Lothar
@lotharschmid.bsky.social
Reposted by Lothar
Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years.
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Happy Birthday to the European Convention on Human Rights, which has helped to protect #OurRightsAndFreedoms for 75 years.
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
Here are more than 200 examples, from across the continent👇
🔗 www.coe.int/ECHR
There are thousands more.
#ECHR #ECHR75 @coe.int @echr.coe.int
Now that Andrew has been excluded from all honorary positions and lost his curtesy titles, can we please exclude him from the only position that really matters?
His place in the line of succession?
His place in the line of succession?
October 31, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Now that Andrew has been excluded from all honorary positions and lost his curtesy titles, can we please exclude him from the only position that really matters?
His place in the line of succession?
His place in the line of succession?
Reposted by Lothar
Sleep's amazing, folks, really amazing. But when you go, maybe forever, who knows, you might dream. Some dreams are beautiful, the best, others not so good, total disasters. And that’s the thing. Makes you stop, makes you think. Big decision, believe me.
Trump: "I don't think there's anything that's gonna get me in heaven. I think I'm not maybe heaven bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to make heaven."
October 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Sleep's amazing, folks, really amazing. But when you go, maybe forever, who knows, you might dream. Some dreams are beautiful, the best, others not so good, total disasters. And that’s the thing. Makes you stop, makes you think. Big decision, believe me.
Reposted by Lothar
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
September 22, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reform's ‘plan’ to revoke the legal status of millions of UK residents is morally abhorrent & economic madness
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
The public believe in fairness & mutual respect, not this cruel Trumpian policy that would leave us all poorer. We are not America - we must resist this dangerous turn in British politics.
Reposted by Lothar
"You may not see them that way, because you have the right look and accent, but you are not the intended audience of most of the people putting them up. I am. And they intend to send precisely the message that I receive." @sturdyalex.bsky.social speaking for many who don't look or sound 'English'.
I wrote something about feeling like a guest in a country that is my home.
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...
bestforbritain.substack.com/p/my-place-o...
My place or yours? - Flags and the far right from someone who looks different to you
By Alex Andreou
bestforbritain.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"You may not see them that way, because you have the right look and accent, but you are not the intended audience of most of the people putting them up. I am. And they intend to send precisely the message that I receive." @sturdyalex.bsky.social speaking for many who don't look or sound 'English'.
Reposted by Lothar
Statt den Kulturkampf weiter anzufachen: Wie wäre es, diese Anforderungen an guten Journalismus zu stellen: wahrheitsgetreu, sorgfältig recherchiert, relevant, unabhängig und verständlich präsentiert mit klarer Trennung zwischen Fakten und Meinung bei Achtung der Persönlichkeitsrechte.
September 17, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Statt den Kulturkampf weiter anzufachen: Wie wäre es, diese Anforderungen an guten Journalismus zu stellen: wahrheitsgetreu, sorgfältig recherchiert, relevant, unabhängig und verständlich präsentiert mit klarer Trennung zwischen Fakten und Meinung bei Achtung der Persönlichkeitsrechte.
I am glad that the government is finally waking up to the far right threat and positions itself against racism, homo- and transphobia.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the government must recognise and respond to a "increasingly visible tide of racism" . He acknowledges trans people feel less safe today than a decade ago.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
September 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I am glad that the government is finally waking up to the far right threat and positions itself against racism, homo- and transphobia.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
The majority of British people want a society without division and hatred, where people of all backgrounds can build a future for themselves and their communities.
Reposted by Lothar
Members of my family were tortured and killed in the Holocaust because countries like Britain said it wasn't their problem. Everyone said never again. And here we are. It's sickening beyond belief.
August 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Members of my family were tortured and killed in the Holocaust because countries like Britain said it wasn't their problem. Everyone said never again. And here we are. It's sickening beyond belief.
Reposted by Lothar
Who’s with me for a campaign to stop politicians wearing hi viz jackets and hard hats when talking about the economy and instead being filmed playing Total War: Warhammer
In Britain video games generate more revenue (£4.3bn) than the film (excluding streaming) and music industries combined (£3.4bn).
economist.com/britain/2025...
economist.com/britain/2025...
Britain is a global gaming superpower
Can it remain one?
economist.com
August 18, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Who’s with me for a campaign to stop politicians wearing hi viz jackets and hard hats when talking about the economy and instead being filmed playing Total War: Warhammer
Reposted by Lothar
August 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Insightful thread.
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
Once it seems like the government can’t govern, a lot of people are going to opt for a sense of order over hopeless paralysis, even if they think that order is bad.
August 12, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Insightful thread.
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
It's conclusions might apply to European democracies as well, even if the path there plays out differently...
Reposted by Lothar
The EU, UK and Ukraine will pragmatically extract whatever arms and sanctions against Russia they can from Donald Trump rather than seeking confrontation with the US.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
August 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The EU, UK and Ukraine will pragmatically extract whatever arms and sanctions against Russia they can from Donald Trump rather than seeking confrontation with the US.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
Europeans are not going to solve America's Trump problem for anti-Trump Americans, only Americans can do that.
Reposted by Lothar
Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.
August 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Worrye not about 'being productive,' for thou art not a product. Thou art a star daunsinge yn a hopeful skye. A signal blinking across centuryes and worldes. Thou art a song performid just once and perfectlye.
Reposted by Lothar
Good stuff from Starmer today, but it's not enough inews.co.uk/opinion/star...
July 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Good stuff from Starmer today, but it's not enough inews.co.uk/opinion/star...
Reposted by Lothar
Some are puzzled by the apparent disconnect between the goodness, decency, and kindness of people they know and their devotion to voting for fascism. This is where we need to concept of the 'moral community'.
July 3, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Some are puzzled by the apparent disconnect between the goodness, decency, and kindness of people they know and their devotion to voting for fascism. This is where we need to concept of the 'moral community'.
Reposted by Lothar
16 years ago, I found myself in the back garden of a couple I'd just met, as they showed me their pillow fighting arena. The lesson they taught me about games - especially competitive ones - has stayed with me ever since, but I forgot to mention it in interviews when asked if competition is bad. So:
July 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
16 years ago, I found myself in the back garden of a couple I'd just met, as they showed me their pillow fighting arena. The lesson they taught me about games - especially competitive ones - has stayed with me ever since, but I forgot to mention it in interviews when asked if competition is bad. So:
Reposted by Lothar
🧵 THREAD: Why the Cato Institute’s new paper on “misinformation panic” is dangerously wrong, and why it completely misunderstands the real crisis we face.
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
The Misleading Panic over Misinformation
People can’t agree on how to define misinformation and its related terms, making regulation nearly impossible. Instead, free expression serves as a better tool for discovering truth.
www.cato.org
June 27, 2025 at 6:50 AM
🧵 THREAD: Why the Cato Institute’s new paper on “misinformation panic” is dangerously wrong, and why it completely misunderstands the real crisis we face.
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
www.cato.org/policy-analy...
Thank you @kateosbornemp.bsky.social for standing up for disabled people and fighting the cuts to disability benefits
The Government’s plans to cut disability benefits would hit communities like ours in Jarrow and Gateshead East the hardest.
This week in Parliament, I made it clear: I will not support these cruel and damaging proposals.
My latest column in the Shields Gazette
This week in Parliament, I made it clear: I will not support these cruel and damaging proposals.
My latest column in the Shields Gazette
June 24, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Thank you @kateosbornemp.bsky.social for standing up for disabled people and fighting the cuts to disability benefits
Reposted by Lothar
🧵 Several people have raised questions about what I meant by "deservedly so" when referring to the decline of institutional trust. It's a fair question, so I want to explain that, because it sits at the heart of my work on how democracies collapse when their epistemic foundations rot.
The conditions that have led to what’s happening in the US today exist in democracies around the world.
They are an inevitable outcome of our collective failure to adapt to fundamental changes in the information ecosystem on which our democracies were originally built.
They are an inevitable outcome of our collective failure to adapt to fundamental changes in the information ecosystem on which our democracies were originally built.
June 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
🧵 Several people have raised questions about what I meant by "deservedly so" when referring to the decline of institutional trust. It's a fair question, so I want to explain that, because it sits at the heart of my work on how democracies collapse when their epistemic foundations rot.
Reposted by Lothar
A core feature of the Trump regime is its embrace of "authoritarian democracy", as a battering ram with which to demolish any obstacle to its power.
The very notion of "authoritarian democracy" can sound contradictory.
But it's an old & dangerous idea, that needs to be better understood. [THREAD]
The very notion of "authoritarian democracy" can sound contradictory.
But it's an old & dangerous idea, that needs to be better understood. [THREAD]
Stephen Miller on the court order to release Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk: "There's a judicial coup in this country....This judicial coup by a handful of Marxist judges...can only be understood as an attack on democracy."
May 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
A core feature of the Trump regime is its embrace of "authoritarian democracy", as a battering ram with which to demolish any obstacle to its power.
The very notion of "authoritarian democracy" can sound contradictory.
But it's an old & dangerous idea, that needs to be better understood. [THREAD]
The very notion of "authoritarian democracy" can sound contradictory.
But it's an old & dangerous idea, that needs to be better understood. [THREAD]
Reposted by Lothar
As a German I will forever be grateful to all who fought for the liberation of Europe.
But as a historian I am looking at front pages today and must wonder: What is the point of remembering #VEDay 80 years on, what is the point of our thanks, when we are failing to protect the sacrifices made? 🧵
But as a historian I am looking at front pages today and must wonder: What is the point of remembering #VEDay 80 years on, what is the point of our thanks, when we are failing to protect the sacrifices made? 🧵
May 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
As a German I will forever be grateful to all who fought for the liberation of Europe.
But as a historian I am looking at front pages today and must wonder: What is the point of remembering #VEDay 80 years on, what is the point of our thanks, when we are failing to protect the sacrifices made? 🧵
But as a historian I am looking at front pages today and must wonder: What is the point of remembering #VEDay 80 years on, what is the point of our thanks, when we are failing to protect the sacrifices made? 🧵
Reposted by Lothar
🧵In March I wrote about how Trump's attacks on science & universities followed the authoritarian playbook & set out Qs as warning signs for escalation.
🚨 THESE ARE NOW HAPPENING
This 🧵is on how those warning sign Qs have been realised
full post:
christinapagel.substack.com/p/warning-si...
1/15
🚨 THESE ARE NOW HAPPENING
This 🧵is on how those warning sign Qs have been realised
full post:
christinapagel.substack.com/p/warning-si...
1/15
April 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🧵In March I wrote about how Trump's attacks on science & universities followed the authoritarian playbook & set out Qs as warning signs for escalation.
🚨 THESE ARE NOW HAPPENING
This 🧵is on how those warning sign Qs have been realised
full post:
christinapagel.substack.com/p/warning-si...
1/15
🚨 THESE ARE NOW HAPPENING
This 🧵is on how those warning sign Qs have been realised
full post:
christinapagel.substack.com/p/warning-si...
1/15
Reposted by Lothar
What I remember with particular gratitude is his extraordinary environmental leadership, on what he called “care for our common home”, with the publication of Laudato Si’ www.vatican.va/content/fran...
April 21, 2025 at 9:03 AM
What I remember with particular gratitude is his extraordinary environmental leadership, on what he called “care for our common home”, with the publication of Laudato Si’ www.vatican.va/content/fran...