Mike Slaven
@mcslaven.bsky.social
Author of "Securing Borders, Securing Power" (Columbia UP, 2022) http://tinyurl.com/yeywvdaa Doing migration politics/policy research, currently @colmigproject.bsky.social. Political speechwriter of yore. Obscure academic in provincial England, AZ guy 🌵
Anyway a real lack of self-awareness in statements like this.
November 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Anyway a real lack of self-awareness in statements like this.
Mahmood writes in today's paper on "earned settlement," which will move the goalposts for people here, about her parents from Pakistan who "became Brits."
As context, arriving pre-1973, her dad probably would've been granted settlement *immediately* and could register as a UK citizen after 5 years.
As context, arriving pre-1973, her dad probably would've been granted settlement *immediately* and could register as a UK citizen after 5 years.
November 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Mahmood writes in today's paper on "earned settlement," which will move the goalposts for people here, about her parents from Pakistan who "became Brits."
As context, arriving pre-1973, her dad probably would've been granted settlement *immediately* and could register as a UK citizen after 5 years.
As context, arriving pre-1973, her dad probably would've been granted settlement *immediately* and could register as a UK citizen after 5 years.
Hadn’t had Chase on my Epstein files bingo card
November 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Hadn’t had Chase on my Epstein files bingo card
amid the new briefing coming out of No 10, just putting down a marker that I called Starmer's downfall on 18 September 2024, and the reason why hasn't really changed
November 12, 2025 at 12:14 AM
amid the new briefing coming out of No 10, just putting down a marker that I called Starmer's downfall on 18 September 2024, and the reason why hasn't really changed
absolutely incredible paragraph, and very sad about the lack of an alternate version in which The Big Lebowski played by Bill Buckley and David Cross plays Brandt
![Excerpt from the Wikipedia entry on The Big Lebowski: "Before David Huddleston was cast as "Big" Jeffrey Lebowski, the Coens considered Robert Duvall (who did not like the script), Anthony Hopkins (who was not interested in playing an American), Gene Hackman (who was taking a break from acting at the time), Jack Nicholson (who was not interested, he only wanted to portray Moses), Tommy Lee Jones (who was considered "too young"), Ned Beatty, Michael Caine, Bruce Dern, James Coburn, Charles Durning, Jackie Cooper, Fred Ward, Richard Mulligan, Rod Steiger, Peter Boyle, Lloyd Bridges, Paul Dooley, Pat Hingle, Jonathan Winters, Norman Mailer, George C. Scott, Jerry Falwell, Gore Vidal, Andy Griffith, William F. Buckley, and Ernest Borgnine; the Coens' top choice was Marlon Brando.[18] Charlize Theron was considered for the role of Bunny Lebowski.[19] David Cross auditioned for the role of Brandt.[20]"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6lshargyjiqvcvofiuqzo725/bafkreiajq5wfshg6b3iuhhkjxwvyhuo7ug37ziih54syfyyuwl7khwrvcu@jpeg)
November 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
absolutely incredible paragraph, and very sad about the lack of an alternate version in which The Big Lebowski played by Bill Buckley and David Cross plays Brandt
Tell me you’re in Arizona, etc. etc.
November 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Tell me you’re in Arizona, etc. etc.
The supposed “get elected VP, president then resigns” loophole, apart from Trump ruling it out, is closed off by the 12th amendment: “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” Eligible means able to be chosen.
October 30, 2025 at 3:53 PM
The supposed “get elected VP, president then resigns” loophole, apart from Trump ruling it out, is closed off by the 12th amendment: “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.” Eligible means able to be chosen.
Starmer and Labour talk about "delivery" but they've been in office for more than a year, with a huge majority, and have barely managed to legislate on their manifesto pledges. For example: Where are we on the employment rights bill that would outlaw this action by Solent? Why hasn't it passed yet?
October 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Starmer and Labour talk about "delivery" but they've been in office for more than a year, with a huge majority, and have barely managed to legislate on their manifesto pledges. For example: Where are we on the employment rights bill that would outlaw this action by Solent? Why hasn't it passed yet?
looking forward to being back in Arizona in two weeks
October 20, 2025 at 4:20 PM
looking forward to being back in Arizona in two weeks
Honestly, there has been enough of UK governments playing political games with immigrants' status. That's what paved the way to the Windrush Scandal. For a Labour government, having pledged to learn the lessons of Windrush, to be doing the same is really bad www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-t...
September 29, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Honestly, there has been enough of UK governments playing political games with immigrants' status. That's what paved the way to the Windrush Scandal. For a Labour government, having pledged to learn the lessons of Windrush, to be doing the same is really bad www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-t...
don't generally cross-post material from the bad place. however
September 29, 2025 at 9:22 AM
don't generally cross-post material from the bad place. however
“My favorite meat is hot dog, by the way. That is my favorite meat. My second favorite meat is hamburger. And, everyone says, oh, don’t you prefer steak? It’s like, I know steaks are great, but I like hot dog best, and I like hamburger next best.”
September 2, 2025 at 2:24 PM
“My favorite meat is hot dog, by the way. That is my favorite meat. My second favorite meat is hamburger. And, everyone says, oh, don’t you prefer steak? It’s like, I know steaks are great, but I like hot dog best, and I like hamburger next best.”
many people are saying
August 31, 2025 at 9:29 PM
many people are saying
The Orwellian language used by the regulator for unversities in England and Wales to describe the catastrophic collapse (now deemed "very likely") of at least one university www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
![In her report to the board, OfS chief executive Susan Lapworth said the regulator had redeployed staff to “focus on direct engagement with providers on their finances”.
“We have reallocated 33 [full-time equivalent roles] towards financial sustainability and market exit activity,” she said. “We have benefitted from this additional direct engagement and it is improving our oversight of financial risk at providers.”
The board papers also show that the OfS has commissioned five professional accounting services firms to perform “deep dive financial monitoring reviews at individual providers”.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6lshargyjiqvcvofiuqzo725/bafkreigspnlkucz2qtbparlmwyvzqalrbjwltzyicywknhqrmh22hecnou@jpeg)
July 18, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The Orwellian language used by the regulator for unversities in England and Wales to describe the catastrophic collapse (now deemed "very likely") of at least one university www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
An extremely thought-provoking quote from this @benmathislilley.bsky.social
July 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
An extremely thought-provoking quote from this @benmathislilley.bsky.social
this one angered many people but where’s the lie alchetron.com/cdn/steve-be...
July 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
this one angered many people but where’s the lie alchetron.com/cdn/steve-be...
