Jeff Roberts
@reliablyjeff.bsky.social
Sociologist primarily interested in organizations. Fan of archives and cities. American in London. Working on the applied side.
It’s all garbage cans.
It’s all garbage cans.
My fabulously talented wife who has just come off the (multi-geography) sale of her first novel has just gotten her first approach for film / tv rights.
I am thrilled for her and just came to brag on her behalf!
(Because as a Brit she won’t and as an American I’m obliged)
I am thrilled for her and just came to brag on her behalf!
(Because as a Brit she won’t and as an American I’m obliged)
December 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
My fabulously talented wife who has just come off the (multi-geography) sale of her first novel has just gotten her first approach for film / tv rights.
I am thrilled for her and just came to brag on her behalf!
(Because as a Brit she won’t and as an American I’m obliged)
I am thrilled for her and just came to brag on her behalf!
(Because as a Brit she won’t and as an American I’m obliged)
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
There's a couple reasons so many IWW songs are set to the tunes of hymns and one is that the Salvation Army Band would show up and try to stop workers organizing by playing hymns to drown out speeches, so the Wobblies came up with words so they could sing along. SA has been trash all along.
It's that giving time of year again, so this is a reminder that no matter how they try to dress it up, the Salvation Army is not a charity.
December 3, 2025 at 2:09 AM
There's a couple reasons so many IWW songs are set to the tunes of hymns and one is that the Salvation Army Band would show up and try to stop workers organizing by playing hymns to drown out speeches, so the Wobblies came up with words so they could sing along. SA has been trash all along.
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
if you have a billion dollars you should be legally designated a dragon and any human can adventure against you
September 10, 2025 at 4:40 AM
if you have a billion dollars you should be legally designated a dragon and any human can adventure against you
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
For most of human history half of babies born died before they were five. And then we collectively worked out how to stop that.
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM
For most of human history half of babies born died before they were five. And then we collectively worked out how to stop that.
Had a Barrington Moore-lite epiphany on my commute this morning.
The Thatcher revolution shares some of the same dynamics as the Russian revolution. Both were failed attempts to use the state to impose new ways of existing with limited attention to or even understanding of how orgs change.
The Thatcher revolution shares some of the same dynamics as the Russian revolution. Both were failed attempts to use the state to impose new ways of existing with limited attention to or even understanding of how orgs change.
December 2, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Had a Barrington Moore-lite epiphany on my commute this morning.
The Thatcher revolution shares some of the same dynamics as the Russian revolution. Both were failed attempts to use the state to impose new ways of existing with limited attention to or even understanding of how orgs change.
The Thatcher revolution shares some of the same dynamics as the Russian revolution. Both were failed attempts to use the state to impose new ways of existing with limited attention to or even understanding of how orgs change.
If you leave a consultancy having gone no higher than manager, it should be illegal to make that role the backbone of your professional identity.
(I know this isn’t the audience for this, but it’s the only place I can safely drop this sick burn)
(I know this isn’t the audience for this, but it’s the only place I can safely drop this sick burn)
December 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
If you leave a consultancy having gone no higher than manager, it should be illegal to make that role the backbone of your professional identity.
(I know this isn’t the audience for this, but it’s the only place I can safely drop this sick burn)
(I know this isn’t the audience for this, but it’s the only place I can safely drop this sick burn)
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
what this makes me think is that unions should push for fusion voting wherever possible www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
How to Win Red States With a Labor Party
We can take political power without asking Democrats for it.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:31 PM
what this makes me think is that unions should push for fusion voting wherever possible www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/how-to-win...
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
the Bongian Jihad begins 2026 let’s go
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
November 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
the Bongian Jihad begins 2026 let’s go
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
Effectively there is no *one* person performing the duties of President of the United States right now. We are in an interregnum with an occupied throne.
The fundamental thing to understand about this administration is the president is a grumpy retiree. He has no interest in working anymore. Which leads to him being pissed that he is getting asked a question, pissed he has to show up and work, the scheming viziers running the show, etc..
“You’re a stupid person” — Trump lashes out at a reporter who presses him on the fact that the suspected DC shooter was actually thoroughly vetted before he was let in the US from Afghanistan
November 28, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Effectively there is no *one* person performing the duties of President of the United States right now. We are in an interregnum with an occupied throne.
I’ve decided there are too many Americans in London. Can’t find canned pumpkin for love nor money.
(Other) Yankees go home.
(Other) Yankees go home.
November 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I’ve decided there are too many Americans in London. Can’t find canned pumpkin for love nor money.
(Other) Yankees go home.
(Other) Yankees go home.
If you know me irl, you know about my love for the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum.
As they enter their 10th year, it’s a great time to support the work this team are doing to maintain and share the history of hugely important part of American (labor) history.
As they enter their 10th year, it’s a great time to support the work this team are doing to maintain and share the history of hugely important part of American (labor) history.
Giving Tuesday Membership Drive — West Virginia Mine Wars Museum
wvminewars.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
If you know me irl, you know about my love for the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum.
As they enter their 10th year, it’s a great time to support the work this team are doing to maintain and share the history of hugely important part of American (labor) history.
As they enter their 10th year, it’s a great time to support the work this team are doing to maintain and share the history of hugely important part of American (labor) history.
This is why I always thought using twitter as a proxy for real life was insane.
With only rare exception, it simply represents(ed) a source of information for those too lazy to leave their desks.
With only rare exception, it simply represents(ed) a source of information for those too lazy to leave their desks.
Musk turned on a feature on X that showed country of origin.
He disabled it a couple hours later when it was revealed how many MAGA accounts aren't in the U.S.
Foreign bot disinformation machines exposed.
Seems like Twitter could have done that feature 15 years ago & we wouldn't be here today.
He disabled it a couple hours later when it was revealed how many MAGA accounts aren't in the U.S.
Foreign bot disinformation machines exposed.
Seems like Twitter could have done that feature 15 years ago & we wouldn't be here today.
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This is why I always thought using twitter as a proxy for real life was insane.
With only rare exception, it simply represents(ed) a source of information for those too lazy to leave their desks.
With only rare exception, it simply represents(ed) a source of information for those too lazy to leave their desks.
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
I once knew a Federal bank examiner, and one time someone asked him why we had to KEEP inspecting banks over and over. He basically said every new batch of business school grads invents bank fraud from first principles.
AirBnB CEO calling it “vibe revenue” just 👨🍳 😘
The underlying cause of every bubble - debt masquerading as financial innovation - depends on not just short financial memory & speculative neophytism, but reinventing jargon of finance, like how each generation of kids has new ways to say same things.
The underlying cause of every bubble - debt masquerading as financial innovation - depends on not just short financial memory & speculative neophytism, but reinventing jargon of finance, like how each generation of kids has new ways to say same things.
November 22, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I once knew a Federal bank examiner, and one time someone asked him why we had to KEEP inspecting banks over and over. He basically said every new batch of business school grads invents bank fraud from first principles.
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
I got married outside, on a beautiful day in late May. After the service my father, a career Marine officer, pulled me aside and said “You need to get the troops out of the sun.” This is a great thread; military leadership axioms often boil down to meticulous care for the people around you.
Here it is. Advice for leaders, random notes and hard lessons learned during nearly 3 decades in uniform. In this version, I will try and make more applicable to other professions. None of this is rocket science, and most of it is ripped off from mentors and colleagues.
November 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM
I got married outside, on a beautiful day in late May. After the service my father, a career Marine officer, pulled me aside and said “You need to get the troops out of the sun.” This is a great thread; military leadership axioms often boil down to meticulous care for the people around you.
Uber transitions into its mature company phase.
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Uber transitions into its mature company phase.
And to think, some would have us think the age of the conglomerate had passed.
November 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
And to think, some would have us think the age of the conglomerate had passed.
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
Saki Soda (1975-1975): A lemon-lime soda from Kawasaki, maker of motorcycles and jetskis. After dipping their toe in the beverage market with what they dubbed "The Good Time Soft Drink," Kawasaki discontinued it within the year to re-focus on their core products
November 19, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Saki Soda (1975-1975): A lemon-lime soda from Kawasaki, maker of motorcycles and jetskis. After dipping their toe in the beverage market with what they dubbed "The Good Time Soft Drink," Kawasaki discontinued it within the year to re-focus on their core products
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
Another absolute banger in our war/climate/geopolitics series
Our tech and energy systems being transformed. But how & in whose interests?
Read @iliasalami.bsky.social's Imperial State Capitalism to understand how the development of AI & the energy transition are being shaped by profiteering & geopolitical competition.
transitionsecurity.org/imperial-sta...
Read @iliasalami.bsky.social's Imperial State Capitalism to understand how the development of AI & the energy transition are being shaped by profiteering & geopolitical competition.
transitionsecurity.org/imperial-sta...
Imperial State Capitalism
A new geopolitics is shaping the development of AI and the energy transition.
transitionsecurity.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Another absolute banger in our war/climate/geopolitics series
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
Larry Summers (Nov. 10): The trustees need to investigate the Harvard Crimson!
Harvard Crimson (Nov. 16): Mr. Summers, while we have your attention...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard Crimson (Nov. 16): Mr. Summers, while we have your attention...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
November 17, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Larry Summers (Nov. 10): The trustees need to investigate the Harvard Crimson!
Harvard Crimson (Nov. 16): Mr. Summers, while we have your attention...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard Crimson (Nov. 16): Mr. Summers, while we have your attention...
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
The compliance guy telling you not to put your crimes in email doesn't look so silly now huh
November 13, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The compliance guy telling you not to put your crimes in email doesn't look so silly now huh
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win. Please do repeat this insight.
BREAKING: At Pope Leo XIV’s urging, U.S. Catholic bishops just delivered the strongest rebuke of a sitting president in Church history — condemning Trump-Vance raids as “inhumane” and “dehumanizing” in a 216–5 vote.
NEW: At Pope Leo’s Urging, Bishops Issue Historic Rebuke of Trump’s Raids
Nearly all U.S. Catholic bishops united in Baltimore to denounce the Trump administration’s “inhumane” deportation campaign — a near-unanimous, unprecedented moral stand against a sitting president.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:02 AM
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win. Please do repeat this insight.
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
Every office has an executive tier whose emails are like:
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 13, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Every office has an executive tier whose emails are like:
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
saw on news , , can we replce complianc dept with web 3
and a worker tier whose emails are like:
Dear Jim,
First of all, I *love* this idea! Unfortunately, I spoke with Legal and identified a few issues with this approach. For starters…
Reposted by Jeff Roberts
“Stigmatizing fascist beliefs is not at odds with the ideal of the open society because a commitment to that ideal is not a suicide pact.” www.liberalcurrents.com/liberalisms-...
Liberalism's Positive Vision Must Be the Open Society
Liberalism is not just the mitigation of dangers. It is also an active striving towards a world that is truly free.
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM
“Stigmatizing fascist beliefs is not at odds with the ideal of the open society because a commitment to that ideal is not a suicide pact.” www.liberalcurrents.com/liberalisms-...