Alan Allport
@alanallport.bsky.social
Professor, historian, husband, dad, scouser, gobby. Author of Demobbed (2009), Browned Off & Bloody-Minded (2015), Britain at Bay (2020), Advance Britannia (2025). “Awesome but a bit boring” (RMP). Personal account.
Pinned
Alan Allport
@alanallport.bsky.social
· Jan 6
Why the British Were Afraid of Winning World War II
www.nytimes.com
#AdvanceBritannia is released in North America today. The NYT review says (ahem): “Elegant and unsparing … Allport is a fluid writer, a conjurer with the rare ability to sustain a gripping narrative without resorting to Vaseline-lensed sentimentality.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/b...
A CHAMBER IN WINDSOR CASTLE
Enter KING CHARLES, attended. A HERALD enters.
HERALD: My liege, ill news doth ride upon swift hooves
And would not wait for ceremony’s leave!
Your brother, York, hath broke his prison bonds
And fled the Tower ere the morning watch.
Enter KING CHARLES, attended. A HERALD enters.
HERALD: My liege, ill news doth ride upon swift hooves
And would not wait for ceremony’s leave!
Your brother, York, hath broke his prison bonds
And fled the Tower ere the morning watch.
If the Duke of York escaped prison, fled to France, raised an army and landed at Newhaven to try to overthrow his brother I’m not saying it would be a good thing but as a historian I wouldn’t exactly hate it.
February 19, 2026 at 3:22 PM
A CHAMBER IN WINDSOR CASTLE
Enter KING CHARLES, attended. A HERALD enters.
HERALD: My liege, ill news doth ride upon swift hooves
And would not wait for ceremony’s leave!
Your brother, York, hath broke his prison bonds
And fled the Tower ere the morning watch.
Enter KING CHARLES, attended. A HERALD enters.
HERALD: My liege, ill news doth ride upon swift hooves
And would not wait for ceremony’s leave!
Your brother, York, hath broke his prison bonds
And fled the Tower ere the morning watch.
Is there any other?
February 19, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Is there any other?
There’s a case for saying Hoover’s disastrous presidency overshadows the genuinely good work he did for humanitarian food relief after the two world wars.
There’s basically no case for trying to rehabilitate him as POTUS as McArdle tries here.
There’s basically no case for trying to rehabilitate him as POTUS as McArdle tries here.
February 19, 2026 at 2:46 PM
There’s a case for saying Hoover’s disastrous presidency overshadows the genuinely good work he did for humanitarian food relief after the two world wars.
There’s basically no case for trying to rehabilitate him as POTUS as McArdle tries here.
There’s basically no case for trying to rehabilitate him as POTUS as McArdle tries here.
BlueSky today
a man with a crown on his head and a cane
ALT: a man with a crown on his head and a cane
media.tenor.com
February 19, 2026 at 2:29 PM
BlueSky today
NYT: Here’s why this is bad for Joe Biden
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, maintains the spotlight on links between the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of Britain and Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Prince Andrew’s Ties to Epstein Keep Spotlight on UK Prime Minister Starmer
The arrest of the former prince maintains the spotlight on links between the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Jeffrey Epstein.
nyti.ms
February 19, 2026 at 2:25 PM
NYT: Here’s why this is bad for Joe Biden
SCOTUS would order her immediately deported
We need Melania to flip on Trump and turn state witness for full immunity.
February 19, 2026 at 2:24 PM
SCOTUS would order her immediately deported
Good. (Damn, the UK is on a roll today)
🔺 BREAKING: UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran
UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran
UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran
www.thetimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Good. (Damn, the UK is on a roll today)
Reposted by Alan Allport
It is notable that Andrew has been arrested for "misconduct in public office", which is precisely what the US Supreme Court decided no American president can ever be charged with.
So SCOTUS, with its fabricated-out-of-thin-air immunity doctrine, has actually made American presidents less accountable than LITERAL royalty.
Breaking News: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested in Britain on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC said.
February 19, 2026 at 12:22 PM
It is notable that Andrew has been arrested for "misconduct in public office", which is precisely what the US Supreme Court decided no American president can ever be charged with.
Reposted by Alan Allport
Getting shown up in the arena of elite impunity by *the British monarchy* is an incredible “America at 250!” achievement
February 19, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Getting shown up in the arena of elite impunity by *the British monarchy* is an incredible “America at 250!” achievement
Reposted by Alan Allport
UK: Prince Andrew arrested.
South Korea: Former President Yoon sentenced for life.
Brazil: Former President Bolsonaro serving a 27-year sentence.
USA: President Trump demands $10 billion payout from taxpayers.
South Korea: Former President Yoon sentenced for life.
Brazil: Former President Bolsonaro serving a 27-year sentence.
USA: President Trump demands $10 billion payout from taxpayers.
February 19, 2026 at 1:08 PM
UK: Prince Andrew arrested.
South Korea: Former President Yoon sentenced for life.
Brazil: Former President Bolsonaro serving a 27-year sentence.
USA: President Trump demands $10 billion payout from taxpayers.
South Korea: Former President Yoon sentenced for life.
Brazil: Former President Bolsonaro serving a 27-year sentence.
USA: President Trump demands $10 billion payout from taxpayers.
If the Duke of York escaped prison, fled to France, raised an army and landed at Newhaven to try to overthrow his brother I’m not saying it would be a good thing but as a historian I wouldn’t exactly hate it.
February 19, 2026 at 1:26 PM
If the Duke of York escaped prison, fled to France, raised an army and landed at Newhaven to try to overthrow his brother I’m not saying it would be a good thing but as a historian I wouldn’t exactly hate it.
Reposted by Alan Allport
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
February 19, 2026 at 4:44 AM
“my children might see the children I voted to put in shackles, how shall they grow up”
Reposted by Alan Allport
Come, Sir Andrew, there’s no remedy
February 19, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Come, Sir Andrew, there’s no remedy
Reposted by Alan Allport
So SCOTUS, with its fabricated-out-of-thin-air immunity doctrine, has actually made American presidents less accountable than LITERAL royalty.
Breaking News: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested in Britain on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC said.
UK Police Arrest Former Prince Andrew Over Epstein Ties: Live Updates
The British police on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of criminal activity linked to the Epstein files.
nyti.ms
February 19, 2026 at 10:50 AM
So SCOTUS, with its fabricated-out-of-thin-air immunity doctrine, has actually made American presidents less accountable than LITERAL royalty.
Reposted by Alan Allport
The UK arrested Prince Andrew. Hakeem Jeffries is telling Democrats not to boo Trump at the State of the Union.
February 19, 2026 at 1:02 PM
The UK arrested Prince Andrew. Hakeem Jeffries is telling Democrats not to boo Trump at the State of the Union.
This is the start of a Lovecraft story
The identification of a 'smiling' object found on Holy Island in Northumberland has been confirmed by BGS senior paleontologist Jan Hennissen.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Smiling' fossil discovered in Northumberland
The unusual looking fossil is estimated to be a few hundred million years old dating to the Carboniferous period.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 19, 2026 at 1:15 PM
This is the start of a Lovecraft story
Reposted by Alan Allport
2026 basically
February 18, 2026 at 4:23 PM
2026 basically
Reposted by Alan Allport
I recently received “The Bomber Mafia” as a birthday gift (heh). It was bad, so bad that I believe it cannot be read as a reliable account of strategic bombing in World War II. In so many ways, it demonstrates the worst tendencies of the “pop history” genre. My review (and latest)⬇️
Strategic Bombing and the Pop History Problem
Reviewing Malcom Gladwell’s “The Bomber Mafia”
secretaryrofdefenserock.substack.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I recently received “The Bomber Mafia” as a birthday gift (heh). It was bad, so bad that I believe it cannot be read as a reliable account of strategic bombing in World War II. In so many ways, it demonstrates the worst tendencies of the “pop history” genre. My review (and latest)⬇️
“Is there a technology that the left is excited about?”
February 18, 2026 at 5:24 PM
“Is there a technology that the left is excited about?”
Reposted by Alan Allport
A map, ca. 1942, of the "current status of U.S. Navy" in the Pacific War, w/ inset maps of military installations in Hawaii and the Philippines
February 18, 2026 at 6:04 AM
A map, ca. 1942, of the "current status of U.S. Navy" in the Pacific War, w/ inset maps of military installations in Hawaii and the Philippines
Are there any laws at all? Frankly it’s all a big mystery
BARTIROMO: Could the president just implement an executive order to get the SAVE Act across the finish line going into the midterms?
REP. MARK HARRIS: That's a great question. I don't know the answer to that, quite frankly.
REP. MARK HARRIS: That's a great question. I don't know the answer to that, quite frankly.
February 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Are there any laws at all? Frankly it’s all a big mystery
Reposted by Alan Allport
ITS NOT A YES OR NO QUESTION THATS THE WHOLE POINT OF STRATEGIC AMBIGUITY YOU DUMB FUCK
February 18, 2026 at 2:33 PM
ITS NOT A YES OR NO QUESTION THATS THE WHOLE POINT OF STRATEGIC AMBIGUITY YOU DUMB FUCK
Reposted by Alan Allport
Dude may I introduce you to the distinction between the productive forces and the social relations of production
February 18, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Dude may I introduce you to the distinction between the productive forces and the social relations of production
It’s all kicking off in Legoland
February 18, 2026 at 1:09 PM
It’s all kicking off in Legoland
Reposted by Alan Allport
Had to get some new passport photos done as part of my long term process of becoming Irish (thanks Brexit)
Won't share here, but this was the convo:
PHOTOG: Remember. Don't smile.
ME: <not smiling>
PHOTOG: Okay you look like a Reform Councillor caught with his hand in the jar. Maybe smile a bit.
Won't share here, but this was the convo:
PHOTOG: Remember. Don't smile.
ME: <not smiling>
PHOTOG: Okay you look like a Reform Councillor caught with his hand in the jar. Maybe smile a bit.
February 18, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Had to get some new passport photos done as part of my long term process of becoming Irish (thanks Brexit)
Won't share here, but this was the convo:
PHOTOG: Remember. Don't smile.
ME: <not smiling>
PHOTOG: Okay you look like a Reform Councillor caught with his hand in the jar. Maybe smile a bit.
Won't share here, but this was the convo:
PHOTOG: Remember. Don't smile.
ME: <not smiling>
PHOTOG: Okay you look like a Reform Councillor caught with his hand in the jar. Maybe smile a bit.