Sign in

Jim Pickard

@pickardje.bsky.social
128K followers 586 following 3.1K posts

Deputy political editor, Financial Times. Also amateur iphone photographer and some-time musician.

PostsRepliesMedia
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 40m
half summer, half autumn
2451
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 1h
"Trump has called Zelenskyy a dictator while saying Putin is his friend. No prizes for guessing which of the two is on display in a gold-framed photograph at the White House" www.ft.com/content/1724...
ft.com
Why Trump is going for Zelenskyy’s jugular
No matter how much America’s allies urge the president to back Ukraine, he cannot forgive its leader for showing up his dealmaking impotence
15718
Reposted by Jim Pickard
M 💓🇺🇸🗽🌊🌈✨🧘‍♀️ @liveadivinelife.bsky.social · 2h
This is the kind of stuff naysayers of AI have a problem with. And They know there’s more chaos to come. So AI promoters & pushers can stop saying we’re just old, afraid of change, or ignorant.
1166
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Chris Rand @chrisrand.com · 4h
There are so many things we haven’t even considered yet that could be destroyed by enemies of the state, AI, or enemies of the state with AI. I’m sure the next decade will be characterised by taking things back offline and putting them under manual control.
1011231
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Phillwatson FBPE 🇬🇧🇨🇭 🇪🇺🖖 🔶 @phillipwatson.bsky.social · 6h
0256
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 4h
FT exclusive: Chancellor John Healey has rejected calls by senior Labour figures to raise capital gains tax to the same level as income tax, amid warnings that such an increase would hit Britain’s attractiveness to investors. www.ft.com/content/d633...
ft.com
Healey rejects calls to equalise capital gains and income tax rates
UK proposal had been backed by senior Labour figures, triggering nervousness among entrepreneurs and investors
7124
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 4h
The boss of a French supermarket chain targeted by cyber attacks that forced its fridges to overheat has described the incident as an “unprecedented” and “extremely serious” attack on the country’s food security www.ft.com/content/6908...
ft.com
Cyber attack on French supermarket fridges raises alarm over food security
Some stores reported fridge temperatures as high as 80°C, melting equipment and destroying food
2113452
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 5h
they’re putting it out at more cinemas in a fortnight I think
020
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 5h
I went to a showing of this brilliant documentary last night about the existential threat of AI and I would urge everyone else to www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ma...
theguardian.com
Chasing Utopia review – renegade Google exec Mo Gawdat searches for ethical AI in alarming insider warning
Delivering much information about the scale of what’s coming, documentary also follows Gawdat’s campaign to get the programs with empathy
23512
Reposted by Jim Pickard
McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 09/10/2026
"Are my migraines hormonal, or am I thinking too hard about how Peter Thiel has more money than all nurses on Earth combined?" buff.ly/oLdL54C
buff.ly
Is It Perimenopause or the Fascist Death Knell of Late-Stage Capitalism?
“Is my hair thinning, or am I ripping it out because a thirty-four-time convicted, sexually abusive steak salesman with a Hannibal Lecter fetish is five poin...
131255401
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Stephen Moore @stevem10.bsky.social · 6h
Morning. bsky.app/profile/stev...
0101
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 7h
good morning
61034
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 20h
no one can calibrate how successful the interference was but of course there was interference, people
1319515
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 20h
ministers struggled to explain what Burnham even meant by interference
100
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 20h
there was plenty of this coverage at the time
215315
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 21h
I'm gobsmacked by ministers' failure to defend Burnham's claim about Russian interference in Brexit (and Tories' claim that he has no proof of it) when there were well-documented troll farms, funded by Russia, spewing out aggressive pro-Brexit attacks on social media at the time
27695195
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 22h
Labour ministers are facing an industry backlash against plans to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from the government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales, which provides grants of up to £9,000 to help households switch to heat pumps www.ft.com/content/e67a...
86714
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 23h
Polish prime minister not pulling his punches
121845
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Everyone continues to underestimate the Houthis’ military power...suddenly these guys in flip-flops can double or triple your winter heating bills.” www.ft.com/content/bd2c...
ft.com
Houthis show military reach with deadly missile strikes on Riyadh
Yemen’s Iran-backed militants have evolved from insurgency into potent armed force
75217
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Gerard @groverxv.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
“Does the effort to remove the democratically elected leader of Germany in the 1941-45 period count for nothing?”
static.klipy.com
Grandpa Abe's Confused Exit in The Simpsons
ALT: Grandpa Abe's Confused Exit in The Simpsons
4571
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Henry Foy @henryjfoy.ft.com · 11/10/2026
💥 The Trump administration has threatened European capitals that it could stop paid-for weapons shipments to Ukraine if Kyiv does not halt its deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, officials told @christopherjm.ft.com and me @financialtimes.com as.ft.com/r/bc5bd7e2-3...
as.ft.com
US threatens to block arms for Ukraine over attacks on Russian refineries
Officials lobby European capitals and Kyiv following Trump’s diesel deal with Putin
38217117
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
the caption that tells you everything you need to know
26895387
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
good morning
41251
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
sure but the Russians only needed fo moved the dial by a couple of points
2170
Reposted by Jim Pickard
OB1 Rebel @ob1rebel.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Voters in the EU - be wary of falling for Russian propaganda. Spread the news to those who don't read about what's going on or read or watch propaganda only.
1249
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Holger Binding @hermgamma.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Gift link: giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
giftarticle.ft.com
Russia ‘interfered’ in 2016 Brexit vote, says Andy Burnham
UK prime minister calls for European voters to be better informed about efforts to disrupt democratic process
24314
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
some of us worked this out a decade ago but it’s refreshing to see a prime minister say it out loud
25986206
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The 2016 Brexit vote was targeted by Russian “state-sponsored interference”, Andy Burnham has said, as he warned voters in France and Germany about Kremlin-backed attempts to influence their countries’ politics.  www.ft.com/content/4fcb...
ft.com
Russia ‘interfered’ in 2016 Brexit vote, says Andy Burnham
UK prime minister calls for European voters to be better informed about efforts to disrupt democratic process
28481181
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
The 2016 Brexit vote was targeted by Russian “state-sponsored interference”, Andy Burnham has said, as he warned voters in France and Germany about Kremlin-backed attempts to influence their countries’ politics.  www.ft.com/content/4fcb...
ft.com
Russia ‘interfered’ in 2016 Brexit vote, says Andy Burnham
UK prime minister calls for European voters to be better informed about efforts to disrupt democratic process
28481181
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Rob Cruickshank @robcruickshank.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Turns out these guys are real
A fish like a child would draw, no fins, just a tail an eye and a little smile
66150584103
Reposted by Jim Pickard
depths of wikipedia @depthsofwikipedia.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
four years ago I posted this image of paleontologist Jan Smit looking at rocks and his son-in-law replied with something even better
58151482912
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Western intelligence agencies have warned Europe’s defence bosses that Russia is stepping up efforts to assassinate them, prompting companies to increase personal security around their top executives www.ft.com/content/5da2...
ft.com
Russia steps up bid to kill European defence chiefs, spy agencies warn
Companies increase personal security for top executives as Kremlin orders expansion of sabotage and ‘hybrid’ operations
37029
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
John Healey is *not* cutting the mansion tax threshold to £1.5mn despite speculation last month - will remain at £2mn when it kicks in in 2028 www.ft.com/content/b1ff...
ft.com
John Healey rules out cutting ‘mansion tax’ threshold to £1.5mn in UK Budget
Mooted reduction had provoked backlash by Labour MPs concerned about impact on voters in London
4378
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Kaja Kallas @kajakallas.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
This is not the time to ease pressure on Russia, and Europe won’t. On Monday, EU Foreign Ministers intend to approve the biggest set of sanctions listings targeting Russia’s war machine since the start of the war.
44728181
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Donald Trump wants regime change in Ukraine but not in Russia, go figure www.thetimes.com/world/russia...
thetimes.com
Time for Zelensky to go, Trump tells Ukraine in diesel row
Andy Burnham pledges ‘solidarity’ with Kyiv after US president strikes Putin oil deal
2724959
Reposted by Jim Pickard
derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
good lord how can anyone be this whiny; are you not ashamed
Donald Trump writes on Truth Social: "This is the woman who received the Nobel Peace Prize over the Great United States of America, whose Representative, ME, settled eight Wars, and many other things. I know nothing about this woman, and neither does anyone else! In fact, to the best of my knowledge, no one ever heard of her other than the fact that she, very obviously, hates Israel. I don’t know what the woman has done. I settled 8 Wars, with letters being sent from every President and Prime Minister from the countries that I helped to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and I’m about to settle, or win, two more, Iran and, Russia/Ukraine. They’re both happening at breakneck speed but, forget them, it’s the 8 that I’ve already settled, any one of which, in particular, Pakistan and India, would be far more than necessary to win the Nobel Prize. In actuality, I should have won 8 Nobel Peace Prizes, not just 1. The 8 Wars are:"Donald Trump writes on Truth Social: "Cambodia and Thailand
Kosovo and Serbia
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
Pakistan and India
Israel and Iran
Egypt and Ethiopia
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Israel and Hamas
Additionally, I stopped Iran from having a Nuclear Weapon, and blowing up the entire Middle East and, ultimately, far beyond! I saved more lives than anyone in History and, as Maria Corina Machado, a truly fine person, stated to the Media when she gave me her Nobel Prize of last year, “Donald Trump settled many Wars, and deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than any person that has ever received it.” Based on my record of PEACE, a record like no one else has ever achieved, I agree! I got back all of the hostages in Israel, including the final 28, both living and dead, and worked with Hamas to"
Donald Trump writes on Truth Social: "PEACE, a record like no one else has ever achieved, I agree! I got back all of the hostages in Israel, including the final 28, both living and dead, and worked with Hamas to do it — Nobody believed this was possible! I removed the World’s Evil Dictator, Nicolas Maduro, from Venezuela, and am in the process of making Venezuela a rich Democracy. Likewise, with Iran, I stopped them from destroying Israel, the Middle East, and Europe. I am also preventing, on a constant basis, a War between South Korea and North Korea, and Japan and North Korea. Add China and Taiwan, and numerous other hot spots, which have not been involved in Wars, only because of President Donald J. Trump, and the United States of America. I am responsible for having NATO countries increase spending from 2% to 5% of GDP, creating a stronger alliance and defense, another thing that everybody said was impossible to do. I have negotiated the release, and secured the return, of more than 900 political prisoners from multiple countries"Donald Trump writes on Truth Social: "another thing that everybody said was impossible to do. I have negotiated the release, and secured the return, of more than 900 political prisoners from multiple countries in Eastern Europe. Additionally, I have brought 196 hostages HOME from captivity, from all over the World, and did it without having paid a ransom, unlike Biden and Obama who would pay Billions of Dollars. On top of it all, I have created a soon to be very prosperous Arctic. Despite all of this, the Nobel Prize was given today to a liberal person who works at the United Nations, who nobody has ever heard of. In all of the Wars that I have settled, I never spoke to the United Nations—they were of no help. The United States of America, represented by me, as your President, should have received the Nobel Peace Prize, but didn’t. This is an indelible stain on Norway, one that will never be forgotten. The Nobel “Peace” Prize has been forever discredited by a handful of Radical Ideologues who are Anti-Democracy, and Enemies of Civilization! President DONALD J. TRUMP"
43081611122
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
just when you thought it couldn’t get worse
43566187
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
just when you thought it couldn’t get worse
43566187
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Look at the graph of US support for Ukraine, and how it disappeared when Trump entered his second term. The Russia hoax was never a hoax
44613277
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 30/11/2024
swan
Lone swan on a misty river Thames as a skein of geese flies overhead
1854118
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 09/10/2026
Wow. Donald Trump is giving money to Putin’s war machine so he can keep killing innocent Ukrainians and attacking democracies across Europe. The UK must lead a coalition of the willing that stands up and says no.
741009278
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Lizzy Price @lizzyjprice.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Absolutely spot on. Let’s instead pause on these words by @iandunt.bsky.social in respect of London in the context of today’s byelection. “They hate it because it is beautiful, & it works, & that success provides a comprehensive refutation of their worldview.”
213111
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Peter Geoghegan @petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
🔴NEW: Ben Delo has given Reform £44MILLION Delo’s money comes from his now-closed crypto exchange BitMEX In 2019, a BitMEX investor asked about the status of his investment Delo responded by sending this meme, according to court documents. There’s more, a lot more (new investigation🧵)
16549341
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Callum May @callummay.co.uk · 09/10/2026
Anonymous sources are bad, says an anonymous source.
Greens do 'things differently', says source over former deputy's criticism
A Green Party source has responded to earlier comments from Caroline Lucas on the party's motion at its conference over the weekend.
They say: "There are ups and downs in politics and when people are passionate they disagree in the heat of a campaign."
The source adds: "We do things differently, unlike Labour who use anonymous sources and resort to factionalism."
623858
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Xela Hart @xelahart.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
718268138614
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 09/10/2026
oh my god I was going to joke "he's actually centre-left" and turns out he IS
26945194
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Chairman Moët @chairmanmoet.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
What a fortnight in British politics. Also love the idea that someone mounting a coup to overthrow the third biggest party's leader goes completely unnoticed until it's an exclusive splash in the FT
2305
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
FT exclusive: the coup against Sir Ed Davey has begun... www.ft.com/content/523f...
ft.com
Lib Dem MP launches attempt to topple leader Ed Davey
Resignation of Treasury spokesperson Charlie Maynard comes amid frustration about centre-left party’s sagging poll ratings
3411845
Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Robert Jenrick: "doing a deal with the Tory party is like being handcuffed to a zombie"
9213
Reposted by Jim Pickard
Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Charlie Maynard has resigned from the LibDem frontbench Treasury team to seek a leadership change. He has been the MP for Witney since 2024: a strong critic of Brexit with hawkish fiscal views on government debt bsky.app/profile/pick...
104114