Carla Winston
@carlawinston.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Melbourne. AmeriCanadian in Oz. NTEU member (join your union!). Human Rights, International Law, Norms, Complex Systems, and dogs named Monkey.
Pinned
Carla Winston
@carlawinston.bsky.social
· Aug 27
Attention UniMelb people! You might know me. You might not know that I'm a member of the Branch Committee of the @nteuunimelb.bsky.social union. We're gearing up for the next round of bargaining, and we want to hear from you. What are your needs at work, and what do you want us to fight for? DM me!
I'm traveling so no menorah, and weirdly there are no good windowsills in this place, so this post will have to do. This first night of Chanukah, let there be light.
December 14, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I'm traveling so no menorah, and weirdly there are no good windowsills in this place, so this post will have to do. This first night of Chanukah, let there be light.
Reposted by Carla Winston
Guys, they actually did it.
December 13, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Guys, they actually did it.
Reposted by Carla Winston
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
Reposted by Carla Winston
PhD opportunity at the University of Oxford. The Morelli scholarship funds a doctoral student to work with me on on democratic backsliding, strategies of democratic defense and regeneration, or the rise of illiberalism. Deadline Jan 9. More information at users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0073/
December 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
PhD opportunity at the University of Oxford. The Morelli scholarship funds a doctoral student to work with me on on democratic backsliding, strategies of democratic defense and regeneration, or the rise of illiberalism. Deadline Jan 9. More information at users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0073/
So rather than sue OpenAI for copyright infringement and win lots of money/shut down the stealing, Disney...buys a huge stake in a business that's never run a profit and isn't likely to for years? All so we can scroll past badly-made Elsa fan fiction videos on our way to the real art?
Disney buying a $1 billion stake in OpenAI, agrees to to bring its characters to Sora and videos made with the short-form video platform will be available to stream on Disney+. thewaltdisneycompany.com/the-walt-dis...
The Walt Disney Company And OpenAI Reach Landmark Agreement To Bring Beloved Characters From Across Disney’s Brands To Sora - The Walt Disney Company
Agreement Marks a Significant Step in Setting Meaningful Standards for Responsible AI in Entertainment News: As part of this three-year licensing agreement, Sora will …Read More
thewaltdisneycompany.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
So rather than sue OpenAI for copyright infringement and win lots of money/shut down the stealing, Disney...buys a huge stake in a business that's never run a profit and isn't likely to for years? All so we can scroll past badly-made Elsa fan fiction videos on our way to the real art?
Reposted by Carla Winston
New from Amnesty re: October 7th. www.amnestyusa.org/reports/targ...
Targeting Civilians: Murder, Hostage-taking and Other Violations by Palestinian Armed Groups in Israel and Gaza
Amnesty International confirmed Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in their October 7, 2023, attacks.
www.amnestyusa.org
December 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
New from Amnesty re: October 7th. www.amnestyusa.org/reports/targ...
Reposted by Carla Winston
I'm very excited to share this new article with an all-star cast of coauthors on the dangers of ignoring domestic causes in public-facing IR! @lanoszka.bsky.social @seva.bsky.social @profpaulpoast.bsky.social @joannaszostek.bsky.social @bohdanakurylo.bsky.social
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Accounting for the Domestic alongside the International
Abstract. An old debate on the value of systemic explanations of international relations (IR) reemerged in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukra
academic.oup.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I'm very excited to share this new article with an all-star cast of coauthors on the dangers of ignoring domestic causes in public-facing IR! @lanoszka.bsky.social @seva.bsky.social @profpaulpoast.bsky.social @joannaszostek.bsky.social @bohdanakurylo.bsky.social
This is the second time a visit to Aus prisons from a UN Human Rights Council oversight process has been blocked by state authorities. It puts us in very poor company indeed.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
UN blocked from inspecting crammed NT prisons
The number of people in custody has surged dramatically in the Northern Territory since the government passed sweeping bail and justice reforms in 2024.
www.abc.net.au
December 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This is the second time a visit to Aus prisons from a UN Human Rights Council oversight process has been blocked by state authorities. It puts us in very poor company indeed.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
Reposted by Carla Winston
One year after the fall of Assad, the landscape of justice for atrocities in Syria has transformed. Some transitional justice institutions have been established in Syria & there have never been so many active Syrian cases under universal jurisdiction.
A primer:
www.justiceinfo.net/en/153370-ju...
A primer:
www.justiceinfo.net/en/153370-ju...
Justice for Syria: who is doing what?
One year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, on 7 December 2024, the map of transitional justice for grave violations of international law has been transformed, both in Syria and in other countries whe...
www.justiceinfo.net
December 8, 2025 at 9:10 PM
One year after the fall of Assad, the landscape of justice for atrocities in Syria has transformed. Some transitional justice institutions have been established in Syria & there have never been so many active Syrian cases under universal jurisdiction.
A primer:
www.justiceinfo.net/en/153370-ju...
A primer:
www.justiceinfo.net/en/153370-ju...
Reposted by Carla Winston
Amnesty International released findings from its investigation into the Everglades Concentration Camp (Alligator Alcatraz), which was built by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
They found evidence of torture, among other human rights violations.
www.amnesty.org/en/documents...
They found evidence of torture, among other human rights violations.
www.amnesty.org/en/documents...
December 7, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Amnesty International released findings from its investigation into the Everglades Concentration Camp (Alligator Alcatraz), which was built by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
They found evidence of torture, among other human rights violations.
www.amnesty.org/en/documents...
They found evidence of torture, among other human rights violations.
www.amnesty.org/en/documents...
Reposted by Carla Winston
NEW— DC Metropolitan Police just shared a tiny bit more body cam footage from the March US Institute of Peace raid in response to my FOIA lawsuit w/ @rcfp.org
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
December 5, 2025 at 10:41 PM
NEW— DC Metropolitan Police just shared a tiny bit more body cam footage from the March US Institute of Peace raid in response to my FOIA lawsuit w/ @rcfp.org
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
One clip shows USIP President George Moose being escorted out.
Moose: You know we're gonna see you all in court.
MPD: Yea we figured that.
Reposted by Carla Winston
My brain says I should read this, but my heart and stomach say I should really not
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY DROPPED
There is a LOT here, but omg NATO allies are going to seethe at this paragraph
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
There is a LOT here, but omg NATO allies are going to seethe at this paragraph
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM
My brain says I should read this, but my heart and stomach say I should really not
it's not his Institute. It's certainly not his building.
Trump's sycophants have had his name added to the signage of the US Institute of Peace. A sick, obscene parody. The desperate, pathetic grovelling to support his delusional demand for a Nobel. Sick.
December 4, 2025 at 12:49 AM
it's not his Institute. It's certainly not his building.
Reposted by Carla Winston
Reminder that "firing on the shipwrecked" is literally THE example used in the DoD War Manual of "a clearly illegal order"
“Leavitt told reporters at the White House press briefing that Hegseth authorized Adm. Frank Bradley to carry out the second strike, which reportedly killed two people who were hanging onto the burning vessel after an initial strike.” Wow. 12/1/25 thehill.com/homenews/562...
December 1, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Reminder that "firing on the shipwrecked" is literally THE example used in the DoD War Manual of "a clearly illegal order"
Reposted by Carla Winston
I've written about "disordered counterpublics" groups that reinforce shared delusions Here, the LLM becomes a 1 person counterpublic. It mirrors assumptions, absorbs contradictions, & provides the sense of a responsive, confirming audience.
It is the architecture of disordered discourse, automated.
It is the architecture of disordered discourse, automated.
November 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
I've written about "disordered counterpublics" groups that reinforce shared delusions Here, the LLM becomes a 1 person counterpublic. It mirrors assumptions, absorbs contradictions, & provides the sense of a responsive, confirming audience.
It is the architecture of disordered discourse, automated.
It is the architecture of disordered discourse, automated.
Reposted by Carla Winston
And schools. And healthcare. And housing. And...
Imagine if they just subsidized newspapers and magazines the way they’re subsidizing this slop
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
November 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
And schools. And healthcare. And housing. And...
Reposted by Carla Winston
The University of Toronto CS Department is recruiting applications for a Canada Research Chair, Tier 2, in Human-Computer Interaction
The job is open only to individuals who self-identify as women and/or members of gender equity seeking groups
research.utoronto.ca/crc-opps/db/...
The job is open only to individuals who self-identify as women and/or members of gender equity seeking groups
research.utoronto.ca/crc-opps/db/...
Faculty of Arts & Science (Dept of Computer Science - Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)) - NSERC - Targeted Call | Research & Innovation
November 18, 2025
research.utoronto.ca
November 29, 2025 at 11:34 PM
The University of Toronto CS Department is recruiting applications for a Canada Research Chair, Tier 2, in Human-Computer Interaction
The job is open only to individuals who self-identify as women and/or members of gender equity seeking groups
research.utoronto.ca/crc-opps/db/...
The job is open only to individuals who self-identify as women and/or members of gender equity seeking groups
research.utoronto.ca/crc-opps/db/...
Reposted by Carla Winston
🚨 New working paper 🚨
Can LLMs with reasoning + web search reliably fact-check political claims?
We evaluated 15 models from OpenAI, Google, Meta, and DeepSeek on 6,000+ PolitiFact claims (2007–2024).
Short answer: Not reliably—unless you give them curated evidence.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.18749
Can LLMs with reasoning + web search reliably fact-check political claims?
We evaluated 15 models from OpenAI, Google, Meta, and DeepSeek on 6,000+ PolitiFact claims (2007–2024).
Short answer: Not reliably—unless you give them curated evidence.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.18749
November 29, 2025 at 10:06 PM
🚨 New working paper 🚨
Can LLMs with reasoning + web search reliably fact-check political claims?
We evaluated 15 models from OpenAI, Google, Meta, and DeepSeek on 6,000+ PolitiFact claims (2007–2024).
Short answer: Not reliably—unless you give them curated evidence.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.18749
Can LLMs with reasoning + web search reliably fact-check political claims?
We evaluated 15 models from OpenAI, Google, Meta, and DeepSeek on 6,000+ PolitiFact claims (2007–2024).
Short answer: Not reliably—unless you give them curated evidence.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.18749
Reposted by Carla Winston
You say "vigorous oversight." I say "criminal trial."
November 29, 2025 at 1:51 PM
You say "vigorous oversight." I say "criminal trial."
Reposted by Carla Winston
What a great headline
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
What a great headline
Reposted by Carla Winston
UniMelb is hiring for a new Senior Advisor for LGBTIQA+ Inclusion. This is a key high-level role within the D&I team in Chancellory, with a lot of responsibility and ability to actually influence and drive the university's actions in this space.
Senior Adviser, Lgbtiqa+ Inclusion Job in Parkville, Melbourne VIC - SEEK
Join us in championing LGBTIQA+ inclusion at the University of Melbourne, driving impactful diversity initiatives.
www.seek.com.au
November 28, 2025 at 8:25 AM
UniMelb is hiring for a new Senior Advisor for LGBTIQA+ Inclusion. This is a key high-level role within the D&I team in Chancellory, with a lot of responsibility and ability to actually influence and drive the university's actions in this space.
Go on then, as it's Friday...Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
Moose
Dikdik
Echidna
Puffin
Whale shark
Moose
Dikdik
Echidna
Puffin
Whale shark
Go on then, as it's Friday...Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
Ptarmigan
Brown trout
Red squirrel
Red deer
Grey man of Ben Macdui*
*contested
Ptarmigan
Brown trout
Red squirrel
Red deer
Grey man of Ben Macdui*
*contested
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
- Hedgehog
- Toad
- Kingfisher
- Squirrel
- Fox
- Hedgehog
- Toad
- Kingfisher
- Squirrel
- Fox
November 28, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Go on then, as it's Friday...Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild
Moose
Dikdik
Echidna
Puffin
Whale shark
Moose
Dikdik
Echidna
Puffin
Whale shark
Reposted by Carla Winston
This whole thing is racist, but take particular note of the threat of denaturalization. That's stripping people of their citizenship, and that's the road to mass murder and atrocity.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 AM
This whole thing is racist, but take particular note of the threat of denaturalization. That's stripping people of their citizenship, and that's the road to mass murder and atrocity.
Reposted by Carla Winston
As an organiser, I’ve been banging this drum for a decade now — but more and more the data backs my gut up.
The AES and Macquarie post-election studies for both 2022 and 2025 have shown just how stark a cleavage housing tenure is.
The AES and Macquarie post-election studies for both 2022 and 2025 have shown just how stark a cleavage housing tenure is.
New from my phd student @joshgoddard98.bsky.social: he shows, using many election and panel studies across the advanced democracies, that housing status has replaced occupational class as a key predictor of voting. Class voting is now about assets, not income www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Housing and electoral behaviour: The changing face of class voting in advanced democracies
Scholarship on the relationship between social structure and electoral behaviour has traditionally operationalised voters’ economic or class situation…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:40 AM
As an organiser, I’ve been banging this drum for a decade now — but more and more the data backs my gut up.
The AES and Macquarie post-election studies for both 2022 and 2025 have shown just how stark a cleavage housing tenure is.
The AES and Macquarie post-election studies for both 2022 and 2025 have shown just how stark a cleavage housing tenure is.
Reposted by Carla Winston
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Atul Gawande.
USAID shutdown has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, accord...
hsph.harvard.edu
November 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
The Trump administration’s decision to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths from infectious diseases and malnutrition, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Atul Gawande.