Claire McGing

Are female economists treated differently than males in academic seminars?

These authors wanted to know whether gender shapes how scholars are treated when presenting research.

So they built a massive dataset of 2,000+ economics seminars, job talks, and conference presentations from 2019–2023...

The Atlantic finally catching up with what some of us have been saying for *years*

How Ireland Voted 2024 The New Normal? Book © 2025

In 2024, governments across world fell as far-right parties surged. Why did Ireland buck the trend?

Prof. @theresareidy.bsky.social, co-editor of 'How Ireland Voted 2024', discusses the new publication in conversation with @mcculld.bsky.social

Listen: www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

24% of people who voted Labour at the last general election now plan to
vote Green or Lib Dem.

0% of those who voted Reform at the last election now plan to vote Labour.

Netherlands should join and offer to host the first meeting at the exclusive, famous, gilded and very luxurious palace called "The Hague".

Saw Hamnet this evening. What a raw, heartbreaking and beautiful movie. ❤️ Jessie Buckley is outstanding in the role of Agnes. Also love Emily Watson in everything! #hamnet

“So now you have the Gardaí, the AI Minister and multiple legal experts including @iccl.bsky.social saying the legislation is all there already - it’s going to be increasingly difficult for the Government not to take a position on this”.

Loved this episode!

Damning.

"A study this week found that approx 6,000 child sex abuse & sexual harassment images are now being generated (& published online) every hour by X Internet Unlimited Company. Per Ireland's Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, 99% are of women & girls."

"The machinery of our state was built to protect and defend institutions of power."

Truer word were never written.

Brilliant piece from @carlkinsella.bsky.social. "If you feel comfortable with any of this, you shouldn’t. If you’re not scared by it, then I think you’re pretending." 👏

One reason I feel like I'm going mad is, even if Musk did immediately halt Grok and issue a grovelling apology - rather than PAYWALLING IT - he should *still* be prosecuted and his website banned. Very obviously! You don't get out of CSAM charges by just stopping. AND HE STILL HASN'T STOPPED.

There are real people, real women, real girls whose images have been edited by grok at the request of users.

This is not some fictionalised, nebulous harm.

That the 'adults in the room' and 'rules-based order' governments are humming and hawwing over taking a firm line on this is extraordinary

Guns don't kill people, etc.

This is... extraordinary.

Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.

1 hour ago Mariana Martinez Reporting from Caracas, Venezuela The death count from Saturday's attack has risen to 80, between civilians and members of security forces, according to a senior Venezuelan official. He added that the number could rise further.

NYT:

The death toll for the US attack on Venezuela has risen to 80, including civilians and members of security forces, and could rise further.

Mamdani Called Trump to Criticize Venezuela Strikes

NYT gonna NYT: "Both Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Maduro identify as socialists, though they have no relationship.” — would be funny if they did this every time you write about two capitalists.

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...

Meanwhile: "Spain did not recognize the Maduro regime. But neither will it recognize an intervention that violates international law and pushes the region toward a horizon of uncertainty and belligerence", Sanchez wrote on X

bsky.app/profile/reut...

Absolutely shameful.

Trans people exist. In every culture and every society on the planet, and have done throughout recorded history. They are a natural part of the human condition and always will be because (spoiler alert!) they are born every day. They aren't an ideology, they are people.

Hate is an ideology though!

A moneylender (Scrooge). 👀

Much like the Public Services Card, my biggest concern is that there's only a handful of journalists who actually understand data protection and can argue against this.

I don't want to be hearing from opinion columinists who argued the PSC was kinda like a gym card (this happened)

Officials feared Irish women travelling for abortion could be prosecuted on return In wake of X case and 1992 referendum, fresh restrictions - including injunctions on travel - caused concern

Officials feared Irish women travelling for abortion could be prosecuted on return

Jim O'Callaghan: Politician of the year

With my tinfoil hat on, I detect an effort to normalise talk on immigration that would have been considered extreme a few years ago. No mention of any achievements or the like, just wishy washy statements like "he hasn’t shied away from the thorny issue of immigration"

I've been off social media a lot, for me, this afternoon, but catching up and what the actual fuck is wrong with some people. You can absolutely condemn the Israeli government for its genocide in Gaza. If you use that in any way shape or form to minimise the attack in Sydney you need serious help.

“Reform is tearing us apart”, says the man trying desperately to out-Reform them 🤡

Being with her was intimate and helpful, like a cure you didn't notice happening. ❤️

The mandatory waiting period should never have been put in place after Repeal and it is high time for its removal.