musingsofmartin
@musingsofmartin.bsky.social
Twisted, but not bitter, governance professional, Spurs & Middlesex supporter. Europhile. Yearn for pluralism. #FBPE #FBPPR
Pinned
Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Stop Palantir taking over our public services!
Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir.
you.38degrees.org.uk
February 18, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Our public services aren’t for a secretive profit-hungry US tech firm. Sign the petition to tell the Government to scrap all contracts with secretive US tech firm Palantir. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/st...
Reposted by musingsofmartin
Not sure why Reform announcing they’ll scrap the Equality Act 2010 hasn’t provoked widespread alarm.
They want to torch our human rights framework AND repeal our right to protection from discrimination.
A smile and a shrug on BBC News.
What the hell?
FFS, media. Tell people what this really means.
They want to torch our human rights framework AND repeal our right to protection from discrimination.
A smile and a shrug on BBC News.
What the hell?
FFS, media. Tell people what this really means.
February 17, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Not sure why Reform announcing they’ll scrap the Equality Act 2010 hasn’t provoked widespread alarm.
They want to torch our human rights framework AND repeal our right to protection from discrimination.
A smile and a shrug on BBC News.
What the hell?
FFS, media. Tell people what this really means.
They want to torch our human rights framework AND repeal our right to protection from discrimination.
A smile and a shrug on BBC News.
What the hell?
FFS, media. Tell people what this really means.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:31 PM
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by musingsofmartin
“The more Trump dominates the global agenda, the better Europe looks and the harder it becomes for Farage to argue that his brand of politics would make Britain safer, richer or more secure”
Well yes. The longest - FFS, wake up! - call to British voters ever…
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/08/2...
Well yes. The longest - FFS, wake up! - call to British voters ever…
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/08/2...
February 9, 2026 at 7:19 AM
“The more Trump dominates the global agenda, the better Europe looks and the harder it becomes for Farage to argue that his brand of politics would make Britain safer, richer or more secure”
Well yes. The longest - FFS, wake up! - call to British voters ever…
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/08/2...
Well yes. The longest - FFS, wake up! - call to British voters ever…
app.independent.co.uk/2026/02/08/2...
Reposted by musingsofmartin
Amazon dropped $75M on the Melania doc — with a big chunk going into the Trumps' pockets.
Since then, Amazon Web Services got a $580M Pentagon contract.
And this week, Pete Hegseth visited Blue Origin facilities as the DoD overhauls how it hands out defense contracts.
Always follow the money.
Since then, Amazon Web Services got a $580M Pentagon contract.
And this week, Pete Hegseth visited Blue Origin facilities as the DoD overhauls how it hands out defense contracts.
Always follow the money.
February 5, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Amazon dropped $75M on the Melania doc — with a big chunk going into the Trumps' pockets.
Since then, Amazon Web Services got a $580M Pentagon contract.
And this week, Pete Hegseth visited Blue Origin facilities as the DoD overhauls how it hands out defense contracts.
Always follow the money.
Since then, Amazon Web Services got a $580M Pentagon contract.
And this week, Pete Hegseth visited Blue Origin facilities as the DoD overhauls how it hands out defense contracts.
Always follow the money.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
Shell increases debt pile to $45.7bn to continue bumper shareholder payouts.
4% increase in dividends, $3.5bn share buybacks – 17th consecutive quarter of at least $3bn of buybacks.
Customers will pay.
CEOs appease shareholders who always want more. No govt curbs their power.
4% increase in dividends, $3.5bn share buybacks – 17th consecutive quarter of at least $3bn of buybacks.
Customers will pay.
CEOs appease shareholders who always want more. No govt curbs their power.
Shell increases multibillion-pound debt pile as it hands investors record payouts
Company’s total debt rose to $45.7bn as adjusted earnings for 2025 fell 22% to $18.5bn owing to weaker oil prices
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 8:34 AM
Shell increases debt pile to $45.7bn to continue bumper shareholder payouts.
4% increase in dividends, $3.5bn share buybacks – 17th consecutive quarter of at least $3bn of buybacks.
Customers will pay.
CEOs appease shareholders who always want more. No govt curbs their power.
4% increase in dividends, $3.5bn share buybacks – 17th consecutive quarter of at least $3bn of buybacks.
Customers will pay.
CEOs appease shareholders who always want more. No govt curbs their power.
www.instagram.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Reposted by musingsofmartin
Leading American companies — including Palantir, Deloitte, and private prison giant GEO Group — raked in over $22B from ICE and CBP contracts last year.
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
January 30, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Leading American companies — including Palantir, Deloitte, and private prison giant GEO Group — raked in over $22B from ICE and CBP contracts last year.
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
Do not forget who is profiting from cruelty and human suffering.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
A group of border officials accused of stealing from people arriving in the UK on small boats have appeared in court.
An anti-corruption probe led to six workers based in Dover and Manston being charged with money laundering, alleged to have happened between August 2021 & November 2022
#KentOnline
An anti-corruption probe led to six workers based in Dover and Manston being charged with money laundering, alleged to have happened between August 2021 & November 2022
#KentOnline
Border staff in court accused of ‘stealing from small boats migrants’
A group of border officials accused of stealing from people arriving in the UK on small boats have appeared in court.
share.google
January 30, 2026 at 1:07 PM
A group of border officials accused of stealing from people arriving in the UK on small boats have appeared in court.
An anti-corruption probe led to six workers based in Dover and Manston being charged with money laundering, alleged to have happened between August 2021 & November 2022
#KentOnline
An anti-corruption probe led to six workers based in Dover and Manston being charged with money laundering, alleged to have happened between August 2021 & November 2022
#KentOnline
BBC News - Indonesian couple caned 140 times for sex and alcohol offences
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Despicable
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Despicable
Indonesia: Couple caned 140 times each for sex and alcohol offences
Caning is a common but controversial punishment for violating Islamic law in Aceh province.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 12:06 PM
BBC News - Indonesian couple caned 140 times for sex and alcohol offences
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Despicable
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Despicable
Reposted by musingsofmartin
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 PM
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social what a continuing insult to have the ex US ambassador to Denmark on the programme spouting patronising bollocks in defence of the most odious POTUS. Balance my arse.
January 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM
@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social what a continuing insult to have the ex US ambassador to Denmark on the programme spouting patronising bollocks in defence of the most odious POTUS. Balance my arse.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
"A protester detained, her bra removed and wedding ring cut off, and some of her clothes never returned..."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
In Minneapolis, a Pattern of Misconduct Toward Protesters
www.nytimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:29 AM
"A protester detained, her bra removed and wedding ring cut off, and some of her clothes never returned..."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/u...
Reposted by musingsofmartin
this is what it has come to for Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities
January 19, 2026 at 2:12 AM
this is what it has come to for Mexican restaurants in the Twin Cities
Reposted by musingsofmartin
Pew Research Institute (2023):
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
January 18, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Pew Research Institute (2023):
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
• Red State Texas has about 2.1 million undocumented immigrants
• Red State Florida has 1.6 M undocumented immigrants
• Blue State Minnesota has 130,000.
And yet only Minnesota is being occupied by masked thugs over "immigration."
It's *not* about immigration.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
HMRC taking more than a year to pay tax rebates.
It is one-way traffic. People fined for late filing of tax returns and payments. Hard to get through on phone. Letters not answered. Poor public accountability.
Sweetheart deals with corporations/rich that parliament can't scrutinize.
It is one-way traffic. People fined for late filing of tax returns and payments. Hard to get through on phone. Letters not answered. Poor public accountability.
Sweetheart deals with corporations/rich that parliament can't scrutinize.
HMRC taking more than a year to pay out tax rebates
Taxpayers talk of having to borrow cash and wait for months amid ‘significant backlogs’ in processing of claims
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:42 AM
HMRC taking more than a year to pay tax rebates.
It is one-way traffic. People fined for late filing of tax returns and payments. Hard to get through on phone. Letters not answered. Poor public accountability.
Sweetheart deals with corporations/rich that parliament can't scrutinize.
It is one-way traffic. People fined for late filing of tax returns and payments. Hard to get through on phone. Letters not answered. Poor public accountability.
Sweetheart deals with corporations/rich that parliament can't scrutinize.
BBC News - Andrew Rosindell quits Tories and defects to Reform UK
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... well blow me down with a feather!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... well blow me down with a feather!
Andrew Rosindell quits Tories and defects to Reform UK
His defection comes days after former shadow justice minister Robert Jenrick joined Reform.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 10:59 PM
BBC News - Andrew Rosindell quits Tories and defects to Reform UK
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... well blow me down with a feather!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... well blow me down with a feather!
Reposted by musingsofmartin
2024: can Europe defend itself ALONGSIDE America?
2025: can Europe defend itself WITHOUT America?
2026: can Europe defend itself AGAINST America?
2025: can Europe defend itself WITHOUT America?
2026: can Europe defend itself AGAINST America?
January 18, 2026 at 10:12 AM
2024: can Europe defend itself ALONGSIDE America?
2025: can Europe defend itself WITHOUT America?
2026: can Europe defend itself AGAINST America?
2025: can Europe defend itself WITHOUT America?
2026: can Europe defend itself AGAINST America?
Reposted by musingsofmartin
There's no limit to the Trump administration's dangerous criminal behavior. They do not care about the American people they are supposed to be working for and protecting. They attack people for no reason other than the color of their skin.
#TrumpRacism #LockHimUP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJb...
#TrumpRacism #LockHimUP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJb...
Video captures moment federal agents threw irritants into car with baby inside
YouTube video by CBS Chicago
www.youtube.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:02 AM
There's no limit to the Trump administration's dangerous criminal behavior. They do not care about the American people they are supposed to be working for and protecting. They attack people for no reason other than the color of their skin.
#TrumpRacism #LockHimUP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJb...
#TrumpRacism #LockHimUP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjJb...
Reposted by musingsofmartin
I don’t think people quite understand that the occupation by ICE in the Twin Cities has more or less erased non-white people from public life. They cannot safely exist in any space accessible to the public and moving between private places leaves folks vulnerable to kidnapping by armed masked goons.
January 16, 2026 at 10:15 PM
I don’t think people quite understand that the occupation by ICE in the Twin Cities has more or less erased non-white people from public life. They cannot safely exist in any space accessible to the public and moving between private places leaves folks vulnerable to kidnapping by armed masked goons.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
#Trumpregime
The Western World is looking at the USA thinking it's time to exact regime change.
The Western World is looking at the USA thinking it's time to exact regime change.
January 12, 2026 at 1:43 PM
#Trumpregime
The Western World is looking at the USA thinking it's time to exact regime change.
The Western World is looking at the USA thinking it's time to exact regime change.
Reposted by musingsofmartin
Fascism is here. What can we do? What will you do?
@cindyannpedersen.com
@vintageknits.bsky.social
@bluestormcomin1.bsky.social
@sillymickel.bsky.social
@mollyploofkins.bsky.social
@mexamfam.bsky.social
@notamaggot.bsky.social
@trumpaintmyleader.bsky.social
youtu.be/IPZ4OxVO7VE?...
@cindyannpedersen.com
@vintageknits.bsky.social
@bluestormcomin1.bsky.social
@sillymickel.bsky.social
@mollyploofkins.bsky.social
@mexamfam.bsky.social
@notamaggot.bsky.social
@trumpaintmyleader.bsky.social
youtu.be/IPZ4OxVO7VE?...
ICE Is Fascism. Stay Safe. Are you afraid? I am.
YouTube video by The Jan Files
youtu.be
January 10, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Fascism is here. What can we do? What will you do?
@cindyannpedersen.com
@vintageknits.bsky.social
@bluestormcomin1.bsky.social
@sillymickel.bsky.social
@mollyploofkins.bsky.social
@mexamfam.bsky.social
@notamaggot.bsky.social
@trumpaintmyleader.bsky.social
youtu.be/IPZ4OxVO7VE?...
@cindyannpedersen.com
@vintageknits.bsky.social
@bluestormcomin1.bsky.social
@sillymickel.bsky.social
@mollyploofkins.bsky.social
@mexamfam.bsky.social
@notamaggot.bsky.social
@trumpaintmyleader.bsky.social
youtu.be/IPZ4OxVO7VE?...