Eliot Higgins
@eliothiggins.bsky.social
Founder and creative director of Bellingcat and director of Bellingcat Productions BV. Author of We Are Bellingcat.
Pinned
🧵 Across the world, democracy isn’t just under pressure, it’s facing epistemic collapse: a breakdown in the shared ability to know what’s true, to reason together and to hold power to account.
A new guest paper by @eliothiggins.bsky.social and @drnataliemartin.bsky.social explores how to fix it.
A new guest paper by @eliothiggins.bsky.social and @drnataliemartin.bsky.social explores how to fix it.
Verification, Deliberation, Accountability: A new framework for tackling epistemic collapse and renewing democracy
Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank. We produce original research, publish innovative thinkers and host thought-provoking events.
demos.co.uk
I've been working with Demos to turn the Verification, Deliberation, and Accountability (VDA) Framework into a report that lays out how it can be used to diagnose the state of democracy and build solutions around building the capacity for those functions in institutional and public spaces.
Lessons from Building an Online Toolkit to Aid Open-Source Investigations niemanreports.org/osint-open-s...
Lessons from Building an Online Toolkit to Aid Open-Source Investigations - Nieman Reports
Publicly available sources can be a tool for all journalists, writes Johanna Wild, an open source researcher for Bellingcat.
niemanreports.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Lessons from Building an Online Toolkit to Aid Open-Source Investigations niemanreports.org/osint-open-s...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
OUT NOW: We’re joined by @peltzmadeline.bsky.social for a check-in on Erika Kirk and TPUSA, the right-wing media ecosystem that’s aimed at teen girls, and “tradwife” influencers.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
www.patreon.com/posts/143099...
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
www.patreon.com/posts/143099...
052: The Tradwife Influencers Who Want Your Daughters Young and Fertile feat. Madeline Peltz | Posting Through It
Get more from Posting Through It on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
OUT NOW: We’re joined by @peltzmadeline.bsky.social for a check-in on Erika Kirk and TPUSA, the right-wing media ecosystem that’s aimed at teen girls, and “tradwife” influencers.
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
www.patreon.com/posts/143099...
Available wherever you get your podcasts!
www.patreon.com/posts/143099...
Minds over AI: To tackle disinformation, look to education www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/minds-...
Minds over AI: To tackle disinformation, look to education
Nov 10, 2025 // As AI makes misinformation and disinformation faster, cheaper, and more convincing, we need the tools to tell veracity from virality. The foundational pillar of those tools must be edu...
www.diplomaticourier.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Minds over AI: To tackle disinformation, look to education www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/minds-...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Read our full report here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Read our full report here: www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
As violence escalated this month in Al Fashir, Sudan, many tried to escape. But leaving the city isn't easy. Bellingcat geolocated an incident in which more than 80 people were killed on their way out of the city. youtube.com/shorts/OJDCN...
The Killings of Those Trying to Escape Al Fashir
YouTube video by Bellingcat
youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
As violence escalated this month in Al Fashir, Sudan, many tried to escape. But leaving the city isn't easy. Bellingcat geolocated an incident in which more than 80 people were killed on their way out of the city. youtube.com/shorts/OJDCN...
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage
Davie tells staff departure was “my own decision” but it comes with the BBC preparing to apologise for the way it edited a Trump speech
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general after accusations of ‘serious and systemic’ bias in coverage www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
OMG. The site is literally called the Dunning Kruger Times.
With a “WOW!,” President Trump posts a claim about DOGE and “royalties linked to Obamacare” that originated on a satirical website. That site’s own About section reads: “Everything on this website is fiction… If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined.”
November 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
OMG. The site is literally called the Dunning Kruger Times.
Russian activist held in Poland admits he worked as FSB agent, court papers say www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Russian activist held in Poland admits he worked as FSB agent, court papers say
Igor Rogov, who left Russia in 2021, due to go on trial accused of informing on other Russian opposition activists
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Russian activist held in Poland admits he worked as FSB agent, court papers say www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Our doddering octogenarian president. "A WaPo analysis of multiple videofeeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open… The White House denied that Trump was dozing during the Oval Office event and suggested the question was inappropriate.”
A closer look at Trump’s apparent struggles to fight off sleep in the Oval Office
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open at a recent Oval Office event.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Our doddering octogenarian president. "A WaPo analysis of multiple videofeeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open… The White House denied that Trump was dozing during the Oval Office event and suggested the question was inappropriate.”
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Would be a good time to watch this with @eliothiggins.bsky.social from a couple of weeks ago.
"Demanufacturing Consent: How Disordered Discourse is Destroying Democracy"
youtu.be/4rZx4YJ7pvA
"Demanufacturing Consent: How Disordered Discourse is Destroying Democracy"
youtu.be/4rZx4YJ7pvA
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Would be a good time to watch this with @eliothiggins.bsky.social from a couple of weeks ago.
"Demanufacturing Consent: How Disordered Discourse is Destroying Democracy"
youtu.be/4rZx4YJ7pvA
"Demanufacturing Consent: How Disordered Discourse is Destroying Democracy"
youtu.be/4rZx4YJ7pvA
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Perhaps an unsurprising finding but worth mentioning nonetheless: if you exclusively look up and watch tradwife content on TikTok, it will persistently keep serving you pro-anorexia content despite that not having once been something you searched for or even watched.
November 8, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Perhaps an unsurprising finding but worth mentioning nonetheless: if you exclusively look up and watch tradwife content on TikTok, it will persistently keep serving you pro-anorexia content despite that not having once been something you searched for or even watched.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Musk: "Mandani is a charismatic swindler."
Rogan, pulling off his mask to reveal @ichotiner.bsky.social: "What else has he done that makes him a swindler?"
Musk:
Rogan, pulling off his mask to reveal @ichotiner.bsky.social: "What else has he done that makes him a swindler?"
Musk:
November 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Musk: "Mandani is a charismatic swindler."
Rogan, pulling off his mask to reveal @ichotiner.bsky.social: "What else has he done that makes him a swindler?"
Musk:
Rogan, pulling off his mask to reveal @ichotiner.bsky.social: "What else has he done that makes him a swindler?"
Musk:
‘Huge victory’ in Portland as judge’s final order bars Trump from sending national guard www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Huge victory’ in Portland as judge’s final order bars Trump from sending national guard
Karin Immergut said earlier she ‘found no credible evidence’ that protests in Oregon city were out of control
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:34 AM
‘Huge victory’ in Portland as judge’s final order bars Trump from sending national guard www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Find it on all podcast platforms by searching 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' and read the Oxus Society's latest report on Uzbekistan's military force here: oxussociety.org/projects/the...
The Armed Forces of Central Asia – The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs
oxussociety.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Find it on all podcast platforms by searching 'Stage Talks with Bellingcat' and read the Oxus Society's latest report on Uzbekistan's military force here: oxussociety.org/projects/the...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
What does “military power” really mean—and how do the logistics of war shape it? We spoke with Oxus Society’s Michael Hilliard on mapping Central Asia’s armed forces. Listen on Stage Talks with Bellingcat: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
"Mapping Military Power" with Michael Hilliard | Podcast Episode on RSS.com
This week, we explored the practicalities of modern warfare. How do we measure military power? Is it possible to fairly compare fighting resources between regions? In this episode, Michael Hilliard fr...
rss.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
What does “military power” really mean—and how do the logistics of war shape it? We spoke with Oxus Society’s Michael Hilliard on mapping Central Asia’s armed forces. Listen on Stage Talks with Bellingcat: rss.com/podcasts/bel...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
A visual metaphor for the moment.
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 10:14 PM
A visual metaphor for the moment.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
~50 vehicles have been smeared with what appears to be human blood in the German city of Hanau near Frankfurt, police say
Bundestag VP Omid Nouripour: "This act strikes at the very heart of Hanau and reopens the wounds of the far-right terrorist attack five years ago"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bundestag VP Omid Nouripour: "This act strikes at the very heart of Hanau and reopens the wounds of the far-right terrorist attack five years ago"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Cars in Hanau in Germany found smeared with swastikas in blood, police say
Cars, walls and postboxes have been defaced, in what appears to be human blood.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
~50 vehicles have been smeared with what appears to be human blood in the German city of Hanau near Frankfurt, police say
Bundestag VP Omid Nouripour: "This act strikes at the very heart of Hanau and reopens the wounds of the far-right terrorist attack five years ago"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bundestag VP Omid Nouripour: "This act strikes at the very heart of Hanau and reopens the wounds of the far-right terrorist attack five years ago"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Politico: 'Donald Trump enters his lame duck era. Republicans are starting to contend with the fact that the president will soon be gone, and they'll be fending for themselves.' www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Donald Trump enters his lame duck era
Republicans are starting to contend with the fact that the president will soon be gone, and they'll be fending for themselves.
www.politico.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Politico: 'Donald Trump enters his lame duck era. Republicans are starting to contend with the fact that the president will soon be gone, and they'll be fending for themselves.' www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Putin’s repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Putin’s repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures
Analysts say a purge of the Russian regime’s own supporters is under way as rival factions turn on each other
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Putin’s repressive machinery turns inward to target pro-war figures www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
ADL's Greenblatt used to pride himself on converting, for lack of a better term, high-profile folks who he deemed to be insensitive to Jews. "Counsel culture, not cancel culture," Greenblatt called it.
This is different. Perhaps because Mamdani is not looking to ADL for some sort of absolution.
This is different. Perhaps because Mamdani is not looking to ADL for some sort of absolution.
A ‘Mamdani Monitor’?? Zohran RESPONDS to the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt for vowing to “track” his admin for antisemitism.
“I have some doubts in Jonathan's ability to do so honestly, given that he previously said I had not visited any synagogues only to have to correct himself.”
zeteo.com/subscribe
“I have some doubts in Jonathan's ability to do so honestly, given that he previously said I had not visited any synagogues only to have to correct himself.”
zeteo.com/subscribe
November 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
ADL's Greenblatt used to pride himself on converting, for lack of a better term, high-profile folks who he deemed to be insensitive to Jews. "Counsel culture, not cancel culture," Greenblatt called it.
This is different. Perhaps because Mamdani is not looking to ADL for some sort of absolution.
This is different. Perhaps because Mamdani is not looking to ADL for some sort of absolution.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
A new Bellingcat investigation geolocates the site of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Darfur. More than eighty bodies were found beside destroyed vehicles along an earthen berm built around the city.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A new Bellingcat investigation geolocates the site of a mass killing near Al Fashir, Darfur. More than eighty bodies were found beside destroyed vehicles along an earthen berm built around the city.
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
Defense says that the officer's testimony was "very questionable" because he said the sandwich both exploded in spray of mustard and onions and also landed in its wrapper on the ground.
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, will turn to veterans of City Hall, nonprofit executives and a former chair of the Federal Trade Commission — all of them women — to lead his official transition effort, he said on Wednesday. nyti.ms/4nHdyOP
November 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, will turn to veterans of City Hall, nonprofit executives and a former chair of the Federal Trade Commission — all of them women — to lead his official transition effort, he said on Wednesday. nyti.ms/4nHdyOP
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Social media footage and satellite imagery show killings as Rapid Support Forces took over Al Fashir (El Fasher). Bellingcat geolocated one incident on the city’s outskirts and showed it to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...
Geolocating Darfur Killings of Those Escaping Al Fashir - bellingcat
Warning: Contains written descriptions of extreme violence including murder. All graphic footage has been omitted. A Bellingcat investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass k...
www.bellingcat.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Social media footage and satellite imagery show killings as Rapid Support Forces took over Al Fashir (El Fasher). Bellingcat geolocated one incident on the city’s outskirts and showed it to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions www.bellingcat.com/news/2025/11...