Finn Pollard
@heresfinn.bsky.social
Head of Academic Quality. Associate Prof (US History). Pollard's US Politics Thread (Fridays). Arts Reviewer. Lib Dem/Remainer. Views my own not UoL.
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Greetings friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 22nd Nov 2025, or The Voyage Round the Cabinet Table Edition… (1/73)
Greetings friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 22nd Nov 2025, or The Voyage Round the Cabinet Table Edition… (1/73)
November 22, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Greetings friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 22nd Nov 2025, or The Voyage Round the Cabinet Table Edition… (1/73)
Reading 2025: Devoured Tim Parks’s The Hero’s Way this week. Really felt I was walking with him and with Garibaldi. Occasionally dissented over his Brexit asides. Also wonderful on contradictions & gaps in the historical record. Highly recommended.
November 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reading 2025: Devoured Tim Parks’s The Hero’s Way this week. Really felt I was walking with him and with Garibaldi. Occasionally dissented over his Brexit asides. Also wonderful on contradictions & gaps in the historical record. Highly recommended.
Apologies to regular readers of the US Politics Thread - we’ll be publishing on Saturday this week owing to commitments this evening.
November 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Apologies to regular readers of the US Politics Thread - we’ll be publishing on Saturday this week owing to commitments this evening.
A government of “foundational ineffectiveness”. A brilliant evisceration of the current govt from Ian Dunt: iandunt.substack.com/p/a-clown-go...
A clown government elected on a seriousness ticket
People voted for Starmer because they wanted grown-up government. He should respect the mandate.
iandunt.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A government of “foundational ineffectiveness”. A brilliant evisceration of the current govt from Ian Dunt: iandunt.substack.com/p/a-clown-go...
The whole ENO situation remains a mess. A small one in the grand scheme of things but as with many larger foul ups inherited from the previous govt not one the current govt seems prepared to do anything sensible to sort out: www.eno.org/press/englis...
English National Opera's Jenny Mollica appointed to lead the Roundhouse - ENO
English National Opera (ENO) has announced that Chief Executive, Jenny Mollica, has been appointed the next CEO of the Roundhouse.
www.eno.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The whole ENO situation remains a mess. A small one in the grand scheme of things but as with many larger foul ups inherited from the previous govt not one the current govt seems prepared to do anything sensible to sort out: www.eno.org/press/englis...
My thoughts on the National Theatre's Hamlet: www.wheresrunnicles.com/2025/11/haml...
Hamlet at the National, or, But He Hasn't Fired!
Act 3 Scene 4 is a fairly crucial moment in this play. For any readers who may need their memory refreshing this is the scene where Hamlet ...
www.wheresrunnicles.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
My thoughts on the National Theatre's Hamlet: www.wheresrunnicles.com/2025/11/haml...
EIF site still down but the BBC seems to have the details - partnership with Avignon promising. Return of Berlin Phil notable. Ballo in Maschera looks like it’s directed by Adele Thomas (recent Glynde Semele underwhelming).
November 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
EIF site still down but the BBC seems to have the details - partnership with Avignon promising. Return of Berlin Phil notable. Ballo in Maschera looks like it’s directed by Adele Thomas (recent Glynde Semele underwhelming).
Been wondering what's going on with the EIF announcement that was trailed for today (when they're going to tell us what they're actually staggering booking for). No sign of anything so far except that the website's gone down!
November 18, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Been wondering what's going on with the EIF announcement that was trailed for today (when they're going to tell us what they're actually staggering booking for). No sign of anything so far except that the website's gone down!
Years ago I read Judith Kerr’s When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. Now I’ve finally got round to the sequel Bombs on Aunt Dainty. Moving & v powerful - particularly reading it while the govt unveils its latest anti-immigrant policies.
November 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Years ago I read Judith Kerr’s When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. Now I’ve finally got round to the sequel Bombs on Aunt Dainty. Moving & v powerful - particularly reading it while the govt unveils its latest anti-immigrant policies.
NT Hamlet: A lot goes wrong in the second half. The fact I felt compelled to stop and check with an usher that i hadn’t imagined the direction of Polonius’s death…one of the most baffling things I’ve seen for some time. Play within play ludicrous.
November 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM
NT Hamlet: A lot goes wrong in the second half. The fact I felt compelled to stop and check with an usher that i hadn’t imagined the direction of Polonius’s death…one of the most baffling things I’ve seen for some time. Play within play ludicrous.
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 14th Nov 2025, or, The There’s Nothing to See Here Please Move Along Edition. (1/46)
November 14, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 14th Nov 2025, or, The There’s Nothing to See Here Please Move Along Edition. (1/46)
I agree. But in order to make any progress there would have to be an agreement for major change to the REF. There seems to be no sector will to pursue this (& the union also seems uninterested in pushing for this):
“It’s time for the ‘publish more’ mindset to perish.”
Mandy Hill, writing in the Financial Times, calls for reform in academic publishing:
Read the full letter (paywall) 🔗 https://cup.org/3WRVlDm
Mandy Hill, writing in the Financial Times, calls for reform in academic publishing:
Read the full letter (paywall) 🔗 https://cup.org/3WRVlDm
November 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I agree. But in order to make any progress there would have to be an agreement for major change to the REF. There seems to be no sector will to pursue this (& the union also seems uninterested in pushing for this):
I have written at length to explain why I think the Edinburgh International Festival's decision (announced in the Members newsletter last week) to open booking for selected events before the full programme is publicly available is mistaken: www.wheresrunnicles.com/2025/11/stag...
Staggered Booking at the Edinburgh International Festival Redux, or, You Cannot Be Serious
On the 3rd November I received an e-mail sent to all the various levels of Edinburgh International Festival Members. At this time of year I...
www.wheresrunnicles.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 AM
I have written at length to explain why I think the Edinburgh International Festival's decision (announced in the Members newsletter last week) to open booking for selected events before the full programme is publicly available is mistaken: www.wheresrunnicles.com/2025/11/stag...
Greetings Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 7th Nov 2025, or, The Obviously Grocery Prices are Way Down Edition…(1/58)
November 7, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Greetings Friends! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 7th Nov 2025, or, The Obviously Grocery Prices are Way Down Edition…(1/58)
Personal archive note. When I started doing the US Politics Thread back in 2022 I didn’t always save a copy of the start of thread link. Have just realised that as I‘ve done little on Facebook except cross-post it’s fairly easy job to recover the links to early threads. Pleased.
November 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Personal archive note. When I started doing the US Politics Thread back in 2022 I didn’t always save a copy of the start of thread link. Have just realised that as I‘ve done little on Facebook except cross-post it’s fairly easy job to recover the links to early threads. Pleased.
Just received an email from the Edinburgh International Festival informing me that a selection of perfs will go on sale later this month. Staggered booking was a daft idea when Linehan proposed it for 2016 & had to walk it back. It is no better an idea now. EIF should reconsider.
November 3, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Just received an email from the Edinburgh International Festival informing me that a selection of perfs will go on sale later this month. Staggered booking was a daft idea when Linehan proposed it for 2016 & had to walk it back. It is no better an idea now. EIF should reconsider.
V good on the ground reporting on the flag raisers: manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
The men who raised the flags
Nigel Farage says this summer’s movement was led by ‘ordinary people’ expressing their patriotism. That’s not what we found
manchestermill.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 9:27 AM
V good on the ground reporting on the flag raisers: manchestermill.co.uk/the-men-who-...
Donmar The Maids: Despite the efforts of the ensemble I wasn‘t persuaded by the updating (the ending in particular just seemed bizarre). Overblown production wch as so often lately hindered rather than helped the drama.
November 1, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Donmar The Maids: Despite the efforts of the ensemble I wasn‘t persuaded by the updating (the ending in particular just seemed bizarre). Overblown production wch as so often lately hindered rather than helped the drama.
It's been another heavy week at the day job but my evening has just been made by managing to pick up 5 of the BBC Classic Who novels I don't currently have in my collection at bargain prices from the Oxfam shop website. Slowly filling the collection gaps.
October 31, 2025 at 6:57 PM
It's been another heavy week at the day job but my evening has just been made by managing to pick up 5 of the BBC Classic Who novels I don't currently have in my collection at bargain prices from the Oxfam shop website. Slowly filling the collection gaps.
Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 31st Oct 2025, or, The For Sale. One Army. Only One Previous Owner. Anonymous Bids Welcome Edition… (1/47)
October 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 31st Oct 2025, or, The For Sale. One Army. Only One Previous Owner. Anonymous Bids Welcome Edition… (1/47)
An excellent afternoon of escapism watching Back to the Future with live orchestral score courtesy of the RPO at the Royal Albert Hall.
October 26, 2025 at 7:23 PM
An excellent afternoon of escapism watching Back to the Future with live orchestral score courtesy of the RPO at the Royal Albert Hall.
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 24th Oct 2025, or, The It’s My House And I Can Do What I Like To It But I’m Definitely Not Behaving Like A King Edition…(1/73)
October 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Hi there and hello! Welcome to the US Politics Thread for w/e 24th Oct 2025, or, The It’s My House And I Can Do What I Like To It But I’m Definitely Not Behaving Like A King Edition…(1/73)
If any followers happen to spot anything on Ag Sec Rollins's plan for the US beef industry that analyses the plan in depth (rather than just describing what's in it) & gives some context/comparison to current arrangements please do alert me to it.
October 23, 2025 at 10:26 AM
If any followers happen to spot anything on Ag Sec Rollins's plan for the US beef industry that analyses the plan in depth (rather than just describing what's in it) & gives some context/comparison to current arrangements please do alert me to it.
Not at all enthused after sitting through the Bridge's Lady from the Sea at the weekend about the prospect of Simon Stone returning to the venue in 2026...
October 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Not at all enthused after sitting through the Bridge's Lady from the Sea at the weekend about the prospect of Simon Stone returning to the venue in 2026...
An excellent thread on the Lam proposals:
Katie Lam has made a video - focusing on not giving new ILR grants to people who don't have it
But quietly including the Conservative proposal to be the first government since Idi Amin in 1972 to revoke the permanent leave to remain, then expel: she underplays to what extent
x.com/Katie_Lam_MP...
But quietly including the Conservative proposal to be the first government since Idi Amin in 1972 to revoke the permanent leave to remain, then expel: she underplays to what extent
x.com/Katie_Lam_MP...
x.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
An excellent thread on the Lam proposals: