I’m George Takei and I approve of this message.

She speaks truth.

🔥 AMAZING.

Today, the Baltic states disconnected their power grids from that of Russia.

It’s taken years of prep. What a moment.

Wow. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde fearlessly calls out Trump and Vance to their faces. This is heroic.

(posting in 3 parts due to Bluesky's 1 minute limit)

MPs second jobs are institutionalised bribery. They should be banned. 'Preventing MPs from selling their souls to the highest bidder is a necessary step in democratising parliament.'

Remember when Matt Hancock & Nadine Dorries (now ex MPs) chose to appear on TV realty shows for mega loot, and for weeks neglected their Parliamentary duties.

That is still permitted.

Must ban all second jobs for MPs.

Must serve people, not their bank balance.
leftfootforward.org/2025/01/mps-...

Do me a kindness! Share this if you love and support your local library & librarians (and remember: that includes your school library & school librarian) 😊📚

Thank you libraries & library workers… for everything ✨💚

The government’s decision not to compensate the Waspi women despite the Ombudsmen’s recommendations is a disgrace. Ministers are making the wrong choices - they need to turn back now because voters will not forgive them. #WASPI

DEPORTATIONS: What are they good for? YouTube video by Zoe Gardner

Every. Single. Word. Brutal and very honest stuff by the brilliant @zoejardiniere.bsky.social.
The time has come to start assessing the skills of refugees, see them as a valuable resource, get them contributing, the constant vilification is simply wrong.
youtu.be/JUYqV1AnDVA?...

Easily the best description of him I’ve ever read.

This is absolutely shocking. It just can’t go on

Scotland's move to end two-child benefit cap must inspire Labour Sabine Goodwin says Scotland's groundbreaking commitments to end two-child benefit cap and tackle poverty should inspire Westminster.

‘Let’s hope that by the time the Scottish government is ready to put their mitigation payments in place in 2026, a two-child limit doesn’t exist at all.’

My opinion piece for @bigissue.com #CashFirst

www.bigissue.com/opinion/scot...

Amazing comrade 😀

Thanks a lot, lovely lassie. Free healthcare in the four nations of the UK is a wonderful thing & I'm delighted that my taxes to pay for it. I would fucking riot if it was taken away✊🏻❤️

My Mam had an operation for skin cancer today. She's doing well & at home thanks to brilliant NHS staff. She got the best in free healthcare. Thank you. The NHS is a wonderful organisation & MUST be protected #NHS #health #UK

I'm in Edinburgh & my anti-psychotics, anti-depressants & anti-anxiety meds are free. Three prescriptions. I'm so deeply grateful. The NHS isn't perfect but it's ours & should be protected. This is precisely what I want my taxes to pay for.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but you don't need to justify your reading preferences and choices to anyone. Audiobooks count as reading. Also, you don't have to finish books you don't enjoy. Don't read to impress, read for yourself. Life's too short, love yourself, ok?

Signed, a librarian.

The concept Nigel Farage is incapable of grasping is human rights are universal - if we start stripping away basic human rights from any section of society then none of us has rights – just privileges that can be taken away by people in power whenever they want. I’ll fight that to my last breath

I will never stop reminding everyone that Farage's right wing views were identified as a real concern when he was a teenager by his teachers. He's the UK media's palatable face of fascism. I'm 100% with you Peter. He makes me feel sick.

With Bluesky user numbers rocketing, more official news accounts are arriving.

Here is a starter pack of major media outlets.

Feel free to repost, I’ll keep this updated as more arrive.

@mrbadger101.bsky.social

Back to work tomorrow but two further days of strikes scheduled for next week. Thank you to everyone who came out, offered support & liked the #dogsonpicketlines content. If you have qs about the £1.3bn trust fund, the yacht, or anything else, do write to observer.readers@observer.co.uk THANK YOU!

Everyone who has stood on that picket line today and yesterday has stood for more than just The Observer. They have stood for a free and fair press: something which is being diminished all over the world. I acknowledge, admire and honour each and every person who has been there. Thank you.

Today is the Observer’s 233rd birthday. And the first of 4 strike days. I grew up in South Wales in the shadow of the miners’ strike. Extraordinary to be joining a picket line outside what I believed was my liberal progressive news org all these years later.

We’re so grateful for your support & ✊

The Scottish government can lead on the reverse of the #WinterFuelPayment cut made by the UK government - my message to politicians at Holyrood and devolved governments is to make payments this year, they cannot wait until next year. @unitetheunion.bsky.social

Keep on keeping on comrade. I live with Borderline Personality Disorder with a side quest of Depression & Anxiety but aye, because no-one can actually SEE it then to some I'm not. Invisible Disabilities are REAL AND VALID #disability #mentalhealth #borderlinepersonalitydisorder

After sending a breaking news text alert, this is the screenshot of BBC news online. The top story reads BBC pulls Masterchef Christmas specials after Wallace claims. The photo is of Wallace smiling in a suit.

I fear BBC has lost all perspective. Cancelling a Christmas show is neither “breaking news” nor should it be the top story on BBC News online.

Newsworthy would be announcing new safeguarding procedures for female staff & contestants. Or an independent review into why existing processes failed again

Great to be at the Unite demo against the UK government winter fuel cuts at the Scottish Parliament this morning and to say hello to @unitesharon.bsky.social #joinaunion #unite #unionrep

Senior Unite rep here. I will be there tomorrow because I don't think vulnerable people should choose between heating and eating ✊🏻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Winter Fuel: Scottish Parliament Demo

Scottish pensioners must not be left to freeze. The Scottish government and Scottish Labour have been listening and we welcome steps to restore the cuts next year but jam tomorrow won’t keep pensioners’ homes warm this winter.

Day 2 of my (b)advent calendar highlighting the top 20 worst fox hunting crimes with @huntsabs.bsky.social . . . it’s a recent one from the West Somerset Vale Hunt

This isn’t trail hunting , it’s wildlife crime .

#RealBanNow