Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 7h

Don't kink shame

Reposted by Sam Freedman

Lewis Baston @lewisbaston.bsky.social · 16h

Sam’s article has a lot of information I previously did not know about the two-way relationship between Russian political actors and the European far right, dating back to when the far right seemed like a faint cloud on a distant horizon.

1 6 27

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 10h

If we're being pedantic, his name was Iain Banks. He added the M to the Culture books but that was still his name...

2

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 11h

As I note in the article, Thiel literally named his company Palantir after the all-seeing stone used by Sauron in LoTR.

6 6 50

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 11h

Somehow taking the work of Iain Banks, Douglas Adams and Alan Moore and turning into a vicious ethnonationalist libertarianism...

5 4 68

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 11h

Goes back to the argument I made in the Guardian earlier this year that the world is in danger because the techbros have completely misunderstood a bunch of sci-fi and fantasy...

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

8 52 190

Reposted by Sam Freedman

Lewis Baston @lewisbaston.bsky.social · 16h

It’s infuriating that so mediocre and crude a power as Russia is running rings round European democracies and that they have so many willing collaborators.

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 19h

New post just out:

The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.

In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...

Russia and the rise of the radical right

Marine Le Pen meets with Putin before the 2017 French Presidential election (Photo credit Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images)

open.substack.com

4 45 160

Reposted by Sam Freedman

daveganicca.bsky.social @daveganicca.bsky.social · 17h

This is excellent- eye-opening in a depressing sort of way…

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 19h

New post just out:

The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.

In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...

Russia and the rise of the radical right

Marine Le Pen meets with Putin before the 2017 French Presidential election (Photo credit Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images)

open.substack.com

1 8 28

Reposted by Sam Freedman

Alastair Meeks @alastairmeeks.bsky.social · 19h

An admirable article that is as insightful as the libel laws permit given present publicly available information.

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 19h

New post just out:

The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.

In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...

Russia and the rise of the radical right

Marine Le Pen meets with Putin before the 2017 French Presidential election (Photo credit Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images)

open.substack.com

2 16 46

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 18h

This took bloody ages to research - I don't think anyone has brought all this together in one place before - so please do take a look.

6 7 110

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 19h

A key point is that the relationship runs both ways. Russia has provided support to radical right parties but Putin's rhetoric and views have also been affected by radical right narratives.

3 9 75

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 19h

New post just out:

The relationship between Russia and the European radical right goes well beyond Reform's Nathan Gill being bribed.

In this post I trace the history back to the 1990s and look at the threat it poses now.

(£/free trial)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/r...

Russia and the rise of the radical right

Marine Le Pen meets with Putin before the 2017 French Presidential election (Photo credit Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP via Getty Images)

open.substack.com

29 360 650

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

Supermac by D R Thorpe

4 14

Reposted by Sam Freedman

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

One of the big strategic choices I discussed in this week's post on Labour's budget options.

samf.substack.com/p/staying-al...

7 10 52

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

It's a ten day period and will be around now I think.

3

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

Can't see how you do it without income tax tbh

3 6

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

If you're being treated for it in an institution I think it is but then you are being helped with something other than money.

3 14

Reposted by Sam Freedman

Iain Roberton @iainroberton.bsky.social · 1d

Have seen it described as “LinkedIn with stoning”

3 16 240

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

Think America is a gerontocracy?

Cameroon's President Paul Biya is running for another term at the age of 92.

He's been either PM or President for 50 years - starting his first term when Harold Wilson was UK Prime Minister.

12 19 180

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

Even if we had a govt willing to do that, no way the EU would agree with Reform leading the polls.

1 1 11

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

One of the big strategic choices I discussed in this week's post on Labour's budget options.

samf.substack.com/p/staying-al...

7 10 52

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 1d

I've been to Dubai for work a few times. It's like the world's biggest airport lounge. Utterly soulless. Can't imagine wanting to live there whatever the financial benefits. (That's before you get to the ethical issues...)

Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 1d

People keep telling me the UK is so over and they're going to move to Dubai and, like, fine. Go on then. Would you like directions to the airport?

Janine Gibson @janinegibson.ft.com · 1d

You definitely shouldn't move to Dubai, writes V&A director Tristram Hunt on.ft.com/46MfW1t

71 86 780

Reposted by Sam Freedman

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 2d

New post from @ldfreedman.bsky.social

"Whatever it takes" - what does it mean to guarantee Ukraine's security?

A great overview of where the war stands and the key question of Europe/US's support for the Ukrainians.

(Free to read)

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/a...

‘As Long as it Takes': What does it mean to commit to Ukraine’s security?

This post was originally a lecture given in honour of Peter Hennessy at the Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London.

open.substack.com

9 49

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 2d

"What do you do?"

"Anything to avoid having to be in meetings about HR or finance".

1 10

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 2d

I prefer to describe it as "not having a proper job"

1 10