Liam McHugh-Russell
@xntl.info
Canadian law professor. Transnational law, labour regulation, cooperatives and corporate governance, knowledge politics. Currently obsessed with the uses of legal scholarship. Two time dad. Not even a jack of any trades.
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
You see that? How “far right” views are routinely re-packaged as “populist”?
A prominent far-right German activist has applied for political asylum in the U.S., as the Trump administration has signaled plans to prioritize protections for White refugees and Europeans who claim they are being targeted for their populist views.
German far-right activist seeks asylum in U.S. as Trump ties deepen
Social media influencer Naomi Seibt, a supporter of the nationalist AfD party, said she is being persecuted in Germany for her political views.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
You see that? How “far right” views are routinely re-packaged as “populist”?
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
Everyone who said The White Lotus is unrealistic in it portrayal of the wealthy owes us all an apology
this part is crazy
November 9, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Everyone who said The White Lotus is unrealistic in it portrayal of the wealthy owes us all an apology
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The elimination of USAID was an unforgivable moral atrocity that should haunt Trump, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio for the rest of their days and beyond
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
I think about this post every day 🧪
November 7, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I think about this post every day 🧪
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
The Reddit community r/Democrats has a conspicuous absence of any news about Zohran Mamdani today. But that's by design.
The moderators have rules that ban people from talking about democratic socialists.
www.reddit.com/r/democrats/
The moderators have rules that ban people from talking about democratic socialists.
www.reddit.com/r/democrats/
November 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The Reddit community r/Democrats has a conspicuous absence of any news about Zohran Mamdani today. But that's by design.
The moderators have rules that ban people from talking about democratic socialists.
www.reddit.com/r/democrats/
The moderators have rules that ban people from talking about democratic socialists.
www.reddit.com/r/democrats/
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
A root problem with the immigration proposal -- using permanent immigrants rather than temporaries to fulfil the "nation-building" goals of the larger budget -- is that Canada's main immigration pathways, Express Entry and PNP, select for FAR too high skill/education levels for our economic needs
November 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A root problem with the immigration proposal -- using permanent immigrants rather than temporaries to fulfil the "nation-building" goals of the larger budget -- is that Canada's main immigration pathways, Express Entry and PNP, select for FAR too high skill/education levels for our economic needs
The thing that is most depressing about this graph is how much Americans loved President Bush after 9/11. No wonder so many people thought it was an inside job. Nothing beats a domestic terror attack to make people love the president.
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The thing that is most depressing about this graph is how much Americans loved President Bush after 9/11. No wonder so many people thought it was an inside job. Nothing beats a domestic terror attack to make people love the president.
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists.
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Oil is the most Lovecraftian thing that actually exists.
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
There is a meaning to the fact that Dreher cites here and it's this: religious pluralism is great! Qualified people can become leaders in our society without having to abandon or dissemble about their religious faith! Score one for pluralistic liberalism over laïcité or ethno-religious nationalism!
Rod Dreher is a racist.
He’s not an intellectual or thought leader or whatever BS.
He’s a gutter racist authoritarian, and there’s nothing else to him.
He’s not an intellectual or thought leader or whatever BS.
He’s a gutter racist authoritarian, and there’s nothing else to him.
November 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
There is a meaning to the fact that Dreher cites here and it's this: religious pluralism is great! Qualified people can become leaders in our society without having to abandon or dissemble about their religious faith! Score one for pluralistic liberalism over laïcité or ethno-religious nationalism!
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
Canadians long imagined ourselves as global leaders, as moral exemplars. But in a moment where the US has retreated from aid, cooperation and multilateralism, we are meekly following the trend.
Canada’s criteria for spending cuts cannot be ‘are we average compared to other countries?’
There are a thousand more relevant criteria for spending cuts than international comparisons that don’t account for context, budget, population, expertise or geography
There are a thousand more relevant criteria for spending cuts than international comparisons that don’t account for context, budget, population, expertise or geography
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Canadians long imagined ourselves as global leaders, as moral exemplars. But in a moment where the US has retreated from aid, cooperation and multilateralism, we are meekly following the trend.
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
"the revolt of the bosses" is a good way of framing the elite reaction to woke 1. what's particularly interesting is that this isn't a reaction to an attack on profits--it's a reaction to changes in workplace culture--
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
I suspect that the revolt of the bosses element of all this really is explained by: a bunch of upper echelon Americans really didn't like the cultural and workplace changes induced by Woke era, some portion of them were pushed into internet insanity, but most just wanted a shift slightly right....
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"the revolt of the bosses" is a good way of framing the elite reaction to woke 1. what's particularly interesting is that this isn't a reaction to an attack on profits--it's a reaction to changes in workplace culture--
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
Canadians long imagined ourselves as global leaders, as moral exemplars. But in a moment where the US has retreated from aid, cooperation and multilateralism, we are meekly following the trend.
Canada’s criteria for spending cuts cannot be ‘are we average compared to other countries?’
There are a thousand more relevant criteria for spending cuts than international comparisons that don’t account for context, budget, population, expertise or geography
There are a thousand more relevant criteria for spending cuts than international comparisons that don’t account for context, budget, population, expertise or geography
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Canadians long imagined ourselves as global leaders, as moral exemplars. But in a moment where the US has retreated from aid, cooperation and multilateralism, we are meekly following the trend.
This chart is shocking, though it's impressive they included it despite what it reveals
Staring at Canada's own gender-based analysis of its budget. Give you one guess at the main beneficiary of all the major spending investments....
November 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
This chart is shocking, though it's impressive they included it despite what it reveals
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
I don’t object to cuts to Canada’s international spending per se
I object to the capricious, callous and dismissive way it’s being done
I get this is feminized, wooly stuff. Not like hard, tangible economics, or hanging out with private equity talking billion dollar deals
I object to the capricious, callous and dismissive way it’s being done
I get this is feminized, wooly stuff. Not like hard, tangible economics, or hanging out with private equity talking billion dollar deals
November 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
I don’t object to cuts to Canada’s international spending per se
I object to the capricious, callous and dismissive way it’s being done
I get this is feminized, wooly stuff. Not like hard, tangible economics, or hanging out with private equity talking billion dollar deals
I object to the capricious, callous and dismissive way it’s being done
I get this is feminized, wooly stuff. Not like hard, tangible economics, or hanging out with private equity talking billion dollar deals
Does anyone if the Tri-Council has actually sent data to Parliament's Science and Research Committee yesterday? By my reckoning, the committee's motion on October 20 requested 25 years of data by yesterday...
While it's clear that some MPs on the Parliamentary Science and Research Committee are pursuing a Trump-style attack on research independence and university autonomy, it's important to be nuanced in critiques of the committee's request for data from the Tri-Council 1/5
The Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research is launching a US-style attack on EDI in Tri-Council funding.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Does anyone if the Tri-Council has actually sent data to Parliament's Science and Research Committee yesterday? By my reckoning, the committee's motion on October 20 requested 25 years of data by yesterday...
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
Sorry if I didn't respond to your email today, I've spend the last four hours changing all my website passwords. Apparently "Louvre" was not a great choice
November 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Sorry if I didn't respond to your email today, I've spend the last four hours changing all my website passwords. Apparently "Louvre" was not a great choice
Some great resources here thinking about the political limits of "rights" discourses
Syllabus Sourcing: Hoping for a little help!
I'm looking for readings that challenge whether rights are the "right" frame for protecting humanity and promoting equality.
I'll assign Marx and maybe excerpts from "How Rights Went Wrong." But any other recs particularly for a human rights course?
I'm looking for readings that challenge whether rights are the "right" frame for protecting humanity and promoting equality.
I'll assign Marx and maybe excerpts from "How Rights Went Wrong." But any other recs particularly for a human rights course?
November 4, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Some great resources here thinking about the political limits of "rights" discourses
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
There is much more to say about the attack on independent research being organized by Conservatives in Ottawa, but the thing I find most shocking is that Steven Pinker, after seeing his critiques empower the right-wing project to destroy US research dominance, is beating the same drum in Canada
The Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research is launching a US-style attack on EDI in Tri-Council funding.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
November 3, 2025 at 12:18 PM
There is much more to say about the attack on independent research being organized by Conservatives in Ottawa, but the thing I find most shocking is that Steven Pinker, after seeing his critiques empower the right-wing project to destroy US research dominance, is beating the same drum in Canada
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
Personal threats against diplomats. Rogue state.
November 4, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Personal threats against diplomats. Rogue state.
Reposted by Liam McHugh-Russell
While it's clear that some MPs on the Parliamentary Science and Research Committee are pursuing a Trump-style attack on research independence and university autonomy, it's important to be nuanced in critiques of the committee's request for data from the Tri-Council 1/5
The Canadian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research is launching a US-style attack on EDI in Tri-Council funding.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
As part of this attack, they are demanding disclosure of confidential demographic info + reviewer comments of all Canadian researchers who have applied b/w 2000-2025.
November 3, 2025 at 12:49 PM
While it's clear that some MPs on the Parliamentary Science and Research Committee are pursuing a Trump-style attack on research independence and university autonomy, it's important to be nuanced in critiques of the committee's request for data from the Tri-Council 1/5
Sorry if I didn't respond to your email today, I've spend the last four hours changing all my website passwords. Apparently "Louvre" was not a great choice
November 3, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Sorry if I didn't respond to your email today, I've spend the last four hours changing all my website passwords. Apparently "Louvre" was not a great choice
When someone uses a bullshit machine to generate a 10 TB shotgun spray of racist ignorance, in an explicit effort to undermine one of the last remaining sources of reliable knowledge online, it's probably best not to lend the project legitimacy by working to make some of it less wrong
(This is pointed at inc, not Scalzi but) the response when a for-profit company publishes things about you that are untrue is to sue them for libel, not invest resources in helping to whitewash a bad faith attempt to both-sides human knowledge
November 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
When someone uses a bullshit machine to generate a 10 TB shotgun spray of racist ignorance, in an explicit effort to undermine one of the last remaining sources of reliable knowledge online, it's probably best not to lend the project legitimacy by working to make some of it less wrong
(This is pointed at inc, not Scalzi but) the response when a for-profit company publishes things about you that are untrue is to sue them for libel, not invest resources in helping to whitewash a bad faith attempt to both-sides human knowledge
November 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
(This is pointed at inc, not Scalzi but) the response when a for-profit company publishes things about you that are untrue is to sue them for libel, not invest resources in helping to whitewash a bad faith attempt to both-sides human knowledge