The term 'alief' refers to the cognitive dissonance experienced when one knows something is false but nevertheless believe it to be true. Can you think of a better example than 'Brexit was a success'?

Are you glad 30 arms export licences for the sale of arms by UK companies to Israel have been suspended? The Foreign Office says there's a 'clear risk' they're being used by the IDF in serious violation of humanitarian law.

Just like Donald J. Trump, the Conservatives' politicians have started to be seen as “weird”, and few members of the public – even including the party’s own voters – are able to identify the Tory leadership candidates, research suggests. theguardian.com/politics/artic…

As well as wrecking the economy, the combination of the disastrous Brexit referendum & five awful Tory prime ministers has caused pride in British democracy to fall from 69% to just 53% over the last decade. Are you surprised?

The Russian state media outlet 'RT' has recruited American 'influencers' to meddle in the 2024 US election, according to the US Treasury. What else has Russia done to influence politics in the West?

Does this fit with your experience? Interesting research published in the The Wall Street Journal suggests the ageing process is not linear. Instead there are 'step change' phases at around 40 & 60 where we grow older more rapidly. wsj.com/health/wellnes…

Excellent! Water company bosses could face jail terms if they block investigations into environmental failings by their companies. thetimes.com/article/322a7d…

Good news? The government is proposing to banish all 92 remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords in the biggest shake-up of parliament in a quarter of a century.

All the Tory councillors implicated in the Grenfell tragedy are Brexiters. Most notably Lord Pickles & Lord Moylan. Can’t imagine why they hated Brussels red tape. Can you?

14 year old Colt Gray was arrested for the high school shooting near Atlanta, Georgia in which 4 people died. His father has now been charged with 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second degree murder & 8 counts of cruelly to children. Is this a wise step?

Four people are murdered in the USA. A 14 year old is arrested. His name (Colt Gray) is released. His father is arrested and charged. An 80 year old is murdered in England. A 14 year old is arrested & charged with murder. His name is protected. Which system is better?

France offered the chance for the UK to process asylum claims in France. The Conservatives immediately dismissed the offer. Why doesn't Keir Starmer's government explore the idea?

If hereditary peers are going to be slung out of the House of Lords, what about others who are only there because of their ancestry?

There are hundreds of thousands of people who've invaded a neighbouring country, forcing residents off their land (killing some in the process) & set up homes in the stolen land. Israel calls them 'settlers'. There are 700,000 of them in the West Bank. What do you call them?

Do you support the World Court in its declaration that Israeli occupation of 'settlements' in the West Bank is illegal? x.com/HumaZhr/status…

When even a Republican ex Vice President says he's going to be voting for the Democrat candidate Kamala Harris, you know Donald J. Trump's campaign is in deep trouble!

Hmm. Very fishy! Not only did Boris Johnson have secret meetings with a uranium entrepreneur when he was PM, but he has now set up a new 'energy transition' company called Better Earth with Charlotte Owen as its vice president. What's going on here? theguardian.com/politics/artic…

Britain was hit far harder by the Covid-19 pandemic than other developed countries because the @NHS had been “seriously weakened” by disastrous government policies over the preceding decade, a wide-ranging report will conclude this week - & it's still suffering the after-effects.

Sounds like Donald J. Trump is really losing it, doesn't it? Now he's threatening 'retribution' against opponents if he wins the Presidency! theguardian.com/us-news/articl…