I wrote for @theguardian.com on the lessons progressives can learn from the limits of Sánchez's coalition government. Spoiler: in Spain as elsewhere, affordability is the name of the game. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Pedro Sánchez is a master of the political comeback. But calling a snap election in Spain may be a gamble too far | Paolo Gerbaudo

A thriving economy, a model green transition, social advances – Spain’s PM shouldn’t be in trouble. Yet he is, and it’s a lesson for progressives everywhere, says sociologist Paolo Gerbaudo

theguardian.com

“The lesson for progressives everywhere is clear:economic growth and ambitious reform will count for little unless working people feel the benefits in their daily lives" @paologerbaudo.bsky.social on why Sanchez called snap elections amid massive housing protests www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Pedro Sánchez is a master of the political comeback. But calling a snap election in Spain may be a gamble too far | Paolo Gerbaudo

A thriving economy, a model green transition, social advances – Spain’s PM shouldn’t be in trouble. Yet he is, and it’s a lesson for progressives everywhere, says sociologist Paolo Gerbaudo

theguardian.com

In the fourth episode of After Order, the Alameda Institute’s podcast series with Macrodose, James Meadway speaks to Cecilia Rikap and Paolo Gerbaudo about digital sovereignty following the rise of Big Tech. // @paologerbaudo.bsky.social @ceciliarikap.bsky.social

Muy interesante esta charla sobre soberanía e infraestructuras digitales de @macrodosepod.bsky.social con @ceciliarikap.bsky.social y @paologerbaudo.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJvS...

Digital Sovereignty w/ Cecilia Rikap & Paolo Gerbaudo | After Order Ep 4

YouTube video by Macrodose

youtube.com

Breaking Big Tech’s grip won’t be easy - we’re all entangled. But it’s the only way to reclaim political power. @paologerbaudo.bsky.social @ceciliarikap.bsky.social and @meadwaj.bsky.social on last week’s AFTER ORDER. Watch now 📺 Link in bio 🔗

Disponible en la revista Res Publica una breve reseña que hice del libro 'Controlar y proteger. El retorno del Estado' de @paologerbaudo.bsky.social (@versolibros.com, 2023): revistas.ucm.es/index.php/RP...

The #GortonandDentonByElection upsets many recent stereotypes. The Greens are represented by a working class candidate who has lived in the constituency all of her life. Reform by an academic and TV pundit airdropped to a place where he is basically a stranger. Curious twist.

Mandelsongate has revealed just how deep is the moral abyss of the Labour Party, and more generally of Western social democracy. Impossible to understand the rise of right-wing populism, and why it appeals to workers, without taking this into account.

Atualmente, o poder digital opera em várias camadas — desde os algoritmos que moldam o que se torna visível online até as infraestruturas que sustentam a comunicação, os serviços públicos e a vida cotidiana.

"In patrimonial systems, uncertainty about the ruler’s exit destabilizes loyalty; promises of indefinite tenure are meant to restore it. This is precisely why proposals for an extended presidency should be vocally opposed and ridiculed, not indulged as speculative theater."

America Is Now a Family Business

Trump is transforming the constitutional republic into a patrimonial regime before our eyes.

persuasion.community

No Brasil a gente fala que o bozismo é cria do fim dos bingos como opção de socialização do idoso. Na França, está associado ao fim progressivo dos bares onde se fuma. Exatamente pelo mesmo motivo. A vida em sociedade pede espaços de socialização. Se não depender de fumar ou perder dinheiro, melhor.

@paologerbaudo.bsky.social on the new Americanized TikTok's highly limiting hard-right Trumpy algorithms: "It’s not what we can or cannot say that matters; it’s whether what we say can get any visibility at all [against] these controlling platform algorithms." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What the US TikTok takeover is already revealing about new forms of censorship | Paolo Gerbaudo

It’s not what we can or cannot say that matters – rather, it’s whether what we say can get any visibility at all under the US-specific algorithm, says academic Paolo Gerbaudo

theguardian.com

🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 After 4 years of work, my solarpunk game finally has a title, a trailer, and a Steam page! Wishlist... Future? No Thanks! 👉 futurenothanks.com

Censorship today is no longer just about bans; it’s also about who controls the visibility of online content. My new Guardian oped examines what the US TikTok takeover reveals about algorithmic power and free speech. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What the US TikTok takeover is already revealing about new forms of censorship | Paolo Gerbaudo

It’s not what we can or cannot say that matters – rather, it’s whether what we say can get any visibility at all under the US-specific algorithm, says academic Paolo Gerbaudo

theguardian.com

Censura algorítmica en la flamante gestión estadounidense de TikTok, después de que el gobierno forzara a la empresa china ByteDance a vender su operación en EEUU y la compraran megamillonarios amigos de Trump. Muy buena nota de @paologerbaudo.bsky.social 👇🏼

Philip Di Salvo@philipdisalvo.bsky.social · 9mo ago

What the US TikTok takeover is already revealing about new forms of censorship - @paologerbaudo.bsky.social : www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What the US TikTok takeover is already revealing about new forms of censorship - @paologerbaudo.bsky.social : www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What the US TikTok takeover is already revealing about new forms of censorship | Paolo Gerbaudo

It’s not what we can or cannot say that matters – rather, it’s whether what we say can get any visibility at all under the US-specific algorithm, says academic Paolo Gerbaudo

theguardian.com

Censorship today is no longer just about bans; it’s also about who controls the visibility of online content. My new Guardian oped examines what the US TikTok takeover reveals about algorithmic power and free speech. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

What the US TikTok takeover is already revealing about new forms of censorship | Paolo Gerbaudo

It’s not what we can or cannot say that matters – rather, it’s whether what we say can get any visibility at all under the US-specific algorithm, says academic Paolo Gerbaudo

theguardian.com

Judging from Trump's response it looks like Starmer is finally doing something right. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Trump says ‘very dangerous’ for UK to do business with China, after Starmer hails progress in Beijing

US president warns Keir Starmer over closer ties with China during British PM’s trip to secure lower tariffs and better access to Chinese market

theguardian.com

Tomorrow evening I will in beautiful Ljubljana at Cankarjev Dom for the Kritični kabaret - which nicely translates as "critical cabaret".

Blocking Andy Burnham bid to enter parliament and become Labour leader is a demostration of just how undemocratic the Labour Party has become. Truly sad for a party with such a long democratic history to be hi-jacked by a self-serving power clique. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Starmer defends Labour decision to bar Burnham from byelection

Run for parliament by Greater Manchester mayor would ‘divert resources’, says prime minister

theguardian.com

Today in class we discussed the difference between democracy and authoritarianism in political science scholarship. Much of this literature was developed to understand transitions from authoritarian rule to democracy. It’s increasingly clear it may be just as useful for thinking about the reverse.

Massive crowds on the street in Copenhagen in solidarity with Greenland and against US aggression. Thousands of Greenlandic flags 🇬🇱💪

Trump has shown that unfortunately politics by blackmail works. But it works only until the humiliation becomes politically unsustainable for the blackmailed. The annexation of Greenland would destroy the last shred of self-respect Europeans still hold. It's one humiliation too far.

Online sentiment as the 5th estate of liberal democracy as theorised by Carl Schmitt.

A ação humanitária é frequentemente enquadrada como uma resposta ética à crise. Mas o que acontece quando ela se torna institucionalizada, negociada e incorporada às estruturas de poder globais?

Good riddance. Kyrsten Sinema has constantly betrayed the US public and accepted funds from some of the worst possible sources. If Trump is in the White House is also thanks to her and other centrist Democrats who sank the few progressive policies that were on offer under Biden.

New York Magazine@nymag.com · 10mo ago

Crypto lobbyist and former senator Kyrsten Sinema has been sued for having affair with her ex-bodyguard. She also allegedly encouraged him to take the psychedelic drug MDMA on a Senate work trip so she could guide him through it.

The irony of this post is that it reveals that the EU tech sector is ridiculously small to the obvious advantage of the US. This was the result of a tacit contract between US and Europe. In exchange of security Europeans had to stay out of digital tech. May have to reconsider.

La burocracia española te lleva a conocer fenomenos exoticos y misteriosos como las "Apostillas de la Haya".

I was reflecting that I rarely see the US Christian Right quoting from the gospels (almost all their favourite quotes come from the old testament). Here is finally a quote from the gospel, but my sense is that Matthew would disagree on the interpretation.

The problem with the EU in the present geopolitical scenario is very simple: the EU is not a state. Being a loose league of states gathered around a common market is not viable anymore. In these turbulent times if you are not a state you lack the necessary cohesion and coordination to be an actor.