Aren't you entertained, Clacton?

A little surprised to see anyone in authority, beyond the usual suspects, suggesting 'the end justifies the means' Trump's intervention in Venezuela is highly unlikely be 'the end' as GW Bush discovered in Iraq

Most especially the “non partisan” @theipaper.com

This by @ecfr.eu’s Majda Ruge is a good guide to Trump’s calculus on Venezuela. Rival factions (primacists, prioritisers, restrainers) have been counseling different courses of action, but “the answers depend on what the president decides will bring him the biggest ‘win’.” ecfr.eu/article/maga...

Just like the Tories, Labour's centrist hacks think themselves omniscient and infallible - they cannot fail, they can only be failed. So when they do fail, they blame everyone else. We saw it with the Tories, and it's already started from the Starmerites with this idiotic dreck: archive.ph/rHoXA

It's hard to imagine how Yarvin managed to ensnare so many with a philosophy based on autocracy & the mirage of benevolent dictatorship; but maybe when you've got a fancy fridge & latest everything, spiritual fantasy of a Yarvin beckons🤷‍♂️ 🙏 @iandunt.bsky.social liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/409...

“Trump has created a civil war-like atmosphere in the US and threatens the security of the planet. When will someone stand up like the boy in the fairy tale and say the #emperor has no clothes?” www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Unbelievable but in Trump world, business as usual Ambo Popolo: A long-time Republican supporter, Popolo has contributed millions of dollars to party candidates and causes, including significant donations to Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns www-nbcnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nbcn...

The inherent evils of colonialist supremacy still alive and kicking today in Russia and Isreal, to name just two

Apparently it’s the fault of #boomers like everything else Boomers didn’t dream up the Oz daft social media ban or social media itself ‘They’ve all found workarounds’: Irish parents in Australia on the social media ban www.irishtimes.com/abroad/2025/...

One of the strongest justifications for the ECHR and the Human Rights Act is that they provide (some) protection when a government wants to take punitive action against people it decides it doesn’t like - including for politically expedient, even irrational, capricious or ephemeral reasons

If chlorinated chicken enters the UK food supply, you can kiss closer EU cooperation "adieu" and not "au revoir" As was said many years ago by an American Republican: "just say no"

In the iPaper today, Matthew Elliott points the finger at Thomas Piketty as the villain who "broke Britain" & carefully avoids any mention of the disaster that is #brexit & his commanding role in it Nonetheless, it's all Piketty's fault, obviously 😡 liveapp.inews.co.uk/category/411...

“Influencers”, botoxy beauty therapists & dodgy nutritionists too?

Brendan O’Carroll shouldn’t have to wait for the BBC or RTE to pull the plug on Mrs Brown’s stereotypical Finglas granny He could do the honourable thing himself & spare the nation of any further cringeworthy embarrassment Mrs Brown’s Boys review: www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...

Someone never got enough coal in his Christmas stocking www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/...

Something we should all do; cherish our carer community For carers, employed or voluntary, Xmas is just another day looking after their patients, clients or loved ones Something the crass loudmouths of the Tory & #refuk (not forgetting Labour appeasers) fail to understand, until it's their turn

Raynor Winn’s new book: The Garden Path

The first images of the new Trump class of bigly battleships for the US Navy has been released.

A "big beautiful battleship" The Navy found the secret path to secure funding for their dream projects: just call it a #Trump something... BBC News - Trump unveils plans for 'Golden Fleet' battleships named after himself www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The story of Farage and Putin, told by British-Ukrainian soldier Shaun Pinner on a destroyed apartment block in Kyiv.

From Ireland 🇮🇪 Our government have advised all Irish people traveling to the US to get a new clean phone. Thats how the US is seen now. The world is waiting for the big beautiful obituary

Is this a coincidence @theipaper.com (yes I know the “independent” titles share ownership)?

Why 11 years after this toolkit was sent to every medical practitioner in the UK are they still missing the symptoms of sepsis? www.england.nhs.uk/2014/09/psa-...

So now we're measuring stuff in pizzas... The DiskSats are 39 inches (1 meter) wide, about twice the diameter of a New York-style pizza These are the flying discs the government wants you to know about - Ars Technica share.google/1GryzxZWntum...

There is no ‘SUPER FLU’ A title that has been used in mainstream media, hyped by politicians and used as a narrative. Nevertheless no one wants to be ill or in hospital this Christmas or New Year unless you are working. Get your vaccine now. www.gov.uk/government/s...

The impartial, BBC hero Michael Prescott, again? 🤔

🚨🚨In today's "the world's most trustworthy trading partner": #US suspends technology deal with Britain. 🧵 www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Christmas Ident Calendar Day 15. BBC2's '2' stayed with Wallace & Gromit in 1995 to promote A Close Shave, which was watched by 10.62m on Christmas Eve. This presentation won a BAFTA for Best Graphic Design. Look out for the nod, the wink & the raised glass at the end.

Incredibly brave man. Next time a maniac commits some atrocity, remember that for every Islamic terrorist there are millions of peaceful Muslims just living a peaceful life. Or, like this wonderful guy, risking everything to save strangers of a different religion.

Only the Graun feels the need to ask the question (hint:💰) For the Daily Hate, Sunday Times etc & in true Xmas spirit, it’s: ‘Even at Christmas, Meghan hates her Dad’ ffs 🫩 www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

It's the 21st century & yet Aer Lingus, being situated north of the Liffey, seems to cling on to some very ancient north / south cultural tropes 🙄 ‘Posh Belvedere boy’: Aer Lingus pilot tells WRC about co-pilot’s use of word ‘apologies’ www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

HERITAGE FOUNDATION: "Nice state ya got there. Pity if anything happened to it." INDIANA: "Oh, *do* fuck off."

And for Trump & Putin, Poland would only be the start

Perhaps Specsavers can help Donna Quixote see the real enemy Excellent from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump hates Europe’s democracies because they have universal health care, a strong social welfare system and heavy unionization. He prefers MBS’s Saudi Arabia, where one trillionaire family runs a brutal dictatorship. What a betrayal of American values!

So this week shall I write about how killing unarmed civilians is murder or about how unwise it would be to limit the human right against torture. Western liberal democracies in 2025.

I appreciate I’m no longer the targeted demographic but this effort at revitalising the Whovian whatnot is thin gruel; a opportunity down the pan, like the plot 😕 #doctorwho www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...?

I have a 94yo neighbour who plans to vote reform. I've looked after him through ill health, sorted out his computer and smartphone pretty much every night. To him Farage's policies might mean deportation for my ILtR wife (and therefore kids). His response: "I couldn't give a shit".

Still the best ever tweet about the World Cup draw (might be tricky for non-Irish people to get)

As allegedly overheard by Luke #Skywalker in the Mos Eisley Cantina: 'We're pissed off because we overlooked an opportunity for a #StarWars prequel so based on a "letter agreement" we found behind the desk, we now want a slice of the cake' parade.com/news/1993-co...

🚨🚨 God #America, this is grim and a very stark wake-up call to European political ledaders on the (non) future of the "transatlantic alliance":

😐

1. That the BBC has not been positive enough about the great famines in Ireland and Bengal. They don’t specify which of the Bengal famines, but assuming both that would be some 14 million deaths. Surely the BBC should have found a way of claiming them as triumphs of British rule?

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

Well, good for Canada & their participation in the EU #SAFE programme; CANADA 🇨🇦 As for the UK, it's all the fault of the EU apparently... 🤔 cc @davidheniguk.bsky.social Canada clinches deal to join Europe’s €150B defense scheme – POLITICO share.google/TTujNOANLqVA...

Honestly the completely weird Budget coverage is mostly a sign of how pretty much any attack can stick when you’re unpopular enough. Of course Rachel Reeves didn’t brief the full Cabinet on Budget details weeks in advance! No chancellor ever does! It would immediately leak!

The irony of pedants everywhere calling out the OUP's Word of the Year, as not one word, but two... #oxfordWOTY Compound words 🙄