Simon James
@jim1132.bsky.social
Happily re-learning the value of expertise, courtesy, and humour after the barking years.
Reposted by Simon James
Tucker Carlson is a rightwing conspiracy theorist and Putin apologist who was sacked by FOX.... yes FOX
BUT The Spectator is happy to pay him to talk down our capital city... despite it thriving and crime falling.
Whose side are you on Mr Gove?
BUT The Spectator is happy to pay him to talk down our capital city... despite it thriving and crime falling.
Whose side are you on Mr Gove?
November 28, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Tucker Carlson is a rightwing conspiracy theorist and Putin apologist who was sacked by FOX.... yes FOX
BUT The Spectator is happy to pay him to talk down our capital city... despite it thriving and crime falling.
Whose side are you on Mr Gove?
BUT The Spectator is happy to pay him to talk down our capital city... despite it thriving and crime falling.
Whose side are you on Mr Gove?
Reposted by Simon James
Again, one very easy way for our most prominent pundits & media outlets to avoid all the supposedly unfair criticism from those of us who simply don’t understand Journalism These Days would be to start covering the far right authoritarian party by the same standards <always> applied to the Democrats
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Again, one very easy way for our most prominent pundits & media outlets to avoid all the supposedly unfair criticism from those of us who simply don’t understand Journalism These Days would be to start covering the far right authoritarian party by the same standards <always> applied to the Democrats
Reposted by Simon James
"Mustafa served alongside the United States military in Afghanistan. Like so many other Afghans who helped American forces, he later came to the US for its promise of refuge. When I met him recently, though, he had only just left an ICE detention center after months behind bars."
The US Let Afghanistan Fall. Now It's Deporting Afghans.
As the Trump administration escalates deportations, tens of thousands of Afghans are in the US without permanent legal protections.
inkstickmedia.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
"Mustafa served alongside the United States military in Afghanistan. Like so many other Afghans who helped American forces, he later came to the US for its promise of refuge. When I met him recently, though, he had only just left an ICE detention center after months behind bars."
Reposted by Simon James
If you think a seventh prime minister in ten years will magically solve the structural problems, deep malaise and febrile atmosphere caused by austerity, Brexit and social media, you're a fundamentally unserious person.
November 28, 2025 at 12:55 PM
If you think a seventh prime minister in ten years will magically solve the structural problems, deep malaise and febrile atmosphere caused by austerity, Brexit and social media, you're a fundamentally unserious person.
Reposted by Simon James
There is no doubt that Putin bought the Brexit vote in order to create division. The people he channeled money through are active in UK politics today, we know who they are, they should all be in jail for treason
For nearly a decade, sceptics have dismissed allegations that Bannon’s Cambridge Analytica and Prigozhin’s troll farms successfully intervened in the Brexit referendum and Trump’s election in 2016 - now the argument is over
pdjukes.substack.com/p/how-online...
pdjukes.substack.com/p/how-online...
How Online Radicalisation Works: What the New X Study Reveals About Cambridge Analytica, the IRA, and the Dark Triad Machine
The debate is over. A major new experiment show how effective Cambridge Analytica and Russian troll farms were in shifting political emotions with hostile, anti-democratic content online
pdjukes.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:36 PM
There is no doubt that Putin bought the Brexit vote in order to create division. The people he channeled money through are active in UK politics today, we know who they are, they should all be in jail for treason
Reposted by Simon James
There is not time to use the Parliament Act without delaying that implementation timeline for millions of workers.
So a compromise is being sought.
Want to blame anyone, blame the Tories, Lib Dems & Greens who are refusing to abide by our constitutional convention not to block manifesto promises.
So a compromise is being sought.
Want to blame anyone, blame the Tories, Lib Dems & Greens who are refusing to abide by our constitutional convention not to block manifesto promises.
November 28, 2025 at 12:23 PM
There is not time to use the Parliament Act without delaying that implementation timeline for millions of workers.
So a compromise is being sought.
Want to blame anyone, blame the Tories, Lib Dems & Greens who are refusing to abide by our constitutional convention not to block manifesto promises.
So a compromise is being sought.
Want to blame anyone, blame the Tories, Lib Dems & Greens who are refusing to abide by our constitutional convention not to block manifesto promises.
Reposted by Simon James
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
November 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM
There was no state. Who does she think crucified him, an anarchist collective?
Reposted by Simon James
The Blue Labour right have become the Militant of 2025 - a tiny but hyperactive and densely networked sect working relentlessly to drag Labour towards their niche pursuits and away from the values and priorities of core Labour voters.
November 28, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The Blue Labour right have become the Militant of 2025 - a tiny but hyperactive and densely networked sect working relentlessly to drag Labour towards their niche pursuits and away from the values and priorities of core Labour voters.
Reposted by Simon James
The Belgium PM is too stupid/corrupt to know that an objective of the "peace deal" is to derail efforts to use Russian frozen assets.
Belgium PM says using frozen Russian assets could derail Ukraine peace deal reut.rs/4rqnpeW
Belgium PM says using frozen Russian assets could derail Ukraine peace deal
The assets the EU hopes to use are held by Belgian financial institution Euroclear.
reut.rs
November 28, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The Belgium PM is too stupid/corrupt to know that an objective of the "peace deal" is to derail efforts to use Russian frozen assets.
Reposted by Simon James
Oh….
The Russian bribery net is closing in on Nigel Farage - it’s time for a full and thorough investigation into Farage, Tice, Reform, UKIP, and the Brexit Party, to find out the extent to which Farage was involved in this outside influence from Putin and Russia… 🇷🇺 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Russian bribery net is closing in on Nigel Farage - it’s time for a full and thorough investigation into Farage, Tice, Reform, UKIP, and the Brexit Party, to find out the extent to which Farage was involved in this outside influence from Putin and Russia… 🇷🇺 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Former Brexit Party MEP denies taking payment from pro-Russian campaign
A prominent former MEP for Nigel Farage's old party denies taking bribes in a pro-Russian campaign.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Oh….
The Russian bribery net is closing in on Nigel Farage - it’s time for a full and thorough investigation into Farage, Tice, Reform, UKIP, and the Brexit Party, to find out the extent to which Farage was involved in this outside influence from Putin and Russia… 🇷🇺 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The Russian bribery net is closing in on Nigel Farage - it’s time for a full and thorough investigation into Farage, Tice, Reform, UKIP, and the Brexit Party, to find out the extent to which Farage was involved in this outside influence from Putin and Russia… 🇷🇺 🤔
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Simon James
The "guy making a case about low taxes" was in fact Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies - author of the fictional/fabricated and now withdrawn "£234 billion" cost number cited by Katie Lam and Reform.
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
And again I wonder why a super expert like Portes is not on BBC4 today instead of a guy making a case about low taxes
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
The "guy making a case about low taxes" was in fact Karl Williams of the Centre for Policy Studies - author of the fictional/fabricated and now withdrawn "£234 billion" cost number cited by Katie Lam and Reform.
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
Funnily Amol Rajan didn't ask him about that.. 😉
Reposted by Simon James
If only Keir Starmer was in a position to order an investigation into Reform-Russia links!
Oh wait…
news.sky.com/story/starme...
Oh wait…
news.sky.com/story/starme...
Starmer demands investigation into Reform-Russia links after party's ex-Wales leader jailed
The former leader of Reform in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years after being paid £40,000 to make pro-Russian statements in the European Parliament.
news.sky.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 AM
If only Keir Starmer was in a position to order an investigation into Reform-Russia links!
Oh wait…
news.sky.com/story/starme...
Oh wait…
news.sky.com/story/starme...
Reposted by Simon James
‘Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn answered "no" when a BBC journalist asked him whether he had ever been paid to give a speech to promote pro-Russian campaigners.’
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
November 28, 2025 at 6:28 AM
‘Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn answered "no" when a BBC journalist asked him whether he had ever been paid to give a speech to promote pro-Russian campaigners.’
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
Reposted by Simon James
When asked about the death of a W. Virginia National Guardsman, the President of the United States bragged about his electoral margin in her state.
When asked about the shooter, he called the reporter a stupid person.
Please stop holding quarter for anyone supporting this monstrous piece of shit.
When asked about the shooter, he called the reporter a stupid person.
Please stop holding quarter for anyone supporting this monstrous piece of shit.
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 AM
When asked about the death of a W. Virginia National Guardsman, the President of the United States bragged about his electoral margin in her state.
When asked about the shooter, he called the reporter a stupid person.
Please stop holding quarter for anyone supporting this monstrous piece of shit.
When asked about the shooter, he called the reporter a stupid person.
Please stop holding quarter for anyone supporting this monstrous piece of shit.
Reposted by Simon James
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Today's 70% fall in net migration to 205,000 was not one of the six stories in BBC ten o'clock news.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Ta massive assymetry in whether rises in immigration and falls in immigration are considered newsworthy by broadcasters
Down by 140k isn't thought to be.
Up by 140k undoubtedly would be.
Reposted by Simon James
Ryan Lizza's "Part Three" in His Nuzzi/RFK Jr Expose Is Out And If True, Olivia Nuzzi Will Never Work Again.
open.substack.com/pub/deanblun...
open.substack.com/pub/deanblun...
Ryan Lizza's "Part Three" in His Nuzzi/RFK Jr Expose Is Out And If True, Olivia Nuzzi Will Never Work Again.
Catch, Kill, Sext, Repeat: When the Journalist Becomes the Campaign
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Ryan Lizza's "Part Three" in His Nuzzi/RFK Jr Expose Is Out And If True, Olivia Nuzzi Will Never Work Again.
open.substack.com/pub/deanblun...
open.substack.com/pub/deanblun...
Reposted by Simon James
Many newspapers and politicians have been calling yesterday's fiscal statement a 'Budget for Benefits Street'. Here's three reasons why that is not accurate 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Many newspapers and politicians have been calling yesterday's fiscal statement a 'Budget for Benefits Street'. Here's three reasons why that is not accurate 🧵
Reposted by Simon James
The state of this from the BBC...
...making it sound like businesses have got Labour...while casting doubt on the 'claim' it's due to the Lords.
We no, as I've been telling you for weeks, the Lib Dems and the Tories in the Lords keep blocking this.
1/2
...making it sound like businesses have got Labour...while casting doubt on the 'claim' it's due to the Lords.
We no, as I've been telling you for weeks, the Lib Dems and the Tories in the Lords keep blocking this.
1/2
November 27, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The state of this from the BBC...
...making it sound like businesses have got Labour...while casting doubt on the 'claim' it's due to the Lords.
We no, as I've been telling you for weeks, the Lib Dems and the Tories in the Lords keep blocking this.
1/2
...making it sound like businesses have got Labour...while casting doubt on the 'claim' it's due to the Lords.
We no, as I've been telling you for weeks, the Lib Dems and the Tories in the Lords keep blocking this.
1/2
Reposted by Simon James
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
Equality Trust study shows how House of Lords appointments, big donations and media concentration affects political decision
Structural corruption and the rise of “conduits for unelected power” are reshaping British politics, according to a stark report from the Equality Trust.
Unelected influence has surged over the past two decades, the report claims, driven by the growing political clout of the ultra-rich and the institutions that enable it. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:16 PM
‘Unelected power’ of ultra-rich is reshaping British politics, report claims
Reposted by Simon James
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
"We followed everything we were supposed to do"
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Legitimate green card applicants with US spouses are being
arrested by armed, masked men at scheduled immigration interviews, taken away from their children, sent to prison
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Simon James
When the strongest argument for your policy is a list of lies (I count 7) and exaggerations (another 5), you reveal more than a wonky list of truths ever would.
November 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
When the strongest argument for your policy is a list of lies (I count 7) and exaggerations (another 5), you reveal more than a wonky list of truths ever would.
Reposted by Simon James
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
November 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Headline on The World at One just now:
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
"Sir Keir Starmer has denied putting the Labour Party before the country by ending the two-child benefit cap".
Can we please go back to reporting the actual news, not someone's partisan take on it?
Reposted by Simon James
'This isn't an opinion. This is counting.'
- A 100,000 drop in net migration costs us £7bn
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap costs us £3bn
What gets more attention?
James O’Brien says 'we have become a ludicrous country'.
- Scrapping the two-child benefit cap costs us £3bn
What gets more attention?
James O’Brien says 'we have become a ludicrous country'.
November 27, 2025 at 11:29 AM
'This isn't an opinion. This is counting.'
Reposted by Simon James
"The Budget is progressive overall"
Which is why, for the last 24 hours, the enemies/whiners have returned to:
- The feckless poor
- Business owners complaining their unprofitable lifestyles aren't being subsidised
Which is why, for the last 24 hours, the enemies/whiners have returned to:
- The feckless poor
- Business owners complaining their unprofitable lifestyles aren't being subsidised
Resolution Foundation analysis of the Chancellor's Budget:
Typical families gain approximately £230 from energy bill support, fuel duty & rail fare measures.
Scrapping two-child benefit limit helps over half a million families by an average of £5,000.
The Budget is progressive overall, RF finds.
Typical families gain approximately £230 from energy bill support, fuel duty & rail fare measures.
Scrapping two-child benefit limit helps over half a million families by an average of £5,000.
The Budget is progressive overall, RF finds.
November 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
"The Budget is progressive overall"
Which is why, for the last 24 hours, the enemies/whiners have returned to:
- The feckless poor
- Business owners complaining their unprofitable lifestyles aren't being subsidised
Which is why, for the last 24 hours, the enemies/whiners have returned to:
- The feckless poor
- Business owners complaining their unprofitable lifestyles aren't being subsidised