Alex Andreou
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sturdyalex.bsky.social
Alex Andreou
@sturdyalex.bsky.social
I write, act, sing, broadcast and cook. Occasionally, even for money. One third of the @quietriotpod.bsky.social with @pimlicat.bsky.social and @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social

Support me on https://ko-fi.com/quietriotpod
Pinned
What was meant to be a short, fun, bonus little episode, ended up - yes, short and fun - but also one of the most interesting topics, deepest dives, and interconnected mazes I have navigated.

One of my favourite episodes so far, I think.
BRAND NEW 🍏 How Do You Like Them Apples? 🍎

From the Garden of Hesperides to the Garden of Eden, from the Atalanta and the Trojan War to The Beatles and the iPhone, apples are laden with often conflicting symbolism.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/70jw...

🎧 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
BONUS - How Do You Like Them Golden Apples?
open.spotify.com
If you are curious and want to watch The Liz Truss Show without boosting her figures or giving her ad revenue you can do so here. Share freely. yewtu.be/watch?v=PpH8...
December 6, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
The Liz Truss Show review – hapless ravings from a cupboard
The Liz Truss Show review – hapless ravings from a cupboard
Britain’s briefest PM kept her fans waiting before launching her latest plea for Maga attention in the form of a ham-fisted YouTube talk show
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Team Newsom social media game remains sharp
December 4, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
🔴 Nigel Farage’s Reform is more reliant on super-rich backers than any major party in modern British political history

75% of *all* Reform donations *ever* have come from just three rich men

Is this what democracy looks like?

New on Democracy for Sale
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/75-of-refo...
75% of Reform UK’s donations have come from just three rich men
Calls grow for donation caps as Democracy for Sale research reveals that three-quarters of Reform’s funding comes from a trio of wealthy donors
democracyforsale.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Hi @sturdyalex.bsky.social I just listened to the latest (excellent) Quiet Riot podcast and heard you pleading with the government to put down the Ming Vase. I wondered if you had seen this (also excellent) blog post?

@warringfictions.bsky.social
@quietriotpod.bsky.social

bsky.app/profile/warr...
1/ I have written a paper/ 4-part blog series called ‘Putting Down the Vase’. It is about populism, trust, and how Labour can stop Reform. The central argument is that, in a climate of low trust, risk-aversion at the centre must be overcome.

The full paper can be read here: shorturl.at/jJ8nu
December 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Bit pro quo?

"On 12 Nov, #Farage wrote an article ... declaring that 'Reform’s Britain will lead the digital money revolution'"

"Reform would, Farage promised, 'slash capital gains tax on cryptoassets ... from 24% to 10%' and 'create a Bitcoin digital reserve'"

hopenothate.org.uk/2025/11/19/r...
Reform UK receives millions from crypto investors - then champions crypto – HOPE not hate
Reform UK, which has received funding from crypto investors Christopher Harborne and Simon William Smith, has been singing crypto’s praises. Imitating Donald Trump’s MAGA playbook,...
hopenothate.org.uk
December 5, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
EXACTLY as predicted by @pimlicat.bsky.social and @samfr.bsky.social yesterday.

ARE WE GOOD OR ARE WE GOOD? A x
December 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
😮
It even has its own page on German Wikipedia, which contains this amazing picture.
December 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Occasionally, I read something and fall deeply in love, all over again, with the German language.

Today's unbearably cute discovery is the colloquialism for toddler: "dreikäsehoch". Literally, "three-cheeses tall".
December 4, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Next. Level.
Holy shit.

Reuters reporting that new admin instructions on visas are if you worked at a platform in trust & safety or content moderation or on fact checking or online safety at an platform you *and your loved ones* are ineligible for H-1B visa.

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Perhaps my bitchiest moment on any podcast ever.

Naomi: "The OBR are looking for a new director after Richard Hughes fell on his sword."

Me: "Deliberately or did he just stumble?"
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
What's past is prologue
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
First time I've been on a podcast and not felt like the biggest nerd.
Always fab having Sam on the show.

We catch you up on everything eu uk related, plus the lessons from GE24 for left and right, and Alex reveals just how much of a board games nerd he was as a young thing.

🎧👇
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
December 4, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Nigel Farage used an LBC appearance in September to accuse the Bank of England of being “dinosaurs” for seeking to place restrictions on the use of Stablecoins by crypto firms like Tether.

He did not declare that Reform had just received a £9 million donation from one of its biggest investors
Crypto Investor Donates £9 Million to Reform UK After Nigel Farage Plugs His Company and Tells Industry 'I Am Your Champion'
The Reform leader recently used media interviews to back Christopher Harborne's company while promising to cut taxes and regulations on crypto firms
bylinetimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Because, you see, buying influence is only a worry if a Labour peer donates a couple of "freebie" outfits to close friends. When a man, whose business is literally DARK MONEY, single-handedly rescues a near-bankrupt far-right party, leading in the polls, he's doing it because he believes in Nige.
December 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Last year Sky News was rending its garments over Starmer's free eyeglasses: WHAT INFLUENCE DID LORD ALLI BUY?

Now, RefUK get £9m from a crypto bro, they have not one word about the donor's interests; just BRAVO NIGEL, barely concealed glee, and "what a huge boost... money goes where momentum is". 🤡
December 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
🔴 NEW - Farage rescued (for now) by mega donor

Reform is in a worse financial position than it appears...
Farage rescued (for now) by mega donor
Reform lands £9 million from one man...
writesbright.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
“I thought Gullis had already moved over to Reform. It's a bit like when somebody tells you a celebrity has died, that you assumed had died 10 years ago. You're like: God, they were still alive, were they?” @pimlicat.bsky.social
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
What's past is prologue
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM
“We've spent months pointing out the absence of Brexit from Starmer's rhetoric. If that was important, then the re-emergence of it in his rhetoric must also be important.”
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
What's past is prologue
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Labour bearing down on immigration will fix this any day now.
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Always fab having Sam on the show.

We catch you up on everything eu uk related, plus the lessons from GE24 for left and right, and Alex reveals just how much of a board games nerd he was as a young thing.

🎧👇
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
What's past is prologue
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Quiet Riot always helps me walk up the Thursday hill and is
far more banjo than banjaxed.

Really good to hear substack aristocracy @samfr.bsky.social drop by the show!

Take it from me. Sam may miss those Nativitys when it gets to Drama A Level showcase time and your 11 soliloquies in!
December 4, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
Excellent episode, bringing together my favourite podcasters and substacker. Funny and insightful as always. Now, if only we could wean the Telegraph and Daily Mail readers off their regular daily dose of misinformed rage and prescribe them some of this instead.
December 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
What's past is prologue
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:37 AM
The One Where Alex Loses It Over Dungeons & Dragons
🆕 What's past is prologue 🆕

🇪🇺 Brexit's back alright
🗳️ lessons from 2024 GE
📰 media's Reeves derangement
🧌 Dungeons & Dragons

@pimlicat.bsky.social, @sturdyalex.bsky.social & guest @samfr.bsky.social put the world to rights.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/11Nv...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
What's past is prologue
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 04/12/2025 · 1h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Reposted by Alex Andreou
This is how Chris Mason, like a child filled with wonder, described "the choreography and theatre that surrounds a Budget" in Feb 2024, when a male Tory Chancellor was in post.

"Plans, or even just options, can be floated... Reaction to them can be tested. Opponents can be teased or wrongfooted." 👀
December 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM