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Finn Pollard

@heresfinn.bsky.social
303 followers 533 following 3.9K posts

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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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 12h
It's nearly fallen off BBC Sounds but I thought this 5 part adaptation of R F Delderfield's To Serve Them All My Days from 2006 was BBC Radio drama at its best. Played in that way that makes you feel like they're telling the story just to you: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 Extra - To Serve Them All My Days by RF Delderfield, 5. The Fight to be Headmaster
Davy draws daggers with the headmaster. One of them will have to go.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Always said it was a mistake to drop the George Fenton PM intro (reinstated to mark the composer’s death): www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
bbc.co.uk
BBC Radio 4 - PM, Over 250,000 protesting across France
Police fire tear gas at crowds as hundreds of thousands join school demonstrations.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
There are also significant areas of archive where we hear much less than we should - esp. the Radio 3 archive. There were fine long-running documentary series associated with seasons like Fairest Isle (1995) and Sounding the Century that seem to have disappeared without trace.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
An alternative way of doing that is provided by the BBCArchive YouTube channel & by the stuff that pops up periodically on iPlayer - though I do feel both could be more clearly coordinated and publicised. So the BBC could explore something similar for the audio archive.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In other news concerned by the reports that Radio 4 Extra is once again under threat. The BBC has a unique audio archive & rediscovered stuff is regularly being broadcast. It doesn't need to be tied to a schedule but the corporation must provide a reliable route for this material to be heard.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Addendum Note on KS-Sen – a second former GOP governor has now endorsed the Dem challenger: thehill.com/homenews/cam...
thehill.com
Another former GOP governor backs Hamilton over Marshall for Kansas Senate
Former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden (R) became the second former GOP governor to support Democrat Adam Hamilton over Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) in November’s Kansas Senate race.  Hayden, wh…
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Some of these questions may be answered in next week’s thread. Meanwhile, thanks as ever for reading and hope you’ve had a great weekend!
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Will we find out what Trump means by the easy v. the hard way in Iran? And if so will we find out what his several times trailed decision is going to be?
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We’re going to leave it there for this week. Will the G7 release of diesel reserves bring down the US diesel price? Will we get some more in depth coverage of those usually strongly GOP senate races (our usual plea for more on the ground reporting beyond vox pops)?
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We haven’t got as far on in this extended House seat survey this week as we’d hoped because of going on an extended voyage round the in theory strongly GOP Senate seats, but another instalment will follow next week.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This was a rare appearance of Kean before the media (a NYT reporter trying to cover a campaign fundraiser in late Aug was questioned by the police): www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/n...
nytimes.com
We Tried to Cover a Tom Kean Campaign Event. Someone Called the Police.
Representative Thomas Kean Jr. was joined Friday on the campaign trail by House Speaker Mike Johnson. An aide to Mr. Kean blocked a reporter’s entry. Then the police were called.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Regular readers may recall that the GOP incumbent in NJ-7 disappeared for weeks earlier in the year. He’s now back and, in contrast to other vulnerable GOPers, was backing the Trump tariffs and the war in Iran: apnews.com/article/kean...
apnews.com
New Jersey Republican Tom Kean Jr. and Democrat Rebecca Bennett clash over war in Iran, tariffs
Tom Kean Jr., the New Jersey Republican congressman whose four-month absence from the House this year went unexplained until he disclosed that he was being treated for depression, clashed with Democra...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Two other things worth picking out from the GOPer in that last piece – a) “There’s a lot of animosity in regards to the president” and b) “I think we need to end the conflict [in Iran]”.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In open seat Dem held NH-1 the GOP challenger is channelling Thatcher in his attach on socialism & playing up his business experience against a member of a NH Dem dynasty: nhjournal.com/dilorenzo-pi...
nhjournal.com
DiLorenzo Pits Working-Class Roots Against Shaheen’s Political Pedigree - NH Journal
New Hampshire - DiLorenzo Pits Working-Class Roots Against Shaheen’s Political Pedigree - NH Journal - Politics
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
He also said: “Truth is knowable. Freedom is a gift from our creator. Lies and slavery come from the mind of man. That’s Marxism.” So that’s cleared all of that up.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Unlike other GOP candidates in swing districts he accepted a speaking slot at the GOP Midterm Convention where he claimed Trump was “fighting every single day to bring costs down”: www.rev.com/transcripts/...
rev.com
2026 Republican Midterm Convention Night Two | Rev
JD Vance and others speak at night two of the 2026 Republican Midterm Convention. Read the transcript here.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
One has the slight sense from viewing the NV-3 challenger’s Twitter feed that he’s still on the pre-Iran War playbook – hardline on immigration, Trump reversing Biden economic problems etc. But there hasn’t been any notable independent commentary lately.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Here’s a counter set of vox pops on the economic effects of Trump’s policies in Nevada: www.ctvnews.ca/world/articl...
ctvnews.ca
Trump’s ‘No Tax on Tips’ bet falls flat in Las Vegas
Observers say Trump’s frequent outbursts against allies have deterred foreign tourists, especially Canadians, who are boycotting the United States over the massive tariffs he has imposed on America’s ...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In NV-3 the incumbent Dem is being challenged by a video game composer who is making much of the economic benefits of Trump’s “no tax on tips” while not mentioning the Iran War or its economic impact: www.latimes.com/world-nation...
latimes.com
Republicans target Las Vegas congressional district with help from Trump's 'no tax on tips' policy
In Nevada's most competitive congressional district, Democratic Rep. Susie Lee is fending off a challenge from Republican candidate Marty O'Donnell.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The state GOP meanwhile is seeking an FBI investigation into alleged conflicts of interest during the Dem candidate’s tenure in the state legislature: mynews4.com/news/local/t...
mynews4.com
Teresa Benitez-Thompson's campaign responds after complaint filed with the FBI
A complaint, filed by a Washoe County Republican chairman, has been submitted to the FBI asking them to look into Teresa Benitez-Thompson.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Now the GOP candidate has been exposed as claiming several times that he received a Bronze Star “for valor” as opposed to long service: lasvegassun.com/news/2026/se...
lasvegassun.com
Nevada congressional candidate Flippo falsely claimed Bronze Star ‘for valor,’ Washington Post reports
The Post reported that the Bronze Star Flippo received in 2004, during a 24-year Air Force career, did not carry the “V” device that denotes valor. Experts on military honors say such misrepresentatio...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
NV-2 open seat should be safely GOP (they’ve held it since it’s creation in 1983). Already back in early Sept there were suggestions it might be more competitive than usual: nevadacurrent.com/2026/09/08/c...
nevadacurrent.com
CD2 race is more intriguing than it usually is. How much more competitive remains to be seen. • Nevada Current
The combination of a Republican candidate easily characterized as a carpetbagger and growing frustrations with President Trump may provide the perfect recipe for Democrats to do what previously has be...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We move on now to another chunk of House seat check-ins. In Dem held NV-1 Nevada Current reports on GOP challenger’s erasure of parts of her social media record (including comments supporting One Big Beautiful Bill & Trump tariffs and opposing abortion): nevadacurrent.com/2026/09/23/b...
nevadacurrent.com
Buck attempts to erase social media record   • Nevada Current
Republican State Sen. Carrie Buck, who is challenging longtime U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, a Democrat, appears to be distancing herself from President Donald Trump’s agenda. In recent months, Buck has scrub...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
And Capito has been publicising her most recent campaign visits: www.capito.senate.gov/news/press-r...
capito.senate.gov
PHOTOS: Capito Makes Stops in Huntington | U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), traveled to Huntington,...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The other GOP senator for WV is up this cycle (Shelley Moore Capito) and she was urging Trump to end the war in Iran this week: thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com
GOP senator says Trump should bring Iran war to an end
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) on Monday said President Trump should end the Iran war as the conflict hit its seven-month mark, during which gas prices have soared and contributed to Americans…
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
But within a day he was backtracking: thehill.com/homenews/sen...
thehill.com
Justice says he supports Trump, ICE: ‘Some are twisting my words’
Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) backtracked on comments he made Tuesday about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), clarifying that he supports President Trump’s mass deportation effort.  “Let me b…
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
One corollary to all this. Midweek, a deep red state Senator, who isn’t even up for re-election this year, Jim Justice (WV) expressed concerns about ICE owing to its impact on the agriculture sector: www.yahoo.com/news/politic...
yahoo.com
Sen. Justice Urges Trump to Rethink ICE Tactics
Sen. Justice Urges Trump to Rethink ICE Tactics
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It’s also worth noting that you wouldn’t know from their websites that there’s a war going on or that there are any economic difficulties. Will any of this matter in places like SD or ID? In the end very possibly not but as we plead every cycle we’d really like more reporting from the ground.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
An interesting question here is, are these senators just hiding away (Rounds’s Twitter feed seems to counter this), or is this more a reflection of the lack of local news coverage (though we tend to think States Newsroom would pick it up if there was more going on).
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
As a result of thinking about these GOP held seats we also found ourselves taking a look at the candidates websites. Marshall, Rounds and Risch all have very thin sites & as we’ve discussed in relation to Rounds there’s an absence of media coverage of their campaign activities.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This letter from a voter commenting on the contrast in the two Senate candidates recent visit to northern Idaho also caught our eye: cdapress.com/news/2026/se...
cdapress.com
SENATOR: Risch should visit more
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
As in other deep red states the Dem candidate in that race has withdrawn to give an indy candidate a clear run. He has the backing of a former GOP attorney general: cdapress.com/news/2026/se...
cdapress.com
OPINION: It is high time to turn the page on hyper-partisan politics in Idaho
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Another incumbent GOP senator in a deep red state avoiding a public forum was Jim Risch in ID-Sen: idahocapitalsun.com/2026/09/30/i...
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho US Senate candidates weigh in on tariffs, Iran War, federal spending and more  • Idaho Capital Sun
Three out of four candidates running to represent Idaho in the U.S. Senate discussed their differing approaches on tariffs, military actions, immigration, and more Wednesday night in Caldwell. The rac...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Secondly, judging from his Twitter feed Rounds seems to have had a little blitz of meetings with associations of various kinds & was at the SD State Fair in early Sept but we can’t find any substantive write up of these at all.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Two other comments on this – it’s really instructive (& we think a comment on the weaknesses of the media landscape) that it’s really difficult to find any overall up to date assessments of Rounds’s record.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
But there should be more questioning as to whether a single encounter of this kind is more disqualifying to the challenger than the incumbent’s lengthy record of refusing to exercise potential senatorial checks on the executive.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
All of this is not to say that Bengs handles the encounter with the protestor well, at least visually he doesn’t (the sound on the C-Span clip is sufficiently poor that we couldn’t make out most of what was actually said between the candidate and the protestor).
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Fundamentally, while Rounds has sometimes been critical of Trump or held off backing him in elections he’s ultimately done nothing to significantly check his actions even when he’s paid lip service to the idea they might need to be checked.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
He’s also backed some of Trump’s key and most problematic legislation – for example co-sponsoring the SAVE act back in Jan (which would have made key changes to voting rights had it passed): www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
rounds.senate.gov
Rounds Joins Lee and Roy on SAVE Act to Secure Federal Elections | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
It’s also quite instructive to recall Rounds’s reluctance to take a strong position on the killings of two American citizens by ICE in Minnesota. There has been no substantive investigation & there’s no evidence Rounds has pushed for one: www.yahoo.com/news/article...
yahoo.com
Rounds, Senate candidates weigh in on Minnesota killing
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO/AP) — A federal immigration officer’s killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minnesota has federal immigration enforcement, the first amendment and the second amendment all in f...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Although in 2022 Rounds got credit for criticising Trump for claiming the 2020 election was stolen back on 7th Jan 2021 he was giving credence to it arguing “a comprehensive investigation” into “allegations of voting irregularities” in 2020 was needed: www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/pre...
rounds.senate.gov
Rounds Statement Following the Formal Count of the Electoral College Votes by Congress | U.S. Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement on the formal count of the...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Soon after the Jan 6th insurrection Rounds was both excusing Trump – “He probably did not realise how powerful his message was to people who were there” and passing the buck on judgement – “history will not look kindly”: www.dakotanewsnow.com/2021/01/22/r...
dakotanewsnow.com
Rounds: “History will not look kindly” on Trump’s role in riot
Rounds: “History will not look kindly” on Trump’s role in riot
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
That “not noisy” has caused us to reflect on Rounds’s silences & omissions since 2020. In 2021 he voted against impeaching Trump but justified it on ground that Senate did not have jurisdiction & made no comment for or against the alleged high crimes: www.justsecurity.org/74725/in-the...
justsecurity.org
In Their Own Words: The 43 Republicans' Explanations of Their Votes Not to Convict Trump in Impeachment Trial
A catalog of the pubic statements by the 43 Senate Republicans on their explanations for voting not to convict Presidenr Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
“People like Rounds. They like that he’s not noisy. I just think it…didn’t make him [Bengs] look like someone who’s ready to go take on the Senate.” Two SD journalists discuss the altercation: www.sdpb.org/elections/20...
sdpb.org
Analysis: Bengs stumbles, Monae Johnson surprises, Rhoden finds his stride
South Dakotans might be getting weary of campaigns, but the candidates keep offering surprises. Dakota Town Hall host Murdoc talks with SDPB's Lori Walsh about the latest from the campaign trail.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
But there’s been some negative press late this week around Bengs’s confrontation with a protester at an event in DC (video at this link): www.c-span.org/clip/campaig...
c-span.org
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We had thought there some slight signs GOP’s difficulties might be spreading here. In mid-Sept incumbent Rounds declined to participate in SD Public Broadcasting sponsored debate & network went ahead and gave the whole hour to his independent challenger Bengs: www.sdstandardnow.com/home/bwak-bw...
sdstandardnow.com
Bwak! Bwak! Rounds a no-show for debate with Brian Bengs — The South Dakota Standard
There was no empty chair visible, but South Dakota Public Broadcasting made it clear that Sen. Mike Rounds had been given the opportunity to be present, and that he had also failed to offer even one a...
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This from HuffPost fills in the background to this race: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/south-...
huffingtonpost.co.uk
No One’s Paying Attention To This Senate Race. It Could Be The Future Of Politics In Deep-Red States.
Brian Bengs is one of several independent candidates running in deep-red states this year. He hopes his race can forge a new path for American politics.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We’ve long had a fascination with the politics of the Dakotas which when we first started following US elections boasted 4 Dem Senators. There’s a Senate race in SD (GOP held) this year, one of several deep red states where it’s indy v GOP.
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Meanwhile the state GOP is running a rather curiously titled “Take Back Kansas” tour (the GOP currently hold both Senate seats, 3 out of 4 US House seats and are 31-9 (KS House) and 125-37 (KS Senate): eu.cjonline.com/story/news/p...
eu.cjonline.com
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Finn Pollard @heresfinn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
There’s also been a late debate announced in the US Senate race, to take place on Oct 21st: fox4kc.com/politics/you...
fox4kc.com
Nexstar’s Kansas Television Stations To Air Live Debate Between Candidates for U.S. Senate
Nexstar stations serving Kansas will air and exclusive live, multi-market telecast of a debate between candidates seeking a U.S. Senate seat for the state of Kansas, Republican Roger Marshall (incu…
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