Iona Italia, PhD
@ionaitalia.bsky.social
🇬🇧🇮🇳🇦🇷Parsi 🔥 Based in Sydney. Local? Get in touch.
Managing Ed, @quillette.bsky.social
✍🏼 occasionally at Substack, The Second Swim
❤️ Chess, tango, gymnosophism, 🐕 Pro 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 🇹🇼
Duplicate of X account. Here once a week.
Managing Ed, @quillette.bsky.social
✍🏼 occasionally at Substack, The Second Swim
❤️ Chess, tango, gymnosophism, 🐕 Pro 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 🇹🇼
Duplicate of X account. Here once a week.
Pinned
Iona Italia, PhD
@ionaitalia.bsky.social
· Dec 31
My main wish for 2025 is to meet a man of around my age who is kind, intelligent, physically affectionate and single and build a relationship with him. I send this wish out into the ether just in case that man might be among my mutuals or their friends.
An impressive new biography of Jessica Mitford emphasises her sceptical and anti-authoritarian personality. But this was only half of the picture.
Red Sheep
An impressive new biography of Jessica Mitford emphasises her sceptical and anti-authoritarian personality. But this was only half of the picture.
quillette.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:52 AM
An impressive new biography of Jessica Mitford emphasises her sceptical and anti-authoritarian personality. But this was only half of the picture.
In an interview with Jonathan Kay, Canadaland publisher Jesse Brown discusses how an anti-Israel faction within his own subscriber base tried to cancel him after he began speaking out about antisemitism.
Podcast #313: Jesse Brown’s Rude Awakening
In an interview with Jonathan Kay, Canadaland publisher Jesse Brown discusses how an anti-Israel faction within his own subscriber base tried to cancel him after he began speaking out about antisemitism.
quillette.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:58 AM
In an interview with Jonathan Kay, Canadaland publisher Jesse Brown discusses how an anti-Israel faction within his own subscriber base tried to cancel him after he began speaking out about antisemitism.
The world is not waiting for our utopian visions to make sense of it and order it. Liberal democracy works when it assumes as much.
Against Utopianism
The world is not waiting for our utopian visions to make sense of it and order it. Liberal democracy works when it assumes as much.
quillette.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:57 AM
The world is not waiting for our utopian visions to make sense of it and order it. Liberal democracy works when it assumes as much.
Lomborg’s experience shows what happens when a researcher challenges a powerful narrative with inconvenient numbers.
A Vindication of Bjorn Lomborg
Lomborg’s experience shows what happens when a researcher challenges a powerful narrative with inconvenient numbers.
quillette.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Lomborg’s experience shows what happens when a researcher challenges a powerful narrative with inconvenient numbers.
In a new book, Ben Appel describes his journey from closeted Christian cult child, to recovering addict, to social-justice warrior, to self-confessed ‘gender heretic.’
Cis, White, and Gay
In a new book, Ben Appel describes his journey from closeted Christian cult child, to recovering addict, to social-justice warrior, to self-confessed ‘gender heretic.’
quillette.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:40 AM
In a new book, Ben Appel describes his journey from closeted Christian cult child, to recovering addict, to social-justice warrior, to self-confessed ‘gender heretic.’
The bones of our conspiracies haven’t changed, though their details are
different.
different.
The New Medievals
The bones of our conspiracies haven’t changed, though their details are
different.
quillette.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 AM
The bones of our conspiracies haven’t changed, though their details are
different.
different.
The philosopher John Searle’s concept of Intentionality and his Chinese Room experiment reveal the differences between AI computation and human thought.
Do Androids Dream?
The philosopher John Searle’s concept of Intentionality and his Chinese Room experiment reveal the differences between AI computation and human thought.
quillette.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:02 AM
The philosopher John Searle’s concept of Intentionality and his Chinese Room experiment reveal the differences between AI computation and human thought.
The core principles of liberalism—freedom and equality—are insufficient for the good life. We need to supplement them with a more robust, metaphysically thicker understanding of human nature and the good.
After Liberalism
The core principles of liberalism—freedom and equality—are insufficient for the good life. We need to supplement them with a more robust, metaphysically thicker understanding of human nature and the good.
quillette.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The core principles of liberalism—freedom and equality—are insufficient for the good life. We need to supplement them with a more robust, metaphysically thicker understanding of human nature and the good.
We need to cultivate an appreciation for the abundance that modernity has bestowed instead of taking it for granted.
The Ingratitude of the Well-Fed
We need to cultivate an appreciation for the abundance that modernity has bestowed instead of taking it for granted.
quillette.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:22 AM
We need to cultivate an appreciation for the abundance that modernity has bestowed instead of taking it for granted.
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
The Middle East Powder Keg
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
quillette.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
The Middle East Powder Keg
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
quillette.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Fragile ceasefires are holding for now, but the volatile region may be headed for another explosion next year.
Jonathan Kay speaks with scholar Paula Fredriksen, whose new book describes the theological diversity that existed among Christian communities before Nicene Christianity was adopted as Rome’s state religion in the fourth century.
Podcast #312: Ancient Christianities: The First 500 Years
Jonathan Kay speaks with scholar Paula Fredriksen, whose new book describes the theological diversity that existed among Christian communities before Nicene Christianity was adopted as Rome’s state religion in the fourth century.
quillette.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Jonathan Kay speaks with scholar Paula Fredriksen, whose new book describes the theological diversity that existed among Christian communities before Nicene Christianity was adopted as Rome’s state religion in the fourth century.
How AI training produces evasion over engagement.
Artificial Barriers to Intelligence
How AI training produces evasion over engagement.
quillette.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:36 PM
How AI training produces evasion over engagement.
How Qatar's ideological reach—from think tanks to media—has stifled dissent and enabled Islamism in the West.
Exposing the Qatar Lobby: Chama Mechtaly on Islamism, Censorship, and the West | Quillette Cetera Ep. 57
How Qatar's ideological reach—from think tanks to media—has stifled dissent and enabled Islamism in the West.
quillette.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
How Qatar's ideological reach—from think tanks to media—has stifled dissent and enabled Islamism in the West.
The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.
Heterodox Orthodoxy
The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.
quillette.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:32 AM
The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.
The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.
Heterodox Orthodoxy
The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.
quillette.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:26 AM
The obvious benefits of open debate and free dissent are too often confused with destructive contrarianism.
A former BBC journalist explains how the corporation discarded impartial journalism and why we need a news revolution.
A Journalism of Deception
A former BBC journalist explains how the corporation discarded impartial journalism and why we need a news revolution.
quillette.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:34 AM
A former BBC journalist explains how the corporation discarded impartial journalism and why we need a news revolution.
History and the constraints of American federalism suggest the euphoria and catastrophism that have followed Zohran Mamdani’s election victory are misplaced.
The Limits of American Progressivism
History and the constraints of American federalism suggest the euphoria and catastrophism that have followed Zohran Mamdani’s election victory are misplaced.
quillette.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
History and the constraints of American federalism suggest the euphoria and catastrophism that have followed Zohran Mamdani’s election victory are misplaced.
A month after the lethal Manchester synagogue attack, the UK still refuses to take its number one terror threat seriously.
Islamist Violence and Official Silence
A month after the lethal Manchester synagogue attack, the UK still refuses to take its number one terror threat seriously.
quillette.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 AM
A month after the lethal Manchester synagogue attack, the UK still refuses to take its number one terror threat seriously.
Jonathan Kay speaks with comedian Matthew Pettit, who candidly tells audiences about the severe childhood abuse that once propelled him into a life of sexual confusion, meth addiction, and crime.
Podcast #311: Finding Humour in Dark Places
Jonathan Kay speaks with comedian Matthew Pettit, who candidly tells audiences about the severe childhood abuse that once propelled him into a life of sexual confusion, meth addiction, and crime.
quillette.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Jonathan Kay speaks with comedian Matthew Pettit, who candidly tells audiences about the severe childhood abuse that once propelled him into a life of sexual confusion, meth addiction, and crime.
Just as the Dutch reclaimed physical land to build the Netherlands, Australia should reclaim political land by creating new states to ease the country's housing crisis.
Australia Needs More Capital Cities
Just as the Dutch reclaimed physical land to build the Netherlands, Australia should reclaim political land by creating new states to ease the country's housing crisis.
quillette.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Just as the Dutch reclaimed physical land to build the Netherlands, Australia should reclaim political land by creating new states to ease the country's housing crisis.
From Achilles to Anakin Skywalker, the messiah myth has evolved from religious prophecy to cautionary tale.
Holding Out for a Hero
From Achilles to Anakin Skywalker, the messiah myth has evolved from religious prophecy to cautionary tale.
quillette.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 PM
From Achilles to Anakin Skywalker, the messiah myth has evolved from religious prophecy to cautionary tale.
Shadi Hamid has an uneasy conscience, and he doesn’t yet know what to do with it.
Power and Its Malcontents
Shadi Hamid has an uneasy conscience, and he doesn’t yet know what to do with it.
quillette.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Shadi Hamid has an uneasy conscience, and he doesn’t yet know what to do with it.
As the nationalist parties of the New Right gain ever greater influence in Europe, the future of the European Union is looking increasingly precarious.
A Shrivelling Continent
As the nationalist parties of the New Right gain ever greater influence in Europe, the future of the European Union is looking increasingly precarious.
quillette.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
As the nationalist parties of the New Right gain ever greater influence in Europe, the future of the European Union is looking increasingly precarious.
Susan Sontag’s 1974 essay about Leni Riefenstahl and fascist aesthetics displayed the critic at her most stiflingly moralistic and aristocratic.
The Feminist, the Filmmaker, and the Führer
Susan Sontag’s 1974 essay about Leni Riefenstahl and fascist aesthetics displayed the critic at her most stiflingly moralistic and aristocratic.
quillette.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Susan Sontag’s 1974 essay about Leni Riefenstahl and fascist aesthetics displayed the critic at her most stiflingly moralistic and aristocratic.