Why is it so important to distinguish between poor decision-making and total catastrophe or corruption? Because at this moment democratic politics is being poisoned by the failure to distinguish between them. Far too many people are falling into the trap.

Disagree with him, call him v. unrealistic or indeed opportunistic. Fine. But at least this may help start a conversation about the world *as it is now* and with which Lisa Nandy may wish to catch up. "We settled this 10 years ago” is not very convincing at a time of seismic geopolitical change.

Sneaking a giant screen into the flagshagger march is one of the funniest things @ledbydonkeys.org have ever done. "STAY HYDRATED" 😂🤣😂

I know it's been said a million times but honestly, honestly, the US-Israeli war on Iran is genuinely one of the most fucked up things I have seen in international affairs in my life. It is genuinely shocking to me, in a way I think it would be bad to lose sight of, just how bad this has been.

Reform UK claimed to have the “best vetting in the country”. Their candidates told a different story. Here are some with records of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, conspiracy theories and links to far-right groups. They are now in office and must be held to account. 🧵

Frustrated with the election pundits talking as if votes only 'swing' from one party to another. I did some analysis of the results, and my modelling (based on votes only, not polls) suggests that the largest movement since 2024 local elections (by a long way) is from 'Did Not Vote' -> Reform

An important point that we shouldn't take for granted. Contrast Nigel Farage snarling at Beth Rigby as a "waste of space" ("typical Sky News","constant media abuse") last week. It's to the credit of UK journalists that they walked out when Johnson tried to exclude critical reporters from briefings

After 12 years, the EU flag is back on Hungary’s Parliament building — the new Speaker’s very first decision. A happy Schuman Day indeed.

Born in Iran, Ashkan Asadian came to the UK in 1999, and now has British citizenship. His two children live in Golders Green. He said that as he risked his life to save Moshe Shine, geopolitics had not crossed his mind. "Jewish or non Jewish, just [they are] human." www.bbc.com/news/article...

If a party talked about "educating the public" today, they'd be monstered as "elitist" and "patronising". The language of education has been replaced with that of consumerism, in which "the customer is always right". The "focus group" has replaced the "pulpit". It's not been a positive change. 2/2

It's going to be even worse the next time they appoint Peter Mandelson

Incoming Hungarian PM Péter Magyar calls for the UK to rejoin the European Union: "I remember when I was a diplomat in Brussels... We were able to influence decisions. At the time, the Brits were also part of the EU. Let's hope they will rejoin."

Celebratory dance in Hungary

The result is huge. Vast in its consequences. Orban was the inspiration to all those who came after him. He served as Putin's puppet, undermining Europe from within and Ukraine from without. He funded a vast network of fascists around the world. It's all vulnerable now, or falling apart entirely.

Excellent piece by @ldfreedman.bsky.social on "The Causes and Consequences of Trump's Defeat". The last sentence is the key: Trump's ignorance, venality & love of violence would matter less if the entire system of government had not subordinated itself to his will. samf.substack.com/p/the-causes...

Your regular reminder that the US had a pain-stakingly negotiated and workable deal with Iran when Trump came to power, but he tore it up. He's now desperately trying to secure a deal much worse than the one he set aside.

I can't even find the words to express how spectacularly dumb and damaging this administration is, not just for US science and healthcare but for the world. Innovations like mRNA vaccines - for pathogens, cancer, autoimmune diseases etc - benefit all of humanity.

Wow, Mark Carney speaks on multiculturalism (what a contrast to island of strangers Starmer!) Mark Carney, "Canada is a nation forged through accommodation, not assimilation" "Through partnership, not domination" "The founding insight of our country is that unity does not require uniformity"

Why President Trump’s threat of genocide matters He may avoid immediate constitutional and legal sanctions, but this threat should not be forgotten New by me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...

The horse op-ed is an instant classic. I can't tell you how much joy this piece gives me. It should be taught in every introductory writing class in no small part because the horse arguments are so compelling. "I have noticed that human children get to eat cake. But I am bigger than the children."

Agree with this. A democracy needs people who want to serve it. Which is an extremely intense and frequently unrewarding job. Some may deserve all the criticism they tend to get, but most don‘t, and the general contempt directed against them is ruining democracy. Would you run for Parliament?

Perhaps an unpopular take, but I hate it when MPs are described as out of touch. They meet a greater variety of different people than 99% of the population, often in order to hear their complaints. They think far harder about issues than ordinary voters do.

In the midst of horrific stupidity, violence, aggression and superficiality, 4 intellectually brilliant and unbelievably brave and selfless people have turned this into a good day after all, reminding millions of people how greatness can come from science, team work, curiosity& precision. Thank you.

A longer one today - bring coffee. Labour has driven down migration dramatically - but it’s hitting care, the NHS, housing and the wider economy, while Reform voters remain unmoved and Labour voters become pissed off. A losing strategy on every front.

"These events are caused by the madness of the emperor. But they are ultimately the result of populism and the dark, blood-dimmed lie it has told the public. They can be brought to a halt, once we call that lie out and commit to the values that our society is based on."

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivered a brilliant and important speech today to mark the 75th anniversary of the German Federal Foreign Office. Here are the best excerpts. 🧵

Nearly a millennium ago, astronomers witnessed a supernova so bright it was visible in daylight for weeks. A quarter-century after its first observations of the expanding remnant, the Crab Nebula, Hubble goes back for a fresh look 👉 esahubble.org/news/heic2607/ 🔭 🧪

"Our interests in Europe and the UK are the same. Our values in Europe and the UK are the same. We need a UK voice in Europe. We really miss you guys." President Alexander Stubb of Finland offers his view on Brexit. Watch the event ➡️ bit.ly/4lGe54k

This is outstanding by @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk on the weaponisation of irony and the need for radical sincerity open.substack.com/pub/joxleywr...

Former political prisoner Nasrin Parvaz reads a letter to Keir Starmer signed by more than 100 pro-democracy, pro-justice and anti-war British-Iranians, including other former Evin detainees Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Aras Amiri. Full list of signatories is at togetherforiran.org

It is completely mad that the government is expelling high flying Sudanese students from British universities - from a scheme that is explicitly aimed at the future leaders of countries.

From FT comments

Zoom into a cosmic eye 👁️ This video takes you on a journey through space to one of the most visually intricate remnants of a dying star: the Cat’s Eye Nebula 🐈‍⬛ also known as NGC 6543. 🔭 🧪

Mer de Glace from Signal Forbes 1890 | 2013 | 2021 | 2024 Strong acceleration of the demise of the largest French glacier over last few years! 🧊🔥

Sarenne Glacier (Grandes Rousses, Alpe d'Huez) 1906 | 2025 Sarenne Glacier has gone few years ago (~2023)! ✝️ In July 1965, it was the 1st summer ski site in France! ⛷️ This is the future of all Alpine glaciers this century! You can't say you didn't know...🧐 📷 G. Flusin/E. Thibert via PNE

I've also been struck by this. The Trump regime is normalising the decapitation of governments it dislikes by assassinating or abducting their leaders. There are good reasons why states have tended not to make this a norm.

"First-past-the-post system is creaking at the seams" and "Westminster is dangerously underprepared for a multi-party future". Excellent piece by @drhannahmcd.bsky.social: the Gorton & Denton by-election raises much bigger questions about our democracy than whether Starmer survives as Labour leader

It's rather depressing that, in a three-way by-election with potentially seismic consequences - in which voters had a genuine range of options - less than half the electorate showed up. By-election turnout is never great, but I don't think we should just shrug over this.

I'd like to congratulate Sir Oink A-lot on not only getting a very respectable 0.43% of the vote, but also beating out candidates from five actual honest-to-god serious political parties. That'll do pig, that'll do.

The Monster Raving Loony Party candidate “Sir Oink-A-Lot” beat Ben Habib’s far-right and openly fascist “Advance UK” party.

Today's by-election is another illustration of the problems with FPTP. The result may tell us less about what voters want to happen than whether they can game the system effectively to stop a result most *don't* want. The electoral system should not be an obstacle that voters have to work around.

Yusuf: "When Nigel is prime minister, there will not be a judge in the country that will be able to prevent flights from leaving." Worth noting that the political precedents for saying, 'The judiciary cannot in any way check the powers of the executive' is not a happy one.

F@scists don't like (honest) journalism, ep. 63543 📝 And they won't stop until hitting zero axis! 📉 (WaPo is dead by the way, only remains NYT) Chart: Chris Mooney for ReportEarth.substack.com

These people are poison. They will unleash racist thugs on the streets of this country and call it security. They will subjugate us to the US and call it patriotism. They must be stopped. There is no more important task in politics.

Entertaining, fascinating and informative