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Is political betting influencing Trump’s White House? – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,878
edited January 8 in General
Is political betting influencing Trump’s White House? – politicalbetting.com

What stage of capitalism is it when the White House is rigging betting markets on how long its press briefings denying war crimes will last https://t.co/auChBcvnGF

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Comments

  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 24,152
    1st
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    edited January 8
    Place your bets. Is this:

    - A conspiracy theory too far, or
    - Viral marketing by the prediction betting platform?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 24,152
    I remember the days of footballers whacking the ball out for a throw straight from the kickoff as part of spread betting scams.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 41,491
    Fair play to Whitehouse staff for coming up with a grift even Nazi Barbie couldn't screw up, and then nearly managing it...
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 18,884
    It would be a crazy bet to take unless you actually knew the press conference was going to be less than 65 minutes.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 45,663
    FPT

    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    » show previous quotes
    Time to enforce a ban on pavement parking

    £100 fine for it in Scotland
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 89,355
    edited January 8
    SandyRentool said:

    I remember the days of footballers whacking the ball out for a throw straight from the kickoff as part of spread betting scams.

    Ave it...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHo1hdxF6FE
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 57,122
    IanB2 said:

    Trump’s cronies will grift and monetise anything, so the likely answer is yes.

    Meanwhile they’re trying to persuade their half of the US that the now dead female driver in Minneapolis was engaged in domestic terrorism…

    The Trump-Kennedy Centre should be renamed after her...
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 36,409
    Patrick Dennis (Auntie Mame) wrote a book..... can't remember the title ...... about a New York crook who managed to get himself elected President and demonstrated a then unbelievable level of corruption.

    Fortunately about a year into his Presidency several boxes of previously uncounted votes were found, which meant he was out.

    As they say in Ireland, if Patrick Dennis was alive today, he'd be turning in his grave.
  • DoctorGDoctorG Posts: 394
    FPT
    rkrkrk said:

    DoctorG said:

    rkrkrk said:

    Guardian reporting Labour will climb down on pub business rates and maybe wider hospitality sector. Wonder why they bother annoying everyone and then backing down.

    Higher taxes for you and me so pubs and restaurants can keep their tax breaks.

    They're a sector getting a pretty hard time from tax increases, NI rise hit them quite hard, I have sympathy for them. We need a vibrant hospitality sector to stop us becoming society of recluses, they've had a pretty tough time since covid. No one wants to work those hours, which is in part why migrants are needed to fill those jobs

    The politics, again, are dreadful. Tax first and work out consequences later is the way it seems to work from the government
    Agree on the politics.

    But I see no national interest in tax breaks for people eating and drinking out (and unhealthily). It's also low paid work.

    Everyone tells me hospitality is struggling, on its knees etc. I don't know that the figures show that.

    Last 4 quarterly growth rates are:
    0.8%, 1.7%, 1.9% and 0.2%.

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/timeseries/kgc7/ukea/previous
    Not an expert on the figures, only relaying what I see on the ground. Would be keen to see how the growth in the sector fares against inflation.

    I'm in a rural area and what I see/hear from folks visiting or working in the industry is that pubs and restaurants in the sticks are struggling more with costs, staff recruitment, taxes, than those in the city. I know pub numbers are getting less , would be good to see similar figures on how restaurants are doing

    This month Glasgow will host Celtic connections, a very vibrant cultural event which brings a welcome relief to the city centre restaurants on the back of a potentially leaner time post Christmas when cash (or electronic payments) is tight. A lot of pubs, restaurants etc in rural towns don't even bother opening til its March or Easter time.

    Re the tax breaks, there's VAT on hot food isn't there? Personally I think people with less disposable income will be eating out less the past year or so, food price increases have been very noticeable, particularly since the Ukraine war kicked off.

    Who knows, maybe bigger brands and chains are able to soak up costs better than family run smaller businesses
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 125,544
    Oopsie.

    https://x.com/annaturley/status/2009301376380059974
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,257
    edited January 8
    92 mph gust recorded in the Scilly Isles around 5pm.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 23,150
    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    Likewise.



  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,257
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    92 mph gust recorded in the Scilly Isles around 5pm.

    98 mph recorded at 6pm!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    Flake news?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    Blimey, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have finally stopped just expressing doubts and concerns and voted to stop Trump!

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 57,122
    Wifey is in Cornwall doing a recce for cliff-top filming locations.

    Not the best of days for it...
  • rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 9,009
    DoctorG said:

    FPT

    rkrkrk said:

    DoctorG said:

    rkrkrk said:

    Guardian reporting Labour will climb down on pub business rates and maybe wider hospitality sector. Wonder why they bother annoying everyone and then backing down.

    Higher taxes for you and me so pubs and restaurants can keep their tax breaks.

    They're a sector getting a pretty hard time from tax increases, NI rise hit them quite hard, I have sympathy for them. We need a vibrant hospitality sector to stop us becoming society of recluses, they've had a pretty tough time since covid. No one wants to work those hours, which is in part why migrants are needed to fill those jobs

    The politics, again, are dreadful. Tax first and work out consequences later is the way it seems to work from the government
    Agree on the politics.

    But I see no national interest in tax breaks for people eating and drinking out (and unhealthily). It's also low paid work.

    Everyone tells me hospitality is struggling, on its knees etc. I don't know that the figures show that.

    Last 4 quarterly growth rates are:
    0.8%, 1.7%, 1.9% and 0.2%.

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/timeseries/kgc7/ukea/previous
    Not an expert on the figures, only relaying what I see on the ground. Would be keen to see how the growth in the sector fares against inflation.

    I'm in a rural area and what I see/hear from folks visiting or working in the industry is that pubs and restaurants in the sticks are struggling more with costs, staff recruitment, taxes, than those in the city. I know pub numbers are getting less , would be good to see similar figures on how restaurants are doing

    This month Glasgow will host Celtic connections, a very vibrant cultural event which brings a welcome relief to the city centre restaurants on the back of a potentially leaner time post Christmas when cash (or electronic payments) is tight. A lot of pubs, restaurants etc in rural towns don't even bother opening til its March or Easter time.

    Re the tax breaks, there's VAT on hot food isn't there? Personally I think people with less disposable income will be eating out less the past year or so, food price increases have been very noticeable, particularly since the Ukraine war kicked off.

    Who knows, maybe bigger brands and chains are able to soak up costs better than family run smaller businesses
    I certainly believe its a very tough sector to make money in, but there are no shortage of restaurant options in my town. A bit of creative destruction might not be such a bad thing, especially if it gets workers into higher earning occupation.

    I was speaking to owner of a new one recently who said business was going well. Another guy I know just closed down his restaurant but is launching a new venture soon.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,399
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I sued an airline when they lost my luggage. I lost my case.

    You could start a career in comedy with that. Maybe script-writing a carry-on.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Defence chiefs are preparing to make huge cuts to the military while at the same coming under pressure to ready the armed forces for possible war with Russia

    An MoD assessment made last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, it is understood

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2009325563907874874
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 4,360
    edited January 8
    I'd be amazed if betting markets for the length of White House press conferences *weren't* rigged in some way. Who's betting on shite like that?
    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    It's been a weird week, watching the weatherpocalypse on the news (once known as "winter") - to the north and to the south apparently its armageddon whilst I was looking out the window at some mild drizzle.
  • Dura_AceDura_Ace Posts: 15,023
    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 5,638
    MarqueeMark said:

    Wifey is in Cornwall doing a recce for cliff-top filming locations.

    Not the best of days for it...

    St Ives Coastguard Station recorded 88mph gusting 111mph at about 6.25pm

    If that's not worth a red warning, I don't know what is...
  • Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 5,936
    edited January 8
    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    I'm watching it coming in on the radar having been confident to send wife and daughter a few miles up valley to go to a class - the amber warning only comes into force at 8pm, but it was always touch and go north of the Peak District whether it would turn up as rain or snow and exactly how far north it would push - think the Amber warning stops exactly at the National Park sign post and Huddersfield and the villages are under the Yellow warning.

    Met Office in the Yellow zone is quite explicit on the variability:

    "Amounts of snow will depend quite heavily on both elevation and the intensity of precipitation, and as this becomes somewhat lighter into Friday this will lead to an awkward mix of rain, sleet and snow, gradually clearing away to the east. Therefore there is likely to be a lot of variation, even over relatively short distances."
  • AramintaMoonbeamQCAramintaMoonbeamQC Posts: 4,018
    Pro_Rata said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    I'm watching it coming in on the radar having been confident to send wife and daughter a few miles up valley to go to a class - the amber warning only comes into force at 8pm, but it was always touch and go north of the Peak District whether it would turn up as rain or snow and exactly how far north it would push - think the Amber warning stops exactly at the National Park sign post and Huddersfield and the villages are under the Yellow warning.
    On the upside its kept amateurs off the roads, which have been quieter to and from work. I went to buy some red wine on the way home and no sign of panic buying in the aisles.

    We're supposed to get hammered across the southern Pennines but its too mild at the moment, just getting drizzle.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 47,331
    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    I get the others, but golf courses? I can only think of the one on Flotta, and that hasn't been a RN base for donkey's.
  • boulayboulay Posts: 8,018
    AramintaMoonbeamQC said:

    Pro_Rata said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    I'm watching it coming in on the radar having been confident to send wife and daughter a few miles up valley to go to a class - the amber warning only comes into force at 8pm, but it was always touch and go north of the Peak District whether it would turn up as rain or snow and exactly how far north it would push - think the Amber warning stops exactly at the National Park sign post and Huddersfield and the villages are under the Yellow warning.
    On the upside its kept amateurs off the roads, which have been quieter to and from work. I went to buy some red wine on the way home and no sign of panic buying in the aisles.

    We're supposed to get hammered across the southern Pennines but its too mild at the moment, just getting drizzle.
    How much red wine did you buy?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 36,320
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    92 mph gust recorded in the Scilly Isles around 5pm.

    98 mph recorded at 6pm!
    Honestly officer I could have sworn I was just doing 60.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 31,618
    edited January 8
    Mexicanpete said:

    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    92 mph gust recorded in the Scilly Isles around 5pm.

    98 mph recorded at 6pm!
    Honestly officer I could have sworn I was just doing 60.
    Don't say things that.

    I thought for a minute that it was Duracell in his pedal car.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 85,129
    I'm surprised that they bother.
    The financial markets are massively bigger and massively more liquid, and probably easier to rig.

    For instance defence stocks fell 5-10% on Trump's socialist measures announcement, and the bounced a similar amount when he came out with the 50% increase in defence finding bullshit.

    All within 24 hours, and you could easily have made a few hundred million without unduly disturbing the market, if you had advance notice and enough capital to make the appropriate bets.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 132,723
    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Defence chiefs are preparing to make huge cuts to the military while at the same coming under pressure to ready the armed forces for possible war with Russia

    An MoD assessment made last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, it is understood

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2009325563907874874

    Defence chiefs always want more money.

    Though Labour scrapping the 2 child benefit cap and welfare reform has reduced the available revenue beyond ever more tax rises which could be directed to increased defence spending
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 21,178
    Nigelb said:

    I'm surprised that they bother.
    The financial markets are massively bigger and massively more liquid, and probably easier to rig.

    For instance defence stocks fell 5-10% on Trump's socialist measures announcement, and the bounced a similar amount when he came out with the 50% increase in defence finding bullshit.

    All within 24 hours, and you could easily have made a few hundred million without unduly disturbing the market, if you had advance notice and enough capital to make the appropriate bets.

    Beyond some point, it's not about the spending power of the money. It's the frisson of excitement of playing the game, cheating, winning and getting away with it. From that point of view, cheating a betting market is probably more fun than cheating the financial markets.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 36,320
    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Fantastic. He can organise a march on Downing Street.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 21,178
    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Even a stopped cuckoo clock is right sometimes.
  • AramintaMoonbeamQCAramintaMoonbeamQC Posts: 4,018
    boulay said:

    AramintaMoonbeamQC said:

    Pro_Rata said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    Not a flake of snow at ours

    Amber warning my arse

    I'm watching it coming in on the radar having been confident to send wife and daughter a few miles up valley to go to a class - the amber warning only comes into force at 8pm, but it was always touch and go north of the Peak District whether it would turn up as rain or snow and exactly how far north it would push - think the Amber warning stops exactly at the National Park sign post and Huddersfield and the villages are under the Yellow warning.
    On the upside its kept amateurs off the roads, which have been quieter to and from work. I went to buy some red wine on the way home and no sign of panic buying in the aisles.

    We're supposed to get hammered across the southern Pennines but its too mild at the moment, just getting drizzle.
    How much red wine did you buy?
    Just a few cases to see me through.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,257
    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Still defending ICE murderers, William?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 65,079
    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Defence chiefs are preparing to make huge cuts to the military while at the same coming under pressure to ready the armed forces for possible war with Russia

    An MoD assessment made last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, it is understood

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2009325563907874874

    class="Italic">Starmer was said to be deeply unhappy because he believed the recent strategic defence review (SDR) had been “fully costed”.


    "He believed".

    The SDR I saw didn't have much on costings in it or even much on specific numbers for hardware - it was a strategic policy document. He already knew a big increase to 3.5% GDP was needed- his government has committed to it as policy- but hasn't matched it with the requisite funding in the Budget. He knew that too.

    Did he not check or join the dots? Or did he not want to because he preferred wishful thinking and deniability?
  • Sean_FSean_F Posts: 40,287
    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 36,320
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Still defending ICE murderers, William?
    Hats off to William for taking his caning on behalf of his orange boss. He's earned his coin today.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 65,079
    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Golf courses (if such things exist), brass bands, horses and Spitfires would save a few hundred million (not tens of billions) and would have a big impact on UK's ability to put on ceremonies and pageantry, which I know you don't value but the country does and is part of its brand.

    This is the left-wing equivalent of just sack all the EDI officers.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 48,732
    Stuartinromford said:

    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Even a stopped cuckoo clock is right sometimes.
    Reality is charging hard towards Jeremy's virulent anti-Americanism. It's in its sights now.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 65,079
    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    The government haven't funded the re-expansion of the armed forces properly, or all the new technology and estate that requires. It will be expensive.

    I absolutely expect emergent scope and cost in some of the new big projects (like AUKUS, Dreadnought, modernising the nuclear deterrent, Tempest etc) because they are all brand new designs, require infrastructure to support them, we have inflation, and we've lost a lot of industrial capacity and manufacturing skills- and there's very high competition for skills.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    @alexwickham
    Second Starmer-Trump call in 24 hours

    A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

    "The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.

    The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North.

    "European Allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.

    "The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."

    https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2009328733149118765
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Still defending ICE murderers, William?
    I haven't been defending them. I criticised politicians for encouraging protesters knowning that something like this was likely to happen.
  • PhilPhil Posts: 3,128
    Stuartinromford said:

    Nigelb said:

    I'm surprised that they bother.
    The financial markets are massively bigger and massively more liquid, and probably easier to rig.

    For instance defence stocks fell 5-10% on Trump's socialist measures announcement, and the bounced a similar amount when he came out with the 50% increase in defence finding bullshit.

    All within 24 hours, and you could easily have made a few hundred million without unduly disturbing the market, if you had advance notice and enough capital to make the appropriate bets.

    Beyond some point, it's not about the spending power of the money. It's the frisson of excitement of playing the game, cheating, winning and getting away with it. From that point of view, cheating a betting market is probably more fun than cheating the financial markets.
    The betting market in question also explicitly allows insider bets, unlike capital markets where attracting the attention of the SEC can be very expensive indeed.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    rottenborough said:

    @alexwickham
    Second Starmer-Trump call in 24 hours

    A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

    "The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.

    The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North.

    "European Allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.

    "The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."

    https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2009328733149118765

    https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2009332344478683465

    NOTAMS have just been issued across Iran. Something big might be about to happen.
  • FossFoss Posts: 2,215
    williamglenn said:

    rottenborough said:

    @alexwickham
    Second Starmer-Trump call in 24 hours

    A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

    "The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.

    The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North.

    "European Allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.

    "The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."

    https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2009328733149118765

    https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2009332344478683465

    NOTAMS have just been issued across Iran. Something big might be about to happen.
    What’s the Persian for ‘Operation Paperclip’?
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 36,320
    williamglenn said:

    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Still defending ICE murderers, William?
    I haven't been defending them. I criticised politicians for encouraging protesters knowning that something like this was likely to happen.
    Oh William you are being very disingenuous to us country bumpkins.

    Even this last post is gaslighting us thickos. You are victim blaming. "If the left wing terrorist hadn't been protesting on the instruction of Gavin Newsom and Adam Schiff, the poor, overweight, masked white supremacist gunman wouldn't have had to blow her face off three times".
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 5,638
    williamglenn said:

    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    williamglenn said:

    Corbyn uses the f-word.

    https://x.com/jeremycorbyn/status/2009268940774465743

    I am horrified by the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.

    This is what fascism looks like in real time, where a far-right government emboldens a violent death squad to terrorise communities with impunity.

    Still defending ICE murderers, William?
    I haven't been defending them. I criticised politicians for encouraging protesters knowning that something like this was likely to happen.
    What sort of country is it where you can't protest without being shot?
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 26,399
    Phil said:

    Stuartinromford said:

    Nigelb said:

    I'm surprised that they bother.
    The financial markets are massively bigger and massively more liquid, and probably easier to rig.

    For instance defence stocks fell 5-10% on Trump's socialist measures announcement, and the bounced a similar amount when he came out with the 50% increase in defence finding bullshit.

    All within 24 hours, and you could easily have made a few hundred million without unduly disturbing the market, if you had advance notice and enough capital to make the appropriate bets.

    Beyond some point, it's not about the spending power of the money. It's the frisson of excitement of playing the game, cheating, winning and getting away with it. From that point of view, cheating a betting market is probably more fun than cheating the financial markets.
    The betting market in question also explicitly allows insider bets, unlike capital markets where attracting the attention of the SEC can be very expensive indeed.
    MAGAs just need to excuse themselves from things like the SEC by saying pardon me.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 48,732
    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 89,355
    edited January 8
    williamglenn said:

    rottenborough said:

    @alexwickham
    Second Starmer-Trump call in 24 hours

    A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

    "The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.

    The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North.

    "European Allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.

    "The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."

    https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2009328733149118765

    https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2009332344478683465

    NOTAMS have just been issued across Iran. Something big might be about to happen.
    Wasn't there reports that an account that never loses on Middle Eastern incidents on Polymarket bet on Western action in Iran by the end of the month?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 65,079
    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    France is joining the list of EU countries voting against the free trade agreement with Mercosur.

    https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2009325206452814042
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,257
    williamglenn said:

    rottenborough said:

    @alexwickham
    Second Starmer-Trump call in 24 hours

    A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

    "The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon.

    The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North.

    "European Allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.

    "The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."

    https://x.com/alexwickham/status/2009328733149118765

    https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/2009332344478683465

    NOTAMS have just been issued across Iran. Something big might be about to happen.
    More fighting between the Kurds and the new Syrian government:

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0y1pnq00qo
  • AnneJGPAnneJGP Posts: 4,573
    FrancisUrquhart said:

    SandyRentool said:

    I remember the days of footballers whacking the ball out for a throw straight from the kickoff as part of spread betting scams.

    Ave it...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHo1hdxF6FE
    Wow. Live & learn. I always thought the poster of that name had that name because he was keen on having a General Election.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 48,732
    Casino_Royale said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
    Paradigm shift. Belicose Russia and the US no longer an ally. Very very challenging situation.
  • PoodleInASlipstreamPoodleInASlipstream Posts: 646
    kinabalu said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
    Paradigm shift. Belicose Russia and the US no longer an ally. Very very challenging situation.
    For decades British defence policy has been built on the assumption we would never have to fight a major conflict without being able to rely on US capabilities. That's no longer true, and determining what capabilities we need acquire and which ones are affordable is going to take a lot of work and much consultation with allies.
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 65,079
    PoodleInASlipstream said:

    kinabalu said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
    Paradigm shift. Belicose Russia and the US no longer an ally. Very very challenging situation.
    For decades British defence policy has been built on the assumption we would never have to fight a major conflict without being able to rely on US capabilities. That's no longer true, and determining what capabilities we need acquire and which ones are affordable is going to take a lot of work and much consultation with allies.
    Just to be clear, though, this SDR does still make that assumption.

    Trump only took office 12 months ago.
  • FF43FF43 Posts: 18,884
    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    True, but for the first time in a while I would say we have a well defined threat in Europe with Russian expansionism, so any resources that can be expended helping Ukraine hold the line is money likely to be well spent in the short term.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 59,821
    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    Buy things that work. I know it's an absurd idea. But try it.

    Also, when you get quoted a fuck off price, remember the important bit. The fucking off. See the P-8/Stingray comedy.
  • glwglw Posts: 10,662
    Casino_Royale said:

    Just to be clear, though, this SDR does still make that assumption.

    Trump only took office 12 months ago.

    Anyone who had been paying even slight attention to who Trump is and the abject failure to hold him to account since 2021 should have at least been considering what NATO would be like if the US was absent, or worse on the other side.

    I was saying on here before Starmer was even elected that Trump returning to the Whitehouse would potentially be the biggest problem the Labour government would face, not the small boats, the EU, or even the economy. I was right, and I'm just some guy blathering. If the government can't see stuff like this headed their way they are truly incompetent.
  • StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 21,178
    Casino_Royale said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
    Longer term than that. See Alan Clark preening himself as the only man who could deliver tax cuts for Chancellor John Major.

    The left cut defence to fund social.spending. The right cut defence to cut taxes.

    Either way, it's the will of the people.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 48,732
    FF43 said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    True, but for the first time in a while I would say we have a well defined threat in Europe with Russian expansionism, so any resources that can be expended helping Ukraine hold the line is money likely to be well spent in the short term.
    Yes. So maybe the best way forward is maximise Ukraine support so they don't have to surrender and rework the medium term to uncouple from the US and beef up / consolidate with Europe. Very difficult financially, logistically, politically, but the alternatives aren't great.
  • kinabalukinabalu Posts: 48,732
    Malmesbury said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    Buy things that work. I know it's an absurd idea. But try it.

    Also, when you get quoted a fuck off price, remember the important bit. The fucking off. See the P-8/Stingray comedy.
    But not from America if at all possible.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    kinabalu said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
    Paradigm shift. Belicose Russia and the US no longer an ally. Very very challenging situation.
    It feels like the next 12-24 months could be as transformational as 1989-1991, so the paradigm we end up with may not be anything like what we currently anticipate.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    Trump's wariness about backing the political ambitions of exiles is a strong point in his favour on foreign policy.

    https://x.com/clashreport/status/2009338961928573193

    Trump on meeting with Reza Pahlavi:

    I’ve watched him and he seems like a nice person, but I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as President.

    I think that we should let everybody go out there and we see who emerges. I’m not sure necessarily that it would be an appropriate thing to do.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 41,491
    The Minneapolis Star Tribune has identified the ICE shooter

    https://bsky.app/profile/mikejstarks.bsky.social/post/3mbwr4uzft22y

    How did they figure it out?

    ‪@dillo.media‬

    people figured out that Jonathan Ross was the murderer bc kristi noem mentioned that he'd been dragged by a car in a previous incident. she "doxxed" her own guy lol

    https://bsky.app/profile/dillo.media/post/3mbwqshvbsc2o
  • FlatlanderFlatlander Posts: 5,638
    williamglenn said:

    Trump's wariness about backing the political ambitions of exiles is a strong point in his favour on foreign policy.

    https://x.com/clashreport/status/2009338961928573193

    Trump on meeting with Reza Pahlavi:

    I’ve watched him and he seems like a nice person, but I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as President.

    I think that we should let everybody go out there and we see who emerges. I’m not sure necessarily that it would be an appropriate thing to do.

    What about backing the political ambitions of foreign deputies?
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 89,355
    edited January 8
    Scott_xP said:

    The Minneapolis Star Tribune has identified the ICE shooter

    https://bsky.app/profile/mikejstarks.bsky.social/post/3mbwr4uzft22y

    How did they figure it out?

    ‪@dillo.media‬

    people figured out that Jonathan Ross was the murderer bc kristi noem mentioned that he'd been dragged by a car in a previous incident. she "doxxed" her own guy lol

    https://bsky.app/profile/dillo.media/post/3mbwqshvbsc2o

    Here is the news report from the first incident.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/video/shocking-footage-shows-driver-dragging-deportation-officer
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 53,761
    It’s ******* windy out there!
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 53,761
    edited January 8
    ….
  • TazTaz Posts: 23,883
    Meanwhile the protests just seem to be growing in Iran.

  • ohnotnowohnotnow Posts: 5,802
    Jeez : https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clyzjn0w9l2t

    "Massive internet blackout detected across Iranpublished at 20:18
    20:18

    Internet tracking agency NetBlocks says it has detected a "nationwide blackout" in Iran."
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 13,096
    edited January 8
    Gardenwalker said:

    Just in the last week, Trump has:

    Posted, on the White House’s government website, a fictitious narrative hailing the attempted coup of Jan 6 as a peaceful march attended by heroes, and accusing Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats of overseeing the real insurrection.

    Kidnapped the leader of Venezuela and his wife, in contravention of international law, and essentially justified on the grounds that Venezuela’s oil belongs to the U.S.

    Threatened to seize Greenland, reserving the right to use military force if necessary.

    Seen the murder of 39 yo mother - slurred as “antifa” by the Vice President and other luminaries - by his quasi-paramilitary ICE goons.

    1% of the Epstein files have been released.

    God knows how much money the Trump family have received in bribery already since Jan 1.

    You actually downplay it a bit - was listening on the radio and Vance repeatedly described her and what she did as terrorism.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 100,216
    williamglenn said:

    kinabalu said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    For once, I largely agree with that. We've had 30 years of Defence contraction.

    I suspect the spending target to hit and broad policy aspirations have been agreed- but not the delivery plan to achieve it sustainably.

    And there is so much in that.
    Paradigm shift. Belicose Russia and the US no longer an ally. Very very challenging situation.
    It feels like the next 12-24 months could be as transformational as 1989-1991, so the paradigm we end up with may not be anything like what we currently anticipate.
    What do you anticipate the paradigm to be?

    The US to be an ally in name only seems a relatively safe bet, given their contempt and aggression towards traditional allies, even if everyone will pretend everything is normal for long after. The USA don't want allies anymore, they are making that pretty clear.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 13,096
    edited January 8
    ohnotnow said:

    Jeez : https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clyzjn0w9l2t

    "Massive internet blackout detected across Iranpublished at 20:18
    20:18

    Internet tracking agency NetBlocks says it has detected a "nationwide blackout" in Iran."

    The trouble with this is when you search for Iran "protest", "blackout" you gets loads of examples of the last few decades. Really difficult to know if this actually the one, but it does seem quite sustained now.

    I had a good chuckle at Trump threatening to bomb them if they shoot any protestors. Takes one to know one I guess.
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 57,257
    IanB2 said:

    It’s ******* windy out there!

    Some readings at weather stations on mainland Cornwall at 8pm:

    Cardinham 72 mph
    Culdrose 76 mph
    Camborne 83 mph
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 100,216
    Taz said:

    Meanwhile the protests just seem to be growing in Iran.
    The 'just another day' weariness of this paragraph on a CNN report about it is pretty depressing for the repeated, unsuccessful, efforts of the people of Iran to get at least some relief.


    Protests fueled by crippling economic conditions have swept across Iran’s provinces in recent days, as authorities revert to their tested playbook of cracking down without offering viable solutions to grievances driving public anger.
    https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/08/middleeast/how-irans-protests-spread-intl
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 57,056
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    Scott_xP said:

    The Minneapolis Star Tribune has identified the ICE shooter

    https://bsky.app/profile/mikejstarks.bsky.social/post/3mbwr4uzft22y

    How did they figure it out?

    ‪@dillo.media‬

    people figured out that Jonathan Ross was the murderer bc kristi noem mentioned that he'd been dragged by a car in a previous incident. she "doxxed" her own guy lol

    https://bsky.app/profile/dillo.media/post/3mbwqshvbsc2o

    Jonathan Woss? Moonlighting as a Wadical Wight-wing thug??
    I thought he couldn't sink any lower after Sachsgate.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 22,928
    Eabhal said:

    Gardenwalker said:

    Just in the last week, Trump has:

    Posted, on the White House’s government website, a fictitious narrative hailing the attempted coup of Jan 6 as a peaceful march attended by heroes, and accusing Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats of overseeing the real insurrection.

    Kidnapped the leader of Venezuela and his wife, in contravention of international law, and essentially justified on the grounds that Venezuela’s oil belongs to the U.S.

    Threatened to seize Greenland, reserving the right to use military force if necessary.

    Seen the murder of 39 yo mother - slurred as “antifa” by the Vice President and other luminaries - by his quasi-paramilitary ICE goons.

    1% of the Epstein files have been released.

    God knows how much money the Trump family have received in bribery already since Jan 1.

    You actually downplay it a bit - was listening on the radio and Vance repeatedly described her and what she did as terrorism.
    I also omitted the pull out from a legion of global conventions, including the UN Convention on Climate Change, ratified in 1992 and agreed by every single country in the world.

    Whatever one’s view on green energy, this is vandalism.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 53,761
    Casino_Royale said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Defence chiefs are preparing to make huge cuts to the military while at the same coming under pressure to ready the armed forces for possible war with Russia

    An MoD assessment made last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, it is understood

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2009325563907874874

    class="Italic">Starmer was said to be deeply unhappy because he believed the recent strategic defence review (SDR) had been “fully costed”.


    "He believed".

    The SDR I saw didn't have much on costings in it or even much on specific numbers for hardware - it was a strategic policy document. He already knew a big increase to 3.5% GDP was needed- his government has committed to it as policy- but hasn't matched it with the requisite funding in the Budget. He knew that too.

    Did he not check or join the dots? Or did he not want to because he preferred wishful thinking and deniability?
    Number 25 in an ongoing series of reasons why Labour will come to regret Reeves’s chickening out from the 1/2p tax increase she widely trailed last year….
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 22,928
    IanB2 said:

    Casino_Royale said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Defence chiefs are preparing to make huge cuts to the military while at the same coming under pressure to ready the armed forces for possible war with Russia

    An MoD assessment made last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, it is understood

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2009325563907874874

    class="Italic">Starmer was said to be deeply unhappy because he believed the recent strategic defence review (SDR) had been “fully costed”.


    "He believed".

    The SDR I saw didn't have much on costings in it or even much on specific numbers for hardware - it was a strategic policy document. He already knew a big increase to 3.5% GDP was needed- his government has committed to it as policy- but hasn't matched it with the requisite funding in the Budget. He knew that too.

    Did he not check or join the dots? Or did he not want to because he preferred wishful thinking and deniability?
    Number 25 in an ongoing series of reasons why Labour will come to regret Reeves’s chickening out from the 1/2p tax increase she widely trailed last year….
    Reeves is the worst Chancellor since Norman Lamont.
    (I’m not really including Kwasi Kwarteng and that guy who was fiddling his income tax, as their tenures were too short, I guess Reeves is still ahead of them).
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 34,616
    ohnotnow said:

    Jeez : https://www.bbc.com/news/live/clyzjn0w9l2t

    "Massive internet blackout detected across Iranpublished at 20:18
    20:18

    Internet tracking agency NetBlocks says it has detected a "nationwide blackout" in Iran."

    Government trying to block arrangement of post-prayers protests tomorrow?
  • viewcodeviewcode Posts: 27,255
    kinabalu said:

    Sean_F said:

    Dura_Ace said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Hahaha. He can fuck right off and then fuck off again when he gets there. Get rid of a some golf courses, brass bands, horses and Spitfires.
    Perhaps they could try spending money wisely.
    Famine to feast will likely lead to enormous waste. You shouldn't do defence spending in a panic. You have to think it through properly. Assess the actual threat and timescales and build based on that, using synergies with other like-minded countries.
    Well yes, but "thinking it through properly" has to take account of the predicted wars. I think there will be a China-Taiwan war in 2027 (next year!) because Xi's been saying that for years and the build-up is obvious. Then/contemporaneously there will be a Russo-Baltic war where Putin tries to join up to Kaliningrad. We need an amphibious landing capability just on general principles.

    And we don't have any of it.

    The Army is buggered because of Ajax and Challenger III. The Navy is buggered because the carriers don't have catapults and arrestor wires, and we don't have the necessary support vessels. I'm sure the Air Force are doing something interesting but nobody cares.

    We are still flying AEW/AWACS aircraft despite the fact the concept is obsolete and has migrated to satellites. We don't have a Space Force. Our cyber capabilities are...not good? We haven't got to grips with drone warfare yet. We don't have enough indigenous manufacturing capabilities. We don't make enough missiles/bullets. We have an army with 71,000 people, which is nice but not big enough. Nobody is frightened of us.

    In short, yes we do have to start panicking and get what we can now.

    Can we fix Ajax? If not, get the Swedish thing or Puma or a tracked Boxer. Can we fix Challenger? If not get tanks from somebody else or just refurbish the old one. Can we fix the F35? If not, buy Mojave/Gray Eagles/Hiveminds and convert the carriers to drone carriers, or containerised missiles and convert them to arsenal ships.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2FvQ-T5ZXE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCq-hVW70_Y
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 34,616
    Casino_Royale said:

    rottenborough said:

    Steven Swinford
    @Steven_Swinford
    BREAKING from
    @larisamlbrown


    Britain’s most senior military chief has warned Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence is short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending, The Times can reveal

    Defence chiefs are preparing to make huge cuts to the military while at the same coming under pressure to ready the armed forces for possible war with Russia

    An MoD assessment made last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030, it is understood

    https://x.com/Steven_Swinford/status/2009325563907874874

    class="Italic">Starmer was said to be deeply unhappy because he believed the recent strategic defence review (SDR) had been “fully costed”.


    "He believed".

    The SDR I saw didn't have much on costings in it or even much on specific numbers for hardware - it was a strategic policy document. He already knew a big increase to 3.5% GDP was needed- his government has committed to it as policy- but hasn't matched it with the requisite funding in the Budget. He knew that too.

    Did he not check or join the dots? Or did he not want to because he preferred wishful thinking and deniability?
    Of course not but this is partly the asinine way we plan the defence budget. Spending as a percentage of GDP is all very well but that is not how money actually works. A new destroyer costs what it costs, regardless of whether GDP is up, down or sideways. And that's betting without that damn fool Osborne hiding defence cuts by including pensions and suchlike. (See also foreign aid budgeted as a percentage of GDP and spent on this country's struggling hospitality sector.)
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    Mike Rothschild (@rothschildmd on blu sky)
    @rothschildmd
    ·
    1h
    A prominent Republican defending federal agents going door to door just randomly looking for criminals. I'm taking crazy pills. How is this real??

    https://x.com/rothschildmd/status/2009347717794021721
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    Sunil_Prasannan said:

    IanB2 said:

    It’s ******* windy out there!

    Some readings at weather stations on mainland Cornwall at 8pm:

    Cardinham 72 mph
    Culdrose 76 mph
    Camborne 83 mph
    Finally getting some snow in my bit of the Midlands.

  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 57,122
    Traitors tonight...fuck me!
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 69,434
    President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.

    Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html

  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 36,320
    MarqueeMark said:

    Traitors tonight...fuck me!

    What has the government done now?
  • solarflaresolarflare Posts: 4,360
    rottenborough said:

    President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.

    Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html

    In summary DOOOOMMMMEEEEDD
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 7,281
    rottenborough said:

    President Trump declared on Wednesday evening that his power as commander in chief is constrained only by his “own morality,” brushing aside international law and other checks on his ability to use military might to strike, invade or coerce nations around the world.

    Asked in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times if there were any limits on his global powers, Mr. Trump said: “Yeah, there is one thing. My own morality. My own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me.”

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/us/politics/trump-interview-power-morality.html

    What morality? Batten down the hatches everyone.
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