Patch Thompson
@patchthompson.bsky.social
🌹✊ 📸 | academic researcher | average photographer | all views my own etc.
Ten hours is a long time in politics, I guess?
January 18, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Ten hours is a long time in politics, I guess?
Reposted by Patch Thompson
Older generations spent a lot less time parenting. Millennial dads spend nearly as much time parenting as Boomer moms did. Millennial and Gen X moms way more.
via The Economist
via The Economist
January 15, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Older generations spent a lot less time parenting. Millennial dads spend nearly as much time parenting as Boomer moms did. Millennial and Gen X moms way more.
via The Economist
via The Economist
I thought Mormons believe that marriage needs to come before missionary?
The YouTube phenomenon known as MrBeast has partnered with the LDS Church on philanthropy, and church President Dallin Oaks says he hopes lower missionary ages will lead to lower marriage ages.
Latest from Mormon Land: YouTube’s MrBeast partners with LDS Church; spate of new new stakes created
The YouTube phenomenon known as MrBeast has partnered with the LDS Church on philanthropy, and church President Dallin Oaks says he hopes lower missionary ages will lead to lower marriage ages.
www.sltrib.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:48 PM
I thought Mormons believe that marriage needs to come before missionary?
Reposted by Patch Thompson
pretty sure he meant the other thing, grok, but very cool that those are your two things
January 16, 2026 at 4:55 PM
pretty sure he meant the other thing, grok, but very cool that those are your two things
Reposted by Patch Thompson
the entire population of England in 1086 will return in... Avengers Domesday
January 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
the entire population of England in 1086 will return in... Avengers Domesday
Yet again, being governed by people whose main goal is to get quoted by the lobby is not ideal.
Genuinely baffling. Focus is onTory-Reform fighting, giving Labour breathing space and opportunity to look like grown ups in the room - so some Labour cabinet members decide better strategy is to brief and mimic infighting - to what? Wrest the chaos narrative back? 🤦♂️
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Cabinet allies urge Keir Starmer to sack Wes Streeting for disloyalty
Ministers say the Labour leader should learn from Kemi Badenoch’s decisive action against Robert Jenrick and dismiss his outspoken health secretary
www.thetimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Yet again, being governed by people whose main goal is to get quoted by the lobby is not ideal.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
Toad sipped his tea. “Frog,” he asked, “are you making this up?”
“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog.
“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog.
January 12, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Toad sipped his tea. “Frog,” he asked, “are you making this up?”
“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog.
“Maybe yes and maybe no,” said Frog.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
US economic news: Resilient American economy adds 500k new healthcare workers and data centre security guards
UK economic news: Gilt markets on the brink as John Lewis CEO admits to opening phishing email
UK economic news: Gilt markets on the brink as John Lewis CEO admits to opening phishing email
January 15, 2026 at 9:09 AM
US economic news: Resilient American economy adds 500k new healthcare workers and data centre security guards
UK economic news: Gilt markets on the brink as John Lewis CEO admits to opening phishing email
UK economic news: Gilt markets on the brink as John Lewis CEO admits to opening phishing email
Reposted by Patch Thompson
every month features a headline saying "Boost/Blow to Rachel Reeves as GDP SURGES/COLLAPSES 0.1%" and then you read on and it's entirely dependent on whether Jaguar Land Rover have managed to turn on their computers
January 15, 2026 at 8:35 AM
every month features a headline saying "Boost/Blow to Rachel Reeves as GDP SURGES/COLLAPSES 0.1%" and then you read on and it's entirely dependent on whether Jaguar Land Rover have managed to turn on their computers
Fascinating framing from CNN here. Has he?
January 16, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Fascinating framing from CNN here. Has he?
Reposted by Patch Thompson
We have an ageing population, struggling public services, and climate change. People might want low taxes, no migrants and cheaper energy, but they also don't want to lie in a hospital corridor for hours or have their house flooded. You can win elections with magic thinking but can't govern with it.
January 16, 2026 at 8:06 AM
We have an ageing population, struggling public services, and climate change. People might want low taxes, no migrants and cheaper energy, but they also don't want to lie in a hospital corridor for hours or have their house flooded. You can win elections with magic thinking but can't govern with it.
'Raw politics is back' produced a feeling of primal loathing in me that I can only assume is some sort of deep evolutionary legacy. Like a caveman seeing death for the first time.
This intro to David Frost's Telegraph column sums up so much that is wrong with British politics.
January 16, 2026 at 9:12 AM
'Raw politics is back' produced a feeling of primal loathing in me that I can only assume is some sort of deep evolutionary legacy. Like a caveman seeing death for the first time.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
Reposted by Patch Thompson
In 2003, Wikipedia held a logo design contest. Here are four of the finalists:
January 15, 2026 at 8:40 PM
In 2003, Wikipedia held a logo design contest. Here are four of the finalists:
Reposted by Patch Thompson
An exquisite detail from my @theguardian.com news colleagues on why Robert Jenrick was late to meet Nigel Farage onstage today.
January 15, 2026 at 9:26 PM
An exquisite detail from my @theguardian.com news colleagues on why Robert Jenrick was late to meet Nigel Farage onstage today.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
This is truly awful prose
January 15, 2026 at 8:29 PM
This is truly awful prose
'If I close my eyes, he was saying the right things. He sounded positive, but when I opened my eyes and looked at his face, he looks kind of smug and smarmy'.
A fun opportunity to revisit the More in Common focus groups on the Tory leadership election
January 15, 2026 at 5:04 PM
'If I close my eyes, he was saying the right things. He sounded positive, but when I opened my eyes and looked at his face, he looks kind of smug and smarmy'.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Starmer keeps using this line, & it's bonkers.
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
Most importantly, it's untrue: the party that ended Free Movement, ran the "hostile environment" & made Suella Braverman Home Sec did not run "an experiment in open borders".
It's also politically mad. Voters who believe this will not vote for Starmer
!["And this is what Keir Starmer’s press secretary has said about Robert Jenrick at the lobby briefing this morning.
[Highlighted] Robert Jenrick was the immigration minister in a government that presided over an open borders experiment [Highlighted], a health minister who left people stuck on waiting lists, and a Treasury minister during the worst decline in living standards on record.”
While Reform continues to welcome failed Tory retreads, this Labor government is putting the country back on track."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cixgmtrg7nzy4gkmyfeosaox/bafkreibe3jczrmbmzfnhj2adl4qe432lbpmcbn6m6qrentwih7vxj4fu7y@jpeg)
January 15, 2026 at 2:29 PM
This "open borders" line is *infuriating* - these people came here to study or work, because they had a uni place or a job to come to. They paid visa fees, student fees, NHS surcharge - and many of them are doing challenging and important work - staffing our care homes, for example, including Mum's.
Nick Timothy as Shadow Justice Secretary?
January 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Nick Timothy as Shadow Justice Secretary?
Reposted by Patch Thompson
SCOOP: Internal ICE material and testimony from an official obtained by 404 Media provides the clearest link yet between the technological infrastructure Palantir is building for ICE and the agency’s activities on the ground.
Inside the app called ELITE—what ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid.
Inside the app called ELITE—what ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid.
‘ELITE’: The Palantir App ICE Uses to Find Neighborhoods to Raid
Internal ICE material and testimony from an official obtained by 404 Media provides the clearest link yet between the technological infrastructure Palantir is building for ICE and the agency’s activit...
www.404media.co
January 15, 2026 at 2:05 PM
SCOOP: Internal ICE material and testimony from an official obtained by 404 Media provides the clearest link yet between the technological infrastructure Palantir is building for ICE and the agency’s activities on the ground.
Inside the app called ELITE—what ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid.
Inside the app called ELITE—what ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid.
Not to let Starmer off the hook - because its ultimately his fault anyway - but it's pretty obvious by now that the Prime Minister's press team are basically winging it.
No 10 says Jenrick was an open borders pro-immigration minister while PM says he was toxic + divisive.
January 15, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Not to let Starmer off the hook - because its ultimately his fault anyway - but it's pretty obvious by now that the Prime Minister's press team are basically winging it.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
NASA say that the crew member who was ill and returned to earth is doing well and now having a meal with colleagues.
January 15, 2026 at 1:31 PM
NASA say that the crew member who was ill and returned to earth is doing well and now having a meal with colleagues.
Knew there was something melancholic in the air today...
After a clash of swords, Gandalf strikes the bridge, breaking his staff but shattering the stone beneath the Balrog’s feet. As the Balrog falls it catches Gandalf’s legs with its whip.
Gandalf offers the Company one final command—‘Fly, you fools!’—and falls into the darkness.
Gandalf offers the Company one final command—‘Fly, you fools!’—and falls into the darkness.
January 15, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Knew there was something melancholic in the air today...
Reposted by Patch Thompson
BBC report at a headline level that Grok will now not make sexually exploitative images any more. An actual reporter comes on and explains that it will do no such thing, and will just make the images invisible in the UK. These are two very, very different things.
January 15, 2026 at 6:44 AM
BBC report at a headline level that Grok will now not make sexually exploitative images any more. An actual reporter comes on and explains that it will do no such thing, and will just make the images invisible in the UK. These are two very, very different things.
Reposted by Patch Thompson
I'll say it again: watching Robert Jenrick do "cunning politics" is like watching a toddler hide behind a cushion.
"Where's Robert gone? THERE HE IS! Oh no! Where is he? THERE HE IS!"
"Where's Robert gone? THERE HE IS! Oh no! Where is he? THERE HE IS!"
January 15, 2026 at 12:18 PM
I'll say it again: watching Robert Jenrick do "cunning politics" is like watching a toddler hide behind a cushion.
"Where's Robert gone? THERE HE IS! Oh no! Where is he? THERE HE IS!"
"Where's Robert gone? THERE HE IS! Oh no! Where is he? THERE HE IS!"