iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 8h

Many of the young people who supported Trump in 2024 have had enough and will shift to the Democrats or sit out the mid-term elections in a few weeks time. Populist politics and @TPUSA has yet to find a way to draw young people back. thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com/p/replacing-...

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

While nationalist populist organisations like TPUSA criticise the effort needed to work across and with differences, there is a return on that investment that benefits individuals, workplaces and society as a whole. thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com/p/cultural-d...

thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com

Cultural difference and the ROTI test

How to measure the returns on the time invested working with differences

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A few thoughts on why it's feeling a little apocalyptic out there ... thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com/p/apocalypse...

thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com

Apocalypse, now

Or, we really need to rewrite the end times

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Just after the USA’s mid-term elections, this should be a cracking conversation …

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

With the UN voting in support of ‘equal earth’ maps, a brief overview of why this is important and how creative mapping can help us rethink our relationship to the planet and each other. substack.com/@thetroublew...

substack.com

Melissa Butcher (@thetroublewithfreedom)

With the UN voting in support of ‘equal earth’ maps, a brief overview of why this is important and how creative mapping can help us rethink our relationship to the planet and each other.

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Reform UK are using ‘suicidal empathy’ as justification for cuts to the UK welfare system. My newsletter this week looks at the origins of this idea and how we might rethink empathy. thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com/p/the-troubl...

thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com

The trouble with empathy

Reform UK and suicidal empathy

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

In light of Trump's executive order rolling back vaccinations for children, the substack this week focuses on conversations with vaccine sceptics ... thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com/p/conversati...

thetroublewithfreedom.substack.com

Conversations with vaccine sceptics

Medical freedom and future utopias

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

We've been taking our social cohesion workshops into youth groups, schools, universities, community orgs, and now, summer festivals! Join us at @greenbeltfestival.bsky.social ... we'll be working with festival goers to develop skills in depolarising debate. www.greenbelt.org.uk/2026-lineup/...

greenbelt.org.uk

Greenbelt 2026 Lineup

Dig in to the Greenbelt 2026 lineup. Explore artists, speakers, and performers who'll bring the festival to life.

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Reposted by Melissa Butcher

Manchester University Press @manchesterup.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

25% OFF 2026 New Titles on the @waterstones.bsky.social website & app for a limited time only! Pre-order from thousands of titles using discount code OCTOBER25 at checkout. Valid 14-17th October & online only, a great opportunity to grow your TBR pile for next year! Titles listed below. #booksky

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

For those interested in how we got to be where we are politically in the USA (with some lessons for Europe as well), The Trouble With Freedom is now available for preorder, with 25% discount code at Waterstones until 17th October. #WPreorder www.waterstones.com/book/the-tro...

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Reflections on escalating political violence in the USA based on my research over the last few years. Manchester University Press Thomas J Cull Cumberland Lodge theconversation.com/charlie-kirk...

theconversation.com

Charlie Kirk was emblematic of a country polarised and imploding

Charlie Kirk’s murder shows how deeply polarised American society has become.

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Fantastic news …. Congratulations to Dr Irna Nurlina!

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Looking forward to being part of the conversation…

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Panel discussion with colleagues from Birkbeck, UoL, Centre for British Political Life, on the impact of the USA's new Republican administration. Recorded a few hours before the monumental blow up between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

bbkbritpol.substack.com

Trump in Power: A Panel Discussion

Donald Trump is now President for a second time, in a Presidency that will be consequential for the US and the world.

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Reposted by Melissa Butcher

Manchester University Press @manchesterup.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

COVER REVEAL! 'The trouble with freedom' looks at how Americans have been divided by the very value that unites them. Journalist & researcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social takes a trip into the ferociously polarised world of American politics, hoping to find out what’s going on beneath the surface.

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

We are looking for a Programme Officer ... if you're interested in working with young people to strengthen democracy, promote social cohesion and develop ethical leadership please feel free to apply. www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/programme-of...

cumberlandlodge.ac.uk

Programme Officer - Cumberland Lodge

Cumberland Lodge is seeking a new Programme Officer to develop and deliver its programme of educational activity.

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Getting ready to serve 130 Christmas lunches. Feel free to pay forward …. www.crisis.org.uk

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Melissa Butcher @melissa-geog.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Managed to reboot The Trouble with Freedom website … I am at peace with the digital world today! thetroublewithfreedom.wordpress.com

thetroublewithfreedom.wordpress.com

The Trouble with Freedom

Re-imagining America's Future at a Difficult Time

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