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joanblanewater.bsky.social

@joanblanewater.bsky.social
133 followers 317 following 76 posts

Gardener, singer,European, occasional pedant.

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Reposted by @joanblanewater.bsky.social
Sonya 🕊️ @sonya.eurosky.social · 19/07/2025
Luis Leon, an 82 year old Chilean, was granted asylum in 1987 because he was tortured by the Pinochet regime. He lost his wallet and went to ICE get a replacement green card. ICE took him into custody and deported him to Guatemala.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
WILD story. An 82-year-old from Chile lost his green card. In June, he went to pick up a new one at a USCIS office. While there, he was handcuffed and detained by ICE. An unknown caller claiming to be a lawyer told family she could help. Later, she said he’d died. Now he’s turned up — in Guatemala!
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Paul Sweeney @paulsweeney.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
🚍Alexander Dennis is a Scottish manufacturing success story. Exporting buses around the world. As a country, we should be proudly backing our industrial champion. Yet, perversely, the Scottish Government is subsidising foreign competitors to destroy our bus manufacturing base👇🏻
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Aaron Bady @zunguzungu.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
"In Allentown, he lived a quiet life, raising four children and enjoying retirement after years working at a leather manufacturing plant. It all fell apart, Nataly said, when he lost the wallet holding his green card and made the fateful appointment to replace it."
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Trump: the comprehensive Mexican food acronyms From the new Private Eye, out now.
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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
Kyiv right now‼️ civilians are taking shelter in metro stations as Russian drones and missiles are attacking Ukraine.
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Jenny33K @hopefulinthepeaks.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
And what is driving the media? Not ideologies, but money and greed for money
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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
So, to be clear, Musk has now admitted he funded a man he believes to be a pedophile to be president. And Trump has now admitted that he gave access to high level government secrets to a man he believes to be a big time drug addict. This should be *the* story on the Sunday shows tomorrow.
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fife4europe #FBPE #RejoinEU @fife4europe.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
The Independent: Russia has been ‘menacing the UK’ for years, top military advisor warns www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...
independent.co.uk
Russia has been ‘menacing the UK’ for years, top military advisor warns
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fife4europe #FBPE #RejoinEU @fife4europe.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
The Guardian: Russia is at war with Britain and US is no longer a reliable ally, UK adviser says www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Russia is at war with Britain and US is no longer a reliable ally, UK adviser says
Government defence expert Fiona Hill warns UK to respond to threats by becoming more cohesive and resilient
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Leeds for Europe @leedseurope.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
““We’re in pretty big trouble,” Hill said, describing the UK’s geopolitical situation as caught between “the rock” of Vladimir Putin’s Russia and “the hard place” of Donald Trump’s increasingly unpredictable US.” If only there was an alternative…
theguardian.com
Russia is at war with Britain and US is no longer a reliable ally, UK adviser says
Government defence expert Fiona Hill warns UK to respond to threats by becoming more cohesive and resilient
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Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
How the Media is Trying to Talk a Nigel Farage Government Into Reality www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/how-the-me...
adambienkov.co.uk
How the Media is Trying to Talk a Nigel Farage Government Into Reality
Why for much of the British press, the unlikely story of Reform UK's rise to power is simply "too good to check"
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Alex Andreou @sturdyalex.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Zia Yusuf, June 3rd: "Only Nigel Farage and Reform can save Britain." Zia Yusuf, June 5th: "I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time." Zia Yusuf, June 7th: "Only Nigel Farage and Reform can save Britain." www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
independent.co.uk
Zia Yusuf makes astonishing return to Reform UK just 48 hours after quitting role
U-turn comes just two days after businessman said he no longer believed working to get a Reform government elected was a good use of time
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Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
I’m sure @kyivindependent.com would be delighted if even more signed up! So determined were they to BE independent they turned down 💰 💰 💰 from an oligarch. So what we do helps counter misinformation & disinformation. Staring hard at Putin & Trump. www.patreon.com/posts/we-rea...
patreon.com
We reached our goal of 20,000 members — a landmark for Ukrainian media: Here's what you helped us achieve this week | The Kyiv Independent
Get more from The Kyiv Independent on Patreon
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Lesley Muir @buielass.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Keep your kids safe. Get them vaccinated.
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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
15/ CONCLUSION. No one’s saying the scales aren’t closely balanced. But it’s silly to think the edge isn’t Musk’s in almost all respects. Trump can talk a bigger game, threaten bigger punishments, and on paper seems a scarier opponent—but under the hood that’s simply not what the nuts and bolts say.
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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
9/ AGE. Trump is old, tired, toward the end of his career, struggling mentally, and facing a midterm election in which _everyone_ expects his presidency to basically end (certainly his legislative agenda). Musk is 25 years younger and will be a power player worldwide for decades and decades to come.
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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
6/ SKELETONS. Both men have them; Trump’s are worse. Trump _is_ a serial rapist; his intimates know this. He _is_ committing impeachable offenses daily; his intimates know this. There probably _were_ at least _some_ shenanigans last year; his intimates know this. Musk’s weaknesses are already out.
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Seth Abramson @sethabramson.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
3/ BUREAUCRACY. Trump is fully checked out from the presidency; this administration is being run by advisers (mostly Miller and Vought) and a few crackpot Cabinet officials (Kennedy, Hegseth). Meanwhile, Musk has God Mode access to all data in all departments via his DOGE agents in every department.
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 07/06/2025
Oooh, you mean it's OK to leave, realise it's a mistake, then rejoin? 😉
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Ed Wilson @eddwilson.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
In the olden days, in British English, we said "fifth anniversary", not "five year anniversary". #r4today
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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
THREAD. When my parents' cat Bridget went missing, my dad, to try to ease his worry, painted her on a variety of historical ventures. Soon, these numbered in the dozens. After much nagging, my dad has had some postcards printed of this brilliant series: michaelcoxmoredaysthansausages.bigcartel.com
The Girl With The Cat EarringBridget Hangs Out With The Hunters In The SnowBridget Meets The Beatles On Abbey RoadBridget Does Edward Hopper
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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
Well, this has set the cat amongst the Telegraph pigeons. Sumption goes against the entire Telegraph-GB News line that Lucy Connolly's conviction is wrong and an attack on free speech. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05...
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Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
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Marwood @andmarwood.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Do you know what would really annoy all the right people? If Gary Lineker were to win TV Presenter of the Year at the National Television Awards... Vote link below! 🙂
nationaltvawards.com
Vote | National Television Awards
Choose your winners in this year’s National Television Awards
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joanblanewater.bsky.social @joanblanewater.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
The Guardian view on Trump v universities: essential institutions must defend themselves
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Siue Allen @sitebadger.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
2.5 years waiting list for hip replacement in Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board. I’m 1.3 years into my journey now.
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Adam Schwarz @adamjschwarz.bsky.social · 26/04/2025
It’s unknown what was said. But it’s clear from Macron and Starmer’s body language that their appearance just before Zelensky and Trump’s one-on-one was to remind them both that France and the UK have Ukraine’s back - to encourage and empower Zelensky to deal with Trump from a position of strength.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 26/04/2025
"Despite his boasting, President Trump is one of the worst dealmakers on the international stage. His impatience and ill-founded self-belief make him an easy victim" A true and scathing characterisation of the world's worst dealmaker from John in his letter to the Times.
A screenshot of John's letter, which reads: Sir, The confusion around US support for Ukraine arises from the arrogance and ignorance of one man. Despite his boasting, President Trump is one of the worst dealmakers on the international stage. His impatience and ill-founded self-belief make him an easy victim for a clever adversary. After his photo-opportunity with Kim Jong-un, North Korea increased its stock of nuclear weapons. His desperation to get out of Afghanistan led to the disastrous 2020 Doha agreement, handing inevitable victory to the Taliban after the bungled withdrawal overseen by Joe Biden.
Now Trump, outmanoeuvred by Putin and uninterested in European security, sees a chance to plunder Ukraine of its mineral assets while leaving it at Russia’s mercy. The western allies should respond by massively increasing their military assistance to President Zelensky.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Britain wakes up every day, aims the gun at its feet and pulls the trigger. Just a prolonged exercise in meanspiritedness and self-harm.
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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
One of the most shocking things I have read for a while: t.co/lg46ijHLDF
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
If these Ukraine peace terms are as reported, they are a historic betrayal. Nothing in American history would come near to it. It would side the US squarely and definitively with dictatorship inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...
inews.co.uk
Trump's betrayal of Ukraine is complete
Ukraine simply cannot accept this peace deal with Russia
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joanblanewater.bsky.social @joanblanewater.bsky.social · 19/04/2025
open.substack.com/pub/alanrusb...
open.substack.com
First a peerage, now a plum job—why does Boris keep promoting Charlotte Owen?
Baroness Owen was just 29 when she was given a life peerage by the former prime minister. A year on, she has another new role. What makes her so uniquely qualified?
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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
The lies are coming faster and more desperately these days. Keep pressing, friends.
Tweet from @TheMaineWonk calling out a statement by Donald Trump as an “insane lie,” shown above Trump’s tweet claiming record U.S. tariff revenue, falling prices on goods including gas and groceries, and reduced inflation, ending with “Promises Made, Promises Kept!”
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David Klemperer @dmk1793.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
"in 2006-9 the then Labour government was preparing to fix the problem ... in 2010-13 the Coalition government decided not to" applies to an almost infinite number of different policy areas
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Mark McGeoghegan @markmcgeoghegan.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
The weaponisation and privatisation of space coming together to replace space exploration, once a beacon of international cooperation for the common good, with space as a theatre of war and playground for the military-industrial complex.
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Ruth Zakarin @ruthz.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
This picture may haunt me to the end of my days. It is an ICE agent taking an axe to the car window of an immigrant in New Bedford, MA. Not far from where I sit now. An immigrant with no criminal record was abducted by this smiling man. An axe taken to a car window and to our democracy. 1/ #MomSky
A man in tactical gear and a baseball hat is taking an axe to a car window. He looks like he’s smiling.
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Luke Harding @lukeharding1968.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
My report on today's devastating Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy. At least 21 dead and 83 injured, including seven kids. Bodies on the streets, burning cars, a trolley bus destroyed, rescuers carrying survivors, a child covered in blood.. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
theguardian.com
Russian missile strike kills at least 20 in Ukrainian city of Sumy
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says dozens killed on ‘ordinary city street’ while heading to church for Palm Sunday
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Darth Putin @darthputinkgb.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
OTD in 1940 USSR began 2nd mass deportation of civilians from Poland's east borderlands occupied by the Soviets on Sept. 17, 1939. There were 4 waves of deportations from Feb 1940 to June 1941, *before* Nazis invaded us, while we were still allies Imagine this happening today..
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Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Imagine it was one (or more) of your family or friends under those blankets. Or you. The pain. The grief. The fucking OUTRAGE And Trump is too weak and too indifferent to their suffering to stand up to Putin. Immeasurable damage to 🇺🇸 standing in the world. bsky.app/profile/euan...
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Fionna O’Leary @fascinatorfun.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
A hospital clinic, 3 theatres, a concert hall, a gym and a conference centre. Imagine living in the 🇺🇦 provinces that the USA wishes to gift to Russia in reward for its 🇷🇺 constant and continuing war crimes. bsky.app/profile/euan...
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Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO @nickreeves.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
June 2024: Nigel Farage doubles down on support for Andrew Tate. Why does Farage support a sexual predator accused of rape & human trafficking? One plausible reason is that both are cogs in Russia's influence network. But to approve of a brutal sexual predator? www.thenational.scot/news/2440437...
thenational.scot
Nigel Farage stands by comment describing Andrew Tate as ‘important voice’ for men
NIGEL Farage has stood by his comment describing Andrew Tate as an “important voice” for men as he greeted supporters in Clacton-on-Sea.
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Shaun Pinner @shaunpinner.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
meanwhile this is Sumy now.
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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
This is a concession by the U.S. government that its “arrangement” with El Salvador is irrevocable. To me this has to be grounds to argue that the arrangement itself is unconstitutional under the Fifth and Eighth Amendments
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Pat Bagley @bagleycartoons.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
Trump: I am the strongest, most powerful person ever! The whole world lines up to kiss my ass! Courts: Return Kilmer Abrego Garcia from the El Salvador torture prison you sent him to Trump: Sorry. No can do. Totally out of my hands
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Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner @rowefinkbeiner.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
BREAKING BAD NEWS: Trump is proposing eliminating Head Start: This is an abhorrent attack on children & families, ripping opportunities from our country’s youngest, damaging businesses & hurting our economy. Congress must hold the line & protect Head Start. #MomSky www.usatoday.com/story/news/e...
usatoday.com
Exclusive: Trump budget proposal would fully eliminate Head Start
The White House's budget proposes eliminating Head Start, an early childhood education program that provides services to low-income families.
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 11/04/2025
yeah man, please make my 85 year old great aunt prove her citizenship to vote in rural georgia, this definitely isn’t reminiscent of anything in the american past
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Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Liz Truss says she was the longest continuous serving government minister, ten years on the trot Forgets to mention she was the shortest-serving Prime Minister in UK history, beaten by a lettuce
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Tristan Snell @tristansnell.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Forcing people to pay $130 for a passport in order to vote is just a Jim Crow poll tax by another name. It is blatantly unconstitutional.
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