Matt "Winter is here"
@mattrobb.bsky.social
Politics, Education, Strategy, LFC and FF
No conspiracists, anti-vax, QAnon etc please.
No conspiracists, anti-vax, QAnon etc please.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
This would be a clear war crime even against combatants in a declared war. Even at the platoon level, something even Hegseth could understand.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:28 PM
This would be a clear war crime even against combatants in a declared war. Even at the platoon level, something even Hegseth could understand.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Populist Right: 'We're not racist, we just want immigrants to integrate & contribute.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
November 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Populist Right: 'We're not racist, we just want immigrants to integrate & contribute.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
Immigrant gains BA, MA, works for charities, marries a 'Brit', becomes Brexit-supporting, lockdown-sceptic Tory MP, then Deputy Speaker of HoC.
Populist Right: 'People born abroad shouldn't be allowed to do this.'
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Another outcome for which the Kremlin worked, lest we forget. Described in "Road to Unfreedom."
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Another outcome for which the Kremlin worked, lest we forget. Described in "Road to Unfreedom."
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
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?
Another set of replies essentially saying about an 88-year old woman, "fuck you, you're rich"
The mansion tax really did bring out the very worst in some people
The mansion tax really did bring out the very worst in some people
November 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Another set of replies essentially saying about an 88-year old woman, "fuck you, you're rich"
The mansion tax really did bring out the very worst in some people
The mansion tax really did bring out the very worst in some people
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
This paragraph is both a glorious piece of journalism and a frustrating summary of the grifters who hoodwink the masses.
November 28, 2025 at 10:50 AM
This paragraph is both a glorious piece of journalism and a frustrating summary of the grifters who hoodwink the masses.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
🔴Alf Dubs Accuses Shabana Mahmood of ‘Letting the Country Down’ With Plans to Outdo Reform on Asylum
The veteran Labour peer and campaigner for child refugees tells Byline Times the Home Secretary’s plans are “bitterly disappointing coming from a Labour Government”
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/28/a...
The veteran Labour peer and campaigner for child refugees tells Byline Times the Home Secretary’s plans are “bitterly disappointing coming from a Labour Government”
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/28/a...
Alf Dubs Accuses Shabana Mahmood of 'Letting the Country Down' With Plans to Outdo Reform on Asylum
The veteran Labour peer and lifelong campaigner for child refugees, Alf Dubs, tells Byline Times that the Home Secretary's plans are "bitterly disappointing coming from a Labour Government"
bylinetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
🔴Alf Dubs Accuses Shabana Mahmood of ‘Letting the Country Down’ With Plans to Outdo Reform on Asylum
The veteran Labour peer and campaigner for child refugees tells Byline Times the Home Secretary’s plans are “bitterly disappointing coming from a Labour Government”
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/28/a...
The veteran Labour peer and campaigner for child refugees tells Byline Times the Home Secretary’s plans are “bitterly disappointing coming from a Labour Government”
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/28/a...
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
In other shocking news, adjascent apples in same barrel also appear brownish.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
PS I know it shouldn't surprise me, but OF COURSE he lives in France.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
PS I know it shouldn't surprise me, but OF COURSE he lives in France.
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 9:46 AM
In other shocking news, adjascent apples in same barrel also appear brownish.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
PS I know it shouldn't surprise me, but OF COURSE he lives in France.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
PS I know it shouldn't surprise me, but OF COURSE he lives in France.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
The U.S. military strikes on Caribbean “drug boats” under the Trump regime amount to extrajudicial killings with no public evidence — no due process, no verified proof these people were trafficking drugs, just bombs and bodies. At least 80+ dead so far.
November 28, 2025 at 4:53 AM
The U.S. military strikes on Caribbean “drug boats” under the Trump regime amount to extrajudicial killings with no public evidence — no due process, no verified proof these people were trafficking drugs, just bombs and bodies. At least 80+ dead so far.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
One of the world’s greatest news organisations has been brought to the brink of meltdown by… what, exactly? Three hours of MPs questions revealed nothing to write home about, writes @arusbridger.bsky.social.
A firestorm has ripped through the BBC—but no one will say why
Called before MPs, none of the characters who supposedly see so much wrong with the corporation would make a case for institutional bias
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
One of the world’s greatest news organisations has been brought to the brink of meltdown by… what, exactly? Three hours of MPs questions revealed nothing to write home about, writes @arusbridger.bsky.social.
Interesting thread
Lots of people clearly just don't care about people who are wealthier than them
Which is fine, but it does beg the question: why should wealthier people care about you?
Lots of people clearly just don't care about people who are wealthier than them
Which is fine, but it does beg the question: why should wealthier people care about you?
the next couple of days are going to see a hell of a lot of "the rich declare themselves poor"
November 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Interesting thread
Lots of people clearly just don't care about people who are wealthier than them
Which is fine, but it does beg the question: why should wealthier people care about you?
Lots of people clearly just don't care about people who are wealthier than them
Which is fine, but it does beg the question: why should wealthier people care about you?
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Reform cabinet backs £10mn cuts to start filling Durham’s growing black hole
Reform is now learning that running a big council is not as easy as it probably thought
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The black hole in Durham County Council’s budget has grown by £11.1mn in the past two months under the control of Reform UK.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Its cabinet has been forced to approve a £10mn list of cuts.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
November 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Distributional analysis published alongside the Budget shows that the poorest will benefit most from the measures - particularly due to welfare and public service improvements.
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Source: www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Cost of extending the fuel duty cut plus cancelled uprating next year: £2.4 billion.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
November 26, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Cost of extending the fuel duty cut plus cancelled uprating next year: £2.4 billion.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Cost of freezing rail fares next year: £145 million.
Sixteen times more expensive to maintain the fuel duty cut/freeze than to freeze rail fares
Imagine how much fares could be *cut* by ending car fuel subsidies.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
New: @theins.press saw the Witkoff-Dmitriev plan six months ago in draft form—except it was all Dmitriev. Bloomberg reports now Dmitriev told Ushakov he’d pass along a Russian plan and the Americans “can present it as their own”: theins.press/en/politics/...
Made in Moscow: The “U.S. peace plan” for Ukraine was substantially formulated months ago by Kremlin operative Kirill Dmitriev
Since it was first published on Nov. 20, the much-discussed 28-point plan for ending the war in Ukraine has borne all the signs of a Kremlin information operation. In fact, many of its most controvers...
theins.press
November 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
New: @theins.press saw the Witkoff-Dmitriev plan six months ago in draft form—except it was all Dmitriev. Bloomberg reports now Dmitriev told Ushakov he’d pass along a Russian plan and the Americans “can present it as their own”: theins.press/en/politics/...
Central point
The FT has hit on the biggest point in the OBR forecast.
NGDP is higher. That is the key to the finances being stable. www.ft.com/content/d0a5...
NGDP is higher. That is the key to the finances being stable. www.ft.com/content/d0a5...
November 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Central point
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
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 12:57 PM
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
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
There's an interesting political economy angle to the fact that, with basically every single tax parameter frozen in cash terms (and personal tax thresholds now frozen to 2031), inflation is extremely beneficial for the public finances.
Rachel Reeves can count herself (at least a bit) lucky. OBR productivity downgrade would have knocked £16 billion off tax receipts. But she was saved by £32 billion of *extra* receipts from higher inflation and a shift to more tax-rich growth (lower profits, higher wages).
November 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
There's an interesting political economy angle to the fact that, with basically every single tax parameter frozen in cash terms (and personal tax thresholds now frozen to 2031), inflation is extremely beneficial for the public finances.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
you don't have to squint very hard to see the effect of that Truss interlude on this country. If she was responsible for half of that gap with the G7 average, that turns into tens of billions of debt interest. It could be ... 0.8% of GDP less? £24bn less?
November 26, 2025 at 1:35 PM
you don't have to squint very hard to see the effect of that Truss interlude on this country. If she was responsible for half of that gap with the G7 average, that turns into tens of billions of debt interest. It could be ... 0.8% of GDP less? £24bn less?
Useful summary
Is runaway welfare spending to blame for the Chancellor's fiscal challenges?
Hear from @alexclegg.bsky.social on why any claims that the Chancellor could avoid raising in the Budget could by cutting welfare should be scrutinised.
Hear from @alexclegg.bsky.social on why any claims that the Chancellor could avoid raising in the Budget could by cutting welfare should be scrutinised.
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Useful summary
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
The BBC is reporting details from Shumeet Banerji's resignation letter from the BBC Board.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
November 25, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The BBC is reporting details from Shumeet Banerji's resignation letter from the BBC Board.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
Pretty obvious implication is that Samir Shah has been running the board incompetently, and not defending executives against Robbie Gibb and chums.
Reposted by Matt "Winter is here"
Bruun Larsen isn't a sure starter for a relegation candidate, whilst Mitoma likely played through injury. Falling below -1.5 standard deviations should always raise concerns. Without making judgments on why this is, I think it's safe to say there are unique circumstances behind this.
Follow up from last month. This time with a more narrow focus on wide attackers for a more fair positional comparison. Salah is a great player but it's not quite working right now. Unusual territory.
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Bruun Larsen isn't a sure starter for a relegation candidate, whilst Mitoma likely played through injury. Falling below -1.5 standard deviations should always raise concerns. Without making judgments on why this is, I think it's safe to say there are unique circumstances behind this.
Well worth reading
tl;dr Whilst LLMs are useful, deployed well, they are nothing like 'general intelligence'.
tl;dr Whilst LLMs are useful, deployed well, they are nothing like 'general intelligence'.
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 26, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Well worth reading
tl;dr Whilst LLMs are useful, deployed well, they are nothing like 'general intelligence'.
tl;dr Whilst LLMs are useful, deployed well, they are nothing like 'general intelligence'.