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If you ever wonder why flagrant but complex crimes seem to end up in a torpid state of permanent state of investigation, it's because the police response is often "wow, sounds difficult. sending thoughts and prayers."

Thersites clearly exists in the Iliad to voice the obvious, normal objection that Agamemnon is a greedy nutcase embarked on an incredibly dumb war who cares nothing for his people, & they should all just leave. Obviously it's a disclaimed perspective but it's there.

This is historically what the @lrb.co.uk letters page is for.

BSky reaction to the Jason Arday story puzzling to me. Yes, it's absolutely driven by the worst online racists. But the evidence of plagiarism is pretty clear, and the doctoral thesis is really ropey. That matters. What am I missing?

Sceptical that NEET problem is just a misalignment between curriculum and business needs. Much more credibly a mix of struggling local business (= fewer openings) & huge increase in mental distress and disability among young people. Latter (including un- or self-diagnosed) a huge part of the issue.

Yes, @emilyrcwilson.bsky.social filed a review with τῇ καλλίστῃ jotted as a title and nobody thought about the consequences. (Fortunately you can access the living oral tradition on the podcast feed.)

Good opportunity for Burnham to deliver on his claim that science and academic research are key means of rebalancing the country and restore funding.

Well, that's a surprise.

This is why the Mail ran its vaguely homophobic influence / twink lobbyist story on Kyle. All the hallmarks of a not-quite-there story dumped into print for fear of diminishing relevance.

I think a significant chunk of this is how addicted most MPs are to Twitter. If you wander around Westminster just casually you'll see a lot of compulsive scrolling. It's a crank magnifier!

Of course, being forced to appoint a less than congenial Chancellor to appease the factional balance of the Labour machine was exactly what happened to Miliband when he was leader, and didn't that work out brilliantly?

I suspect the explanation is simpler: Starmer wanted the Hillsborough law for his legacy, and the whipping operation is all over the place which isn't ideal for complex electoral reform bills with many amendments.

I think for democratic politics to survive this century we will have to maintain a strong distinction between justice and revenge, and especially that the pursuit of justice cannot be reduced to the desire of political opponents to screw their enemies.

Can't tell how much my scepticism about the rumoured junking of Miliband as CX is a legitimate result of how little anyone seems to actually *know*, and how much is just hoping for a government that doesn't immediately fuck itself into oblivion. We are in peak briefing noise period, though.

Emily Wilson interview at FT contains this aside in Dante. It's true but too schematic. Dante is also compelled by Ulisse, whom he grants a tragic grandeur, & who functions as a significant mirror & self-admonition for Dante (who shares his wild ambition).

The whole routine is pretty amazing: they both drop into a split *while he's carrying her on his shoulders*. Queer excellence!

Glad more people are taking a look at divinity departments. Cambridge is obviously the most heinous, and this has been pretty flagrant for some time.

Wrote about the desperate Farage bid for the @lrb.co.uk: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/ju...

I think this is the right reading. Farage is trying to move the terrain to what he knows best (campaigning, division) from a position of weakness. It's an act of desperation. It may pay off in Clacton, which is incredibly right-wing, but it's bad for his reputation and his party nationally.

Of international headlines, @mm-ilmanifesto-bot.bsky.social has the best. 'Crocodile tears: Starmer exits without understanding why'