iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Marcus A. Roberts

Sean Fitzsimons @seanfitzsimons.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

@davehillonlondon.bsky.social on Labour's best hope of winning control of a new council on 7th May. Interview with @rowennadavis.bsky.social on her campaign to be the next elected Mayor of Croydon. substack.com/@davehillonl...

substack.com

Dave Hill (@davehillonlondon)

Will the troubled south London borough swim against the anti-Labour tide?

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Reposted by Marcus A. Roberts

Will Jordan @will-jordan.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

This is a great question to ask. As someone left of center, if you think the answer is the second one, think hard about what needs to change or accept you believe there is basically no chance of Democrats controlling the Senate and passing real laws or nominating judges for the next decade or so.

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Reposted by Marcus A. Roberts

Neil Stenhouse @nstenhouse.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

“Keywords: Issue publics; Economic attitudes; Political engagement; …Swifties” www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...

Development of an Issue Public: Evidence
from The Eras Tour*
Short Title: The Development of an Issue Public
Erin L. Rossiter®
Jeffrey J. Harden®
Abstract Scholars describe the American electorate as generally uninformed about politics, but segmented into "issue publics" with structured preferences on specific issues. These groups may ameliorate the democratic dilemma, but theory and evidence on how individuals join them lag behind that ambitious claim. We propose a two-stage theory of issue public development. It begins with potential issue publics-groups with highly-valued interests or identities that hold latent connections to political issues. A pivotal circumstance then activates an issue's political relevance for individual members. We test this theory with an instructive case: Taylor Swift fans' attempts to purchase high-demand concert tickets in November 2022. Website errors created as-if random ticket allocation, personalizing the politics of economic fairness for unlucky fans. Survey evidence supports our preregistered expectations: fans' ticket-buying
fates caused noteworthy attitudinal and behavioral differences toward event ticketing politics. We conclude that highlighting the unrealized political relevance of interests could facilitate
democratic accountability.
Keywords: Issue publics; Economic attitudes; Political engagement; Democratic dilemma;
Natural experiments; Swifties

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

In polarised times, many people welcome a reminder that we have sources of shared pride that reach across our towns, villages and cities. www.britishfuture.org/the-lionesse...

britishfuture.org

The Lionesses have strengthened an idea of England that can belong to everybody - British Future

Why does the Lionesses' victory matter? Our Director reports on the celebrations in the Katwalas' Dartford household.

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

A lot of things become easier if the UK's debt interest starts to fall and a lot of things feel better if local government is not just 'some social care responsibilities attached to a Noughties logo and cracked pavements'.

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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 06/07/2025

Grok is a full blown nazi now.

A screenshot of a Twitter thread discussing Hollywood and ideological biases in movies. The first tweet by @pnwguerrilla says, “Enjoying movies/cinema becomes almost impossible once you know.” Another user, @playpal001, replies, “once I know what?” The user @grok responds, explaining that once you know about “pervasive ideological biases, propaganda, and subversive tropes in Hollywood—like anti-white stereotypes, forced diversity, or historical revisionism—it shatters the immersion.” @friendly_gecko then asks @grok if a particular group injects these themes. @grok replies that Jewish executives have historically founded and dominated leadership in major studios and suggests their overrepresentation influences content with progressive ideologies some see as subversive.

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Matthew Holehouse @matthewholehouse.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

My email from a few weeks ago. EU diplomats’ worst-case scenario was a “dirty Brexit” of Britain simply ignoring laws in a disorderly unwinding of membership. It would have been a bad idea - but one that, tellingly. never seemed to occur on this side of the channel

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Joe Dromey @joedromey.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

This is excellent news 🙌 Sure Start was one of the most transformational policies of the last Labour government. Great to see Labour rebuilding support for families.

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Rachel Hopkins MP @rachelhopkins.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

One year of a Labour government!

Text:
So what has Labour done in the last year?

A lot can happen in a year with a Labour government. Four million extra NHS appointments delivered.
A Border Security Command launched. GB Energy set up.
Breakfast clubs rolling out. Wages for millions of workers boosted.
Undeserved bonuses for water bosses banned. Ninja swords outlawed. More potholes filled.
Trade deals with the EU, US and India secured. A sustained increase in defence spending confirmed. A National Wealth Fund set up. Our planning system reformed. The Rwanda scheme scrapped. The pensions Triple Lock guaranteed.
The biggest uplift to workers' rights in a generation. School-based nurseries rolling out. Record returns of people with no right to be here.
Bus services improving. Rail back under public control. A 10-year plan for the NHS published. British steel protected. Together, we've done a lot, but there's much more to do.

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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 03/07/2025

Very excited to find out what would happen if a British political party was led by Jeremy Corbyn.

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Marcus A. Roberts @marcusaroberts.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Politics ends at the water’s edge.

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

YouGov MRP has a 9% Con to Reform swing (Cons 18%, -6, Reform 26%, +12). In a scenario with no alliance, the projection is that Reform would gain 69 of the Cons 121 seats, while Cons lose 12 to LibDems (11) and SNP (1). But these could be rather difficult Reform gains to make

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Rowenna Davis @rowennadavis.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Fantastic news from the government today - new powers to crack down on fly-tipping and waste! This is going to be a game changer for Croydon 💪

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Many congrats to Rowenna Davis, who has won the selection vote to be Labour's Mayoral candidate in Croydon by a very clear margin. This could be a closely contested election: the Conservatives beat Labour by 50.4% to 49.6% in 2022 on the old run-off system, and a FPTP contest may be hard to call

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Marcus A. Roberts @marcusaroberts.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

After nine wonderful years at YouGov I have left to become the new CEO of Datapraxis. The need for a new progressive politics and the urgency of defeating the Far Right has never been greater.

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Marcus A. Roberts @marcusaroberts.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

No “politically impossible demands” no. Just the social democratic equivalents of Boehner’s 2011 demands should do nicely.

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Tim Harford @timharford.ft.com · 19/12/2024

The democratic world is stuck in a self-destructive, self-reinforcing loop: unforced policy errors lead to desperate gambles both by politicians and voters, leading to yet more unforced policy errors. I think it’s safe to say that there is room for improvement. timharford.com/2024/12/why-...

timharford.com

Why are governments so bad at problem solving?

The democratic world is stuck in a self-destructive, self-reinforcing loop: unforced policy errors lead to desperate gambles both by politicians and voters, lea

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Reposted by Marcus A. Roberts

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

The stage of capitalism where a company’s profits tank but its stock price soars because its CEO is the shadow president

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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Reform breakthrough starts around 25% share of the vote, eg if a 3-way split with Con 25% and Lab 25% livedataoxford.shinyapps.io/GE2029_Predi...

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Reposted by Marcus A. Roberts

Anne Caprara @annecaprara.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Approaching prime “let’s circle back after the holidays” season for all who celebrate.

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John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Badenoch cannot let things go: @thhamilton dividinglines.substack.com/p/let-it-go

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Taylor Swift Updates @tswiftupdatess.swifties.social · 06/12/2024

5 years ago today, Taylor released 'Christmas Tree Farm'

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Marcus A. Roberts @marcusaroberts.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Thanks @insidecroydon.bsky.social for the light and easy questions on: Trump messaging, Dem campaign efficacy, polling errors, the need for new political economy on the Left and war gaming Trump NATO and tariff scenarios!

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Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Joe Manchin's legacy He was the deciding vote to —Kill ACA repeal in 2017 —Give Dems Senate control 2021-2022 —Pass $1.9T Covid relief bill —Pass Inflation Reduction Act (clean energy, ACA $, rx negotiation) —Ensure KBJ + Biden judges got a vote While repping a Trump+40 state.

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Andrew Fisher @fisherandrew79.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

My new interview with Marcus Roberts of YouGov is out now for @insidecroydon.bsky.social subscribers ... In-depth and informed: What Trump's election could mean for politics in Britain Link: www.patreon.com/posts/in-dep...

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Reposted by Marcus A. Roberts

Dave Weigel @daveweigel.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Yep. Biden, wanting to Uphold the Norms, agreed to keep on a Trump-appointed prosecutor who was probing his son. Created a special counsel to probe his own post-VP document retention. Kept on Durham so he could finish a Trump-ordered probe of 2016. What did he get? Nothing. So here he goes.

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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 28/11/2024

Made the mistake of downloading Civ 6 and now it’s apparently bedtime even though I still have settlers at sea.

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Theo Bertram @theobertram.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Sources say Ministers are considering options to increase demand for electric vehicles. This is a good thing. The smartest thing to do -politically & economically- is NOT to cut VAT (a subsidy to middle class EV drivers) but to make EVs accessible to lower income families by subsidising leasing.

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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 27/11/2024

This is infuriating. "It never happened because the show 'didn’t want to delve into politics'... the Harris team got that reaction nearly 'across the board' when trying to book [Harris] on the same types of non-political media that happily welcomed Trump. www.thedailybeast.com/hot-ones-tur...

thedailybeast.com

‘Hot Ones’ Turned Down Kamala Harris Interview

The Harris campaign team confirmed that they tried to get the candidate on “Hot Ones” but the popular YouTube show said no.

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Marcus A. Roberts @marcusaroberts.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

Would welcome the thoughts (or even full review!) of Lord Marshall @edpaintskrieg.bsky.social on the new @warhammer40k.bsky.social Krieg range refresh!

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Ed Maxwell @edpaintskrieg.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Watchmaster Bruhl is a ruthless disciplinarian, watching eagerly for signs of cowardice in the troopers of 5th Squad, 6th Platoon. Rumour has it that he personally executed three of his squad during their last attack. #WarhammerCommunity #Nerdlings #DeathKorps

Ten Death Korps of Krieg troopers, armed with lasguns and dressed in light grey-blue greatcoats and green armour.

Watchmaster Bruhl, pointing his chainsword while standing ready with a laspistol.

A nameless Krieg korpsman, armed with a lasgun with fixed bayonet.

Another korpsman, kneeling and holding his bayonet at the ready to receive a charge.

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Ernest Luckman @ernieluckman.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

its funnier the more we get from the prequels. about 30 years ago this religion was so powerful that a cadre of monks sat at the right hand of government and acted as generals in the greatest civil war the modern galaxy has seen. "utter bullshit."

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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

genuinely excited that Jay Rayner is coming to the FT as restaurant critic

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Ben Walker @benwalker.org.uk · 21/11/2024

Right now Reform are averaging a +11pt improvement in council by-election results on when they last stood. In 2013 Ukip could only average +6pts. 2014 it was -1.5pts. We're seeing a more capable insurgent party on the right. As to whether it's more willing voters or more capable organisers...

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Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

"In the Republic of Gilead's dystopian future, men and women perform the services assigned to them." This is the summary of "The Handmaid's Tale" in the NYT bestseller list. See my essay on the ramifications of this language's precision without accuracy. snyder.substack.com/p/men-and-wo...

snyder.substack.com

Men and Women Perform

Handmaid Fails, 1/3

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Rowenna Davis @rowennadavis.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Very focused ward surgery in Waddon, Croydon today

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