'should trans ppl be allowed to exist?' - 'your party' as usual just replace the word 'trans' with any other minority and ask yourself if this is even remotely acceptable.

Anyone who has room for one more 2025 #TheTwen2ie5 HM and looking for more NIE inspiration could do a lot worse than this lovely track (or those who have already turned their thoughts to @peoples-pop-polls.bsky.social upcoming 2025 poll)

Time for my remaining 45 #TheTwen2ie5 HMs with a 2025 upweight

Feels like yet another gift to @zackpolanski.bsky.social from Reeves here - young graduates facing big unfair tax hikes

Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷

Given Birmingham was home to the much misunderstood Winterval, this means it is simultaneously also the spiritual home of moaning about Christmas being erased by wokery

#thetwen2ie5 50/50 Tyla - TO LAST (South Africa, 2022) I've used all my bonuses, so ending today with my sixth and final African track, a dreamy, bouncy R&B / Amapiano fusion

#TheTwen2ie5 49/50 Olivia Rodrigo - VAMPIRE (2023, USA) The Twenties so far have been a story of the resurgence of brilliant female popstars. I've nominated a few but I think Olivia may be the best of the bunch.

#TheTwen2ie5 48/50 Sharon van Etten & Angel Olsen - LIKE I USED TO (USA, 2021) I like both separately but they are so much better together, this is absolutely gorgeous in every way

Black Cat. Criticize. Nothing Compares 2 U (the original version). And all those The Time Albums. What a career. RIP Jellybean Johnson

#TheTwen2ie5 47/50 Bob Vylan - WE LIVE HERE (UK, 2020) BONUS - 12 Points "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This". In the meantime, this video remains unmonetised, interviewers lose sponsorship for even speaking to him.

American exceptionalism yet again

This Yazz track never gets the props it deserves, it’s a total banger #totp

#TheTwen2ie5 46/50 Bicep - APRICOTS (UK, 2021) Melancholic & Euphoric at the same time, a dancefloor banger that doesn't make me want to dance

Musk is the most insecure celebrity in history

#TheTwen2ie5 45/50 Juliana Madrid - TRACKSTAR (2023, USA) Dreamy power pop with a knockout sax solo

A country where Sadiq Khan can lead London, Humza Yousaf can lead Scotland, and Rishi Sunak can lead Britain is a country where the racists had *lost*. So much of this vicious bile has come directly after that and almost no one seems to draw the connection

I am moving to Dubai because England is so dangerous. www.ft.com/content/9bf6...

We must copy Denmark Social Democrats' hardline anti-asylum measures in order to win back voters' trust, says Shabana Mahmood. Meanwhile in Denmark:

#TheTwen2ie5 44/50 Mitski - LOVE ME MORE (Japan / USA, 2022) One of several themes running through my choices is dramatic pop music - and this one is possibly the most dramatic in my list, epic from start to finish

#TheTwen2ie5 43/50 Wet Leg - CHAISE LONGUE (UK, 2021) British guitar music? In this decade?

The key Blue Labour figures driving this need kicking out of the party. They are doing more damage than Militant ever did

You get the feeling that McSweeney really does believe that ICE-style raids is what your median Yorkshire and Midlands voter hankers after

#TheTwen2ie5 42/50 Ryan Beatty - CASINO (USA, 2020) From an album I’ve returned to more than most over the past few years, a dreamy, lo-fi collection of songs about love and longing

The government seems to be trying to simultaneously claim it can deliver Reform’s agenda better than Reform, while also about once a month sending out someone to decry Reform’s racism. It’s genuinely sort of amazing that they still haven’t realised why that doesn’t work.

#TheTwen2ie5 41/50 Bonus 11pts Chappell Roan - Good Luck Babe (USA, 2024) The way the song builds still gets me every time, it starts in such an unassuming way

#TheTwen2ie5 40/50 Karol G - SI ANTES TE HUBIERA CONOCIDO (Colombia, 2024) After two days of dark, it's time to return to the sunshine. My sixth & final Spanish language pick, a summer dancefloor banger with a merengue twist. all that and a chance to practice my Spanish imperfect subjunctive too.

On Tuesday, Keir Starmer said he was concerned that racism was returning to British politics. This morning, his Home Secretary is loudly letting the world know that the government intends to make the lives worse of even those found to be genuine refugees.

Gone down a weird rabbithole with far-right Facebook slopaganda* about celebrities cancelling things as a result of the New York election result. *I just invented this word: AI-generated disinformation content pumped onto social media by right-wing think tanks, and "slopaganda" was right there.

Terry and June economics. Thread:

the Blairite urge to call anyone vaguely left of centre 'Trots' still alive and well then. Was tedious when I was involved in student politics in the 90s and clearly nothing has changed in thirty years

At the

#TheTwen2ie5 39/50 Lana Del Rey - A&W (USA, 2023) A good pair with yesterday's choice, Lana at her darkest and most haunting

What is the actual fucking point of Starmer and Reeves? Why have they wasted their own and everyone’s time doing absolutely nothing with the two roles which are specifically empowered to make the hard choices needed for the betterment of the country?

#TheTwen2ie5 38/50 Ethel Cain - GIBSON GIRL (USA, 2022) Gothic, sexy Americana

If the Prescott memo is true, and there is a secret cabal of LGBTQ+ journalists stopping any negative stories about trans people being published or aired at BBC News, then, I have to say, they’re doing a really fucking shit job of that.

#TheTwen2ie5 37/50 Du Blonde & Ezra Furman (UK / USA, 2021) Two minutes of perfect power pop

#TheTwen2ie5 36/50 This is decade I turned 50, and dammit my cynical old heart has at times got all nostalgic about fun times from my youth in London. Annie was part of that time, and she's nostalgic too. Take it away, Johnny... Annie - THE STREETS WHERE I BELONG (Norway, 2020)

Emily Maitlis admitting she worked at the bbc to try and get healthcare for trans people shut down

I entirely missed Grunge which happened while I was a student because I spent the entire time clubbing

#TheTwen2ie5 35/50 BONUS 11 Central Cee x Dave - SPRINTER (UK, 2023) The most-streamed UK rap track of all time, a global hit and deservedly so. Funny, original, and catchy as fuck.

Be clear, the American far right are coming for British democracy.

#TheTwen2ie5 34/50 Ozoda - KO'K JIGULI (Uzebkistan, 2024) Tigress of the East klaxon

#TheTwen2ie5 33/50 Lady Gaga - ABRACADABRA (USA, 2025) Obviously I missed a trick not posting this on Halloween. Gaga back at her most ridiculous, most OTT, most fabulous

💬 The City of London consultation on the ponds is open until 25 November. It’s important that women who support inclusion take part. Read our new piece to learn more and find out how you can have your say: 🔗 notinourname.org.uk/nion-women-rejects-anti-trans-narrative-at-kenwood-ladies-pond/ 4/5

#TheTwen2ie5 32/50 Shamir - CAUGHT UP (USA, 2022) One minor hit in 2015, and since then he's released 10 albums, mostly lo-fi, independently released, genre-hopping but always raw and honest and queer, I think he may be my favourite artist of the last ten years.

#TheTwen2ie5 31/50 Bad Boy Chiller Crew ft S.Dog - 450 (UK, 2020) Second of my trip of UK rap picks. Bassline was my favourite microgenre of the noughties, so i was delighted to see it back in the twenties and this is the highlight.

This needs more attention: Zohran SPLIT the straights with Cuomo. ALL of his margin was from LGBTQ+ voters. Every Dem who ever said “we should abandon the transes” needs this shoved down their fucking throat with a ramrod.

#TheTwen2ie5 Anna Erhard - BOTANICAL GARDEN (Switzerland, 2024) Flirts dangerously close to novelty but her very dry delivery keeps it funny. Also one of my live highlights of this year (with a shout-out to the uber fans who brought inflatable fish just to wave along at the Koi Carp line)

Yeah, I'm sorry but the idea that being a racist cunt is a protected characteristic now is extremely clearly not the intent of the law and it's ridiculous to pretend it is.