Elsa
@elsabenedict.bsky.social
Northumberland, Vegan, Books, Alpacas, Cats
Reposted by Elsa
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
Reposted by Elsa
Imagine knowing your platform was a playground for predators, fueling teen depression, eating disorders, and suicide and deciding the best course of action was… absolutely nothing. Meta didn’t just “miss” anything.
November 23, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Imagine knowing your platform was a playground for predators, fueling teen depression, eating disorders, and suicide and deciding the best course of action was… absolutely nothing. Meta didn’t just “miss” anything.
Reposted by Elsa
It's also vastly easier and cheaper for media outlets to produce culture war content than policy stuff.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
This chart (which applies even more to social media than it did to TV) lives in my head rent free.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
Social media enveloping traditional media means everything and everyone is now competing in the entertainment market. Boring stuff like policy that affects millions of lives doesn’t stand a chance.
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 PM
It's also vastly easier and cheaper for media outlets to produce culture war content than policy stuff.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
With policy, you have to find actual experts that are available and willing, then pray they're good entertaining communicators.
On culture shit, you start with a talking head and work backwards.
Reposted by Elsa
It's been obvious for years that many social media accounts are foreign trolls. The tragedy has been the utter complacency about it. All an enemy had to do was tinkle a little bell and the dumb doggies would bark away at each other. Why bother with a nuclear arsenal?
November 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
It's been obvious for years that many social media accounts are foreign trolls. The tragedy has been the utter complacency about it. All an enemy had to do was tinkle a little bell and the dumb doggies would bark away at each other. Why bother with a nuclear arsenal?
Reposted by Elsa
The difficult truth is that there is a clear national security element to social media information flows. It can't all be viewed through the single lens of free speech. Disinformation sabotage is a hostile act intended to destablise our societies. Our societies need appropriate protection.
November 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
The difficult truth is that there is a clear national security element to social media information flows. It can't all be viewed through the single lens of free speech. Disinformation sabotage is a hostile act intended to destablise our societies. Our societies need appropriate protection.
Reposted by Elsa
Because instead of justice, we have inquiries...
'Grenfell United and TV architect George Clarke are calling on businesses and homeowners to take a "moral decision" and boycott the companies criticised in the Grenfell inquiry for "systematic dishonesty".'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
'Grenfell United and TV architect George Clarke are calling on businesses and homeowners to take a "moral decision" and boycott the companies criticised in the Grenfell inquiry for "systematic dishonesty".'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Architect George Clarke calls for boycott of firms criticised by Grenfell inquiry
TV personality wants homeowners and businesses to shun ‘dishonest’ firms Arconic, Kingspan and Celotex
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Because instead of justice, we have inquiries...
'Grenfell United and TV architect George Clarke are calling on businesses and homeowners to take a "moral decision" and boycott the companies criticised in the Grenfell inquiry for "systematic dishonesty".'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
'Grenfell United and TV architect George Clarke are calling on businesses and homeowners to take a "moral decision" and boycott the companies criticised in the Grenfell inquiry for "systematic dishonesty".'
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Elsa
Arconic "concealed from the market the true position" of the product it sold for use on Grenfell.
Kingspan acted with "deeply entrenched dishonesty in pursuit of commercial gain coupled with a complete disregard for fire safety".
Celotex "embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers".
Kingspan acted with "deeply entrenched dishonesty in pursuit of commercial gain coupled with a complete disregard for fire safety".
Celotex "embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers".
November 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Arconic "concealed from the market the true position" of the product it sold for use on Grenfell.
Kingspan acted with "deeply entrenched dishonesty in pursuit of commercial gain coupled with a complete disregard for fire safety".
Celotex "embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers".
Kingspan acted with "deeply entrenched dishonesty in pursuit of commercial gain coupled with a complete disregard for fire safety".
Celotex "embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers".
Reposted by Elsa
Sound of penny dropping at the BBC www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC to expand standards panel and add deputy director general after bias row
Planned overhaul of editorial guidelines committee would dilute influence of Tory board appointment Robbie Gibb
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Sound of penny dropping at the BBC www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Elsa
“Have they given up? Are they just deciding to build up herd immunity by watching us die? The government has given up, hasn’t it? They are throwing us into the slaughterhouse.”
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
I’ll never forget the horror of the Covid wards | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 10:02 AM
“Have they given up? Are they just deciding to build up herd immunity by watching us die? The government has given up, hasn’t it? They are throwing us into the slaughterhouse.”
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
It’s not hindsight - we knew this at the time @drrachelclarke.com writes:
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Elsa
Reposted by Elsa
Navy intercepts 2 Russian ships in Channel so a quick reminder that Reform #PlasticPatriots former Welsh leader is inside for 10 years for taking bribes from Russia..
And Farage has appeared numerous times on Russian TV & secretly met their ambassador & is on record as admiring Putin
Just saying 🤷🏼♂️
And Farage has appeared numerous times on Russian TV & secretly met their ambassador & is on record as admiring Putin
Just saying 🤷🏼♂️
Royal Navy intercepts two Russian ships in English Channel
HMS Severn headed off the warship and a tanker as they sailed west through the Dover Strait, the Ministry of Defence said.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Navy intercepts 2 Russian ships in Channel so a quick reminder that Reform #PlasticPatriots former Welsh leader is inside for 10 years for taking bribes from Russia..
And Farage has appeared numerous times on Russian TV & secretly met their ambassador & is on record as admiring Putin
Just saying 🤷🏼♂️
And Farage has appeared numerous times on Russian TV & secretly met their ambassador & is on record as admiring Putin
Just saying 🤷🏼♂️
Reposted by Elsa
I mean it's not complicated. Twenty people who were there have confirmed that Nigel Farage said all of these things.
He's the only one denying it, which means just one thing. He is a liar
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
He's the only one denying it, which means just one thing. He is a liar
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Twenty people allege he has a racist past. He denies it. Who’s telling the truth about Farage’s schooldays?
Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’. We talk to victims and witnesses
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I mean it's not complicated. Twenty people who were there have confirmed that Nigel Farage said all of these things.
He's the only one denying it, which means just one thing. He is a liar
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
He's the only one denying it, which means just one thing. He is a liar
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Elsa
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Boris Johnson took four days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Boris Johnson took 4 days off as NHS warned Covid could ‘overwhelm’ system
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Thousands died.
Spent time walking his dog, riding motorcycle, hosting lunches/dinners.
He once said Covid was ‘nature’s way of dealing with old people’, ‘we should let the old people get it’.
Will he be held to account,?
Reposted by Elsa
This is fu*king outrageous!
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
Charges dropped against Utah doctor accused of throwing away $28,000 in COVID vaccine doses
The federal government has dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines worth thousands of dollars during the pandemic.
apnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is fu*king outrageous!
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
The federal government on Saturday dismissed charges against a Utah plastic surgeon accused of throwing away COVID-19 vaccines, giving children saline shots instead of the vaccine and selling faked vaccination cards.
apnews.com/article/utah...
Reposted by Elsa
LESS! than average
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
As UK imposes radical asylum rules, how do the numbers really compare to Europe?
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is carrying out one of the largest reforms to the asylum system the UK has ever seen. But is the overhaul really proportionate to the numbers arriving on UK shores? Alex...
www.independent.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 11:11 AM
LESS! than average
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
"Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people."
#RefugeesWelcome
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...
Reposted by Elsa
As Trump and Putin work to crush Ukraine and destabilise Europe and Farage’s ally gets sentenced to 10yrs for taking Russian bribes, it’s a good time to revisit this excellent report on how the British rightwing has betrayed us all.
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Putin’s Plot Against ‘Great’ Britain – And How He Got Away With It
Peter Jukes tracks Vladimir Putin’s long war against the West and the allies he has found in the pro-Brexit establishment in the plot to derail Britain
bylinetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 AM
As Trump and Putin work to crush Ukraine and destabilise Europe and Farage’s ally gets sentenced to 10yrs for taking Russian bribes, it’s a good time to revisit this excellent report on how the British rightwing has betrayed us all.
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Brexit was their weapon of choice.
bylinetimes.com/2022/03/08/p...
Reposted by Elsa
“My NHS colleagues and I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Johnson no longer mentions them at all.”
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
November 23, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“My NHS colleagues and I weren’t willing to let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Johnson no longer mentions them at all.”
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
Hard hitting and necessary on the government’s covid complacency from @drrachelclarke.com
observer.co.uk/news/...
Reposted by Elsa
If you're looking for a Sunday morning read, our website team spent a lot of time writing code to make the animations on this article work, so give it a look, will ya?
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Building on Ruins: The Russification of Mariupol, One Apartment Block at a Time - bellingcat
Bellingcat has identified 23 multi-storey housing complexes being built in occupied Mariupol and advertised for sale to Russian citizens.
www.bellingcat.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 AM
If you're looking for a Sunday morning read, our website team spent a lot of time writing code to make the animations on this article work, so give it a look, will ya?
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-...
Reposted by Elsa
Covid bereaved families call for all Boris Johnson’s privileges received as a former prime minister including his ministerial pension, his place on the privy council & access to the public duty costs allowance to be withdrawn.
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
Covid bereaved call for Boris Johnson to lose ex-PM benefits over inquiry report
Campaign group says it will pursue all legal means to ensure personal accountability for ‘grave betrayal’
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Covid bereaved families call for all Boris Johnson’s privileges received as a former prime minister including his ministerial pension, his place on the privy council & access to the public duty costs allowance to be withdrawn.
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
He should also not be made a sir!
#Covidinquiry
Reposted by Elsa
🍺 JD Wetherspoon – whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU – is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape.
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
Wetherspoon uses Ireland to skirt Brexit red tape for EU expansion
UK pub and hotel group JD Wetherspoon – whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU – is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape...
m.independent.ie
November 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
🍺 JD Wetherspoon – whose founder campaigned for the UK to leave the EU – is using Ireland as a springboard for its expansion into mainland Europe to avoid Brexit-induced red tape.
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
https://m.independent.ie/business/wetherspoon-uses-ireland-to-skirt-brexit-red-tape-for-eu-expansion/a1911675912.html
Reposted by Elsa
Looking forward to when Farage is caught out and issues a statement saying he has no memory of meeting himself -“I go to a lot of events where I may have been but I have no memory of meeting me at any point”
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
Nigel Farage finally admits to knowing Nathan Gill after senior Reform figure repeatedly claimed he didn’t
Farage has admitted he knew Gill for 'a very long time' but claims he didn't know anything about his pro-Russia activities...
leftfootforward.org
November 22, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Looking forward to when Farage is caught out and issues a statement saying he has no memory of meeting himself -“I go to a lot of events where I may have been but I have no memory of meeting me at any point”
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
leftfootforward.org/2025/10/nige...
Reposted by Elsa
A tiny bit of shameless self-promotion because the gifting season is creeping up on us. If you’re after something delicious, handcrafted, and ethical, my chocolate boxes, bars, and treats make really lovely gifts. Treat yourself, treat someone else, or both, I won’t judge! Reshares appreciated! 🍫✨
November 22, 2025 at 6:51 PM
A tiny bit of shameless self-promotion because the gifting season is creeping up on us. If you’re after something delicious, handcrafted, and ethical, my chocolate boxes, bars, and treats make really lovely gifts. Treat yourself, treat someone else, or both, I won’t judge! Reshares appreciated! 🍫✨
Reposted by Elsa
The right wing elite are ruthless in protecting their own and getting what they want.
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
The Confidence Trick That Put Boris Johnson Into Power Is Now Being Used on Nigel Farage
The same people who convinced the British public to back a catastrophic Boris Johnson premiership are now pulling the same trick again with Nigel Farage
www.adambienkov.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
The right wing elite are ruthless in protecting their own and getting what they want.
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
They wanted Johnson. (And what a disaster that was for us).
Now they want Farage. (Would be an off the scale catastrophe for the country).
Time we woke up to the betrayal.
www.adambienkov.co.uk/p/the-confid...
Reposted by Elsa
FT Editorial.
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
Trump’s world view: cynical, self-interested and money-grabbing
[FREE TO READ] Latest Ukraine peace plan presented by the US would be a capitulation to Moscow
on.ft.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
FT Editorial.
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
“This was the week when any ambiguity surely disappeared. The true cynical, money-grabbing and self-interested nature of his world view was laid bare.”
Reposted by Elsa
As Ukraine marks Holodomor Remembrance Day, mourning millions of victims of Stalin's genocidal famine, it feels as though the Trump administration is happy to give Putin another chance to finish off what Stalin started. Europe should do everything in its power to help Ukraine & defeat Russia.
November 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
As Ukraine marks Holodomor Remembrance Day, mourning millions of victims of Stalin's genocidal famine, it feels as though the Trump administration is happy to give Putin another chance to finish off what Stalin started. Europe should do everything in its power to help Ukraine & defeat Russia.