Prof Operational Research , @UCL_CORU, passionate about health care, women in STEMs, defending liberal democracy (!). Member of @independentsage, posts personal.
62,101 followers 1,173 following 1,839 posts
view profile on Bluesky 
Once upon a time, it seemed open and free links to reliable legal information would undermine such flights of political-media fantasy, but no. The links are there, un-clicked. People don't care what the actual law is and what judges actually said. They want to believe.
Douglas Carswell has skirted the line and now he's crossed it. This is disgusting racism from a former MP who now demonstrates who and what he is.
NEW: There’s been a lot of discussion lately about rising graduate unemployment. I dug a little closer and a striking story emerged: Unemployment is climbing among young graduate *men*, but college-educated young women are generally doing okay. www.ft.com/content/a9ea...
👇🎯 It has been said, once or twice before, that performative public lying is a hallmark of far right authoritarian parties
Reform are closing adult education centres in Derbyshire and plan to sell off the buildings. The decision was made behind closed doors with no public allowed in the meeting and without a public consultation. Some of the centres have as much as 60% of students from the most deprived demographics.
And who will they sell them to?
The year is 2025. You're living in one of the most prosperous nations in the history of humanity. You can freely acquire any kind of bread without even leaving your house. Delivery people will bring it right to your door! But you're a conservative and sourdough exists, so you're blind with rage.
Israeli strikes killed at least 17 people in Gaza City on Saturday, Palestinian emergency workers said. The attacks came a day after Israel ended a policy of pausing attacks for several hours daily to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Here's the latest variant picture with a global scope, to early August. Growth of XFG.* "Stratus" appeared to slow, finishing at 58%. The NB.1.8.1 "Nimbus" was fairly flat, at 30%. #COVID19 #Global #NB_1_8_1 #Nimbus #XFG #Stratus 🧵
📌
Some important “What to expect when we’re electing” messaging from the Brennan Center. Election fraud lies are integrated into the administration’s strategies of election interference going into 2026. What we need to be aware of… and what we can do:
📌
🧵 Authoritarianism, Democratization, and Coalition Politics. The consensus around here is, more or less, that the United States is currently a consolidating authoritarian regime controlled by a mix of reactionary populists and fascists.
This is the ballgame:
📌
To a large degree, the collapse of American power is driven by the stupidity of its leaders.
This firefighter arrived in the US at age 4, has been here for 19 years, was on track to legal status, and was on a crew trying to contain a major blaze (in Washington state, vs Oregon, fwiw.) h/t @joshuajfriedman.com www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Please help me welcome to Bluesky @drdebhoury.bsky.social - brave, brilliant, and principled. abcnews.go.com/Politics/vid...
Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
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...
If Miller thinks RFKjr is an expert in public health USA really is in deep trouble @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social @chrischirp.bsky.social . What is really the matter with USA? www.bbc.com/news/article...
"Her patient had signs of what could be a cancer or could be an unusual infection — diagnoses that would require completely different treatment. Ordinarily, she would confirm an infection after sending a sample to the CDC for testing ...the CDC no longer has the capacity to do that"
No comment
A very good thread, quite related to Ziblatt’s foreign affairs piece. Autocrats succeed when their opponents grant them legitimacy. Those who deny them legitimacy often have to avoid doing what’s in their apparent short term interest. / (www.foreignaffairs.com/germany/hitl...)
I think we might have done Mary cos of Liz I but that's it
"with the help of the United States Supreme Court"
Don’t trust the experts”? That’s not democracy, that’s recklessness. On a plane, I want a pilot. In a hospital, I want doctors and scientists who understand the evidence. Expertise isn’t religion or authoritarianism — it’s training, accountability, and data. Ignore it and we all pay the price.
US blocks Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials from United Nations' annual meeting in New York
This is not Autumn. This is drought distress in Islington, London Trees shed leaves to reduce water intake. It’s happening all over England
Great as per from @chrisdillow.bsky.social. The UK is amazing at creative arts and Higher Ed. They're massive. But it hamstrings them and thinks a lot about steel, where the UK is a niche player. Now there's a political economy explanation, but also 🙄 stumblingandmumbling.typepad.com/stumbling_an...
Maybe little kids won't be shot to death if we put the same amount of resources and effort into preventing gun violence as we put into arresting immigrant workers at Home Depots.
The only political battle that matters in the world right now is the one against authoritarian nationalism (the word 'fascist' is succinct). Very simply: if *any aspect* of your political platform aids authoritarian nationalism, we must oppose you with everything. *Any* aspect. Reflect on that.
A dramatic, extremely worrying moment; over 61,000 people held in ICE detention. That is the highest number ever on record in United States history; roughly 6,000 higher than the previous record set under Trump six years ago, and over 21,000 higher than when Trump took office just seven months ago.
…what in the actual?!
On Donald Trump's march towards authoritarianism. Latest column www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
📌
"University of Cambridge psychologist Sander van der Linden, who has pioneered the inoculation approach, is impressed...some of the effect sizes are modest, but then the biggest effects are actually amongst those who have the most influential misperceptions” he says. www.science.org/content/arti...
really good. I wrote something along the same lines last week and keep an up to date trump authoritarian action tracker which might interest you! (for future articles) christinapagel.substack.com/p/grand-desi... www.trumpactiontracker.info?start=2025-0...
The best piece I’ve read this year on Trump’s increasingly blatant lurch towards total power. To quote Sinclair Lewis, if you think “it can’t happen here” you are just not paying attention. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Mass shooters since 2018 who were transgender — 4. Mass shooters since 2018 who were not transgender — 4,193. Hope that helps.
“CNN spoke to five former heads of FEMA from every administration since Hurricane Katrina, who echoed concerns from current employees that recent changes could leave FEMA poorly equipped for dealing with disasters.
I'm on Substack Live with @thewarningses.bsky.social this morning at 10 am ET to discuss the decline & fall of public health in America & the future of vaccines (warning: it is bleak). Join on Substack or I’ll post a link later Proud to stand for public health w/ the @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
Update! Estonia joins Finland and Poland in exploring defensive bog restoration, the environment and defense ministries just told me. Talks still at an early stage, as in the other two countries. More here: www.politico.eu/article/esto...
This call is still open - send us your patient-led-research manuscripts!
I think what is strikingly corrosive on here is the same as what is corrosive over there - there aren’t enough genuine centre-right perspectives! But that speaks to a broader problem *in British politics* right now.
Yeah - where I think Thom’s piece falls down is, Jox has not become more “progressive”, I have not become more “progressive”, frankly I can’t name a single person here whose politics have changed on that axis. But I can, specifically, name people who backed Sunak in 2022 who now say he’s not English
There’s current context here as well. Whilst I still may find the Excesses Of Wokedom ™️ genuinely somewhere between weird, mildly scary and hilarious the reason I’m not particularly talking about them as much is not because Bluesky, more cos there are fascist mobs gathered outside asylum hotels.
Labour's cowardice in the face of extremism iandunt.substack.com/p/labours-co...
Ukraine has currently disrupted 17% of Russia’s oil refining production. If they can get the level to 30%, domestic demand would far exceed supply. That’s when things start to fall apart. (Data by Rochan Consulting)
"There have been no counter narratives from Labour. There have been no attempts to fact check some of this stuff." Rylan's TV rant about migrant hotels was packed full of right-wing misinformation – and our government have done nothing to stop its spread
The next American vax committee (ACIP) meeting is causing controversy already -before it starts a as scheduled to revisit recommendations for the hepatitis B and MMRV vaccines, and COVID all focus of ACIP working groups 🧪🧵
📌
Funds for monitoring foodborne infections including listeria (primarily milk products), campylobacter and salmonella to be cut by CDC in move to reduce food safety by MAHA - which again, akin to environmental protections and vaccines being reduced will make Americans much less healthier 🧪
Although rare, chickenpox can lead to severe complications. Infection also means parents and kids have to take time off work and school. Free vaccination on the NHS is fantastic news.
Further to this post just this morning , calls for Kennedy to be sacked are growing as confusion is rife about his mixed messages and anti science agenda with people unable to get vaccines due to the confusion he is sowing
Hey MSM, ask RFK Jr to define 'inflammation'. Ask him to define 'mitochondria'. Ask him how, specifically, that he can tell how children have 'mitochondrial challenges'. Ask him what, specifically, about children's faces and body movement indicates inflammation. He won't know. He's making shit up.
Government faces questions after review of 11 major UK data breaches
BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout. They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base. (🎥 AP)
Dear people who are saying that the CDC directors who quit yesterday should have “stayed and fought”, With all due respect, you do not grasp the magnitude of the problem of RFK Jr. He is asking them to do unethical and immoral things that will actively harm the people of the United States. 1/3
yup. I wrote something similar last week christinapagel.substack.com/p/grand-desi... "the very word “America” conjures up the celebrated ideal of “America the free”. But “America the free” are just words and they are rapidly losing all meaning."
New, from me: America is no longer a functioning democracy. It is a competitive authoritarian system, hurtling rapidly toward authoritarianism. This was a hard piece to write but we can't move forward if we don’t acknowledge where we are. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-author...
NEW The UK constitution is even more vulnerable than the US constitution In the face of an illiberal radical assault, what has happened politically in America could easily happen in the UK By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Dr. William Foege, 89, who helped end smallpox in the 1970s, recently wrote: RFK Jr.’s “words can be as lethal as the smallpox virus.” And his actions are more lethal still. He’s waging war on America. That’s an impeachable offense. He must be removed from office. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/h...
Keir Starmer's political strategy of trying to position himself as Farage with better administrative skills would be morally reprehensible even if it were working. It does not appear to be.
Isn't it remarkable just how much more of a clear-eyed perspective a little distance, in this case from the Wall Street Journal in the US, can provide?
Enjoying my slice of London's hellhole this morning :)
Update(s) from Serbia: the School of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad has been overtaken by the police, who have evicted the students occupying the building since the start of the student-led movement for social change. The police are now attacking citizens who came to support students.
I had to do the Victorians 4 times but still nothing on imperialism!! And we failed to cover Ireland even once.
Remembering when watching X-Files was about paranoia fantasy and West Wing was about liberal fantasy, and now realising in 2025 that one would become a better guide to US politics than the other.
RFKJr is causing chaos with his disdain for scientific methods- after the CDC director would not endorse his directions for covid vaccines dramatically cutting access to the vax for many, the health dept announced her service was over 🧪🧵
Abbe Lowell and I represent CDC Director #SusanMonarez. Contrary to govt statements, Dr. Monarez has neither resigned nor yet been fired. She will not resign. We have issued the following statement:
I'm boycotting the state banquet to send a message to both Donald Trump and Keir Starmer that they cannot close their eyes and wish away the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Donald Trump can stop this catastrophe in Gaza and get the hostages released. youtu.be/4MqPsjiage8
This isn’t bad luck or coincidence or predestination. This is our choice. To live in a nation where our leaders teach hate, and military style guns are everywhere.
📌
📌
📌
“Jimenez Rosa, who legally immigrated to the United States more than 20 years ago when she was 9 years old, was detained by ICE authorities on August 11 at Boston Logan International Airport after returning from a vacation with her husband and children.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Saar says there will not be a Palestinian state reut.rs/4n1gaaf
There are clear implication of framing this issue like this. The @nytimes.com should have the courage of its convictions and fully explore those implications. It's the actual main story.
We are starting to see higher total cumulative annual mentions for entire organisations on Bluesky than on Twitter. Below are mentions of all research ever published by @leibniz-zmt.de. Bluesky is higher than Twitter in 2025.
Might I not so politely suggest that Gowdy yeets himself into the sun for this crass, hypocritical and insensitive bullshit. Faux Christians like Gowdy would rather trot out the "thoughts and prayers, nothing we could do to stop this" lines than actually push for gun reform to combat mass shootings.
President of @idsainfo.bsky.social speaks out.
That didn't take long. Less than 3 Scaramucci units www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Most of what this pundit says is outside my area, but Brexit being “biggest constitutional shake up…since Reformation” is twaddle. We joined EEC by Act of Parliament and left EU the same way. Minor compared to: Beheading of king Civil wars Acts of Union Ejecting another king 1832 Reform Act (1/2)
If you believed the producers of King and Conqueror, you'd think the original source material for the Norman Conquest was virtually nonexistent. In fact it's one of the best-documented events in medieval European history. You can even spin a 400+ page book out of it. www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/k...
It shows such a basic lack of political understanding that Labour didn't go straight on the attack over this. Just because most people are worried about immigration being too high it doesn't mean they're psychopaths.
Know how to code and want to do some good? Join us live tomorrow to find out how you can get involved with building tools for online investigations. Have a project already and stuck on something? Come along and ask your questions! discord.gg/HH3GHDhj?eve...
“After a gunman reportedly deceived by anti-vaccine disinformation opened fire on the CDC and fatally shot David Rose, a community grieves as Trump officials remain silent. A lie murdered David Rose.” www.theguardian.com/... 1/4
"Bluesky now platform of choice for science community. It's not just you. Survey says: "Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky" arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Farage’s “probity and judgment were sold as the product called Brexit. It turned out to be a piece of shit.” And, unbelievably, this Labour govt finds itself trapped because it has refused to call this out. What a profound - and now dangerous - political failure. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I am so disturbed by this image of ICE agents at Stanford hospital. They do not belong here--actually, they don't belong anywhere.
ooh i once read in a book (possibly even an Enid Blyton in my childhood) that you remember by stalactites needing to hang tight to the ceiling, and stalagmites needing to try mighty hard to reach the ceiling, and it stuck with me ever since!
I'm going to become incredibly tedious about this but... and then what? Let's say you drive the homeless people out of a location, and setting aside the dehumanizing way that implies they're cattle to be herded... are you going to stay forever? The homeless aren't going to move to Peru.
tell me about it. was just discussing with my web volunteers what to do to organise the site to be future proof to thousands of actions!
100% this. also the next sentence "Sometimes, these things are not complicated. Paying despots to take a bunch of refugees who fled them in the first place is wrong. And the refusal of my government – or much of the media – to say so disgusts me."
100% to everything you just said. it's disgusting
Who claims asylum in the UK? Top countries are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Bangladesh Who overstays & is removed? Majority (6/10) come from India, Brazil, Romania, Albania, China.
Keir Starmer should look at what is going out in his name on X and rein it in. There is no point retracting the accidental allusions to Enoch Powell if the Downing St comms team seem to be apeing the Willie Horton playbook
