Kat Brown
@katbrownwrites.com
Freelance journalist and editor, hello! Only Connect Jilly and servant to v entitled animals. My books are on ADHD and infertility, but I’m 99% fuelled by The Archers and horse riding. www.katbrownwrites.com
Pinned
Kat Brown
@katbrownwrites.com
· Feb 2
I was so excited to celebrate It's Not a Bloody Trend's birthday this morning, only to discover that it was actually...yesterday. Anyway, my book on (you'll be shocked to hear) ADHD is one today!
Reposted by Kat Brown
Fun fact! Last year the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, which you already have to leap through fiery hoops to access, was cut from £5,000 to £3,000 per child.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Parents threatened by authorities as 1,000 adopted children returned to care
Families seeking help for their children’s complex needs describe threats of police action against them.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Fun fact! Last year the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund, which you already have to leap through fiery hoops to access, was cut from £5,000 to £3,000 per child.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Kat Brown
In a way, you almost have to applaud journalists who can steal a very comfortable living endlessly trotting out the same vacuous clichés that everyone knows by heart. Especially at a time when people are in desperate need of serious political analysis. Fair play for getting away with it, I guess.
"This is the Labour Party of old – high taxation, high public spending, growth in welfare bills and all the rest of it.
"This puts Labour in a position where it is very much a party older people who lived through the 70s and early 80s would recognise"
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/labo...
"This puts Labour in a position where it is very much a party older people who lived through the 70s and early 80s would recognise"
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/labo...
‘Labour is trying to pretend it’s all fine – everyone can see what this budget is doing’ | The News Agents
Labour MPs have acted with “tetchiness” as they defend Rachel Reeves' budget, facing questions over whether it has raised taxes for working people. Has the government regressed to where the party was…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 8:47 AM
In a way, you almost have to applaud journalists who can steal a very comfortable living endlessly trotting out the same vacuous clichés that everyone knows by heart. Especially at a time when people are in desperate need of serious political analysis. Fair play for getting away with it, I guess.
Reposted by Kat Brown
Mulligan has been drinking out of the people water all afternoon and we just found out
November 27, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Mulligan has been drinking out of the people water all afternoon and we just found out
We’re having a nice relaxing time on the sofa
November 27, 2025 at 8:10 PM
We’re having a nice relaxing time on the sofa
Reposted by Kat Brown
Glorified phone doodle (ie I drew it while I was on the phone)
November 27, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Glorified phone doodle (ie I drew it while I was on the phone)
I consulted my most amenable Brains Trust (the s18 Only Connect contestants WhatsApp group) to get their thoughts on Being Openly Clever www.independent.co.uk/voices/amol-...
Amol Rajan is certifiably clever. But does he need to let everybody know?
After the ‘Today’ host wowed the airwaves by interrupting his own interview with an impressively in-depth critique of poetry, despite having an Oxford don in his Radio 4 studio who was perfectly willi...
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I consulted my most amenable Brains Trust (the s18 Only Connect contestants WhatsApp group) to get their thoughts on Being Openly Clever www.independent.co.uk/voices/amol-...
Children's book fans: do you have any recommendations for girls who aren't confident readers? I would love something really lovely that will draw them in and not scare them off with anything hard so they can feel good AND have a story. One's 7, loves dressing up, films, ponies, dancing, and colour.
November 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Children's book fans: do you have any recommendations for girls who aren't confident readers? I would love something really lovely that will draw them in and not scare them off with anything hard so they can feel good AND have a story. One's 7, loves dressing up, films, ponies, dancing, and colour.
Ruth Codd was SO sharp and witty on Celebrity Traitors – I really hope we get to see more of her on telly in 2026 but crikey, this is a lot for anyone. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Celebrity Traitors star Ruth Codd recovering after second leg amputation
The actress is staying with family after an operation removed her leg below the knee, she said on TikTok.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Ruth Codd was SO sharp and witty on Celebrity Traitors – I really hope we get to see more of her on telly in 2026 but crikey, this is a lot for anyone. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Kat Brown
The Masquerade Hare could only be found by solving a set of devilishly devious clues.
Or by dating Kit Williams' ex, who in a moment of incredibly poor OPSEC had been with him when he buried it.
Guess which happened first?
Or by dating Kit Williams' ex, who in a moment of incredibly poor OPSEC had been with him when he buried it.
Guess which happened first?
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The Masquerade Hare could only be found by solving a set of devilishly devious clues.
Or by dating Kit Williams' ex, who in a moment of incredibly poor OPSEC had been with him when he buried it.
Guess which happened first?
Or by dating Kit Williams' ex, who in a moment of incredibly poor OPSEC had been with him when he buried it.
Guess which happened first?
Reposted by Kat Brown
‘The clip, which appeared on live television, shows the President of the United States snapping at a female reporter “Quiet, Piggy!”’
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 27, 2025 at 5:18 AM
‘The clip, which appeared on live television, shows the President of the United States snapping at a female reporter “Quiet, Piggy!”’
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
I am at a quiz with 400 journalists. Nobody has a pen. The room is panicking. Pens are being located. Alanis should have a bonus line about us but it’s journalists so nobody would care.
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I am at a quiz with 400 journalists. Nobody has a pen. The room is panicking. Pens are being located. Alanis should have a bonus line about us but it’s journalists so nobody would care.
Reposted by Kat Brown
It does seem to sometimes not occur to people that disabled people might want to not constantly remain in a state of being the most vulnerable they can possibly be, and that in a functioning society we should be enabling this!
November 26, 2025 at 1:26 PM
It does seem to sometimes not occur to people that disabled people might want to not constantly remain in a state of being the most vulnerable they can possibly be, and that in a functioning society we should be enabling this!
“We weren’t leaving a war zone,” said Rosenbaum, nearly a year later. “We had money, we had each other.” And yet, “it was so hard.”
This is just dreadful reading, and thank God that those who have been able to leave have found sanctuary. That there IS somewhere that still offers it.
This is just dreadful reading, and thank God that those who have been able to leave have found sanctuary. That there IS somewhere that still offers it.
For at least a year, I've been returning to the question, how would you know when it's time to leave the US? For this piece, I asked trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer Americans who, with their families and partners, have recently fled the country, about how they made this decision and how they left.
When Is It Time to Flee?
Trans people and their families are facing hard questions and choices as threats to their safety and rights proliferate.
newrepublic.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
“We weren’t leaving a war zone,” said Rosenbaum, nearly a year later. “We had money, we had each other.” And yet, “it was so hard.”
This is just dreadful reading, and thank God that those who have been able to leave have found sanctuary. That there IS somewhere that still offers it.
This is just dreadful reading, and thank God that those who have been able to leave have found sanctuary. That there IS somewhere that still offers it.
"People aren't complaining because she's female, but because she is utterly incompetent," Kemi Badenoch tells the Deputy Speaker and Chancellor, with a blithe lack of self-awareness.
November 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"People aren't complaining because she's female, but because she is utterly incompetent," Kemi Badenoch tells the Deputy Speaker and Chancellor, with a blithe lack of self-awareness.
Reposted by Kat Brown
The OBR says the rise in claims was linked to the cost of living crisis
The way disabled people have been vilified over PIP, as if they were trying to play the system, was disgusting & shameful
Hacks & commentators that engaged in the grotesque demonisation of disabled people should be ashamed.
The way disabled people have been vilified over PIP, as if they were trying to play the system, was disgusting & shameful
Hacks & commentators that engaged in the grotesque demonisation of disabled people should be ashamed.
November 26, 2025 at 1:05 PM
The OBR says the rise in claims was linked to the cost of living crisis
The way disabled people have been vilified over PIP, as if they were trying to play the system, was disgusting & shameful
Hacks & commentators that engaged in the grotesque demonisation of disabled people should be ashamed.
The way disabled people have been vilified over PIP, as if they were trying to play the system, was disgusting & shameful
Hacks & commentators that engaged in the grotesque demonisation of disabled people should be ashamed.
Reposted by Kat Brown
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
I'm rooting for "clangermare" or a "buggerupclangermare" for the OBR particularly
what is more shambolic word than "ommishambles" to describe a Budget, asking for a friend
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I'm rooting for "clangermare" or a "buggerupclangermare" for the OBR particularly
Reposted by Kat Brown
Excited to say that’s it my very first day as Head of Publishing Administration for the Office of Budget Responsibility. Exciting things to come!
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Excited to say that’s it my very first day as Head of Publishing Administration for the Office of Budget Responsibility. Exciting things to come!
Reposted by Kat Brown
on the other hand this is great news for people who are recording some topical comedy about the budget at half past one
November 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM
on the other hand this is great news for people who are recording some topical comedy about the budget at half past one
Reposted by Kat Brown
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”
November 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.”
Reposted by Kat Brown
This is what Peak Male Performance looks like.
November 26, 2025 at 7:59 AM
This is what Peak Male Performance looks like.
A romantic story for 08.59. I lost a gem out of my specs and had resigned myself to being gemless. My husband got home and opened a parcel. It turned out he had looked up what size it might be and bought a packet of gems to see if any fit. One did, and I am so happy - and he is a very good man.
November 26, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A romantic story for 08.59. I lost a gem out of my specs and had resigned myself to being gemless. My husband got home and opened a parcel. It turned out he had looked up what size it might be and bought a packet of gems to see if any fit. One did, and I am so happy - and he is a very good man.
Reposted by Kat Brown
Dear grad students,
Reminder: it’s also totally fine to ignore your [uncle] who thinks your research is a waste of time and resources. You don’t owe people an explanation! They don’t have to get it!
Or, as someone told me as a life-changing piece of advice: reasons are for reasonable people.
Reminder: it’s also totally fine to ignore your [uncle] who thinks your research is a waste of time and resources. You don’t owe people an explanation! They don’t have to get it!
Or, as someone told me as a life-changing piece of advice: reasons are for reasonable people.
Every year around Thanksgiving, I see tons of grad students post heartbreaking messages on social media about how their loved ones don’t understand or support their decision to study what seems like something pointless or silly.
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
Perhaps my American Scientist essay can help!
🧪🌎🦑 #SciComm
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Dear grad students,
Reminder: it’s also totally fine to ignore your [uncle] who thinks your research is a waste of time and resources. You don’t owe people an explanation! They don’t have to get it!
Or, as someone told me as a life-changing piece of advice: reasons are for reasonable people.
Reminder: it’s also totally fine to ignore your [uncle] who thinks your research is a waste of time and resources. You don’t owe people an explanation! They don’t have to get it!
Or, as someone told me as a life-changing piece of advice: reasons are for reasonable people.
Reposted by Kat Brown
Some more Stranger Things rewatch thoughts. Obviously the first season is one of the best things Netflix has done and a truly lovely bit of TV but I think the second season is hugely underrated in how it manages to make the multiple plotlines separate, but not in a contrived way.
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Some more Stranger Things rewatch thoughts. Obviously the first season is one of the best things Netflix has done and a truly lovely bit of TV but I think the second season is hugely underrated in how it manages to make the multiple plotlines separate, but not in a contrived way.
Reposted by Kat Brown
I made all the Spectator's podcasts for a couple of years (2016-2018) and in those two years we didn't once cover 'the trans debate'. Not once. I find that mind-blowing now.
The trans issue is particularly instructive because you can actually see how the spike in anti-trans newspaper articles significantly anticipated any shift in public polling. It very much started in the U.K. as an elite obsession.
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
I made all the Spectator's podcasts for a couple of years (2016-2018) and in those two years we didn't once cover 'the trans debate'. Not once. I find that mind-blowing now.