Matthew Sweet
@drmatthewsweet.bsky.social
Writer, broadcaster, Barbara Cartland fan
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
Oh but of course Marc Hauser was an Epstein pal. A fraud who faked his data. One of my very first R4 docs was on him and his work, on the evolution of morality. Other Harvard colleagues refused to comment, one trembling with fear when I asked him.
For those of us who were grad students at Harvard in the 1990s it’s interesting to read Marc Hauser’s correspondence with JE, through the lens of Hauser’s subsequent departure from Harvard bc of scientific misconduct.
February 1, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Oh but of course Marc Hauser was an Epstein pal. A fraud who faked his data. One of my very first R4 docs was on him and his work, on the evolution of morality. Other Harvard colleagues refused to comment, one trembling with fear when I asked him.
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
Honestly what is the point of having a programme that is *not* live if you are not going to use that function to aggressively factcheck the people on it?
It is quite striking that Konstantin Kisin simply denied (falsely) on BBC1 that he had said what he said, word for word, on his podcast.
Konstantin Kisin straight up lying on #bbcqt
Douglas Alexander: “When Fraser Nelson put it to you that Rishi Sunak is absolutely english… you said “he’s a brown Hindu, how is he english?”
Kisin: “No, that’s not what I said...”
Douglas Alexander: “When Fraser Nelson put it to you that Rishi Sunak is absolutely english… you said “he’s a brown Hindu, how is he english?”
Kisin: “No, that’s not what I said...”
January 30, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Honestly what is the point of having a programme that is *not* live if you are not going to use that function to aggressively factcheck the people on it?
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
Looking forward to discussing Is Might Right? with @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social and others on Free Thinking Feb 6th 21.00: bit.ly/4k8EneG
BBC Radio 4 - Free Thinking, Is Might Right?
An intellectual history of the idea that might is right, from Plato to Carl Schmitt.
bit.ly
January 29, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Looking forward to discussing Is Might Right? with @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social and others on Free Thinking Feb 6th 21.00: bit.ly/4k8EneG
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
From undercover field operatives to online anonymity,via lives led in the closet and large scale infidelity, @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social discusses the what can prompt people to lead double lives.
Only the BBC does this. Part of <48p a day per UK household licence fee. Because we enjoy conversation.
Only the BBC does this. Part of <48p a day per UK household licence fee. Because we enjoy conversation.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/.... Evening stroll soundtrack: a magnificent edition of Free Thinking presented by @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social @bbcsounds.bsky.social Well worth hearing!
Free Thinking - Double Lives - BBC Sounds
From spying behind enemy lines in WWII France to lives lived online.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 7:59 PM
From undercover field operatives to online anonymity,via lives led in the closet and large scale infidelity, @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social discusses the what can prompt people to lead double lives.
Only the BBC does this. Part of <48p a day per UK household licence fee. Because we enjoy conversation.
Only the BBC does this. Part of <48p a day per UK household licence fee. Because we enjoy conversation.
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
w.b. yeats died on this day in 1939. if, instead of dying, he had begun to age again but in reverse, he would have reached his birth - i.e. become 0 years old - in 2012. Assuming that he then began ageing in the normal direction again, he would currently be 14 years old and preparing for his gcses
January 28, 2026 at 5:00 PM
w.b. yeats died on this day in 1939. if, instead of dying, he had begun to age again but in reverse, he would have reached his birth - i.e. become 0 years old - in 2012. Assuming that he then began ageing in the normal direction again, he would currently be 14 years old and preparing for his gcses
Diddly-dum, diddly-dum, DIDDLY-DIDDLY-DIDDLY-DUM.
January 28, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Diddly-dum, diddly-dum, DIDDLY-DIDDLY-DIDDLY-DUM.
The Doctor speaks
Much though I have enjoyed all of my many trips to the USA over forty or so years I have realised that I cannot go there any more until there is what we might call ‘regime change’ Like Iran they are killing their own citizens. Tragic
January 25, 2026 at 12:34 PM
The Doctor speaks
On the iPlayer until civilisation collapses
January 25, 2026 at 10:11 AM
On the iPlayer until civilisation collapses
Just one little Greenland
Trump says NATO has never given America anything and now he’s calling in the debt.
“All we’re asking for is to get Greenland”.
“All we’re asking for is to get Greenland”.
January 21, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Just one little Greenland
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
The New World asked me to speak to some British trans women about what life has been like for them over the past few years - here's what they had to say, in their own words: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
January 21, 2026 at 9:38 AM
The New World asked me to speak to some British trans women about what life has been like for them over the past few years - here's what they had to say, in their own words: www.thenewworld.co.uk/marie-le-con...
92 today. My hero.
January 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM
92 today. My hero.
CITY TO GLASGOW ART SCHOOL: DROP DEAD
NEW: Glasgow City Council has just approved a massive AI-generated mural to be painted in the city centre.
The illustration of Scottish elements inexplicably contains a bald eagle.
The planner says those upset about it are "keyboard warriors" who should "calm down"
The illustration of Scottish elements inexplicably contains a bald eagle.
The planner says those upset about it are "keyboard warriors" who should "calm down"
January 20, 2026 at 2:09 PM
CITY TO GLASGOW ART SCHOOL: DROP DEAD
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
If you love your Sergio Leone get yourselves ready for one hell of a weekend in #Bristol this April! The Dollars Trilogy and much more to be screened.
Early bird passes (£25) available here: www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/meg...
Early bird passes (£25) available here: www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/meg...
January 20, 2026 at 2:07 PM
If you love your Sergio Leone get yourselves ready for one hell of a weekend in #Bristol this April! The Dollars Trilogy and much more to be screened.
Early bird passes (£25) available here: www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/meg...
Early bird passes (£25) available here: www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/meg...
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
He passed today, after having a stroke while on his way out to an evening at the opera.
my great-uncle in Sydney turned 100 this year, here's some of the cultural notes from his Christmas letter.
January 18, 2026 at 10:34 PM
He passed today, after having a stroke while on his way out to an evening at the opera.
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
📚 Job opportunity: Graduate Library Trainee (2026 to 2027)
Join the Warburg Institute Library for a paid year of training before library school.
Apply by: 1 February 2026
Find out more and apply: warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Join the Warburg Institute Library for a paid year of training before library school.
Apply by: 1 February 2026
Find out more and apply: warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
January 18, 2026 at 5:37 PM
📚 Job opportunity: Graduate Library Trainee (2026 to 2027)
Join the Warburg Institute Library for a paid year of training before library school.
Apply by: 1 February 2026
Find out more and apply: warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Join the Warburg Institute Library for a paid year of training before library school.
Apply by: 1 February 2026
Find out more and apply: warburg.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Made a last visit to our show at Index, the Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, before it closes next weekend. Just time for an experimental sound workshop and to look at excellent red and orange things.
January 18, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Made a last visit to our show at Index, the Swedish Contemporary Art Foundation, before it closes next weekend. Just time for an experimental sound workshop and to look at excellent red and orange things.
Bookish has crossed the Atlantic
January 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Bookish has crossed the Atlantic
Proprietor Aaron Aardvark
January 16, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Proprietor Aaron Aardvark
Paperbacks are here!
January 14, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Paperbacks are here!
Reposted by Matthew Sweet
👀
With subjects ranging from political propaganda to the metaphysics of light, the new acquisitions table in the Reading Room has been updated.
#PoliticalPropaganda #LibraryBooks #Metaphysics
With subjects ranging from political propaganda to the metaphysics of light, the new acquisitions table in the Reading Room has been updated.
#PoliticalPropaganda #LibraryBooks #Metaphysics
January 13, 2026 at 5:05 PM
👀
With subjects ranging from political propaganda to the metaphysics of light, the new acquisitions table in the Reading Room has been updated.
#PoliticalPropaganda #LibraryBooks #Metaphysics
With subjects ranging from political propaganda to the metaphysics of light, the new acquisitions table in the Reading Room has been updated.
#PoliticalPropaganda #LibraryBooks #Metaphysics
I think some populist commentators, in their bubbles, may not realise how far they are from the *people* they often invoke and claim to represent.
75% of Britons support making it illegal for companies to provide AI tools that are capable of creating intimate images of people without their consent, as the government announces legislation to outlaw them
Support: 75%
Oppose: 17%
yougov.co.uk/topics/techn...
Support: 75%
Oppose: 17%
yougov.co.uk/topics/techn...
January 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
I think some populist commentators, in their bubbles, may not realise how far they are from the *people* they often invoke and claim to represent.
This is hardly surprising if you’ve actually seen them at work on the street.
Ukip have submitted a new logo and slogan to the Electoral Commission, swapping the £ pound sterling symbol for a cross, that looks very much like it is modelled on the Iron Cross used by Prussia & Germany 1871-1918 and Hitler's Nazi regime from 1933-45
January 13, 2026 at 10:38 AM
This is hardly surprising if you’ve actually seen them at work on the street.
Wrote about the love of Lovejoy - with the help of Ian La Frenais and exec producer Tony Charles. www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2026/01/1...
Lovejoy at 40: Remembering TV’s rogue antiques dealer
A mullet and a murky moral code, Ian McShane was Sunday night’s most charming con man
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Wrote about the love of Lovejoy - with the help of Ian La Frenais and exec producer Tony Charles. www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2026/01/1...