Julia LeeThorp
@julialt.bsky.social
Wandering SAffer, retired professor of archaeological science interested in all things human, animal and vegetable
Pinned
Julia LeeThorp
@julialt.bsky.social
· Jan 31
Anti-immigration policies: why harsh new rules put in place by Trump and other rich countries won’t last
Global north policies are increasingly nasty but these countries are ageing fast – without migrant labour, they face economic hardship.
theconversation.com
Some home-truths from Alan Hirsch introduced to the gathering Trumpian frenzy about immigration that wealthy countries have not yet grasped. Bottom line -their populations are aging & declining, they NEED these immigrants.
theconversation.com/anti-immigra...
theconversation.com/anti-immigra...
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
"Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency."
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
November 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
"Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency."
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
New analysis by @lgilbert.co
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
What Zohran Mamdani means for the future of progressive politics
You don’t fight hate with hate. You don’t win over their voters by being a watered-down version of the real deal. You have to forge your own identity and do your own thing
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/opinion...
You don’t fight hate with hate. You don’t win over their voters by being a watered-down version of the real deal. You have to forge your own identity and do your own thing
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/opinion...
What Zohran Mamdani means for the future of progressive politics
You don’t fight hate with hate. You don’t win over their voters by being a watered-down version of the real deal. You have to forge your own identity and do your own thing
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 9:52 AM
What Zohran Mamdani means for the future of progressive politics
You don’t fight hate with hate. You don’t win over their voters by being a watered-down version of the real deal. You have to forge your own identity and do your own thing
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/opinion...
You don’t fight hate with hate. You don’t win over their voters by being a watered-down version of the real deal. You have to forge your own identity and do your own thing
northeastbylines.co.uk/news/opinion...
What a fantastic and on the button idea!
It’s important to “direct that anger towards people who are responsible,” Loach says, suggesting that hurricanes be named after oil executives.
October 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
What a fantastic and on the button idea!
This interview is deeply disturbing
This British Conservative Is Calling Out the UK’s Support for Israel
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
This British Conservative Is Calling Out the UK’s Support for Israel
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
This British Conservative Is Calling Out the UK’s Support for Israel
Journalist and author Peter Oborne also talks to Mehdi about Tony Blair being offered a role in Gaza, the UK ban on Maccabi hooligans, and the influence of Britain's own pro-Israel lobby.
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:56 AM
This interview is deeply disturbing
This British Conservative Is Calling Out the UK’s Support for Israel
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
This British Conservative Is Calling Out the UK’s Support for Israel
open.substack.com/pub/zeteo/p/...
Bearded Vulture nests as archaeological sites, wonderful!
An astonishing study!
"We carried out intense research focusing on more than 50 well-preserved historical Bearded Vulture nests in parts of southern Spain where the species became extinct, around 70-130 years ago".
"We carried out intense research focusing on more than 50 well-preserved historical Bearded Vulture nests in parts of southern Spain where the species became extinct, around 70-130 years ago".
super cool study found human artifacts in Bearded vulture nests, incl. "weaponry like a crossbow bolt and wooden lance, decorated sheep leather, and parts of a slingshot....a shoe made from twigs and grass is ~675-years-old." link to paper: doi.org/10.1002/ecy..... www.popsci.com/environment/... 🧪🌍🦉
October 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Bearded Vulture nests as archaeological sites, wonderful!
It’s pretty obvious that they did esp since the tide of denial on ongoing genocide is turning & authoritative UN report is now out. Beeg question is why they over-reached like that, they will have a hard time living it down
NEW
Has the government overreached in using terrorism law against Palestine Action?
A disclosed MI5 document indicates that the basis for proscription may be weak
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Has the government overreached in using terrorism law against Palestine Action?
A disclosed MI5 document indicates that the basis for proscription may be weak
By me, at @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
September 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
It’s pretty obvious that they did esp since the tide of denial on ongoing genocide is turning & authoritative UN report is now out. Beeg question is why they over-reached like that, they will have a hard time living it down
Great article by Pam Jarvis, reminding us that we are all descended from immigrants. I’ve always sniggered at those who claim to be “pure” Anglo-Saxon Brits but, as she points out, what is sorely needed is better education on who we really are
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/immi...
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/immi...
Immigration: who do we think we are?
How far back in your family do you have to go to find an immigrant ancestor?
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Great article by Pam Jarvis, reminding us that we are all descended from immigrants. I’ve always sniggered at those who claim to be “pure” Anglo-Saxon Brits but, as she points out, what is sorely needed is better education on who we really are
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/immi...
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/society/immi...
Makes sense to me across the pond
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
If Democrats got off their asses, here’s what they’d be doing now
Nine critical steps
open.substack.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Makes sense to me across the pond
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
He just doesn't get it, does he?
You can't beat populists by copying their narrative and thinking you can do it better. You beat them by creating an alternative narrative that appeals to people's hopes, intellects, and feelings of shared humanity.
You can't beat populists by copying their narrative and thinking you can do it better. You beat them by creating an alternative narrative that appeals to people's hopes, intellects, and feelings of shared humanity.
August 13, 2025 at 10:50 AM
He just doesn't get it, does he?
You can't beat populists by copying their narrative and thinking you can do it better. You beat them by creating an alternative narrative that appeals to people's hopes, intellects, and feelings of shared humanity.
You can't beat populists by copying their narrative and thinking you can do it better. You beat them by creating an alternative narrative that appeals to people's hopes, intellects, and feelings of shared humanity.
Why indeed? We need to change the power balance
CEO pay is up 1,085% since 1978, while typical worker pay is up just 24%.
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
August 3, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Why indeed? We need to change the power balance
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
CEO pay is up 1,085% since 1978, while typical worker pay is up just 24%.
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
August 3, 2025 at 12:01 AM
CEO pay is up 1,085% since 1978, while typical worker pay is up just 24%.
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
Keep it going 🗽🇺🇸⚖️🇺🇦🇨🇦💙🩷🍀
July 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Keep it going 🗽🇺🇸⚖️🇺🇦🇨🇦💙🩷🍀
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
It has become the Don't Annoy Israel Act.
July 20, 2025 at 5:54 AM
It has become the Don't Annoy Israel Act.
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
More likely in Trump’s case that there is no blood going to his brain.
July 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
More likely in Trump’s case that there is no blood going to his brain.
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
Time for the Tax on Wealth Acquired Trinkets, also known as the TWAT tax.
July 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Time for the Tax on Wealth Acquired Trinkets, also known as the TWAT tax.
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
111 BBC staff have signed a letter to their bosses saying "The BBC is often performing PR for Israel." and it is unacceptable.
Why is this allowed?
The BBC Board should be fired today.
Like/RT if you agree.
Why is this allowed?
The BBC Board should be fired today.
Like/RT if you agree.
July 2, 2025 at 11:54 AM
111 BBC staff have signed a letter to their bosses saying "The BBC is often performing PR for Israel." and it is unacceptable.
Why is this allowed?
The BBC Board should be fired today.
Like/RT if you agree.
Why is this allowed?
The BBC Board should be fired today.
Like/RT if you agree.
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
Strikes me that the statue being pulled down was the most historic thing which ever happened to it, and did far more to raise awareness of actual history, than erecting it did.
June 7, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Strikes me that the statue being pulled down was the most historic thing which ever happened to it, and did far more to raise awareness of actual history, than erecting it did.
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
Here’s a video of Stephen Miller in high school screaming that he’s “sick and tired of being told to pick up my trash, when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us.”
This is the sociopath shaping our immigration policy and so much more
This is the sociopath shaping our immigration policy and so much more
June 11, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Here’s a video of Stephen Miller in high school screaming that he’s “sick and tired of being told to pick up my trash, when we have plenty of janitors who are paid to do it for us.”
This is the sociopath shaping our immigration policy and so much more
This is the sociopath shaping our immigration policy and so much more
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
🧵 I’ve talked a lot about disordered discourse, conspiracies, polarisation, denialism. But maybe the better question is: why does this keep happening? Why does our shared reality keep fracturing? What are the drivers I talk about as a dimension of disordered discourse?
I've just come back from the Cambridge Disinformation Summit where I gave the opening keynote, titled "Demanufacturing Consent - How Disordered Discourse is Destroying Democracy", featuring everything from Fake Hooves to Jackson Hinkle being the worst.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-FV...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-FV...
Belllingcat CEO Eliot Higgins, on how disordered discourse is destroying democracy
YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit
www.youtube.com
May 16, 2025 at 9:01 AM
🧵 I’ve talked a lot about disordered discourse, conspiracies, polarisation, denialism. But maybe the better question is: why does this keep happening? Why does our shared reality keep fracturing? What are the drivers I talk about as a dimension of disordered discourse?
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
I finally had a read of the MAHA report today, and aside from the obvious use of generative AI and false citations, what strikes me is how remarkably unprofessional and amateurish the document is.
It's just wild garbage 1/n
It's just wild garbage 1/n
The New York Times has found at least two more fake citations in the MAHA report.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/w...
White House Health Report Included Fake Citations
www.nytimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 4:39 AM
I finally had a read of the MAHA report today, and aside from the obvious use of generative AI and false citations, what strikes me is how remarkably unprofessional and amateurish the document is.
It's just wild garbage 1/n
It's just wild garbage 1/n
Genius, it’s what we expect from Harvard 👏🏼👏🏼
Free online courses from Harvard University
“American Government: Constitutional Foundations
“U.S. Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy”
“We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy”
👏
@harvard.edu
pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
“American Government: Constitutional Foundations
“U.S. Political Institutions: Congress, Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy”
“We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy”
👏
@harvard.edu
pll.harvard.edu/subject/gove...
Government | Harvard University
Browse the latest Government courses from Harvard University.
pll.harvard.edu
May 25, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Genius, it’s what we expect from Harvard 👏🏼👏🏼
Reposted by Julia LeeThorp
“Hard Brexit was xenophobic, economically illiterate and narrow-minded.
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
From the day Britain left the EU, this reset was inevitable. What a pointless waste of time, money and effort | Simon Jenkins
Keir Starmer is not blameless when it comes to Brexit, but he is moving in the right direction. Even the Tories attacking him know that, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 6:37 AM
“Hard Brexit was xenophobic, economically illiterate and narrow-minded.
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
An apology from the Brexit lobby is too much to hope for. Silence might be a relief.
An appalling mistake was made. It awaits correction.”
Yes. Such damage and waste. For nothing.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
How bizarre, I would say that these Western leaders have been emboldening Netanyahu, for years by always giving him the benefit of the doubt. + heavy military aid. With terrible consequences
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Netanyahu accuses leaders of Britain, France and Canada of ‘emboldening Hamas’
The Israeli prime minister made the statement after the leaders called for a halt to the Gaza offensive and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 6:43 AM
How bizarre, I would say that these Western leaders have been emboldening Netanyahu, for years by always giving him the benefit of the doubt. + heavy military aid. With terrible consequences
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
What a lot of people are wondering!!
May 20, 2025 at 2:56 PM
What a lot of people are wondering!!