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Reposted by Ben Yong

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 17m

The U.S. armed forces may soon face the choice of whether to refuse illegal and unconstitutional orders, @radiofreetom.bsky.social writes. What will they do? https://theatln.tc/MnJ75n1c

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Greg Davies @gjdavies.bsky.social · 18m

HMP Berwyn, the UK's largest prison, was once presented as an advance for the Welsh language.

@robdjones.bsky.social and I argue that it’s been a categorical failure by that measure, posing troubling questions for Welsh language rights more widely: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Rights, Pains and Illusions: The Experiences of Welsh‐Speakers at Wales’ ‘Flagship’ Prison

This article challenges claims of ‘inherent’ bilingualism in Wales’ largest prison, HMP Berwyn. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and extensive documentary research, we find that Welsh-speaking p...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 13h

Current mood

A cartoon depicts a man and a woman walking side by side on a street. The woman wears a stylish dress and holds a purse, while the man is in a suit. The caption reads, "My desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.”

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Verfassungsblog @verfassungsblog.de · 4h

This article is part of our Spotlight section on "US Democracy Under Threat," featuring contributions from leading law and political science scholars 📚

You can access all blog posts published so far right here (open access):

👉 verfassungsblog.de/us-democracy...

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Verfassungsblog @verfassungsblog.de · 4h

America’s collapse of secular constitutional faith has unleashed a politicized church that turns sacrifice from love into a license for violence.

PAUL KAHN explains why this blurring of church and state marks a critical turning point in America’s political and moral crisis.

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Dr Patrick O'Brien @patrickcobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Obviously, this speech is crassly offensive in multiple ways, and does violence to judicial independence. But I think it's also important to recognise that there was never a 'golden age' when Lord Chancellors just appointed and sacked whoever they wanted as judges. This is an authoritarian fantasy.

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Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · 1d

"Wank is a speech act directed first and foremost at helping the speaker feel better about themselves, stated as an objective claim about the state of the world, that we are expected in discussion to treat with the epistemic authority of a claim about identity, but the content of the actual claim".

An essay on wank | deadSimpleTech

This captures well the uncomfortable, slightly disorienting feeling that wank creates when you're subjected to it, wherein you're expected to speak about and think about the statement as though it say...

deadsimpletech.com

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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 1d

The European Parliament plenary today ratified the legal affairs committee’s decision to maintain the immunity of three MEPs who are being prosecuted by Hungarian authorities.

European Parliament shields left-wing lawmaker from prosecution in Orbán’s Hungary

Ilaria Salis is saved from legal action in Budapest after conservatives split in secret ballot.

ow.ly

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 1d

@publiclaw.bsky.social

Dr Patrick O'Brien @patrickcobrien.bsky.social · 1d

Unbound OJLS v unbound Public Law

Images of the old Canadian Supreme Court judicial robes (left; red with white fur trim, strong Santa vibes) and the new (right; black with two red lines, no real vibes at all).

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 1d

all time best I would say

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Reposted by Ben Yong

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

I‘m giving a public talk at UCL on Thurs 16 Oct. The title is “Bureaucracy and distrust: the civil service in the constitution” looking at the civil service’s constitutional foundations, and how it might respond to a populist govt. @sirJJkc.bsky.social will chair!
www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/events/...

Hybrid | CLP - Bureaucracy and Distrust: The Civil Service in the Constitution

This lecture will be delivered by Dr Ben Yong, as part of the Current Legal Problems Lecture Series 2025-26

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 1d

“Deloitte has a human intelligence problem" is a great line

Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 2d

Dr Christopher Rudge, law lecturer at the University of Sydney, says the report that Deloitte prepared for Australia's Department of Employment and Workplace Relations contained “hallucinations” because of an initially undisclosed use of generative AI. Now the government is getting its money back.

Deloitte to pay money back to Albanese government after using AI in $440,000 report

Partial refund to be issued after several errors were found in a report into a department’s compliance framework

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Ben Yong

Alex Thomas @alexgathomas.bsky.social · 2d

Am looking forward to this post-party conference palette cleanser ⬇️

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

I‘m giving a public talk at UCL on Thurs 16 Oct. The title is “Bureaucracy and distrust: the civil service in the constitution” looking at the civil service’s constitutional foundations, and how it might respond to a populist govt. @sirJJkc.bsky.social will chair!
www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/events/...

Hybrid | CLP - Bureaucracy and Distrust: The Civil Service in the Constitution

This lecture will be delivered by Dr Ben Yong, as part of the Current Legal Problems Lecture Series 2025-26

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

congrats!!!

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

the literature on populism and democratic backsliding is enormous. Don't make me add authoritarianism to the mix, I'm begging you

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you!

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

I hope someone like Michael Lewis writes the story of that extraordinary event (I know it's been covered by Wired pretty well though)
bsky.app/profile/davi...

David Gilbert @davidgilbert.bsky.social · 13d

NEW

WIRED led the way in reporting on Elon Musk's efforts to dismantle the US government. My colleagues and I spoke to 100s of employees at dozens of agencies to understand what happened.

This is the definitive story of DOGE as told by those who experienced it

www.wired.com/story/oral-h...

The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers

WIRED spoke with more than 200 federal workers in dozens of agencies to learn what happened as the Department of Government Efficiency tore through their offices.

www.wired.com

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Reposted by Ben Yong

Joelle Grogan @joellegrogan.bsky.social · 2d

Leaving the ECHR - steps and consequences explained simply.

Leaving the European Convention on Human Rights - UK in a changing Europe

Joelle Grogan and Alice Donald What would happen if the UK left the European Convention on Human Rights?

ukandeu.ac.uk

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

Nerds unite😍😍

Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 2d

If you needed anymore proof of what a nerd I have become, I find this extremely interesting. 👇
Seriously, in times of DOGE-mania, it matters.

Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

I‘m giving a public talk at UCL on Thurs 16 Oct. The title is “Bureaucracy and distrust: the civil service in the constitution” looking at the civil service’s constitutional foundations, and how it might respond to a populist govt. @sirJJkc.bsky.social will chair!
www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/events/...

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Reposted by Ben Yong

Ruth Houghton @ruthhoughton.bsky.social · 2d

Looking ahead to what's coming up this month, I'll be speaking at Durham Cathedral with my colleagues Henry and @benedictdouglas.bsky.social about Magna Carta (1225) as part of the ongoing exhibition

Prof Deirdre McCann @profmccann.bsky.social · 15d

Fast approaching! On 15th October, see Henry Jones @durham-university.bsky.social Ruth Houghton @ruthhoughton.bsky.social & Benedict Douglas @benedictdouglas.bsky.social reflect upon Magna Carta, chaired by Thom Brooks @thombrooks.bsky.social. Tickets: durhamcathedral.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

Ticketbooth

durhamcathedral.ticketsolve.com

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks Henry!

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

Yep

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 2d

I‘m giving a public talk at UCL on Thurs 16 Oct. The title is “Bureaucracy and distrust: the civil service in the constitution” looking at the civil service’s constitutional foundations, and how it might respond to a populist govt. @sirJJkc.bsky.social will chair!
www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/events/...

Hybrid | CLP - Bureaucracy and Distrust: The Civil Service in the Constitution

This lecture will be delivered by Dr Ben Yong, as part of the Current Legal Problems Lecture Series 2025-26

www.ucl.ac.uk

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Reposted by Ben Yong

Olivier Honnay @olivierhonnay.bsky.social · 5d

📢 Vacancy: I am urgently recruiting a PhD candidate to join a project on selection processes in pedunculate oak.
📅 Start date: no later than December 1st.

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Ben Yong @bymyong.bsky.social · 5d

Congrats!!

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