“Everyone has a strong incentive to lie about how much AI is delivering for their companies”: Cory @doctorow.pluralistic.net on why the people who tell you ‘AI is changing everything’ are lying www.thenerve.news/p/cory-docto...
Jeremy Rodell
@jeremyr1.bsky.social
Humanist. I think shared values, recognition of shared humanity, and decent behaviour towards others are ultimately more important than beliefs or identity. We need to talk more. I spend too much time keeping up with politics
Needless to say, Trump is a big fan of its leader. Pakistan restricts international media reporting www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
A top supervision examiner at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned staff they would face "most unpleasant" consequences if they were too aggressive in their oversight of financial firms, according to an internal... TAT: [Corruption | Weakening civil rights | Hollowing state]
EXCLUSIVE: US consumer watchdog supervisor warned staff of 'unpleasant' fallout if they go too hard on firms
The threat, which Reuters is reporting for the first time, was emailed to many of the agency's mid-level supervision staff as they were preparing to resume inspections of financial firms.
reuters.com
Really worrying. It's probably in the interests of these fanatics, and Netanyahu, to foment a religious war over Jerusalem. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
Jerusalem’s most important Muslim religious site facing ‘imminent’ threat of Israeli takeover, says Jordan
Country convenes emergency meeting of ministers from Arab and Islamic world, fearing such a move could ‘trigger a religious conflict’
theguardian.com
Full text. Important even for those of us who only follow football at the World Cup. A civilisational battle. Trumpism, where only money, power and personal glory of the ultra rich count, vs (albeit imperfect) fairness, integrity, decency, and 100s of years development of the tools of justice.
Kenan Malik@kenanmalik.bsky.social · yesterdayQuite a tweet from the head of Jordan's FA x.com/AliBinAlHuss...
These people use violence and intimidation, and have to be stopped. Significant that they claim has offered to cover their legal bills. They don’t say who, but we know who does the same for ‘Tommy Robinson’. Elon.
Oxford Clarion@oxfordclarion.bsky.social · yesterdayLeaders of flag-raising group Raise the Colours Oxfordshire placed trackers on highway workers’ cars to find out their home addresses, the High Court has heard. RTC then attempted to intimidate the highway staff into no longer removing flags by repeating their addresses to them.
On this day in 1944, the Gestapo found Anne Frank and her family in their Secret Annex. Her diary stands as a warning against hatred and persecution. Eighty years later, we should recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.🙂↕️
This is already affecting US students studying in the UK.
The New Republic@newrepublic.com · 2d agoPresident Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious studies, teaching aides, and music will be hit the hardest. trib.al/aaAEu6v
Rather than allowing humanists to contribute to Radio 4's Thought for the Day, the BBC's current format requires all speakers to frame political and current affairs commentary through a religious or scriptural lens. Yet half of the UK is non-religious so why not let us speak?
It’s hot across Europe right now. Millions of us are feeling it - in cities, towns, and villages across the continent. When heatwaves hit, small actions matter ⬇️
A party that was actually anti-racist would be kicking this person out, not allowing them to run for the Governing Committee. There are many decent Greens who will be disgusted by this and I wish them all power fighting back against it. We know from experiance how hard that is.
Reminder that Reform is not going away.
YouGov@yougov.co.uk · 2d agoLatest YouGov Westminster voting intention, 2-3 August 2026 Reform UK: 23% (+1 from 26-27 Jul) Labour: 22% (=) Conservatives: 19% (-2) Greens: 13% (=) Lib Dems: 12% (+1) Restore Britain: 4% (=) SNP: 3% (+1) Plaid Cymru: 1% (=) Your Party: 0% (-1) yougov.com/en-gb/articl...
Meta is allowing anti-migrant & misogynistic rhetoric against European politicians to spread on their platforms, after rolling back key safety policies. We found over 40% of comments on posts by MEPs about the EU Return Regulation vote contained this hateful content. Call on Meta to act now 👇
Meta must curb abuse
After rolling back safety policies, Meta is allowing online abuse and anti-migrant rhetoric against European politicians to spread across Facebook and Instagram. Demand Meta restores safety and stops enabling abuse. Sign CCDH's letter:
act.counterhate.com
This investigation relates to one first reported by myself and the team of BBC Radio 4's The Naked Week last autumn... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Richard Tice investigated by parliamentary standards watchdog
Tice says the complaint related to a debate on Israeli influence and whether he should have referenced his register of interests.
bbc.co.uk
NEW: Big new feature from me about offshore wind farms as anchors for wildlife! For example: seals swimming *into* turbine towers to, apparently, hunt fish - and scour protection at the base of turbines used by sea creatures as a dwelling place. atmos.earth/science-and-...
The Sea Life Making a Home in Offshore Wind Farms | Atmos
Offshore wind farms can pose risks to birds and marine life. But their foundations also serve as artificial reefs, offering essential habit.
atmos.earth
Taylor Farms has spent millions backing Trump. It's reported to be using forced labour. Meanwhile Trump's blanket new tariffs are justified under section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 to "enforce bans on goods produced by forced labour". We expect hypocrisy from Trump, but this is astounding.
Chad Loder@chadloder.dev · 4d agoThe diarrhea lettuce company, Taylor Farms, uses slave labor contracted from the Arizona Dept. of Corrections. The backbreaking labor is often performed by imprisoned Mexican nationals who would be otherwise ineligble to work in the US. They are paid $1.50 an hour.
The EU will require AI labels on any authentic-looking online content. Text, images, video and audio designed to look truthful must be visibly marked as AI-generated and contain a digital watermark to show the artificial origins of the content. Please can the UK have the same?
AI labels to be compulsory on authentic-looking content under EU rules
Companies must ensure people know when they are interacting with artificially generated images, audio and text designed to look real
theguardian.com
Good BBC piece by Sarah Rainsford on what we do & don't know about the causes and consequences of the flashpoint crisis in Ceuta She opens with the 72 deaths: a death toll of this scale has been largely treated as an incidental detail in a news event + political clash www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Spain's migrant crisis created a political storm - whipped up by social media
The Ceuta crossings have shaken Europe politically, exposing divisions over the sensitive issue of migration, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford writes.
bbc.co.uk
never thought short form video would be able to capture a type of humor i can only describe as “the far side-esque” but this comes close.
If John Healey is having a bad day, he can always take a look at Pakistan:
Staggering reminder in this @davidsonofaaron.bsky.social piece of the ethics of Charles Kushner, father of Jared and Josh (who would have made a fortune from the Infantino deal). Trump pardoned Charles and made him US Ambassador to France.
David Aaronovitch@davidsonofaaron.bsky.social · 4d agoInfantino and the Kushnerisation of the planet: the world fights back open.substack.com/pub/davidaar...
Russia commits war crimes every single day
Anton Gerashchenko@antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 5d agoIt was a massive attack involving dozens of ballistic missiles. Russia killed nine people and injured 28 more, including four children, in Kyiv overnight. Civilian infrastructure was heavily damaged across multiple districts of the city.
🟣 SUBSTACK Putin’s Long Arm Turns Exile Into 'Civic Death' By Jason Corcoran Read below. ↓
Putin’s Long Arm Turns Exile Into 'Civic Death'
Jason Corcoran reports on new Russian legislation that will punish exiled critics by restricting access to passports, bank accounts, property and consular services
bylinesupplement.com
Desperate attempt by ‘Tommy’ and chums to import US-style Christian nationalism into UK. Host is ‘Rev’d’ Brett Murphy, who parted ways w both @churchofengland.org and even fringe “Free Church of England”. Will decent Christians let their faith be appropriated by hate mongers?
Byline Times@bylinetimes.bsky.social · 5d ago📌 ICYMI — Tommy Robinson’s Temple: The Christian Conference Uniting Preachers from the Far-Right Fringe — Max Colbert Organisers of the "Make Great Britain Christian Again" conference include preachers linked to far-right rallies, prompting warnings that faith is being used to provide moral cover…
At least 11 booksellers have been arrested in Hong Kong this year. The war against words is theatre performed for three audiences: bit.ly/45xYagY Photo: Getty Images
Before I was a MP, I spent more than 10 years as an anti-corruption specialist @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social is spot on in writing to the Electoral Commission about Reform UK and George Cottrell👇🏻
Bridget Phillipson MP@bphillipsonmp.bsky.social · 6d agoReform UK are up to their neck in scandal. Serious new information has come to light, opening up yet more questions about donations made by George Cottrell and his associates. Frankly, it stinks. I've written to the Electoral Commission to draw it to their attention.
True. Questioning net zero isn't the same as climate denial. But "it's a bad plan" only gets you halfway there. The other half is producing viable alternatives that actually align with the science and cut emissions, not just delaying action. www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07...
Net zero scepticism is not climate-change denial
You can accept the science but still question the laws, subsidies, targets and prohibitions that are meant to solve the problem
telegraph.co.uk
Fantastic statement by UEFA. If the World Cup is for sale, then so are the Olympics, and so much else. A line must be drawn.
Nathan Kalman-Lamb@nkalamb.bsky.social · 6d agoThe full statement from UEFA is remarkable. Members vow not to participate in FIFA competitions unless the entire proposal is scrapped and assurances are made it is gone for good.
