Modern childhood in too many places today 😢

I wanted to understand the US voting process better, so volunteered for the role!

Yes, sounds fair

Nuanced view- sadly lacking from those rushing to castigate or defend one side or the other.

Hard to say, honestly. I feel overall that Democrats are more motivated to vote than Republicans, which will likely make the difference.

They’d never offer it to me!

Interested in people’s views on how things look today, after Olly Robbins’ testimony, which I couldn’t watch as I’m currently serving as an election officer in Virginia’s special election- been here since 5am😩!

Yes, I’ve seen it. It’s a very complex situation, from which no one emerges well.

I can only imagine!

I still can’t quite believe FCDO officials didn’t alert Ministers to the failed vetting. That strikes me as a monumental error, for an appointment of this significance. What were they thinking?

Well, everyone will have their own view, and perhaps Olly Robbins testimony tomorrow will change the narrative again. But, listening to HoC debate, imo Starmer’s put up a plausible defense - and by admitting upfront the misjudgment in appointing Mandelson, partly neutralized that line of attack.

The Mandelson affair, obv. I’m dreading the upcoming drama in H of C, as everyone parades faux outrage. The appointment was a complete cock-up. No-one emerges well. It’s possible rules were followed, AND bad decisions taken, AND this is not the end of all days. I dread Badenoch’s posturing most.

That’s a welcome perspective. Thanks for the input.

To survive it also requires large scale alcohol consumption. Please let me know when my next consignment is arriving!

Wow; what a shabby way to treat you. I’m so sorry.

Although this is a dramatization, it does go well with what happens when we are not aware of what is happening around us.

Know the signs meaning!

It. Just. Takes. One.

Be sure you can be that one.

Save a life you will.

? Tell me more ….

British politics is spiraling down the plug hole. Was it Brexit? The factors leading to Brexit? The charlatans entering politics? The foreign money? The shallow media, who love to hype drama? Junk tv? All I know is that the UK no longer looks like a serious country.

The Mandelson affair, obv. I’m dreading the upcoming drama in H of C, as everyone parades faux outrage. The appointment was a complete cock-up. No-one emerges well. It’s possible rules were followed, AND bad decisions taken, AND this is not the end of all days. I dread Badenoch’s posturing most.

Are you angry? You SHOULD be angry, @alexhh.bsky.social says.

Full episode:
www.youtube.com/live/glwHiUL...

Alex's piece at Byline Times:
bylinetimes.com/2026/04/15/w...

Does that mean everyone is going through the motions of being “outraged”, “furious”, “shocked” etc, while actually being thoroughly exhausted by the whole affair, and slightly nauseated by the performative nature of today’s politics?

I feel like the next 24 hours in parliament are going to be really trying for those of us who dislike the passive voice

Why Americans Need to Get Much Angrier About Donald Trump Hope is not a strategy and my fellow Americans need to wake up to the far greater damage to the US this President could still cause, argues Alexandra Hall Hall

@alexhh.bsky.social
“There is a measure of hope in Orban’s recent electoral defeat in🇭🇺 But, the lesson far right populist movements will take from his defeat, including his backers in🇺🇸, will be that they need to go even further & faster to consolidate their power”
bylinetimes.com/2026/04/15/w...

🙏

Also, at fault, of course, is Mandelson himself, who utterly misrepresented his Epstein connections and dubious business dealings. Ultimately, tho, imo, it comes back to the PM, who took a gamble on Mandelson, which spectacularly backfired. Trust between Ministers and civil servants now ruined.

Blame also on other civil servants , eg in No 10, who failed to notify the PM immediately when the news was discovered, causing him unknowingly to mislead Parliament. Ministers may now be throwing Robbins under the bus; but, officials also threw the PM under the bus, exposing him politically. 🧵

Fair to that no one emerges well from this scandal - Starmer, for announcing the appointment before all the checks had been made, putting pressure on Olly Robbins to override the security decision to spare the PM embarrassment. But, Robbins too, for doing just that, when the stakes were so high. 🧵

‘Pure shock’: how ministers reacted to revelation of Mandelson vetting failure Inquiries into who knew what, and when, will be pored over in coming weeks and could ultimately decide Starmer’s fate

The mind boggles. Complete cock-up. The euphemism “due process was followed” may be technically correct, but is practically wrong in every way. 🧵www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/18/pur...

Bibi torched U.S. support for Israel for a generation Older Republicans and white Evangelicals are the last groups to hold majority favorable views of Israel.

www.axios.com/2026/04/18/i...

Loved tonight's show! @gregolear.bsky.social and @lincolnsbible.bsky.social tell it like it is.
The always delightful @alexhh.bsky.social 's rants sound so posh!

Carch the replay if you missed it.