We’ve already seen the leader of South Korea driven from reality by YouTube. So what happens when the President of the USA really does live in an invented news environment curated by his courtiers?

“Facebook’s own researchers found that “64% of all extremist group joins are due to our recommendation tools”, an internal report in 2016 found.” www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

And through the news filter.... www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...

This week’s WhatsApp Good News is out now: whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

🏡 Ground broken on Rotherham Council’s newest housing development www.rotherham.gov.uk/news/article...

Popped down to St Margaret’s for the Harvest Festival this morning. @ginamonk.bsky.social and I supported the scarecrow competition from our ward budget, but Josh would like to clarify that he did not help make this one.

👍 Work starts on big council housebuilding project www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/...

"How many traitors are in Farage's new party?" would, I suggest be a better line than Digital ID. To beat Reform, make wavering voters ashamed to back them.

The Pride in Place Programme - announced today - has published its allocations. At first glance, I think £3.5 billion of the £5 billion is new - mooted in the Spending Review - and £1.5 billion is from the Long-Term Plan for Towns that has been previously announced. www.gov.uk/government/p...

This is a distinct upgrade on my usual claim that all MPs want to be councillors really.

Strong agree on the spectre of “postcode lottery” that paralyses our systems of government. Less convinced that the devolution on offer will actually empower communities in a way that builds trust, capacity and confidence.

Orgreave was the site of an infamous clash between striking miners and the police. Now it's housing. @jennymessenger.bsky.social has gone to visit and charted the whole story www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/it-w...

Paracetamol remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women. Following rigorous assessment of the available scientific data, we find no evidence that taking paracetamol during pregnancy causes autism in children. Read more 👉 www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/use-...

This is how it begins, with indirect insinuations and fake-humble pleas of uncertainty, as if online conspiracy theories, cranks and grifters carry equal weight to the overwhelming body of scientific evidence and medical expert opinion. Then they get into power and start shredding the health service

Planned £12m high street revamp can finally progress to next stage www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshire/ne...

News - finally! - that the Compulsory Purchase Order to allow redevelopment in Dinnington has been confirmed: www.rotherham.gov.uk/news/article...

“Before she knew it, she was registered on the company.” Eh?

Yes Reform's plans on indefinite leave to remain are a moral disgrace. They would also be an economic catastrophe, lead to chaos in public services, create a constitutional crisis and make the UK a pariah. It will be reported as "controversial".

This is of course how the populist right works, just as Farage wants to pay the Taliban. They are a direct threat to our safety, even as they wave our flags.

The attempt at a defence in this is so telling.

This is better. The need to be able to tell the story of national renewal is essential. The leader who knew to position the flag next to him on telly will know better than to surrender it to the extremes.

Popped over to Manvers yesterday to see the work being done at our newest business centre, the £5.4m Century 2. The network of centres supports 180 local businesses and a remarkable 850 employees. whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

Hopefully there is now a clear understanding across govt that unless the two-child limit is scrapped, there will be more kids in poverty at the end of this parliament than when Labour took office. The policy must go in the child poverty strategy before the life chances of many more kids are damaged.

This is the kind of process that no one emerges well from. States the blindingly obvious (v serious and widespread failings), continues to be unable to hold anyone to account, makes SYP look absurd and pedantic in their response, and takes three years to clarify. www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/w...

I suspect there’s a bit of truth in this. But if devolution only ever means Metro Mayors specifically then it’s always going to problems at some stage. Not least because you’re quickly moving powers upwards and away from communities if you’re not careful.

In other times it would have been quite good fun to watch her repeatedly assert that US broadcasters have an obligation to be “fair and balanced”.

Anything naming the “Labour right” is going to illicit a particular sort of response, but if we’re going to accept that’s basically where the Deputy Leadership contest is then this seems about right to me (and I loved “Choose Freedom” twenty-odd years ago): www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-...

Jesus Christ.

This is even more Peak Guardian than any other Peak Guardian piece you could possibly imagine. "I will turn up on the poors' doorsteps and write poems about them and they will be grateful to me for seeing nobility in their wretched lives."

Nice for them to get out a bit.

South Yorkshire selected to lead 10 Year Health plan southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/news/south-y...

The Employment Rights Bill is vital for trade union members.   Tory and Lib Dem lords have tried to undermine it. Reform are against it.   Well done to Labour MPs who voted to back the bill tonight.    #EmploymentRightsBill

Good. It can’t come soon enough.

Forging Ahead at our Cabinet meeting this morning: ✅ Investing in community facilities ✅ Our approach to tackling child poverty ✅ Adult Social Care progress in the last year ✅ A tough but fair approach to council housing allocations - more about this in the coming days

We must unite against those who seek to divide us.

Money alone is not the solution to all our ills. But without clear change, those ills will get much worse. A funding settlement that strengthens local government in poorer northern communities - as we have been promised - is essential to that change. inews.co.uk/news/politic...

I don’t worry that much about sharks in fairness. But then I do live a long way from the sea.

Over the years ahead we’re going to have to understand and recognise this better. Although now I think of it, one or two local politicians spring to mind too.

It is absurd how little consequence we are letting Musk’s rhetoric and politics have. Every time we ignore it and pretend it will go away it gets worse.

Alanis hasn't got anything on this

This week’s WhatsApp good news is out now: whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

This is how much of a patriot this guy is: He flew in from Bahrain to protest against immigrants. 🤦🏽 Why would Yaxley-Felon post this??? They are so thick.

Rotherham Council leader calls for long-term plan for Liberty Steel www.thestar.co.uk/news/politic...

This is utterly insane. In the week that we cleared £160m to reopen the airport, meaning the final hurdle to the release of the cash is Doncaster Reform (budget changes through full council) they’re… bringing a vote of no confidence in the Mayor who made it all happen. Completely not serious.

Large gathering in Magna this morning for the SYMCA and Sheffield University Clean Energy Summit.

South Yorkshire Police have published their latest force-wide data, including ethnicity data.

Northern leaders host productive meeting in Rotherham www.rothbiz.co.uk/2025/09/news...

Rotherham Council backs Orgreave inquiry after emotional debate www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/...

If people don’t urgently feel the benefit in better living standards; safer, cleaner and decent neighbourhoods then it’s for nothing. I wish everyone in the department and wider local government the best for the future, you are all amazing and the country is lucky to have you. (4/4)

Thank you for all you did @jimmcmahon.co.uk - it was quite the year. Local government is now firmly on the road to a more secure future, so long as that’s the route the government continues to take.