Owen Blacker
@owenblacker.bsky.social
🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏴🇵🇸♿⧖ he/him, cis.
Queer political geek; proud social justice warrior+trans ally. Queering Wikipedia (and chair of @wmlgbt.org), Open Rights Group, ex-mySociety. Dysgwr. My opinions, not my employer’s.
t.me/owenblacker
owen.blacker.me.uk
Queer political geek; proud social justice warrior+trans ally. Queering Wikipedia (and chair of @wmlgbt.org), Open Rights Group, ex-mySociety. Dysgwr. My opinions, not my employer’s.
t.me/owenblacker
owen.blacker.me.uk
Reposted by Owen Blacker
This is insane.
Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad,
Tracy Beth Hoeg and RFK
Jr are a collective menace.
Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad,
Tracy Beth Hoeg and RFK
Jr are a collective menace.
NEW: The F.D.A. refused to accept an application from Moderna for its mRNA flu vaccine.
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
F.D.A. Refuses to Review Moderna Flu Vaccine
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 PM
This is insane.
Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad,
Tracy Beth Hoeg and RFK
Jr are a collective menace.
Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad,
Tracy Beth Hoeg and RFK
Jr are a collective menace.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
This would be a bit more powerful if Starmer hadn't raided the rhetoric of Enoch Powell while introducing one of the harshest asylum systems in Europe?
Starmer:
"The real fight is not in the Labour Party. It's with the right-wing politics that challenges that. The politics of Reform... Divide, divide, divide. Grievance, grievance, grievance. That will tear our country apart... I will be in that fight as long as I have breath in my body."
"The real fight is not in the Labour Party. It's with the right-wing politics that challenges that. The politics of Reform... Divide, divide, divide. Grievance, grievance, grievance. That will tear our country apart... I will be in that fight as long as I have breath in my body."
February 10, 2026 at 10:44 PM
This would be a bit more powerful if Starmer hadn't raided the rhetoric of Enoch Powell while introducing one of the harshest asylum systems in Europe?
Reposted by Owen Blacker
we crunched some numbers www.avclub.com/melania-budg...
Melania's budget could've paid the salaries of every fired Washington Post employee, three times over
An incomplete breakdown of Jeff Bezos' financial priorities, weighing one piece of propaganda (Melania) against 300 journalists.
www.avclub.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:01 PM
we crunched some numbers www.avclub.com/melania-budg...
Reposted by Owen Blacker
“As Herzog embarked on his visit to Australia, Israel's security cabinet announced plans to tighten Israel's grip over the occupied West Bank..and extend greater Israeli control over areas where the Palestinian Authority exercises power”
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Israel undermines two-state solution while Herzog visits Australia
While Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Sydney, his government was taking concrete actions in the West Bank designed to "continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state".
www.abc.net.au
February 10, 2026 at 9:55 PM
“As Herzog embarked on his visit to Australia, Israel's security cabinet announced plans to tighten Israel's grip over the occupied West Bank..and extend greater Israeli control over areas where the Palestinian Authority exercises power”
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02...
Reposted by Owen Blacker
So at this stage, we know that the Roger Liddle Supper Club included two members who were active friends with known pedophiles.
As well as Wes Streeting.
As well as Wes Streeting.
Matthew Doyle, the Labour Spad/Lord who's also embroiled in a 'look the other way when your chum is a child predator' scandal - also attended the cosy suppers at Lord Roger Liddle's house with #Mandelson and #WesStreeting.
February 10, 2026 at 8:57 PM
So at this stage, we know that the Roger Liddle Supper Club included two members who were active friends with known pedophiles.
As well as Wes Streeting.
As well as Wes Streeting.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
Isn’t it time we changed the language of “sex trafficking”? Instead use “Rape trafficking”. Sex implies consent. There is none. This is rape, coercion and abuse of vulnerable people. Our language should reflect the harm inflicted. Words matter.
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026...
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026...
Epstein victims demand US time limit on sex trafficking cases be dropped
Democrats introduce ‘Virginia’s Law’ to remove barriers for survivors of sexual violence from seeking justice
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 9:36 PM
Isn’t it time we changed the language of “sex trafficking”? Instead use “Rape trafficking”. Sex implies consent. There is none. This is rape, coercion and abuse of vulnerable people. Our language should reflect the harm inflicted. Words matter.
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026...
www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026...
Reposted by Owen Blacker
because they're not designed as restraints, it's very easy to hurt someone with them, and that's a major reason cops and other fashy types love them. They use them on legs and on little bitty kids too, which they can't do with regular handcuffs. The pain they cause is a feature, not a bug.
February 10, 2026 at 9:48 PM
because they're not designed as restraints, it's very easy to hurt someone with them, and that's a major reason cops and other fashy types love them. They use them on legs and on little bitty kids too, which they can't do with regular handcuffs. The pain they cause is a feature, not a bug.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
this does not "spark fresh questions" this piles on additional evidence to what we already know. WHAT POSSIBLE QUESTIONS COULD BE RAISED BY THIS OTHER THAN WHY HAVEN'T WE STOPPED IT YET?? comemierdas
"Images obtained by CBS News appear to show the zip ties and bruised wrists of Anabel Romero's 14-year-old daughter SueHey, a U.S. citizen who was tending to her 6- and 8-year-old siblings when the agents descended on the crowd in military-style gear and herded them into a confined area."
Feds zip-tied a 14-year-old girl during Idaho raid, sparking fresh questions about ICE tactics
A 14-year-old girl said she was "crying" and "struggling to breathe" when law enforcement officers herded her onto a racetrack with other detainees and zip-tied her hands.
www.cbsnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:26 PM
this does not "spark fresh questions" this piles on additional evidence to what we already know. WHAT POSSIBLE QUESTIONS COULD BE RAISED BY THIS OTHER THAN WHY HAVEN'T WE STOPPED IT YET?? comemierdas
Reposted by Owen Blacker
the most anti-LGBT+ government since Thatcher is also the government with the most links to paedophiles since Thatcher. what an odd coincidence that requires no further thought or inspection
BREAKING | Starmer’s paedophile-linked peer and former comms chief quits Labour Party
trib.al/B3DT9BW
trib.al/B3DT9BW
Starmer’s paedophile-linked peer and former comms chief quits Labour Party
Matthew Doyle has apologised for his past association with a paedophile councillor Sean Morton
trib.al
February 10, 2026 at 5:58 PM
the most anti-LGBT+ government since Thatcher is also the government with the most links to paedophiles since Thatcher. what an odd coincidence that requires no further thought or inspection
Reposted by Owen Blacker
Reposted by Owen Blacker
The NYT says Democratic proposals for reforming ICE are “facing blowback.”
But blowback from who? Not the people! Polls show support for most reforms exceeds 60%, with some ideas reaching as high as 94% of the public!
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
But blowback from who? Not the people! Polls show support for most reforms exceeds 60%, with some ideas reaching as high as 94% of the public!
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
February 10, 2026 at 9:31 PM
The NYT says Democratic proposals for reforming ICE are “facing blowback.”
But blowback from who? Not the people! Polls show support for most reforms exceeds 60%, with some ideas reaching as high as 94% of the public!
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
But blowback from who? Not the people! Polls show support for most reforms exceeds 60%, with some ideas reaching as high as 94% of the public!
substack.com/@gelliottmor...
Reposted by Owen Blacker
they pissed off the WeRateDogs guy enough from him to break character to directly tell them off, that's genuinely impressive levels of being an asshole
February 10, 2026 at 8:22 PM
they pissed off the WeRateDogs guy enough from him to break character to directly tell them off, that's genuinely impressive levels of being an asshole
Reposted by Owen Blacker
abolish ice and dhs, commission for truth and justice, criminal prosecution for individuals, and start ripping up every part of the government which touches these institutions. BARE MINIMUM
February 10, 2026 at 10:03 PM
abolish ice and dhs, commission for truth and justice, criminal prosecution for individuals, and start ripping up every part of the government which touches these institutions. BARE MINIMUM
Reposted by Owen Blacker
"A modern-day concentration camp ... People have been killed by the staff here." Irish citizen Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention since September, despite having a valid work permit and his own business in the US.
February 10, 2026 at 10:09 AM
"A modern-day concentration camp ... People have been killed by the staff here." Irish citizen Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention since September, despite having a valid work permit and his own business in the US.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
It's the same reason they're (almost) all ex private school kids.
February 10, 2026 at 10:05 PM
It's the same reason they're (almost) all ex private school kids.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
Love and respect to journalist friends but I think you all know how little room there is for consciences about platforms for people making a living in that profession.
February 10, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Love and respect to journalist friends but I think you all know how little room there is for consciences about platforms for people making a living in that profession.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
Journalists are hounds for a platform where they will benefit from network effects even if there's abundant other platforms with the same features including monetisation.
February 10, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Journalists are hounds for a platform where they will benefit from network effects even if there's abundant other platforms with the same features including monetisation.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
The thing about the campaign to get journalists off of the nazi empowering platform substack is that they really truly value the prestige of being on the Nazi friendly platform more than they care about denying content and cash to Nazi enablers.
February 10, 2026 at 9:59 PM
The thing about the campaign to get journalists off of the nazi empowering platform substack is that they really truly value the prestige of being on the Nazi friendly platform more than they care about denying content and cash to Nazi enablers.
Reposted by Owen Blacker
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 10, 2026 at 8:02 PM
hello this is the official petition to bring back mass market paperbacks!! mmpbs are good actually and everyone should do them!! i think esp romantasy readers would really love that shit! and you can still spray those edges!!! bring back mass market paperbacks thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Owen Blacker
Would-be London taxi drivers attending the taximan's school in Kennington embark on a bicycle tour of the city in order to learn "The Knowledge".
1947
1947
February 10, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Would-be London taxi drivers attending the taximan's school in Kennington embark on a bicycle tour of the city in order to learn "The Knowledge".
1947
1947
Reposted by Owen Blacker
a day over nine years since this happened, and things have gotten so much worse
i don’t know if i’ll ever be able to forgive the people who chose to put us where we are, or chose to do nothing to try to stop it
i don’t know if i’ll ever be able to forgive the people who chose to put us where we are, or chose to do nothing to try to stop it
February 10, 2026 at 10:06 PM
a day over nine years since this happened, and things have gotten so much worse
i don’t know if i’ll ever be able to forgive the people who chose to put us where we are, or chose to do nothing to try to stop it
i don’t know if i’ll ever be able to forgive the people who chose to put us where we are, or chose to do nothing to try to stop it
Reposted by Owen Blacker
In 2024, OpenAI was a client of the lobbying firm Mandelson founded. In 2025, the US tech giant signed a major “strategic partnership” with the uk govt - while Mandelson was ambassador.
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
UK signed deals with US firms that were clients of Mandelson lobbying company
Clients of Global Counsel, co-founded by Mandelson, included OpenAI and Palantir, which have both signed deals with government
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:33 PM
In 2024, OpenAI was a client of the lobbying firm Mandelson founded. In 2025, the US tech giant signed a major “strategic partnership” with the uk govt - while Mandelson was ambassador.
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Questions go beyond just Palantir: www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Owen Blacker
My French teacher just asked us if we're sure we want to do the writing homework at home or in class bc students have been using chatGPT
..................for a voluntary French class in Paris that we all pay our adult money to attend?????
..................for a voluntary French class in Paris that we all pay our adult money to attend?????
February 10, 2026 at 10:01 PM
My French teacher just asked us if we're sure we want to do the writing homework at home or in class bc students have been using chatGPT
..................for a voluntary French class in Paris that we all pay our adult money to attend?????
..................for a voluntary French class in Paris that we all pay our adult money to attend?????
Reposted by Owen Blacker
Stonewall was a riot aimed at *cops*.
It's important to be specific.
It's important to be specific.
February 10, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Stonewall was a riot aimed at *cops*.
It's important to be specific.
It's important to be specific.