England rise 13% in year
Charity says NHS failure to help more young people sooner is a ‘shocking betrayal’
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Mental health support systems, in general, are beyond broken.
With young people, we need and immediate shift to "needs led support", over "diagnosis led", but we also need support to be available in the first place. That takes more investment and better training.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
With young people, we need and immediate shift to "needs led support", over "diagnosis led", but we also need support to be available in the first place. That takes more investment and better training.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...