Finn Pollard
@heresfinn.bsky.social
Head of Academic Quality. Associate Prof (US History). Pollard's US Politics Thread (Fridays). Arts Reviewer. Lib Dem/Remainer. Views my own not UoL.
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Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 23rd Jan 2026, or, The We Must Not Lose Sight of What Is Happening In Minneapolis Edition… (1/55)
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 23rd Jan 2026, or, The We Must Not Lose Sight of What Is Happening In Minneapolis Edition… (1/55)
January 23, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 23rd Jan 2026, or, The We Must Not Lose Sight of What Is Happening In Minneapolis Edition… (1/55)
Revealing to watch Farage trying to serve two masters in his remarks today on Greenland.
January 21, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Revealing to watch Farage trying to serve two masters in his remarks today on Greenland.
It seems to me that many Dems in US & politicians in general in UK are sufficiently scarred by primarily two past events - Trump's '24 victory for the former & Brexit for the latter (both signifiers for broader phenomena) that they may be struggling to perceive significant change & opportunity.
January 20, 2026 at 2:23 PM
It seems to me that many Dems in US & politicians in general in UK are sufficiently scarred by primarily two past events - Trump's '24 victory for the former & Brexit for the latter (both signifiers for broader phenomena) that they may be struggling to perceive significant change & opportunity.
It’s revealing that Farage backed out of going on BBC’s Sun am show this wk. Trump’s increasing extremism is a problem for him. It also offers Labour/Starmer a route to reset terms of U.K./EU debate & their challenge to Reform. Whether Starmer/Lab can see this is another question.
January 18, 2026 at 12:44 PM
It’s revealing that Farage backed out of going on BBC’s Sun am show this wk. Trump’s increasing extremism is a problem for him. It also offers Labour/Starmer a route to reset terms of U.K./EU debate & their challenge to Reform. Whether Starmer/Lab can see this is another question.
When someone like Hunt says he can’t believe Trump would actually seize Greenland I really wonder if he’s been paying attention to the first year of the Administration.
January 18, 2026 at 12:27 PM
When someone like Hunt says he can’t believe Trump would actually seize Greenland I really wonder if he’s been paying attention to the first year of the Administration.
Reposted by Finn Pollard
Give him Rockall and tell him it is Greenland.
January 17, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Give him Rockall and tell him it is Greenland.
Greetings Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 16th Jan 2026, or, The ICE Remains Unchecked Edition… (1/57)
January 16, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Greetings Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 16th Jan 2026, or, The ICE Remains Unchecked Edition… (1/57)
Reposted by Finn Pollard
A Tory spokesperson goes in two-footed: "Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train. Their latest recruit used to say he'd be 'frightened to live in a country' run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale."
Former Conservative cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK
Having served in numerous ministerial positions for successive prime ministers, his defection will likely be seen as the most high-profile yet
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister," he said on Monday morning
Having served in numerous ministerial positions for successive prime ministers, his defection will likely be seen as the most high-profile yet
"Britain needs Nigel Farage as prime minister," he said on Monday morning
Former Tory Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi Defects To Reform UK
Former Conservative cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi has defected to Reform UK.
www.politicshome.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:49 AM
A Tory spokesperson goes in two-footed: "Reform is fast becoming the party of has-been politicians looking for their next gravy train. Their latest recruit used to say he'd be 'frightened to live in a country' run by Nigel Farage, which shows the level of loyalty for sale."
Farage and Reform ought to get a much harder time from the media over the fact that they are becoming ever more a home for disgraced former ministers of the last disastrous government. It ought to present something of a challenge to their claim to be different/fresh etc.
January 12, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Farage and Reform ought to get a much harder time from the media over the fact that they are becoming ever more a home for disgraced former ministers of the last disastrous government. It ought to present something of a challenge to their claim to be different/fresh etc.
I’d love to know why the BBC have got rid of the Counterpoint studio audience for the new series - just a complete lack of atmosphere now.
January 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
I’d love to know why the BBC have got rid of the Counterpoint studio audience for the new series - just a complete lack of atmosphere now.
Bridge Into the Woods is excellent. A very strong ensemble and well conceived and directed production. Had tears in my eyes in the second half as usual. Highly recommended.
January 10, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Bridge Into the Woods is excellent. A very strong ensemble and well conceived and directed production. Had tears in my eyes in the second half as usual. Highly recommended.
Hi there and hello and Happy New Year! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 9th Jan 2026, or, The Trump Administration Unrestrained Edition… (1/67)
January 9, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Hi there and hello and Happy New Year! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 9th Jan 2026, or, The Trump Administration Unrestrained Edition… (1/67)
NT Playboy of the Western World: Another underwhelming show from the new regime. Baffled as to why this was revived - struck me as a muddled, dull interpretation. Yet another intrusive overdone soundscape. The Pagan-like interludes were just bizarre.
January 3, 2026 at 6:08 PM
NT Playboy of the Western World: Another underwhelming show from the new regime. Baffled as to why this was revived - struck me as a muddled, dull interpretation. Yet another intrusive overdone soundscape. The Pagan-like interludes were just bizarre.
It’s bizarrely presented here (& annoyingly broken into 2 parts since BBC radio appears to think nobody can cope with long form drama) but amazingly it seems R4 are doing a version of 1776 as part of their 250 Declaration series: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Episode 1 (Story of America)
Star-studded drama for the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 28, 2025 at 4:31 PM
It’s bizarrely presented here (& annoyingly broken into 2 parts since BBC radio appears to think nobody can cope with long form drama) but amazingly it seems R4 are doing a version of 1776 as part of their 250 Declaration series: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Greeting Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 19th Dec 2025, or The Flirting with War Edition… (1/34)
December 19, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Greeting Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 19th Dec 2025, or The Flirting with War Edition… (1/34)
My thoughts (a considerable number of them) on the Royal Opera's new Ariodante: www.wheresrunnicles.com/2025/12/ario...
Ariodante at the Royal, or, Mijnssen At War With the Work
Note: This is a review of the matinee performance on Sunday 14th December 2025. After seeing this director's unpersuasive production of Par...
www.wheresrunnicles.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM
My thoughts (a considerable number of them) on the Royal Opera's new Ariodante: www.wheresrunnicles.com/2025/12/ario...
I expected the ENO English translation to echo in my ears at Ariodante. I didn’t expect so many images from it to come back to my mind. To the detriment I’m afraid of Mijnssen’s new ROH production.
December 14, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I expected the ENO English translation to echo in my ears at Ariodante. I didn’t expect so many images from it to come back to my mind. To the detriment I’m afraid of Mijnssen’s new ROH production.
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 12th Dec 2025, or The Just Because I Narrated this Anti Vaccine Documentary Doesn’t Mean I Agree With It… (1/41)
December 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 12th Dec 2025, or The Just Because I Narrated this Anti Vaccine Documentary Doesn’t Mean I Agree With It… (1/41)
Reposted by Finn Pollard
A “Reform vs Not Reform” strategy is only going to work for Labour if they are seen as credibly “not Reform” by LD/Green curious voters. Every hardline intervention on immigration weakens that credibility but without persuading Reform curious voters.
December 12, 2025 at 12:35 PM
A “Reform vs Not Reform” strategy is only going to work for Labour if they are seen as credibly “not Reform” by LD/Green curious voters. Every hardline intervention on immigration weakens that credibility but without persuading Reform curious voters.
The RSC have shown they can operate without the Barbican. The loss of the unusual in international theatre that Barbican still programmes will leave a big gap. Biggest problem at first glance looks to be for LSO: www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
Barbican to close its doors for a year for multimillion-pound renovation
London site’s theatre, music venue and galleries to close in June 2028, in first stage of upgrades before 50th anniversary
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The RSC have shown they can operate without the Barbican. The loss of the unusual in international theatre that Barbican still programmes will leave a big gap. Biggest problem at first glance looks to be for LSO: www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...
ROH Last Days: Surprised this has merited such a swift revival. The ensemble does their best but for an opera there was for me a fatal lack of drama.
December 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM
ROH Last Days: Surprised this has merited such a swift revival. The ensemble does their best but for an opera there was for me a fatal lack of drama.
As a regular customer I’m finding the overly complex processes London theatre & opera venues seem to increasingly put you through in order to share tickets really quite irritating.
December 5, 2025 at 8:41 PM
As a regular customer I’m finding the overly complex processes London theatre & opera venues seem to increasingly put you through in order to share tickets really quite irritating.
Greetings Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 5th Dec 2025, or, The It Was Definitely Legal But If It Wasn’t It Was All the Admiral’s Idea Edition… (1/47)
December 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Greetings Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 5th Dec 2025, or, The It Was Definitely Legal But If It Wasn’t It Was All the Admiral’s Idea Edition… (1/47)
I’m probably influenced by my recollections of Fein’s Oklahoma (wch I really disliked) but the new publicity image for his upcoming Bridge Into the Woods is making me worry that he thinks it’s a horror movie (it really isn’t).
November 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
I’m probably influenced by my recollections of Fein’s Oklahoma (wch I really disliked) but the new publicity image for his upcoming Bridge Into the Woods is making me worry that he thinks it’s a horror movie (it really isn’t).
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 28th Nov 2025, or The Redefining Sedition Edition… (1/35)
November 28, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 28th Nov 2025, or The Redefining Sedition Edition… (1/35)