Musa Okwonga
@okwonga.bsky.social
Author, essayist, public speaker. Co-founder and co-host of the Stadio football podcast. musaokwonga.com
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Musa Okwonga
@okwonga.bsky.social
· Aug 26
In 2008 I met a climate scientist from Mali who was advocating for this so long that he looked exhausted. Absolutely amazing man. He was working so hard on this. And then I see numbers like this and my heart just soars. Youba Sokona, you (and your peers) really did it.
www.ipcc.ch/people/youba...
www.ipcc.ch/people/youba...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
The median American has $8,000 in savings in the bank. In other words, this is like giving the median American an opportunity to make a massive, scandalous crime go away for a fine of $240.
December 29, 2025 at 5:10 AM
The median American has $8,000 in savings in the bank. In other words, this is like giving the median American an opportunity to make a massive, scandalous crime go away for a fine of $240.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
I'd like to say that I foresaw Israel's move. I hinted it at the tail end of this Al Jazeera article I wrote almost 2 years ago. War on Gaza led to Houthi attacks on Israeli, US&UK ships in the Red Sea.
Israel is certainly contemplating a military presence in Somaliland to address the Houthi threat
Israel is certainly contemplating a military presence in Somaliland to address the Houthi threat
December 29, 2025 at 5:33 AM
I'd like to say that I foresaw Israel's move. I hinted it at the tail end of this Al Jazeera article I wrote almost 2 years ago. War on Gaza led to Houthi attacks on Israeli, US&UK ships in the Red Sea.
Israel is certainly contemplating a military presence in Somaliland to address the Houthi threat
Israel is certainly contemplating a military presence in Somaliland to address the Houthi threat
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Stuff like this winds me up. The absurd noblesse oblige. “Social leadership is important”- noone asked you for it. Noone wants it. You think you should have it because you have land. Well good for you. But it’s not the 18th century. Just shuffle off into the night.
December 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Stuff like this winds me up. The absurd noblesse oblige. “Social leadership is important”- noone asked you for it. Noone wants it. You think you should have it because you have land. Well good for you. But it’s not the 18th century. Just shuffle off into the night.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Today's quick update [Dec 27]:
- Sudan Doctors Network: over 200 people killed on ethnic grounds by RSF in Ambro, Abu Gamra and Serba, North Darfur (red).
- RSF attack reported on Aldankoj, North Kordofan (blue).
#KeepEyesOnSudan
- Sudan Doctors Network: over 200 people killed on ethnic grounds by RSF in Ambro, Abu Gamra and Serba, North Darfur (red).
- RSF attack reported on Aldankoj, North Kordofan (blue).
#KeepEyesOnSudan
December 28, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Today's quick update [Dec 27]:
- Sudan Doctors Network: over 200 people killed on ethnic grounds by RSF in Ambro, Abu Gamra and Serba, North Darfur (red).
- RSF attack reported on Aldankoj, North Kordofan (blue).
#KeepEyesOnSudan
- Sudan Doctors Network: over 200 people killed on ethnic grounds by RSF in Ambro, Abu Gamra and Serba, North Darfur (red).
- RSF attack reported on Aldankoj, North Kordofan (blue).
#KeepEyesOnSudan
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
An interesting aspect of this is that in the lead up to the debate Buckley himself was dismissive of Baldwin and other Black theorists and thinkers at the time. It’s why he looked the fool, he was sure Baldwin was simply a bitter guy with hate for white people.
One of the lasting impacts of William Buckley getting dog walked by James Baldwin in the Cambridge debate in 1965 was that racial conservatism decided it was easier to dismiss Black ideas because they couldn't win the argument.
December 27, 2025 at 2:24 PM
An interesting aspect of this is that in the lead up to the debate Buckley himself was dismissive of Baldwin and other Black theorists and thinkers at the time. It’s why he looked the fool, he was sure Baldwin was simply a bitter guy with hate for white people.
One of the few journalists who makes me feel optimistic (and one of the best doing it too)
📝 The one from Substack I’m most pleased with from 2025.
Primarily because people rarely make the comparison between Farage and Johnson, despite the fact they share the same brand of elitist, chaotic, egomaniac politics 👇🏻
Primarily because people rarely make the comparison between Farage and Johnson, despite the fact they share the same brand of elitist, chaotic, egomaniac politics 👇🏻
Farage will fall into the same trap as Boris Johnson
Farage’s populist insurgency will unravel, and it will bear the hallmarks of Johnson’s demise.
open.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
One of the few journalists who makes me feel optimistic (and one of the best doing it too)
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Anyway, a great show for beautiful atmospheric pieces of storytelling via audio was BBC shortcuts. I wrote and read out a story about being a woman on the internet and being stalked here and they turned it into a terrifyingly beautiful work of art.
open.spotify.com/episode/0sb4...
open.spotify.com/episode/0sb4...
The Horror!
open.spotify.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Anyway, a great show for beautiful atmospheric pieces of storytelling via audio was BBC shortcuts. I wrote and read out a story about being a woman on the internet and being stalked here and they turned it into a terrifyingly beautiful work of art.
open.spotify.com/episode/0sb4...
open.spotify.com/episode/0sb4...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
The health service is being put at risk because overseas health professionals increasingly see the UK as an “unwelcoming, racist” country, in part because of the government’s tough approach to immigration
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Foreign medics shunning NHS because of anti-migrant rhetoric, says top doctor
Exclusive: UK now an ‘unwelcoming, racist’ country for overseas health workers, according to medical colleges leader
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:46 AM
The health service is being put at risk because overseas health professionals increasingly see the UK as an “unwelcoming, racist” country, in part because of the government’s tough approach to immigration
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
🧵Have you ever heard of LLM-authored books being used as part of an disinformation operation?
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
December 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
🧵Have you ever heard of LLM-authored books being used as part of an disinformation operation?
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
Well now you have!
#AI #Disinformation
open.substack.com/pub/marcowen...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
BREAKING: sparked by a mass exodus of X users in protest of a new function that feeds images to Generative AI for other users to edit, for the first time since April 8th, Bluesky gained more than 55,000 new users in a day.
There are still 6.5 hours to go before the @bskycheck.com counter resets.
There are still 6.5 hours to go before the @bskycheck.com counter resets.
Bluesky Growth Tracker - Live User Activity Dashboard
Track Bluesky growth as it happens with our real-time dashboard. See live user sign-ups, monitor current growth rate, and explore verified domain handles across government, education, commercial and o...
bskycheck.com
December 25, 2025 at 12:32 AM
BREAKING: sparked by a mass exodus of X users in protest of a new function that feeds images to Generative AI for other users to edit, for the first time since April 8th, Bluesky gained more than 55,000 new users in a day.
There are still 6.5 hours to go before the @bskycheck.com counter resets.
There are still 6.5 hours to go before the @bskycheck.com counter resets.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Which member of the fellowship of the ring most exemplifies the hustle grindset needed for a modern CEO? Answers on a postcard please
December 26, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Which member of the fellowship of the ring most exemplifies the hustle grindset needed for a modern CEO? Answers on a postcard please
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
A South African national told Reuters that his 20-year-old son was promised elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia, but instead he ended up in the trenches in Donetsk region. At least 16 other South Africans had the same experience.
Full story: reuters.com/world/europe/s…
Full story: reuters.com/world/europe/s…
December 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
A South African national told Reuters that his 20-year-old son was promised elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia, but instead he ended up in the trenches in Donetsk region. At least 16 other South Africans had the same experience.
Full story: reuters.com/world/europe/s…
Full story: reuters.com/world/europe/s…
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Authorities have reported the death of a Nicaraguan immigrant in ICE custody in a hospital in Natchez, Mississippi, the seventh reported death of an immigrant in ICE custody this month.
buff.ly/NntUdNz
buff.ly/NntUdNz
Nicaraguan Man in ICE Custody Dies in Mississippi Hospital
A Nicaraguan man has died in ICE custody at a hospital in Natchez, Mississippi, the seventh reported death of a person in custody this month.
www.mississippifreepress.org
December 24, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Authorities have reported the death of a Nicaraguan immigrant in ICE custody in a hospital in Natchez, Mississippi, the seventh reported death of an immigrant in ICE custody this month.
buff.ly/NntUdNz
buff.ly/NntUdNz
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
I think it was @gregpak.net who recently said something like "action alleviates anxiety." Take that to heart. You will feel less alone, less helpless, less defenseless if you become involved in local progressive action. It's already happening all around you; go outside and find it.
December 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I think it was @gregpak.net who recently said something like "action alleviates anxiety." Take that to heart. You will feel less alone, less helpless, less defenseless if you become involved in local progressive action. It's already happening all around you; go outside and find it.
"In last February’s federal election in Görlitz, the AfD took nearly every second vote – 46.7 per cent – its second-best result in all of Germany."
“In Görlitz, locals say the change in factory production from civil to military production has uncomfortable historical echoes.
In the 1930s, during the build-up to the second World War, Nazi Germany ordered the plant to manufacture armoured personnel carriers.”
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
In the 1930s, during the build-up to the second World War, Nazi Germany ordered the plant to manufacture armoured personnel carriers.”
www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...
German factory retools from trains to tanks: ‘Not everyone is happy about the transition’
As weapons production ramps up in the face of the Russian threat, assembly lines in Görlitz are switching from rail carriages to battle tanks
www.irishtimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:24 AM
"In last February’s federal election in Görlitz, the AfD took nearly every second vote – 46.7 per cent – its second-best result in all of Germany."
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
one lesser awful thing about the Epstein files is that genuine crimes against a huge number of children are being morphed into fuel for the influencer industrial complex who don't care about truth or accuracy and just want grist for the content mills
December 23, 2025 at 8:43 PM
one lesser awful thing about the Epstein files is that genuine crimes against a huge number of children are being morphed into fuel for the influencer industrial complex who don't care about truth or accuracy and just want grist for the content mills
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Somehow I doubt the BBC will rise to this challenge
I'd like to ask these people why "mass migration" is an "existential European security concern".
(The answer is "We're very, very racist", but they should be made to say it publicly)
(The answer is "We're very, very racist", but they should be made to say it publicly)
December 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Somehow I doubt the BBC will rise to this challenge
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Just want to point out that this man was leading the whole Turning Point USA crowd in prayer last week.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Russell Brand charged with further counts of rape and sexual assault
The alleged offences took place in 2009, the Crown Protection Service said
www.independent.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Just want to point out that this man was leading the whole Turning Point USA crowd in prayer last week.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crim...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
I feel like the world is waiting for an elusive, mythical smoking gun when we already have abundant evidence that a fascist authoritarian regime is in place in America.
The Epstein stuff sums it up. What could possibly be uncovered that would convince you of Trump's evil that isn't already known?
The Epstein stuff sums it up. What could possibly be uncovered that would convince you of Trump's evil that isn't already known?
December 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I feel like the world is waiting for an elusive, mythical smoking gun when we already have abundant evidence that a fascist authoritarian regime is in place in America.
The Epstein stuff sums it up. What could possibly be uncovered that would convince you of Trump's evil that isn't already known?
The Epstein stuff sums it up. What could possibly be uncovered that would convince you of Trump's evil that isn't already known?
I'm sorry for sounding like a broken record. Truly. It's just that it is going to take two generations, maybe more, to undo much of the utterly avoidable damage that the US administration is doing right now, and for hundreds of thousands of people killed by USAID cuts it is already far too late.
December 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I'm sorry for sounding like a broken record. Truly. It's just that it is going to take two generations, maybe more, to undo much of the utterly avoidable damage that the US administration is doing right now, and for hundreds of thousands of people killed by USAID cuts it is already far too late.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
look at how little effort it takes for someone on the conservative grievance circuit to destroy a life
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
Worth noting that the student admits that she just threw the thing together in 30 minutes without reading the paper she was supposed to be responding to.
December 23, 2025 at 5:53 PM
look at how little effort it takes for someone on the conservative grievance circuit to destroy a life
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
millions of college kids have half assed an assignment at the last minute, you eat the F and move on
but the effort to push trans people out of public life will use whatever it can get
Any advice where the writer gives it as an absolute and not just something that specifically works for them. A lot of us - most of us? - don’t know exactly what will work before we write it. And then when it works, some of us will pretend that it was the result of our eternal Wisdom.
what is your least favorite piece of writing advice and why? 👀
December 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Any advice where the writer gives it as an absolute and not just something that specifically works for them. A lot of us - most of us? - don’t know exactly what will work before we write it. And then when it works, some of us will pretend that it was the result of our eternal Wisdom.