Martina Devlin: Never mind the ‘liberal elites', it's Trump and his allies on the right who pose the biggest threat to free speech
'Democracy was a very nice idea for a while but now it's worn out,' says a character in a TV drama I'm watching. Years and Years imagines a dystopian near future with some eerily familiar characteristics, such as free speech under threat and extremist politicians going mainstream.
The six-part series, broadcast on the BBC in 2019 but having a resurgence after landing on Netflix, follows the rise of a wealthy, populist leader. She's played by Emma Thompson, who channels Nigel Farage with a side order of Donald Trump. The politician harvests support by expressing public anxieties while using emotionally charged rhetoric to push a tribalising, polarising, radicalising agenda.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Rita Ora teams up with Netflix to secretly record new song for massive series
Find out which A-list rapper and singer appeared in the ring at WWE's Summerslam STAR'S NEW TRACK Rita Ora teams up with Netflix to secretly record new song for massive series RITA ORA sure has her fingers in a lot of pies. I can reveal the singer/actress/presenter has recorded a new song for the upcoming second series of Netflix hit Love Is Blind UK. Sources tell me Joy is a powerful track about finding inner peace and is expected to be released in the coming days. Rather than being on her upcoming fourth album, Joy will be a stand-alone song that will debut in a TV trailer for the dating show then drop on Spotify and Amazon Music. A source said: 'It's no secret that Rita loves love so she jumped at the chance to record a track for Love Is Blind UK. Joy is very much a mini side-project rather than being part of the new album. 'The song will be used on the show and be available to stream but there are no plans for a video or to send it to radio.' Honestly, I don't know when Rita finds the time. 7 Rita Ora has recorded a new song for the upcoming second series of Netflix hit Love Is Blind UK Credit: Getty MARIAH'S PRIDE 'N' JOY 7 Mariah Carey glitters as she hits the stage to headline Brighton Pride Credit: Getty 7 American diva Mariah in a shiny ombre dress and pink jacket Credit: Getty MARIAH CAREY glittered in front of thousands of fans in four different figure-hugging outfits as she hit the stage to headline Brighton Pride. The American diva arrived in a shiny ombre dress and pink jacket, which featured the phrase 'protect the dolls' on the back, as she pledged her support to the trans community. Later, during her 90-minute set, she changed into another dazzling minidress, as well as a gold shift and floor-length black gown. Mariah told the crowd: 'The LGBTQ+ family, both as a community and as individuals have been here for me for so long. I just want you to know that I'll always, always be there for you.' Mariah Carey, 56, wears FOUR figure-hugging outfits and puts on leggy display as she headlines Brighton Pride The show, which featured hits including Fantasy and her new single Sugar Sweet, topped off a day of festivities, ahead of the second day yesterday which was headlined by Sugababes. Earlier on Saturday, Attitude magazine kicked off the annual event with a party at the i360 tower which was attended by Dame Kelly Holmes, Caity Baser and Rob Rinder. CARDI'S FLOP RAP 7 Cardi B is preparing to go fight or flight in this bird-themed feathered outfit Credit: Splash LOOKS like Cardi B is preparing to go fight or flight in this bird-themed feathered outfit. The rapper looked ready for take-off as she entered the ring to kick off the opening night of the WWE Summerslam 2025 wrestling extravaganza in New Jersey on Saturday. But rather than singing or fighting, Cardi was simply there to launch the event, teasing music from her upcoming second album Am I The Drama? As she strutted to the ring, a new Cardi track was blasted through the stadium, sending fans into a meltdown online. Her long-awaited follow-up to 2018's Invasion Of Privacy is out on September 19. Hope it's worth the wait. GAGA IN TRIBUTE TO OZZY 7 Lady Gaga reached out to Kelly Osbourne's family Credit: Getty DESPITE being in the middle of a world tour, Lady Gaga is finding time to support others. I'm told she was so moved by the death of Ozzy Osbourne that she sent a huge bouquet to his grieving wife Sharon and the family. The move is a full-circle moment for the two women after Sharon branded the hitmaker an attention-seeker in 2013. That came after Gaga locked horns with her daughter Kelly Osbourne after she criticised the singer for not stopping to greet fans. A source said: 'The flowers must have cost hundreds but Gaga wanted to reach out. 'Gaga has always been a huge fan of Ozzy and the Osbournes – before she was famous she even used to strip to Black Sabbath's Black Sabbath. "She once told Ozzy – he found it hilarious.' The kind gesture comes after Gaga closed her San Francisco show last month by belting out Ozzy's 1980 hit Crazy Train as a tribute. CHAPPELL SLINKS IN 7 Chappell Roan slipped into Oasis's latest London gig undetected Credit: Getty - Contributor SHE'S one of the biggest stars on the planet, but Chappell Roan was able to slip into Oasis's latest London gig undetected. The singer, who released new single The Subway last week, was seen in the crowd at Wembley on Saturday – singing away to the hits. Frank Lampard and Nicole Appleton also snubbed a swanky suite to mix with regular fans. OASIS fever is still sweeping the UK. Yesterday the Y Not Festival in Derbyshire was forced to upgrade tribute act Noasis to the main stage. They were due to play an 800-capacity slot but bosses had a rethink after more than double that number of guests saved the slot on their festival app. The Diana Mixtape musical @ Outernet, London ★★★★☆ 7 Hear'Say's Noel Sullivan and actress Lucinda Lawrence Credit: Supplied YOU might think a stage musical about Princess Diana would be sad, yet The Diana Mixtape is anything but. With five world-class drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race playing the People's Princess while singing classics from Kylie, Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish, it's utterly joyous from start to finish. The crowd at Outernet London lapped it up. A shout out also needs to go to Hear'Say's Noel Sullivan and actress Lucinda Lawrence, for their Charles and Camilla romp to Dua Lipa's Physical. Hilarious. Greatest Showman star Keala Settle brought even more fun as Elizabeth II, but ultimately it was the queens who shone brightest. It's on at Outernet until Sunday then The Lowry, Salford, from August 19-21. OLIVIA RODRIGO's 2021 album Sour is still breaking records. The release has become the first album on Spotify to have four songs with more than two billion streams each. Traitor, Drivers License, Deja Vu and Good 4 U have all passed the milestone. Not bad for an album the US star wrote when she was just 17.
The Irish Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Huge Hollywood star reveals Netflix have AXED his first TV show for a surprisingly saucy reason
The veteran action star revealed the reason why girls approach him at the gym SANK GIG Huge Hollywood star reveals Netflix have AXED his first TV show for a surprisingly saucy reason THE Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger says his Netflix spy show Fubar won't be back for a third outing. And the veteran action hero says the huge popularity of his son Patrick in Sky's The White Lotus is partly to blame. Arnie told NBC's Seth Meyers: 'Patrick blew it out of the water. Before, all the people came up to me in the gym and said 'Arnold get in touch with me, especially girls. 'And as soon as White Lotus came out, this girl says: 'here is my contact'. I said: 'well thank you'. She replied: 'No, no, no, for Patrick'. 'Now everything is about Patrick, Patrick, Patrick.' But the reality is Netflix bosses pulled the plug after Fubar had poor ratings. Arnie played a CIA operative forced to shelve retirement. The show clearly couldn't compete with Patrick flashing his privates as alpha male Saxon on The White Lotus. Sydney Sweeney makes low-key exit in same SUV as White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger after beach club opening party
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Monster '22-INCH' rat ‘as big as a cat' is found in UK home – as locals warned more could be on the loose
Conservative party have called out Labour-run council's lack of action RAT OUT OF HELL Monster '22-INCH' rat 'as big as a cat' is found in UK home – as locals warned more could be on the loose SHOCKED residents have been left disgusted after discovering an enormous 22-inch rat in a UK home. The rodent was found in a home in Redcar and Cleveland and left hundreds repulsed after a picture was shared on social media by local politicians. Advertisement With the possibility of the rat's size breaking records, Conservative Party councillors, David Taylor and Stephen Martin, have criticised the Labour-run council, calling for a full vermin study to be carried out across the borough. The supersized rat was discovered in a property in the Normanby area by a pest controller who had been called to investigate, reports the MailOnline. While it is unknown how it accessed the property, it is believed that it was nesting somewhere in the home. David Taylor took to social media to express his disgust. Advertisement UK news COKE SCANDAL BBC launches probe into Strictly cocaine use after claims two stars took drug He wrote: "It's almost the size of a small cat. And it's not a one-off. "The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get. We need action - not just advice." In the post, Mr Taylor also addressed the issue of overflowing bins in the Eston and Whale Hill area. He explained that shops and takeaways dump items in them, providing "easy food" for rodents. Advertisement In response to this post, dozens of locals have chimed in to express their concern. One wrote: "We can not even use our back door to put rubbish out it's that bad with rats - two just left dead in the street to rot - when did we become such a scruffy rundown place?" Newcastle street plagued by rats as big as CATS Others called out the council, claiming that they report the issue of rubbish and food being left out on the street, but "nothing gets done." Another even claimed she saw a rat the size of her Jack Russel drinking from a puddle. Advertisement According to the MailOnline, rats are known to grow to a large size when there is an ongoing abundant supply of food. The Eston ward councillors pointed out that Redcar and Cleveland Council no longer handle domestic rat infestations, placing the responsibility on the residents to solve the problem. But, the councillors argue that due to public land being left overgrown and overflowing with bins, the problem has been made worse. They are therefore calling for a full vermin study and proper funding to tackle the mounting issue. Advertisement It is estimated that there could be roughly 250 million rats in the UK. They present a major problem as they can pose as a serious health hazard, and also breed rapidly, so need to be dealt with as soon as they are detected. Among the diseases carried by rats are leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and rat-bite fever. They can be spread through contact with rat urine, droppings, bites, or through contaminated food and water. Advertisement A spokesperson for Redcar and Cleveland Council said: "The council has a dedicated pest control officer who manages pest issues on council-owned land. "While we no longer provide a wider pest control service, we do offer advice to residents where possible. "The council continues to work with Beyond Housing, Northumbrian Water and other partners to address complex issues and explore potential solutions. "There is also helpful guidance and preventative measures on our website to support people in dealing with pests." Advertisement The Sun has reached out to Redcar and Cleveland Council for further comment.
