The family of the Belfast stabbing victim have released a statement saying - like the family of Henry Nowak last week - that the attack should not be used to "divide people or fuel hostility" They condemned disorder and praised the "valuable contribution" by migrants inews.co.uk/news/politic...

Dawn Airey CBE has been appointed as our new Chair, starting 1 August 2026. With 30+ years experience across the media and creative industries, she brings outstanding leadership and a deep commitment to arts and culture. Read more 👇 https://bit.ly/4dVQrgF 📸 Jonathan Phang

Dawn Airey CBE appointed as Chair of Arts Council England

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Dawn Airey CBE as Chair of Arts Council England for a term of 4 years starting on 1 August 2026.

bit.ly

Latest piece for @thehousemag.bsky.social, in which I look at Mo Salah and the parasocial contact hypothesis. www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

The Professor Will See You Now: The Mo Salah effect

Lessons in political science. This week: The Mo Salah effect

politicshome.com

Let it be clear: you are wanted here.

Something just ahead of Shabbat about the work in my workplace. And now a peaceful, restful weekend to everyone.

Arts Council England@artscouncilengland.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Our CEO, Darren Henley, has published a new blog on antisemitism and the need for honest reflection, care, and action across the cultural sector. Read the blog in full: https://bit.ly/3QWObxM

Right now we should thank the bridge builders with souls of many parts. This is a brilliant thread and linked blog.

Lara 'Challah Black Girl' M@blewishand.bsky.social · 4mo ago

We keep treating hate like a series of isolated fires. We extinguish one only to find three more are elsewhere. ​If we do not step back and see the entire landscape, from far-right extremism to rising antisemitism, we just play whack-a-mole with symptoms as the system rots🧵 1/7

Column today from @stephenkb.bsky.social on what defeats racism - including antisemitism - and what helps it persist or grow www.ft.com/content/5cdf...

How not to defeat antisemitism

The only way to overcome this scourge is to see it for what it is: racism

ft.com

In the face of anti semitic attacks here is a story of solidarity and hope from my much loved part time home of Finchley. www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ap...

‘A quiet, radical act’: Muslim neighbours support members of attacked London synagogue

After attempted arson attack, communities are determined to remain resilient and open

theguardian.com

And another one. It would be nice — albeit a triumph of hope over experience — to think we had vocal allies right about now.

Police treating arson attack as antisemitic hate crime

It comes as a man attempts to ignite a plastic bag containing containing fluid in north-west London.

bbc.com

Dog imitating Penguins 🤣

This article has stayed with me all week. It’s an excellent piece of journalism and I’m looking forward to the book.

Hettie O’Brien@hettieobrien.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I’m thrilled that the Guardian Saturday magazine has excerpted one of my favourite chapters from THE ASSET CLASS this weekend: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Jürgen Habermas died today at 96. Few political theorists shaped how we think about democratic legitimacy in modern societies as profoundly. His lifelong question was straightforward but demanding: How can political authority be justified under conditions of pluralism? 🧵

This is brilliant. George Saunders is such a treasure. www.thenerve.news/p/george-sau...

'There has to be a way to actively oppose these thugs without losing ourselves': novelist George Saunders on life in America now

The Booker prize-winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo, whose new novel imagines the last hours of an oil tycoon, is struggling to reconcile empathy with opposition in a riven America. He talks to Do...

thenerve.news

Fair point. Do not apply if you can’t handle the arguments and trade offs that come with constrained resources. On the other hand your key KPI is awe.

Hetan Shah@hetanshah.bsky.social · 7mo ago

One of those slightly ‘get it in the neck from all sides’ positions but @artscouncilengland.bsky.social is looking for a new Chair. £60k / 2 days a week apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/9064

I've got to be honest, we may as well call it a night #DuvetKnowItsChristmas

Franglaise@franglaise.bsky.social · 8mo ago

I’m entering The Teenager as potential winner of #Duvetknowitschristmas He’s had to move from his bedroom to the unconverted attic Cardboard floor & headboard is a nice touch which I’m sure he appreciates He think it looks like he’s living in a meth den #DuvetKnowItsChristmas

It’s been a week. I’m wrapping myself in fleece, cracking the festive Amaretto early and bingeing All Creatures Great and Small.

@adsquires.bsky.social almost worth the flight?

derek guy@dieworkwear.bsky.social · 9mo ago

If you're in San Francisco, there's a pop-up market this Saturday at 1 Columbus Ave. A bunch of menswear guys, along with shop owners, are selling stuff from their private wardrobes. Some of my stuff will be there. Ticket prices are $30 for 12pm-1pm preview hour, then $5 after 1pm.

So the kids are alright, but they really want the Westminster village to stop talking to itself and start talking to them about how to fix the country. demos.co.uk/wp-content/u...

Life’s getting a bit more crap here if you are a person from an ethnic minority 🧵

Is social interaction a tradeoff of autonomy for belonging compared to being alone? New paper by phenom @elainehoan.bsky.social says yes if you're interacting with strangers, no if you're interacting with friends/family. With a romantic partner you gain in both. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.

journals.sagepub.com

What a dreadful day. I’m not Jewish but my husband is. I felt glad to be standing alongside him for the end of Yom Kippur and it was moving to hear a deeply felt message of condolence and solidarity from the local imam at synagogue tonight.

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day. As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time. At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

the requirements to succeed on new media platforms are almost precisely the opposite of what successful experts… have trained themselves to do: maintain an institutional tone of formal detachment & stay ruthlessly on-message at all times.’ @noupside.bsky.social carnegieendowment.org/research/202...

For Expertise to Matter, Nonpartisan Institutions Need New Communications Strategies

To avoid irrelevance when they are needed most, experts and nonpartisan analysts must rethink not just their channels of communication but also their theory of influence.

carnegieendowment.org

my favorite robert redford story is that mike nichols considered him for dustin hoffman's part in THE GRADUATE. during their conversation nichols asked redford something like, "have you ever struck out with a girl?" and redford's response was basically, "i don't understand the question"

There was nothing unifying about the “Unite the Kingdom rally”. Solidarity with anyone non-white who felt threatened in London yesterday. The vast majority of Brits think and feel differently (see evidence from data superhero Sunder Katwala below) and good if we can find ways to demonstrate this.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 11mo ago

There is v solid evidence that while Tommy Robinson has activated within the 4% who strongly support him (& 1/10 who approve) but has no significant broadening of his general public appeal (1/10) over the 10-15 years he has been around His 2025, 2019 and 2011 reputation bsky.app/profile/sund...

so. remember how in the past people got enough exercise just from doing their job & daily tasks? & now all jobs are screens & we have to *deliberately exercise* to stay healthy? from now we will have to *deliberately write* and *engage with art made for a wide audience* to keep our brains healthy.

Mark Chadbourn@chadbourn.bsky.social · last yr.

It was only a matter of time. Amazon is investing in Showrunner, an AI-generated streaming service. • Viewers type in prompts to generate scenes or full episodes for new ideas or existing IPs. • Disney and other studios are in talks to license IP for the service.

Inspo for all of us who love 21s.

Karen Attiah@karenattiah.bsky.social · last yr.

My latest: I made a conscious decision to stop being skinny and get big and strong AF. Here's some reflections on what life has been like since putting on nearly 20 pounds of muscle. wapo.st/3J9sLty

A splendid read. I’d love more (social) policy and less Westminster intrigue in our journalism. And yes somewhat arch - policy can be chewy, but policy writing can inspire all the feels from rage to joy, when it captures the human impact.

Hetan Shah@hetanshah.bsky.social · last yr.

‘Dare to be dull!’ A man after my own heart - lovely obit of Malcolm Dean who edited Guardian Society for over 20 years. (The piece reminds us that in its heyday it was over 200 pages long due to the jobs pages!) www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...

In 2020 @moreincommonuk.bsky.social launched the British 7 Segments. After a pandemic, major global conflicts, political upheaval, cost of living crisis, changes in work/social/information habits it’s time to update them for 2025. Here’s an intro to our new tribes of Britain (Quiz link next)

James Plunkett offers practical inspiration here to anyone trying to be a bit less hierarchy and a bit more network.

James Plunkett@jamestplunkett.bsky.social · last yr.

How do we save bureaucracy from itself? A new long-read from me with seven practical examples of techniques we can use to make big institutions less sclerotic. medium.com/@jamestplunk...