David Klemperer
@dmk1793.bsky.social
Historian, researcher, and co-editor of @renewaljournal.bsky.social
Pinned
David Klemperer
@dmk1793.bsky.social
· Oct 26
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In today’s episode David & @dmk1793.bsky.social try to answer some of the hundreds of questions, comments and suggestions we have had about this series. How do we know if democracy is broken? Have we ever had a real democracy anyway?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Really enjoyed recording this discussion with David Runciman, covering threats to democracy, early 20thc theories of oligarchy, how algorithmic social media is changing politics, the problem with 19thc approaches to suffrage - and much, much more!
Reposted by David Klemperer
China. Russia. *Rubbing hands with glee*.
Useful idiot.
Useful idiot.
January 3, 2026 at 11:03 AM
China. Russia. *Rubbing hands with glee*.
Useful idiot.
Useful idiot.
Reposted by David Klemperer
What is the mechanism to prevent Putin from taking out Zelenskyy or Xi Jinping from taking out Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te in the same way Trump has just done with Maduro? Moscow and Beijing saw Venezuela as an ally, but they’re also noting the silver lining for them here.
January 3, 2026 at 10:51 AM
What is the mechanism to prevent Putin from taking out Zelenskyy or Xi Jinping from taking out Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te in the same way Trump has just done with Maduro? Moscow and Beijing saw Venezuela as an ally, but they’re also noting the silver lining for them here.
Reposted by David Klemperer
it's impossible to overstate the risible stupidity of the sentence 'Trump's attitude to American military power is almost indistinguishable from that of, say, Jeremy Corbyn'
'inside the red-faced hawk is a dove, with an almost physical horror of violence'
'Trump is as close as a pacifist as we've seen in the White House'
Pure pundit brain from Ian Leslie in March 2025
'Trump is as close as a pacifist as we've seen in the White House'
Pure pundit brain from Ian Leslie in March 2025
January 3, 2026 at 10:58 AM
it's impossible to overstate the risible stupidity of the sentence 'Trump's attitude to American military power is almost indistinguishable from that of, say, Jeremy Corbyn'
Reposted by David Klemperer
If this was just about drugs, Trump would not have pardoned the ex Honduran president convicted of drug-trafficking
Rubio has confirmed (via BBC) Maduro will stand trial in the U.S.
Fucking hell, call your reps.
Fucking hell, call your reps.
Chatham House expert has just declared the possibility that Maduro has likely been flown out of country to stand trial in the U.S. "in a violation of national sovereignty."
"The U.S. will morally own what the outcomes are."
"The U.S. will morally own what the outcomes are."
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
If this was just about drugs, Trump would not have pardoned the ex Honduran president convicted of drug-trafficking
Reposted by David Klemperer
Britain needs to condemn this for the obvious legal and moral reasons but at a strategic level you really don't want to accept anything that would legitimise another Argentinian push on the Falklands
January 3, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Britain needs to condemn this for the obvious legal and moral reasons but at a strategic level you really don't want to accept anything that would legitimise another Argentinian push on the Falklands
Reposted by David Klemperer
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Reposted by David Klemperer
Lost amid the discussion of why the Government should get off X is its utter uselessness as an engagement tool and the fact departments are wasting vast sums making content for it. Take this:
January 2, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Lost amid the discussion of why the Government should get off X is its utter uselessness as an engagement tool and the fact departments are wasting vast sums making content for it. Take this:
Reposted by David Klemperer
100% seriously, European leaders and Commission officials should plan on the basis that the US might do this to them too, about Greenland, about tech regulation, about “Christian values”, about “free speech”, whatever.
Fucking hell.
Think the referance to US Law Enforcement here is quite telling as well: a huge extension of how far the US feels its laws reach.
Apparently its fine to now attack and kidnap a head of state because of 'US law'. Fucking hell.
Think the referance to US Law Enforcement here is quite telling as well: a huge extension of how far the US feels its laws reach.
Apparently its fine to now attack and kidnap a head of state because of 'US law'. Fucking hell.
Trump says Maduro is in US custody.
January 3, 2026 at 9:59 AM
100% seriously, European leaders and Commission officials should plan on the basis that the US might do this to them too, about Greenland, about tech regulation, about “Christian values”, about “free speech”, whatever.
Reposted by David Klemperer
X/grok creating and platforming sexually explicit material of children isn’t just a lapse, it’s criminal.
Elon Musk and his companies should be held to account.
It’s been over a year since I dumped X. It was the right decision then and even more so now. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Elon Musk and his companies should be held to account.
It’s been over a year since I dumped X. It was the right decision then and even more so now. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Grok Posts Sexual Images of Minors After ‘Lapses in Safeguards’
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok said “lapses in safeguards” led to the generation of sexualized images of minors that it posted to social media site X.
www.bloomberg.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:48 AM
X/grok creating and platforming sexually explicit material of children isn’t just a lapse, it’s criminal.
Elon Musk and his companies should be held to account.
It’s been over a year since I dumped X. It was the right decision then and even more so now. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Elon Musk and his companies should be held to account.
It’s been over a year since I dumped X. It was the right decision then and even more so now. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by David Klemperer
The Government coming off X is the bare minimum and realistically at this point I think we should seriously be looking at taking enforcement action against the company, in line with the Online Safety Act and VAWG Strategy. I will be pressing the Government on this when Parliament returns next week.
January 2, 2026 at 9:26 PM
The Government coming off X is the bare minimum and realistically at this point I think we should seriously be looking at taking enforcement action against the company, in line with the Online Safety Act and VAWG Strategy. I will be pressing the Government on this when Parliament returns next week.
Reposted by David Klemperer
I used to love Twitter, even if I had to really reign in my shitposting when I got elected. It used to be genuinely useful professionally too. It has long ceased to have any positive net benefit, either individually or societally, and anyone in public life who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.
January 2, 2026 at 9:24 PM
I used to love Twitter, even if I had to really reign in my shitposting when I got elected. It used to be genuinely useful professionally too. It has long ceased to have any positive net benefit, either individually or societally, and anyone in public life who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves.
Reposted by David Klemperer
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Grok Is Being Used to Depict Horrific Violence Against Real Women
People are asking Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to alter images to depict women being sexually abused, humiliated, and even killed.
futurism.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:18 PM
There is, to my mind, no justification for the continued use by the UK Government of X as a platform for official comms. There hasn't been for some time, in fact, but if the latest developments around AI-generated image abuse and CSAM don't change the policy I really don't know what will.
Reposted by David Klemperer
I've written about why there is a arguably a political incentive for UK ministers to try and ignore the case of Shamima Begum, but also reasons why this might not be possible forever.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Ministers cannot go on ignoring the Shamima Begum case, for two important reasons
The fate of the woman who left the UK at 15 in search of Islamic State raises wider questions about citizenship
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I've written about why there is a arguably a political incentive for UK ministers to try and ignore the case of Shamima Begum, but also reasons why this might not be possible forever.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Reposted by David Klemperer
Now everyone is (rightly) all aerated about the nudity AI shit on X, can we please do something to stop the Pervert Glasses that will soon be in wide circulation?
January 2, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Now everyone is (rightly) all aerated about the nudity AI shit on X, can we please do something to stop the Pervert Glasses that will soon be in wide circulation?
Reposted by David Klemperer
Several French government ministers have reported the unlawful production of sexualised material without consent to the police and prosecutors. The UK government, which published a high profile strategy on misogyny just before Christmas, has yet to say or do anything
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
France to investigate deepfakes of women stripped naked by Grok
Hundreds of women and teenagers have reported their photos published on social media have been “undressed” by Grok.
www.politico.eu
January 2, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Several French government ministers have reported the unlawful production of sexualised material without consent to the police and prosecutors. The UK government, which published a high profile strategy on misogyny just before Christmas, has yet to say or do anything
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
www.politico.eu/article/fran...
Reposted by David Klemperer
The UK Government SAFE Framework for government advertising has some interesting things to say here. www.communications.gov.uk/publications...
January 2, 2026 at 5:25 PM
The UK Government SAFE Framework for government advertising has some interesting things to say here. www.communications.gov.uk/publications...
Reposted by David Klemperer
If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
If the British government, and indeed other governments, can’t muster a fast and strong response to Twitter adding a facility enabling users to create and share AI child sexual abuse material then not sure what Musk could ever do that would actually provoke a response.
Reposted by David Klemperer
This - on the digitisation/financialisation of cultural works - is worth a read. It shows how these changes in production have affected the aesthetic form of music. Showing how digital/asset capitalism changes the ideological aesthetics of Politics ought to be a major concern of Political Studies.
The Same Stream Twice | Rob Arcand
Two recent books, Liz Pelly’s Mood Machine and Andrew deWaard’s Derivative Media, explore the consequences of these technological intermediaries for the music, film, and television industries. While P...
www.nplusonemag.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
This - on the digitisation/financialisation of cultural works - is worth a read. It shows how these changes in production have affected the aesthetic form of music. Showing how digital/asset capitalism changes the ideological aesthetics of Politics ought to be a major concern of Political Studies.
Reposted by David Klemperer
I don't think the "stakeholder state" is useful framing but the "regulatory state" has grown massively.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
January 2, 2026 at 8:26 AM
I don't think the "stakeholder state" is useful framing but the "regulatory state" has grown massively.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
It's not a conspiracy against govt though but a function of centralisation (and privatisation). Ministers can't cope with responsibility for everything so set up agencies and regulators.
Reposted by David Klemperer
Exactly right John. They’ve pushed away the intermediary social & economic institutions that might help shape and implement reform and then get upset when they discover politics keeps on happening to them.
January 2, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Exactly right John. They’ve pushed away the intermediary social & economic institutions that might help shape and implement reform and then get upset when they discover politics keeps on happening to them.
Reposted by David Klemperer
The whole argument ignores the extent to which both parties have actively worked to hollow out the capacity of the state as economically active, concerned with distribution and able to deliver public services. What he is describing is ‘fringe’ only because it is too often all that is left.
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
The whole argument ignores the extent to which both parties have actively worked to hollow out the capacity of the state as economically active, concerned with distribution and able to deliver public services. What he is describing is ‘fringe’ only because it is too often all that is left.
Reposted by David Klemperer
This does seem just a little bit bad! Idk the sort of thing you’d think politicians might distance themselves from or something!
January 2, 2026 at 10:47 AM
This does seem just a little bit bad! Idk the sort of thing you’d think politicians might distance themselves from or something!
Reposted by David Klemperer
We need to bring back shame and aim a fire hose of it at anyone still using X.
This does seem just a little bit bad! Idk the sort of thing you’d think politicians might distance themselves from or something!
January 2, 2026 at 11:52 AM
We need to bring back shame and aim a fire hose of it at anyone still using X.
Reposted by David Klemperer
A new year is a moment to reflect and we’ve been busy! 🎉
These slides highlight some of what we achieved this year. None of it would be possible without our friends and comrades.
As we move into 2026, our struggle continues and there’s much more to do.
Help us achieve even more next year.
These slides highlight some of what we achieved this year. None of it would be possible without our friends and comrades.
As we move into 2026, our struggle continues and there’s much more to do.
Help us achieve even more next year.
January 1, 2026 at 7:55 PM
A new year is a moment to reflect and we’ve been busy! 🎉
These slides highlight some of what we achieved this year. None of it would be possible without our friends and comrades.
As we move into 2026, our struggle continues and there’s much more to do.
Help us achieve even more next year.
These slides highlight some of what we achieved this year. None of it would be possible without our friends and comrades.
As we move into 2026, our struggle continues and there’s much more to do.
Help us achieve even more next year.