Here’s what I think of #budget26 🤬

The free press fights back... Introducing the Nerve. From the wreckage of my old newspaper, comes a new all-women, journalist-owned, independent publication. Join us!

Right. A bit more about what we’re up to.

Would love feedback, do stick a comment at the end. And do please consider signing up to find out more www.thenerve.news

open.substack.com/pub/broligar...

What a delight to work with these top gals @lisehand.bsky.social and @flormaccarthy.bsky.social - really nice feeling being at no 6 in the charts too!

I'm just glad one of these men has the nuclear codes and the other has all our personal data.

Read this twice. The world we know is shifting beneath our feet.

Great new Substack from @carolecadwalla.bsky.social about the great copyright heist involved in the AI revolution. It’s the Information Age equivalent of the enclosures, with Big Tech appropriating vast swathes of our intellectual property

Parking, Dublin style 😳

Justine McCarthy: Both Michael Lowry and Elon Musk know the king-maker is more powerful than the king How can our new government claim to be an international referee of political integrity when it has shamelessly thrown away its moral compass?

Powerful column by Justine McCarthy. Lowry as a sideline puppet master is something we need to fear

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...

Man Decides Eating Lunch Without Headphones On Counts As Meditating CHARLESTON, SC—Remarking that the unexpected moment of solitude was “good enough for him,” local man Alan Stambaugh told reporters Thursday that eating lunch without headphones counted as mediating. “...

Man Decides Eating Lunch Without Headphones On Counts As Meditating

Yesterday, the Baron of Siberia posted my investigation into Tortoise on Twitter. I responded saying the Guardian is cancelling my contract after 19 years, so I'd be happy to go to the Indie to carry on investigating Evgeny's dad, the ex-KGB spy. This was a joke!

However, here are some facts..
1/

“Now I have confidence” @liberation.fr

US revamps labels on what qualifies as 'healthy' food The United States has redefined what qualifies as "healthy" food for the first time in 30 years, striking items like white bread from the list while welcoming nutrient-rich options such as eggs and sa...

The United States has redefined what qualifies as "healthy" food for the first time in 30 years, striking items like white bread from the list while welcoming nutrient-rich options such as eggs and salmon, officials said

an orange and white cat sitting on a couch ALT: an orange and white cat sitting on a couch

Me after disappearing down a rabbit hole about #drones

Bernie Sanders: "We are moving rapidly into an oligarchic form of society ... we can't go around the world saying, 'in Russia Putin has an oligarchy.' Well we got an oligarchy here too."

I’m not crying, you are. #strictly

Come on Chris! #strictly

Have an NCT due in 2025? Book it now to avoid Jan 1 (unfair) price hike

Patrick Freyne: I am becoming a demotivational speaker – let’s all have an averagely productive December I keep meeting people who are extremely burned out. I meet them so often that I’m beginning to think burnout is something that exists by design

Great piece by Patrick Freyne: I am becoming a demotivational speaker – let’s all have an averagely productive December. I keep meeting people who are extremely burned out. I meet them so often that I’m beginning to think burnout is something that exists by design

www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Patrick Freyne: I am becoming a demotivational speaker – let’s all have an averagely productive December I keep meeting people who are extremely burned out. I meet them so often that I’m beginning to think burnout is something that exists by design

I'm launching a new career as a demotivational speaker (thanks to everyone who got in touch this morning - it's nice to hear it strikes a chord) www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

I do love how the BBC use explainers to make total sense of unfolding world events. Simple format but effective

www.bbc.com

Beam me up!

🇸🇾 In Syria, residents of Tartous and Latakia are toppling statues of Hafez al-Assad, who ruled for 30 years and was Bashar al-Assad's father. It is probably a matter of hours before HTS-led rebel forces enter here too.

Extraordinary year in news. An alien takeover wouldn’t shock at this point

Latest update from @ESBNetworks as of 5:15pm Saturday shows 220,000 customers still without power and sadly many will be without power for a number of days, possibly up to a week in a worse case scenario for some customers. #StormDarragh

Each year my wonderful pal Rachel arranges Christmas gifts for Ireland's unhoused children.

As of last week, there are 14,996 ppl in emergency accommodation in Ireland, inc. 3,448 children.

It's a tiny thing to bring joy to them. If you can at all, please consider donating.

www.merrylilsanta.ie

No regrets

Post-#GE24 govt formation latest:

Tues/Wed:
First meetings of new parliamentary parties

Thurs:
Mary Lou McDonald to meet Cian O’Callaghan
Ivana Bacik to meet Roderic O’Gorman

Fri:
Simon Harris and Micheál Martin to meet (on margins of British-Irish Council in Edinburgh)
Bacik to meet O’Callaghan

Why has South Korea's president suddenly declared martial law? The move - invoking temporary military rule - has been roundly condemned by opponents and some within his own party.

www.bbc.com/news/article...