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Rafael Behr

@rafaelbehr.bsky.social
68K followers 571 following 1.4K posts

Political columnist, The Guardian Author, Politics, A Survivor's Guide Website: rafaelbehr.com

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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 7h
I want James Graham to do it as a play
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 8h
New Raffish Mix has dropped. Featuring Björk, Deee-Lite (no, not that one), 4AM Kru, Freestylers, Mr Oizo, a spoonful of acid, some summer nights, an English garden, a poor milkman and the SNCF www.mixcloud.com/raffishdj/th...
mixcloud.com
The Raffish Mix IV by Raf Behr
More impudent mashups and cheeky samples stitched together with acid squelches, funky grooves and ferocious breakbeats. Featuring: Freestylers, Björk, Deee-Lite, 4AM Kru, Tevye the Milkman and the SNC...
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
🗳️ BONUS HOLBORNCAST 🗳️ Labour holds Starmer’s old seat… but is Polanski in trouble? 🗳️ @steverichards.bsky.social of Rock & Roll Politics reads the runes with @nndroid.bsky.social 🗳️ Listen linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
“The government sabotaged my chances by maximising the likelihood of voters paying attention to my party” is not the defence he thinks it is.
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Robert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
It’s a mark of the corruption of our whole way of thinking about the world that trying to meet a planetary emergency is routinely described as “ideological”, while continuing to accelerate it is presented as “pragmatic” and “economic”.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Fair. But they’d get more credit for that if they STFU at night.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Nah, vermin.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Thank you. I think you’re right that Greens are now making Burnham’s life easier but there is a risk of wider discrediting of the whole ‘progressive bloc’ in a messy general election where tactical voting will be key. Tories will try to push a vote red, get green line.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Thank you
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
(Blocking thumbs on standby)
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Column on Greens, anti-Zionism and why the people who pathologically hate something are not the most reliable people to define it accurately www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Zack Polanski had the chance to show real leadership. He blew it | Rafael Behr
A toxic debate over anti-Zionism leaves the Green leader looking like a passenger in the movement that carried him to the top, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 06/10/2026
Kane and Unable: my SKETCH of Kemi Badenoch's decision to conduct her broadcast interviews as a tribute to Jeffrey Archer. thecritic.co.uk/kane...

Kemi Badenoch’s broadcast interviews on Tuesday were a touching celebration of someonewhose extravagant boasts and relaxed relationship with reality won the heart of Conservative members. There was also a lot of discussion of Jeffrey Archer.

The Tory leader opened her chat with BBC Breakfast viewers by talking about the bestselling novelist messaging her only the previous day. She would reply with emojis, she said, and we got an image of a somewhat one-sided chat that allowed Archer to allude to his closeness to Top People. Or Badenoch, anyway.

Not, of course, that the Master Storyteller ever felt constrained by the truth. It was a stellar career built on an instinct for what the audience wants to hear, a gift for “inaccurate precis”, and a willingness, when necessary, to simply say things that weren’t true. Sorry, I’ve completely lost track of who I’m writing about.
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General Boles @generalboles.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Browsing the Britain's Homegrown Sumo Scene on Getty and think I've found a new meme
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
☕︎ NEW EDITION ☕︎ The Tories in Badenoch’s fantasy world, where Britain somehow wants more Conservatism, only harder. 🥀 Plus: The total mess of Greens’ anti-Zionism motion 📳 Listen – linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Given how hard the ‘Right Way’ argues that incentives are key to good policy and how it claims also to respect facts of climate science it is notable how the energy policy section consists exclusively of *disincentives* to act on the facts of climate change.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The Witch from Chorlton and the Wheelies
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
The Conservative Party conference is here and Kemi Badenoch seems to think she can save the Tories single-handedly. Can she? (You know the answer but play along...) @rafaelbehr.bsky.social joins @jacobjarvis.bsky.social to discuss the news to watch this week ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 02/10/2026
no I'm sorry who told Le Monde we were calling it "Breturn", own up
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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Finally, the Footlose/Flashdance crossover we were promised
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🌀 HOT TAKE TIME MACHINE 🌀 Burnham “channels Oprah”, the PM’s “Beatles granny” speech, sofa socialism and an intergenerational iced coffee rift? @msmirandasawyer.bsky.social, @jonnelledge.bsky.social and @jacobjarvis.bsky.social pick apart the strangest takes in the op-edverse ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
🚨 The far-right is reshaping politics across Europe. So what's driving its rise? What do these movements have in common? How did we get here – and what might happen next? 🚨 NYT’s chief diplomatic correspondent for Europe Steven Erlanger and @rafaelbehr.bsky.social discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🗓️ WEEKLY WRAP-UP 🗓️ Can Burnham defeat Russia’s slopaganda? Trump meets Xi, Piers Morgan vs Earl Spencer (can’t they both lose?), “Danny Thommo” gets his collar felt… and more stories that shaped the week. 🗓️ With @rafaelbehr.bsky.social & @nndroid.bsky.social 🗓️ Listen linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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Andrew Harrison @nndroid.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Most British people’s idea of the real crime rate is enormously out of whack with reality… but extreme politicians and rightwing newspapers have zero interest in enlightening them. This is a brilliant edition that you really should share with any Reform-curious or Daily-Mail-afflicted relatives.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
On the Lib Dem “firewall” strategy, and a pitch to blue wall remainers that spends a hypothetical reverse-Brexit dividend on tax cuts. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
It’s easy to ignore the Lib Dems, but they could soon hold the balance of power | Rafael Behr
Ed Davey’s strategy is meant to build a ‘firewall’ of MPs to prevent Reform UK entering government. The stakes are high if he gets it wrong, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
On the Lib Dem “firewall” strategy, and a pitch to blue wall remainers that spends a hypothetical reverse-Brexit dividend on tax cuts. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
It’s easy to ignore the Lib Dems, but they could soon hold the balance of power | Rafael Behr
Ed Davey’s strategy is meant to build a ‘firewall’ of MPs to prevent Reform UK entering government. The stakes are high if he gets it wrong, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Burnham promised politics with a “sense of optimism” – can he keep up the smiles as next month’s budget looms and the reality of government sets in? @rostaylor.bsky.social, @rmcunliffe.bsky.social & @rafaelbehr.bsky.social discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnowpod
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Welbeck shmelbeck.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
On Russia’s pastiche of democracy and lessons for countries that want to preserve the real thing www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
To understand the threat to our real democracy, watch Putin's fake one | Rafael Behr
As Russians vote this weekend, remember that Britain is not immune to the cynical tactics and corrosion of trust that keep him in power, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
They hold all the cards
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
On Russia’s pastiche of democracy and lessons for countries that want to preserve the real thing www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
To understand the threat to our real democracy, watch Putin's fake one | Rafael Behr
As Russians vote this weekend, remember that Britain is not immune to the cynical tactics and corrosion of trust that keep him in power, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
💰💰NEW EPISODE💰💰 Reform has been bolstered with £72 million in donations – is it enough for Nigel Farage to buy his way to power? @rostaylor.bsky.social, @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com, @rafaelbehr.bsky.social and @seththevoz.bsky.social discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnowpod
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 14/09/2026
Your regular reminder: If the Russians stop fighting, the war ends. If the Ukrainians stop fighting, their land will be occupied, their leaders will be killed, their history and language will be erased, their children will be kidnapped to serve Russia.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
New Raffish mix. A frankly preposterous journey from Prince to King Bee via DnB, hard house and a funky tribute to the late Dolly Parton www.mixcloud.com/raffishdj/ra...
mixcloud.com
The Raffish Mix Iii
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
🗞️ WEEKLY WRAP-UP 🗞️ Will Farage face the Met? Why is Miliband sanctioning Israeli settlers in the West Bank? And is Trump really "bribing" Americans in an attempt to win the midterms? @zoegrunewald.bsky.social and @rafaelbehr.bsky.social recap the big stories of the week ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
On the urgent task of stopping nationalists, pumped with Maga propaganda and Kremlin money, conniving against liberal democratic Europe www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
European democracies are running out of time to turn away from the abyss | Rafael Behr
Far-right parties, Maga ideology and Kremlin money are conniving to suffocate liberal idealism for another generation, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The ansaphone message, like the forces of ethnonationalism, were dismantled only for within living memory to see it re-created in new and more horrifying forms.
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I know. It baffles me how little traction that story got. Also Tommy Robinson going to Moscow. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Tommy Robinson’s Musk-funded Russia trip spurs call to defend UK democracy
Ed Davey voices concern about the Musk family foundation taking the far-right activist on a visit to Moscow
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
On the urgent task of stopping nationalists, pumped with Maga propaganda and Kremlin money, conniving against liberal democratic Europe www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
European democracies are running out of time to turn away from the abyss | Rafael Behr
Far-right parties, Maga ideology and Kremlin money are conniving to suffocate liberal idealism for another generation, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
🚨NEW EPISODE🚨 Farage is trying every excuse he can after *that* documentary. Will they work? @seththevoz.bsky.social, @jonnelledge.bsky.social, @rmcunliffe.bsky.social & @rafaelbehr.bsky.social discuss the fallout ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnowpod
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I don’t disagree with your general point but, in fairness to Lab response, Emma Reynolds was on radio this morning condemning protest, saying not peaceful and calling unacceptable.
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
🩵 YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE THIS KLAXON 🩵 Guess who’s been taped by C4 agreeing to donations that break the law? WE KNOW, RIGHT?? 🩵 @rmcunliffe.bsky.social & @jacobjarvis.bsky.social are shocked, SHOCKED on our Emergencycast… OUT NOW 🩵 Listen now – linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I think data support the view that Gen X were massive caners compared to almost everyone else. No regrets.
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Oh God, What Now? – the politics podcast @ohgodwhatnow.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
📚 NEW POD 📝 Andy Burnham gets his new pencil case and satchel together for his first term as PM. Which issues will metaphorically steal his dinner money* and then flush his head down the toilet? 📕 Listen (NB no phones in class) – linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnow...
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Column, on Burnham’s free-range style about to collide with the battery farm politics of Westminster www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Burnham’s ambitious plans need room to breathe – and Westminster suffocates change | Rafael Behr
A summer on the road suited the prime minister’s open style, but now the walls of conventional politics are closing in, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Thanks John
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Column, on Burnham’s free-range style about to collide with the battery farm politics of Westminster www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Burnham’s ambitious plans need room to breathe – and Westminster suffocates change | Rafael Behr
A summer on the road suited the prime minister’s open style, but now the walls of conventional politics are closing in, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
🦀 Before windows, did people live in stinking darkness? How did trains change our politics? And are buses slowly morphing into… crabs? Two Bunker goliaths collide as @jonnelledge.bsky.social and @alexvont.bsky.social reveal the 31 inventions that make modern life possible 🎧 linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
US global power was built on alliances. Trump is burning them all and now he is running out of diplomatic (and ballistic) ammunition www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
With no friends left to burn, Trump is running out of diplomatic ammunition | Rafael Behr
Everyone can see that the Iran war has been a strategic disaster for the US, while a failing president pretends he is winning, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
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Garvan Walshe @garvanwalshe.org · 25/08/2026
There’s something Italy is in that has given the country a lot of money, and access to a market of 450 million people. I really can’t think what it is. No, it’s not NATO, or the OECD, or the council of Europe. I’m stumped. Please help.
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The Bunker podcast – Your daily news Deep Dive @bunkerpod.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
🍊 WEEKLY WRAP-UP 🍊 Why is Trump cosying up to dictator bestie Kim Jong Un again? Will Zelenskyy face elections in Ukraine? And can Burnham get rough sleepers off the streets? @rafaelbehr.bsky.social and @jacobjarvis.bsky.social discuss the big stories of the past seven days ➡️ linktr.ee/bunker_pod
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