Owen Michael
@owenwmichael.bsky.social
Welsh and European. Biromantic Asexual. @UKLabour, @unisontheunion, and @thefabians. Data person and all round geek. He/him/o
Reposted by Owen Michael
Good response to Jim Ratcliffe's appalling comment on immigration.
@jakerichardsmp.bsky.social: "Jim Ratcliffe has moved to Monaco to save £4 billion worth of tax in this country, one might question whether he is the patriot that we need to comment on this issue."
@jakerichardsmp.bsky.social: "Jim Ratcliffe has moved to Monaco to save £4 billion worth of tax in this country, one might question whether he is the patriot that we need to comment on this issue."
February 12, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Good response to Jim Ratcliffe's appalling comment on immigration.
@jakerichardsmp.bsky.social: "Jim Ratcliffe has moved to Monaco to save £4 billion worth of tax in this country, one might question whether he is the patriot that we need to comment on this issue."
@jakerichardsmp.bsky.social: "Jim Ratcliffe has moved to Monaco to save £4 billion worth of tax in this country, one might question whether he is the patriot that we need to comment on this issue."
Reposted by Owen Michael
The reason why personalities do actually matter in politics is clearly shown in that an advisor changes, and immediately the “perhaps we don’t need to push back against this, and can instead beat it with remedial undergraduate Marxism?” stuff vanishes.
Clear. Unambigious. A that sounds like Starmer and on a broad threme they've been developing for a few weeks now.
Things have changed
Things have changed
Downing Street weighing in on Jim Ratcliffe's comments about immigration. A Number 10 spokesperson said “Jim Ratcliffe should immediately apologise. His offensive remarks are wrong and play into the hands of those who want to divide our country.”
February 12, 2026 at 12:38 AM
The reason why personalities do actually matter in politics is clearly shown in that an advisor changes, and immediately the “perhaps we don’t need to push back against this, and can instead beat it with remedial undergraduate Marxism?” stuff vanishes.
Reposted by Owen Michael
You'd think this would be obvious. But it isn't. In the end, good policy will often produce good communications. Good communications will never on its own produce good policy. And in a valence world, policy and outcomes are what counts.
February 12, 2026 at 1:29 PM
You'd think this would be obvious. But it isn't. In the end, good policy will often produce good communications. Good communications will never on its own produce good policy. And in a valence world, policy and outcomes are what counts.
Reposted by Owen Michael
WHERE IS TYLER AUSTIN HARPER?
February 11, 2026 at 8:49 PM
WHERE IS TYLER AUSTIN HARPER?
Reposted by Owen Michael
Overseas tycoons such as Elon Musk would be barred from giving substantial donations to UK political parties under new legislation to block companies making gifts if they do not have British owners or make sufficient revenue in the country
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
UK to ban political party donations from foreign-owned companies
Government says new legislation will curb overseas interference in elections
www.ft.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Overseas tycoons such as Elon Musk would be barred from giving substantial donations to UK political parties under new legislation to block companies making gifts if they do not have British owners or make sufficient revenue in the country
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
www.ft.com/content/f4ed...
Reposted by Owen Michael
Though weirdly I have found being good at maths hasn't really helped me that much in life and it certainly doesn't give any kind of social kudos in my experience, so it's an odd kind of fucked up this.
And the big one:
3) society places a lot of moral value on how good you are at math
Again, no lessons here I'm sure.
3) society places a lot of moral value on how good you are at math
Again, no lessons here I'm sure.
February 11, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Though weirdly I have found being good at maths hasn't really helped me that much in life and it certainly doesn't give any kind of social kudos in my experience, so it's an odd kind of fucked up this.
Reposted by Owen Michael
I need to stop taking on new projects so I have enough time to write the "stop misreading the Melian Dialogue by taking it out of context" piece I think I promised @beijingpalmer.bsky.social when the earth was young.
But, you know, stop misreading the Melian Dialogue by taking it out of context.
But, you know, stop misreading the Melian Dialogue by taking it out of context.
February 11, 2026 at 3:40 PM
I need to stop taking on new projects so I have enough time to write the "stop misreading the Melian Dialogue by taking it out of context" piece I think I promised @beijingpalmer.bsky.social when the earth was young.
But, you know, stop misreading the Melian Dialogue by taking it out of context.
But, you know, stop misreading the Melian Dialogue by taking it out of context.
Reposted by Owen Michael
I occasionally wonder if there are exact right-wing counterparts to the way that lefty people talk about the Democrats and I couldn't have asked for a better example
February 11, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I occasionally wonder if there are exact right-wing counterparts to the way that lefty people talk about the Democrats and I couldn't have asked for a better example
Reposted by Owen Michael
a lot of 'classic' writing about the aesthetics of fascism has aged extremely poorly. for example: "only fascists believe the enemy is simultaneously implacably evil and impossibly weak"
A significant percent of all Bad Politics Discourse is downstream of the belief that Donald Trump is Easy To Defeat, Actually and Dem simply lack the Will and Spine to do it (which bizarrely tends to share brain matter with “President Donald Trump is an unstoppable force” for some reason)
Ill be honest, I dont really have it in me to hate Kamala Harris. Lady got stuck in an impossible situation, tried, failed, wasnt even really her fault, I just can't bring myself to be mad at her about it. Too much else going on to be worth it.
February 11, 2026 at 4:25 PM
a lot of 'classic' writing about the aesthetics of fascism has aged extremely poorly. for example: "only fascists believe the enemy is simultaneously implacably evil and impossibly weak"
Reposted by Owen Michael
v good point from the Economist Boss Class podcast: chess-playing programmes have been beating chess grand-masters for decades.
But people are still watching humans playing chess not AIs.
Also however fun F1 is, it's still not OK to compete in the 100m sprint by getting into a car
But people are still watching humans playing chess not AIs.
Also however fun F1 is, it's still not OK to compete in the 100m sprint by getting into a car
February 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM
v good point from the Economist Boss Class podcast: chess-playing programmes have been beating chess grand-masters for decades.
But people are still watching humans playing chess not AIs.
Also however fun F1 is, it's still not OK to compete in the 100m sprint by getting into a car
But people are still watching humans playing chess not AIs.
Also however fun F1 is, it's still not OK to compete in the 100m sprint by getting into a car
Reposted by Owen Michael
we are not, in fact, only interested in 'what is the most of this that can be done'. we are interested in other humans, what we do and how we can learn to do it best.
the failure of Sora is at least partly down to this, I think. the purpose of watching movies is 'connecting with other human minds'
the failure of Sora is at least partly down to this, I think. the purpose of watching movies is 'connecting with other human minds'
February 11, 2026 at 4:02 PM
we are not, in fact, only interested in 'what is the most of this that can be done'. we are interested in other humans, what we do and how we can learn to do it best.
the failure of Sora is at least partly down to this, I think. the purpose of watching movies is 'connecting with other human minds'
the failure of Sora is at least partly down to this, I think. the purpose of watching movies is 'connecting with other human minds'
Reposted by Owen Michael
leaving for the break with the words of Jack Layton
February 11, 2026 at 6:49 PM
leaving for the break with the words of Jack Layton
Reposted by Owen Michael
I used to think: another case of US leftism being anarchist inflected vs UK leftism being socialist inflected. But subsequently I came to think the bizarre tolerance-of-anti-social-behaviour element of wokeness derives from the fact that too many American social mores are enforced by men with guns.
February 11, 2026 at 9:46 PM
I used to think: another case of US leftism being anarchist inflected vs UK leftism being socialist inflected. But subsequently I came to think the bizarre tolerance-of-anti-social-behaviour element of wokeness derives from the fact that too many American social mores are enforced by men with guns.
Reposted by Owen Michael
This is where I think current orthodoxy among chief constables in the UK about where to spend the marginal extra pound is just wrong - most “low impact” crime is done by career criminals who also do the “high impact” stuff.
Antisocial behaviour is largely the result of a small number of reprobates, who can be stopped
San Francisco’s new anti-fare-dodging gates haven’t just increased revenues, they’ve dramatically reduced vandalism and the cost of maintaining the network
February 11, 2026 at 4:36 PM
This is where I think current orthodoxy among chief constables in the UK about where to spend the marginal extra pound is just wrong - most “low impact” crime is done by career criminals who also do the “high impact” stuff.
Reposted by Owen Michael
Downing Street weighing in on Jim Ratcliffe's comments about immigration. A Number 10 spokesperson said “Jim Ratcliffe should immediately apologise. His offensive remarks are wrong and play into the hands of those who want to divide our country.”
February 11, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Downing Street weighing in on Jim Ratcliffe's comments about immigration. A Number 10 spokesperson said “Jim Ratcliffe should immediately apologise. His offensive remarks are wrong and play into the hands of those who want to divide our country.”
Reposted by Owen Michael
The far-right Reform UK launched a Jewish members' organization. Jewish protesters interrupted the event, heckled Nigel Farage, and accused Farage of using Jews "launder and whitewash his politics." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Nigel Farage heckled at launch of Reform Jewish group
Jewish activists interrupt speech at synagogue and accuse party of paving way for persecution of other minorities
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The far-right Reform UK launched a Jewish members' organization. Jewish protesters interrupted the event, heckled Nigel Farage, and accused Farage of using Jews "launder and whitewash his politics." www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Owen Michael
If in the 1800s a few of the railroads made hyperbolic claims about steam powered robots being around the corner, you would *still* be badly wrong to dismiss locomotives as a nonsense tech that would go nowehere. Your life is *going* to change due to this shit. I didn’t say ‘always for the better’
February 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
If in the 1800s a few of the railroads made hyperbolic claims about steam powered robots being around the corner, you would *still* be badly wrong to dismiss locomotives as a nonsense tech that would go nowehere. Your life is *going* to change due to this shit. I didn’t say ‘always for the better’
Reposted by Owen Michael
I keep having to remind myself that "Having a 9-5 style job is oppression" is a very common, woefully misguided, feeling.
I am once again asking opinion makers to spend more time doing regular jobs.
February 11, 2026 at 7:07 PM
I keep having to remind myself that "Having a 9-5 style job is oppression" is a very common, woefully misguided, feeling.
Reposted by Owen Michael
The more jobs I hear listed as "bullshit jobs", the more I realize that people just don't understand that coordination and organization are necessary tasks
Incidentally, this has reminded me of when I got blocked on here for arguing with the David Graeber Institute that "Logistics Manager" wasn't a "bullshit job". I hope every one of them is waiting on a vital package from Southern Texas.
All this speculation about the potential horrid things the airspace closure around El Paso could signifiy, and all I can think of is the logistics managers having the *worst* day and week of their lives.
February 11, 2026 at 5:49 PM
The more jobs I hear listed as "bullshit jobs", the more I realize that people just don't understand that coordination and organization are necessary tasks
Reposted by Owen Michael
if your money was on "oh my god you unbelievable dipshit why did you embarrass me on international television we are obviously not getting back together" congratulations please come collect your winnings
Sturla Holm Laegreid's ex-girlfriend responds after his cheating confession at Olympics
Sturla Holm Laegreid's ex-girlfriend responds after his cheating confession at Olympics
The ex-girlfriend of Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid has said his actions are "hard to forgive" after he admitted to cheating on her in a live television interview after winning a bronze medal.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:04 PM
if your money was on "oh my god you unbelievable dipshit why did you embarrass me on international television we are obviously not getting back together" congratulations please come collect your winnings
Reposted by Owen Michael
It's fascinating how Dennis Skinner was always far more willing to defend the record of the New Labour government than other hard-left Labour MPs.
🍰 Happy birthday to David Skinner who turns 94 years young today.
🗺️ "I've got a United Nations heart bypass to prove it. And it was done by a Syrian cardiologist, a Malaysian surgeon, a Dutch doctor, a Nigerian registrar"
"And these two people here, talk about sending them back."
🗺️ "I've got a United Nations heart bypass to prove it. And it was done by a Syrian cardiologist, a Malaysian surgeon, a Dutch doctor, a Nigerian registrar"
"And these two people here, talk about sending them back."
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 PM
It's fascinating how Dennis Skinner was always far more willing to defend the record of the New Labour government than other hard-left Labour MPs.
Reposted by Owen Michael
These are outrageous and inflammatory remarks from an out of touch multi millionaire businessman who clearly has no empathy with hard-pressed families.
To seek to stigmatise immigrants and welfare claimants in this way is shameful.
news.sky.com/story/the-uk...
To seek to stigmatise immigrants and welfare claimants in this way is shameful.
news.sky.com/story/the-uk...
'UK has been colonised by immigrants', says INEOS boss and Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe
In an interview with Sky News's Ed Conway, Sir Jim says Britain faces profound political, social and economic challenges, among them an unprecedented rise in immigration in recent years.
news.sky.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:06 PM
These are outrageous and inflammatory remarks from an out of touch multi millionaire businessman who clearly has no empathy with hard-pressed families.
To seek to stigmatise immigrants and welfare claimants in this way is shameful.
news.sky.com/story/the-uk...
To seek to stigmatise immigrants and welfare claimants in this way is shameful.
news.sky.com/story/the-uk...
Reposted by Owen Michael
This would be a strong critique, if it wasnt for the fact all of this is in Labour's manifesto.
You know what isnt? The sort of immigration reforms proposed in the white paper
You know what isnt? The sort of immigration reforms proposed in the white paper
February 11, 2026 at 8:27 AM
This would be a strong critique, if it wasnt for the fact all of this is in Labour's manifesto.
You know what isnt? The sort of immigration reforms proposed in the white paper
You know what isnt? The sort of immigration reforms proposed in the white paper
Reposted by Owen Michael
I'm not sure what Finkelstein thinks Labour had a mandate for... are any of these really at odds with the 2024 election victory?
February 10, 2026 at 9:12 PM
I'm not sure what Finkelstein thinks Labour had a mandate for... are any of these really at odds with the 2024 election victory?
Reposted by Owen Michael
The problem with this argument is Sanchez has been PM in Spain since 2018; Friedericksen in Denmark since 2019; Albanese in Australia since 2022 etc...
And they have social media in all those countries.
And they have social media in all those countries.
February 11, 2026 at 11:25 AM
The problem with this argument is Sanchez has been PM in Spain since 2018; Friedericksen in Denmark since 2019; Albanese in Australia since 2022 etc...
And they have social media in all those countries.
And they have social media in all those countries.