It's like watching a doctor remove all the infected organs and wondering if they'll be enough left to allow the uninfected patient to live.

A reminder to the news media: “conflicting accounts” is what you say BEFORE the incontrovertible video evidence appears. After that, your job is to ask why one side is lying, not to repeat the lie and pretend no one knows the truth.

In fact, don't take my word for it, CNN analysis here has multiple video angles and pretty solid evidence that Pretti's gun was in its holster and was removed by an agent, while Pretti was being restrained, all before he was subsequently shot. edition.cnn.com/2026/01/24/u...

Watch the man in the tan coat, blue jeans, black gloves, approaches the fracas from the left with empty hands. He then runs directly towards the camera, seemingly with a pistol in his right hand. Possibly Pretti's pistol, having removed it from his person, BEFORE the first shot is heard.

Another good piece of analysis from @samfr.bsky.social This line: "no government has bothered coming up with a coherent theory of regulation" - it sounds academic but it's absolutely central. You can't coordinate any improvement without describing at least what you *think* good looks like.

When one person starts with coercion and another responds with compliance, the pattern is set. Sure, pick your battles, but remember Angelou: "when they show you who they are, believe them the first time" works both ways.

“No one man can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.” -Edward R. Murrow

If you're interested in civil society and/or national renewal, this is an excellent read. It's about the lessons learned and the movement that's growing around community-led development. Well done @jamestplunkett.bsky.social for bringing it so eloquently together and @samfr.bsky.social for sharing.

I try to avoid party politics on here, but forgive me one post: If you have no agenda you end up being driven by everyone else's. That every email I get from my local Labour Party is that "we need to mobilise to keep out Reform" or to "end the Tory shambles" is as depressing as it is telling.

Reminder that in the UK an incoming radical, populist government would have immediate access to immense, unchecked executive power. And the current government is doing nothing to protect us from that.

Keep watching - Trump and his circle almost have their precious goal: invoking the Insurrection Act. As per said before: a great deal of what is being done is simply Trump and his circle working backwards from this objective.

Manchester is the fastest growing local economy in the UK and also has the most holistic and integrated approach to community, health, and voluntary sector development. That's no coincidence. Join me to find out how it works: binleydrake.com/event/in-goo... @hayleylever.bsky.social @gmmoving.co.uk

For years now, the charity sector has faced a lot of headwinds that only seem to be strengthening. The question is, can we use them to move us forwards instead of blowing us backwards? @martyndrake.bsky.social

Do these people just watch Black Mirror and think "hell yeah, there's the business opportunity we've missed"?

The right to life comprises a right not to be unlawfully killed and a right to have any killing properly investigated.

“This is how radicalised American media and politics is becoming on the right” “It’s really, really disturbing” Lewis and Jon discuss the “grotesque” reporting by MAGA media after a women was shot dead by ICE.

The prize goal for Stephen Miller and others who surround Trump is to trigger both the Alien Enemies Act and the Insurrection Act - formal bases for unlimited executive power. A great deal of what is being done is simply them working backwards from that objective.

Trump says he’s “designating people” to run Venezuela Says “the people behind me” will be running Venezuela Ie Rubio, Hegseth and the US military It could hardly be more imperial…

Rubio says Cuba is run "by incompetent senile men" in a moment of spectacular projection. (Yes they're threatening Cuba now).

Just gonna leave this here

For five bonus points, Europe, who sang, "If you tolerate this, your country will be next?"

This is such a good article on organisations and delivery. Some points might seem obvious to people who've had roles in large corporates, but others are more subtly profound. And it's equally instructive for those in mid-scale non-profits as for those in the civil service. Highly recommended read.

This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.

Extraordinary poll. Basically says "I'm fine but I'm told everything is terrible." Kinda reminds me of something,... "The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." And you can see which "Party" in the breakdown later in the thread.

What a day: been to the dentist, completed my VAT return, and got Sky to cancel the temporary TNT subscription I got to watch the Ashes. The first two were a breeze compared to the last. The amount of sludge you have to trawl through to cancel a subscription is mind blowing. Anyway, Merry Xmas.

Love this short opinion piece on “mechanical bypass” in analogy to “spiritual bypass”.

Had to go to A&E last night, the last Saturday night before Christmas… Took a book, water, phone charger etc etc. I’d had a twelve hour wait back in 2022 so I was prepared this time. I was in, assessed, treated & patched up, & home again in LESS THAN THREE HOURS??? And that is why I voted Labour.

Wonder if he will rename DC next...

Absolutely nobody asked for this BUT English Anglican cathedrals that have burned down, fallen over, and sank into the swamp: a thread.

One Laptop Per Child, 10 years later: "we find no significant effects on academic performance but some evidence of negative effects on grade progression... computer access significantly improved students’ computer skills but not their cognitive skills" www.nber.org/papers/w34495

This will always and forever be the most on point and prescient thing that Fukuyama ever wrote.

I still find it a little bizarre that, for a lot of people, including plenty who work in the voluntary sector, the idea of charities “becoming more commercial” is somehow seen as distasteful or immoral - @martyndrake.bsky.social

Brilliant piece on what our children will and won't thank us for in the era of AI. Naomi is SO GOOD on all of this: naomialderman.substack.com/p/preparing-...

A quote for the ages, and not just in relation to the BBC.

Lord David Frost on taking a lead role at the "politically neutral" Institute for Economic Affairs... Peak double-speak?

Cool. What would you call the other wing then? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...

Don't trust the dodgy data saying wealthy people are fleeing the country because of higher taxes. NEF chief exec @dhnnjyn.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk Cross Questions.

For more reasons to be positive, join me a week on Thursday in the excellent company of @lynnanneperry.bsky.social and @markrusselluk.bsky.social to learn how the incredibly impactful children's charities coalition came to be. Register here: binleydrake.com/event/in-goo...

Despite everything, there are plenty of reasons to be positive. And now, more than ever, we need to remind ourselves of them. Because ours is a sector that, at its best, offers a beacon of hope to millions of people. Remember that. @martyndrake.bsky.social

Minority representation on TV causes outrage From the new Private Eye, in shops now.

*gasp*

"Everyone goes on protest marches for their own unique reasons, but everyone gets the same three big psychological benefits from doing so: belonging, purpose and agency. The exact same benefits those same people could get from a great volunteering experience" - @martyndrake.bsky.social

What a weekend. Red roses winning the World Cup and Notts CCC taking the county championship. Fantastic.

Congratulations to England's Red Roses, the women's rugby world cup winners. A superb effort over six weeks and deserved winners.

"Trustees need to know, if they don't already, the pressure that third sector leaders are facing around the country right now." @markrusselluk.bsky.social on the important role for trustee boards in promoting the wellbeing of senior leadership teams. 🎧 Podcast: bit.ly/4mgVYk7

Absolutely delighted to hear @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social committing to tackling child poverty as top priority as a moral mission for this government We @childrenssociety.bsky.social fully back removing the punitive 2-child benefit gap to accelerate impact of new child poverty strategy

"You don't apply to be a chief executive unless you've got a certain sense of ego. And I admit I've got one too." @markrusselluk.bsky.social explains why his ego and the @childrenssociety.bsky.social brand both need to be set aside to enable social change. 🎧 Full podcast interview: bit.ly/4mgVYk7