Paolo Sandro
@paolosandro.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Public Law and Legal Theory @lawatleeds.bsky.social, author of 'The Making of Constitutional Democracy: From Creation to Application of Law' (Hart 2022), Open Access at
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4562656#
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4562656#
Pinned
Paolo Sandro
@paolosandro.bsky.social
· Nov 8
Incredibly grateful to Kara Woodbury-Smith for her perceptive and very generous review of my book 'The Making of Constitutional Democracy: From Creation to Application of Law' (which is fully Open Access, link in the skeet below) on Law and Philosophy. 🙏
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
No one before Sam successfully raised a child, which is why the human species went extinct in Mesopotamia. Seriously, the best way to read this is that countless billions of humans did just fine but Sam is not as competent and self-reliant as them, and that's what AI wants us to be: dependent.
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
No one before Sam successfully raised a child, which is why the human species went extinct in Mesopotamia. Seriously, the best way to read this is that countless billions of humans did just fine but Sam is not as competent and self-reliant as them, and that's what AI wants us to be: dependent.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Birthright citizenship is a policy choice so central to our values and identity as a nation that we chose to amend the Constitution to protect it against the passions and prejudices of temporary majorities.
December 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Birthright citizenship is a policy choice so central to our values and identity as a nation that we chose to amend the Constitution to protect it against the passions and prejudices of temporary majorities.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
As a side effect, using a language which is not my native one 99% of the time makes me look at my native language with different eyes. I was just now appreciating the Italian expression "è farina del mio sacco" (it's my bag's flour) which means "it's my own idea/my own work, without anyone's help".
December 9, 2025 at 6:16 PM
As a side effect, using a language which is not my native one 99% of the time makes me look at my native language with different eyes. I was just now appreciating the Italian expression "è farina del mio sacco" (it's my bag's flour) which means "it's my own idea/my own work, without anyone's help".
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
In an interview with Sadiq Khan last month, I asked the London mayor why he thought that London - and him personally - had become such a target for Donald Trump and his supporters
"London is the antithesis of everything they stand for," he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/n...
"London is the antithesis of everything they stand for," he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/n...
London’s Mayor Says Mamdani’s Victory Mirrors His Own
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
In an interview with Sadiq Khan last month, I asked the London mayor why he thought that London - and him personally - had become such a target for Donald Trump and his supporters
"London is the antithesis of everything they stand for," he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/n...
"London is the antithesis of everything they stand for," he said.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/n...
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Will there be any *political* accountability for this costly mess? Nope, thought not. If you're hoping to see or hear Rishi Sunak MP - the man in charge of the Treasury at the time - being interrogated about it on the Beeb and other broadcast outlets today or tomorrow, I have a bridge to sell you.
Covid scheme fraud hit almost £11bn but much 'beyond recovery', report says
The response to the pandemic led to
www.bbc.co.uk
December 9, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Will there be any *political* accountability for this costly mess? Nope, thought not. If you're hoping to see or hear Rishi Sunak MP - the man in charge of the Treasury at the time - being interrogated about it on the Beeb and other broadcast outlets today or tomorrow, I have a bridge to sell you.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
So because everything can be a ~ teachable moment ~ if you're nerdy enough, let's learn about Speaker Denison's rule-- a convention established in the nineteenth by (you guessed it) a Speaker of the Commons called John Denison.
TIED VOTE in the Commons on the Lib Dem customs union ten minute rule bill. 100 votes each, deputy speaker Caroline Nokes breaks the tie by voting aye, to continue debate
December 9, 2025 at 4:09 PM
So because everything can be a ~ teachable moment ~ if you're nerdy enough, let's learn about Speaker Denison's rule-- a convention established in the nineteenth by (you guessed it) a Speaker of the Commons called John Denison.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
The Take Care Clause was a byproduct of the lessons learned from the Glorious Revolution that the executive should not be able to dispense with the law promulgated by the legislature. It was not a constitutional provision to empower the executive branch— but to constrain it!
December 8, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The Take Care Clause was a byproduct of the lessons learned from the Glorious Revolution that the executive should not be able to dispense with the law promulgated by the legislature. It was not a constitutional provision to empower the executive branch— but to constrain it!
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
would say that the formula that my baby had was definitely "superior in nutrition" to her not actually feeding at all, though
RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."
December 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM
would say that the formula that my baby had was definitely "superior in nutrition" to her not actually feeding at all, though
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Government has now - belatedly -published the impact assessment for the changes to skilled worker and care worker visas announced in May.
Impact is estimated between -£2 billion and £-10 billion (central - £10 billion).
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6937e6...
Impact is estimated between -£2 billion and £-10 billion (central - £10 billion).
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6937e6...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
December 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Government has now - belatedly -published the impact assessment for the changes to skilled worker and care worker visas announced in May.
Impact is estimated between -£2 billion and £-10 billion (central - £10 billion).
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6937e6...
Impact is estimated between -£2 billion and £-10 billion (central - £10 billion).
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6937e6...
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
This kind of bottle-shaming is a not-so-subtle way to push women out of the workforce.
RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."
December 8, 2025 at 10:06 PM
This kind of bottle-shaming is a not-so-subtle way to push women out of the workforce.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
They can only conceive of dual citizens as brown immigrants. It hasn't occurred to them that most dual citizens are born and raised Brits
For example, two million Britons hold Irish citizenship through their parents. But that's not who they mean
For example, two million Britons hold Irish citizenship through their parents. But that's not who they mean
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime ⬇️
All criminals with dual nationality must be deported, say Tories
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime
www.thetimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
They can only conceive of dual citizens as brown immigrants. It hasn't occurred to them that most dual citizens are born and raised Brits
For example, two million Britons hold Irish citizenship through their parents. But that's not who they mean
For example, two million Britons hold Irish citizenship through their parents. But that's not who they mean
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.
December 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Home Office Ministers state publicly, on the record, that they are deliberately making life worse for older people and people with disabilities who depend on care services, but it's worth it because it reduces net migration.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Good point in a good thread. It's wild! Bill Burr lives in *Los Angeles* a city that is in every way more dangerous and worse than London!
The view is weirdly pervasive too. I saw an interview with Bill Burr where he mentioned that he had played in "London, England" and commented on how dangerous it was (while trying to justify his decision to play in Saudi Arabia).
December 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Good point in a good thread. It's wild! Bill Burr lives in *Los Angeles* a city that is in every way more dangerous and worse than London!
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
And Haaretz also had a good story on the flow of Israeli offensive cybersecurity workers to Barcelona.
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
'Expulsion to Spain': Israeli hackers flock to Barcelona in big spyware shift
Squeezed Between the War and Tough Restrictions at Home, Elite Israeli Hackers Are Relocating to the EU and Spain to Set Up or Join a New Crop of Firms Selling Exploit, Now the Hottest Item in the Wor...
www.haaretz.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
And Haaretz also had a good story on the flow of Israeli offensive cybersecurity workers to Barcelona.
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
The US Supreme Court's simple-minded reading of the free exercise clause to give parents an unlimited right to "direct the religious upbringing of their children" does not even anticipate disagreement between the parents, let alone make room for the children to have religious agency.
A child suffered panic attacks after hearing fire-and-brimstone sermons and being told her dad might go to Hell.
A judge stepped in to stop it.
Now the Maine Supreme Court will have to decide what's more important: religion or a child's mental health?
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/will-the-m...
A judge stepped in to stop it.
Now the Maine Supreme Court will have to decide what's more important: religion or a child's mental health?
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/will-the-m...
Will the Maine Supreme Court allow a mother to keep harming her daughter with religion?
Maine's top court will soon decide if psychological harm can affect a custody case if that harm stems from religion
www.friendlyatheist.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The US Supreme Court's simple-minded reading of the free exercise clause to give parents an unlimited right to "direct the religious upbringing of their children" does not even anticipate disagreement between the parents, let alone make room for the children to have religious agency.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Reminder that nationality may exist whether or not you’ve applied for or renewed a passport. A passport is merely evidence of nationality, it does not confer it. There are millions of dual citizens in the UK, many of whom will never have held a passport for their other nationality/ies.
Who decides if you're a dual national or not? Say for example you were one but decide to not renew your, to pick an example at random, Nigerian passport because you've decided just to call yourself British. Do you no longer count even though you could renew your passport in the future?
The Conservative party’s policy also includes stripping people of their British citizenship when they are found guilty of a crime ⬇️
December 9, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reminder that nationality may exist whether or not you’ve applied for or renewed a passport. A passport is merely evidence of nationality, it does not confer it. There are millions of dual citizens in the UK, many of whom will never have held a passport for their other nationality/ies.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Monsanto scientists ghostwrote this paper claiming the company’s proprietary glyphosate & roundup herbicides had no risk to human health.
25 years & 1300 citations later, it has finally been retracted — 8 years after the collusion was exposed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
25 years & 1300 citations later, it has finally been retracted — 8 years after the collusion was exposed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Monsanto scientists ghostwrote this paper claiming the company’s proprietary glyphosate & roundup herbicides had no risk to human health.
25 years & 1300 citations later, it has finally been retracted — 8 years after the collusion was exposed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
25 years & 1300 citations later, it has finally been retracted — 8 years after the collusion was exposed.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Pushing policy to new and never-before-seen boundaries of craziness. London is a great city! Not as good as Manchester, sure, but you can't have it all. That some Americans have convinced themselves that it is a dangerous hellscape is bizarre.
The US president also singles out London, saying it is now a ‘different place’ and refers to the mayor Sadiq Khan as ‘disgusting’ ⬇️
Trump: Europe is decaying group of nations led by weak people
The US president also singles out London, saying it is now a ‘different place’ and refers to the mayor Sadiq Khan as ‘disgusting’
www.thetimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Pushing policy to new and never-before-seen boundaries of craziness. London is a great city! Not as good as Manchester, sure, but you can't have it all. That some Americans have convinced themselves that it is a dangerous hellscape is bizarre.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
New from Free Movement: Visit visa requirement imposed on Nauru because of “Citizenship by Investment” scheme | Sonia Lenegan
Visit visa requirement imposed on Nauru because of "Citizenship by Investment" scheme - Free Movement
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1491 has just been published. It is the seventh (!!) statement of changes we have had this year. It is
freemovement.org.uk
December 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
New from Free Movement: Visit visa requirement imposed on Nauru because of “Citizenship by Investment” scheme | Sonia Lenegan
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Many dictatorships use foreign helpers to influence democracies.
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Many dictatorships use foreign helpers to influence democracies.
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
In our new study, we examine why, when, which authoritarian regimes employ Western PR firms - a particularly important type of foreign helper.
Study + summary are open-access 👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Huge thanks to the three @tpexpress.bsky.social train managers in a row who didn't allow me to board an earlier service back home, even though I clearly explained to them I'm feeling quite poorly (and you can see it on my face, honestly). Particularly the late 1400 service that was completely empty
December 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Huge thanks to the three @tpexpress.bsky.social train managers in a row who didn't allow me to board an earlier service back home, even though I clearly explained to them I'm feeling quite poorly (and you can see it on my face, honestly). Particularly the late 1400 service that was completely empty
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
"Why don't people trust politicians?"
Keir Starmer’s spokesman refuses to criticise Trump for calling Europe a group of “decaying” nations led by “weak” leaders
Asked about Trump saying European countries will no longer be “viable" thanks to migration, Keir Starmer’s spokesman says the UK is “returning control to our asylum system”
Asked about Trump saying European countries will no longer be “viable" thanks to migration, Keir Starmer’s spokesman says the UK is “returning control to our asylum system”
December 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
"Why don't people trust politicians?"
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
At the very least, I think the ruling supports those of us who have been saying that the law is not "clear" (or clearly trans exclusionary) post FWS. There has been a pretty consistent line of misinformation about this.
December 9, 2025 at 8:49 AM
At the very least, I think the ruling supports those of us who have been saying that the law is not "clear" (or clearly trans exclusionary) post FWS. There has been a pretty consistent line of misinformation about this.
Reposted by Paolo Sandro
Yes, the folks at Sex Matters are already talking about appeal. Which is a reasonable indicator that Sandie Peggie mainly lost.
December 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Yes, the folks at Sex Matters are already talking about appeal. Which is a reasonable indicator that Sandie Peggie mainly lost.