Sameen
@sameen-mohsin.bsky.social
Associate Professor, University of Birmingham. Research bureaucratic politics, political elites, and governance in Pakistan. Views my own. Formerly LUMS, SOAS, LSE. https://www.sameenmohsinali.com/ Enthusiastic about 🏊🏽♀️🧶📚🤿🖼️, pop culture, travel. No DMs
Reposted by Sameen
Trump and his administration have targeted at least 470 people, organizations and institutions for retribution since he took office, according to a @reuters.com tally – an average of more than one a day. www.reuters.com/investigates...
Trump’s campaign of retribution: At least 470 targets and counting
A Reuters investigation documents at least 470 acts of retribution under Trump’s leadership.
www.reuters.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Trump and his administration have targeted at least 470 people, organizations and institutions for retribution since he took office, according to a @reuters.com tally – an average of more than one a day. www.reuters.com/investigates...
Reposted by Sameen
The diplomatic "achievement" of the ceasefire was to recalibrate the tempo of the genocide sufficiently to get it off the front pages and the news bulletins, thus alleviating the political pressure on Israel's western accomplices.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israel still committing genocide in Gaza, Amnesty International says
The NGO’s chief says last month’s ceasefire ‘risks creating a dangerous illusion that life in Gaza is returning to normal’
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The diplomatic "achievement" of the ceasefire was to recalibrate the tempo of the genocide sufficiently to get it off the front pages and the news bulletins, thus alleviating the political pressure on Israel's western accomplices.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Sameen
I heard a story about a female academic giving a paper at the IHR who, after receiving a long and aggressive question from a senior male professor, simply leaned back with her hands behind her head and replied “Oh, do fuck off.”
One of my colleagues went to a seminar at Berkeley and when someone asked a question Derrida brushed it off saying ‘what you ask may be important but it is not interesting’.
This path leads to chaos.
November 27, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I heard a story about a female academic giving a paper at the IHR who, after receiving a long and aggressive question from a senior male professor, simply leaned back with her hands behind her head and replied “Oh, do fuck off.”
Don’t know who they think is going to pay all those taxes
I'm not sure how much it is appreciated that there will be significant emigration coming. Those here on graduate visas coming to an end, the toughening up of skilled worker rules re. salaries/sponsorable roles and the 'earned settlement' changes to come. Lots of people are going to leave.
November 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Don’t know who they think is going to pay all those taxes
Reposted by Sameen
The government figuring this out slowly over the coming two years is going to be quite something to behold.
I think the government meant to cut net migration but have accidentally overshot the target by a lot. They haven’t realised this yet.
November 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The government figuring this out slowly over the coming two years is going to be quite something to behold.
Reposted by Sameen
Once again; you can't moderate your way to neutralizing an issue like immigration.
It's fundamentally just racist reaction. Nothing is ever enough because what's demanded—ethnonationalist homogeneity—is completely unavailable in modern conditions. There will *always* be a basis for more demagoguery
It's fundamentally just racist reaction. Nothing is ever enough because what's demanded—ethnonationalist homogeneity—is completely unavailable in modern conditions. There will *always* be a basis for more demagoguery
YOU WANTED NET IMMIGRATION TO COME DOWN! THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE!
November 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Once again; you can't moderate your way to neutralizing an issue like immigration.
It's fundamentally just racist reaction. Nothing is ever enough because what's demanded—ethnonationalist homogeneity—is completely unavailable in modern conditions. There will *always* be a basis for more demagoguery
It's fundamentally just racist reaction. Nothing is ever enough because what's demanded—ethnonationalist homogeneity—is completely unavailable in modern conditions. There will *always* be a basis for more demagoguery
Reposted by Sameen
Reposted by Sameen
The thing about "left on the economy, right on culture" is it's based on analysis of swing voters. Those voters are often low attention and their politics are often not especially coherent. Which is fine for them, it's not their job to run the country, but, you know, the government is
November 27, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The thing about "left on the economy, right on culture" is it's based on analysis of swing voters. Those voters are often low attention and their politics are often not especially coherent. Which is fine for them, it's not their job to run the country, but, you know, the government is
Reposted by Sameen
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Today's migration stats illustrate the migration doom loop in action...
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
(from my presentation at the IMF last week)
Reposted by Sameen
Ageing populations will lead to lower living standards - EBRD report on.ft.com/49FdGeu
Ageing populations will lead to lower living standards, warns study
Growth in annual GDP per capita will fall by more than a full percentage point in some countries over the next 25 years
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Ageing populations will lead to lower living standards - EBRD report on.ft.com/49FdGeu
Reposted by Sameen
@bachynski.bsky.social says that vaccines are like an athlete’s training regimen. All they do is get your body in shape to play the game (fight infection) on its own.
💉 One thing I rarely see explained is how vaccination *is* "natural immunity".
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
The immunity is developed by your body not the vaccine. The vaccine itself doesn’t do the work.
I think the confusion partly comes from a phrase scientists use. 🧵⬇️
1/n
RFK Jr.’s new CDC deputy director prefers “natural immunity” over vaccines
Ralph Abraham is “dangerous,” but somehow not the worst among those considered.
arstechnica.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:04 PM
@bachynski.bsky.social says that vaccines are like an athlete’s training regimen. All they do is get your body in shape to play the game (fight infection) on its own.
Reposted by Sameen
I feel much safer today knowing that we deported a Babson College student back to a country where she hasn't lived since childhood.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
A Babson College student wanted to surprise her family for Thanksgiving. She was deported instead. - The Boston Globe
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza was at Logan to catch a flight to Texas when immigration authorities detained her as she was about to board the plane.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I feel much safer today knowing that we deported a Babson College student back to a country where she hasn't lived since childhood.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
She wasn't even flying internationally. She was flying to Texas.
Reposted by Sameen
So we are already back to the levels of migration of the early 2010s and declining faster... let's hope all those new restrictions, based on previous higher numbers, don't make Britain massively unattractive to those migrants the government DOES wish to attract.
Net migration fell sharply agaim to 204,000 in the year to June 2025, having been 344k in 2024 and 848k in 2023. But falling immigration has been the biggest secret - and it is time for the media and political debate to catch up with this change
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn...
UK net migration fell to 204,000 in year to June - live updates
Net migration, the difference between those entering and leaving the country, was 345,000 in 2024 according to revised figures.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:56 AM
So we are already back to the levels of migration of the early 2010s and declining faster... let's hope all those new restrictions, based on previous higher numbers, don't make Britain massively unattractive to those migrants the government DOES wish to attract.
Reposted by Sameen
“It’s only fair that you pay back the costs of going to university because you’ll get a better paid job at the end of it … but we’re going to make you pay back those costs even if you get a job at near minimum wage because we’d otherwise have to tax millionaires.”
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage on.ft.com/3M2AYkD
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
Surprise move from chancellor means some university graduates in England may have to pay back debts sooner
on.ft.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
“It’s only fair that you pay back the costs of going to university because you’ll get a better paid job at the end of it … but we’re going to make you pay back those costs even if you get a job at near minimum wage because we’d otherwise have to tax millionaires.”
Reposted by Sameen
The risks of relying on AI note takers and summarisation tools are non-trivial. No one wants to be in the uncanny valley of meetings with 6 notetakers for absent attendees, with unverified, potentially incorrect, notes circulating but it's happening more & more www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
Nine risks caused by AI notetakers — Careful Industries
AI transcription tools are not currently mature or reliable enough to be regarded as an always on, single-source of truth for meeting notes. Nine common risks, and six possible mitigations.
www.careful.industries
November 27, 2025 at 8:43 AM
The risks of relying on AI note takers and summarisation tools are non-trivial. No one wants to be in the uncanny valley of meetings with 6 notetakers for absent attendees, with unverified, potentially incorrect, notes circulating but it's happening more & more www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...
Reposted by Sameen
Israel renews air strikes on Rafah as army demolishes homes in Khan Younis - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-renews-air-strikes-rafah-army-demolishes-homes-khan-younis
Israel renews air strikes on Rafah as army demolishes homes in Khan Younis
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<h2>
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<span class="field field-title">Israel renews air strikes on Rafah as army demolishes homes in Khan Younis</span>
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<div class="content">
<div class="field field-field-text"><p>Palestinian media on Thursday reported renewed Israeli air strikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>The Israeli army also carried out a demolition operation with heavy gunfire from its helicopters behind the yellow line east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reported. </p>
<p>The report added that the forces carried out air strikes on areas beyond the yellow line east of Gaza City in the central Gaza Strip. </p>
</div>
</div>
</article>
www.middleeasteye.net
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Israel renews air strikes on Rafah as army demolishes homes in Khan Younis - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-renews-air-strikes-rafah-army-demolishes-homes-khan-younis
Reposted by Sameen
Part of my evidence put before the court today attests to the unique nature of the proscription based on some research I conducted, and part speaks to the chilling effect on academic teaching and research in the area
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Palestine Action like the Suffragettes, court told
Lawyers for the group say the government's ban is unprecedented, as they launch a legal challenge.
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Part of my evidence put before the court today attests to the unique nature of the proscription based on some research I conducted, and part speaks to the chilling effect on academic teaching and research in the area
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sameen
Today's immigration statistics (at 930) will likely show a further steep fall.
@jamesbowes01.bsky.social explains why.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
@jamesbowes01.bsky.social explains why.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
The coming collapse in immigration to the United Kingdom - UK in a changing Europe
James Bowes analyses the fall in net migration to the UK as a result of government policies and explores some of the political and economic consequences.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Today's immigration statistics (at 930) will likely show a further steep fall.
@jamesbowes01.bsky.social explains why.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
@jamesbowes01.bsky.social explains why.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Reposted by Sameen
Trump calls it a 'terror' attack, as US officials identified an Afghan national as the suspect, announcing visa curbs.
National Guardsmen shot in Washington DC: What happened, who’s the suspect?
Trump calls it a 'terror' attack, as US officials identified an Afghan national as the suspect, announcing visa curbs.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Trump calls it a 'terror' attack, as US officials identified an Afghan national as the suspect, announcing visa curbs.
Reposted by Sameen
Excellent, honest thread on the reality of being a writer today.
I'm not the only author I know who has a huge surfeit of ideas for books that we would love to write and send out into the world if only we had the time to write them.
November 27, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Excellent, honest thread on the reality of being a writer today.
Reposted by Sameen
Slop Evader is a tool from artist and researcher Tega Brain that lets you search the web for results exclusively before November 30, 2022—the day that ChatGPT was released to the public.
'Slop Evader' Lets You Surf the Web Like It’s 2022
Artist Tega Brain is fighting the internet’s enshittification by turning back the clock to before ChatGPT existed.
www.404media.co
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Slop Evader is a tool from artist and researcher Tega Brain that lets you search the web for results exclusively before November 30, 2022—the day that ChatGPT was released to the public.
Reposted by Sameen
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
November 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Great to hear Rachel Reeves acknowledge that "there are many reasons why people choose to have children then find themselves in difficult times. The death of a partner. Separation. Ill health. A lost job. I don’t believe that children should bear the brunt of that."
So why should migrant children?
So why should migrant children?
Reposted by Sameen
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Sameen
At least 36 dead, 279 missing in Hong Kong apartment block fire on.ft.com/3MqP6UI
At least 36 dead, 279 missing in Hong Kong apartment block fire
Hundreds of firefighters are working to control a blaze in the city’s northern Tai Po district
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:22 PM
At least 36 dead, 279 missing in Hong Kong apartment block fire on.ft.com/3MqP6UI
Reposted by Sameen
Attenuation Is All You Need (Well, inactivation too)
We cover the invention of 20 vaccines from the 1700s through 1970. Technology (smallpox vaccine) preceding scientific understanding (germ theory), then speeding up once theory established from experiments (maggots…) & new tools made (agar plates)
We cover the invention of 20 vaccines from the 1700s through 1970. Technology (smallpox vaccine) preceding scientific understanding (germ theory), then speeding up once theory established from experiments (maggots…) & new tools made (agar plates)
Imagine you lived in the 18th century.
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
The history of vaccines
open.spotify.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Attenuation Is All You Need (Well, inactivation too)
We cover the invention of 20 vaccines from the 1700s through 1970. Technology (smallpox vaccine) preceding scientific understanding (germ theory), then speeding up once theory established from experiments (maggots…) & new tools made (agar plates)
We cover the invention of 20 vaccines from the 1700s through 1970. Technology (smallpox vaccine) preceding scientific understanding (germ theory), then speeding up once theory established from experiments (maggots…) & new tools made (agar plates)