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 · 25/09/2026And Office (US) 3 places higher than Office (UK)? Excuse me? 111
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 1961764567
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. 4920911254
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 09/09/2026But I guess if we like having free museums, something has to give? 100
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
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 05/09/2026There was a grey haired woman of a certain age pulling her hair. Extraordinary behaviour. 130
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 15/08/2026This was basically the premise of the Laura Kunessberg interview with Andy Burnham (Dead Ringers version). That was 'meant' to be satire I think 020
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. 22672983510338
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 01/08/2026An election at around the 3 yr mark when you have a maj of 140+ still seems pretty early? 011
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 10/07/2026I remember cycling home through London after defeat by France at the last WC, and the city was like a ghost town. 020
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 07/07/2026I know it wouldn't be good, but the world ENDS? Wow. 100
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
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 08/06/2026It is interesting that in a world where *literally everything* is caught on someone's smartphone somewhere, they have zero video of this happening. 050
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 07/06/2026www.youtube.com/shorts/aMxFr...youtube.comNigel Farage chooses his desert island discs for The SpectatorYouTube video by The Spectator 021
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 07/06/2026www.youtube.com/shorts/aMxFr...youtube.comNigel Farage chooses his desert island discs for The SpectatorYouTube video by The Spectator 820
Reposted by James MatesAlan Beattie @alanbeattie.bsky.social · 07/06/2026The Napoleonic tradition really does nail it sometimes. 15352115
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Britain only voted once the war in Europe was over, even though there was still conflict in the Far East. The General Election due in 1940 didn't happen for another 5 years 000
Reposted by James MatesRallen @rallen78.bsky.social · 14/05/2026I think this maybe the most niché bit of trivia I’ve ever heard. 732913773
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
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 09/05/2026So my question: If you become PM you will have the full protection of the British state, in office and subsequently. In that event will you commit to returning all of the unspent millions? 150
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 29/04/2026Not sure that’s what happened. After greeting the Americans in the line up, the King pulls away and introduces DT to the Brits who make up the second half. Queen knew them already and wasn’t going to shake their hands. 011
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
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 13/04/2026If he’d lived long enough, wouldn’t he have seen the answer to his question in 2016? Turned out there was a way after all. 130
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
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 27/03/2026Weddings and Holy Orders aside, no one does much ‘vowing’ outside of the newspapers these days 000
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
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 08/03/2026The Japanese advanced through the “impenetrable” jungle of the Malay peninsular on bicycles. For 20 yrs the biggest item of U.K. defence expenditure was the fortification of Singapore (the Trident of its day). Reasonable to say the planners could have done better. 040
James Mates @jamesmates.bsky.social · 03/03/2026I’m pretty sure it’s in dry dock. Not back in the water till July. 000
Reposted by James MatesAngry People in Local Newspapers @apiln.bsky.social · 25/02/2026How does he sleep at night? 1023667630
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. 274191537089
![[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)
