_Underscore 🇵🇸 🇺🇦

EXCL: Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, saying that the party “didn’t get it right” and needs to “do better” under his leadership, as he signals a significant shift in the UK’s approach to the Middle East. The PM-in-waiting told me he would put more pressure on the Israeli government, including through further sanctions on individuals and entities, but also potentially by banning trade in goods with illegal settlements. As well as pushing for substantive change on the ground, Burnham’s intervention starts to address concerns among voters on Labour’s progressive flank, many of whom have abandoned the party over its position on Israel and Palestine. “I know many people feel that at the start of Israel’s military action in Gaza my party didn’t get it right and I am sorry about that. The response has too often not been good enough. We need to do better,” he said. “We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government… Yes, we have taken some important steps… But let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire. And we must now do more to strengthen our approach.”

Joy Reid says "It is not Vote Blue No Matter Who. It Matters Who" replaces Platner "The people of Maine said we want a progressive. They did not say we want an AIPAC moderate" "If the DNC shoves an AIPAC candidate down your throat, you have my permission to not vote for them"

🚨 BREAKING: Andy Burnham has confirmed that he will introduce restrictions on VPNs under his leadership. Tech Secretary Liz Kendall has said that "Andy is committed to keeping kids safe online, and has been vocal in his support of age restrictions for kids using social media." VPNs are fully illegal in Belarus, Iraq, North Korea, and Turkmenistan. They are only restricted in China, Russia, Iran, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Turkey, and the UAE.

Today, I'm announcing that I am suspending my campaign for United States Senate. And I'm doing it with a deep, deep sense of gratitude. For our thousands of volunteers, for everyone who donated what you could — building a campaign with zero corporate PAC dollars. For my staff, who built this team up from nothing. I thank you. For my family. For Ray, who believed in me long before I ever believed in myself. And for Noa. Our five-year-old, who presses her hands up against the window to wave goodbye every morning when I leave for work. "Remember, Mom," she reminded me recently. "It's not about if you win. It's about trying hard and having fun." She's right. So I want to be very clear about what this announcement is not. I may be suspending this campaign, but I am not leaving the fight. I never planned on politics. After the 2016 election, I felt lost. I picked up my phone and typed five words into the search bar: "How to run for office." And here's what I learned: when regular people get in the fight, things can change. In my very first election, we flipped a district against the incumbent. Four years later — with so many of you — we flipped the Michigan Senate for the first time in nearly forty years. And we didn’t stop at winning. We repealed Michigan's abortion ban. We raised wages. We made sure every child gets breakfast and lunch at school. We made it easier to go to college. We expanded civil rights and voting rights. And so, so much more. These wins took thousands of us — showing up every single day, refusing to give up when there were setbacks. That's why I'm staying in this fight. And why I need you to stay in it with me. Now, I haven’t been shy about calling for new leadership and a better Democratic Party. I mean it. The energy is there. People are crying out for change. And we owe it to them to listen. Then we need to build it up, together, from the ground up. So here's what we do next. Every day through November 3rd. We win this Senate seat and send Mike Rogers back to Florida for good. Whoever wins this primary on August 4th will have my full support. Then, let’s elect Jocelyn Benson as our next Governor. Let’s flip the State House, and expand our majority in the State Senate. Let’s elect Democrats up and down the ticket and show the rest of this country what it means to fight like Michigan. Ten years ago, I started this work heartbroken, typing five words into a search bar. And I learned the only thing that has ever really changed this country: ordinary people who love something enough to fight for it. I love this country. I love Michigan. And I love the little girl who waves at me from the window every morning, trusting the grown-ups to leave her a state and a country worth inheriting. That's who I'm fighting for. And I'm not going anywhere. I hope you'll join me.

Another all time greatest UK government consultation moment. They ask me my opinion on downranking my own videos in the youtube algorithm in favour of established networks like BBC and ITV... and they don't give me the option to disagree!!