Sarah Richards
@sarahrichards.bsky.social
“World is crazier and more of it than we think…”
Heck and heavens.
These days, inevitably, more heck.
Heck and heavens.
These days, inevitably, more heck.
The illusion of free agency underpins almost all effective exploitation & abuse. We may now understand that when it comes to sexual abuse. But it’s a widespread tool used in so many other contexts too: harmful social media, advertising, disinformation, all depend on it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
February 18, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The illusion of free agency underpins almost all effective exploitation & abuse. We may now understand that when it comes to sexual abuse. But it’s a widespread tool used in so many other contexts too: harmful social media, advertising, disinformation, all depend on it.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Sarah Richards
Lee Anderson appointed Minister for Shouting 'Oy Chairman Mao! Egg and Chips when You're Ready' in Chinese Restaurants.
February 17, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Lee Anderson appointed Minister for Shouting 'Oy Chairman Mao! Egg and Chips when You're Ready' in Chinese Restaurants.
Oh, I see. Change the indictment and have another go.
Fairground law. Coconut shy justice.
Fairground law. Coconut shy justice.
Palestine Action activists face retrial over Israeli-linked defence firm break-in
Aggravated burglary charges against 18 further defendants are also being dropped
Aggravated burglary charges against 18 further defendants are also being dropped
Palestine Action activists face retrial over Israeli-linked defence firm break-in
Aggravated burglary charges against 18 further defendants are also being dropped
www.independent.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Oh, I see. Change the indictment and have another go.
Fairground law. Coconut shy justice.
Fairground law. Coconut shy justice.
In the absence of any announced official foreign affairs or defence spokesperson for Reform, Richard Tice has just announced on Times Radio that Nigel Farage “has very strong foreign affairs links”.
Some (gory) detail would be very welcome.
Some (gory) detail would be very welcome.
February 17, 2026 at 4:47 PM
In the absence of any announced official foreign affairs or defence spokesperson for Reform, Richard Tice has just announced on Times Radio that Nigel Farage “has very strong foreign affairs links”.
Some (gory) detail would be very welcome.
Some (gory) detail would be very welcome.
So when calls another FT story “silly” (even before it’s written) it’s almost certainly of genuine democratic importance.
#ReformSpeak‘s so rudimentary a toddler could crack it in half an hour.
#ReformSpeak‘s so rudimentary a toddler could crack it in half an hour.
The FT literally broke the story he’s accusing them of ignoring.
Nigel Farage lashes out at a FT journalist and refuses to answer the question.
Is this how Reform UK would ignore media questions if they got into government?
Is this how Reform UK would ignore media questions if they got into government?
February 17, 2026 at 1:44 PM
So when calls another FT story “silly” (even before it’s written) it’s almost certainly of genuine democratic importance.
#ReformSpeak‘s so rudimentary a toddler could crack it in half an hour.
#ReformSpeak‘s so rudimentary a toddler could crack it in half an hour.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
We interrupt tributes to Jesse Jackson to bring you your daily dose of racism.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
February 17, 2026 at 11:42 AM
We interrupt tributes to Jesse Jackson to bring you your daily dose of racism.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
I’d love to get Suella Braverman in a room with Gisele Pelicot.
Suella Braverman says a Reform government would get rid of the equalities department on “day one”
February 17, 2026 at 11:44 AM
I’d love to get Suella Braverman in a room with Gisele Pelicot.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
Liz Truss meets Trump. Fingers crossed she hasn't lost her touch.
February 17, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Liz Truss meets Trump. Fingers crossed she hasn't lost her touch.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
I guess AI is the only way to make Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt the same height.
February 11, 2026 at 11:17 PM
I guess AI is the only way to make Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt the same height.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ writer Rhett Reese reacts to viral AI video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting:
“I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
“I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
February 11, 2026 at 9:03 PM
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ writer Rhett Reese reacts to viral AI video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting:
“I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
“I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
I’m not a natural Polanski fan but his ability to keep his thoughts marshalled, articulate them in hesitation-free sentences, and demolish any erroneous argument that comes at him with a solitary swipe, is genuinely impressive.
Not a single moment of TV time is here wasted.
Not a single moment of TV time is here wasted.
Phillips "This is not a country where people get thrown in jail for things they say"
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
@zackpolanski.bsky.social points out 2,700 people have been arrested for holding signs
And well done to Zack for challenging Phillips smear that 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is antisemitic
February 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM
I’m not a natural Polanski fan but his ability to keep his thoughts marshalled, articulate them in hesitation-free sentences, and demolish any erroneous argument that comes at him with a solitary swipe, is genuinely impressive.
Not a single moment of TV time is here wasted.
Not a single moment of TV time is here wasted.
Starmer evidently doesn’t realise that putting “Cabinet Office” and “Investigation” in the same sentence these days makes voters pull their hair out and hurl all hope for democracy in the bin.
Starmer finally answering questions re Labour Together spying on journalists
BUT:
How is Cabinet office right body to look into own minister, Josh Simons?
And: voluntary PR industry body is *not* a regulator, whatever Liz Kendall says
Need independent inquiry
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
BUT:
How is Cabinet office right body to look into own minister, Josh Simons?
And: voluntary PR industry body is *not* a regulator, whatever Liz Kendall says
Need independent inquiry
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Cabinet Office looking into Starmer-linked thinktank after it investigated journalists
Liz Kendall says officials will be ‘establishing the facts’ about report that made false claims about journalists
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Starmer evidently doesn’t realise that putting “Cabinet Office” and “Investigation” in the same sentence these days makes voters pull their hair out and hurl all hope for democracy in the bin.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m very curious to know more about the “secret intelligence firm” Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (“The Duke”) was seeing in September 2010, on the same day he was arranging to meet Epstein.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
February 15, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m very curious to know more about the “secret intelligence firm” Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (“The Duke”) was seeing in September 2010, on the same day he was arranging to meet Epstein.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
Julie K Brown at the Miami Herald has been doing peerless work on Epstein for years. Do read.
Eight years of Jeffrey Epstein Coverage by the Miami Herald
How we got here
jkbjournalist.substack.com/p/eight-year...
How we got here
jkbjournalist.substack.com/p/eight-year...
Eight years of Jeffrey Epstein coverage
The Miami Herald's original series, videos, timeline and more
jkbjournalist.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Julie K Brown at the Miami Herald has been doing peerless work on Epstein for years. Do read.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
If you've seen the Sunday Times today you'll know Labour Together were secretly hiring people to investigate journalists.
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Starmer allies hired investigators to look into author of McSweeney book
KEIR Starmer's allies hired private investigators to explore the background of an author whose book led to the resignation of the Prime Minister's…
www.thenational.scot
February 15, 2026 at 12:12 PM
If you've seen the Sunday Times today you'll know Labour Together were secretly hiring people to investigate journalists.
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Sadly you won't know that The National broke this story six months ago, since our work is not credited at all.
Here's the original 👇
www.thenational.scot/news/2550403...
Extraordinary stuff. Intellectual and moral depravity dance devilishly hand in hand.
(See also the Bannon Epstein interview. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... When it comes to worthwhile thinking and world view, Epstein’s was mould on the bread of humanity)
(See also the Bannon Epstein interview. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... When it comes to worthwhile thinking and world view, Epstein’s was mould on the bread of humanity)
February 15, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Extraordinary stuff. Intellectual and moral depravity dance devilishly hand in hand.
(See also the Bannon Epstein interview. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... When it comes to worthwhile thinking and world view, Epstein’s was mould on the bread of humanity)
(See also the Bannon Epstein interview. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026... When it comes to worthwhile thinking and world view, Epstein’s was mould on the bread of humanity)
Thoughtful piece. Political coverage is often little more than the excitable promotion of rumour in the absence of verifiable truth.
Yes we’re all hungry, but smells coming out of the kitchen can be a very poor guide to the meal we’re eventually served. Funny sort of ‘journalism’.
Yes we’re all hungry, but smells coming out of the kitchen can be a very poor guide to the meal we’re eventually served. Funny sort of ‘journalism’.
Did our feral political press pack call time on Starmer prematurely? Accusations are flying . markurban.substack.com/p/did-the-lo...
Did the Lobby Misread the Starmer Story?
Our political press can be an asset or liability
markurban.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Thoughtful piece. Political coverage is often little more than the excitable promotion of rumour in the absence of verifiable truth.
Yes we’re all hungry, but smells coming out of the kitchen can be a very poor guide to the meal we’re eventually served. Funny sort of ‘journalism’.
Yes we’re all hungry, but smells coming out of the kitchen can be a very poor guide to the meal we’re eventually served. Funny sort of ‘journalism’.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
OTD in 2022 George Galloway released one of the absolute, all-time classics.
He has yet to delete it, show humility, or confirm/deny if this means he in fact being paid to act like an idiot, or if he just does it free.
#JustAskingQuestions
He has yet to delete it, show humility, or confirm/deny if this means he in fact being paid to act like an idiot, or if he just does it free.
#JustAskingQuestions
February 14, 2026 at 8:51 AM
OTD in 2022 George Galloway released one of the absolute, all-time classics.
He has yet to delete it, show humility, or confirm/deny if this means he in fact being paid to act like an idiot, or if he just does it free.
#JustAskingQuestions
He has yet to delete it, show humility, or confirm/deny if this means he in fact being paid to act like an idiot, or if he just does it free.
#JustAskingQuestions
Reposted by Sarah Richards
Unsurprisingly, Anne Applebaum put it better than I did: bsky.app/profile/anne...
Rubio just made a speech to the European defense community in Munich that did not mention Ukraine. Or democracy. Or US business deals with Russia. Or the administration's plans to support the European far right. But there were lots of nice words about our common civilization.
February 14, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Unsurprisingly, Anne Applebaum put it better than I did: bsky.app/profile/anne...
Was it Boris Johnson?
Nadhim Zahawi thinks London is now unsafe, because the other day a tired-looking man walked past him during the morning rush hour.
February 13, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Was it Boris Johnson?
Reposted by Sarah Richards
Nadhim Zahawi thinks London is now unsafe, because the other day a tired-looking man walked past him during the morning rush hour.
February 13, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Nadhim Zahawi thinks London is now unsafe, because the other day a tired-looking man walked past him during the morning rush hour.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
It is very difficult to defeat the government on any terrorism judicial review
It is also very difficult to defeat the government when challenging a statutory instrument, terrorism or otherwise.
Legally this is a *huge* achievement for the applicants.
It is also very difficult to defeat the government when challenging a statutory instrument, terrorism or otherwise.
Legally this is a *huge* achievement for the applicants.
February 13, 2026 at 10:15 AM
It is very difficult to defeat the government on any terrorism judicial review
It is also very difficult to defeat the government when challenging a statutory instrument, terrorism or otherwise.
Legally this is a *huge* achievement for the applicants.
It is also very difficult to defeat the government when challenging a statutory instrument, terrorism or otherwise.
Legally this is a *huge* achievement for the applicants.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
Wow!
Palestine Action win judicial review - Guardian report.
This is a *big* legal win.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Palestine Action win judicial review - Guardian report.
This is a *big* legal win.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
UK ban on Palestine Action unlawful, high court judges rule
Protest group’s co-founder wins legal challenge against decision to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Wow!
Palestine Action win judicial review - Guardian report.
This is a *big* legal win.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Palestine Action win judicial review - Guardian report.
This is a *big* legal win.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Read @davidallengreen.bsky.social’s recent posts for unparalleled background to this case.
Palestine Action wins High Court challenge over group's ban as terrorist organisation
Palestine Action wins High Court challenge over group's ban as terrorist organisation
Palestine Action’s co-founder has won a legal challenge over the group's ban as a terrorist organisation on two grounds.
news.sky.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Read @davidallengreen.bsky.social’s recent posts for unparalleled background to this case.
Reposted by Sarah Richards
In advance of the 10am handing down of the judgment in the Palestine Action proscription case, here are my two posts on what is at stake.
At @prospectmagazine.co.uk: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Follow-on post at Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-proscr...
At @prospectmagazine.co.uk: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Follow-on post at Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-proscr...
Should the government have used terrorism law against Palestine Action?
A disclosed MI5 document indicates that the basis for proscription may be weak
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 9:00 AM
In advance of the 10am handing down of the judgment in the Palestine Action proscription case, here are my two posts on what is at stake.
At @prospectmagazine.co.uk: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Follow-on post at Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-proscr...
At @prospectmagazine.co.uk: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/law/th...
Follow-on post at Substack: emptycity.substack.com/p/the-proscr...