Malte Laub
@maltelaub.bsky.social
Teaches critical IPE at the University of Sheffield. Researches policing & authoritarian neoliberalism.
Reposted by Malte Laub
It's focus-group disease reinforcing UK state managers' belief that the only legitimate expression of state capacity is through punitiveness. This has a long history, but post-financial crisis austerity has cemented it. Ironically, such displays of strength are destablilising both govt and society.
I simply do not understand how the govt can simultaneously believe (1) they don’t have enough political capital to breach the manifesto on tax and (2) they have enough to political capital to pick an unwinnable fight with their own MPs on immigration.
November 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It's focus-group disease reinforcing UK state managers' belief that the only legitimate expression of state capacity is through punitiveness. This has a long history, but post-financial crisis austerity has cemented it. Ironically, such displays of strength are destablilising both govt and society.
It's focus-group disease reinforcing UK state managers' belief that the only legitimate expression of state capacity is through punitiveness. This has a long history, but post-financial crisis austerity has cemented it. Ironically, such displays of strength are destablilising both govt and society.
I simply do not understand how the govt can simultaneously believe (1) they don’t have enough political capital to breach the manifesto on tax and (2) they have enough to political capital to pick an unwinnable fight with their own MPs on immigration.
November 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
It's focus-group disease reinforcing UK state managers' belief that the only legitimate expression of state capacity is through punitiveness. This has a long history, but post-financial crisis austerity has cemented it. Ironically, such displays of strength are destablilising both govt and society.
Reposted by Malte Laub
Coming soon in RIPE Series in Global Political Economy - War Economy: Gendered Circuits of Violence and Capital, co-edited with Jacqui True. More at: www.routledge.com/War-Economy-...
November 16, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Coming soon in RIPE Series in Global Political Economy - War Economy: Gendered Circuits of Violence and Capital, co-edited with Jacqui True. More at: www.routledge.com/War-Economy-...
Two and a half thoughts on Hegseth and his war on beardos as expressed here: bsky.app/profile/atru...
The references to broken-windows policing and zero-tolerance approaches here, neither of which do much about "crime" but lots to justify stop & frisk policing and incarceration of Black people, reveal the deep historical roots of Trumpism & that Hegseth's 'common sense agenda' is about racial order.
November 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Two and a half thoughts on Hegseth and his war on beardos as expressed here: bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Malte Laub
no question that hegseth hates guys with beards because they make him feel insecure
Hegseth: "We don't need to be a military of beardos anymore. Do you know how many troops claim to be Nordic Pagan? No, suddenly it's become this real fake religious affiliation inside the Pentagon where troops came to be Nordic Pagan so they can grow a beard and nobody challenges them on it."
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
no question that hegseth hates guys with beards because they make him feel insecure
Reposted by Malte Laub
This is great fun.
(Nigel Biggar does not come out of it especially well.)
(Nigel Biggar does not come out of it especially well.)
How do Lenny Henry’s arguments for reparations for trans-Atlantic slavery stand up to Lord Biggar’s arguments against them? Head-to-head review here:
November 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
This is great fun.
(Nigel Biggar does not come out of it especially well.)
(Nigel Biggar does not come out of it especially well.)
Reposted by Malte Laub
Relying on LLMs to get your diploma and is similar to forging PhD research for boosting your political career in Germany
You think it creates shortcuts and notability for getting the top job. But as you are only interested in the CV line, you don't learn anything.
And one day, you are exposed.
You think it creates shortcuts and notability for getting the top job. But as you are only interested in the CV line, you don't learn anything.
And one day, you are exposed.
November 10, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Relying on LLMs to get your diploma and is similar to forging PhD research for boosting your political career in Germany
You think it creates shortcuts and notability for getting the top job. But as you are only interested in the CV line, you don't learn anything.
And one day, you are exposed.
You think it creates shortcuts and notability for getting the top job. But as you are only interested in the CV line, you don't learn anything.
And one day, you are exposed.
Reposted by Malte Laub
-a week until the deadline!
Do a funded PhD with me! We are looking for projects at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary enquiry into AI and inequalities!
www.linkedin.com/posts/susan-...
www.linkedin.com/posts/susan-...
Power and Difference in the time of responsible AI at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com | Susan Oman
Do a funded PhD with me! We are looking for projects at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary enquiry into AI and inequalities!
"Your doctoral research project will be designed by you to respond to...
www.linkedin.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
-a week until the deadline!
Reposted by Malte Laub
You’ve heard from all the people who think the AI boom is like the dotcom bubble. Now meet the guy who argues the AI boom is actually crazier.
www.reuters.com/commentary/b...
www.reuters.com/commentary/b...
November 8, 2025 at 8:23 AM
You’ve heard from all the people who think the AI boom is like the dotcom bubble. Now meet the guy who argues the AI boom is actually crazier.
www.reuters.com/commentary/b...
www.reuters.com/commentary/b...
Reposted by Malte Laub
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Malte Laub
“Part of a fascist project to offload the work of thinking, especially the reflective kind of thinking that reading, study, and community engagement provide.”
The long-running ideological war on libraries, education, and government workers is not separate from AI boosterism. It is the same ideological war on human knowledge and expertise. In some cases AI is being used to directly supercharge this effort:
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
“Part of a fascist project to offload the work of thinking, especially the reflective kind of thinking that reading, study, and community engagement provide.”
Reposted by Malte Laub
The long-running ideological war on libraries, education, and government workers is not separate from AI boosterism. It is the same ideological war on human knowledge and expertise. In some cases AI is being used to directly supercharge this effort:
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 6, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The long-running ideological war on libraries, education, and government workers is not separate from AI boosterism. It is the same ideological war on human knowledge and expertise. In some cases AI is being used to directly supercharge this effort:
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
Reposted by Malte Laub
If you liked the 2008 bank bailout, you're going to LOVE the 2026 AI (and crypto) bailout garymarcus.substack.com/p/if-you-tho...
OpenAI probably can’t make ends meet. That’s where you come in.
If you thought the 2008 bank bailout was bad, wait til you see the 2026 AI bailout
garymarcus.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:04 AM
If you liked the 2008 bank bailout, you're going to LOVE the 2026 AI (and crypto) bailout garymarcus.substack.com/p/if-you-tho...
Reposted by Malte Laub
Can see why Labour waited for Lords stages before adding THIS to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
🚨 BREAKING: The government has tabled their plan to restrict repeat protests.
Demonstrations could now banned based on the 'cumulative disruption' that previous protests have caused in the area - regardless of if they have been organised by the same people or not.
This is worse than we feared.
Demonstrations could now banned based on the 'cumulative disruption' that previous protests have caused in the area - regardless of if they have been organised by the same people or not.
This is worse than we feared.
Government's repeat protest restrictions worse than feared - Liberty
www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Can see why Labour waited for Lords stages before adding THIS to the Crime and Policing Bill.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
Extending protest suppression to include vague ‘cumulative’ impacts (that could include OTHER protests!) will clearly be misused by police.
Lords must oppose this attack on our rights.
Reposted by Malte Laub
Very true. Mamdani's election win is truly historic, something that the post-World War II Left has hoped for for decades (Detroit's Kenneth Cockrel, Sr. comes to mind as a socialist who had mayoral aspirations). I hope folks study the challenges Kucinich, Harold Washington, and Dinkins experienced
My sense is that Zohran will have to fight twice as hard to achieve about as much as Bill de Blasio did, even if he has more ambitious goals.
I regret to inform you all that, beyond my community-approved 72 hour libbing-out window, I also feel that it may necessary to hold the line for our new socialist mayor in public discourse for a substantially longer period of time
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Very true. Mamdani's election win is truly historic, something that the post-World War II Left has hoped for for decades (Detroit's Kenneth Cockrel, Sr. comes to mind as a socialist who had mayoral aspirations). I hope folks study the challenges Kucinich, Harold Washington, and Dinkins experienced
Reposted by Malte Laub
I'm happy to have joined the editorial board of @gpejournal.bsky.social as an associate editor! I'm looking forward to working with great people on exciting research. If you have ideas for articles, commentaries, or debate pieces, get in touch! bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
October 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
I'm happy to have joined the editorial board of @gpejournal.bsky.social as an associate editor! I'm looking forward to working with great people on exciting research. If you have ideas for articles, commentaries, or debate pieces, get in touch! bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
I'm happy to have joined the editorial board of @gpejournal.bsky.social as an associate editor! I'm looking forward to working with great people on exciting research. If you have ideas for articles, commentaries, or debate pieces, get in touch! bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
October 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
I'm happy to have joined the editorial board of @gpejournal.bsky.social as an associate editor! I'm looking forward to working with great people on exciting research. If you have ideas for articles, commentaries, or debate pieces, get in touch! bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
Reposted by Malte Laub
Labour government preparing to hike income taxes - blaming bond markets.
not one adult in the room will say the obvious:
1. Britain's fiscal rules are shambles
2. Bank of England has too much power over fiscal decisions
3. ignore bond vigilantes
www.ft.com/content/5c8f...
not one adult in the room will say the obvious:
1. Britain's fiscal rules are shambles
2. Bank of England has too much power over fiscal decisions
3. ignore bond vigilantes
www.ft.com/content/5c8f...
Keir Starmer puts Labour MPs on notice for Budget tax rises
Prime minister declines to rule out higher income taxes as Treasury lays foundations for bigger fiscal buffer
www.ft.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Labour government preparing to hike income taxes - blaming bond markets.
not one adult in the room will say the obvious:
1. Britain's fiscal rules are shambles
2. Bank of England has too much power over fiscal decisions
3. ignore bond vigilantes
www.ft.com/content/5c8f...
not one adult in the room will say the obvious:
1. Britain's fiscal rules are shambles
2. Bank of England has too much power over fiscal decisions
3. ignore bond vigilantes
www.ft.com/content/5c8f...
Reposted by Malte Laub
I had 9 meetings about students using Chat GPT/LLMs on their papers today.
If you want to know why professors burn out, ask anyone trying to teach critical thinking and writing skills to Freshmen....
If you want to know why professors burn out, ask anyone trying to teach critical thinking and writing skills to Freshmen....
October 27, 2025 at 8:45 PM
I had 9 meetings about students using Chat GPT/LLMs on their papers today.
If you want to know why professors burn out, ask anyone trying to teach critical thinking and writing skills to Freshmen....
If you want to know why professors burn out, ask anyone trying to teach critical thinking and writing skills to Freshmen....
Reposted by Malte Laub
Happening this Thursday! Join us to discuss the relation between capitalism and the global water crisis 🌊
We have a new online workshop coming!
Join us on 30 October to discuss the book 'Thirst: the global quest to solve the water crisis'
With author @filippomenga.bsky.social and discussants @gemmagasseau.bsky.social and Alexander Dunlap
Register at bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
See you there!
Join us on 30 October to discuss the book 'Thirst: the global quest to solve the water crisis'
With author @filippomenga.bsky.social and discussants @gemmagasseau.bsky.social and Alexander Dunlap
Register at bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
See you there!
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: CPERN monthly workshop - October 2025. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
Filippo Menga, Thirst: the global quest to solve the water crisis
Speaker: Filippo Menga is Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Bergamo in Italy.
Discussants:
Gemma Gasseau is Re...
bham-ac-uk.zoom.us
October 27, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Happening this Thursday! Join us to discuss the relation between capitalism and the global water crisis 🌊
Reposted by Malte Laub
A reminder that my book on the history of protest is now published. It is superbly produced with a great cover. Buy it now from @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A reminder that my book on the history of protest is now published. It is superbly produced with a great cover. Buy it now from @reaktionbooks.bsky.social
This is quite the speech (starting about ten minutes from the end of this live stream).
STARTING SOON: Zohran Mamdani gives remarks about Islamophobia outside the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx
LIVE | Zohran Mamdani gives remarks on Islamophobia outside a mosque in the Bronx, NYC
YouTube video by Eyewitness News ABC7NY
www.youtube.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This is quite the speech (starting about ten minutes from the end of this live stream).
Reposted by Malte Laub
Die Frageformulierung ist so natürlich schon komplett bodenlos. Aber es dann so verkürzt darzustellen ist schlicht Irreführung. Vollkommen inakzeptabel.
Überraschend, dass das ZDF-Politbarometer diese Umfrage so verzerrt darstellt: Statt nach der Originalaussage von Merz zu fragen, die tagelang diskutiert wurde, wird in der Umfrage seine späte Rechtfertigung ergänzt. In der Grafik wird das aber gar nicht erwähnt. So geht Framing.
October 24, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Die Frageformulierung ist so natürlich schon komplett bodenlos. Aber es dann so verkürzt darzustellen ist schlicht Irreführung. Vollkommen inakzeptabel.
Reposted by Malte Laub
Incredibly minor point in the grand scheme of the horror of this policy, but this would mean that many women with ILR would be unable to go on maternity leave unless they had a very high salary or an amazing employer package.
The Conservatives have drafted the legislation.
ANY one of the conditions being met leads to ILR being revoked.
If annual income falls below £38,700 for six months (for any reason at all)
The Secretary of State would also have the powers add whatever further conditions they want.
ANY one of the conditions being met leads to ILR being revoked.
If annual income falls below £38,700 for six months (for any reason at all)
The Secretary of State would also have the powers add whatever further conditions they want.
October 22, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Incredibly minor point in the grand scheme of the horror of this policy, but this would mean that many women with ILR would be unable to go on maternity leave unless they had a very high salary or an amazing employer package.
Reposted by Malte Laub
it's important to call things what they are
"mass deportations of legal residents for cultural homogeneity" is an ethnic cleansing policy
"mass deportations of legal residents for cultural homogeneity" is an ethnic cleansing policy
October 22, 2025 at 8:21 AM
it's important to call things what they are
"mass deportations of legal residents for cultural homogeneity" is an ethnic cleansing policy
"mass deportations of legal residents for cultural homogeneity" is an ethnic cleansing policy