Mark Bale
@balemj.bsky.social
Interested in technology, genomics, bioethics and history. Former UK civil servant. Passionate Europhile
Reposted by Mark Bale
Incredible update: "This article was updated to note that CNN reports there were at least four party balloons shot down by DOD, not just one."
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
Mexican Cartel 'Drones' Near El Paso Airspace Were Actually Party Balloons: Report
FAA initially ordered the closure of airspace over El Paso for 10 days before backtracking.
gizmodo.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Incredible update: "This article was updated to note that CNN reports there were at least four party balloons shot down by DOD, not just one."
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
gizmodo.com/one-mexican-...
Reposted by Mark Bale
Seems the Pentagon is testing anti-drone high-energy lasers near Fort Bliss in El Paso, and didn't feel this was dangerous enough to close airspace over.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say
Pentagon officials had undertaken planning to use military technology near Fort Bliss, in El Paso, to practice downing drones.
www.cbsnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Seems the Pentagon is testing anti-drone high-energy lasers near Fort Bliss in El Paso, and didn't feel this was dangerous enough to close airspace over.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
The FAA administrator disagreed.
Last week, these lasers successfully protected the American people from a sinister children's party balloon.
Reposted by Mark Bale
It seems like we have the dumbest trolls in government, but it's way worse than that.
These men are evil.
Every single one of them knows they're lying about climate change. They know that actual science shows it's real, it's us, it's dangerous, but we can fix it—yet they truly do not give a fuck.
These men are evil.
Every single one of them knows they're lying about climate change. They know that actual science shows it's real, it's us, it's dangerous, but we can fix it—yet they truly do not give a fuck.
Burgum: "CO2 was never a pollutant. When we breathe, we emit CO2. Plants need CO2 to survive and grow. They thrive with more CO2. So the whole endangerment thing opens up an opportunity for the revival of clean, beautiful, American coal."
February 11, 2026 at 6:23 PM
It seems like we have the dumbest trolls in government, but it's way worse than that.
These men are evil.
Every single one of them knows they're lying about climate change. They know that actual science shows it's real, it's us, it's dangerous, but we can fix it—yet they truly do not give a fuck.
These men are evil.
Every single one of them knows they're lying about climate change. They know that actual science shows it's real, it's us, it's dangerous, but we can fix it—yet they truly do not give a fuck.
Reposted by Mark Bale
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
February 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
Reposted by Mark Bale
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
February 11, 2026 at 3:43 AM
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
Reposted by Mark Bale
This article is from 2023. In 2025, a Georgia hospital did it.
Adriana Smith. Say her name.
ER staff misdiagnosed a clot in her brain.
She was 9 weeks pregnant & brain dead. They kept her alive as an incubator without consent of the family.
They experimented on a Black woman.
Adriana Smith. Say her name.
ER staff misdiagnosed a clot in her brain.
She was 9 weeks pregnant & brain dead. They kept her alive as an incubator without consent of the family.
They experimented on a Black woman.
February 10, 2026 at 9:29 AM
This article is from 2023. In 2025, a Georgia hospital did it.
Adriana Smith. Say her name.
ER staff misdiagnosed a clot in her brain.
She was 9 weeks pregnant & brain dead. They kept her alive as an incubator without consent of the family.
They experimented on a Black woman.
Adriana Smith. Say her name.
ER staff misdiagnosed a clot in her brain.
She was 9 weeks pregnant & brain dead. They kept her alive as an incubator without consent of the family.
They experimented on a Black woman.
Reposted by Mark Bale
NEW
Three reasons why the Mandelson disclosure exercise will be a shock for the government
Ministers and officials usually are in control of disclosure exercises - but here they will not be - and why that matters
A detailed post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/three-reas...
Three reasons why the Mandelson disclosure exercise will be a shock for the government
Ministers and officials usually are in control of disclosure exercises - but here they will not be - and why that matters
A detailed post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/three-reas...
February 10, 2026 at 10:56 AM
NEW
Three reasons why the Mandelson disclosure exercise will be a shock for the government
Ministers and officials usually are in control of disclosure exercises - but here they will not be - and why that matters
A detailed post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/three-reas...
Three reasons why the Mandelson disclosure exercise will be a shock for the government
Ministers and officials usually are in control of disclosure exercises - but here they will not be - and why that matters
A detailed post by me:
emptycity.substack.com/p/three-reas...
Reposted by Mark Bale
Happy 13th anniversary to this pair of matching news headlines.
February 10, 2026 at 7:26 AM
Happy 13th anniversary to this pair of matching news headlines.
Reposted by Mark Bale
EXCL: Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shakeup of Keir Starmer’s operation after dramatic day - @kiranstacey.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Top civil servant could become third key No 10 departure in days
Exclusive: Cabinet secretary Chris Wormald is expected to follow Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan out the door
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:42 PM
EXCL: Chris Wormald, the most senior civil servant in Downing Street, is negotiating his exit as part of a wider shakeup of Keir Starmer’s operation after dramatic day - @kiranstacey.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Mark Bale
DWP permanent secretary to step down after carer’s allowance scandal
DWP permanent secretary to step down after carer’s allowance scandal
Peter Schofield tells staff he will leave the department for personal reasons
The government’s top welfare official is to step down after his department’s handling of a longstanding benefits failure that plunged thousands into debt and became known as the carer’s allowance scandal.
Sir Peter Schofield, the permanent secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, announced to staff on Monday that he is to step down in July for personal reasons. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:28 PM
DWP permanent secretary to step down after carer’s allowance scandal
Reposted by Mark Bale
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
February 8, 2026 at 10:23 PM
I'm convinced AI is our generation's radium - a discovery with genuinely useful applications in specific, controlled circumstances that we stupidly put in everything from kid's toys to toothpaste until we realised the harm far too late where future generations will ask if we were out of our minds.
Reposted by Mark Bale
THIS 👇 IS TRUE.......
February 7, 2026 at 10:05 AM
THIS 👇 IS TRUE.......
Reposted by Mark Bale
The problem with so many of our top politicians - from Johnson, Mandelson, Farage - is that they all want to join the oligarch class. Whatever you think of Gordon Brown he is financially unbiddable www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We owe it to Epstein’s victims and to British democracy to demand historic change | Gordon Brown
The abuse of women by figures such as Epstein, and of political power by the likes of Mandelson, must be confronted. As far as I am able, I will play my part, says former UK prime minister Gordon Brow...
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:25 PM
The problem with so many of our top politicians - from Johnson, Mandelson, Farage - is that they all want to join the oligarch class. Whatever you think of Gordon Brown he is financially unbiddable www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Mark Bale
There are no gorillas in the Lion King
Reporter: The WH says a staffer sent that video. Are you going to fire the staffer?
Trump: No. I looked at it. I didn’t see the whole thing. I gave it to the people, they posted it.
Reporter: Are you going to apologize?
Trump: No, I didn’t make a mistake. It was a take off The Lion King.
Trump: No. I looked at it. I didn’t see the whole thing. I gave it to the people, they posted it.
Reporter: Are you going to apologize?
Trump: No, I didn’t make a mistake. It was a take off The Lion King.
February 7, 2026 at 9:49 AM
There are no gorillas in the Lion King
Reposted by Mark Bale
No political interview or debate should be aired live. They should all be fact-checked by agreed impartial bodies and then edited accordingly to remove any falsehoods. Gave an hour long interview and only 5 minutes made it to air? That's on you.
February 6, 2026 at 6:55 PM
No political interview or debate should be aired live. They should all be fact-checked by agreed impartial bodies and then edited accordingly to remove any falsehoods. Gave an hour long interview and only 5 minutes made it to air? That's on you.
Reposted by Mark Bale
This is racist, plain and simple. Trump's behavior is beneath the Office of the President. Is there anyone around him who will tell him when he’s wrong?
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Trump Posts Video Online Depicting Obamas as Apes
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, one of the highest-ranking Black Republicans in Washington, called the video “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.”
www.wsj.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:50 PM
This is racist, plain and simple. Trump's behavior is beneath the Office of the President. Is there anyone around him who will tell him when he’s wrong?
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
Reposted by Mark Bale
So, first of all, of course it was Trump.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
February 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
So, first of all, of course it was Trump.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
Reposted by Mark Bale
Yep, a crucial element. There was no problem too solve. They had a pro in place. But they had to play Westminster silly buggers.
It is worth recalling that the position of U.K. Ambassador to the US was not vacant at the time the Prime Minister chose to appoint Peter Mandelson to the role. A highly competent and respected woman was replaced.
February 4, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Yep, a crucial element. There was no problem too solve. They had a pro in place. But they had to play Westminster silly buggers.
Reposted by Mark Bale
Nature research paper: Population-scale sequencing resolves determinants of persistent EBV DNA
go.nature.com/4qZ9DiA
go.nature.com/4qZ9DiA
Population-scale sequencing resolves determinants of persistent EBV DNA - Nature
Population-scale WGS reveals genetic determinants of persistent EBV DNA, linking immune regulation—especially antigen processing and MHC class II variation—to EBV persistence and heterogeneous disease associations.
go.nature.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Nature research paper: Population-scale sequencing resolves determinants of persistent EBV DNA
go.nature.com/4qZ9DiA
go.nature.com/4qZ9DiA
Reposted by Mark Bale
Has today given you that spring feeling?
Well good news sunsets after 5pm starts this weekend in London. A dark period of ~105 days pre 5pm coming to wrap.
Well good news sunsets after 5pm starts this weekend in London. A dark period of ~105 days pre 5pm coming to wrap.
a bunny rabbit is holding a candle in a dark room .
ALT: a bunny rabbit is holding a candle in a dark room .
media.tenor.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Has today given you that spring feeling?
Well good news sunsets after 5pm starts this weekend in London. A dark period of ~105 days pre 5pm coming to wrap.
Well good news sunsets after 5pm starts this weekend in London. A dark period of ~105 days pre 5pm coming to wrap.
Reposted by Mark Bale
Precisely this.
Errors of judgement happen, but dishonesty is a character trait.
Countries have millions of honest people to choose leaders from. There is no need or reason to rely on people who’ve shown themselves to be dishonest.
Once and out.
Errors of judgement happen, but dishonesty is a character trait.
Countries have millions of honest people to choose leaders from. There is no need or reason to rely on people who’ve shown themselves to be dishonest.
Once and out.
One lesson from the Epstein–Mandelson affair is that we need to stop routinely rehabilitating political careers after serious scandals.
When politicians knowingly engage in grave ethical wrongdoing, that should permanently end their political careers. Being "talented" should not override that.
When politicians knowingly engage in grave ethical wrongdoing, that should permanently end their political careers. Being "talented" should not override that.
February 4, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Precisely this.
Errors of judgement happen, but dishonesty is a character trait.
Countries have millions of honest people to choose leaders from. There is no need or reason to rely on people who’ve shown themselves to be dishonest.
Once and out.
Errors of judgement happen, but dishonesty is a character trait.
Countries have millions of honest people to choose leaders from. There is no need or reason to rely on people who’ve shown themselves to be dishonest.
Once and out.
Reposted by Mark Bale
In essence, the use to which leaked information is put is not directly relevant to the offence of Misconduct in Public Office.
The offence is made out at the point of the misconduct (here the leak) - not whether the information is then used for insider trading or whatever.
The offence is made out at the point of the misconduct (here the leak) - not whether the information is then used for insider trading or whatever.
February 4, 2026 at 11:01 AM
In essence, the use to which leaked information is put is not directly relevant to the offence of Misconduct in Public Office.
The offence is made out at the point of the misconduct (here the leak) - not whether the information is then used for insider trading or whatever.
The offence is made out at the point of the misconduct (here the leak) - not whether the information is then used for insider trading or whatever.
Reposted by Mark Bale
I feel obliged to remind everyone that there are plenty of countries where higher education is either completely free or cost a token amount of tuition money and that many of these countries offer top notch teaching and research. It’s a political choice.
February 3, 2026 at 5:59 PM
I feel obliged to remind everyone that there are plenty of countries where higher education is either completely free or cost a token amount of tuition money and that many of these countries offer top notch teaching and research. It’s a political choice.
Reposted by Mark Bale
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Mandelson’s Fifth Column
The British government’s business department exists to undermine democracy.
www.monbiot.com
February 3, 2026 at 7:32 AM
1. In 2009 I wrote this. I argued that Peter Mandelson's department “functions as a fifth column within government, working for corporations to undermine democracy and the public interest.”
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
This thread explains what I saw, and reaches a startling conclusion.🧵
www.monbiot.com/2009/05/04/m...
Reposted by Mark Bale
There's more.
On 31 March 2010, Lord Mandelson's principal private secretary sent him a note of a meeting between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Larry Summers, US Treasury Secretary.
Lord Mandelson forwarded it to Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later.
On 31 March 2010, Lord Mandelson's principal private secretary sent him a note of a meeting between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Larry Summers, US Treasury Secretary.
Lord Mandelson forwarded it to Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later.
February 2, 2026 at 8:30 PM
There's more.
On 31 March 2010, Lord Mandelson's principal private secretary sent him a note of a meeting between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Larry Summers, US Treasury Secretary.
Lord Mandelson forwarded it to Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later.
On 31 March 2010, Lord Mandelson's principal private secretary sent him a note of a meeting between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Larry Summers, US Treasury Secretary.
Lord Mandelson forwarded it to Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later.