Some astonishing bollocks here. The fairness doctrine was abolished in 1987, and by the end of the decade Rush Limbaugh was already the biggest name in American news media. Roger Ailes who set up Fox (and worked for Reagan and Bush) was made President of CNBC in 1993.

Geoff Mulgan excellent in The Observer on the “right to truth”

Why is LinkedIn suddenly full of trash videos? Do they honestly think this is what a professional user base wants? If they persist they will destroy their brand and the platform.

Why is the universities crisis being ignored? Essential piece by @gsoh31.bsky.social for Arguably on the “grim dribbling away of one of Britain's great triumphs and economic advantages” – and why so few politicians seem to care. www.arguably.uk/p/the-quiet-...

"We are in extreme danger," says climate scientist Peter Kalmus @climatehuman.bsky.social. He warns that this summer "could be the hottest summer we've ever experienced in our lives, but it could also be the coolest summer for the rest of our lives."

This thing that seems to be happening where people are selling bitcoin so they can buy SpaceX should be known as The BS Trade Thank you for your attention to this matter

We live in the stupidest timeline.

Amazing New Yorker investigation into the Tate brothers

Former Director of BBC Global News, Prof @sambrook.eurosky.social, discussed problems with journalistic false equivalency and opinion-based journalism. From the Cambridge Disinformation Summit webinar series. Full video available at: youtu.be/MrAnVd35bcE

While I fully appreciate that it’s possible to worry about more than one thing, the idea that we should, in a global climate of rising Fascism, panic about the illiberal left, just seems a bit like Indiana Jones in sitting a snake pit fretting about nettles.

The fundamental incentives for disinformation campaigns. youtu.be/QvajMTD8yBo?...

Sky News' post has highlighted the debate on whether Sky News is actively racist or just run by fuckwits.

Don't think people realise quite how deeply split by age current voting intention is. This is the latest YouGov for under-50s: Green: 26% Lab: 18% Reform: 14% Tories: 12% LD: 11% And over 50s: Reform: 36% Tory: 22% Lab: 16% LD: 12% Greens: 9%

Facebook is still more important than X. And it's been a sewer for a lot longer.

Meanwhile What’s Up Doc on TV - among my favourite ever movies!

Net migration is at its lowest in more than a decade - so why is the UK fixated on it? Some thoughts why yesterday’s ONS data is unlikely to change the nation’s obsession with immigration

An American business claiming to know more about U.K. public interest than elected representatives is a clear illustration of tech overreach

Media historians and those who care about public media - worth a read! www.niemanlab.org/2026/05/as-g...

Must watch masterclass in the future of the BBC and public-service broadcasting. Brilliant performances, lessons & ideas for UK MPs from panel of Alex Mahon, Sir Peter "Baz" Bazalgette and @tcmbigcheese.bsky.social AKA Pat Younge. From 11.29.00 onwards. parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

I see the BBC has caught up with stories @tbij.bsky.social did weeks ago … www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Let nobody say there isn't a plan in place

"Freedom of expression is absolutely essential. What I don't want is a pretence of regulating for due impartiality when it's not actually happening." Former Ofcom Director of Standards Chris Banatvala on Ofcom, GB News and due impartiality. 🎧 Full episode: podfollow.com/beebwatch

Disinformation is often a preparatory act to enable some of the darkest acts of corruption like corporate fraud, crypto rug pulls, sexual assault, and terrorism. Research about disinformation is anti-corruption, not anti-speech work. itbrief.co.uk/story/cambri...

Prof @michaelemann.bsky.social opened the 2026 Cambridge Disinformation Summit with a discussion of systemic climate and science risks from malign influence campaigns. youtu.be/s8u-_Vx1yKA?...

Apart from anything else the rise of prediction markets is another spectacular example of Trumpian corruption...

The 2027 Cambridge Disinformation Summit will focus on fundamental & interlinked incentives for disinformation & malign cognitive influence: 1) Power 2) Wealth accumulation 3) Social-psychological 4) Physical gratification or control Follow on LI for more info www.linkedin.com/company/camb...

Bookish in Crickhowell. Possibly the nicest bookshop in the country. (Happy to undertake a national audit to check )

I’m reluctantly coming to the conclusion we simply have too much news. We’d be better off with less …

This is an excellent idea....

New post just out: "Where's the centre?" I have an exclusive new poll which challenges conventional wisdom on one of the biggest questions in British politics. It turns out median voters aren't actually in the centre. (£/free trial) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w...

🚨 The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (@tbij.bsky.social) and Investigative Simulations Lab are running a two-day simulation game on crime, corruption and corporate enablers from 26-27 May in London. Test your investigative skills! For more information, contact: [email protected]

A small point from the Mandelson/Robbins saga. Refom and many Tories argue for a civil service than can be more easily bent to the will and whims of their elected political masters. This is precisely what happened here.

Lots of discussion today about the White House Correspondents Dinner reminds me of this webinar on Journalism & Democratic Backsliding with @jayrosen.bsky.social, @panievsky.bsky.social, & @sambrook.eurosky.social. youtu.be/MrAnVd35bcE?...

The Honourable Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia, on the risks to democracy of concentrated media ownership. Cambridge Disinformation Summit. youtu.be/BtXUcFBaErc

I now see what happened with the Mandelson vetting. Ollie Robbins treated it as a normal ambassadorial appointment, where he had sole discretion on vetting. In fact, he should have treated it as the equivalent of a Ministerial appointment, where the PM would expect to be told of any issues. 1/