Nick Robinson Hi Nick, thanks for engaging. Yes, I heard the piece (& praised the artist on here). My point was that it's *only* a story because the Mail is yelling about it -as you recognised in your intro. It's that tendency to let the tabloids decide what's newsworthy that I was challenging

I love the railway line out of Exeter towards Dawlish and Teignmouth: it's like the train is riding on the sea, with wonderful rock formations coiled around like models made of clay. Just beautiful!

Good piece by Anne Applebaum. The laws that protect, launder and reward klepocratic wealth don't just undermine the economies of the countries from which that money is stolen; they erode and endanger our own democracies. ft.com/content/0876ef…

Musk gets cat-checked.

On 9 October, we'll be welcoming @sathnam Sanghera to Queen Mary as our second distinguished Hennessy Lecture. Do join us to explore empire and its aftermaths. Tickets here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/hennessy-lec…

Another sensible and long overdue measure Ministers introduce plans to remove all hereditary peers from Lords theguardian.com/politics/artic…

There aren't many more thrilling feelings than standing on the shore at night, with a swelling tide, watching the waves rear up and crash down onto the sand. #lovecornwall

This is a great thread on Greenham Common by Alfie Steer using one of our most recent interviews, a fascinating recording with Joan Ruddock, and one of my archive interviews with Olga Maitland. Two women who made political careers from the missiles, on opposite sides

Looking forward to this online Royal Historical Society discussion on 'histories of the British political left' with Andrew Thorpe, Dr Lyndsey Jenkins, Clare Griffiths, and Laura Beers! 23 October, 2pm BST. Sign up below eventbrite.co.uk/e/histories-of…

I'd missed this astonishing Tory leadership rule. The ability to extract huge sums from party benefactors tells us nothing about the candidates' ability to be prime minister or leader of the opposition. But it ensures they'll begin their leadership in thrall to wealthy donors.

Cornwall has such beautiful place-names. Trelissick. Lostwithiel. Maenporth. Marazion. Just a gorgeous part of the world.

Very struck by a comment at the (wonderful) Eden Project the other day: "Don't throw things 'away'. There's no such place".

Nothing gets you out the holiday mood quite like a train journey back. 3 trains cancelled so far, one delayed (by swans on the line!) Hoping to make it only 2 hours and one taxi journey late…