Paolo Steen
@thesteen.bsky.social
Policy researcher and web designer in UK and NL. Biased towards sanity and integrity.
Reposted by Paolo Steen
I'm already calling it on the next FIFA Peace Price: MBS!
You heard it here first!
You heard it here first!
a man sitting in a chair with arabic writing on the screen
ALT: a man sitting in a chair with arabic writing on the screen
media.tenor.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I'm already calling it on the next FIFA Peace Price: MBS!
You heard it here first!
You heard it here first!
Reposted by Paolo Steen
@libdemdaisy.bsky.social: "A Reform government wouldn't just be throwing out people who have arrived here through irregular routes."
"They want to throw out people who have earned their right to be here and who are granted Leave to stay in this country."
"They want to throw out people who have earned their right to be here and who are granted Leave to stay in this country."
December 5, 2025 at 3:05 PM
@libdemdaisy.bsky.social: "A Reform government wouldn't just be throwing out people who have arrived here through irregular routes."
"They want to throw out people who have earned their right to be here and who are granted Leave to stay in this country."
"They want to throw out people who have earned their right to be here and who are granted Leave to stay in this country."
Reposted by Paolo Steen
#Trump pardoned Tim Leiweke — who his own DOJ indicted in July for rigging a public university’s arena bid—
It’s all a grift — Saudis to crypto to pardon seekers — everything gets turned into a revenue stream. With 1,500+ pardons already, clemency is a monetized market
It’s all a grift — Saudis to crypto to pardon seekers — everything gets turned into a revenue stream. With 1,500+ pardons already, clemency is a monetized market
December 4, 2025 at 8:26 PM
#Trump pardoned Tim Leiweke — who his own DOJ indicted in July for rigging a public university’s arena bid—
It’s all a grift — Saudis to crypto to pardon seekers — everything gets turned into a revenue stream. With 1,500+ pardons already, clemency is a monetized market
It’s all a grift — Saudis to crypto to pardon seekers — everything gets turned into a revenue stream. With 1,500+ pardons already, clemency is a monetized market
Reposted by Paolo Steen
If Russia is banned for its war of aggression and atrocities against civilians in Ukraine, Israel should be banned for its genocide in Gaza.
This should not be hard for anyone with a shred of moral/intellectual integrity.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
This should not be hard for anyone with a shred of moral/intellectual integrity.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
RTÉ to boycott Eurovision Song Contest over Israel
Ireland will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, and it will not be broadcast by RTÉ, after the European Broadcasting Union confirmed today that Israel will be allowed to take part...
www.rte.ie
December 4, 2025 at 6:19 PM
If Russia is banned for its war of aggression and atrocities against civilians in Ukraine, Israel should be banned for its genocide in Gaza.
This should not be hard for anyone with a shred of moral/intellectual integrity.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
This should not be hard for anyone with a shred of moral/intellectual integrity.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
🚨 PSA: Grok might be giving out your private info.
Out of 33 names of non-public figures we fed to Grok, a total of ten queries immediately returned accurate home addresses for the name provided. It often gave us a whole lot more.
Read our new reporting here: futurism.com/artificial-i...
Out of 33 names of non-public figures we fed to Grok, a total of ten queries immediately returned accurate home addresses for the name provided. It often gave us a whole lot more.
Read our new reporting here: futurism.com/artificial-i...
Elon Musk's Grok AI Is Doxxing Home Addresses of Everyday People
Elon Musk's Grox chatbot will happily cough up real, current residential addresses of everyday Americans, with little to no prompting.
futurism.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🚨 PSA: Grok might be giving out your private info.
Out of 33 names of non-public figures we fed to Grok, a total of ten queries immediately returned accurate home addresses for the name provided. It often gave us a whole lot more.
Read our new reporting here: futurism.com/artificial-i...
Out of 33 names of non-public figures we fed to Grok, a total of ten queries immediately returned accurate home addresses for the name provided. It often gave us a whole lot more.
Read our new reporting here: futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
RFK Jr: "Two weeks ago we ended, under your leadership, a twenty year war on women".
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
RFK Jr: "Two weeks ago we ended, under your leadership, a twenty year war on women".
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Three out of five men in this shot have been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment or abusive behaviour towards women. A fourth signed into law a near-total abortion ban in his state as governor.
Reposted by Paolo Steen
This exposé is breathtaking. Witkoff and Kushner do not just have conflicts of interest - thy are deeply woven into a web of Russian influence peddling by "investments". Money, personal ties and geopolitics have become indistinguishable.
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/t...
December 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This exposé is breathtaking. Witkoff and Kushner do not just have conflicts of interest - thy are deeply woven into a web of Russian influence peddling by "investments". Money, personal ties and geopolitics have become indistinguishable.
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/t...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/t...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Jonathan Gullis defects to Reform saying his former party has "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve".
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
Conservatives Promote JCB's 'Revolutionary' Pothole Machine While Taking Millions of Pounds in Donations from the Company
Senior Conservatives have repeatedly promoted a pothole repair machine made by a company which has donated huge sums to the party and its MPs
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Jonathan Gullis defects to Reform saying his former party has "lost touch with the people it was meant to serve".
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
He should know. When he was in Government he took a five-figure donation from JCB, then stayed silent when it axed hundreds of his constituents' jobs just two weeks later
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Hand the election to Reform AND damage the economy further? Labour's right wing immigration policies are doing double duty.
I cannot think of any previous case where a political party came to power with as many advantages as Labour, and squandered them so fast.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
I cannot think of any previous case where a political party came to power with as many advantages as Labour, and squandered them so fast.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
December 2, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Hand the election to Reform AND damage the economy further? Labour's right wing immigration policies are doing double duty.
I cannot think of any previous case where a political party came to power with as many advantages as Labour, and squandered them so fast.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
I cannot think of any previous case where a political party came to power with as many advantages as Labour, and squandered them so fast.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
"immigration has to go up for our growth goals, but our policy is to bring it down"
uk politics in a nutshell
uk politics in a nutshell
There is an actual interesting little deceit in the budget, namely ther have the OBR still forecasting based on increasing net immigration back to 300-350k whilst the Home Secretary is promising to bring it down from 200k, which does dissolve about half the headroom, but somehow we're doing vibes.
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
December 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM
"immigration has to go up for our growth goals, but our policy is to bring it down"
uk politics in a nutshell
uk politics in a nutshell
Reposted by Paolo Steen
"UK digital ID plan gets a price tag at last – £1.8B
OBR says the scheme will cost £600M a year with no identified savings"
Hurrah! More pointless wasteful government spaffage. So glad that Labour turned out to be nothing like the Tories.
www.theregister.com/2025/11/28/d...
OBR says the scheme will cost £600M a year with no identified savings"
Hurrah! More pointless wasteful government spaffage. So glad that Labour turned out to be nothing like the Tories.
www.theregister.com/2025/11/28/d...
UK digital ID plan gets a price tag at last – £1.8B
: OBR says the scheme will cost £600M a year with no identified savings
www.theregister.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:15 AM
"UK digital ID plan gets a price tag at last – £1.8B
OBR says the scheme will cost £600M a year with no identified savings"
Hurrah! More pointless wasteful government spaffage. So glad that Labour turned out to be nothing like the Tories.
www.theregister.com/2025/11/28/d...
OBR says the scheme will cost £600M a year with no identified savings"
Hurrah! More pointless wasteful government spaffage. So glad that Labour turned out to be nothing like the Tories.
www.theregister.com/2025/11/28/d...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
This tired, deeply-damaged man is so needy. He has to have references to him being president on his hat, on his shirt, and on a golf-framed placard next to his overcooked cheeseburger he's almost too-out-of-it to eat.
November 30, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This tired, deeply-damaged man is so needy. He has to have references to him being president on his hat, on his shirt, and on a golf-framed placard next to his overcooked cheeseburger he's almost too-out-of-it to eat.
Reposted by Paolo Steen
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is the most alarming story I’ve read today. Giving up the fight before it’s started
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
November 29, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Lying in politics is wrong and should never be rewarded, says newspaper which pays Boris Johnson £1 million a year to be its star columnist
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
November 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Is welfare spending ''out of control''?
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
It's estimated to be 10.8 per cent of GDP this financial year.
That's just 0.8 per cent of GDP higher than in 2007-08, and total welfare spending has actually fallen fallen by 1.2 per cent of GDP since 2012-13⤵️ buff.ly/s5mz97u
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration falls sharply with drop in arrivals for work and study
Provisional figures for net migration to the UK show levels dropped to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Fewer workers. Fewer international students. More people leaving.
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A "step in the right direction" according to the PM.
Impossible to take PM/govt seriously on growth if they are deliberately reducing it (and making the fiscal position worse) *as a matter of policy*.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Ryan Bourne, a member of the Economists for Brexit* cabal that the Leave camp depended on to make their economic case for leaving, has written a long article in the Times admitting to the damage that Brexit has caused.
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
November 28, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Ryan Bourne, a member of the Economists for Brexit* cabal that the Leave camp depended on to make their economic case for leaving, has written a long article in the Times admitting to the damage that Brexit has caused.
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
(*Other familiar names include Patrick Minford.)
archive.ph/2025.11.26-1...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
How do we encourage more children to cycle to school?
Why do relatively few children cycle to school in the UK, despite the obvious benefits?
westenglandbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Why do relatively few children cycle to school in the UK, despite the obvious benefits?
westenglandbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
How do we encourage more children to cycle to school?
Why do relatively few children cycle to school in the UK, despite the obvious benefits?
westenglandbylines.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
How do we encourage more children to cycle to school?
Why do relatively few children cycle to school in the UK, despite the obvious benefits?
westenglandbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Why do relatively few children cycle to school in the UK, despite the obvious benefits?
westenglandbylines.co.uk/news/transpo...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS figures show…Figure of 204,000 in 12mnth to June 2025 is lowest since 2021
apple.news/AUQKpv7j9TKi...
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the yr to March 2023 as part of the “Boriswave” of foreign workers but has fallen sharply since then.
apple.news/AUQKpv7j9TKi...
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the yr to March 2023 as part of the “Boriswave” of foreign workers but has fallen sharply since then.
November 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS figures show…Figure of 204,000 in 12mnth to June 2025 is lowest since 2021
apple.news/AUQKpv7j9TKi...
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the yr to March 2023 as part of the “Boriswave” of foreign workers but has fallen sharply since then.
apple.news/AUQKpv7j9TKi...
Net migration peaked at a record 944,000 in the yr to March 2023 as part of the “Boriswave” of foreign workers but has fallen sharply since then.
Reposted by Paolo Steen
I'd wager this is evidence that the furore over 'migration' isn't about migration but the presence of dark-skinned people in the UK... And yes, this was evident in the more sinister corners of the Brexit campaigns.
November 27, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I'd wager this is evidence that the furore over 'migration' isn't about migration but the presence of dark-skinned people in the UK... And yes, this was evident in the more sinister corners of the Brexit campaigns.
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Journalist - did you racially abuse your fellow classmates at school?
Farage - it’s almost 50 years ago so I don’t remember. But I also know that I didn’t do it. And it I did do it I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Something something banter.
Farage - it’s almost 50 years ago so I don’t remember. But I also know that I didn’t do it. And it I did do it I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Something something banter.
November 25, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Journalist - did you racially abuse your fellow classmates at school?
Farage - it’s almost 50 years ago so I don’t remember. But I also know that I didn’t do it. And it I did do it I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Something something banter.
Farage - it’s almost 50 years ago so I don’t remember. But I also know that I didn’t do it. And it I did do it I didn’t mean it in a bad way. Something something banter.
Reposted by Paolo Steen
A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X.
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
NOS plaatst vanaf vandaag geen nieuwsberichten meer op X - Over NOS
De NOS en Nieuwsuur (NOS/NTR) zijn gestopt met posten op X. Het platform past niet meer bij onze visie op...
over.nos.nl
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 AM
A small but significant step: Dutch national broadcaster NOS is leaving X.
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
“The volume of hateful comments and disinformation on X is enormous and flows freely. This also applies under our own posts, meaning we unintentionally contribute to their spread”
over.nos.nl/nieuws/nos-p...
Reposted by Paolo Steen
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
This is exactly what the recent Trump-BBC 'scandal' was designed to achieve. The BBC is now self-censoring criticisms of Trump in the name of "impartiality"
Reposted by Paolo Steen
Not main point (see my other post) but depressing that Phillips happily regurgitates entirely fictional numbers invented by far-right trolls on X and attributes them to "experts" {and Times is happy to print this slop]
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
November 25, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Not main point (see my other post) but depressing that Phillips happily regurgitates entirely fictional numbers invented by far-right trolls on X and attributes them to "experts" {and Times is happy to print this slop]
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...
archive.ph/RlXPj#select...