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daveganicca.bsky.social

@daveganicca.bsky.social
83 followers 105 following 171 posts

Beginner botanist. Supporter of nature restoration and wilding. Lover of the outdoors and nature. Believer in fairness and opportunity. Why not be kind?

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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
This is excellent from @samfr.bsky.social - and given the absurd climate-denying nature hating policies that she espouses in the face of two of the greatest crises facing humanity- I profoundly hope that he’s right and that she never becomes PM Lazy, lacking in self awareness and hubristic to me
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
If proven, then it’s cheating plain and simple and an utter disgrace. Relegation to the lowest possible league, 10 year ban from European competition and a huge fine doesn’t seem too much to me…
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Labour lead up to 4 points in the latest Ipsos poll. (And congrats to them for using error bars - all pollsters should do this).
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social A successful Ukrainian counterattack in Donetsk has recovered much of the territory Russia managed to win in the past year. How did they do it? Is a turning point on the frontline or will Russia adapt? samf.substack.com/p/operation-...
samf.substack.com
Operation Vivaldi and the Battle for Donetsk
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has three distinctive components.
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The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 16/09/2026
The important question is no longer whether the United States has the military capability to destroy. It is whether those tactical actions are moving the United States toward a defined political objective. NEW from @markhertling.bsky.social:
lnk.thebulwark.com
The Iran War Is Moving Too Fast for Washington to Keep Up
America’s friends, partners, and enemies are making decisions now without waiting for the Trump administration to respond.
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WePlanet @weplanetint.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
In this video, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social and @marklynas.bsky.social go an adventure to watch bluefin tuna. George explains how Atlantic bluefin tuna were fished to near-extinction — but now, are in recovery Tell the UK Government: Defend bluefin tuna! Sign the petition: shorturl.at/fTY80
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Reform is the richest party in Britain. Its leaders are almost all millionaires. It is funded almost exclusively by billionaires. It has a supportive TV station and widespread media backing. So naturally, this donation comes with the usual attack on "elites". www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Reform UK given record £36m donation by British crypto billionaire
Ben Delo was convicted in US for failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering controls but pardoned by Trump
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Miles King @milesking.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
hurrah for the blackshorts!
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
One reason England does so well is our second generation immigrants outperform their peers which is not true in most OECD countries. We are also very good at integration. And it's v sad that this is never acknowledge in debates on immigration.
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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
My latest post examines the buildup to the Witkoff/Kushner visits to Moscow and Kyiv. There is no evidence of progress and won’t be until Putin is no longer sure that his troops are on the verge of victory. (£/free trial). samf.substack.com/p/can-putin-...?
samf.substack.com
Can Putin be persuaded he is not winning?
Towards a “hurting stalemate”
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Jason @nickmotown.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
When I told my mates I wanted to be a water diviner, they gave me a bit of stick.
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Agreed!
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 04/09/2026
A thread full of good questions for Nigel Farage
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A little 36-hour Bluesky exclusive back-to-school offer on the substack.... 25% off for your first year. (Please feel free to share the link with friends not on here. Can also be used to buy gift subs for kids starting politics A-level / degrees....) samf.substack.com/specialoffer
samf.substack.com
Subscribe to Comment is Freed
Politics, policy analysis, and foreign affairs from Sam and Lawrence Freedman. Click to read Comment is Freed, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.
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Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
1976 felt like something exceptional - not just because it was my gap 9months before university - looks quite tame now.
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
This is excellent from @samfr.bsky.social though some of the comments in reply not so much. We’re early in the innovation cycle for a new energy system I think-so still huge opportunity to reap savings,efficiencies,develop entirely new services/markets-with doubters on the wrong side of the curve
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social Is the Iran War the most stupid of all time? By comparing it other stupid wars (Iraq, Suez) we can get a sense of the level of damage it could do the US in the long-run. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/good-wars-...
samf.substack.com
Good Wars, Bad Wars, and Stupid Wars
Could the war in Iran do even more damage to the US than Iraq?
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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
New post out answering questions from subscribers covering lots on Russia and Ukraine, UK military spending: pressure on Israel and its coming elections; the deadlock between US and Iran; and historical figures to challenge at croquet. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/will-russi...?
samf.substack.com
Will Russia change course without a "cliff-edge" crisis? Will Netanyahu lose the Israeli election? How should we spend our defence budget?
Answering your questions
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I'd say "Something for nothing" culture is getting paid £100,000 a year of public money, plus expenses, for a job that you then fail to turn up to for months on end
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I think this is brilliant from @stephenkb.bsky.social and gets it exactly righ to me. Academic integrity and hiring standards are important things,very important - but so are kindness and understanding , basic humanity, and - vitally, equal treatment regardless of colour. We’re miles away from that
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
New post: "Was Thatcher a Thatcherite?" Much of what Thatcher (and New Labour) did was adapting to economic circumstances they didn't fully understand leading to outcomes they didn't expect. And why we risk making the same mistakes again. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/was-thatch...
samf.substack.com
Was Thatcher a Thatcherite?
The hidden history of "neoliberalism" in Britain
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
This seems right to me- he had resigned and was clearly vulnerable. So leave him alone and be kind- and switch your focus to asking questions of the institutions. So just sad
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Cold War Steve @coldwarsteve.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The Haywain 2026
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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
So Ben Shapiro put out a video asking me to explain why his new Daily Wire movie is Islamophobic, challenged me to name more than 5 Hollywood movies with Muslim villains, & called me a "terror-hugger" & "spokesperson for Qatar." Here's my response to Shapiro's gaslighting, with lots of receipts.
youtube.com
Ben Shapiro Called Mehdi a ‘Terror Hugger.’ Mehdi Brings Receipts.
YouTube video by Zeteo
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Very good from @samfr.bsky.social on explaining the ins and outs of the,to me at least, complicated rules on immigration, and why we shouldn’t be talking about the ‘Boriswave’…
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The Editorial Board @editorialboard.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Frum: The 20% who lived in the most pro-Trump places suffered 70,000 more COVID deaths than the 20% in the most pro-Biden places. Red America obeyed those who told them not to mask, not to vaccinate. They died for it. No, Fauci is not the villain here. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
theatlantic.com
Anthony Fauci Is Not the Villain in This Story
The doctor was thrust into his pandemic-leadership role because of Trump’s deadly dereliction of duty.
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
‘In stage one we say nothing is going to happen. Stage two, we say something may be about to happen, but we should do nothing about it. In stage three, we say that maybe we should do something about it, but there's nothing we *can* do….
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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
New post looks at whether or not Putin will move to a large-scale mobilisation. I consider the needs of the front and the extent of Russia’s recruitment crisis. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...?
open.substack.com
Will Putin be forced to announce another mobilisation?
Like many people trying to follow the Russo-Ukraine War I spend a lot of time staring at maps of the front line.
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Yay… take good news where I can find it…
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Very good….
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Adam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
If I can, let me explain today's Times story. This is less to do with renewables and much more to do with where generation is located and how it shows up at a system level. /1
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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Latest post looks at why when war going better for Ukraine defence minister and commander-in-chief clashed, so that both replaced. I assess the potential impact of the changes, noting that rows are not unusual at the top when countries are at war. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/turmoil-at...
samf.substack.com
Turmoil at the top: what Ukraine's defence shake-up means for the war
On 15 July President Zelenskyy sacked the Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov.
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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A betting account in the name of George Cottrell, the convicted fraudster who bankrolled Nigel Farage, received almost $9mn in cryptocurrency from unidentified sources while he was providing gifts to the Reform UK leader great work from @annasophiegross.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/b74c...
ft.com
Betting account in George Cottrell’s name received $9mn in crypto from unidentified sources
Deposits in Polymarket wallet came as convicted fraudster was providing gifts to Farage
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Josiah Mortimer @josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
🔴 Elections Watchdog Assesses Reform UK’s £30,000 Private Flights Donation Exclusive: Watchdog escalates inquiry into Nigel Farage’s party amid questions over whether the true source of the money was concealed bylinetimes.com/2026/07/23/e...
bylinetimes.com
Elections Watchdog Assesses Reform UK's £30,000 Private Flights Donation
Exclusive: Watchdog escalates inquiry into Nigel Farage's party amid questions over whether the true source of the money was concealed
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Reform UK donor and Farage ally George Cottrell carried a fake Swiss passport under the name ‘Oscar Drewitt’. Cottrell was hired under the name by the future Reform treasurer Mehrtash A’zami. A’zami later vetted Cottrell’s mother's donations to Reform, now the subject of a police investigation
bylinetimes.com
‘Posh George’, Two Passports, and a Fraudulent Identity: Convicted Fraudster and Nigel Farage Funder's Connections to Reform UK’s Murky Financial Structures
Why did Reform UK change from being a privately-owned company to a non-profit company limited by guarantee in 2025? Nafeez Ahmed investigates a fraudulent identity used by George Cottrell – and how hi...
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David KC @davidmuttering.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
For those who prefer their hair to be nasty, brutish and short
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Luke Tryl @luketryl.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
First voting intention of Burnham’s premiership. Labour narrow the gap with Reform to 2 points, the closest since April 2025. ⏩ REF 26% (nc)
🌹 LAB 24% (+2)
🌳 CON 22% (nc)
🔶 LIB DEM 11% (-1)
🟢 GREEN 11% (-1)
🟡 SNP 2% (nc) N = 3,118 | 21-22/7 | Changes w 12/7
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Don’t know much about lichens (or mosses, or bryophytes or bats or dragonflies or damselflies or ants or moths or butterflies or insects generally) but at least I hope to soon know more about lichens!
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Tara @wildtara.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
An Hummingbird Hawkmoth in my garden this afternoon 😀❤️ a nice surprise #moths @bcwarwickshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Very good guide to what the cabinet changes mean and the challenges ahead from @samfr.bsky.social 👀 👇
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Alan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Your reminder that the only half-time show any game needs is a half-arsed penalty shootout with kids from a local primary while a groundsman pokes morosely at the pitch with a garden fork. Also the half-time draw in which someone wins max two hundred quid.
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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
"Overall carbon emissions have increased" in the UK, because of Net Zero, Kemi Badenoch repeatedly tells the BBC, to no pushback. Just completely untrue
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James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
This is so, so bad. She’s taken the very narrow point that domestic drilling may result in oil and gas with a slightly lower carbon footprint than some imports and extrapolated it out to make sweeping claims about UK emissions increasing that are entirely false. So deeply unserious.
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Lawrence Freedman @ldfreedman.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Latest post looks at the end of the ceasefire in the Iran War. Both sides seek to control the Strait of Hormuz but neither can do so. The economic risks for both are growing as long as it stays closed. (£/free trail), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/t...?
open.substack.com
Trump's War Won’t Go Away
Why has the fight over the Strait of Hormuz restarted? Can a permanent resolution be found?
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Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
You don't need to be a butterfly expert to get involved in the #BigButterflyCount! 🦋🔎 Use our free identification guides for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to help you. Download and take part here 👉 butrfli.es/3SVFepj
Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count identification guide for England with photos of each speciesButterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count identification guide in Welsh with photos of each speciesButterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count identification guide for Scotland with photos of each speciesButterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count identification guide in Irish with photos of each species
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daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Well this is excellent if a little depressing… @samfr.bsky.social
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Janine Gibson @janinegibson.ft.com · 08/07/2026
A Brit in the semis of Wimbledon, England still in the World Cup and Nigel Farage spending the summer arguing with a bin. Oh this happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
"Emergency podcasts, sir. Thousands of 'em"
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Jack Bernhardt @jackbern.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
oh no, oh no, sorry everyone, I love this
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Mark Avery @markavery.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
My book Reflections is three today. I think it's quite good. Available from e.g. @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social uk.bookshop.org/shop/MarkAvery A quote from Chapter 4 "When wildlife is missing, few regret its absence, but when it returns it is widely celebrated and appreciated".
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