Gabriel Milland
@gabrielmilland.bsky.social
Research and policy for the bravest people in England and Wales. Former senior UK government comms official and adviser. Happiest in a focus group. Once a journalist. Further back, a historian. Halberdier. Bristol City FC.
Good luck trying to flog a Club World Cup made up of teams from the Saudi and El Salvadorean leagues.
February 19, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Good luck trying to flog a Club World Cup made up of teams from the Saudi and El Salvadorean leagues.
UEFA should secede from FIFA.
Red USA caps have been handed out to every member of Trump's "Board of Peace" ahead of its first meeting.
And yes, that is FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
And yes, that is FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
February 19, 2026 at 2:40 PM
UEFA should secede from FIFA.
Seismic moment for the idea of "a royal family" I reckon, not so much for the monarchy. If the monarchy survived the Abdication Crisis it can survive this.
BBC reporting that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
There is no precedent for a senior member of the royal family being placed under arrest in modern British history. A seismic moment for the monarchy.
There is no precedent for a senior member of the royal family being placed under arrest in modern British history. A seismic moment for the monarchy.
February 19, 2026 at 11:12 AM
Seismic moment for the idea of "a royal family" I reckon, not so much for the monarchy. If the monarchy survived the Abdication Crisis it can survive this.
With the 1966 declaration on the other side of the ledger, of course.
February 19, 2026 at 11:10 AM
With the 1966 declaration on the other side of the ledger, of course.
As a one-time historian who then became a hack, I wholeheartedly agree with her. The only three things you really need are law, shorthand and some sense of history. Plus, of course, Nick Tomalin's "ratlike cunning, a plausible manner, and a little literary ability".
February 19, 2026 at 11:08 AM
As a one-time historian who then became a hack, I wholeheartedly agree with her. The only three things you really need are law, shorthand and some sense of history. Plus, of course, Nick Tomalin's "ratlike cunning, a plausible manner, and a little literary ability".
But for real.
February 19, 2026 at 10:09 AM
But for real.
If you've got a history book at home, take it out, throw it in the bin โ it's worthless. The history books will now have to be rewritten.
February 19, 2026 at 10:09 AM
If you've got a history book at home, take it out, throw it in the bin โ it's worthless. The history books will now have to be rewritten.
I'm unconvinced that De Gaulle ever cared a jot about regional sovereignty. Whereas *French* sovereignty was the over-riding, dominant passion of his entire career.
February 19, 2026 at 9:45 AM
I'm unconvinced that De Gaulle ever cared a jot about regional sovereignty. Whereas *French* sovereignty was the over-riding, dominant passion of his entire career.
His love for his daughter is extremely touching. The most human thing about him.
February 19, 2026 at 9:38 AM
His love for his daughter is extremely touching. The most human thing about him.
The former, bien sur.
February 19, 2026 at 9:34 AM
The former, bien sur.
I mean, the guy was a seriously great man. Perhaps the most impressive western politician of the 20th century. But he was not uncomplicated.
February 19, 2026 at 9:32 AM
I mean, the guy was a seriously great man. Perhaps the most impressive western politician of the 20th century. But he was not uncomplicated.
I AM ONCE AGAIN PLEADING WITH THOSE ADVOCATING 21ST CENTURY GAULLISM FOR EUROPE TO CONSIDER DE GAULLE'S DISTINCTLY MUNICHOIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE USSR.
Donald Trumpโs America makes Gaullism respectable again
That irritating feeling that France was right
Donald Trumpโs America makes Gaullism respectable again
econ.st
February 19, 2026 at 9:28 AM
I AM ONCE AGAIN PLEADING WITH THOSE ADVOCATING 21ST CENTURY GAULLISM FOR EUROPE TO CONSIDER DE GAULLE'S DISTINCTLY MUNICHOIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE USSR.
Moving search from an approach that privileges reliability to one which only cares about plausibility may be one of the greatest reversals in human knowledge since the renaissance.
I just did the dumbest thing of my entire career to prove a much more serious point.
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users Iโm a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. Iโll explain how I did it
I tricked ChatGPT and Google, and made them tell other users Iโm a competitive hot-dog-eating world champion
People are using this trick on a massive scale to make AI tell you lies. Iโll explain how I did it
February 19, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Moving search from an approach that privileges reliability to one which only cares about plausibility may be one of the greatest reversals in human knowledge since the renaissance.
Reposted by Gabriel Milland
Vulcan Street, Leeds, 1975, by Peter Mitchell, one of the great 20th century photographers (he had various jobs including lorry driving while taking pictures). The man is Eric Massheder.
February 19, 2026 at 8:27 AM
Vulcan Street, Leeds, 1975, by Peter Mitchell, one of the great 20th century photographers (he had various jobs including lorry driving while taking pictures). The man is Eric Massheder.
It's making the United States look a lot sillier.
February 19, 2026 at 8:15 AM
It's making the United States look a lot sillier.
Latest data point in "America no longer has an actual foreign policy, merely a set of urgings".
Just what is happening in Washington? It was only yesterday that the State Department was trying to merrily wave through Keir Starmerโs great Chagos sell-out.
โ๏ธ Steerpike spectator.com/article/trum...
โ๏ธ Steerpike spectator.com/article/trum...
Trump slaps down State Department on Chagos
Just what is happening in Washington? It was only yesterday that the State Department was trying to merrily wave through Keir Starmerโs great Chagos sell-out, issuing a glowing statement suggestingโฆ
spectator.com
February 19, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Latest data point in "America no longer has an actual foreign policy, merely a set of urgings".
There's both a Dissenting tradition in that area and a really strong anti-feudal one (like in plenty of bits of East Anglia).
February 18, 2026 at 1:09 PM
There's both a Dissenting tradition in that area and a really strong anti-feudal one (like in plenty of bits of East Anglia).
Take Mike Martin in Tunbridge Wells. An accomplished soldier, writer, commentator. Has disappeared from defence, it seems. But has been phenomenally busy on the water crisis on his patch. That's how you get back in.
February 18, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Take Mike Martin in Tunbridge Wells. An accomplished soldier, writer, commentator. Has disappeared from defence, it seems. But has been phenomenally busy on the water crisis on his patch. That's how you get back in.
You'd think so, wouldn't you? Especially as their '24 intake has some real potential stars in it.
February 18, 2026 at 12:58 PM
You'd think so, wouldn't you? Especially as their '24 intake has some real potential stars in it.
Yes. Yes I think they probably are. Everyone needs a hobby and, let's be honest, being in government and running stuff did not end well for them.
February 18, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Yes. Yes I think they probably are. Everyone needs a hobby and, let's be honest, being in government and running stuff did not end well for them.
DF's sole prescription seems to be that LDs turn themselves into a version of the FDP. Not much evidence that has been successful in Germany, let alone anywhere else.
February 18, 2026 at 12:39 PM
DF's sole prescription seems to be that LDs turn themselves into a version of the FDP. Not much evidence that has been successful in Germany, let alone anywhere else.
Indeed. I spend a lot of time in Esher&Walton and I struggle to see anyone at Surbiton Hockey Club (just inside the seat, in Elmbridge borough) voting Tory. Twenty years ago, they all would have done.
February 18, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Indeed. I spend a lot of time in Esher&Walton and I struggle to see anyone at Surbiton Hockey Club (just inside the seat, in Elmbridge borough) voting Tory. Twenty years ago, they all would have done.
And a Labour one too.
February 18, 2026 at 12:35 PM
And a Labour one too.
Yup. Same with some West Country seats. But there is a proper Liberal tradition in North Norfolk.
February 18, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Yup. Same with some West Country seats. But there is a proper Liberal tradition in North Norfolk.
That was the Whigs! I'm thinking post GRA and especially post 1867.
February 18, 2026 at 12:30 PM
That was the Whigs! I'm thinking post GRA and especially post 1867.