James Ball
@jamesrball.com
Tech, policy, politics.
Political editor @ The New World
Fellow @ Demos
PhD researcher @ UCL Laws
newsletter @ techtris
Latest book: The Other Pandemic – How QAnon Contaminated The World. 🏳️🌈
https://www.jamesrball.com/
Political editor @ The New World
Fellow @ Demos
PhD researcher @ UCL Laws
newsletter @ techtris
Latest book: The Other Pandemic – How QAnon Contaminated The World. 🏳️🌈
https://www.jamesrball.com/
Pinned
James Ball
@jamesrball.com
· Aug 11
Techtris | James Ball | Substack
A weekly(ish) newsletter on technology, policy and society, from James Ball. Click to read Techtris, by James Ball, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
www.jamesrball.com
Enjoying my posts? (If not: sorry..?)
I have a newsletter here, plz do subscribe: www.jamesrball.com
Details of books I’ve written here: www.jamesrball.com/p/books
And all my writing for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is here: www.thenewworld.co.uk/contributor/...
I often pop up elsewhere, too.
I have a newsletter here, plz do subscribe: www.jamesrball.com
Details of books I’ve written here: www.jamesrball.com/p/books
And all my writing for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social is here: www.thenewworld.co.uk/contributor/...
I often pop up elsewhere, too.
This looks like an Emmerdale new cast member announcement created by a previous-generation LLM.
November 14, 2025 at 8:36 PM
This looks like an Emmerdale new cast member announcement created by a previous-generation LLM.
Bad news kids: budgie the little helicopter has crashed.
Sarah Ferguson's new book withdrawn from sale, says Nielsen
Sarah Ferguson's new book withdrawn from sale, says Nielsen
The latest children's book by the former duchess had already been delayed.
www.bbc.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Bad news kids: budgie the little helicopter has crashed.
Reposted by James Ball
If there’s a nascent power struggle around the WH COS (and there always is), the thing that will quash it is definitely a major cabinet secretary publicly calling attention to it with vague accusations in a social media post.
November 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If there’s a nascent power struggle around the WH COS (and there always is), the thing that will quash it is definitely a major cabinet secretary publicly calling attention to it with vague accusations in a social media post.
In case it’s not obvious, Trump’s attorney general has, at his personal request, started an investigation into the Democrats and Dem allies mentioned in the documents released this week. But no-one else!
Genuinely think this might be the first real test of the limits of Trump’s brazenness this term. This shouldn’t make Dems back down – there’s no-one in there they feel obliged to defend (nor should they). So it’s just gonna draw more attention to Trump’s own role. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Bondi Assigns Prosecutor to Look Into Epstein’s Ties to Prominent Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
In case it’s not obvious, Trump’s attorney general has, at his personal request, started an investigation into the Democrats and Dem allies mentioned in the documents released this week. But no-one else!
Genuinely think this might be the first real test of the limits of Trump’s brazenness this term. This shouldn’t make Dems back down – there’s no-one in there they feel obliged to defend (nor should they). So it’s just gonna draw more attention to Trump’s own role. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Bondi Assigns Prosecutor to Look Into Epstein’s Ties to Prominent Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Genuinely think this might be the first real test of the limits of Trump’s brazenness this term. This shouldn’t make Dems back down – there’s no-one in there they feel obliged to defend (nor should they). So it’s just gonna draw more attention to Trump’s own role. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...
Reposted by James Ball
🎥 Political editor @jamesrball.com breaks down The New World's exclusive that Michael Prescott - author of the dossier into the BBC - himself doctored Trump quotes in the report. It's an extraordinary revelation that calls into question Prescott’s journalistic judgement
Read now 👉 buff.ly/lRs7cws
Read now 👉 buff.ly/lRs7cws
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
🎥 Political editor @jamesrball.com breaks down The New World's exclusive that Michael Prescott - author of the dossier into the BBC - himself doctored Trump quotes in the report. It's an extraordinary revelation that calls into question Prescott’s journalistic judgement
Read now 👉 buff.ly/lRs7cws
Read now 👉 buff.ly/lRs7cws
Reposted by James Ball
Reposted by James Ball
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
I know it’s always like this. But one striking thing from the budget kite flying and kite pulling back in, is how major policy decisions are constantly being buffeted around by iterative forecast changes.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
All feels a bit of a silly way to be making major economic policy & political decisions.
November 14, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is the point. Policy *should not* be adjusted or fine-tuned in response to minor forecasting judgements. Decisions about whether or not to break a prominent manifesto promise *should not* depend on minor forecasting judgements. This stuff matters. We've got to do better than this.
The shaggy defence in action.
Oh boy, Trump calls for an Epstein investigation on everyone else but him
November 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The shaggy defence in action.
Just don’t ask what happened to everyone else who did, or what’s behind the door that makes the weird whooshing sounds
November 14, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Just don’t ask what happened to everyone else who did, or what’s behind the door that makes the weird whooshing sounds
Little @thenewworldmag.bsky.social diary scoop – word on the street is Lisa Nandy’s intervention sunk the Telegraph sale to Redbird.
Meaning the Labour culture secretary has defended the Telegraph’s independence more fiercely than the BBC’s this week…
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Meaning the Labour culture secretary has defended the Telegraph’s independence more fiercely than the BBC’s this week…
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Nandy sinks Telegraph sale… is Paul Marshall waiting in the wings?
US investment firm RedBird was all set to finally buy the title - until the culture secretary said it would need to go through a public inquiry
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Little @thenewworldmag.bsky.social diary scoop – word on the street is Lisa Nandy’s intervention sunk the Telegraph sale to Redbird.
Meaning the Labour culture secretary has defended the Telegraph’s independence more fiercely than the BBC’s this week…
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Meaning the Labour culture secretary has defended the Telegraph’s independence more fiercely than the BBC’s this week…
www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Sisyphus takes one look at the telegraph sale and says “absolutely not”
November 14, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Sisyphus takes one look at the telegraph sale and says “absolutely not”
Reposted by James Ball
“It would be good to think that Sir Keir read the Institute for Government’s March 2024 report on reforming the centre of government. His failure to grip these issues last July or since suggests he did not.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on 10 Downing Street: not up to the job | Editorial
Editorial: The Labour leadership briefing furore highlights failures at the centre of government. Keir Starmer needs to raise his game
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
“It would be good to think that Sir Keir read the Institute for Government’s March 2024 report on reforming the centre of government. His failure to grip these issues last July or since suggests he did not.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by James Ball
pray for the media correspondents, the proudest and noblest of all the specialisms. They've had a hell of a week.
November 14, 2025 at 12:42 PM
pray for the media correspondents, the proudest and noblest of all the specialisms. They've had a hell of a week.
Telegraph sale to redbird (who sort of owned it already) collapses.
This has got to be seen as a triumph for Chris Evans, who must be the first editor in history to declare war on his own proprietor and *win*. Arguably, twice.
This has got to be seen as a triumph for Chris Evans, who must be the first editor in history to declare war on his own proprietor and *win*. Arguably, twice.
The telegraph has been for sale for three years on.ft.com/4oGV6Hu
Telegraph sale to RedBird collapses
[FREE TO READ] US private equity group walked away due to regulatory uncertainty and negative commentary from newspaper
on.ft.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Telegraph sale to redbird (who sort of owned it already) collapses.
This has got to be seen as a triumph for Chris Evans, who must be the first editor in history to declare war on his own proprietor and *win*. Arguably, twice.
This has got to be seen as a triumph for Chris Evans, who must be the first editor in history to declare war on his own proprietor and *win*. Arguably, twice.
Replies to this are a good case for why the lobby system absolutely doesn’t work in the 21st century.
It is the standard practice of government to brief stories from unnamed sources. *Official briefings* come from unnamed sources. But a sizeable subset of the public thinks unnamed means made up.
It is the standard practice of government to brief stories from unnamed sources. *Official briefings* come from unnamed sources. But a sizeable subset of the public thinks unnamed means made up.
There is a small subset of pro-Starmer ultras on here who either genuinely don’t understand that budget stories *are directly briefed out by the Treasury, with permission* or pretend not to know that. And so they claim the plans never existed, haven’t changed, etc. It is maddening, and dumb as fuck.
November 14, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Replies to this are a good case for why the lobby system absolutely doesn’t work in the 21st century.
It is the standard practice of government to brief stories from unnamed sources. *Official briefings* come from unnamed sources. But a sizeable subset of the public thinks unnamed means made up.
It is the standard practice of government to brief stories from unnamed sources. *Official briefings* come from unnamed sources. But a sizeable subset of the public thinks unnamed means made up.
Exclusive live footage from inside the Treasury
a cartoon character says we 've tried nothing and were all out of ideas
ALT: a cartoon character says we 've tried nothing and were all out of ideas
media.tenor.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Exclusive live footage from inside the Treasury
Unless someone in the Treasury reassures the markets pretty soon, there’s every chance the UK will need to raise *more* tax for less in return. Total clusterfuck in the making, this.
Having a budget fall apart more than a week before it’s actually be delivered might be a new record.
Having a budget fall apart more than a week before it’s actually be delivered might be a new record.
November 14, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Unless someone in the Treasury reassures the markets pretty soon, there’s every chance the UK will need to raise *more* tax for less in return. Total clusterfuck in the making, this.
Having a budget fall apart more than a week before it’s actually be delivered might be a new record.
Having a budget fall apart more than a week before it’s actually be delivered might be a new record.
There is a small subset of pro-Starmer ultras on here who either genuinely don’t understand that budget stories *are directly briefed out by the Treasury, with permission* or pretend not to know that. And so they claim the plans never existed, haven’t changed, etc. It is maddening, and dumb as fuck.
November 14, 2025 at 8:09 AM
There is a small subset of pro-Starmer ultras on here who either genuinely don’t understand that budget stories *are directly briefed out by the Treasury, with permission* or pretend not to know that. And so they claim the plans never existed, haven’t changed, etc. It is maddening, and dumb as fuck.
Thanks to months of pitch rolling, the Labour government has now effectively told anyone paying attention that income tax rises are necessary, but they’re not going to do them because they’re politically weak. Let’s see how that plays!
November 14, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Thanks to months of pitch rolling, the Labour government has now effectively told anyone paying attention that income tax rises are necessary, but they’re not going to do them because they’re politically weak. Let’s see how that plays!
Bond markets not happy about Reeves bottling it on tax, it seems.
And there we go 10y opened up 11 basis points erasing 1/3 of the rally since October.
39 minutes until the bond markets make reeves reconsider I reckon.
November 14, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Bond markets not happy about Reeves bottling it on tax, it seems.
Reposted by James Ball
Because the combination of freezing personal allowances and tinkering around the sides worked so well last year.
Faced with a choice of meaningful tax rises to fund substantive change or not enough to do anything, Reeves is clearly choosing the latter.
Faced with a choice of meaningful tax rises to fund substantive change or not enough to do anything, Reeves is clearly choosing the latter.
November 14, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Because the combination of freezing personal allowances and tinkering around the sides worked so well last year.
Faced with a choice of meaningful tax rises to fund substantive change or not enough to do anything, Reeves is clearly choosing the latter.
Faced with a choice of meaningful tax rises to fund substantive change or not enough to do anything, Reeves is clearly choosing the latter.
Reposted by James Ball
I am excited to see the gilt market reaction to this news. Think it could be quite bad. A big chunk of the recent gilt rally was predicated on Labour showing they could hike the big taxes if needed and….well I guess that idea is dead.
November 14, 2025 at 7:21 AM
I am excited to see the gilt market reaction to this news. Think it could be quite bad. A big chunk of the recent gilt rally was predicated on Labour showing they could hike the big taxes if needed and….well I guess that idea is dead.
Adam isn’t speculating here: it’s what Reeves did last time (alongside a hefty employers’ NI hike) and it *didn’t* go down well.
It also didn’t raise enough to protect against shocks, hence more rises being needed now.
This is total, dismal, political failure.
It also didn’t raise enough to protect against shocks, hence more rises being needed now.
This is total, dismal, political failure.
Exchanging one unpopular, but effective, tax-raising measure for a load more unpopular, controversial and piecemeal tax-raising measures is not going to end well
November 14, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Adam isn’t speculating here: it’s what Reeves did last time (alongside a hefty employers’ NI hike) and it *didn’t* go down well.
It also didn’t raise enough to protect against shocks, hence more rises being needed now.
This is total, dismal, political failure.
It also didn’t raise enough to protect against shocks, hence more rises being needed now.
This is total, dismal, political failure.
The good thing about u-turning on tax rises before you ever do them is you get most of the popularity for considering the hike, some bonus popularity for looking incompetent and indecisive, AND none of the revenue
November 13, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The good thing about u-turning on tax rises before you ever do them is you get most of the popularity for considering the hike, some bonus popularity for looking incompetent and indecisive, AND none of the revenue