Dave Andress
@davidandress.bsky.social
Historian of revolution, pessimistic anarchist. Nobody else wants these views, trust me. 'His real face is a hat' - Fern Riddell.
Reposted by Dave Andress
So many fun circumlocutions for "it's fascism 101” here
"unusual new strategy"
"Incredibly rare"
"More aggressive and opportunistic"
"Potential for favoritism, corruption, and market distortions"
"Contradicts traditional Republican thinking"
"unusual new strategy"
"Incredibly rare"
"More aggressive and opportunistic"
"Potential for favoritism, corruption, and market distortions"
"Contradicts traditional Republican thinking"
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
So many fun circumlocutions for "it's fascism 101” here
"unusual new strategy"
"Incredibly rare"
"More aggressive and opportunistic"
"Potential for favoritism, corruption, and market distortions"
"Contradicts traditional Republican thinking"
"unusual new strategy"
"Incredibly rare"
"More aggressive and opportunistic"
"Potential for favoritism, corruption, and market distortions"
"Contradicts traditional Republican thinking"
Reposted by Dave Andress
It feels worth mentioning that Graham Linehan’s harassment literally continued in the courtroom, as he repeatedly misgendered Sophia, and referred to her as “Tarquin”, a fictional deadname he made up for her as part of his harassment campaign. The judge was complicit in this harassment happening.
I wonder if I spent all day, every day, for years, calling Graham Linehan - or the judge - a nonce and then, when I saw him in the street screamed it in his face and smashed his phone, would a judge find I had done no harassing?
And that's not even factoring in the age of his victim
And that's not even factoring in the age of his victim
November 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
It feels worth mentioning that Graham Linehan’s harassment literally continued in the courtroom, as he repeatedly misgendered Sophia, and referred to her as “Tarquin”, a fictional deadname he made up for her as part of his harassment campaign. The judge was complicit in this harassment happening.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Does the BBC think it's improper for a speaker to state their opinion that Donald Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history?
Because I think almost all historians would readily agree that Donald Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history.
Because I think almost all historians would readily agree that Donald Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history.
BBC censors a lecture removing author’s remarks on Trump that refer to him a the most openly corrupt American president.
November 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Does the BBC think it's improper for a speaker to state their opinion that Donald Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history?
Because I think almost all historians would readily agree that Donald Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history.
Because I think almost all historians would readily agree that Donald Trump is the most openly corrupt president in American history.
Reposted by Dave Andress
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
If multiple people can remember someone being horribly racist, even by the appalling low bar of the racist 1970s, that is entirely noteworthy.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
As an adult Farage fanboyed Enoch Powell - the most infamous racist of the 1960s - and long cited him as his political hero.
And that's noteworthy too.
Reposted by Dave Andress
we the people. and that's who I am for.
November 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
we the people. and that's who I am for.
Reposted by Dave Andress
It's easy to miss because this piece doesn's mention the word trans or transgender at all, but anyone who understands how the professional transphobia class messages, this is the klaxon call of transphobia.
November 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
It's easy to miss because this piece doesn's mention the word trans or transgender at all, but anyone who understands how the professional transphobia class messages, this is the klaxon call of transphobia.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Look, we all agree this is amazing. But we used to live comfortable in the understanding that you had to invite Chotiner in, like a vampire.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
my goodness:
Chotiner: who funds this shit
Ben Smith: How dare you ask such a question. Check your facts!
Chotiner: I have now checked my facts. A thread (1/381)
Ben Smith:
Chotiner: who funds this shit
Ben Smith: How dare you ask such a question. Check your facts!
Chotiner: I have now checked my facts. A thread (1/381)
Ben Smith:
a man in a hospital gown with the words i 've made a huge mistake behind him
ALT: a man in a hospital gown with the words i 've made a huge mistake behind him
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Look, we all agree this is amazing. But we used to live comfortable in the understanding that you had to invite Chotiner in, like a vampire.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
Now we know that Chotiner might strike at any time, like a velociraptor.
This is a general truth of political borderlands until at least the late eighteenth century. Both the notion that you can place an accurate borderline on a map, AND that that represents a complete & abrupt change of regime on the ground, are profoundly modern concepts.
“Ancient boundaries were more ambiguous than what is often shown in historical maps.
While the modern understanding of borders relies on recent concepts of territorial sovereignty, the frontiers of pre-modern states were fluid and frequently contested.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/african-ot...
While the modern understanding of borders relies on recent concepts of territorial sovereignty, the frontiers of pre-modern states were fluid and frequently contested.”
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/african-ot...
November 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
This is a general truth of political borderlands until at least the late eighteenth century. Both the notion that you can place an accurate borderline on a map, AND that that represents a complete & abrupt change of regime on the ground, are profoundly modern concepts.
Reposted by Dave Andress
If this happens expect to see what govt policy actually looks like, I guess?
Commons Education Committee seems to think that there is a provider at risk of collapse before the end of 2025. DfE and OfS disagree.
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...
Government would protect interests of "students, taxpayers, and research" in provider insolvency
And the committee seems to think there is one on the way before 2026.
wonkhe.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If this happens expect to see what govt policy actually looks like, I guess?
Reposted by Dave Andress
I don't know the criminal standard specifically but Linehan did say *in court* that he was motivated by the victim's status as a trans person. If a clear statement of explicit prejudice isn't enough then you need a new standard.
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
November 25, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I don't know the criminal standard specifically but Linehan did say *in court* that he was motivated by the victim's status as a trans person. If a clear statement of explicit prejudice isn't enough then you need a new standard.
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
news.sky.com/story/bluesk...
Reposted by Dave Andress
You could argue that, in the interests of accuracy, editorial policy should dictate that when prominent "gender critical" people are quoted, they should be described thusly:
- "<GC name>, a middle-aged woman with no relevant qualifications or expertise and an obsession with other people's bits"
- "<GC name>, a middle-aged woman with no relevant qualifications or expertise and an obsession with other people's bits"
To any of my cis followers who might be wondering what's wrong with the BBC's phrasing...
- "biological male" is deliberate misgendering
- it also implies that trans people are somehow being deceptive, because "biology"
- no trans person "identifies as" *anything*. We just *are*
Hope that helps.
- "biological male" is deliberate misgendering
- it also implies that trans people are somehow being deceptive, because "biology"
- no trans person "identifies as" *anything*. We just *are*
Hope that helps.
It looks like that BBC page has been updated in the last few minutes, so that's no longer the last sentence. I think part of it has been moved to this paragraph in the middle of the article, and the age is no longer mentioned:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
You could argue that, in the interests of accuracy, editorial policy should dictate that when prominent "gender critical" people are quoted, they should be described thusly:
- "<GC name>, a middle-aged woman with no relevant qualifications or expertise and an obsession with other people's bits"
- "<GC name>, a middle-aged woman with no relevant qualifications or expertise and an obsession with other people's bits"
Votes have consequences.
Quotes on the economy, last few days:
* WSJ: “Life felt more doable a year and a half ago.”
* CBS: “Paying for the house, the car — I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
* FT: “scraping for crumbs.”
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/cfa6...
* WSJ: “Life felt more doable a year and a half ago.”
* CBS: “Paying for the house, the car — I just couldn’t do it anymore.”
* FT: “scraping for crumbs.”
@financialtimes.com
www.ft.com/content/cfa6...
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Votes have consequences.
Of course, the danger of this evolution is that "compelling" is understood to mean "More like what everyone else says, which is transparently not enough, but we like to kid ourselves"...
Honestly, I think some centre-left criticisms of Green policy are fair. But if Labour keeps alienating its natural supporters the Greens will become more viable, more progressive policy experts could start gravitating towards them, and their policy offer could gradually become more compelling.
tbh Polanski seems to have avoided most of the big MMT heffalump traps (allowing that "inflation doesn't go higher" was a misspeak), I'm relatively impressed at whoever's advising him.
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Of course, the danger of this evolution is that "compelling" is understood to mean "More like what everyone else says, which is transparently not enough, but we like to kid ourselves"...
Reposted by Dave Andress
yes I don't really see how you can go "oh yikes these people have changed their political views incredibly quickly, mostly because of what Very Online people talk about on social media" and also think that people who went from never talking about gender to calling trans women predators are....normal
I don’t like subtweeting people I consider online friends, but there is a subset of people who are very worried about the ongoing radicalisation of our political elite but won’t ever acknowledge the echoes with the radicalisation of their colleagues on trans rights
And few who are sympathetic to us, some who are friendly with me on here, will ever stick their head above the parapet
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
yes I don't really see how you can go "oh yikes these people have changed their political views incredibly quickly, mostly because of what Very Online people talk about on social media" and also think that people who went from never talking about gender to calling trans women predators are....normal
Reposted by Dave Andress
A bunch of reactionary centrist pundits have decided that climate change isn't that big of a deal anymore. These climate scientists strongly disagree.
Hmmm ... how to adjudicate? 🤷
Hmmm ... how to adjudicate? 🤷
The world lost the climate gamble. Now it faces a dangerous new reality
The world bet on collective but voluntary action to keep global warming at a safe level.
theconversation.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
A bunch of reactionary centrist pundits have decided that climate change isn't that big of a deal anymore. These climate scientists strongly disagree.
Hmmm ... how to adjudicate? 🤷
Hmmm ... how to adjudicate? 🤷
When I began my working life in 1994, the WWW scarcely existed. Even 3 or 4 years later it was mostly made up of webpages people had written themselves in their spare time.
This was, in almost every conceivable way, better than now.
This was, in almost every conceivable way, better than now.
It's weird to not only have lived through an information revolution but also now living through its undoing, all within less than a generation.
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 12:24 PM
When I began my working life in 1994, the WWW scarcely existed. Even 3 or 4 years later it was mostly made up of webpages people had written themselves in their spare time.
This was, in almost every conceivable way, better than now.
This was, in almost every conceivable way, better than now.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Nothing will satisfy the transphobes other than the complete eradication of trans people from society.
Helen Joyce, of Sex Matters, is quite open about this when she's speaking to fellow transphobes. There are receipts.
We know from history that you don't compromise with fascists, you defeat them.
Helen Joyce, of Sex Matters, is quite open about this when she's speaking to fellow transphobes. There are receipts.
We know from history that you don't compromise with fascists, you defeat them.
Transphobes: "ban gender-affirming care for children - there's no evidence puberty blockers are safe!"
*New clinical trial assessing risks & benefits of puberty blockers announced*
Transphobes: "No - don't do that!"
Telegraph ads by #BootsUK, #Sainsburys, #O2, #Waitrose & #SkyUK
*New clinical trial assessing risks & benefits of puberty blockers announced*
Transphobes: "No - don't do that!"
Telegraph ads by #BootsUK, #Sainsburys, #O2, #Waitrose & #SkyUK
November 25, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Nothing will satisfy the transphobes other than the complete eradication of trans people from society.
Helen Joyce, of Sex Matters, is quite open about this when she's speaking to fellow transphobes. There are receipts.
We know from history that you don't compromise with fascists, you defeat them.
Helen Joyce, of Sex Matters, is quite open about this when she's speaking to fellow transphobes. There are receipts.
We know from history that you don't compromise with fascists, you defeat them.
Reposted by Dave Andress
"Trans activist" - a whole lexicon just to deny calling us "people"
First he gets a pass to threaten/libel people, and now he gets a pass to damage their property.
He'll take this as a win, but as he's his own worst enemy, it's only a matter of time before he does something truly awful because he thinks he's been given permission.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
He'll take this as a win, but as he's his own worst enemy, it's only a matter of time before he does something truly awful because he thinks he's been given permission.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Graham Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but guilty of damaging phone
Comedy writer Graham Linehan
www.bbc.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 AM
"Trans activist" - a whole lexicon just to deny calling us "people"
Reposted by Dave Andress
This is why fascists oppose gender-affirming care.
Gender-affirming care saves lives
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This is why fascists oppose gender-affirming care.
Reposted by Dave Andress
tbh Polanski seems to have avoided most of the big MMT heffalump traps (allowing that "inflation doesn't go higher" was a misspeak), I'm relatively impressed at whoever's advising him.
November 25, 2025 at 11:55 AM
tbh Polanski seems to have avoided most of the big MMT heffalump traps (allowing that "inflation doesn't go higher" was a misspeak), I'm relatively impressed at whoever's advising him.
Reposted by Dave Andress
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
OMG. The Guardian have confused Kenneth Clark, presenter of the 1969 series 'Civilisation' with Tory ex-MP & former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in their review of the new BBC series 'Civilisations:Rise & Fall'
LOL what this says is your brain architecture keeps growing & adapting until your early 30s, then it becomes more rigid & compartmentalised, & starts to fall apart in your mid-60s.
World's worst definition of "adult" there...
World's worst definition of "adult" there...
Maybe the term 'adulthood' is, in fact, not incredibly useful if we keep redefining it to mean a shorter & shorter section of our lifespans (without even getting into the problems with assuming changes in the brain map onto social roles...) www.theguardian.com/science/2025... #histchild #skystorians
Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s
Study suggests brain development has four pivotal ‘turning points’ at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:21 AM
LOL what this says is your brain architecture keeps growing & adapting until your early 30s, then it becomes more rigid & compartmentalised, & starts to fall apart in your mid-60s.
World's worst definition of "adult" there...
World's worst definition of "adult" there...
Total burn on Glasman's fantasy-politics...
He’s a year older than me, also born and raised in London. He went to the same university but was a year above and went on to do graduate work at EUI. He then became an academic - I suspect his conception of the industrial working class was gained from TV and history books - and studying in Florence
November 25, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Total burn on Glasman's fantasy-politics...
Reposted by Dave Andress
Glasman has such a sepia-tinted view of class, and zero ability to recognise the way economy and society has changed - in good and bad ways. Precarity, the new working class - there is lots of good thinking about this. To call him a third-rate theorist would be an insult to third-rate theorists.
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Glasman has such a sepia-tinted view of class, and zero ability to recognise the way economy and society has changed - in good and bad ways. Precarity, the new working class - there is lots of good thinking about this. To call him a third-rate theorist would be an insult to third-rate theorists.