Welcome to substack, Lewis. I enjoy your broadcasting and enjoyed this piece. I think we may need as much rational analysis as we can get over the next four years, with the US exploding and our own government auditioning to be Dementors. I was shocked by online comments in other forums from people lamenting Labour's start and saying there was nothing left for them but Reform. Do they really think Reform have the interests of the small people in mind?
The fact that Musk clearly doesn’t understand either Reform’s company structure or Nigel’s character shouldn’t come as a shock, but somehow it’s still bewildering. The world seems full of people who believe their financial success makes them a genius, and they therefore don’t have to waste time actually learning about the subjects they choose to lecture upon. Which makes it an excellent time to welcome more thoughtful analysis into the world :)
Summed up brilliantly Lewis, the lack of push back from our political leaders when faced with such rhetoric is both depressing and embarrassing to be honest, keep up the good work…it’s needed at the moment.
Interesting article. Two key questions for me from this weekend’s fun and games: first, could we see a split amongst the 5 Reform MPs given Musk’s semi endorsement of Lowe and Tice, based on your interview, keeping his lips firmly planted against the Musk ring. Second - Jenrick: is he positioning himself for a move to Reform and how long can Badenoch ignore the dangerous nonsense he is spouting.
Far from ignoring Jenrick's comments, Badenoch's defended them.
The Guardian reports: '[...] Samuel Kasumu, a former Tory adviser on race issues, said Jenrick’s comments were highly divisive and risked people getting killed. [...]
But later on Sunday, Badenoch condemned Kasumu, commenting above a clip of his BBC interview to write: “This nonsense of attacking anyone with a different viewpoint as ‘divisive’ has to stop. We MUST be free to have tough conversations, no matter how difficult that may be to hear.
“We need moral courage, not silencing of debate through personal attacks. This is a classic example of why politicians stop being honest with the public, and the problems have stacked up over decades. The Conservative Party is under new leadership and that means confronting difficult truths."'
Lewis, can you write a piece on Labour’s unpopularity. I mean, wasn’t this ‘unpopularity’ inevitable? It was widely trailed that whoever took office was going to inherit a shit show. So, it is therefore hardly surprising that we are where we are. Labour have probably amplified their unpopularity with poor comms and Starmer’s lack of political acumen but if the Tory’s had won they too would have had to make ‘difficult decisions’ so there would have been a section of the electorate who would have been pissed off. I just think this constant diet of polling data needs to be taken with a pinch of salt and analysed in context.
30 mins into your Substack life and this is probably the only time I'll have more subscribers than you (A Level of Geography, currently 2900 aimed at students and teachers). But, I'll enjoy reading yours. Nice to have you here.
Is Musk gifted in technology? His management of Twitter has been abysmal and he’s been failing to deliver an autonomous vehicle for c.10yrs
Gifted in the marketing of technology might be more accurate.
Enjoyed this! Helps to read a sensible person describe Musk as politically “a terminally online hard right conspiracy theorist”. Subscribed!
Welcome to substack, Lewis. I enjoy your broadcasting and enjoyed this piece. I think we may need as much rational analysis as we can get over the next four years, with the US exploding and our own government auditioning to be Dementors. I was shocked by online comments in other forums from people lamenting Labour's start and saying there was nothing left for them but Reform. Do they really think Reform have the interests of the small people in mind?
The fact that Musk clearly doesn’t understand either Reform’s company structure or Nigel’s character shouldn’t come as a shock, but somehow it’s still bewildering. The world seems full of people who believe their financial success makes them a genius, and they therefore don’t have to waste time actually learning about the subjects they choose to lecture upon. Which makes it an excellent time to welcome more thoughtful analysis into the world :)
NY resolution inspo. Welcome!
Summed up brilliantly Lewis, the lack of push back from our political leaders when faced with such rhetoric is both depressing and embarrassing to be honest, keep up the good work…it’s needed at the moment.
Starmer pushed back strongly when answering questions from journalists at the beginning of the week. Jess Phillips too in several interviews.
Interesting article. Two key questions for me from this weekend’s fun and games: first, could we see a split amongst the 5 Reform MPs given Musk’s semi endorsement of Lowe and Tice, based on your interview, keeping his lips firmly planted against the Musk ring. Second - Jenrick: is he positioning himself for a move to Reform and how long can Badenoch ignore the dangerous nonsense he is spouting.
Far from ignoring Jenrick's comments, Badenoch's defended them.
The Guardian reports: '[...] Samuel Kasumu, a former Tory adviser on race issues, said Jenrick’s comments were highly divisive and risked people getting killed. [...]
But later on Sunday, Badenoch condemned Kasumu, commenting above a clip of his BBC interview to write: “This nonsense of attacking anyone with a different viewpoint as ‘divisive’ has to stop. We MUST be free to have tough conversations, no matter how difficult that may be to hear.
“We need moral courage, not silencing of debate through personal attacks. This is a classic example of why politicians stop being honest with the public, and the problems have stacked up over decades. The Conservative Party is under new leadership and that means confronting difficult truths."'
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/05/badenoch-defends-jenricks-remarks-about-people-from-alien-cultures
Farage's Raison d'Etre was a sovereign UK able to make it's own rules unhindered by the pesky EU.
A South African/US billionaire is now calling the tune to which British political parties are dancing to.
Thank you for this! I just put down strangeland for a few to read 😂
Were you distracted by Lewis's hair?
Lewis, can you write a piece on Labour’s unpopularity. I mean, wasn’t this ‘unpopularity’ inevitable? It was widely trailed that whoever took office was going to inherit a shit show. So, it is therefore hardly surprising that we are where we are. Labour have probably amplified their unpopularity with poor comms and Starmer’s lack of political acumen but if the Tory’s had won they too would have had to make ‘difficult decisions’ so there would have been a section of the electorate who would have been pissed off. I just think this constant diet of polling data needs to be taken with a pinch of salt and analysed in context.
Good stuff. I’ve been weening myself off of political content since Trump’s win…. But to paraphrase Mr Corleone “they keep sucking me back in…”
Strong start Goodall. I'm in.
The only thing Musk is gifted in is getting noticed, paying for stuff so that it gets done (spacex) and trashing other people
Brilliant to see you on substack Lewis, I look forward to reading what you have to say here, and hearing the newsagents back!
It’s great to have you here and I love the name of your Substack. Edward R Murrow a massive hero of mine. Good luck. I’m grateful you’re doing this.
30 mins into your Substack life and this is probably the only time I'll have more subscribers than you (A Level of Geography, currently 2900 aimed at students and teachers). But, I'll enjoy reading yours. Nice to have you here.