My planned listen on drive home open.spotify.com/episode/5gWO... @pippacrerar.bsky.social @johnharris1969.bsky.social

Operation Save Big Dog By Giving His Main Rival A Chance To Show He’s Better At Politics is going well www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

This is not suggestive of ‘build, build, build’.

Lovely to see Maybe I'm Amazed at no.6 in @mojomagazine.bsky.social's books of the year, and in such brilliant company. Thank you!

Once again, the Starmer govt seems to be frozen in fear. It's pathetic

Tips for the next DG: 1 - Don't stake your future on impartiality. Perfect impartiality is impossible. Focus on accuracy and accountability. Let journalists and producers do their job. If they get it badly wrong, sack them. 2 - Reverse the deliberate, prolonged cut to arts programming.

The departure of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness means the BBC is leaderless when it needs leadership more than ever. Where are the people at the head of the BBC standing up for it? www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Todmorden Book Festival was just great. Two more Maybe I'm Amazed 2025 dates remain: Manchester Louder Than Words next Sunday, and London/Tower Hamlets WriteIdea (which is free) on Sat 22nd. Tickets etc: Manc: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maybe-im-a... London: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/john-harri...

Latest from me: on seven-party politics, why it's not going to go away & how Labour and the Tories are completely thrown by it www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Just finished Maybe I’m Amazed by @johnharris1969.bsky.social have learnt so much about autism, eyes opened about the SEND system, and have created a brilliant new playlist to boot!

ICYMI (Vol 2 is in this thread and on the playlists too) bsky.app/profile/birm...

Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and surrounding areas: I'm opening the Todmorden Book Festival tonight at 8, talking about my memoir Maybe I'm amazed, music, neurodivergence & more www.ticketsource.co.uk/todmorden-bo...

I think we're now desensitised to the hell that is UK train travel. Currently on a crazily overcrowded 5-carriage service from Bristol to Manc, full of people nervously sitting in untaken reserved seats & stupidly crowded aisles, with the officious, all-is-well announcements sounding Starmer-esque

Why are we seeing a resurgence of racism in 2025 & what can counter it? I spoke to @johnharris1969.bsky.social for the Guardian podcast www.theguardian.com/politics/aud...

“There are a one or two Beatles songs which are a window into how fascinating James’ mind is” - @johnharris1969.bsky.social talks to @yorkshirepost.co.uk about his book Maybe I’m Amazed www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/art...

There's a great piece about my book Maybe I'm Amazed in today's @yorkshirepost.co.uk by @duncanseamanyp.bsky.social. And I'm doing an event at the Todmorden festival this Friday. Tickets here www.ticketsource.co.uk/todmorden-bo...

Why are people in Caerphilly more articulate than the political class at highlighting the issues facing people? Such a phenomenal snapshot of where we are - a microcosm of the factors we’re fighting as a society 🧵 Cracking stuff from @johnharris1969.bsky.social youtu.be/N79jV1waf4g?...

The Johns have been making these videos for a decade+(?) and they remain the best look into what’s really going on, on the ground in the UK. Real people, a plurality of voices, and compassionate, thoughtful observations. A portrait of what politics means for actual people and their daily lives.

SEND briefings & speculation continues. Half-explained at best, this is exactly the kind of stuff that terrifies parents & carers apple.news/ABwmTz2dwS8u...

I'm on at the WriteIdea festival in East London on Sat Nov 22, talking about my book Maybe I'm Amazed, music, neurodivergence & more. It's free! Tower Hamlets Town Hall, E1 1BJ. Book here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/john-harri...

Anywhere But Westminster's next episode is about what just happened in Caerphilly, from the grassroots up. Out next Tuesday

#Todmorden #BookFestival runs from 7th to 15th Nov. John Harris on #Music #Journalism todmordenbookfestival.co.uk/whats-on #Rochdale #Oldham #Bacup #Burnley #Nelson #Ilkley #Haworth #Blackburn #HebdenBridge #Halifax #TodBookFest2025 #MusicJournalism

👀 www.theguardian.com/education/20...

The "oh shit, I'll change my mind" Prime Minister

Starmer should never have got involved with the decision of the local authorities in Birmingham regarding the Villa match and linking it to anti-semitism was idiotic. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Apropos of nothing, I really do think UK journalists and politicians need some reminding that mass deportation of LEGAL immigrants, particularly those with permanent status, is far more extreme than even Trump's America and would basically place Britain completely on its own among democracies.

Latest from me: on what Liverpool says about the housing crisis, and the uneasy state of politics www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Have a closer look at this, Stephen. Jenrick was born in 1982 and is a Wolves fan. If he was in the away end the only times they played there after he was aged two were in League Cup ties in 1989 and 1996 and in the PL in 2003. Like everything else this shapeshifter says, I don't believe a word.

More Maybe I'm Amazed dates! Come and hear/talk about music, autism and more Todmorden book festival, Fri Nov 7 www.ticketsource.co.uk/todmorden-bo... Glasgow Aye Write, Sat Nov 8 www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/mayb... Manchester Louder Than Words, Sun Nov 16 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maybe-im-a...

Now THIS will be a truly touching event. Join @johnharris1969 in conversation Sun 16 Nov, 4.14pm @innsideuk Manchester. In his extraordinary memoir, a father tells the story of how music opened up the world to his son, one song at a time. All tickets/info: tinyurl.com/3rxjfpza

RIP Ace Frehley, who had the best make-up & solo single, and was a total New Yorker

Quite the spectacle to see media outlets who've cheered on austerity saying 'oh god, SEND spending is out of control'. Well, if you gut councils, fail to provide local special school spaces, collapse SureStart and leave public/collective transport to rot, that's what happens. Cuts are expensive

Just finished reading Maybe I'm Amazed, a lovely book about autism and music by @johnharris1969.bsky.social. The Beatles loom large, just as they should. Of course, autism is a big subject and the book is also about family, society and inclusion. Which is part of what makes it so relevant.

Interesting. But let's see. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

I'm going to be in Glasgow on the evening of Saturday Nov 8th, talking about Maybe I'm Amazed, music, neurodivergence and more with @nicolameighan.bsky.social Details below t.co/Mr3ZqgHfqg

What bollocks this is.

"New dawn for Gaza"/"Trump is a genius" latest

In UK shops today. Check that tracklisting.

Jean Baudrillard, where are you now

From Robert Jenrick's video - in which he did not see a single other white face on a brief trip to Birmingham, despite his video showing that he did. "He must have been walking around Handsworth with his eyes closed" writes Dan Cave www.birminghamdispatch.co.uk/a-notorious-...

Absurd. You basically get a building drive that doesn't answer the reasons you wanted it in the first place. This is a huge problem on.ft.com/4mGxgd3

Brilliant, fascinating couple of Maybe I'm Amazed events this weekend in Durham & Ilkley. Big thanks to Paul Smith & @frankjf.bsky.social for such perceptive interviews, the organisers of two superb festivals & everyone who came Order the book here linktr.ee/maybeimamazed

Thrilled to be interviewing the multiple-award winning @johnharris1969.bsky.social this afternoon for @ilkleylitfest.bsky.social about his fascinating, deeply moving and richly informative new book.

Allies and soulmates of Trump may well become the next UK government. This why special needs parents plead with Labour ministers: do not take our hard-won rights away, from us or families who might face this in the future

You might have heard of 'dark kitchens' when a row of sheds in a car park churn out food for Deliveroo. They're unpopular and low margin. So the next big thing in London food is 'host kitchens' where local pubs, restaurants and kebab shops cook for big brands. www.londoncentric.media/p/host-kitch...

A must read book, still one of may favourite reads this year. The Kraftwerk chapter is proper emotional.

In Ilkley or nearby on Sunday? At 3.45 I'll be talking about my book Maybe I'm Amazed and everything that surrounds it - music, autism, why songs soundtrack our lives. Details here itsoninbradford.co.uk/events/john-...

In Durham? Or not? Tomorrow at 3pm I'll be talking about my book Maybe I'm Amazed, music, autism & more with the great Paul Smith from Maximo Park. Be there or livestream it, details here galadurham.co.uk/galapost/joh...

Rum stuff about SEND from two insiders here. "There's a lot of worry in the system," says one. No, there are a lot of worried parents. Who, as per the screenshot, know that targeted provision based on assessment is what SEND is (or was?). Which is why we're worried schoolsweek.co.uk/send-adviser...