David Klemperer
@dmk1793.bsky.social
Historian, researcher, and co-editor of @renewaljournal.bsky.social
Pinned
David Klemperer
@dmk1793.bsky.social
· Oct 26
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Really enjoyed recording this discussion with David Runciman, covering threats to democracy, early 20thc theories of oligarchy, how algorithmic social media is changing politics, the problem with 19thc approaches to suffrage - and much, much more!
Reposted by David Klemperer
Love pub. Hate bookies. Love helping down the church nd local park.
Proper live like.
Proper live like.
Im pro booze, anti gambling and big into civic virtue, you've neever debated anyone like me etc
February 14, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Love pub. Hate bookies. Love helping down the church nd local park.
Proper live like.
Proper live like.
Reposted by David Klemperer
But we haven’t got a common civilisation.
Rubio just made a speech to the European defense community in Munich that did not mention Ukraine. Or democracy. Or US business deals with Russia. Or the administration's plans to support the European far right. But there were lots of nice words about our common civilization.
February 14, 2026 at 10:32 AM
But we haven’t got a common civilisation.
Reposted by David Klemperer
Bovino advanced all the way to within eyesight of Paisley Park, but his supply lines were stretched too thin and ultimately his frozen troops were encircled by Will Stancil and wine moms with whistles
February 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Bovino advanced all the way to within eyesight of Paisley Park, but his supply lines were stretched too thin and ultimately his frozen troops were encircled by Will Stancil and wine moms with whistles
I mean, it probably is unsafe if you walk directly into traffic each time you see someone who looks "tired"
Nadhim Zahawi thinks London is now unsafe, because the other day a tired-looking man walked past him during the morning rush hour.
February 13, 2026 at 2:32 PM
I mean, it probably is unsafe if you walk directly into traffic each time you see someone who looks "tired"
Reposted by David Klemperer
The proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful, but we also shouldn't forget that the manner in which the proscription was enforced was blisteringly stupid. Continuing to arrest grandmothers for holding signs was a massive waste of police resources and did nothing to deal with the supposed threat
February 13, 2026 at 10:25 AM
The proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful, but we also shouldn't forget that the manner in which the proscription was enforced was blisteringly stupid. Continuing to arrest grandmothers for holding signs was a massive waste of police resources and did nothing to deal with the supposed threat
Reposted by David Klemperer
I’m on this talking about my book, which has a section on how Remainiacs came into existence and its role in the anti-Brexit world (meta!)
First thing on Monday it looked like Starmer was organic sourdough toast. By teatime he looked safe – for now. Can the PM weather the brutal months ahead? @nndroid.bsky.social, @rmcunliffe.bsky.social, @hannahfearn.bsky.social & guest @morganj0nes.bsky.social discuss ➡️ linktr.ee/ohgodwhatnowpod
February 13, 2026 at 12:40 PM
I’m on this talking about my book, which has a section on how Remainiacs came into existence and its role in the anti-Brexit world (meta!)
Reposted by David Klemperer
New in the @bostonglobe.com: an op-ed I wrote with @josephestiglitz.bsky.social on the economics of the first year of Trump’s second term.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/13/o...
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/13/o...
Trump’s tariff fantasy collides with economic reality - The Boston Globe
The president claims an “economic miracle.” The data tell a different story.
www.bostonglobe.com
February 13, 2026 at 12:42 PM
New in the @bostonglobe.com: an op-ed I wrote with @josephestiglitz.bsky.social on the economics of the first year of Trump’s second term.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/13/o...
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/13/o...
Reposted by David Klemperer
The problems with AI are primarily ones of corporate power and governance—a tiny handful of billionaires are deciding the future of this increasingly powerful technology.
I tend to believe the whistleblowers here; but whether you do or not, the real problem is that the public doesn’t decide.
I tend to believe the whistleblowers here; but whether you do or not, the real problem is that the public doesn’t decide.
Anthropic safety researcher quits, warning ‘world is in peril’
Other AI safety researchers have also left leading firms, citing concerns about potentially catastrophic risks.
www.semafor.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:39 PM
The problems with AI are primarily ones of corporate power and governance—a tiny handful of billionaires are deciding the future of this increasingly powerful technology.
I tend to believe the whistleblowers here; but whether you do or not, the real problem is that the public doesn’t decide.
I tend to believe the whistleblowers here; but whether you do or not, the real problem is that the public doesn’t decide.
Reposted by David Klemperer
This is basically supply side economics. Billionaires obviously cant spend their money on food and services so they will instead buy elections and install corrupt abusive racists because billionaires love that stuff
I'm still SHOCKED by the obscene rise in billionaire election spending since Citizens United in the NYT piece, despite already knowing that election corruption w/ $ was profound. (Recall that BCRA fought dangerous campaign $ in *2002*)
The article data didn't have a graph, so I made one to show it.
The article data didn't have a graph, so I made one to show it.
February 12, 2026 at 5:01 PM
This is basically supply side economics. Billionaires obviously cant spend their money on food and services so they will instead buy elections and install corrupt abusive racists because billionaires love that stuff
LinkedIn posters have conditioned people to think "preparing for AI-induced economic change" means some kind of grindset, when really it should mean organising for welfare state expansion, the socialisation of key tech infrastructure and a dramatic reinforcement of the powers of the democratic state
I confess I do not understand why “the left should prepare for the worst case scenario with AI and jobs” seems to have elicited such a strong negative reaction bsky.app/profile/chri...
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
February 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
LinkedIn posters have conditioned people to think "preparing for AI-induced economic change" means some kind of grindset, when really it should mean organising for welfare state expansion, the socialisation of key tech infrastructure and a dramatic reinforcement of the powers of the democratic state
Reposted by David Klemperer
I deeply sad to see millennials getting into nostalgia slop.
New genre of Binmenism (cf @danhancox.bsky.social ) slop has dropped: nostalgia for watching tv in the nineties
February 12, 2026 at 3:35 PM
I deeply sad to see millennials getting into nostalgia slop.
Reposted by David Klemperer
The far right blames the left for attacking democracy. But the Epstein files tell a very different story.
Read more ⤵️
www.opendemocracy.net/en/far-right...
Read more ⤵️
www.opendemocracy.net/en/far-right...
February 12, 2026 at 3:04 PM
The far right blames the left for attacking democracy. But the Epstein files tell a very different story.
Read more ⤵️
www.opendemocracy.net/en/far-right...
Read more ⤵️
www.opendemocracy.net/en/far-right...
Reposted by David Klemperer
Time to recall that Liz Truss appointed and then unappointed Antonia R as permanent secretary to the Treasury to replace the definitely sacked Tom Scholar
February 12, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Time to recall that Liz Truss appointed and then unappointed Antonia R as permanent secretary to the Treasury to replace the definitely sacked Tom Scholar
Reposted by David Klemperer
What 1.4m emails reveal about Jeffrey Epstein's network.
@economist.com data-team (et Jmail) effort on America's most notorious sex offender
www.economist.com/interactive/...
@economist.com data-team (et Jmail) effort on America's most notorious sex offender
www.economist.com/interactive/...
February 12, 2026 at 1:48 PM
What 1.4m emails reveal about Jeffrey Epstein's network.
@economist.com data-team (et Jmail) effort on America's most notorious sex offender
www.economist.com/interactive/...
@economist.com data-team (et Jmail) effort on America's most notorious sex offender
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Reposted by David Klemperer
🚨📽️🧵 1/ Today, the Govt launches its Representation of the People Bill (previous working title: The Elections Bill).
One of the core aims of the Bill is to prevent foreign interference in UK democracy.
Earlier this week, our Chair @philbrickellmp.bsky.social said we need to ban crypto donations...
One of the core aims of the Bill is to prevent foreign interference in UK democracy.
Earlier this week, our Chair @philbrickellmp.bsky.social said we need to ban crypto donations...
February 12, 2026 at 11:56 AM
🚨📽️🧵 1/ Today, the Govt launches its Representation of the People Bill (previous working title: The Elections Bill).
One of the core aims of the Bill is to prevent foreign interference in UK democracy.
Earlier this week, our Chair @philbrickellmp.bsky.social said we need to ban crypto donations...
One of the core aims of the Bill is to prevent foreign interference in UK democracy.
Earlier this week, our Chair @philbrickellmp.bsky.social said we need to ban crypto donations...
Reposted by David Klemperer
My column in this week's @newstatesman1913.bsky.social, on bad data used in bad faith.
FOI-ing the stats myself, I didn't find a great deal of difference in sex offending rates: 5 per 10,000 Afghan men, 7 per 10,000 UK men:
FOI-ing the stats myself, I didn't find a great deal of difference in sex offending rates: 5 per 10,000 Afghan men, 7 per 10,000 UK men:
The truth about immigrants and sex crime
Corrosive innuendo about asylum seekers is helping no one
www.newstatesman.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:04 PM
My column in this week's @newstatesman1913.bsky.social, on bad data used in bad faith.
FOI-ing the stats myself, I didn't find a great deal of difference in sex offending rates: 5 per 10,000 Afghan men, 7 per 10,000 UK men:
FOI-ing the stats myself, I didn't find a great deal of difference in sex offending rates: 5 per 10,000 Afghan men, 7 per 10,000 UK men:
Reposted by David Klemperer
Notable how little UK Govt, and specifically the health secretary, have to say about this. No sense that they can shape public behaviour. Very passive.
UK has lost its official status as a country that has achieved elimination of measles, as vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% required to achieve herd immunity. So sad, and likely due vaccine misinformation. If you haven't already, get your kids vaccinated ASAP. www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK loses measles elimination status
Decision made after outbreaks in 2024, when there were nearly 3,000 cases in England and Wales.
www.bbc.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Notable how little UK Govt, and specifically the health secretary, have to say about this. No sense that they can shape public behaviour. Very passive.
Reposted by David Klemperer
Read "No Second Chances" by Morgan Jones about the campaign for a second referendum yesterday evening and it mostly adds to my view that UK politics suffered a nervous breakdown after 2016 from which we still haven't fully recovered. About ourselves, not really about the EU.
February 12, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Read "No Second Chances" by Morgan Jones about the campaign for a second referendum yesterday evening and it mostly adds to my view that UK politics suffered a nervous breakdown after 2016 from which we still haven't fully recovered. About ourselves, not really about the EU.
"Jones has written an anatomy of a near miss and a self-deception... That is why the title lands. In politics, as in life, you can squander your first chance and still tell yourself you are keeping your options open. You are not."
Very nice review of my book from Tom Watson (he should know) in the House this week:
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
'Clear and incisive': Lord Watson reviews: 'No Second Chances'
Morgan Jones' account of the campaign for a second EU referendum carefully sets out how Britain and the remain world lost control – not in a single...
www.politicshome.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:36 AM
"Jones has written an anatomy of a near miss and a self-deception... That is why the title lands. In politics, as in life, you can squander your first chance and still tell yourself you are keeping your options open. You are not."
The history of Manchester, like the history of all places, has many different conflicting strands and elements. Isn't which elements one chooses to highlight in a statement like this, or to present as the expression of a place's "true" values, a *political* rather than than a *historical* question?
February 12, 2026 at 10:28 AM
The history of Manchester, like the history of all places, has many different conflicting strands and elements. Isn't which elements one chooses to highlight in a statement like this, or to present as the expression of a place's "true" values, a *political* rather than than a *historical* question?
Reposted by David Klemperer
Yesterday: we exposed the terrifying extent of corporate capture in British politics
Three Labour select committee chairs came out calling for urgent action in response
Today: Labour government's Elections Bill lands. Does almost *nothing* to tackle any of the issues we exposed. 🤦
Three Labour select committee chairs came out calling for urgent action in response
Today: Labour government's Elections Bill lands. Does almost *nothing* to tackle any of the issues we exposed. 🤦
🔴 Exclusive: Corporate donations British parties tripled over last three elections
But here's key thing: almost none is from FTSE500/listed companies
It's almost all companies controlled by super-wealthy individuals, or small, opaque firms
New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-c...
But here's key thing: almost none is from FTSE500/listed companies
It's almost all companies controlled by super-wealthy individuals, or small, opaque firms
New on D4S: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-c...
Revealed: Corporate donations to British politics have tripled
Influential Labour committee chairs call on government to clean up politics as our new analysis finds record £42 million in company donations ahead of last election
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Yesterday: we exposed the terrifying extent of corporate capture in British politics
Three Labour select committee chairs came out calling for urgent action in response
Today: Labour government's Elections Bill lands. Does almost *nothing* to tackle any of the issues we exposed. 🤦
Three Labour select committee chairs came out calling for urgent action in response
Today: Labour government's Elections Bill lands. Does almost *nothing* to tackle any of the issues we exposed. 🤦
Reposted by David Klemperer
My new book, An Injury to All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class, is now listed in Verso's trade catalogue for 2026.
You can find it here: versobooks.com/en-gb/pages/...
You can find it here: versobooks.com/en-gb/pages/...
February 11, 2026 at 4:58 PM
My new book, An Injury to All: The Unmaking of the British Working Class, is now listed in Verso's trade catalogue for 2026.
You can find it here: versobooks.com/en-gb/pages/...
You can find it here: versobooks.com/en-gb/pages/...
Reposted by David Klemperer
I just do not understand who she thinks she is trying to appeal to here.
February 11, 2026 at 11:47 PM
I just do not understand who she thinks she is trying to appeal to here.
Reposted by David Klemperer
We do not need more radical critics - we already have more than we know what to do with. I think we need people who are of fundamentally pro-social orientation and think about “politics” in a basically different way: as the building and maintenance of institutions, rather than of social movements
February 11, 2026 at 11:51 PM
We do not need more radical critics - we already have more than we know what to do with. I think we need people who are of fundamentally pro-social orientation and think about “politics” in a basically different way: as the building and maintenance of institutions, rather than of social movements
Reposted by David Klemperer
I’m not a vegan but this is ridiculous. “Oat” is right there in the name of.
Oatly banned from using word ‘milk’ to market plant-based products in UK
Oatly banned from using word ‘milk’ to market plant-based products in UK
Supreme court makes ruling after Swedish firm’s long-running battle with trade association Dairy UK
*
Business live – latest updates
The Swedish-based drinks manufacturer Oatly has been banned from using the word “milk” to market its plant-based products, after a ruling by the UK supreme court.
The alt-milk manufacturer has been in a long-running legal battle with the trade association Dairy UK after Oatly trademarked phrases associated with the dairy sector. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I’m not a vegan but this is ridiculous. “Oat” is right there in the name of.