Sadiah Qureshi

Starving children screaming for food as US aid cuts unleash devastation and death across Myanmar U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said “no one has died" because of his government’s decision to gut its foreign aid program.

I'm not a quoter of scripture, but this seemed appropriate for the horror that has been unleashed because of the gutting of USAID.

“Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” -Jesus

It’s revealing how thrown the interviewer is by an answer that is evidently an honest expression of genuinely held political principles, as opposed to the sound bites and weasel words that dominate political interviews in the present.

Apparently generations of scholars interested in canon formation, publishing, and reception have been twiddling their thumbs because they were missing *the thing* to have any answers. 🤨

It’s incredible that people think the theft and environmental damage involved in such uses of AI are worth it.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

BBC Radio 4 - Britain's Fascist Thread Camilla Schofield explores the unbroken thread of fascism in Britain.

Now would be a great time to check out this BBC radio 4 series on the far right and racism in Britain by the amazing Camilla Schofield.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

And, of course, Brummies are not alone. So many places across the country have fared the same or even worse. In spite of it all, those who call such places home have found ways to survive and thrive *together* and against the odds. We are amazing no matter what any outsider tries to tell us.

Brummies have always deserved better than the decades of neglect, underinvestment, and poor management which has caused many of its problems and which have been the butt of so many demeaning jokes. It’s such a shame that visitors can’t acknowledge that reality as they’re so busy running away.

As a Brummie, listening to people whine about the city is so tedious. It is a city where so many unwanted people made their home, from the poor to global migrants, and found love, joy, and community while the city was ignored by so many who loathed the place and its people.

I grew up in Handsworth. It is one of the most vibrant and diverse places in the UK, whether in terms of complexion or creed. For someone to feel uncomfortable there says everything about the kind of sameness they crave, rather than anything meaningful about Handsworth or Birmingham.

‘Vanished: An Unnatural History Of Extinction,’ By Sadiah Qureshi — Review A poignant recounting of the tangled and unnatural histories of extinction and empire, and how extinction is not necessarily inevitable but instead, is a political choice.

Briefly here to thank GrrlScientist for this lovely review of Vanished for
@forbes.com.

www.forbes.com/sites/grrlsc...

Also, by the same author a story about a spider that is half male and half female. The picture is extraordinary. www.forbes.com/sites/grrlsc...

Back to my break.

I will be away from here for a while.

Becky Barnicoat on the growth of fascism in Britain – cartoon The far right never seizes power. It’s always politely invited in by nice people

The hatred has been openly festering for many years. Around a decade ago, I remember swastikas and anti-Islam graffiti being found at work. It was barely discussed openly, except by those targeted. It is hard not to despair right now.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

RIP Brian. Your books are some of the oldest in my library. They started me on the journey from puffin reader to penguin author. Thank you.

For me, compassionate is the word that really stands out and why I look forward to reading the book.

My son recently found a swastika drawn on the pavement at... The Manchester attack didn't come as a shock. The only surprise is it hasn’t happened sooner

I wrote a short piece for the Observer on the attacks in Manchester.

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

A strange week cheered by so many roarsome students. I told one of them about my next project as a way of generating dissertation ideas and they delightedly exclaimed ‘I’d read the **** out of that!’ Teaching can be exhausting, but it is also unbelievably rewarding. 🐯

Horrified by the daily hatred in this world.

May the dead find eternal peace.

Hew Locke and the Empire’s new clothes On the eve of a major US survey, the artist talks to Fatema Ahmed about decorating statues and the ornamental side of the British Empire

On the eve of a major survey at the Yale Center for British Art, Hew Locke talks to Apollo about decorating statues and the ornamental side of the British Empire

I had a mid-career fellowship and it was exactly what I needed to finish my book. The BA application forms are far simpler than you might expect if you’ve only ever seen forms for other funders. So, if you’re eligible, do explore further. Best of luck if you apply.

Starmer to end asylum ‘golden ticket’ of resettlement and family reunion rights People granted asylum will have to earn right to invite family in plan charities call ‘straight from populist playbook’

People recognised as refugees fleeing persecution & granted the right to live in the UK to be denied the right to be joined safely by their spouse & children.

This Labour govt is a moral void, a stinking darkness, an empty hollow of cowardice & contempt. #r4today www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

the UK is ranked 55 out of 56 nations for family reunion rights for "other migrants to the UK" because the *government* did that. do i need to buy starmer a hot dog costume www.mipex.eu/family-reunion

An enormous congratulations to Masud Husain on winning the Trivedi prize. Delighted to have met you and be in such good company on the shortlist. Also over the moon to have met Samira Ahmed at the ceremony, and be in a discussion with her and the other shortlisted authors.

Now, term begins!

‘Priority courses’, give me strength.

Working class kids deserve to study classics and history and art as much as anyone else.

In case you need some start of term motivation.

With Labour coming under pressure at its annual conference to scrap the two child benefits cap, we publish a new opinion article exploring the historical links between cuts to social welfare spending and mortality rates. historyandpolicy.org/opinion-arti...

Safety Advice:

I keep seeing young trans people on social media talking about therapists disrespecting their pronouns and parents telling them that the therapist has a right to their beliefs.

I want to be clear: you have a right to the therapy room being a safe supportive space for YOUR growth.

Photograph of the Black People’s Day of Action, March 1981

The IHR Black British History seminar series is now on BlueSky!

Follow us for updates and keep your eyes peeled for information about our upcoming seminars 👀

@ihr.bsky.social #BlackBritishHistory #historians #academia

You might assume it was a horrible encounter. It could so easily have been, but it wasn’t precisely because this person chose otherwise. A small act of grace that could so easily have been otherwise. If only such kindness was the default in our lives, whether at work or beyond.

Bumped into someone who I hadn’t seen since we both interviewed for the same job. At the time, we didn’t recognise each other. After learning that I got the job, they sent me a lovely email to say congratulations. They also asked how it was all going in Manchester now.