I feel some atheists are drawn to Jesus mythicism without realising it’s a weak argument against Christian theism, because they like the idea that it would fatally undermine it. I say that as a strong atheist.
The American and Israeli Strikes against Iran are Illegal:
Examining the Imminent Nuclear Threat Justification
open.substack.com/pub/politics...
4/4 Recent history should make us cautious. Which leads to the obvious question: what is the plan?
3/4 On the other hand, some resist any remark that is not an unqualified celebration.
But two autocrats, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, are prosecuting this conflict. It is reasonable to question their motives and their judgment.
2/4 Some were conspicuously silent about the regime’s oppression and brutality, yet became energised only when America was involved.
That is not moral consistency; it is campism.
1/4 I am deeply moved by the scenes of jubilation and hope among the Iranian people. I cannot imagine life under a murderous theocracy. What follows is not directed at them.
I hope these events lead to long-term emancipation and the opportunity for Iranians to flourish.
I can't help but feel that learning the necessary lessons requires a degree of political astuteness beyond Starmer's ability.
For Labour to start to recover ground, it does help that the Parliamentary Labour Party is closer to its core vote than the party's leadership. Moving back towards it is unlikely to be met with resistance among most MPs.
Currently reading the excellent 'Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America' by Jonathan Karl which covers the 2024 presidential election campaign and Trump’s ascent to a second presidential term.
"This time, programs that survived the initial purge precisely because they were judged to be lifesaving are slated for cancellation"
www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...
This is a reasonable and considered thread, which is very welcome.
I have written a brief piece on how useful neo-classical realism is for examining America's current foreign policy.
I have written a brief piece on how useful neo-classical realism is for examining America's current foreign policy.
open.substack.com/pub/politics...
The sooner Keir Starmer resigns, the sooner he relaxes and becomes quite insightful and affable in media appearances and we can all go "why wasn't *THAT* guy PM?"
Systemic/institutional problems exacerbated by poor PMs?
Current debates again show how UK needs an Independent Anti-Corruption Commission, rather than discredited existing “safeguard” bodies
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
The Intelligence and Security Committee is a bunch of elite “trustys” with intelligence service links, inexpert on corruption
An impoverished view of morality and the state concludes that maintaining half a million children below the poverty line is acceptable. Removing the two-child cap lifts hundreds of thousands of children above the poverty line. That is not insignificant.
100% agree with this and the British Election Study bot provides plenty of evidence for it - regularly spitting out actual voters with combinations of beliefs which the terminally online would regard as impossible
"Important progress has been made with new fiscal rules, planning reform and public investment, yet delivery has often been too cautious given the scale of the challenge."
Sorely needed. I'm sure you'll agree: there just aren't enough of these inside-dope, SW1-focused affairs.
It’s worth noting that choosing not to apply the label ‘fascism’ isn’t exculpatory for the leadership under examination. There are legitimate disagreements over classification, and political commentary would benefit from more explicit engagement with ‘neo-fascism.’
Putin pioneered this. No opposition is legitimate. Regular, decent, “ordinary” people cannot possibly be against us because only we represent “the real people.”
Tell-tale sign of authoritarianism.
EU lawmakers stall US trade deal in protest over Greenland
www.reuters.com/business/eur...
Part II of my foundational article on the question of "What is Political Science?"
open.substack.com/pub/politics...
Part II of my foundational article on the question of "What is Political Science?"
open.substack.com/pub/politics...
E.U. and South America to Form Free-Trade Zone With 700 Million People
“Our message to the world is this: Partnership creates prosperity, and openness drives progress,” Ms. von der Leyen said in a statement. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/b...
The phrase 'rules-based order' is currently ubiquitous. But as is so often the case, it's not accompanied by a clear definition of the term or an explanation of states' approaches to this order historically. Definition and context are essential for understanding.
