William Cullerne Bown
@williamcb.bsky.social
Technology and politics.
Newsletter https://bit.ly/3AELZDu
Foundations of AI https://bit.ly/3WiYJab
Law https://bit.ly/40YL1fU
Research Fortnight https://bit.ly/4i0
https://signal.me/#eu/xNzjw2P7XIGjBfdQicHbMp0V5SuVpgCQOeUZNpDRqH-mkt2Tan9G6Y0ZitEKsVkN
Newsletter https://bit.ly/3AELZDu
Foundations of AI https://bit.ly/3WiYJab
Law https://bit.ly/40YL1fU
Research Fortnight https://bit.ly/4i0
https://signal.me/#eu/xNzjw2P7XIGjBfdQicHbMp0V5SuVpgCQOeUZNpDRqH-mkt2Tan9G6Y0ZitEKsVkN
Pinned
Trump, Starmer and the populist tide
Old concepts such as left vs right, trust and class aren't enough to explain the trouble we're in
open.substack.com
Today I argue Keir Starmer can only be understood in the context of deep shifts in the character of our politics that are still hard to grasp
open.substack.com/pub/williamc...
open.substack.com/pub/williamc...
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
I see Johnson is back in the news. I wrote this awhile ago now, partly in hope, but still believe he will eventually only be vaguely recalled as is a lingering but fading fruity fart. www.spectator.co.uk/article/bori...
Boris Johnson's fate is to be forgotten
Winning the 2019 election with a thumping majority was the worse thing to happen to Boris Johnson
www.spectator.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I see Johnson is back in the news. I wrote this awhile ago now, partly in hope, but still believe he will eventually only be vaguely recalled as is a lingering but fading fruity fart. www.spectator.co.uk/article/bori...
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
A former guest who knows him, once told me that Trump sees politics as a reality show. Whatever else happens, by Friday every week, he has to "win the episode", ensure he's the principal character, make the last shot.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
November 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
A former guest who knows him, once told me that Trump sees politics as a reality show. Whatever else happens, by Friday every week, he has to "win the episode", ensure he's the principal character, make the last shot.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
Once you tune into that, everything begins to make a twisted sort of sense.
Great!
Strong relationships like Canada and the UK’s are fundamental to economic growth and security.
Today, Keir Starmer and I met to discuss new opportunities in energy, technology, and critical minerals — as well as next steps toward a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe.
Today, Keir Starmer and I met to discuss new opportunities in energy, technology, and critical minerals — as well as next steps toward a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe.
November 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Great!
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
"Once the immigration figures came out, we acted" writes Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on the party missing its targets to reduce net migration (!)
> Party missed "tens of thousands" target in 36 consecutive quarters, 2010-2019
> Made some changes after 52 quarters in power in Dec 2023
> Party missed "tens of thousands" target in 36 consecutive quarters, 2010-2019
> Made some changes after 52 quarters in power in Dec 2023
November 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
"Once the immigration figures came out, we acted" writes Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on the party missing its targets to reduce net migration (!)
> Party missed "tens of thousands" target in 36 consecutive quarters, 2010-2019
> Made some changes after 52 quarters in power in Dec 2023
> Party missed "tens of thousands" target in 36 consecutive quarters, 2010-2019
> Made some changes after 52 quarters in power in Dec 2023
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
Can he make your boobs bigger? Yes!
"You can agree or disagree with him, but Polanski does not pretend to be something he is not.
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
He is unusually willing for a politician to give a straight answer to questions.
Does he want to rejoin the EU? “Yes."
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Zack Polanski: ‘People will have to find some other way to hurt me’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Can he make your boobs bigger? Yes!
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
so everyone is being really stupid about hemp fiber in a way that I think is actually pretty bad-faith youtu.be/ZCdR4x0gF3k?...
The Real Reason Hemp Hasn’t Replaced Cotton
YouTube video by The Hustle
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
so everyone is being really stupid about hemp fiber in a way that I think is actually pretty bad-faith youtu.be/ZCdR4x0gF3k?...
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
Roseberry Topping sunset, north Yorkshire, photo by Harrogate-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.
November 22, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Roseberry Topping sunset, north Yorkshire, photo by Harrogate-based landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
What stage of fascism is it when the leader doesn’t mind being called a fascist? 🤔 #Trumpland #USFascism
Reporter: Are you affirming that you think the president is a fascist?
Mamdani: I've spoken about --
Trump: Just say yes, it's easier than explaining.
Mamdani: I've spoken about --
Trump: Just say yes, it's easier than explaining.
November 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM
What stage of fascism is it when the leader doesn’t mind being called a fascist? 🤔 #Trumpland #USFascism
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
This (from: www.ft.com/content/75ce...) is something you can *feel* if you are in the UK, especially if you've experienced living abroad. But infuriatingly successive governments and our entire media are somehow absolutely committed to suggesting anyone who wants to change this is the devil...
November 21, 2025 at 7:38 AM
This (from: www.ft.com/content/75ce...) is something you can *feel* if you are in the UK, especially if you've experienced living abroad. But infuriatingly successive governments and our entire media are somehow absolutely committed to suggesting anyone who wants to change this is the devil...
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
it’s not so much that digital media divide us as they dissolve us. the space of what you can interact with is constituted ever more sparsely of humans.
November 21, 2025 at 7:38 PM
it’s not so much that digital media divide us as they dissolve us. the space of what you can interact with is constituted ever more sparsely of humans.
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
Excited to host a timely debate:
‘From Regulation to Resilience: Role of Digital Laws in Defending Democracy & Security’
Speakers:
@meredithmeredith.bsky.social
@johnnyryan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
@mollymckew.bsky.social
Stay tuned! #Regulation4Resilience
defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...
‘From Regulation to Resilience: Role of Digital Laws in Defending Democracy & Security’
Speakers:
@meredithmeredith.bsky.social
@johnnyryan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
@mollymckew.bsky.social
Stay tuned! #Regulation4Resilience
defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...
November 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Excited to host a timely debate:
‘From Regulation to Resilience: Role of Digital Laws in Defending Democracy & Security’
Speakers:
@meredithmeredith.bsky.social
@johnnyryan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
@mollymckew.bsky.social
Stay tuned! #Regulation4Resilience
defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...
‘From Regulation to Resilience: Role of Digital Laws in Defending Democracy & Security’
Speakers:
@meredithmeredith.bsky.social
@johnnyryan.bsky.social
@robin.berjon.com
@mollymckew.bsky.social
Stay tuned! #Regulation4Resilience
defenddemocracy.eu/events/4-dec...
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
Having Johnson & Cummings in Downing Street when Covid struck was, just like Brexit, an entirely avoidable disaster caused largely by utterly appalling journalism. And now exactly the same clowns, arses & bigots with bylines are rolling out the red carpet for Farage.
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
Covid inquiry live: ‘Inexcusable’ delays under Johnson led to 23,000 deaths
Lockdowns may have been avoided if Boris Johnson’s government had acted faster, damning report finds
www.thetimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Having Johnson & Cummings in Downing Street when Covid struck was, just like Brexit, an entirely avoidable disaster caused largely by utterly appalling journalism. And now exactly the same clowns, arses & bigots with bylines are rolling out the red carpet for Farage.
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
www.thetimes.com/article/1b15...
New Economy Brief - The AI bubble www.neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
The AI bubble | NEB Digest
Exploring how the fallout from an AI bust might affect the UK.
www.neweconomybrief.net
November 20, 2025 at 5:51 PM
New Economy Brief - The AI bubble www.neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/t...
I like the phrase, “the average dictator”. It’s got legs.
“Trump is an average dictator - old, going on senile.”
“Trump is an average dictator - old, going on senile.”
The average dictator is close to 40 year older than the median person in their country - and it is increasing.
The average democrat is less than 25 year older than the median person in their country - and it is decreasing.
The average democrat is less than 25 year older than the median person in their country - and it is decreasing.
November 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I like the phrase, “the average dictator”. It’s got legs.
“Trump is an average dictator - old, going on senile.”
“Trump is an average dictator - old, going on senile.”
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
So you might be thinking, well, that's just a historical issue. I go to Manchester city centre and see lots of towers and cranes, so the gap is surely closing.
Nope. In fact, the gap is getting wider - a sixth of the total gap emerged in the past decade!
Nope. In fact, the gap is getting wider - a sixth of the total gap emerged in the past decade!
November 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
So you might be thinking, well, that's just a historical issue. I go to Manchester city centre and see lots of towers and cranes, so the gap is surely closing.
Nope. In fact, the gap is getting wider - a sixth of the total gap emerged in the past decade!
Nope. In fact, the gap is getting wider - a sixth of the total gap emerged in the past decade!
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
The report says, "Too many of the brightest scientists are walking away, frustrated by bloated bureaucracy and disillusioned by the poor incentives created by a “publish or perish” culture – or deprived of meaningful autonomy until late in their careers." There's your manifesto for university reform
November 20, 2025 at 10:40 AM
The report says, "Too many of the brightest scientists are walking away, frustrated by bloated bureaucracy and disillusioned by the poor incentives created by a “publish or perish” culture – or deprived of meaningful autonomy until late in their careers." There's your manifesto for university reform
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
'The UK should establish a network of “disruptive invention” labs outside of the university system to pursue frontier science and technology'. (Tony Blair Institute)
The UK should stabilise the disrupted university system before faffing about with shiny new disruptive networks. (actual researcher)
The UK should stabilise the disrupted university system before faffing about with shiny new disruptive networks. (actual researcher)
UK needs new ‘disruptive’ labs for frontier science, says think tank.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
November 20, 2025 at 10:14 AM
'The UK should establish a network of “disruptive invention” labs outside of the university system to pursue frontier science and technology'. (Tony Blair Institute)
The UK should stabilise the disrupted university system before faffing about with shiny new disruptive networks. (actual researcher)
The UK should stabilise the disrupted university system before faffing about with shiny new disruptive networks. (actual researcher)
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
A semi-regular AI map-drawing test. This was my older attempt
November 20, 2025 at 10:07 AM
A semi-regular AI map-drawing test. This was my older attempt
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
The catastrophic illegal waste dumping in Oxfordshire (see next post) is a direct result of the deregulation-by-stealth I wrote about in 2021, when my dead goldfish became a registered waste disposer. I warned it would let the mafia in. And here we are.🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Britain through the looking glass: my dead goldfish is now a registered waste disposer | George Monbiot
Algernon Goldfish is long gone, but I was able to sign him up. No wonder so many crooks are illegally dumping and ruining our environment, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The catastrophic illegal waste dumping in Oxfordshire (see next post) is a direct result of the deregulation-by-stealth I wrote about in 2021, when my dead goldfish became a registered waste disposer. I warned it would let the mafia in. And here we are.🧵
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The lunatics...
November 20, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The lunatics...
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
They want to live under Sharia law whilst being paid to tell everyone that London has Sharia law
November 19, 2025 at 2:49 PM
They want to live under Sharia law whilst being paid to tell everyone that London has Sharia law
Very interesting
I don't write about my old employer very often, but just this once:
Thoughts on America's pro-Nazi radio priest and why the BBC should fight like hell.
Thoughts on America's pro-Nazi radio priest and why the BBC should fight like hell.
A closer look at the BBC’s foundation suggests that a battle with an American demagogue has been coming for a century, writes @philtinline.bsky.social.
November 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Very interesting
"My name is Nigel, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
In a spell-binding move, Reform run, cash-strapped, Kent County Council repaints the yellow 'Keep Clear' lines outside a school that closed 10 years ago
news.sky.com/story/reform...
news.sky.com/story/reform...
Reform council repaints road markings for school which closed in 2016
Kent County Council sold the disused school site to a government agency in March, but has repainted yellow zigzags and "School Keep Clear" warnings.
news.sky.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:22 AM
"My name is Nigel, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Reform lack gorm.
In a spell-binding move, Reform run, cash-strapped, Kent County Council repaints the yellow 'Keep Clear' lines outside a school that closed 10 years ago
news.sky.com/story/reform...
news.sky.com/story/reform...
Reform council repaints road markings for school which closed in 2016
Kent County Council sold the disused school site to a government agency in March, but has repainted yellow zigzags and "School Keep Clear" warnings.
news.sky.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Reform lack gorm.
Reposted by William Cullerne Bown
In a spell-binding move, Reform run, cash-strapped, Kent County Council repaints the yellow 'Keep Clear' lines outside a school that closed 10 years ago
news.sky.com/story/reform...
news.sky.com/story/reform...
Reform council repaints road markings for school which closed in 2016
Kent County Council sold the disused school site to a government agency in March, but has repainted yellow zigzags and "School Keep Clear" warnings.
news.sky.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:25 AM
In a spell-binding move, Reform run, cash-strapped, Kent County Council repaints the yellow 'Keep Clear' lines outside a school that closed 10 years ago
news.sky.com/story/reform...
news.sky.com/story/reform...