Ah yes – the familiar doctrine of modern right-wing politics: "I didn’t say that, and if I did you misheard it, and if you didn’t mishear it then I meant something else entirely."

With these brilliant panel guests, this is going to be a really interesting discussion on the state of America. It's this Thursday - so the best time to sign up is now!

This is absolutely right. To change a deeply ingrained culture you have to target schools. Worth a read to look at what is being proposed ⤵️

I'm used to writing for our publication. Less used to being featured in it - but here we are. The Bylines Network Editors-in-Chief are almost all women. As we approach #IWD2026, we celebrate that, and how it shapes our organisation. Links to other EiC profiles included here ⤵️

What happens to so many young, decent, idealistic people once they get their hands on power?

We have arrived.👋 The economic departments of the @ec.europa.eu are now on Bluesky to share with you news, analyses, new initiatives, publications on everything related to EU economy, finance, budget, taxations, customs, reforms and investments. Join us and spread the word. It'll be fun. 🤘

Breathtaking lack of self-awareness.

I enjoyed this piece by Stuart Burrell, walking us through the history of threats this country faced, and contrasting it with the one today that so many of us welcome into our home.

This short thread is a snapshot, based on anecdotes, of what did and didn't matter to voters in G&D. Worth a read ⤵️

'Coastal Defences.' Eric Ravilious painted this work in Newhaven, East Sussex in 1940; as a coastal town it was heavily fortified because of its targeting as part of Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Britain by German forces.

The US once funded tools to bypass censorship in authoritarian regimes. Now it plans to bypass laws in European democracies. Europe says it’s protecting citizens: Washington calls it civilisational decline. Who is going to supply ‘http://freedom.gov ’ with material that breaks UK law?

Flooded streets, ruined crops, vanishing insurance – this is not tomorrow’s crisis. @rupertread.bsky.social says the UK is already experiencing the early texture of climate breakdown now, and adaptation is no longer optional but essential.

If the UK is diminished on the world stage, it’s because of what the Conservatives delivered in 2016. They own it.

Interesting to see the UK getting such prominence in this TikTok video put out by the German government.

This is amazing 😂

You probably have to be of a certain age to truly appreciate this, made during the Thatcher years. But still, what has the BBC ever given us?

I think the White House badly underestimates the strength of the pan-European folk memory of 1930s appeasement, and how deep it still cuts. I suppose this is what happens when you learn in school that WW2 started in 1941 in Hawaii.

it's more or less impossible to find issues that poll this badly and he's decided to make it a major, public priority www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-tru...

Superb!

Surely the Danish pastries will swing it!

When not running East Anglia Bylines, my other hat is a European one, chairing this lovely group. ⤵️ We've just joined Bluesky - if you're in Suffolk and pro-EU - please do give us a follow!

A new wildlife hospital has been refused permission – just as rescue demand is rising fast. The charity treats more than 1,000 animals a year. Full story in the article ⤵️

the European mission to Greenland was fourth in the BBC news running order this morning, which feels a bit like doing a light "and finally..." item about the archduke's motorcade taking a wrong turn in Sarajevo

I don’t think I’ve read anything quite so sobering and quietly terrifying about Trump’s America.

This has been the plan all along. - Foment violence and chaos in the streets of MN - Implement the Insurrection Act - Declare Martial Law - Suspend elections

Top trolling from the TUC! 👏

If you've lived in authoritarian countries (I have) this sort of thing is familiar (but still not okay - it makes people rightly angry). It's staggering to think that this has become a lived reality for many Americans in just one year.

This was such a fun series to curate - lots of different articles using the 12 days of Christmas as the basis for each day's theme.

Venezuela wasn’t just a US intervention – it was a stress test. And Starmer's reaction shows how little influence we now have when an ally acts unilaterally.

Just watched it and loved it. Highly recommended.

In this 2025 retrospective long-form piece, The Bear examines how cruelty, farce and institutional collapse became normalised. @eastangliabylines.co.uk @bearlypolitics.co.uk

My latest, showcasing the incredible work of The Waterfowl Sanctuary in Cambridgeshire. Watch the short videos of these 7 swan rescues ⤵️

As Musk found out with Twitter, Trump can rename it anything he wants - everyone will still call it the Kennedy Center.

The hypocrisy is strong with this one.

She’s so desperate to be relevant, it hurts.

On the 4th day of Christmas... The original 1780 lyrics gave us “four colly birds”. Today’s “calling birds” loses that meaning. There are 5–6 million breeding pairs in the UK. Find out more about these widely loved birds that are part of our gardens all year round ⤵️ @eastangliabylines.co.uk

Can we stop pretending it’s just young people who are harmed by this. In many ways the impact is *worse* on the middle aged. And the middle-aged vote.

The latest edition of the Bylines Network Gazette is out now! Breaking down climate change and sustainability from a citizen perspective, with articles from every corner of the UK and extra words from George Monbiot. Sign up to get your copy: bylinesnetwork.substack.com/p/december-b...

Still in a state of shock trying to process the tragic loss of one of the most gifted men in the entertainment industry & his wife when the Embarrassment-in-Chief disgraces common human decency with this repulsive, deranged statement. #NoWords 🤮

If you haven’t come across Pecksniff before, he writes a weekly political diary that’s always entertaining. Always worth a read and follow ⤵️

Reform UK have announced that they will be implementing a ‘one in, one out’ policy for Tory MPs wishing to join the party. 😬

Since Brexit, Farage has built his entire spittle-flecked identity around the arrival of small boats. If this becomes the new normal, he and his party face a serious problem of relevance.

Since Brexit, Farage has built his entire spittle-flecked identity around the arrival of small boats. If this becomes the new normal, he and his party face a serious problem of relevance.

The US government is now a mafia organization.

Interesting that the BBC will call National Rally "Far Right" (in an article about Bardella meeting Farage) - when they would never use that term for Reform. Their policies are very similar. If anything Reform's are more authoritarian.

A perfect storm of climate and commerce might explain why the Black Death struck Europe when it did. Understanding this may help our future resilience to pandemics. Fascinating research from Cambridge University 👇