Alfred Moore
@alfredmoore.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in political theory at the University of York. I work on democracy, and the politics of expertise, among other things. I’m here because I feel like I should for work.
Pinned
Alfred Moore
@alfredmoore.bsky.social
· Dec 12
As-if trust
A lot of what we understand to be trust is not trust; it is, instead, an active and conscious decision to feign trust. We call this ‘as-if’ trust. If trust involves taking on risks and vulnerabilit...
www.tandfonline.com
People often say they don't trust politicians, experts, and so on. And yet they continue to vote, get on aeroplanes, etc. What's going on? Maybe they don’t really mean it. But maybe they do not have sufficient warrant for trust. And choose to act as-if they trust. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Can We Criticize Experts and Keep Taking Their Advice? My part of a series for Zocalo Public Square. www.zocalopublicsquare.org/can-we-criti...
Can We Criticize Experts and Keep Taking Their Advice? | Essay
In a Post-Truth Age, a Political Scientist Argues That We Need to Defend Institutions But Be Open to Change
www.zocalopublicsquare.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Can We Criticize Experts and Keep Taking Their Advice? My part of a series for Zocalo Public Square. www.zocalopublicsquare.org/can-we-criti...
Reposted by Alfred Moore
I feel much safer this morning, knowing that all those sign-wielding Quakers and nuns are behind bars where they belong.
🚨 BREAKING | Police confirm 466 people were arrested for "terrorism" for holding signs at a Palestine demo.
This means more people have been arrested under terrorism legislation in 2025 than **any** other year.
(Source: Home Office)
This means more people have been arrested under terrorism legislation in 2025 than **any** other year.
(Source: Home Office)
August 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
I feel much safer this morning, knowing that all those sign-wielding Quakers and nuns are behind bars where they belong.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
There were plenty of measures that would’ve made it harder for Palestine Action to damage military infrastructure without criminalising statements of support for them.
As it stands the Home Office seems to be the best recruiter/promoter for Palestine Action in the organisation’s history.
As it stands the Home Office seems to be the best recruiter/promoter for Palestine Action in the organisation’s history.
August 10, 2025 at 8:15 AM
There were plenty of measures that would’ve made it harder for Palestine Action to damage military infrastructure without criminalising statements of support for them.
As it stands the Home Office seems to be the best recruiter/promoter for Palestine Action in the organisation’s history.
As it stands the Home Office seems to be the best recruiter/promoter for Palestine Action in the organisation’s history.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
‘The country has reached boiling point’ latest
Calls for a "huge nationwide wave" of protests in last 48 hours saw about 300 people attend one locally-organised protest in Nuneaton (serious charges in local case) + 19 protests range from 6 peoole (Wolverhampton) with about four more reaching 100-200 people (Altrincham,Canary Wharf)
Total < 2000
Total < 2000
August 10, 2025 at 9:40 AM
‘The country has reached boiling point’ latest
Hilarious and disturbing
Another 300 clicks here 🎁! on.ft.com/4ozyZmK Sunday at the garden party for Curtis Yarvin and the new, new right
August 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Hilarious and disturbing
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Another 300 clicks here 🎁! on.ft.com/4ozyZmK Sunday at the garden party for Curtis Yarvin and the new, new right
August 9, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Another 300 clicks here 🎁! on.ft.com/4ozyZmK Sunday at the garden party for Curtis Yarvin and the new, new right
Reposted by Alfred Moore
I spent the day with Curtis Yarvin and the "dissident right" at a garden party in Surrey and wrote quite a few words about it.
My cover story for today’s FT Magazine
on.ft.com/4ooXS4t [GIFT LINK! 🎁]
My cover story for today’s FT Magazine
on.ft.com/4ooXS4t [GIFT LINK! 🎁]
Sunday at the garden party for Curtis Yarvin and the new, new right
[FREE TO READ] What you learn at a gathering of neoreactionaries, Very Online rightwingers and the formerly cancelled
on.ft.com
August 9, 2025 at 8:26 AM
I spent the day with Curtis Yarvin and the "dissident right" at a garden party in Surrey and wrote quite a few words about it.
My cover story for today’s FT Magazine
on.ft.com/4ooXS4t [GIFT LINK! 🎁]
My cover story for today’s FT Magazine
on.ft.com/4ooXS4t [GIFT LINK! 🎁]
Reposted by Alfred Moore
"It is time to ensure that the legitimate concerns of ethnic minorities in Britain – about a concerted effort to dissolve foundational social norms against racism, and to deny our status as equal citizens – are heard too"
www.easterneye.biz/british-ethn...
www.easterneye.biz/british-ethn...
Are the legitimate concerns of ethnic minorities about racism being ignored?
'Politicians must not ignore threats to racial equality today'
www.easterneye.biz
August 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
"It is time to ensure that the legitimate concerns of ethnic minorities in Britain – about a concerted effort to dissolve foundational social norms against racism, and to deny our status as equal citizens – are heard too"
www.easterneye.biz/british-ethn...
www.easterneye.biz/british-ethn...
Reposted by Alfred Moore
These are the top replies, being financially rewarded for posting this stuff, and the explanation offered by the site’s own AI for why it’s like that.
Anyway just flicking through the Sunday newspapers reading about some minor content infractions that Ofcom might look into at the BBC/Channel 4.
Anyway just flicking through the Sunday newspapers reading about some minor content infractions that Ofcom might look into at the BBC/Channel 4.
August 3, 2025 at 6:34 AM
These are the top replies, being financially rewarded for posting this stuff, and the explanation offered by the site’s own AI for why it’s like that.
Anyway just flicking through the Sunday newspapers reading about some minor content infractions that Ofcom might look into at the BBC/Channel 4.
Anyway just flicking through the Sunday newspapers reading about some minor content infractions that Ofcom might look into at the BBC/Channel 4.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Government doing no review at all of its use of twitter/x for public comms since 2023 (see last RT) is completely demented. Dismiss what we here think of the platform as partisan bias, but like, the fact is: major corps have stopped advertising there and haven't returned
July 31, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Government doing no review at all of its use of twitter/x for public comms since 2023 (see last RT) is completely demented. Dismiss what we here think of the platform as partisan bias, but like, the fact is: major corps have stopped advertising there and haven't returned
Reposted by Alfred Moore
I think @robertshrimsley.bsky.social is much too kind to Jeremy Hunt here. In time, Hunt will come to be reviled as second worst chancellor in modern times after Kwarteng. In 1997, faced with similar circumstances, Ken Clarke put the national interest first. Hunt salted the earth. Shame on him
July 18, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I think @robertshrimsley.bsky.social is much too kind to Jeremy Hunt here. In time, Hunt will come to be reviled as second worst chancellor in modern times after Kwarteng. In 1997, faced with similar circumstances, Ken Clarke put the national interest first. Hunt salted the earth. Shame on him
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Some quick thoughts on reports that the government plans to abolish Ofwat, the water company regulator.
I think bringing together Ofwat (the economic regulator) and the environmental regulator (part of the Environment Agency) probably make sense...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
I think bringing together Ofwat (the economic regulator) and the environmental regulator (part of the Environment Agency) probably make sense...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Ofwat to be abolished as ministers look to create new water regulator
Move follows intense criticism of utilities over sewage spills, shareholder payouts and ballooning debts
www.theguardian.com
July 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Some quick thoughts on reports that the government plans to abolish Ofwat, the water company regulator.
I think bringing together Ofwat (the economic regulator) and the environmental regulator (part of the Environment Agency) probably make sense...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
I think bringing together Ofwat (the economic regulator) and the environmental regulator (part of the Environment Agency) probably make sense...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Just make ensure they have time, space and permission to play throughout their everyday lives. Oh, and enable them to walk and cycle for everyday journeys too.
Dutch kids get safe cycling routes to school, ours are encouraged to watch cartoon aerobics classes on their phones...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Joe Wicks and government join forces to get children moving
New animated series for kids, known as Activate, will get more children across the country moving more and encouraging a healthier lifestyle.
www.gov.uk
July 15, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Just make ensure they have time, space and permission to play throughout their everyday lives. Oh, and enable them to walk and cycle for everyday journeys too.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Killer bloody point
if one of our students went on to become a lead curator in the Second World War material at the IWM, we would be so proud of them as a department -- and the government would look at the starting salary and concede that we had not really 'added' any 'value' with our degree at all
July 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Killer bloody point
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Funny* isn't it how all of those mortally offended by "anti-semitism" at Ivy league unis don't seem as bothered by this stuff.
*Not funny.
*Not funny.
I obviously can't speak for other jews, but to me the world's richest man tweaking his AI so that it now describes things it doesn't like on a scale of "bagel to full Shabbat" and "Peak Jewish" is a somewhat higher priority than people being mean about the IDF at Glasto.
In case you're think Grok isn't being blatantly antisemitic, here's a few more posts from Grok on this topic.
July 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Funny* isn't it how all of those mortally offended by "anti-semitism" at Ivy league unis don't seem as bothered by this stuff.
*Not funny.
*Not funny.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
What’s the odds on “a major social network has an antisemitic AI built into it” being raised by lobby with PM’s spokesperson today? A special DCMS committee? Ofcom launching an emergency investigation? Seems it’s so hard to comprehend that people will just focus on more manageable screaming at BBC.
It would be nice to, among other things, get an answer from the UK government about why they still feel comfortable using this as one of their primary communication channels
Elon's AI is now actively recommending a second Holocaust
July 9, 2025 at 6:26 AM
What’s the odds on “a major social network has an antisemitic AI built into it” being raised by lobby with PM’s spokesperson today? A special DCMS committee? Ofcom launching an emergency investigation? Seems it’s so hard to comprehend that people will just focus on more manageable screaming at BBC.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
If the government wants to find the money (£7bn or so) to make up for its welfare U-turn, there's an easy answer - just don't implement the Immigration White Paper.
ukandeu.ac.uk/immigration_...
ukandeu.ac.uk/immigration_...
Immigration is down, should the government be happy? - UK in a changing Europe
Jonathan Portes analyses the latest ONS immigration statistics. He argues that net migration has dropped significantly, but that this will expose the...
ukandeu.ac.uk
July 2, 2025 at 7:33 PM
If the government wants to find the money (£7bn or so) to make up for its welfare U-turn, there's an easy answer - just don't implement the Immigration White Paper.
ukandeu.ac.uk/immigration_...
ukandeu.ac.uk/immigration_...
Reposted by Alfred Moore
The problem is no one making them seems to understand what made the good movies (1 & 3 only) work, possibly not even Spielberg & Lucas themselves. If it’s not deeply rooted in atheistic Indy’s personal struggle with evidence of a biblical God, it’s just some guy nicking stuff & getting into scrapes
Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise
Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise
It looks like Indiana Jones might actually be headed for the reboot treatment. According to a recent report from DisInsider , Disney and Lucasfilm are considering a full relaunch of the iconic adventure...
buff.ly
July 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The problem is no one making them seems to understand what made the good movies (1 & 3 only) work, possibly not even Spielberg & Lucas themselves. If it’s not deeply rooted in atheistic Indy’s personal struggle with evidence of a biblical God, it’s just some guy nicking stuff & getting into scrapes
Reposted by Alfred Moore
The good stuff in the Bill about making bus franchising simpler would be significantly undermined if this floating bus stops amendment isn’t rejected. Incredible way to wreck the progress made in building segregated cycling infrastructure that actually works for encouraging non-cyclists to try it.
As promised, my written evidence is now on the @cityinfinity.bsky.social website blog. It has also been acknowledged by Parliamentary support.
I hope you understand why I have unusually disabled replies.
cityinfinity.co.uk/2025/06/30/b...
I hope you understand why I have unusually disabled replies.
cityinfinity.co.uk/2025/06/30/b...
June 30, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The good stuff in the Bill about making bus franchising simpler would be significantly undermined if this floating bus stops amendment isn’t rejected. Incredible way to wreck the progress made in building segregated cycling infrastructure that actually works for encouraging non-cyclists to try it.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
We need more buses and for them to get around easily. We also need good cycling provision.
Sometimes, when other ways are not available, we need bus stop bypasses to keep cyclists out of traffic. They have some problems but mostly work fine.
Design them well, use them sparingly, but don't ban.
Sometimes, when other ways are not available, we need bus stop bypasses to keep cyclists out of traffic. They have some problems but mostly work fine.
Design them well, use them sparingly, but don't ban.
I have just spent a few hours writing up some evidence for the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill which is in the Commons committee stage.
It should be boring but important stuff about running bus services with a model that suits each area.
1/n
bills.parliament.uk/bills/3910/p...
It should be boring but important stuff about running bus services with a model that suits each area.
1/n
bills.parliament.uk/bills/3910/p...
Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
Documents, and debates for Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]
bills.parliament.uk
June 30, 2025 at 10:33 AM
We need more buses and for them to get around easily. We also need good cycling provision.
Sometimes, when other ways are not available, we need bus stop bypasses to keep cyclists out of traffic. They have some problems but mostly work fine.
Design them well, use them sparingly, but don't ban.
Sometimes, when other ways are not available, we need bus stop bypasses to keep cyclists out of traffic. They have some problems but mostly work fine.
Design them well, use them sparingly, but don't ban.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
So many genuine problems facing the UK - neither the government nor individuals have enough money, poor public services, threats from hostile foreign powers. That parts of the right obssess about "too many brown people in London" speaks volumes about their lack of solutions to the real problems.
Today’s London Standard has a big report on how the capital “isn’t working”. It blames immigrants, especially Muslims, and the lack of “White British”. It asks “if there’s a minimum number of natives” at which London must give it up its status as the UK capital. www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/lond...
June 20, 2025 at 6:06 AM
So many genuine problems facing the UK - neither the government nor individuals have enough money, poor public services, threats from hostile foreign powers. That parts of the right obssess about "too many brown people in London" speaks volumes about their lack of solutions to the real problems.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
The Tea Party protests in April 2009 had about a third of a million people involved, and the political media treated it like a game changer for the Obama presidency.
The No Kings rallies were AT LEAST ten times bigger than the Tea Party protests. Will the press keep pretending Trump is popular?
The No Kings rallies were AT LEAST ten times bigger than the Tea Party protests. Will the press keep pretending Trump is popular?
Based on crowd-sourced records of No Kings Day event turnout, and extrapolating for the cities where we don't have data yet, it looks like roughly 4-6 million people protested Trump across the U.S. yesterday. That's nearly 2% of the U.S. pop!
Mobilized anti-Trump resistance is exceeding 2017 levels
Mobilized anti-Trump resistance is exceeding 2017 levels
"No Kings Day" protests turn out millions
Our unofficial estimate is that around 4 million people attended a protest event yesterday. Anti-Trump resistance is outpacing 2017.
www.gelliottmorris.com
June 15, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The Tea Party protests in April 2009 had about a third of a million people involved, and the political media treated it like a game changer for the Obama presidency.
The No Kings rallies were AT LEAST ten times bigger than the Tea Party protests. Will the press keep pretending Trump is popular?
The No Kings rallies were AT LEAST ten times bigger than the Tea Party protests. Will the press keep pretending Trump is popular?
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Police departments have exponentially more control over how officers are recruited, trained, and overseen than a protest does over its participants, but are allowed by a sympathetic press to use the "bad apples" defense to separate deeds from goals and institutions in a way protestors often aren't.
June 15, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Police departments have exponentially more control over how officers are recruited, trained, and overseen than a protest does over its participants, but are allowed by a sympathetic press to use the "bad apples" defense to separate deeds from goals and institutions in a way protestors often aren't.
Reposted by Alfred Moore
Gov. Tim Walz says Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed last night in “a political assassination.”
June 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Gov. Tim Walz says Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed last night in “a political assassination.”