Mike Burke
@mikeburkeuk.bsky.social
Fellow at Institute for Liberal Values (ILV). Conservative liberal. Research focus on national security, ideology and propaganda. I presently spend most of my time on social media pushing back against this new and worryingly illiberal right-wing woke lot.
Pinned
Mike Burke
@mikeburkeuk.bsky.social
· Jan 8
1/ 🚨 Let’s talk about X, its amplification of extreme content, and some possible nefarious underpinnings. This isn't just about algorithms or free speech. I suspect there’s something deeper at play. 🧵
Reposted by Mike Burke
LGBT rights today rest on laws, yes — but far more so on a vast, invisible architecture of memory and persuasion also known as liberalism. | @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social
The Liberalism We Live and Breathe — Queer Majority
LGBT rights today rest on laws, yes — but far more so on a vast, invisible architecture of memory and persuasion also known as liberalism.
www.queermajority.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
LGBT rights today rest on laws, yes — but far more so on a vast, invisible architecture of memory and persuasion also known as liberalism. | @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Burke
In their frenzied crusade to “embrace tradition”, right-wing populists haven’t defended Western civilization — they’ve become Moscow’s unwitting pawns. | @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social
The Kremlin’s LGBT Smokescreen: How the Radical Right Fell for Russia’s Trap — Queer Majority
In their frenzied crusade to “embrace tradition”, right-wing populists haven’t defended Western civilization — they’ve become Moscow’s unwitting pawns.
www.queermajority.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
In their frenzied crusade to “embrace tradition”, right-wing populists haven’t defended Western civilization — they’ve become Moscow’s unwitting pawns. | @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social
I’m tired of being shadowbanned onX for calling out big “conservative” accounts for parroting Russian propaganda and being mass blocked by bots.
April 30, 2025 at 10:50 AM
I’m tired of being shadowbanned onX for calling out big “conservative” accounts for parroting Russian propaganda and being mass blocked by bots.
Reposted by Mike Burke
There's nothing conservative about abolishing the Department of Education. @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social in American Dreaming:
americandreaming.substack.com/p/abolishing...
americandreaming.substack.com/p/abolishing...
Abolishing the Department of Education Isn’t Conservative — It’s Reckless Vandalism
Argue for radical change if you must, but don't call it conservative.
americandreaming.substack.com
March 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
There's nothing conservative about abolishing the Department of Education. @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social in American Dreaming:
americandreaming.substack.com/p/abolishing...
americandreaming.substack.com/p/abolishing...
Reposted by Mike Burke
Thrilled to publish @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social on the radicalism of DOGE.
americandreaming.substack.com/p/doge-isnt-...
americandreaming.substack.com/p/doge-isnt-...
DOGE Isn’t Conservative — It’s Radical Arson
Burning down institutions in the blind hope that something better will rise from the ashes is a revolutionary, time-tested recipe for ruin.
americandreaming.substack.com
March 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Thrilled to publish @mikeburkeuk.bsky.social on the radicalism of DOGE.
americandreaming.substack.com/p/doge-isnt-...
americandreaming.substack.com/p/doge-isnt-...
There is no longer anything conservative about the Republican Party, anymore. Conservatism is about conserving existing institutions and improving them with gentle, modest reform, not gutting institutions without so much as a thought as to what the long-term consequences might be.
In just a decade, the Party of Reagan has completely morphed into the Party of Putin.
March 10, 2025 at 3:21 AM
There is no longer anything conservative about the Republican Party, anymore. Conservatism is about conserving existing institutions and improving them with gentle, modest reform, not gutting institutions without so much as a thought as to what the long-term consequences might be.
Given how crazy X has gone, with the most insane and hateful narratives being boosted, I’d rather spend my time here.
Sadly, my visibility here seems even worse than X. If you can see what I write here, can you leave a like or a hello?
I’d to know if it’s worth investing my time into.
Sadly, my visibility here seems even worse than X. If you can see what I write here, can you leave a like or a hello?
I’d to know if it’s worth investing my time into.
February 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Given how crazy X has gone, with the most insane and hateful narratives being boosted, I’d rather spend my time here.
Sadly, my visibility here seems even worse than X. If you can see what I write here, can you leave a like or a hello?
I’d to know if it’s worth investing my time into.
Sadly, my visibility here seems even worse than X. If you can see what I write here, can you leave a like or a hello?
I’d to know if it’s worth investing my time into.
The Limits of Reason
Reflections on Tradition and Liberalism
open.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:49 AM
This rhetoric coming out of the GOP is as bizarre as it is irresponsible and insulting.
If Lindsey gets his way, the Republicans will never win another nationwide election again.
January 8, 2025 at 7:11 AM
This rhetoric coming out of the GOP is as bizarre as it is irresponsible and insulting.
1/ 🚨 Let’s talk about X, its amplification of extreme content, and some possible nefarious underpinnings. This isn't just about algorithms or free speech. I suspect there’s something deeper at play. 🧵
January 8, 2025 at 3:01 AM
1/ 🚨 Let’s talk about X, its amplification of extreme content, and some possible nefarious underpinnings. This isn't just about algorithms or free speech. I suspect there’s something deeper at play. 🧵
HOW MUSK’S MONETIZATION Of X VERIFICATION LIKELY GUARANTEES THE SPREAD OF RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA.
A 🧵 on how X is likely being used to spread extreme right-wing propaganda, by state-backed by actors from authoritarian regimes, most notably the The Russian Federation, to sew chaos in the West (1/11)
A 🧵 on how X is likely being used to spread extreme right-wing propaganda, by state-backed by actors from authoritarian regimes, most notably the The Russian Federation, to sew chaos in the West (1/11)
January 4, 2025 at 7:54 AM
HOW MUSK’S MONETIZATION Of X VERIFICATION LIKELY GUARANTEES THE SPREAD OF RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA.
A 🧵 on how X is likely being used to spread extreme right-wing propaganda, by state-backed by actors from authoritarian regimes, most notably the The Russian Federation, to sew chaos in the West (1/11)
A 🧵 on how X is likely being used to spread extreme right-wing propaganda, by state-backed by actors from authoritarian regimes, most notably the The Russian Federation, to sew chaos in the West (1/11)
There is no liberal democracy without “demos”. (Ancient Greek for a sense of peoplehood). In the UK and US, our demos isn’t defined ethnically, but by a shared culture. Excluding people due to ethnicity, instead of reasonably excluding those who hold to illiberal values, is anathema to who we are.
December 30, 2024 at 10:49 AM
There is no liberal democracy without “demos”. (Ancient Greek for a sense of peoplehood). In the UK and US, our demos isn’t defined ethnically, but by a shared culture. Excluding people due to ethnicity, instead of reasonably excluding those who hold to illiberal values, is anathema to who we are.
Karl Popper understood this Achille’s heel of liberalism: Intolerant ideas should only be tolerated if they aren’t influential, if they can project intolerance onto society, coercion and even violence is justified against them. Thus, tolerating intolerance is illiberal.
December 9, 2024 at 3:02 AM
Karl Popper understood this Achille’s heel of liberalism: Intolerant ideas should only be tolerated if they aren’t influential, if they can project intolerance onto society, coercion and even violence is justified against them. Thus, tolerating intolerance is illiberal.
Ukrainian intelligence is suggesting that the Russians carried out an operation to evacuate Assad to Moscow, which was successful, and that the plane reputed to have him on board, that took off from Damascus only to then disappear off radar, was a successful distraction.
December 9, 2024 at 2:52 AM
Ukrainian intelligence is suggesting that the Russians carried out an operation to evacuate Assad to Moscow, which was successful, and that the plane reputed to have him on board, that took off from Damascus only to then disappear off radar, was a successful distraction.
Rumour has it that the Syrian military in Damascus has surrendered, shortly after Assad attempted to flee Syria in a Ilyushin Il-76 jet, (SY9128, if you want to try to track it), which then descended to under 1600ft, before dropping off radar near the rebel-held city of Homs, (possibly shot down).
December 8, 2024 at 3:13 AM
Rumour has it that the Syrian military in Damascus has surrendered, shortly after Assad attempted to flee Syria in a Ilyushin Il-76 jet, (SY9128, if you want to try to track it), which then descended to under 1600ft, before dropping off radar near the rebel-held city of Homs, (possibly shot down).
In the Anglosphere, elites misattribute freedoms to grandiose abstractions in codified ideologies. But if freedom is sustained without bloodshed, abstractions can only be dim and secondary reflections on the uncredited public consciousness that first allowed freedom to flourish.
December 2, 2024 at 3:45 AM
In the Anglosphere, elites misattribute freedoms to grandiose abstractions in codified ideologies. But if freedom is sustained without bloodshed, abstractions can only be dim and secondary reflections on the uncredited public consciousness that first allowed freedom to flourish.
Only a madman entrusts morals to the state. The state, the Leviathan, is evil. A necessary evil, because it offers protection, but never morals. Morality resides in the public, which the state obeys—not the other way around. England's power-drunk tyrants must fall, or England will.
Britain has a blasphemy law in all but name
Anyone outraged by Labour MP Tahir Ali calling on the government to introduce blasphemy laws has clearly not been paying attention
www.spectator.co.uk
December 2, 2024 at 3:44 AM
Only a madman entrusts morals to the state. The state, the Leviathan, is evil. A necessary evil, because it offers protection, but never morals. Morality resides in the public, which the state obeys—not the other way around. England's power-drunk tyrants must fall, or England will.
The majority of so-called "conservatives" are radical regressives who can only see flaws in our institutions. In their arrogance, they fail to appreciate that our institutions really do much more good than bad—so want to destroy and remake, which is the opposite of conserve.
December 2, 2024 at 3:42 AM
The majority of so-called "conservatives" are radical regressives who can only see flaws in our institutions. In their arrogance, they fail to appreciate that our institutions really do much more good than bad—so want to destroy and remake, which is the opposite of conserve.
IMPORTANT NEWS!
November 27, 2024 at 6:15 AM
IMPORTANT NEWS!
I used to be sceptical of posts like this, but even before Trump's election, I've seen a very noticeable uptick in LGBT intolerance and vile white ethnic identitarianism, such as, for one example, that black people born in the UK, for just one example, can't be British. X seems to be boosting it
Neo-Nazis and bigoted people in general have been palpably emboldened by Trump’s re-election.
His rhetoric of vilifying foreigners and minorities have become more normalized now. I’ve already had friends and family harassed for their darker skin or sexuality.
His rhetoric of vilifying foreigners and minorities have become more normalized now. I’ve already had friends and family harassed for their darker skin or sexuality.
November 27, 2024 at 5:20 AM
I used to be sceptical of posts like this, but even before Trump's election, I've seen a very noticeable uptick in LGBT intolerance and vile white ethnic identitarianism, such as, for one example, that black people born in the UK, for just one example, can't be British. X seems to be boosting it
Klitschko is one of the all-time great heavyweights, he'd probably even be reasonably competitive today if he decided to re-enter the ring; that alone should be more than enough justification to get him Rogan's podcast. He's also clearly very bright, brave, well-informed and extremely principled.
The Klitschko-Rogan story makes it to POLITICO.
Wladimir Klitschko jabs Joe Rogan for spreading Russian propaganda
Legendary Ukrainian boxer wants an invite onto the top U.S. podcast to rebut pro-Kremlin narratives.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2024 at 4:51 AM
Klitschko is one of the all-time great heavyweights, he'd probably even be reasonably competitive today if he decided to re-enter the ring; that alone should be more than enough justification to get him Rogan's podcast. He's also clearly very bright, brave, well-informed and extremely principled.
X fans say people like me use this platform because we're afraid of clashing with people who disagree with us—I LOVE CLASHING WITH PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE! I have many more followers on X but close to no interaction at all. Why? Unless you're a massive account on X, or MAGA, you're badly throttled.
November 27, 2024 at 1:41 AM
X fans say people like me use this platform because we're afraid of clashing with people who disagree with us—I LOVE CLASHING WITH PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE! I have many more followers on X but close to no interaction at all. Why? Unless you're a massive account on X, or MAGA, you're badly throttled.
Reposted by Mike Burke
Trump isn't remotely conservative, a genuine conservative cherishes existing institutions and the progress they have afforded (in spite of their flaws), he's a radical regressive who thinks he can tear them all down and make something better. Spoiler: He can't, it will be an unmitigated disaster.
I’m starting to think that the longer we shield Trump voters from the worst economic outcomes, the worse things actually will get.
Sometimes people just have to find out the hard way, sad as that is. Yes, we will suffer. But at least they will learn that elections do have consequences.
Sometimes people just have to find out the hard way, sad as that is. Yes, we will suffer. But at least they will learn that elections do have consequences.
November 27, 2024 at 12:19 AM
Trump isn't remotely conservative, a genuine conservative cherishes existing institutions and the progress they have afforded (in spite of their flaws), he's a radical regressive who thinks he can tear them all down and make something better. Spoiler: He can't, it will be an unmitigated disaster.
The problem with threads, for me, is that it matches me mostly with people it detects my IP is nearby and who largely use the same language as me, which is foreigners in Japan, be they residents, or on holiday. This generally isn't a good match.
My guess is the Bluesky versus Threads thing will settle into something like Old Twitter versus Facebook. The former will be smaller in terms of users, but, because it's the preferred home of, for lack of a better term, thought leaders, it will have outsized cultural and "discourse" influence.
November 27, 2024 at 12:04 AM
The problem with threads, for me, is that it matches me mostly with people it detects my IP is nearby and who largely use the same language as me, which is foreigners in Japan, be they residents, or on holiday. This generally isn't a good match.