James Ball

Can't be a good sign (for him) when Trump is even losing his temper with the Fox News reporters...

That's three words that could be in a book jonn

Very kind of you to say so, thanks!

4991 words today (yes there were no words yesterday I had to catch up with other work).

Unfortunately, “Yo brother, legal team confirmed we can’t work with minors rn” is an instant classic

I love watching people use LLMs in public. They’ll reply to a breaking news article and say “@grok is this true?” Babe where do you think it’s about to pull its answer from

Looking forward to speaking at this event in Brighton next week – 10th March. Do come along if you're in the area!

Such a shame, he and Markwayne could've made *such* a lovely couple.

I'm sure the fact Dubai incentives influencers to provide good online coverage has absolutely no bearing on the online reaction to this FT article.

Trump has a dangerous new red line for his attack dogs Anything goes, the law and Constitution be damned. Just don’t make the US President look bad on television

"There is an old saying in politics: if you want loyalty, get a dog. The trouble for Kristi Noem is that she infamously shot hers as a 14-month-old puppy after failing to train it properly. So, freshly fired by Donald Trump, she has absolutely nowhere left to turn."

inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...

Key Questions on the Role of Technology in the Expanding Middle East War Tech Policy Press asked experts working at the intersection of technology policy, security, and international affairs to share what they are watching.

The expanding war in Iran brought to the fore questions about the role of technology in armed conflict, including the controversial use of new artificial intelligence technologies. Tech Policy Press invited perspectives from experts on what they are watching for as the situation unfolds.

Both from the piece I wrote the day after Goodwin was selected.

Right now govt is making up an obviously false “saving” to justify its imm, while ignoring the obviously true cost of that policy (treasury projections assume a level of net migration Home Sec opposes and which is unlikely to happen). And these ppl wonder why trust in politics is declining.

Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner: "Axel Springer was founded in 1946 under a British press licence. He built his company inspired by the tradition of Fleet Street. The Telegraph was his North Star."

Full statement:

"For you, ze acquisition process is over"

Because Die Welt is not enough (HT Nick Mathiason)

Harold Wilson: The Man Who Kept Us Out Of Vietnam With the Iraq Inquiry's findings having finally been published, it's a good opportunity to compare today’s Middle East with Vietnam...

This seems relevant. Starmer more Wilson than Blair: www.forcesnews.com/news/harold-...

Vice president?

No, it *could on paper* get you a terror conviction. Which I agree is badly drafted law. But there are vanishing few examples of that sort actually leading to charges, let alone convictions.

So Philip Glass just joined TikTok. He only has like 4 posts and they’re simply him in what I assume is his living room playing the piano. First comment on one I saw was “your piano is too close to the fireplace, you’ll dry it out” and if that’s not the internet in a nutshell I don’t know what is.

Jesus wept. This is the most horribly ill-conceived UK government public awareness campaign I've ever seen. And that's saying a *lot*. It could easily lead a teen to self-harm, or worse.

It should be urgently and immediately pulled. What are they thinking?!

Trump has a dangerous new red line for his attack dogs Anything goes, the law and Constitution be damned. Just don’t make the US President look bad on television

"There is an old saying in politics: if you want loyalty, get a dog. The trouble for Kristi Noem is that she infamously shot hers as a 14-month-old puppy after failing to train it properly. So, freshly fired by Donald Trump, she has absolutely nowhere left to turn."

inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...

Whisper it, but Starmer might be getting it right on Iran It's legalistic, complicated and barely comprehensible but the PM's position on this war has ended up in tune with public sentiment

It's legalistic, complicated and barely comprehensible but the PM's position on this war has ended up in tune with public sentiment

✏️ @jamesrball.com

Yes, but only because of an almost complete breakdown in tactical vote against reform: there was no obvious party to opt for throughout the race. It was still a very bad seat for them, that they'd have virtually zero hope of holding at a general.

One real red flag was just that he never seemed to be actually just out and about in the constituency at all, by most accounts. Very quick stage managed photoshoots and then back inside. Even that bus bit was just outside his campaign HQ, nowhere near any homes.

Genuinely fascinating divergence.
Oil and energy market types: really beginning to freak out.
Global macro types: mostly relatively calm and expecting this to all blow over.

I think there's definitely more freedom, though I've seen some gay couples go for very traditional weddings – almost as if to reassure small c conservative families, somehow? (Though in the ones like that I've been to the families were lovely and clearly on board)

The gen z women follow the same trend (with an even more stark difference vs older women) which again feels odd. Feels like the sample's off, to me.