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Patrick Howse

@baghdaddi.bsky.social
790 followers 909 following 202 posts

Writer, poet & snowshoe hiker. Journalist: @BylineTimes contributor & ex-BBC newsgatherer. English born, proud Irish & EU citizen: "one of the Wildgeese". Lives in Munich. www.patrickhowse.de

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Reposted by Patrick Howse
Nelly Probin @lillmagill.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Nazir Afzal is a top bloke. ✊️
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Reform UK's record-breaking donor was accused of running “in effect a money laundering platform”. Prosecutors accused Delo of being the “leader of a criminal enterprise” who knew that his Bitmex platform had become a “magnet for money laundering and criminal activity”.
adambienkov.co.uk
Reform UK Is Now a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Corrupt Crypto Industry
As criminal investigations into Reform’s funding continue, much of the British press continues to give a free pass to Nigel Farage’s shady funders
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I am dismayed at the BBC's utter failure to hold Nigel Farage and Reform to account. My latest for Byline Times: bylinetimes.com/2026/09/07/t...
bylinetimes.com
The BBC Is Just Nodding Along
The corporation's news coverage has lost its soul as a bulwark against unaccountable power and extremism, writes a former BBC News producer
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Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
At what point does ‘the masked men on the street have legitimate concerns’ and ‘Just Stop Oil/Palestine Action are terrorists’ become two tier policing?
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David Storey @davidstoreygeog.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
"hard-right figures...are given a disproportionate amount of air time to make their fact-free assertions" with journalists "nodding along to their scapegoating of the weak, the disadvantaged, the foreign & the displaced" @baghdaddi.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social bylinetimes.com/2026/09/07/t...
bylinetimes.com
The BBC Is Just Nodding Along
The corporation's news coverage has lost its soul as a bulwark against unaccountable power and extremism, writes a former BBC News producer
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Mark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg leaked The Pentagon Papers exposing the lies told to the public about the disastrous Viet Nam war, forever becoming a hero in history. Now... someone PLEASE leak #TheEPSTEINFiles & end the biggest coverup scandal of all-time! 🙏
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Adam Rutherford @adamrutherford.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
What is always most troubling about these cases (see also: Noah Carl) is not that they are sacked, it is that they were recruited in the first place. If you were a student shelling out £9k a year, you would expect to be taught by people who at least understood the subjects they pontificate about.
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Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 12/08/2026
“HateAid claims that Meta's smart glasses breach German privacy laws: specifically, the Telecommunications, Digital Services and Data Protection Act. It argues that selling the devices is a criminal offense because of their covert recording capabilities.”
engadget.com
German nonprofit files criminal complaint over Meta smart glasses privacy - Engadget
Worrying about Google Glassholes almost feels quaint in comparison.
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Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Could it be, and hear me out, that Zuckerberg is a complete shit who doesn’t have an ounce of humanity in him?
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
"The killing beast that cannot kill Swells and swells in his fury till You'd almost think it was despair." The conclusion of Edwin Muir's great poem, The Combat.
poetryarchive.org
The Combat - Poetry Archive
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
I have a day off, on my own, so I painted my balcony. No emulsion paint involved.
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Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
As Rod Liddle has died, I notice this column I wrote in 2019 about his attacks on people with M.E. is on the most read again. Rebekah Brooks, of News UK, described Liddle today as “provocative”. In reality, he spread lies about very sick people for cash. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Rod Liddle vilifies disabled people. I’m tired of the hate. We all should be | Frances Ryan
Whether it is ME patients or another target, huge swathes of the media have normalised hatred of minorities for years, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
We should never forget how the BBC has changed this country by giving endless airtime to Nigel Farage and other rightwing extremists, while shutting out progressive voices.
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Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Just sitting on the pavement and clapping is now terrorism. Not saying anything, not holding or displaying any signs, just sitting on the pavement & clapping. Andy Burnham can stop this. But he isn't. Reporting by Steven Methven for @novaramedia.com
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The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 31/07/2026
As Europe burns, Shell has banked £7.4 billion in just three months. It's time to make the biggest polluters pay.
Green Party poster demanding "Make polluters pay," highlighting Shell's £7.4bn profit in three months against a backdrop of dark, orange-lit industrial smoke with a partial Shell logo in the corner.
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
This is brilliant from Uefa, and it has a message that goes beyond football: some things are not for sale. It's also amazing prose.. who wrote it? www.uefa.com/news-media/n...
uefa.com
Statement on behalf of UEFA and its 55 national associations
UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions.
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West Seattle Bike Blob @westseattlebikeblg.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Seattle when simply trying to fund libraries, busses, and lunches for children.
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Reposting my latest @bylinetimes.bsky.social piece on BBC cuts: The BBC should be cutting its flabby management, not its front line journalists. The problem is... ...guess who decides who gets cut. bylinetimes.com/2026/07/15/t...
bylinetimes.com
'The BBC's Ill-Conceived Cuts Sacrifice Journalists In Order To Save Managers'
The BBC is sacking journalists whilst leaving layers of largely superfluous and expensive management in place, argues former BBC reporter Patrick Howse
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Parody Nigel Farage @parodypm.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Wow - can't wait to see the "historically accurate" cyclops. It must be great being a genius.
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Gillian Martin @gillmartin.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Mamdani ✊️ Zohran Mamdani just turned down an 18% pay raise that would’ve increased his salary to over $305,000 a year. When reporters asked him why, his answer was simple: “I haven’t knocked on anyone’s door in New York City, and they’ve said that their concern is that the mayor makes too little.”
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Nottinghamshire CCC @trentbridge.co.uk · 17/07/2026
Cricket's greatest-ever all-rounder, and an iconic figure in Nottinghamshire history. We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers. f.mtr.cool/hkzezavgyc
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Reform UK are now on average seven points lower in the polls than they were last September
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EleriTudor @eleritudor.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Same with Network Rail and I would guess other public bodies. Passing stuff up and down the chain whilst adding nothing and stultifying the system.
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
📌 ICYMI — ‘The BBC’s Ill-Conceived Cuts Sacrifice Journalists In Order To Save Managers’ The BBC is sacking journalists whilst leaving layers of largely superfluous and expensive management in place, argues former BBC reporter Patrick Howse
bylinetimes.com
‘The BBC’s Ill-Conceived Cuts Sacrifice Journalists In Order To Save Managers’
The BBC is sacking journalists whilst leaving layers of largely superfluous and expensive management in place, argues former BBC reporter Patrick Howse
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
#ICYMI The BBC should be cutting its flabby management, not its front line journalists. The problem is.... ....guess who decides who to cut. My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com
'The BBC's Ill-Conceived Cuts Sacrifice Journalists In Order To Save Managers'
The BBC is sacking journalists whilst leaving layers of largely superfluous and expensive management in place, argues former BBC reporter Patrick Howse
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Byline Times @bylinetimes.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
"If it was serious about saving money, the BBC would (and should) cut its self-interested management, not its dedicated and trusted field journalists." ✍️ Patrick Howse (@baghdaddi.bsky.social) bylinetimes.com/2026/07/15/t...
bylinetimes.com
'The BBC's Ill-Conceived Cuts Sacrifice Journalists In Order To Save Managers'
The BBC is sacking journalists whilst leaving layers of largely superfluous and expensive management in place, argues former BBC reporter Patrick Howse
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The BBC should be cutting its flabby management, not its frontline journalists. The problem is.... ....guess who decides who gets cut. My latest for @bylinetimes.bsky.social bylinetimes.com/2026/07/15/t...
bylinetimes.com
'The BBC's Ill-Conceived Cuts Sacrifice Journalists In Order To Save Managers'
The BBC is sacking journalists whilst leaving layers of largely superfluous and expensive management in place, argues former BBC reporter Patrick Howse
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Sam Bright @writesbright.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
🔴 NEW - Nigel Farage has accepted £2 million since becoming an MP @desmog.com’s analysis, published by The Guardian, shows that the Reform leader has raked in millions on top of the £5 million handed to him by Harborne
theguardian.com
Nigel Farage’s income since being elected MP has hit £2m, analysis shows
Reform UK leader has registered wide range of financial interests on top of his Commons salary since July 2024
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Mic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
NEW | On the media assault against the Greens and one person in particular… POLANSKI IS PAINTED AS A MONSTER WHILE FARAGE ESCAPES PROPER SCRUTINY The same old playbook is in action. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/polanski-i...
brokenbottleboy.substack.com
Polanski is painted as a monster while Farage escapes proper scrutiny
The behaviour of the press in the run up to this week's local and national elections shows the same old playbook in action.
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Hugh Sykes @hughsykes.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
....by Munich artist Inge Schlaile, who also illustrated this book of poems by Patrick Howse, aka @baghdaddi.bsky.social.
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Hugh Sykes @hughsykes.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
These lemons are also lemony.
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
For a limited period you can purchase my poetry collection *The Tree at the Edge of the Mountains* as an ebook for just $0.99. The poems explore belonging, love, loss and the lasting impact of conflict. Illustrated by me, and by my daughter Eleanor. books2read.com/u/491Qjw
books2read.com
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
I think every member of my profession should watch this. There are journalists around the world risking and losing their lives covering Lebanon, S.Sudan, Gaza, etc. But the US thinks the *real heroes* are the WH Correspondents. youtu.be/X_JEZMEw_-Q?... via @YouTube
youtu.be
Trump Spins Dinner Shooting for Ballroom Agenda & Blitzer Is CNN's One-Shoed Hero | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Fascinating, Zelensky coming out publicly more and more and saying that Trump is working with/for Putin. The Ukrainians seem to have determined that telling the truth is preferable to lying to please Trump.
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New Internationalist @newint.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
'When we come together and make our voices heard, then we are really powerful' Speaking at the recent Democracy in Europe Movement (@diem25.org) event in London, economist and author Grace Blakeley tells New Internationalist why resistance is no longer a slogan: it is a condition for survival. 👉 F
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
For a limited period you can purchase my poetry collection *The Tree at the Edge of the Mountains* as an ebook for just $0.99. The poems explore belonging, love, loss and the lasting impact of conflict. Illustrated by me, and by my daughter Eleanor. books2read.com/u/491Qjw
books2read.com
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
I was asked by @writesbright.bsky.social what I thought about the BBC's global output producing and showing glossy propaganda films that boost repressive regimes which are destroying the planet.. I'm not a fan. www.desmog.com/2026/03/30/b...
desmog.com
BBC Under Fire for Producing Paid ‘Propaganda’ for Saudi Arabia
The BBC has been accused of creating “propaganda films” for Saudi Arabia, the state behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, DeSmog and The Guardian can reveal. The broadcaster has accepted m...
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Luke McGee @lukemcgee.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Stop for a second and consider that the President of the United States has posted a market-moving statement on his own social media platform in ALL CAPS with the typo "WITCH WILL"
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blayneydeborah.bsky.social @blayneydeborah.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
Is it worth the paper - or 'Truth Social'- it's (poorly) written on? Playing markets? #TACO? Has Iranian regime confirmed this? Perhaps he listened to Starmer about de-escalation? ALL are possibilities? Is Trump the most untrustworthy, unreliable, unhinged & dangerously irresponsible POTUS ever?
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
So it turns out Reform are laundering their donations through crypto, before converting them into cash, hiding the original source of the money. So who is really funding Nigel Farage and Reform UK? observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk
Reform accused of using third party to turn crypto into c...
Digital currency donations have been turned into sterling to make them much less easy to track, sources say
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Today, I am older than my father was when he died. He was a good man, who lost his mother when he was 10, shed blood for his country in the cause of fighting fascism, spent 3 years being overworked and undernourished as a PoW, and raised 5 children.
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Is the US tired of all the "winning" Trump's giving them yet?
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
A new poem, written last night. *Spring Evening Sunset* Friday exhausted, we watch slow-departing trains And information boards, Oblivious, heedless, ignoring the violent west set the horizon ablaze. The tracks smelt fire from the red light of a dying sun.
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Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius: “There will be no military participation.. We have a situation which we did not provoke.. This war started without any consultations.. What does Trump expect from a handful of European frigates in Strait of Hormuz that the mighty US Navy can't manage alone?"
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Jane @janeynorth.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Not his first time goodlawproject.org/reform-mp-ri...
goodlawproject.org
Reform MP Richard Tice had millions squirrelled away in a tax haven | Good Law Project
He said he’d ‘take back control’ of ‘our money’, but the new Boston and Skegness MP put millions of pounds worth of shares in his property empire into an offshore trust.
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
A friend wrote to me this week to say he sees me in a "prophetical light". He was talking about a poem I wrote in 2016, about the Putin-Trump post-Brexit world. To quote Wilfred Owen, "All a poet can do today is warn." I think it's the only poem by me that rhymes, btw.
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Rootless Cosmopolitan @brennick.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Fran put it best.
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Trump is stupid, mad, dangerous, rich, and ridiculously powerful, but most of all ... the stupid bit. That's what should worry us most.
The United States of America has beaten
and completely decimated Iran, both
Militarily, Economically, and in every other
way, but the Countries of the World that
receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must
take care of that passage, and we will help
- A LOT! The U.S. will also coordinate with
those Countries so that everything goes
quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have
always been a team effort, and now it will be
It will bring the World together toward
Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace!
President DONALD J. TRUMP
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Patrick Howse @baghdaddi.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
A friend wrote to me this week to say he sees me in a "prophetical light". He was talking about a poem I wrote in 2016, about the Putin-Trump post-Brexit world. To quote Wilfred Owen, "All a poet can do today is warn." I think it's the only poem by me that rhymes, btw.
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
🎯
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