ProfAFinlayson
@profafinlayson.bsky.social
Prof of Political & Social Theory @ UEA: regularly a political theorist, often a political analyst, always a rhetorician. Sometimes I teach people how to make political speeches; usually they are happy about it. Mostly I study Reactionary Digital Politics.
Parliament & press are having the most basic seminar on ‘media bias’ after decades of denouncing Media Studies.
November 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Parliament & press are having the most basic seminar on ‘media bias’ after decades of denouncing Media Studies.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
answer is great but also it's telling that the guy who's been saying this since day 1 has to answer about whether he's an antisemite for 5 min every interview while the same people grin vacantly at the jewish space lasers lady and call her a brave warrior
WELKER: What is your message to Jewish New Yorkers who feel you won't be tough enough in your response to antisemitism?
MAMDANI: That I am looking forward to being the next mayor and fulfilling the commitment I've made to Jewish New Yorkers to not only protect them but to celebrate and cherish them
MAMDANI: That I am looking forward to being the next mayor and fulfilling the commitment I've made to Jewish New Yorkers to not only protect them but to celebrate and cherish them
November 23, 2025 at 4:26 PM
answer is great but also it's telling that the guy who's been saying this since day 1 has to answer about whether he's an antisemite for 5 min every interview while the same people grin vacantly at the jewish space lasers lady and call her a brave warrior
This is well worth a read. The interviewer is a bit stuck on being surprised that he departs from liberal orthodoxy but it does let him show that he has a wide ranging political philosophy/theology - one that is part of both a long historic tradition and a contemporary international alliance (1/?)
‘America is British’. Heaven is ‘a socialist state’. David Attenborough is ‘anti-human’ – the startling theories of Reform MP Danny Kruger
He was a Conservative party big-hitter who wrote speeches for David Cameron and worked with Boris Johnson before he suddenly jumped ship. He talks family, flags and why Nigel Farage is ‘top dog’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This is well worth a read. The interviewer is a bit stuck on being surprised that he departs from liberal orthodoxy but it does let him show that he has a wide ranging political philosophy/theology - one that is part of both a long historic tradition and a contemporary international alliance (1/?)
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
"I expect to be helping him, not hurting him. A big help" -- Trump is totally charmed by Mamdani
November 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"I expect to be helping him, not hurting him. A big help" -- Trump is totally charmed by Mamdani
Incredible. At several levels.
Q: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
MAMDANI: I've spoken about--
TRUMP: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Incredible. At several levels.
Empirical verification of the effectiveness of a political speech, confirmation of what we know happens when you amplify your opponent’s issues and a demonstration of the - still inexplicable? - wrong-headedness of Labour’s self-destructive political strategy.
Latest piece for the @thehousemag.bsky.social, on the island of strangers speech and similar. Also ft Bob Hawke.
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
The Professor Will See You Now: Island of strangers
Lessons in political science. This week: island of strangers
www.politicshome.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Empirical verification of the effectiveness of a political speech, confirmation of what we know happens when you amplify your opponent’s issues and a demonstration of the - still inexplicable? - wrong-headedness of Labour’s self-destructive political strategy.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Just catching up with this amazing bit of London Centric reporting and this is such an excellent description of the weird epistemic ambiguity produced by AI: "There’s clearly something political about it but nobody knows what it is." www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 21, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Just catching up with this amazing bit of London Centric reporting and this is such an excellent description of the weird epistemic ambiguity produced by AI: "There’s clearly something political about it but nobody knows what it is." www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
Interesting numbers. In 2023 YouGov found 69% of Americans rewatch TV episodes monthly; 16% daily. Part of a shift to TV viewing as 'emotional regulation' or ambient background to home working. Breakdown of a common culture but also a change in the uses and gratifications of popular culture.
The Rise of "Mindless" TV: Quantifying a New Way of (Kinda) Watching Television
How “mindless” viewing became a common way of watching TV.
www.statsignificant.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Interesting numbers. In 2023 YouGov found 69% of Americans rewatch TV episodes monthly; 16% daily. Part of a shift to TV viewing as 'emotional regulation' or ambient background to home working. Breakdown of a common culture but also a change in the uses and gratifications of popular culture.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
New @carefultrouble.bsky.social paper out today with a whole bevy of academic partners, on the impacts of AI in urban environments. As the plan for AI Growth Zones starts to roll out, we find innovation policy is disconnected from the real impacts of AI on people and places
November 19, 2025 at 8:43 AM
New @carefultrouble.bsky.social paper out today with a whole bevy of academic partners, on the impacts of AI in urban environments. As the plan for AI Growth Zones starts to roll out, we find innovation policy is disconnected from the real impacts of AI on people and places
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
I think it’s important to understand that for Reform’s ideologists the politics of asylum isn’t just about immigration/‘cultural coherence’. It’s a wedge to open a way to something they really really want: repeal of The Human Rights Act, which they desire for several reasons (1/?)
November 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
I think it’s important to understand that for Reform’s ideologists the politics of asylum isn’t just about immigration/‘cultural coherence’. It’s a wedge to open a way to something they really really want: repeal of The Human Rights Act, which they desire for several reasons (1/?)
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
An incredibly Trump-era headline theintercept.com/2025/11/17/p...
Pardoned Capitol Rioter Tried to Hush Child Sex Victim With Promise of Jan. 6 Reparation Money, Police Say
Pardoned Capitol rioter Andrew Johnson tried to keep a child sex abuse victim quiet with claimed $10 million Jan. 6 reparations, police say.
theintercept.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
An incredibly Trump-era headline theintercept.com/2025/11/17/p...
“I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that”.
Speaking of Larry Summers, this is from a memo that went out under his name, actually written by Lant Pritchett, in 1991:
"I've always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted…, Their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low…."
[1/3]
"I've always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted…, Their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low…."
[1/3]
www.dropbox.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 AM
“I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that”.
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Speaking of Larry Summers, this is from a memo that went out under his name, actually written by Lant Pritchett, in 1991:
"I've always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted…, Their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low…."
[1/3]
"I've always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted…, Their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low…."
[1/3]
www.dropbox.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Speaking of Larry Summers, this is from a memo that went out under his name, actually written by Lant Pritchett, in 1991:
"I've always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted…, Their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low…."
[1/3]
"I've always thought that underpopulated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted…, Their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low…."
[1/3]
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Rather gobsmacked & honoured to find that I have been named Australia's top researcher in political science by The Australian!
www.theaustralian.com.au/special-repo...
www.theaustralian.com.au/special-repo...
www.theaustralian.com.au
November 18, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Rather gobsmacked & honoured to find that I have been named Australia's top researcher in political science by The Australian!
www.theaustralian.com.au/special-repo...
www.theaustralian.com.au/special-repo...
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
On incompetence
Much of our political culture is fundamentally incompetent.
chrisdillow.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM
New Substack: chrisdillow.substack.com/p/on-incompe... Parts of the Labour party and BBC simply don't know what their jobs should be.
It’s one thing to abandon your politics for your economics; another to abandon your economics for your politics. But to abandon both for the sake of neither?
November 15, 2025 at 8:24 AM
It’s one thing to abandon your politics for your economics; another to abandon your economics for your politics. But to abandon both for the sake of neither?
Donald Trump to stop making cents.
Nice piece on the economic effects.
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
Nice piece on the economic effects.
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
Rounding Up: The Impact of Phasing Out the Penny
A
www.richmondfed.org
November 15, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Donald Trump to stop making cents.
Nice piece on the economic effects.
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
Nice piece on the economic effects.
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
something quite bleakly funny about Rachel Reeves apparently being extremely good at chess when her entire tenure as Chancellor so far has basically been "well this seems like a good choice right this moment.......let's not think about the further implications of that choice for even one second"
November 14, 2025 at 12:32 PM
something quite bleakly funny about Rachel Reeves apparently being extremely good at chess when her entire tenure as Chancellor so far has basically been "well this seems like a good choice right this moment.......let's not think about the further implications of that choice for even one second"
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
"while his beard is highly impactful in the public domain it does not always present a positive image of the hirsute"
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
"while his beard is highly impactful in the public domain it does not always present a positive image of the hirsute"
Now this - THIS - is how we do culture war in this country.
A centuries old struggle between the new & old gods. And it ends with tea & cake.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A centuries old struggle between the new & old gods. And it ends with tea & cake.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Demonic’ Wind in the Willows jumper banned from Westminster Abbey
Woman told to remove or cover up garment featuring 1908 illustration of Pan lest it offend worshippers
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Now this - THIS - is how we do culture war in this country.
A centuries old struggle between the new & old gods. And it ends with tea & cake.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A centuries old struggle between the new & old gods. And it ends with tea & cake.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Truly beautiful insane tweet
November 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Truly beautiful insane tweet
Reposted by ProfAFinlayson
Fun thread (and an important one, if you happen to belong to the very small but weirdly influential minority that thinks that Labour’s current electoral strategy is sensible). #politicalscience
A month ago I looked at what I called Labour's midlife crisis- an obsession with chasing socially conservative Reform-curious voters and ignoring groups of disaffected voters with social attitudes much closer to Labour voters. But some people thought there was method in their madness. Was there? 1/n
November 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Fun thread (and an important one, if you happen to belong to the very small but weirdly influential minority that thinks that Labour’s current electoral strategy is sensible). #politicalscience
I prompted the AI to create a government dominated by excitable young men hostile to political traditions of all kinds and lacking in curiosity about how people, institutions and societies work.
It said it couldn’t do that and referred me to something called ‘the news’.
It said it couldn’t do that and referred me to something called ‘the news’.
November 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I prompted the AI to create a government dominated by excitable young men hostile to political traditions of all kinds and lacking in curiosity about how people, institutions and societies work.
It said it couldn’t do that and referred me to something called ‘the news’.
It said it couldn’t do that and referred me to something called ‘the news’.
This event at UEA & online, organised by the estimable @tobysjames.bsky.social, looks very good.
The State of Political Leadership in Britain: Roundtable with Charles Clarke, Tim Bale, Emmanuelle Avril and Patrick Diamond
Tues, 25th Nov. 1-2.30pm
Register here: forms.office.com/e/dnX1qZ4pVR.
The State of Political Leadership in Britain: Roundtable with Charles Clarke, Tim Bale, Emmanuelle Avril and Patrick Diamond
Tues, 25th Nov. 1-2.30pm
Register here: forms.office.com/e/dnX1qZ4pVR.
November 12, 2025 at 9:47 AM
This event at UEA & online, organised by the estimable @tobysjames.bsky.social, looks very good.
The State of Political Leadership in Britain: Roundtable with Charles Clarke, Tim Bale, Emmanuelle Avril and Patrick Diamond
Tues, 25th Nov. 1-2.30pm
Register here: forms.office.com/e/dnX1qZ4pVR.
The State of Political Leadership in Britain: Roundtable with Charles Clarke, Tim Bale, Emmanuelle Avril and Patrick Diamond
Tues, 25th Nov. 1-2.30pm
Register here: forms.office.com/e/dnX1qZ4pVR.