Refreshingly Independent Politics – smerconish.com is to create a clearinghouse for non-ideological thinking. We want to give people a chance to contribute to, and consume media that isn’t predicated on the usual, extreme talking points of the polarized media. Instead, we aim to promote independent thinking and diversity of thought.
Tag: politics
theintercept.com
The Intercept is an award-winning news organization dedicated to holding mainstream views and misinformation.
ICE Campaign of Violence Will Lead to More Deaths
12 July 2025 @ 11:12 pm
Jaime Alanis' death shows the horrific consequences of a secret police force behaving with utter impunity.
The post ICE Campaign of Violence Will Lead to More Deaths appeared first on The Intercept.
What To Do When You See ICE in Your Neighborhood
12 July 2025 @ 10:00 am
How can you deter the Trump administration's immigrant deportation machine when it pops up in your community? Follow these steps.
The post What To Do When You See ICE in Your Neighborhood appeared first on The Intercept.
Grok Is the Latest in a Long Line of Chatbots To Go Full Nazi
11 July 2025 @ 9:37 pm
Grok’s recent antisemitic turn is not an aberration, but part of a pattern of AI chatbots churning out hateful drivel.
The post Grok Is the Latest in a Long Line of Chatbots To Go Full Nazi appeared first on The Intercept.
House Democrat Calls on Kristi Noem To Resign Over ICE Lies
11 July 2025 @ 7:08 pm
Bernie Sanders, Delia Ramirez, Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal, and Rashida Tlaib reacted with outrage to The Intercept's investigation.
The post House Democrat Calls on Kristi Noem To Resign Over ICE Lies appeared first on The Intercept.
Trans People Have Disappeared From ICE Records, Against Congressional Orders
11 July 2025 @ 10:30 am
The Trump administration has made efforts to "erase" transgender people, who face violence and medical neglect behind bars.
The post Trans People Have Disappeared From ICE Records, Against Congressional Orders appeared first on The Intercept.
The Great American Heist You’re Paying For
11 July 2025 @ 10:00 am
Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., on how Trump’s megabill is the biggest wealth transfer in history and how money in politics is fueling America's slide into plutocratic authoritarianism.
The post The Great American Heist You’re Paying For appeared first on The Intercept.
Zohran Mamdani Shows Democrats How Not to Take the Bait
10 July 2025 @ 10:30 am
By refusing to capitulate on "globalize the intifada," Mamdani rejected a long tradition of demonizing Arabic language.
The post Zohran Mamdani Shows Democrats How Not to Take the Bait appeared first on The Intercept.
The Private Prison Industry Looks Forward to Soaring Profits Thanks to Trump’s Budget
10 July 2025 @ 10:00 am
The $45 billion for immigration detention in the "Big, Beautiful Bill" represented a long-sought win for private prisons.
The post The Private Prison Industry Looks Forward to Soaring Profits Thanks to Trump’s Budget appeared first on The Intercept.
Trump’s Big Beautiful Gift to Anduril
9 July 2025 @ 7:11 pm
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act requires all new border surveillance towers to be certified "autonomous." Only Anduril's fit the bill.
The post Trump’s Big Beautiful Gift to Anduril appeared first on The Intercept.
Pro-Israel Professor Shai Davidai Is Leaving Columbia
9 July 2025 @ 5:31 pm
Davidai posted on social media that he had been cleared of allegations filed against him last year. He was previously suspended after he was accused of harassment and intimidation.
The post Pro-Israel Professor Shai Davidai Is Leaving Columbia appeared first on The Intercept.
questioneverything.io
To critically evaluate the global response to COVID-19 and present a series of responsible pandemic exit strategies to help ensure that total harms are minimised.
thefreedomcycle.com/pub/
THE PEOPLE’S UNION OF BRITAIN
Taking back sovereignty through common law.
goodlawproject.org
The Good Law Project is a not-for-profit campaign organisation that uses the law to protect the interests of the public. The Good Law Project fight cases that defend, define or change the law and we use litigation to engage and educate. The Good Law Project challenge abuses of power, exploitation, inequality, and injustice.
whocanivotefor.co.uk
An updated list of candidates you can vote for the up and coming UK elections.
politics.co.uk
Politics news from the UK.
Roz Savage: ‘Why Britain needs legal guarantees on climate and nature’
11 July 2025 @ 9:12 am
Each MP has their own path into politics. Mine began with years spent rowing alone across oceans, immersed in the wonder and majesty of nature. I saw first-hand just how vast and awe-inspiring our planet is – but also how vulnerable it has become. That experience taught me that we are all connected to the... Read more »
The post Roz Savage: ‘Why Britain needs legal guarantees on climate and nature’ appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
Farage urged to rule out Liz Truss joining Reform UK after ally’s defection
10 July 2025 @ 9:10 am
Reform UK has been challenged to rule out recruiting Liz Truss to its ranks, after her one-time party chairman, Sir Jake Berry, became the latest former Conservative MP to defect from the Tories. The Liberal Democrats described Berry, who like Truss lost his seat at the 2024 general election, as an “architect of economic disaster”... Read more »
The post Farage urged to rule out Liz Truss joining Reform UK after ally’s defection appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
‘Treat us as two peoples’: Ersin Tatar on the future of Northern Cyprus and the UK’s role
10 July 2025 @ 8:48 am
Ersin Tatar is the leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. On a recent diplomatic visit to London, he sat down for an exclusive conversation with Politics.co.uk. Ahead of visits from democratically-elected foreign leaders to Westminster, usually the red carpets are hoovered and the finest silverware is polished. But when Ersin Tatar, the leader... Read more »
The post ‘Treat us as two peoples’: Ersin Tatar on the future of Northern Cyprus and the UK’s role appeared first on Poli
Three out of five people think Keir Starmer does not respect them, poll suggests
8 July 2025 @ 8:13 am
A significant majority of the British public, 63 per cent, believe prime minister Keir Starmer does not respect people like them, marking a dramatic reversal in sentiment since the 2024 general election, a new poll indicates. The concept of “respect” was a central pillar of Starmer’s successful pitch in opposition. However, a report published by... Read more »
The post Three out of five people think Keir Starmer does not respect them, poll suggests appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
Former Conservative cabinet minister David Jones joins Reform UK
8 July 2025 @ 7:35 am
A former Conservative cabinet minister has announced he has left the party to join Reform UK. Jones, who was the MP for Clwyd West from 2005 until standing down in 2024, said he had quit the Tories after “more than 50 years of continuous membership”. Jones served as secretary of state for Wales under David... Read more »
The post Former Conservative cabinet minister David Jones joins Reform UK appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
MPs to vote on making Premier League games free-to-air
8 July 2025 @ 6:39 am
The coming 2025-26 season is the first season of the Premier League’s new TV rights deal with Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
The post MPs to vote on making Premier League games free-to-air appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
Keir Starmer could learn to fear a left insurgency
8 July 2025 @ 6:21 am
Zarah Sultana and Polanski are giving political definition, and institutional shape, to progressive disillusion with this Labour government.
The post Keir Starmer could learn to fear a left insurgency appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
‘Deluded’: Conservatives condemned after strategist says party has ‘done the apologies’
7 July 2025 @ 6:34 am
The Conservatives stand accused of being “completely deluded” after the party’s strategy chief claimed they have “done the apologies”. Baroness Maclean, one of Kemi Badenoch’s closest political allies, told supporters that the Conservatives had “done the mea culpas” in a leaked speech. According to a report in the Telegraph, Baroness Maclean said the previous government... Read more »
The post ‘Deluded’: Conservatives condemned after strategist says party has ‘done the apologies’ appeared first on Pol
One year of Keir: why Starmer now faces a reckoning
5 July 2025 @ 10:37 am
Keir Starmer has approached the first anniversary of him becoming prime minister in a ruminative, rueful mood. Across a series of long-form interviews, he has seized on the opportunity to appraise his year-old premiership; the account of events delivered in Starmer’s media meditations is candid, well-considered and — perhaps unintentionally — scathing. The PM’s inaugural... Read more »
The post One year of Keir: why Starmer now faces a reckoning appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
One year of Labour and Europe — why the government must go further on EU reset
5 July 2025 @ 7:15 am
At 10pm on July 4, 2024, when the exit poll was revealed — making it clear that Keir Starmer would be our next prime minister — our hopes for a better relationship between the UK and Europe, with all the economic benefits that would bring, were solidified. The public’s general mistrust in politics considered, to... Read more »
The post One year of Labour and Europe — why the government must go further on EU reset appeared first on Politics.co.uk.
artsparty.org.uk
Introducing arts thinking into politics and promoting creative, scientific and evidence based ideas that improve the lives of as many people as possible, while mindful of the few.
Arts Party Conference 2019
16 August 2019 @ 9:30 am
The Arts Party welcomes it’s first party conference from the heart of where water meets dirt, Brighton. We will be hosting debates for purposes of socialising, conversation and recreation. Located in Camelford Street, Brighton, BN2 1TQ, United Kingdom. All are welcome to attend, please use the contact form below to register your interest. [Fully booked]
The post Arts Party Conference 2019 appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Dinner for few
9 June 2019 @ 12:41 pm
A short and stark reminder of the state of play in politics today/yesterday. Thanks to a Dinner for a few, award winner from Nassos Vakalis. DINNER FOR FEW from Nassos Vakalis on Vimeo.
The post Dinner for few appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Scotland takes steps to put culture at the forefront of policy-making
6 July 2018 @ 9:31 am
A CULTURE STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND – reflecting the past, challenging the present, shaping the future . The strategy seeks to stimulate a step change that will bring about a shift in how society and government view and value culture. It aims to build collaborative alliances that will help to realise the full potential of culture …
Continue reading "Scotland takes steps to put culture at the forefront of policy-making"
The post Scotland takes steps to put culture at the forefront of policy-making appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Arts teachers in decline
5 July 2018 @ 9:35 am
As well as a fall in teaching hours, the arts has lost almost a quarter (9000) of teachers working in secondary schools in England since 2011. Sourced from https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/arts-teacher-numbers-plummet-almost-quarter
The post Arts teachers in decline appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Why the Arts Matter
12 May 2018 @ 7:11 am
We’ve come across a great graphic that really sums up why the Arts matter – enjoy!
The post Why the Arts Matter appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Creativity and politics
17 April 2018 @ 11:19 am
Heather McGhee talks about the influence that music, film, and other arts can have on social change. https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/heather-mcghee-on-creativity-and-politics/
The post Creativity and politics appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Why is creativity the most important political concept of the 21st century?
17 April 2018 @ 11:15 am
There is no concept more politically important today than creativity. I’ll give four reasons why but first a definition. ‘Creative’ has narrow, broader and even broader connotations in English. It’s the last of these we should be most interested in. The narrow meaning immediately leads one to think of activities directly associated with the arts. …
Continue reading "Why is creativity the most important political concept of the 21st century?"
The post Why is creativity the most important political concept of the 21st century? appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Arts can help children avoid a lifetime of gang crime
14 April 2018 @ 11:05 am
Andria Zafirakou, who won the $1million title in Dubai last month, said subjects such as art, music and drama can transform the lives of vulnerable young people and give them the confidence to walk away from gangs. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/arts-can-help-children-avoid-a-lifetime-of-gang-crime-says-1m-prizewinning-teacher-a3813071.html
The post Arts can help children avoid a lifetime of gang crime appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Creativity and the arts in decline
1 February 2018 @ 11:34 am
Creative arts subjects are being cut back in many secondary schools in England, a BBC survey suggests. More than 1,200 schools responded – over 40% of secondary schools. Of the schools that responded, nine in every 10 said they had cut back on lesson time, staff or facilities in at least one creative arts subject. …
Continue reading "Creativity and the arts in decline"
The post Creativity and the arts in decline appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
Drawing the Future
20 January 2018 @ 10:34 am
A report launched by Education and Employers and found that children’s career aspirations only marginally differ from age 7 to age 17. It also showed that some sectors vital for economic health look set to be badly under-resourced in future. In the biggest survey of its kind, primary school children aged seven to 11 were …
Continue reading "Drawing the Future"
The post Drawing the Future appeared first on ARTS PARTY.
theyworkforyou.com
Keeping tabs on the UK’s parliaments & assemblies
Voting summaries update: July 2025
8 July 2025 @ 4:11 pm
We have completed our quarterly update to the TheyWorkForYou voting summaries and they’re now complete as of the end of March 2025. We’ve added 20 votes to TheyWorkForYou’s voting summaries, covering the first three months of 2025. We’ve also added several votes from the 2019-2024 parliament retrospectively when creating a voting policy in a new…
How FOI can help build a case for pushback
8 July 2025 @ 8:34 am
Over the past few weeks we’ve seen public debate and campaigning around the government’s proposed cuts to PIP — benefits that are intended to ease the additional costs of living that come with being disabled. The Bill was voted through, but only once it was agreed that the proposed changes to PIP eligibility would be…
WhoFundsThem Update: July 2025
2 July 2025 @ 10:33 am
mySociety’s WhoFundsThem work combines technology and volunteers to create better data and visibility on money in politics. We’ve published a report of what we’ve learned, given evidence in Parliament, and made more information available on TheyWorkForYou. This update covers some recently declared freebies, cash for questions paper trails, paid membership of APPGs, and how we…
When MPs/Peers should use FOI rather than Parliamentary Questions
1 July 2025 @ 8:46 am
Parliamentarians (MPs and Peers) have access to two different systems of getting information from the government. As members of Parliament, they can use Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to ask questions and receive information from government ministers. They also have the same rights as everyone else to access information from public authorities through the Freedom of Information…
ATI day in Mechelen
23 June 2025 @ 8:45 am
Transparency is always a strong theme at TICTeC, and since so many members of the Access to Information Network were in town for the conference, we thought we’d take the opportunity to meet up. And so, the day after, several people who run Freedom of Information sites came together in an airy attic room to…
TICTeC 2025: “Energy, open exchanges, and motivation to keep pushing forward tech for democracy”
19 June 2025 @ 12:44 pm
TICTeC is wrapped up for another year. The roller banners are stowed away, the lanyards saved for next year, and now we’re back home from Belgium with memories, insights and enough hope to keep us going ’til next time. It’s always energising to come together with the global civic tech community and share everything we’ve…
How’s your local council doing on climate action?
17 June 2025 @ 8:45 am
The 2025 Scorecards launch today Wondering how your local council’s doing around climate? With today’s launch of the 2025 Council Climate Action Scorecards, you can check their progress right now. And because this is the second edition of Scorecards, you can check not just your council’s scores, but also how they compare with last time.…
Giving evidence on second jobs
5 June 2025 @ 9:58 am
A few weeks ago, I was part of a panel giving evidence to the House of Commons’ Standards Committee on ‘outside employment and interests’ (second jobs). Here’s the video, or the transcript. My evidence was based on our findings and recommendations from our WhoFundsThem project and our Beyond Transparency report. We worked with volunteers to…
Improving transparency from the outside
5 June 2025 @ 9:56 am
As part of our WhoFundsThem project, we released a big report detailing what we learned while working with volunteers to explore the MPs’ Register of Members Financial Interests (RMFI). Many of our recommendations are for changes Parliament should make, but we always want to think about what we can do from the outside to keep…
Tackling the Climate Crisis with Access to Information rights
28 May 2025 @ 2:17 pm
Our hour-long webinar brought together investigative journalist Lucas Amin of Democracy for Sale; Anne Friel, Head of Just Societies at Client Earth; and Joschi Wolf of the German transparency project Frag Den Staat