Nicola Smyth
@njsw.bsky.social
Ar(t)sy Londoner. Sick of Xitter. Cats, Culture, Travel, Politics, Film and F1
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Trump reported 1,051 trades in his June disclosure. These two stood out:
— June 18: Bought $250K–$500K in Boeing, the same day the Navy awarded Boeing an $880 million contract
— June 23: Bought $15K–$50K in SpaceX, the same day NASA recorded a $425.6 million award to SpaceX
— June 18: Bought $250K–$500K in Boeing, the same day the Navy awarded Boeing an $880 million contract
— June 23: Bought $15K–$50K in SpaceX, the same day NASA recorded a $425.6 million award to SpaceX
August 22, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Trump reported 1,051 trades in his June disclosure. These two stood out:
— June 18: Bought $250K–$500K in Boeing, the same day the Navy awarded Boeing an $880 million contract
— June 23: Bought $15K–$50K in SpaceX, the same day NASA recorded a $425.6 million award to SpaceX
— June 18: Bought $250K–$500K in Boeing, the same day the Navy awarded Boeing an $880 million contract
— June 23: Bought $15K–$50K in SpaceX, the same day NASA recorded a $425.6 million award to SpaceX
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
This BBC article (published this am but updated this pm) is *still* recycling Reform misinformation.
This is *not* what would happen. At all. It would be much worse (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is *not* what would happen. At all. It would be much worse (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
August 17, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This BBC article (published this am but updated this pm) is *still* recycling Reform misinformation.
This is *not* what would happen. At all. It would be much worse (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This is *not* what would happen. At all. It would be much worse (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Sharing from a friend, a passage from the Leveson Inquiry regarding the British actor Denholm Elliott, who died of AIDS in 1992. Three years after her death, the News of the World journalist Paul McMullan did the following to his daughter—neither a celebrity nor even someone of public interest.
February 20, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Sharing from a friend, a passage from the Leveson Inquiry regarding the British actor Denholm Elliott, who died of AIDS in 1992. Three years after her death, the News of the World journalist Paul McMullan did the following to his daughter—neither a celebrity nor even someone of public interest.
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
My uni have just withdrawn Geography, History & Geography and Politics & Geography undergrad courses run from our Penryn campus. Terrible for Cornwall. How did the staff find out? When UCAS clearing opened at 8am 😡
August 13, 2026 at 7:58 AM
My uni have just withdrawn Geography, History & Geography and Politics & Geography undergrad courses run from our Penryn campus. Terrible for Cornwall. How did the staff find out? When UCAS clearing opened at 8am 😡
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Checkmate, Nige.
August 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Checkmate, Nige.
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
I've been combing through Reform UK's latest party accounts.
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
August 10, 2026 at 10:06 AM
I've been combing through Reform UK's latest party accounts.
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
Reform UK took more in donations in 2025 than Labour and the Lib Dems combined...twice over.
£31.9 million in donations in a non-GE year. It's staggering.
They spent a lot (over £21m) but banked over £10m. Reform's war chest = £11.9m
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Half the planet is having a massive fight about how to correctly interpret an Ancient Greek poem but go ahead, close some more humanities departments.
July 29, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Half the planet is having a massive fight about how to correctly interpret an Ancient Greek poem but go ahead, close some more humanities departments.
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
I'm excited to finally announce that the website my friend and I made, rentagainstthemachine.com, is ready for beta testing!
registered users can anonymously rate and review their landlords, while anyone can read reviews that have been posted
registered users can anonymously rate and review their landlords, while anyone can read reviews that have been posted
Rent Against The Machine
Rate your landlord
rentagainstthemachine.com
July 27, 2026 at 5:05 PM
I'm excited to finally announce that the website my friend and I made, rentagainstthemachine.com, is ready for beta testing!
registered users can anonymously rate and review their landlords, while anyone can read reviews that have been posted
registered users can anonymously rate and review their landlords, while anyone can read reviews that have been posted
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
My @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigation reveals a network of criminal complicity at heart of Reform UK rooted in identity fraud by George Cottrell - the criminal fraudster secretly funding Farage and Reform - in cahoots with a Reform treasurer and a casino owner 🧵 bylinetimes.com/2026/07/23/p...
‘Posh George’, Two Passports, and a Fraudulent Identity: Convicted Fraudster and Nigel Farage Funder's Connections to Reform UK’s Murky Financial Structures
Why did Reform UK change from being a privately-owned company to a non-profit company limited by guarantee in 2025? Nafeez Ahmed investigates a fraudulent identity used by George Cottrell – and how hi...
bylinetimes.com
July 23, 2026 at 9:05 PM
My @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigation reveals a network of criminal complicity at heart of Reform UK rooted in identity fraud by George Cottrell - the criminal fraudster secretly funding Farage and Reform - in cahoots with a Reform treasurer and a casino owner 🧵 bylinetimes.com/2026/07/23/p...
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
A betting account in the name of George Cottrell, the convicted fraudster who bankrolled Nigel Farage, received almost $9mn in cryptocurrency from unidentified sources while he was providing gifts to the Reform UK leader
great work from @annasophiegross.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/b74c...
great work from @annasophiegross.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/b74c...
Betting account in George Cottrell’s name received $9mn in crypto from unidentified sources
Deposits in Polymarket wallet came as convicted fraudster was providing gifts to Farage
www.ft.com
July 23, 2026 at 9:41 AM
A betting account in the name of George Cottrell, the convicted fraudster who bankrolled Nigel Farage, received almost $9mn in cryptocurrency from unidentified sources while he was providing gifts to the Reform UK leader
great work from @annasophiegross.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/b74c...
great work from @annasophiegross.bsky.social
www.ft.com/content/b74c...
Please sign! Stop Oxford disciplining students over #Gaza protest: dropthecasefreepalestine.wordpress.com
Oxford Uni, Drop the Case Against the Wellington Square Student Protestors—Free Palestine
Visit the post for more.
dropthecasefreepalestine.wordpress.com
June 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Please sign! Stop Oxford disciplining students over #Gaza protest: dropthecasefreepalestine.wordpress.com
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
EXCLUSIVE: Neil Kinnock slams Labour’s strategy on Reform as “100% wrong” and “mortally stupid” in a new Prospect interview with @arusbridger.bsky.social. “Appeasers get eaten,” he says.
www.prospectmagazine...
www.prospectmagazine...
Neil Kinnock: Labour is ‘100 per cent wrong’ to fight Reform UK on its own turf
The former Labour leader on his party’s ‘mortally stupid’ strategy to combat Reform
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
June 7, 2025 at 6:56 AM
EXCLUSIVE: Neil Kinnock slams Labour’s strategy on Reform as “100% wrong” and “mortally stupid” in a new Prospect interview with @arusbridger.bsky.social. “Appeasers get eaten,” he says.
www.prospectmagazine...
www.prospectmagazine...
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
I’m struggling to wrap my mind around enormous implications of this for global economy, including America. When will GOP - the party allegedly of national security and economic probity, step up? Not on govt cuts; mass firings; security leaks; illegal deportations; attacks on judges; not this? WHEN?
A blanket 10% tariff on the UK; 20% on the EU; 34% on China; 46% on Vietnam; 24% on Japan; 26% on India; and much more.
This is the biggest increase in trade barriers globally in decades — quite possibly since WWII.
This is the biggest increase in trade barriers globally in decades — quite possibly since WWII.
April 2, 2025 at 9:02 PM
I’m struggling to wrap my mind around enormous implications of this for global economy, including America. When will GOP - the party allegedly of national security and economic probity, step up? Not on govt cuts; mass firings; security leaks; illegal deportations; attacks on judges; not this? WHEN?
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
The standout madness in the general madness are the enormous tariffs on South East Asia which, if these stick, is going to magnify China's sphere of influence. Geopolitical lunacy.
April 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The standout madness in the general madness are the enormous tariffs on South East Asia which, if these stick, is going to magnify China's sphere of influence. Geopolitical lunacy.
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Given the failure of US businesses banks etc to stop a set of catastrophic govt economic policies, it raises the inevitable question of whether capitalism is in fact completely broken
April 2, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Given the failure of US businesses banks etc to stop a set of catastrophic govt economic policies, it raises the inevitable question of whether capitalism is in fact completely broken
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
"Even when adjusting for inflation, that amount would be triple the tax increase put in place in 1942 to pay the cost of fighting World War II."
April 2, 2025 at 8:39 PM
"Even when adjusting for inflation, that amount would be triple the tax increase put in place in 1942 to pay the cost of fighting World War II."
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Friends, a petition I've created to go to Parliament for the protection of Trans Healthcare in the UK has just gone live. If you are in the United Kingdom, please sign and share this. If you are not in the United Kingdom, please share it.
#Trans #LGBTQ #UK
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
#Trans #LGBTQ #UK
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Petition: Do not stop transgender people from receiving care in mainstream hospital wards
The previous government proposed changes to the NHS constitution which would mean transgender hospital patients in England may not be treated in female- and male-only wards. We believe that this segre...
petition.parliament.uk
January 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Friends, a petition I've created to go to Parliament for the protection of Trans Healthcare in the UK has just gone live. If you are in the United Kingdom, please sign and share this. If you are not in the United Kingdom, please share it.
#Trans #LGBTQ #UK
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
#Trans #LGBTQ #UK
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Me, a public health person, just sitting over here reflecting on the fact that the US has experienced a 7% increase in infant mortality post-Dobbs.
Like, do you realize what that says about this society from an ethical perspective? That we made policy choices that caused this?
#PHEthx
Like, do you realize what that says about this society from an ethical perspective? That we made policy choices that caused this?
#PHEthx
Infant Mortality Increases Across US Following Dobbs Decision
The Dobbs decision was associated with a 7% absolute increase in overall infant mortality—equivalent to 247 excess deaths—and a 10% increase among infants with congenital anomalies, corresponding to 2...
www.ajmc.com
December 17, 2024 at 6:29 PM
Me, a public health person, just sitting over here reflecting on the fact that the US has experienced a 7% increase in infant mortality post-Dobbs.
Like, do you realize what that says about this society from an ethical perspective? That we made policy choices that caused this?
#PHEthx
Like, do you realize what that says about this society from an ethical perspective? That we made policy choices that caused this?
#PHEthx
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
If you’re applying for PIP, the charity Turn2Us has launched The PIP Tool: a free guide to navigate the benefits process.
Their goal “is to make sure you know your rights and can afford what you need to enjoy life fully.”
Share widely! pip.turn2us.org.uk
Their goal “is to make sure you know your rights and can afford what you need to enjoy life fully.”
Share widely! pip.turn2us.org.uk
Turn2us PIP Helper
Use the Turn2us PIP Helper to learn how to manage each stage of your PIP (personal independence payment) application process.
pip.turn2us.org.uk
December 9, 2024 at 10:10 AM
If you’re applying for PIP, the charity Turn2Us has launched The PIP Tool: a free guide to navigate the benefits process.
Their goal “is to make sure you know your rights and can afford what you need to enjoy life fully.”
Share widely! pip.turn2us.org.uk
Their goal “is to make sure you know your rights and can afford what you need to enjoy life fully.”
Share widely! pip.turn2us.org.uk
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
not seen it mentioned elsewhere so: my theory is that Elon has become obsessed with Britain because he's essentially stopped sleeping due to drugs and/or madness but for like six hours of his nights Americans are sleeping so Brits are the one English-speaking timezone awake and posting
November 29, 2024 at 9:27 AM
not seen it mentioned elsewhere so: my theory is that Elon has become obsessed with Britain because he's essentially stopped sleeping due to drugs and/or madness but for like six hours of his nights Americans are sleeping so Brits are the one English-speaking timezone awake and posting
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Lesson for the younger people in the crowd: the media, primarily owned by rich people, will torture Labour over nothing. And give a free pass to Tories every day of the week. This isn't my opinion. This is factual.
November 29, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Lesson for the younger people in the crowd: the media, primarily owned by rich people, will torture Labour over nothing. And give a free pass to Tories every day of the week. This isn't my opinion. This is factual.
Reposted by Nicola Smyth
Goodbye Dylan Jones, editor of the Evening/London Standard.
Moonlighted as editor of Aston Martin’s corporate magazine while making lots of ES staff redundant, flew to LA to review Joni Mitchell for a London paper and wrote about his suits, tried to recreate a local paper as a 90s glossy magazine.
Moonlighted as editor of Aston Martin’s corporate magazine while making lots of ES staff redundant, flew to LA to review Joni Mitchell for a London paper and wrote about his suits, tried to recreate a local paper as a 90s glossy magazine.
November 28, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Goodbye Dylan Jones, editor of the Evening/London Standard.
Moonlighted as editor of Aston Martin’s corporate magazine while making lots of ES staff redundant, flew to LA to review Joni Mitchell for a London paper and wrote about his suits, tried to recreate a local paper as a 90s glossy magazine.
Moonlighted as editor of Aston Martin’s corporate magazine while making lots of ES staff redundant, flew to LA to review Joni Mitchell for a London paper and wrote about his suits, tried to recreate a local paper as a 90s glossy magazine.