I'm saying there have been cultures in history where atheists faced discrimination. I think atheists in western countries used to face discrimination and ostracisation. And in some Muslim countries even today, if a Muslim leaves their religion, they can face harsh penalties.

some kind of lame-ass desperation to appease those with opposing views, in the hope they won’t ask you awkward questions that challenge your cozy conceits

I'm not desperate to appease people with opposing views. I just know that I have met some religious people in my life who I got on well with. I didn't agree with their views, but I could still get on with them. If I come across someone and I think they're a decent person who I can get on well with, then I won't mind what their religious views are, as long as they are respectful of my lack of religious belief.

A man with an extraordinary amount of privilege, inherited by him simply by accident of birth, who is completely out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Brits?

Yeah it would be pretty fitting for him to represent Britain, given that people like him control modern Britain.

I've not been convinced of religious thinking which is why I'm non-religious, but I think it's fair for me to respect people believing in religion, so that they will also respect me not believing in religion. In some cultures in history, people have been persecuted for being atheists. I'm more in favour of people being able to believe what they want without facing discrimination due to their beliefs.

I prefer non-religion which is why I'm non-religious, but I've known decent people in real life who were religious. I try to respect their right to believe what they like, because I'd like them to also respect my right to believe what I like.

Yeah I agree with you that sometimes it's best to admit that you don't know something. There are many questions we don't know the answers to, such as the question of whether life exists in other galaxies, just as one example.

Fair points. I'm British not American, so I'm sure you know a lot more about Newsom than I do. I've seen a couple of interviews with him but that's about it.

If 2028 is Newsom vs Vance and Newsom wins, I would hope that would improve the world. Maybe a Democrat who more boldly stands up for ordinary (non-wealthy) people would be better, but whether they'd get enough support from Middle America to win the presidency, I don't know.

The solution is simple: European AI.

Europe should invest more in European AI companies like Mistral. Otherwise, Europe might find itself dependent on American AI or Chinese AI, and both of those countries don't seem very friendly towards Europe.

Yeah, no shit all religions are bad.

Are all religions bad? I'm not religious myself. I don't believe in any gods. But I think religion can sometimes inspire people to do good things (e.g. charity), although of course it can also inspire people to do bad things (war, honour killings, etc).

I think the current Pope has a better moral compass than a lot of non-religious people. For example, see these comments from the Pope earlier this year:

Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain... They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found... The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants

I think I read some time ago that Newsom's argument is that a national billionaire tax would be better and more effective than a California billionaire tax.

But yeah maybe he should just support both: a California tax and a national tax.

It is pretty obscene that billionaires can spend nearly limitless money trying to defeat a proposal for them to pay just a little bit more in tax; a tax which could save the lives of the most disadvantaged people in society.

Newsom seems more sensible than Trump. Presumably if Newsom does win the presidency in 2028 then he would be more supportive of Ukraine, like Biden was.

Fuck America

It might deter some more centre-right Tories from supporting Reform. They might have been thinking "yeah I like Nige, I think we need to stop the boats" but then they might think "err I don't want to be seen as racist, I could lose my job".

I don't think that quote is referring to the deal that the UK had when it was in the EU. I think the quote is referring to the UK's post-Brexit deal with the EU (the Trade and Cooperation Agreement). I guess Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader who gave that quote, believes that the Prime Minister is wasting time if he tries to get an improvement on that deal, because she thinks the EU won't significantly change it. I disagree with Badenoch's pessimism though. I think the UK should try to get a closer relationship with the EU, and I think the EU might be receptive to this.

Michel Barnier, formerly the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, recently indicated his support for "a stronger EU-UK defence pact", for example. That article shows that Barnier considers freedom of movement to be a non-negotiable part of single market membership (just like it was when the UK was in the EU). But he seems open to the idea of the UK not adopting the euro, if it rejoined the EU: "he added that adopting the euro need not necessarily be a condition of renewed membership". This is coherent with Barnier earlier this year saying that the UK could potentially stay out of the euro and out of the Schengen Area if it rejoined the EU:

I am speaking about Schengen, I am speaking about the single currency: there are other member states who are not in them. It is perfectly possible to have opt-outs in these fields.