Mariken Schipper

PROMETHEUS: I Don't Want to Set The World On Fire Podcast Episode · Alex Andreou's Podyssey · 08/02/2026 · 1h 28m

🆕 PROMETHEUS: I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire

One man; several contradictory myths.

Is he protector or disruptor? Genius or arsonist?

Season 2 of Podyssey kicks off with an absolute belter.

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/0s0L...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

I used to have two ginger tom-cats called Adrian and Archibald. :)

How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants - and how I built a dashboard to see through it I wanted a dinner recommendation and got a research agenda instead. Using 13000+ restaurants, I rebuild its ratings with machine learning and map how algorithmic visibility actually distributes power.

I wanted dinner recommendations so I scraped 13,000+ London restaurants and accidentally discovered Google Maps is running a shadow economy. Anyway here's a dashboard and a political economy thesis: open.substack.com/pub/laurenle...

Yesterday, we put out a report on the most important issues to voters.

We know that immigration now tops the traditional most important issues question (see below from @yougov.co.uk).

But that doesn't tell the full story.

Here is a rundown of the experiments we did to test this out (A THREAD):

📊 We're hiring a Senior Quantitative Manager!

Can you turn data into creative, high-quality analysis and visualisation?

Experienced with applied quantitative methods and using national survey datasets?

Then we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now: https://bit.ly/3LqTdzQ

I’m a teenager who was lured into the manosphere. Here’s how to reach young men like me | Josh Sargent Masculinity is almost always presented as toxic on my feed – but we need constructive alternatives to give hope to those who feel lost, says Josh Sargent

This article made me think. Well penned, Josh.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

underrated part of this is that stoller very clearly has no idea what "the passive voice" is

Paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism, our study of 2.5 million children shows Our research provides strong evidence against the concerning claims made recently by US president Donald Trump.

From the original Swedish researchers.

I hope they controlled for hypermobility (and indeed undiagnosed ND!). Very common co-morbidity with ND, and a cause of joint pain during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are (undiagnosed) ND are therefore more likely to take paracetamol.

think that realistically I would have always been deeply, deeply worried about the rise of far-right ideas in public discourse but I truly never expected this level of blithe elite complacency, turns out I do feel worried but mostly I feel like I'm going insane, watching them do.......nothing at all

The Government is doing its best at the moment to imply it has no problem with the ethnonationalism now rearing its ugly head. And I don't understand why. 1/5

MEDUSA - Here's Looking at You, Kid Podcast Episode · Alex Andreou's Podyssey · 01/09/2025 · 1h 35m

🐍 MEDUSA - Here's Looking At You, Kid 🪦

Before Medusa was monstrous, she was beautiful. And before she was beautiful, she was powerful. She is a riddle that defies solution, from a time before the shape of things was settled.

🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/67sR...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

Is America Becoming an Autocracy?

Amazing to hear my work tracking Trump's authoritarian actions opening the @npr.org On The Media podcast this week - the TrumpActionTracker is now at over 1100 actions.

www.trumpactiontracker.info?

my recent substack:
christinapagel.substack.com/p/grand-desi...

pca.st/episode/a2b1...

They didn't arrive between 2021-2024 though, most people eligible for the EUSS arrived before 31 December 2020.

Against Polling It's 90% Bullshit

I've had it with data.—
www.unpopularfront.news/p/against-po...

obviously always reread this whenever it pops up but also: never entirely sure what it says about me that it made me really fancy Tom Hollander

www.jrrt.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Having your first vote when you've just left home for uni or started your first job you're less likely to turn out and once you've missed a vote you're less likely to vote next time.

There is quite a bit of research that shows that lowering the voting age increases electoral participation. Participating in your first election when still in school the habit is more likely to stick.

Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections Details of the plans for delivering the government’s commitments on elections and registration.

For fellow constitutional anoraks & democracy botherers, the UK Govt has today published its new elections strategy and confirmed that a forthcoming Elections Bill will lower the voting age to 16, extend the range of voter ID (e.g. to include bank cards) and tighten campaign finance rules

What about James Kelman? Or Roddy Doyle?

Labour MP @marietidball.bsky.social delivers a powerful speech:

“It is with a heavy broken heart that I will be voting against this bill today.

“As a matter of conscience, I need my constituents to know I cannot support the proposed changes to PIP as currently drafted...”

Opinie | ‘Vrouwenzaak’ gaat ons allemaal aan Emancipatie: Nederland zakte naar plek 43 op de Global Gender Gap Index. Onbegrijpelijk dat daar niet meer om te doen is, vindt Anne Buunk.

Nederland zakte naar plek 43 op de Global Gender Gap Index. Onbegrijpelijk dat daar niet meer om te doen is, vindt Anne Buunk.

The effects of place on regional earnings inequality is much larger than previous data suggested - roughly one-third of regional earnings inequality can be explained by place.

Read the new research now ➡️ buff.ly/rpMJphF

They Asked an A.I. Chatbot Questions. The Answers Sent Them Spiraling.

Don’t think I’ve ever muttered the words “fuck me sideways” quite so much reading a story as this one.

Without wanting to greatly upset my fellow poll-watchers and psephologists, it would be better for us all to spend the next few years asking the question 'What would a Farage/Reform government look like?' rather than 'Might Farage/Reform win?'

#GeorgiaProtests, Day 124!

The scene in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi tonight.

One of the most remarkable & sustained protest movements in modern European history.

Non-stop, for 124 days, the Georgian people have been fighting regime violence, Russian influence & authoritarianism.

🇬🇪🇪🇺

(🎥 Ezz Gaber)

Households Below Average Income: an analysis of the UK income distribution: FYE 1995 to FYE 2024

🧵

1.

The new official poverty stats came out at 930

Astonishingly bad numbers confirm the UK is in the grip of a building crisis of penury

www.gov.uk/government/s...

One more for you to consider, assuming the others didn’t take your fancy: @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social Limitarianism: the case against extreme wealth.

If you do nothing else on BlueSky today, just peruse this thread and repost. Our collective futures rely on expropriating the wealthy.

#wealthtax