Patrick Andelic
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pkandelic.bsky.social
Patrick Andelic
@pkandelic.bsky.social
880 followers 850 following 1K posts
Historian of US liberalism, Congress, and the C20th Democratic Party. Trade unionist. Lanyard class warrior.
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pkandelic.bsky.social
Did I miss the Rapture?
A pair of sodden slippers abandoned in an alley.
November 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
I think the "no Scorpios" thing is kind of burying the lede.
He is also after a "good breeder" so he can have a male heir. Sir Benjamin, a baronet descended from Charles II, says she can't come from countries beginning with 'I' that have green in their flag. He said: "I don't mind Canadians, Americans, Germans and Northern Europeans - what I like to call similar people. I don't think marrying an Eskimo is for me.
November 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
I'm not sure this is *that* much of a dilemma.
Gareth Talbot does not necessarily believe in God, but he's started going to church. He felt compelled to do so after taking part in one of Tommy Robinson's rallies in September. "I never thought I had to choose before, but now I'm feeling like Christianity could be replaced, so that's why I feel the church needs support," the 36-year-old from Bradford says. Gareth talks about the church in England being under "threat", as he sees it, mainly from Islam. He says his concern is about the extreme elements of Islam, not the religion as a whole. He also makes claims about all the Christmas markets in London being renamed "festive markets" and about some areas of the country becoming "fully Muslim", as other reasons for feeling a need to engage more with Christianity.
November 23, 2025 at 3:06 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
He's Charles Foster Kane-maxxing. He's going Rosebud mode.
Citizen Kane screencap. Orson Welles as a middle-aged Charles Foster Kane, leaning over a banister, wearing a black overcoat and light scarf folded around his neck.
November 23, 2025 at 7:06 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Absolutely cannot get over one of the photos Trump posted to Truth Social being this nice one of Mamdani solo in front of the FDR portrait. He's totally smitten.
Zohran Mamdani, hands clasped in front of him, standing in front of the FDR portrait in the White House.
November 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
I wasn't surprised, I just didn't expect it to be Donald Trump himself.
Washington Post headline. "America, meet the Trump-Mamdani voter. "Yes, such a person exists. Should anyone be surprised?" July 18, 2025
November 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
1-0 to socialism.
Fox News screencap. Chyron reads, "Today: Trump Meets With Mamdani at the White House." The bulk of the screen is occupied by a graphic featuring Trump and Mamdani's faces and reading "Showdown with Socialism."
November 21, 2025 at 9:07 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
The UK government:
Brooklyn 99 screencap. Gina Linetti looking affronted. Caption: "How was I supposed to know there'd be consequences for my actions?"
November 21, 2025 at 10:19 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Mean Girls meme. "That is so Labour!" "Gretchen, stop trying to make 'Labour' happne. It's not going to happen."
November 18, 2025 at 11:38 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
European centre-left parties:
Arrested Development screencap. Tobias talking to Lindsay. Caption: "but it might work for us."
November 18, 2025 at 10:56 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Simpsons screencap. Homer standing at a lectern. Caption: "Who keeps saying that?" Simpsons screencap. The crowd has parted revealing a blonde muscular man sitting in a chair and a small, nervous, rodenty man with a pencil moustache pointing at him. Caption: "It's was him. Let's get him, fellas."
November 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
I was very smug at having got this one last night at 3 points until they revealed the third clue and I realised the answer wasn't "American Studies academics at Northumbria and the cities where they've presented conference papers."
Only Connect team, three white men with brown hair (one bearded, one moustachioed, one clean shaven) considering two clues in the first round. For 3 points, the first two clues are "Ward in Nottingham" and "Street in Birmingham."
November 18, 2025 at 9:06 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
INT. NY POST OFFICES:

Mamdani's...

*Spins wheel*

... gender-affirming ...

*Spins wheel*

... healthcare plan...

... is like...

*Spins wheel*

Iran.
NY Post op-ed headline. "Mamdani's 'gender-affirming care' plan surgically erases gays - just like Iran."
November 17, 2025 at 9:47 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
No. 10 looking at that "Dissatisifed" line like:
Simpsons screencap. Homer and Bart watching a suckling pig being fired into the air by the Springfield Dam's spillway. Simpsons screencap. A distraught Homer and blank-faced Bart looking over the dam railing. Caption: "It's just a little airborne. It's still good. It's still good."
November 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Arrested Development screencap. Tobias Fünke listening to a tape recorder in the Bluths' living room. Caption: "Nothing wrong with that."
November 16, 2025 at 10:55 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Uniquely trained and highly motivated, a specialist without equal, immune to any countermeasures. There is no secret he cannot extract, no security he cannot breach, no person he cannot become.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) dressed as a priest while infiltrating the Vatican.
November 15, 2025 at 4:08 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Sorry, I can't stop laughing at this. "... an otherwise normal life to lead."
She has told many people that she is upset that I don't return her calls anymore, but with 219 Congressmen/women, 53 U.S. Senators, 24 Cabinet Members, almost 200 Countries, and an otherwise normal life to lead, I can't take a ranting Lunatic's call every day.
November 15, 2025 at 10:09 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
"Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the tax code designed for the average British worker ... the Starmer!"
Simpsons screencap. Homer's half-brother Herb presenting Homer's hideously ugly and confused personally designed car to shareholders.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Matthew Goodwin, honorary president of Students4Reform.
30 Rock meme. Steve Buscemi as a very young-looking detective in disguise as a high school student. Caption: "How do you do, fellow kids?
November 13, 2025 at 12:42 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Legit question for political journalists: how is Starmer supposed to deal with the 30-50 feral Labour MPs that run into Downing Street within 3-5 minutes while he's trying to do government?
Front page of the Times: "Starmer vows to defend leadership from 'feral' Labour MPs."
November 12, 2025 at 9:58 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
I was going to complain about the mixed metaphor, but the source is right, a circular firing squad would do nothing to help you get out of a hole.
One government figure struck a similar note saying: “A circular firing squad won’t help the government out of the hole we’re in.”
November 12, 2025 at 9:47 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Where do I collect my cheque?
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Caption: "Somehow, James Bond returned..."
November 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Homer Simpson holding his make-up gun, a shotgun with two bottles of non-specific make-up attached. Caption: "That's why I invented this revolutionary fake tan gun. It's for the president who only has four-fifths of a second to get ready."
November 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Alan Partridge, with his assistant Lynn, talking to a builder in his half-finished house. Caption: "Divorced. I've got access to the kids, but they don't want to see me."
November 8, 2025 at 5:29 PM
pkandelic.bsky.social
Garth Marenghi: "I know writers who use subtext and they're all cowards."
November 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM