Rick Crawford
@rickcrawf.bsky.social
Reposted by Rick Crawford
I think it's extremely important to remember that the Tories were well on their way to becoming an ersatz populist radical right party long before Robert Jenrick got his hardman haircut and his fat-jabs and started banging on about immigration - and the slide won't necessarily stop now he's gone.
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
I think it's extremely important to remember that the Tories were well on their way to becoming an ersatz populist radical right party long before Robert Jenrick got his hardman haircut and his fat-jabs and started banging on about immigration - and the slide won't necessarily stop now he's gone.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
'There's always a tweet' hardly applies here as there are 5000 of them, several speeches, interviews, the lot
January 15, 2026 at 7:51 PM
'There's always a tweet' hardly applies here as there are 5000 of them, several speeches, interviews, the lot
Reposted by Rick Crawford
The main outcome of this farcically horrible trial is death or hospitalization with any infection over *42 days*.
That’s not even a little bit close to time Hep B takes to do anything.
They will expose hundreds of newborn babies to Hep B for a trial that is all but guaranteed to be null.
Evil.
That’s not even a little bit close to time Hep B takes to do anything.
They will expose hundreds of newborn babies to Hep B for a trial that is all but guaranteed to be null.
Evil.
We have the CDC-funded Hepatitis Vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau protocol.
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Scoop: The leaked protocol of the CDC-funded Hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau. “This is another Tuskegee.”
The protocol reveals that the trial will withhold the Hepatitis B birth dose from thousands—without placebos, without universal maternal screening, and with endpoints critics call indefensible.
insidemedicine.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:02 PM
The main outcome of this farcically horrible trial is death or hospitalization with any infection over *42 days*.
That’s not even a little bit close to time Hep B takes to do anything.
They will expose hundreds of newborn babies to Hep B for a trial that is all but guaranteed to be null.
Evil.
That’s not even a little bit close to time Hep B takes to do anything.
They will expose hundreds of newborn babies to Hep B for a trial that is all but guaranteed to be null.
Evil.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
This just popped into my head: The World Cup starts in 5 months!
How is the USA going to host an international tournament inside a nation beset by ICE fascists while actively preparing for (or conducting) an invasion of a European territory?
How is the USA going to host an international tournament inside a nation beset by ICE fascists while actively preparing for (or conducting) an invasion of a European territory?
January 15, 2026 at 2:02 PM
This just popped into my head: The World Cup starts in 5 months!
How is the USA going to host an international tournament inside a nation beset by ICE fascists while actively preparing for (or conducting) an invasion of a European territory?
How is the USA going to host an international tournament inside a nation beset by ICE fascists while actively preparing for (or conducting) an invasion of a European territory?
Reposted by Rick Crawford
They're calling it the Jenrick effect
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 28% (-4)
CON: 19% (+1)
GRN: 18% (+1)
LAB: 15% (=)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 14 Jan.
Changes w/ 7 Jan.
RFM: 28% (-4)
CON: 19% (+1)
GRN: 18% (+1)
LAB: 15% (=)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 3% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 14 Jan.
Changes w/ 7 Jan.
January 15, 2026 at 2:10 PM
They're calling it the Jenrick effect
Reposted by Rick Crawford
People really reacting to this without all the details. I am sure there are good and legitimate reasons why President Trump is taking the oil revenue ransom he extorted from Venezuela and is putting into a Middle Eastern bank account that Congress cannot control.
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
www.semafor.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:13 PM
People really reacting to this without all the details. I am sure there are good and legitimate reasons why President Trump is taking the oil revenue ransom he extorted from Venezuela and is putting into a Middle Eastern bank account that Congress cannot control.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
The PM refers to an experiment in "open borders" by a Govt. that LEFT THE EU. It can only mean "there are still too many black and brown people in this country, we need to get rid of them". And the best person to do that is Nigel Farage. PM might as well run a "don't vote me" campaign.
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 2:48 PM
The PM refers to an experiment in "open borders" by a Govt. that LEFT THE EU. It can only mean "there are still too many black and brown people in this country, we need to get rid of them". And the best person to do that is Nigel Farage. PM might as well run a "don't vote me" campaign.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 ['we have people everywhere...']
January 15, 2026 at 2:52 PM
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 ['we have people everywhere...']
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Further smearing of domestic political opponents as "terrorists" to justify lawless violence.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche calls what is happening in Minneapolis an “insurrection” and threatens to go after Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey over their “terrorism.”
January 15, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Further smearing of domestic political opponents as "terrorists" to justify lawless violence.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
In earlier years, the United States did more than any country to eliminate the use of offshore bank accounts as shelters -- numbered Swiss accounts ceased to be a thing thanks to Washington's reporting and filing regulations. Now we're watching the president use one.
The main bank account holding revenue from the Venezuelan oil sales is located in Qatar.
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
“There is no basis in law for a president to set up an offshore account that he controls so that he can sell assets seized by the American military,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: US gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
www.semafor.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:41 AM
In earlier years, the United States did more than any country to eliminate the use of offshore bank accounts as shelters -- numbered Swiss accounts ceased to be a thing thanks to Washington's reporting and filing regulations. Now we're watching the president use one.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
“I did something so stupid and irresponsible that it would destroy our country to remedy.”
That’s the argument the President is making regarding why the federal government should get to profit off of an illegal tax.
That’s the argument the President is making regarding why the federal government should get to profit off of an illegal tax.
January 13, 2026 at 12:07 PM
“I did something so stupid and irresponsible that it would destroy our country to remedy.”
That’s the argument the President is making regarding why the federal government should get to profit off of an illegal tax.
That’s the argument the President is making regarding why the federal government should get to profit off of an illegal tax.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Tired of the "one thousand years after the Fall no one remembers the Old Magic" trope. Hit me with some recs (not necessarily fantasy) where it's like, partway through decline, and everyone remembers the Old Magic perfectly fine, but maybe the eye of newt is harder to come by than last decade.
January 13, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Tired of the "one thousand years after the Fall no one remembers the Old Magic" trope. Hit me with some recs (not necessarily fantasy) where it's like, partway through decline, and everyone remembers the Old Magic perfectly fine, but maybe the eye of newt is harder to come by than last decade.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
The tide is turning
Warhammer maker Games Workshop has banned the use of AI in its content production and its design process, insisting that none of its senior managers are currently excited about the technology. https://bit.ly/49xT9Xl
January 13, 2026 at 7:56 PM
The tide is turning
Pretty foolish to try to predict what Trump will do, but I suspect he won't do much in response to Iran killing protesters.
So far he has upped the sanctions. Not going to achieve much.
So far he has upped the sanctions. Not going to achieve much.
January 14, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Pretty foolish to try to predict what Trump will do, but I suspect he won't do much in response to Iran killing protesters.
So far he has upped the sanctions. Not going to achieve much.
So far he has upped the sanctions. Not going to achieve much.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
There’s a big story everyone is missing—but this article hits on it.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.‘s allies
The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine ally David Geier.
arstechnica.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:30 AM
There’s a big story everyone is missing—but this article hits on it.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
This is obviously true I think
I wonder if one of the reasons why right-wing politicians are defending X is because they now believe it is the instrument that will help them regain power. Not simply a way they consume media.
January 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
This is obviously true I think
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Unfortunately, the sycophancy makes chatbots more addictive, so it's what companies are optimizing for. A little label that says "AI can make mistakes" and you're good to go.
The whole "technology is always getting better" spiel is a canard, because this is a design decision, not a tech limitation.
The whole "technology is always getting better" spiel is a canard, because this is a design decision, not a tech limitation.
January 13, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Unfortunately, the sycophancy makes chatbots more addictive, so it's what companies are optimizing for. A little label that says "AI can make mistakes" and you're good to go.
The whole "technology is always getting better" spiel is a canard, because this is a design decision, not a tech limitation.
The whole "technology is always getting better" spiel is a canard, because this is a design decision, not a tech limitation.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
I’m old enough to remember when the gilt market was going to destroy Reeves and lead to Farage being elected. It was…what, three months ago?
January 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM
I’m old enough to remember when the gilt market was going to destroy Reeves and lead to Farage being elected. It was…what, three months ago?
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Farage backed Boris Johnson's disastrous Brexit deal and Liz Truss's catastrophic mini-budget.
No wonder he’s welcoming Nadhim Zahawi, someone who enthusiastically supported both.
No wonder he’s welcoming Nadhim Zahawi, someone who enthusiastically supported both.
January 12, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Farage backed Boris Johnson's disastrous Brexit deal and Liz Truss's catastrophic mini-budget.
No wonder he’s welcoming Nadhim Zahawi, someone who enthusiastically supported both.
No wonder he’s welcoming Nadhim Zahawi, someone who enthusiastically supported both.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Kemi, this is just a population density map
January 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Kemi, this is just a population density map
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Politicians' communications on X are almost without exception tedious and uninformative, campaigning or marketing texts, heavily constrained. I doubt many read them except journalists checking for the rare slip or bit of news.
Minister of State Alex Norris tells the BBC he won't personally come off X because it's important for communicating with voters.
None of his tweets for the last month has more than 1000 views.
None of his tweets for the last month has more than 1000 views.
January 13, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Politicians' communications on X are almost without exception tedious and uninformative, campaigning or marketing texts, heavily constrained. I doubt many read them except journalists checking for the rare slip or bit of news.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Nadim Zahawi arrived in the UK from Iraq as a child refugee. His family claimed asylum once they were here. Today he has joined Reform who will stop all in country asylum applications. Under his new party, his own family fleeing persecution would be immediately deported.
January 12, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Nadim Zahawi arrived in the UK from Iraq as a child refugee. His family claimed asylum once they were here. Today he has joined Reform who will stop all in country asylum applications. Under his new party, his own family fleeing persecution would be immediately deported.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.
January 12, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Amazingly, Zahawi only got round to deleting the below after the press conference announcing his defection to Reform.
Reposted by Rick Crawford
greatest steam update of all time, because of one unnecessary detail
January 12, 2026 at 9:34 PM
greatest steam update of all time, because of one unnecessary detail