James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Is it time the PL (or the Govt) ruled that football clubs should not be state owned? Completely wrong that this sort of pressure should or can be applied. 100
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 21/09/2026This looks remarkably like the man who crosses the Atlantic to lecture Europeans on free speech and freedom of the press 000
Reposted by James MatesEnough Of That Now @andygilder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Trump becomes the first orange man to support a united Ireland 682126574
Reposted by James MatesOtto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 11/09/2026As the government bans social media for kids further evidence emerges that it's a minority of retired adults we should really be concerned about. www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...devonlive.comPensioners attack traffic lights over wild 'deadly weapon' claimsAn online movement say that the sensors on traffic lights can cause heart attacks, brain cancer, anxiety and even sudden death 1961765568
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 11/09/202625 years ago, on a beautiful September morning, everything changed. I was in Washington that morning, and we have made a programme about the day, the response, and how the world was never the same again. #ReportingHistory #25Anniversary #9/11 #ITVNews m.youtube.com/watch?v=MN6M...m.youtube.comTV reporter rewatches his harrowing 9/11 tapes from the ground in ManhattanYouTube video by ITV News 100
Reposted by James MatesAlex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 10/09/2026If you feel like donating to the RNLI, here’s a link. I just have. Their minimum donation is £2: I think it might be nice for them to receive a lot of donations this week, even if they’re mostly very modest. Just so they know a lot of people out here appreciate their work. rnli.org/support-us/g...rnli.orgDonate to the RNLI and help save lives at seaYour donations really make a difference. We depend on your generosity to educate people to stay safe and prevent tragedies on and offshore. Donate here. 4920921254
Reposted by James MatesRos Taylor @rostaylor.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Curiously, the French translation of the Reform ‘agreement’ doesn’t say that France will take back small boat migrants intercepted in British waters. 2120681
Reposted by James MatesThe Dobson Family and Colin the Dalek @dobbersw.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Apart from that time Rory left the tap running for a couple of minutes, our local data centre uses very little water, but it does offer exceptionally accurate information and well-written, original literature. It's also free for everyone. 522754
Reposted by James MatesDr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 02/08/2026I worked for New York’s largest medical center at the start of the pandemic. There were morgue trucks on the streets. They set up emergency medical tents in Central Park. Healthcare worker colleagues died. It is horrific that RFK Jr is on national TV lying that ICUs were empty. 22672983910340
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 11/06/2026So just let me get this straight. People rioting in Unionist areas of Belfast “all they want to be is Irish”? Ok, cool. 030
Reposted by James MatesAlan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 07/06/2026The Napoleonic tradition really does nail it sometimes. 15352115
Reposted by James MatesRallen @rallen78.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I think this maybe the most niché bit of trivia I’ve ever heard. 732914773
Reposted by James MatesRuth Deyermond @ruthdeyermond.bsky.social · 12/05/2026In February 2022, not many people would have predicted that in May 2026 Zelensky would be waiting to meet his sixth UK Prime Minister. 526753
Reposted by James MatesIan Birrell @ianbirrell.bsky.social · 17/04/2026Very sorry to hear about the death of Andy Kershaw, a brilliant broadcaster and fearless journalist with great taste in music. He was always bold, challenging, friendly, generous with advice or help - and a participant in the initial meeting that led to Africa Express. RIP Andy 0155
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Says a man who has repeatedly and recently inserted himself in European politics. 031
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Everything this administration does encourages countries to get a nuke. Ukraine gives them up in return for US guarantees (Budapest memorandum). 30 years later and the US is boasting about abandoning them. N Korea untouched (fully nuked up) while Iran gets bombed without mercy. What's the lesson? 000
Reposted by James MatesDr. Jack Brown @drjackbrown.bsky.social · 30/03/2026“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray on the street corners, that they may be seen by others." Matthew 6:5 891968456
Reposted by James MatesMark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 30/03/2026Great question. The problem, of course, is that every other journalist in the room didn't keep asking it until they got an answer. 662489535
Reposted by James MatesGregory Norminton @gregorynorminton.bsky.social · 25/03/20268 am update for you. The UK grid is currently close to fossil fuel free. Wind and solar 70%, nuclear 13%, gas… 4%. grid.iamkate.com 20565222
Reposted by James MatesAlexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 17/03/2026Currently the Israelis are systematically killing off anyone the Trump administration could reach out to for a deal that ends this quickly 622870
Reposted by James MatesAnne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 11/03/2026This story suggests that Witkoff and Kushner bungled the negotiations with Iran because they don't understand nuclear technology www.ms.now/news/trump-i...ms.nowNuclear experts undercut White House claims about Iran reactor at heart of case for warThe Trump administration sent negotiators without nuclear expertise to lead talks on Iran’s enrichment program. Now, its public case for war centers on a facility that experts say cannot do what offic... 20430561298
Reposted by James MatesJohn Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 10/03/2026Great intro to Daniel Finkelstein's column www.thetimes.com/comment/colu... 110338
Reposted by James MatesAngry People in Local Newspapers @apiln.bsky.social · 25/02/2026How does he sleep at night? 1023668630
Reposted by James MatesDon Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 22/02/2026What you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail 731604265
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 22/02/2026 www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articl.... Who’s going to tell them they’re going the wrong way?bbc.co.ukTeam GB face uphill task for Olympic medal in four-man bobsleighTeam GB face an uphill task to win an Olympic medal in the four-man bobsleigh event as they sit seventh at the halfway point in Cortina. 010
Reposted by James MatesRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Cartoon by Mike Luckovich. 274191517089
Reposted by James MatesAlex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 15/02/2026This duet cover of Radiohead's "Creep", between a son and his Shastriya Sangeet classically trained mother, is the mash-up I didn't know how much I needed in my life. Totally spontaneous sobbing may have taken place. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZoH...youtube.comMom & I Cover Creep By Radiohead (she is a classical Indian singer 🕉️)YouTube video by Avie Sheck 67645233
Reposted by James MatesThe Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 02/02/2026Instead of conferring titles, gongs and baubles and then demanding those titles, gongs and baubles be removed… …perhaps as a modern, mature polity we should have far fewer titles, gongs and baubles in the first place. 411392250
Reposted by James MatesMatt McDermott @mattmfm.bsky.social · 24/01/2026ICE is now responsible for 66% of the homicides in Minneapolis this year. 142207027876
Reposted by James MatesMilliped @milliped.bsky.social · 21/01/2026"You'd all be speaking German". In Switzerland. 812715
Reposted by James MatesPeter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 13/01/2026The letter from Bill and Hillary Clinton to James Comer explaining their refusal to testify in his Epstein investigation is really remarkable, not like any letter of this genre I've seen. It's signed by them, not a lawyer, and the arguments are not legal ones. Reprinted from their X account: 18342671533
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 13/01/2026I’d be prepared to bet quite a lot of money that this man has never been to Greenland 000
Reposted by James MatesKate Bevan @katebevan.com · 12/01/2026this is a really lovely piece, beautifully presented, about the amazing Voyager probes that left Earth nearly 50 years ago and are still sending data back as they get close to leaving the sun's sphere www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...thetimes.comHow Voyagers mapped the solar system — and ventured beyondAs the mission approaches one light day from Earth, we explore a journey like no other, past the planets to interstellar space 66622
Reposted by James MatesMelissa Chan @melissakchan.bsky.social · 03/01/2026It’s old-fashioned to defend mainstream journalism these days but some of the most reliable reporting from people actually on the ground will be the AP and Reuters the next 24 hours. Your Substack journalist writing takes will be using frontline reporting from them. 21691363
Reposted by James MatesKate Klonick @klonick.bsky.social · 03/01/2026Guess we shouldn’t be surprised when the Department of War starts one. 728360
Reposted by James MatesEric Idle @ericidle.bsky.social · 15/12/2025Shocked by the awful death of Rob Reiner. I spoke with him for over an hour last night. We talked about his work and his plans for the future. I always enjoyed his company. We met at his Dad's in 1975. Last thing he said to me was "See you next year.." Such a terrible end. Such a sweet man. 264175472105
Reposted by James MatesHenry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 20/11/2025can't believe the BBC edited Donald Trump's posts to make it seem like he threatened violence against members of Congress 15667147
Reposted by James MatesProf Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 11/11/2025In response to some of the comments: If you agree with *all* the reporting of a news organisation that is both independent *and* non-partisan, then it's very unlikely to be independent and non-partisan. This is true regardless of your politics. Agreeing with all its reporting is the wrong test 730578
Reposted by James MatesGeneral Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 07/11/2025BBC really burying the lede there 22904233
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 06/11/2025Isn’t this the woman who once told Emily Maitliss to “F*** off”? Quite the conversion. 010
Reposted by James MatesHolger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 17/10/2025Not that anyone seems to care, but just a quick reminder that Hungary is still a member state of the ICC and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin still under indictment by the Court and Hungary still under an obligation to arrest him. 9283103
Reposted by James MatesBrian Klaas @brianklaas.bsky.social · 27/09/2025So much has gone wrong in US press reporting on Trump because the White House reporters are people who have exclusively covered US politics. They need people who have worked in Hungary, Turkey, etc. The relevant knowledge isn't Reagan factoids; it's the dynamics of competitive authoritarianism. 551657434
Reposted by James MatesUta Staiger @ukstaiger.bsky.social · 17/09/2025As beautifully written as it is devastating. 26118
Reposted by James MatesSteve 🏳️🌈🇬🇧 @wohyeahwohyeah.bsky.social · 03/09/2025This is vile. Local guy speaks to Sky News about the impact of asylum seekers protests. Watch what happens and share widely 2581189788
![[We see a close up of a young white male, tanned, white teeth, coiffed hair clearly an influencer on social media. It is an image such as you see when social media posts are shown on the news. In the corner of the screen is named a location: DUBAI. He is staring slightly off-camera for several silent panels of the comic strip. His eyes move slightly. He is having a thought.]
From off-screen a newsreader’s commentary comes:
NEWSREADER:
Extraordinary images here
of an expat in Dubai
[The influencer’s eybrows raise slightly]
…Having their first ever geopolitical thought.
[CUT TO a BBC news scene. The BBC newsreader CLIVE MYRIE is talking to an interviewee next to the screen showing the social media influencer’s face. The interviewee’s name is David Jones].
CLIVE MYRIE:
To explain the significance of this moment we’re joined by David Jones, our Expat Thoughts correspondent
DAVID JONES:
Clive, this is momentous
It was caught on film at the end of an Instagram post titled: ‘Dubai Is Brilliant’.
[Pointing at the screen, the influencer’s expression still the same]
You can clearly see in the eyebrows here, the dawning realisation that there *might* be something in the world beyond his dickhead self.
It marks a *huge* departure from all the Dubai Expat’s previous thoughts.
CLIVE MYRIE:
Which are…?
DAVID JONES:
You've Got To Get Yourself Out Here Mate, Everything Is So Clean, I Don't Have To Pay Taxes,
I Am Incurious As To Why I Do Not Have To Pay Taxes, and Spa.
CLIVE MYRIE:
And might we see an expansion of these new Thoughts in coming days?
DAVID JONES:
I think we can expect to see:
“I Deserve To Be Airlifted By A Country I Pay No Tax To”
CLIVE MYRIE:
Mmm.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibu6vuc7ofetq5hla3gfcknocotbfl3yk2ajczk6qfd2hnjxrav6q)
