Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 20h

Dangerous woke nonsense. It will never catch on.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 20h

ABR is not (yet) on this platform (working on it), but she makes a good point here.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 21h

Behold the tired old media theory of public opinion: We only reflect public sentiment; we have nothing to do with constructing it in the first place.

TheBossRoss @thebossross.bsky.social · 23h

The BBC's justification for platforming Farage beyond the actual significance of his small parliamentary party are his polls. A rather cynical explanation, for he wouldn't be where he is without the constant, uncritical appearances he's given on the BBC. It's a (literally) vicious circle.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 21h

TLDR: Not enough gags, no show tunes.
On the other hand, this is an almost perfect internalisation of many of the play's central themes.

Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 1d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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TheBossRoss @thebossross.bsky.social · 23h

The BBC's justification for platforming Farage beyond the actual significance of his small parliamentary party are his polls. A rather cynical explanation, for he wouldn't be where he is without the constant, uncritical appearances he's given on the BBC. It's a (literally) vicious circle.

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Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 1d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 1d

I mean …

Marc Morris @marcmorris.bsky.social · 1d

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 2d

Another day, more Kemi-kaze haplessness.

LBC @lbc.co.uk · 2d

"So you're laying waste to people's jobs, but you don't know how many?"

Kemi Badenoch plans to get rid of 'quite a lot' of civil servants.

She doesn't have the exact figure, but she assures Nick that she's 'looked at it'.

Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 2d

Duverger's law on life support here.

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 2d

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 27% (-2)
LAB: 20% (-2)
CON: 17% (+1)
LDM: 17% (+2)
GRN: 12% (+1)
SNP: 4% (+1)

Via @yougov.co.uk, 5-6 Oct.
Changes w/ 28-29 Sep.

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Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 2d

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 27% (-2)
LAB: 20% (-2)
CON: 17% (+1)
LDM: 17% (+2)
GRN: 12% (+1)
SNP: 4% (+1)

Via @yougov.co.uk, 5-6 Oct.
Changes w/ 28-29 Sep.

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LBC @lbc.co.uk · 2d

"So you're laying waste to people's jobs, but you don't know how many?"

Kemi Badenoch plans to get rid of 'quite a lot' of civil servants.

She doesn't have the exact figure, but she assures Nick that she's 'looked at it'.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 3d

That was Militant’s approach to rate- capping in Liverpool. The difference is that the party leader isn’t going to give a barnstorming speech at conference on the ‘grotesque spectacle of a Reform council … a REFORM council …’ etc.

Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 4d

She has a cross on conspicuous display. What she is saying stands in direct violation of the message of Luke 10:25–29 - the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6d

Leavitt: "When an illegal alien goes to the emergency room, who's paying for it? The American taxpayer."

Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 5d

Proper investigative journalism right here 👇. No court tittle-tattle or bigging up Reform. Just some cold facts that require attention and a response from the party leadership.

Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 5d

🔴NEW🔴

Thread 🧵

@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...

bylinetimes.com

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Peter Jukes @peterjukes.bsky.social · 5d

🔴NEW🔴

Thread 🧵

@bylinetimes.bsky.social can now reveal that, during the crucial period when convicted Reform leader Nathan Gill was most active, working directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most senior ally in Ukraine, he was also one of Nigel Farage’s closest confidantes 1/12

‘Thick as Thieves’: Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage’s Putin Problem

Far from being distant from the Reform UK Leader, insiders told Byline Times that the former MEP convicted of bribery was one of Farage’s closest aides, while we reveal how Gill worked on the Kremlin’...

bylinetimes.com

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6d

Leavitt: "When an illegal alien goes to the emergency room, who's paying for it? The American taxpayer."

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 6d

Those involuntary gestures - maniacal blinking in this case - can send such stark signals. Corbyn had an end-of-sentence contemptuous sniff that apparently couldn’t be coached out of him.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 7d

A huge formative influence. I met him once, in Sydney in 2002. We ended up in an Indian restaurant where the conversation was rather better than the food. A stellar scholar.

Hertie School @hertieschool.bsky.social · 7d

The Hertie School mourns the passing of Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Claus Offe, Professor Emeritus of Political Sociology, an extraordinary scholar, teacher and colleague.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who had the privilege to know him.

Hertie School @hertieschool.bsky.social · 7d

The Hertie School mourns the passing of Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Claus Offe, Professor Emeritus of Political Sociology, an extraordinary scholar, teacher and colleague.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who had the privilege to know him.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 7d

Outstanding thread and Substack post on the widespread, yet weirdly irrational, assumption that the voters who actually form the base of the Labour coalition aren't really authentic voters.

Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 9d

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

British Politics' Midlife Crisis

Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters

benansell.substack.com

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 7d

This is unpopular with business, economically illiterate and contrary to the scientific consensus. But it apes Reform and that’s all that seems to matter. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Kemi Badenoch vows to repeal Climate Change Act

Tory leader says she would replace it with ‘cheap energy’ strategy, ending decades-long consensus on climate

www.theguardian.com

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 8d

Just to note that - by no measure - is the the median voter racist. The median X user might be these days, but they are different things.

The New Statesman @handle.invalid · 8d

Crying racism only hurts Labour

Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.

📊 @bwalker.uk

Crying racism only hurts Labour

Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.

www.newstatesman.com

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The New Statesman @handle.invalid · 8d

Crying racism only hurts Labour

Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.

📊 @bwalker.uk

Crying racism only hurts Labour

Activists like it, but the median voter will feel attacked.

www.newstatesman.com

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 8d

This is very harsh … on 7th graders.

paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · 8d

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 9d

Visuals matter, often doing much more than mere words to frame stories. In this case, the image also builds on the persistently willful mis-presentation of racialised asylum seekers as ‘illegals’.

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Ben Ansell @benansell.bsky.social · 9d

On the morning of Keir Starmer's conference speech here's a new post on an odd psychopathology in British politics - our main parties don't like the people who vote for them - the dreaded Professional Managerial Class. And so they are acting out like a divorced dad seeking cooler voters. 1/n

British Politics' Midlife Crisis

Why British Parties Can't Make Peace with Their Actual Voters

benansell.substack.com

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 10d

Excellent, forensic analysis: 'Farage wants to be Prime Minister. One of his decade-long allies has just admitted to taking Russian bribes while serving under him. And yet the press is barely covering this.'

“Nothing to Do With Reform?” The Myth of Nathan Gill’s Bribery

The bribery started the day he quit UKIP and continued under Farage’s leadership. The press have barely said a word

open.substack.com

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 10d

There are also two rival (?) academic journals: the American Journal of Potato Research and Potato Research. Do consider submitting any spud-related work.

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Ben Rosamond @benrosamond1.bsky.social · 12d

Great thread on a deeply misleading headline.

John Horgan @johnhorgan.bsky.social · 13d

1/n A few days ago, an article appeared in The Atlantic with a bold headline “Left-wing terrorism is on the rise.”

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Left-Wing Terrorism Is on the Rise

For the first time in more than 30 years, attacks by the far left outnumber those by the far right.

www.theatlantic.com

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John Horgan @johnhorgan.bsky.social · 13d

1/n A few days ago, an article appeared in The Atlantic with a bold headline “Left-wing terrorism is on the rise.”

www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Left-Wing Terrorism Is on the Rise

For the first time in more than 30 years, attacks by the far left outnumber those by the far right.

www.theatlantic.com

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