Mary Branscombe
@marypcbuk.bsky.social
Omnivorous technology journalist. girl with the USB earring; author of the Cassidy At Large technomysteries. Like my writing? Buy me a ☕ https://ko-fi.com/marybranscombe. she/her. Warning: contains opinions. signal marypcbuk.44
Pinned
New thread as I go back in time with photos of St Gallen from yesterday then more photos from the trip to Interlaken
Starting with: in which the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming funicular
Starting with: in which the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming funicular
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Meta 'turning a blind eye' to illegal gambling ads, UK Gambling Commission says reut.rs/45W5IdV
Meta 'turning a blind eye' to illegal gambling ads, UK Gambling Commission says
Britain's Gambling Commission said on Monday that Meta Platforms , the owner of Facebook and Instagram, was turning a blind eye to illegal online casinos advertising on its sites, indicating it was happy to continue taking money from criminals.
reut.rs
January 19, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Meta 'turning a blind eye' to illegal gambling ads, UK Gambling Commission says reut.rs/45W5IdV
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Trump has blown up another small boat in the East Pacific. Two dead, one survived.
Toddler tantrum strike.
Toddler tantrum strike.
January 23, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Trump has blown up another small boat in the East Pacific. Two dead, one survived.
Toddler tantrum strike.
Toddler tantrum strike.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Setting up an app popular with protesters to collect location data & legal status, then dispatch armed men & women wearing face masks, army fatigues and ammunition fits exactly into the current M.O.
January 23, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Setting up an app popular with protesters to collect location data & legal status, then dispatch armed men & women wearing face masks, army fatigues and ammunition fits exactly into the current M.O.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
When you’re watching a movie with “ruthless bad guys” and they still don’t feel as big of villains as ICE.
January 23, 2026 at 11:32 PM
When you’re watching a movie with “ruthless bad guys” and they still don’t feel as big of villains as ICE.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
I’m seeking info on immigration lawyers in Boston - a friend of a friend was abducted by ICE in the area.
January 23, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I’m seeking info on immigration lawyers in Boston - a friend of a friend was abducted by ICE in the area.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
If any local journalists want a horror story about a Mexican mother who was seized and disappeared by CBP at a routine appointment, and possibly deported back to a life-threatening situation, and whose children’s whereabouts are now unknown as a result, please DM me
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 PM
If any local journalists want a horror story about a Mexican mother who was seized and disappeared by CBP at a routine appointment, and possibly deported back to a life-threatening situation, and whose children’s whereabouts are now unknown as a result, please DM me
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Pro tip: If you are attending a rally or action, wear a N95 mask & bring extras to give to others.
High quality masks can serve triple-duty: they prevent you and others from getting sick from airborne viruses, they keep your face warm in the freezing cold, & they can protect against surveillance.
High quality masks can serve triple-duty: they prevent you and others from getting sick from airborne viruses, they keep your face warm in the freezing cold, & they can protect against surveillance.
January 23, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Pro tip: If you are attending a rally or action, wear a N95 mask & bring extras to give to others.
High quality masks can serve triple-duty: they prevent you and others from getting sick from airborne viruses, they keep your face warm in the freezing cold, & they can protect against surveillance.
High quality masks can serve triple-duty: they prevent you and others from getting sick from airborne viruses, they keep your face warm in the freezing cold, & they can protect against surveillance.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
According to an internal email to Washington Post sports staff, the paper isn't sending any reporters to cover the winter Olympics next month. The decision comes as major layoffs are expected in the coming weeks.
January 23, 2026 at 11:20 PM
According to an internal email to Washington Post sports staff, the paper isn't sending any reporters to cover the winter Olympics next month. The decision comes as major layoffs are expected in the coming weeks.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
My loose info so far is that the Minneapolis General Strike today had about 80 unions sign on, and it might be one of the biggest labor actions in decades depending on your definition
January 23, 2026 at 11:16 PM
My loose info so far is that the Minneapolis General Strike today had about 80 unions sign on, and it might be one of the biggest labor actions in decades depending on your definition
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
January 23, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"Oh my gosh, it was so nice to see you! Have a lovely day, fuck ICE!"
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
"Oh you too hon! Stay safe in that traffic, fuck ICE!'
- two older Minnesota ladies, bidding farewell after the protest
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
⚡️At least 6 killed, 45 injured in Russian attacks over past day as winter energy crisis racks Ukraine.
Russia launched 101 drones, including roughly 60 Shahed-type deep-strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
Russia launched 101 drones, including roughly 60 Shahed-type deep-strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
At least 6 killed, 45 injured in Russian attacks over past day as winter energy crisis racks Ukraine
Russia launched 101 drones, including roughly 60 Shahed-type deep-strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
kyivindependent.com
January 23, 2026 at 10:58 AM
⚡️At least 6 killed, 45 injured in Russian attacks over past day as winter energy crisis racks Ukraine.
Russia launched 101 drones, including roughly 60 Shahed-type deep-strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
Russia launched 101 drones, including roughly 60 Shahed-type deep-strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), into Ukraine overnight, the Air Force said.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Microsoft Defender researchers uncovered a multi‑stage adversary‑in‑the‑middle (AiTM) phishing and business email compromise (BEC) campaign targeting the energy sector. msft.it/63320QD9Tq
Resurgence of a multi‑stage AiTM phishing and BEC campaign abusing SharePoint | Microsoft Security Blog
Microsoft Defender Researchers uncovered a multi‑stage AiTM phishing and business email compromise (BEC) campaign targeting multiple organizations in the energy sector.
msft.it
January 23, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Microsoft Defender researchers uncovered a multi‑stage adversary‑in‑the‑middle (AiTM) phishing and business email compromise (BEC) campaign targeting the energy sector. msft.it/63320QD9Tq
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Great explainer by meteorologist Ricky Matthews, especially for folks who are not used to this kind of weather down south. Explainer in the alt text. 🧪
Source: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
Source: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
January 23, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Great explainer by meteorologist Ricky Matthews, especially for folks who are not used to this kind of weather down south. Explainer in the alt text. 🧪
Source: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
Source: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
There is a cognitive civic dissonance when a mayor and even a police chief say something like ICE out of our town and that city's police force arrests people protesting for the same thing.
January 23, 2026 at 9:42 PM
There is a cognitive civic dissonance when a mayor and even a police chief say something like ICE out of our town and that city's police force arrests people protesting for the same thing.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
A few favorite signs from today's protest in Minneapolis
January 23, 2026 at 10:34 PM
A few favorite signs from today's protest in Minneapolis
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
The role of intimidation is so underestimated. Elites in media, firms, and politics--they're actually afraid.
January 23, 2026 at 10:01 PM
The role of intimidation is so underestimated. Elites in media, firms, and politics--they're actually afraid.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
I just want people who are seeing the crowd pics to know, every single piece of Mpls infrastructure was strained to the limit today to get people there. I’m able bodied and prepared, was outside for 2 hours and still never made it bc our trains downtown were never meant to be packed like they were.
January 23, 2026 at 10:45 PM
I just want people who are seeing the crowd pics to know, every single piece of Mpls infrastructure was strained to the limit today to get people there. I’m able bodied and prepared, was outside for 2 hours and still never made it bc our trains downtown were never meant to be packed like they were.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Kash went to England and instead of meeting with MI-5, he wanted to jet ski and go to a Premier League game lol
FBI director ‘wanted to watch Premier League instead of meeting MI5’
A source said the FBI director did not want to go to office-based meetings
www.independent.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 10:51 PM
Kash went to England and instead of meeting with MI-5, he wanted to jet ski and go to a Premier League game lol
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
NEW: Rx Inspector, our free, searchable tool, allows you to look up where your generic prescription drug was made.
From patients and doctors to researchers, it is already reshaping how people make decisions. “This is a godsend,” one professor told us.
From patients and doctors to researchers, it is already reshaping how people make decisions. “This is a godsend,” one professor told us.
“A Godsend”: ProPublica’s Rx Inspector Tool Is Helping People Find Critical Safety Information on Generic Drugs
Health care workers are changing how they counsel patients. Experts are using our database to support their research. And some consumers report they’ve discovered troubling records at the factories wh...
www.propublica.org
January 23, 2026 at 10:06 PM
NEW: Rx Inspector, our free, searchable tool, allows you to look up where your generic prescription drug was made.
From patients and doctors to researchers, it is already reshaping how people make decisions. “This is a godsend,” one professor told us.
From patients and doctors to researchers, it is already reshaping how people make decisions. “This is a godsend,” one professor told us.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Earlier today about 100 Chicagoans - mostly members of SEIU - staged a protest at a Target in the West Loop to show solidarity with Minnesotans striking and defending their community from ICE and to call on the retail chain to stop being complicit with the agency.
January 23, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Earlier today about 100 Chicagoans - mostly members of SEIU - staged a protest at a Target in the West Loop to show solidarity with Minnesotans striking and defending their community from ICE and to call on the retail chain to stop being complicit with the agency.
Just assume that data goes through DOGE and to ICE?
BREAKING: Now that TikTok is under US-based ownership, the social media app potentially collects more detailed information about its users, including precise location data.
My latest for @wired.com:
www.wired.com/story/tiktok...
My latest for @wired.com:
www.wired.com/story/tiktok...
TikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest Changes
According to its new privacy policy, TikTok now collects more data on its users, including their precise location, after majority ownership officially switched to a group based in the US.
www.wired.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Just assume that data goes through DOGE and to ICE?
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
this is an interesting conservative back-of-the-napkin attempt to start to get to the bottom of it, though, as they note in this estimate, it has to be a pretty wild underestimate, these folks estimate at least $18M/week, if you assume a start date of 12/1, looking at a floor of around $150M so far
January 23, 2026 at 10:49 PM
this is an interesting conservative back-of-the-napkin attempt to start to get to the bottom of it, though, as they note in this estimate, it has to be a pretty wild underestimate, these folks estimate at least $18M/week, if you assume a start date of 12/1, looking at a floor of around $150M so far
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
just to make that clear for the rest of the world, that's -9 degrees *fahrenheit.* -23 degrees *celsius*.
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:31 PM
just to make that clear for the rest of the world, that's -9 degrees *fahrenheit.* -23 degrees *celsius*.
Reposted by Mary Branscombe
Leaflet is on @standard.site!
A big joint effort — and we're finishing a big migration to get Leaflet records standard-site-ified :) Log in to Leaflet & you'll be migrated automatically.
Read this post for details, and let us know any q's.
Social publishing. Atmospheric publishing. Together!
A big joint effort — and we're finishing a big migration to get Leaflet records standard-site-ified :) Log in to Leaflet & you'll be migrated automatically.
Read this post for details, and let us know any q's.
Social publishing. Atmospheric publishing. Together!
Leaflet, standard.site, and open social publishing!
Lab Notes 021: launching a set of shared standards for social publishing, migrating Leaflet to use these new lexicons, and how we plan to grow publishing × open social together!
lab.leaflet.pub
January 23, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Leaflet is on @standard.site!
A big joint effort — and we're finishing a big migration to get Leaflet records standard-site-ified :) Log in to Leaflet & you'll be migrated automatically.
Read this post for details, and let us know any q's.
Social publishing. Atmospheric publishing. Together!
A big joint effort — and we're finishing a big migration to get Leaflet records standard-site-ified :) Log in to Leaflet & you'll be migrated automatically.
Read this post for details, and let us know any q's.
Social publishing. Atmospheric publishing. Together!