Ben Werdmuller
@werd.io
Senior Director of Technology at ProPublica. I write speculative fiction and think about the future of news and technology at https://werd.io.
Pinned
Ben Werdmuller
@werd.io
· Mar 22
There is no such thing as neutral technology.
"ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next." www.propublica.org/article/life...
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...
www.propublica.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:42 PM
"ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of what comes next." www.propublica.org/article/life...
"Hundreds of children are currently being held with their parents at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. In letters and drawings, eight kids convey the pain of feeling trapped with no end in sight." www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
“I Have Been Here Too Long”: Read Letters from the Children Detained at ICE’s Dilley Facility
Hundreds of children are currently being held with their parents at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. In letters and drawings, eight kids convey the pain of feeling trapped with no end...
www.propublica.org
February 9, 2026 at 6:26 PM
"Hundreds of children are currently being held with their parents at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. In letters and drawings, eight kids convey the pain of feeling trapped with no end in sight." www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Well, that was the worst landing I’ve ever experienced. The flight attendant across from me confirmed it was the worst HE had ever experienced. Given that my previous worst ever was just a month and a half ago, I’m going to give flying a rest for a little bit.
February 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Well, that was the worst landing I’ve ever experienced. The flight attendant across from me confirmed it was the worst HE had ever experienced. Given that my previous worst ever was just a month and a half ago, I’m going to give flying a rest for a little bit.
Descending into the airport. I cannot wait to hug my best buddy. I’ve missed him so much.
February 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Descending into the airport. I cannot wait to hug my best buddy. I’ve missed him so much.
Thinking about all the people I met in the UK this week who asked me “is it really as bad as it looks out there?” (which was just about everybody). It’s probably worse. For every story that breaks containment expect there to be many more. Meanwhile, everything just continues apace. Banal, evil.
February 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Thinking about all the people I met in the UK this week who asked me “is it really as bad as it looks out there?” (which was just about everybody). It’s probably worse. For every story that breaks containment expect there to be many more. Meanwhile, everything just continues apace. Banal, evil.
Reposted by Ben Werdmuller
Being an active and informed citizen of the internet means understanding and caring about the values, ethics and practices of the platforms you choose to use and promote:
This isn’t new news as such, but people keep being surprised by it, so it’s worth repeating. Substack hosts, profits from, and promotes explicitly Nazi content, and if you are adding value to that network, you are helping them to do so. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Being an active and informed citizen of the internet means understanding and caring about the values, ethics and practices of the platforms you choose to use and promote:
This isn’t new news as such, but people keep being surprised by it, so it’s worth repeating. Substack hosts, profits from, and promotes explicitly Nazi content, and if you are adding value to that network, you are helping them to do so. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
This isn’t new news as such, but people keep being surprised by it, so it’s worth repeating. Substack hosts, profits from, and promotes explicitly Nazi content, and if you are adding value to that network, you are helping them to do so. www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
Dedicated this flight to a One Battle After Another / Bugonia double bill. I enjoyed both. I have 1h40 left. What do I do now?
February 7, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Dedicated this flight to a One Battle After Another / Bugonia double bill. I enjoyed both. I have 1h40 left. What do I do now?
Everyone was right, One Battle After Another turned out to be great.
February 7, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Everyone was right, One Battle After Another turned out to be great.
This has been a very good trip. Truly, I don’t want to leave, and were it not for the people I’ll hug on the other side, including my absolute best buddy in the world, who my suitcase is 1/3 full of gifts for, maybe I wouldn’t.
February 7, 2026 at 9:01 AM
This has been a very good trip. Truly, I don’t want to leave, and were it not for the people I’ll hug on the other side, including my absolute best buddy in the world, who my suitcase is 1/3 full of gifts for, maybe I wouldn’t.
Yesterday a four year old, upon meeting me for the first time, told me I had a big tummy and that I looked like Daddy Pig. Brutal, tbh.
February 7, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Yesterday a four year old, upon meeting me for the first time, told me I had a big tummy and that I looked like Daddy Pig. Brutal, tbh.
Reposted by Ben Werdmuller
GM: Charisma check.
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
February 7, 2026 at 5:01 AM
GM: Charisma check.
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
That’s a wrap for Protocols for Publishers in London. We discussed discovery and AI, monetization, and audience / community needs with publishers, in conversation with open protocol builders and people dedicated to creating an open social web. I’m very grateful for everyone who participated.
February 5, 2026 at 4:25 PM
That’s a wrap for Protocols for Publishers in London. We discussed discovery and AI, monetization, and audience / community needs with publishers, in conversation with open protocol builders and people dedicated to creating an open social web. I’m very grateful for everyone who participated.
Reposted by Ben Werdmuller
We had an amazing group at the @protocolsforpublishers.com #PfP✨London Showcase tonight. I met some of my old heroes, and made NEW heroes! Now it is 1:30 so I should get some shuteye before round 2 tomorrow. 🌙
Here’s me and @werd.io and @laurenshof.online at the end of the night ✌️
Here’s me and @werd.io and @laurenshof.online at the end of the night ✌️
February 5, 2026 at 1:31 AM
We had an amazing group at the @protocolsforpublishers.com #PfP✨London Showcase tonight. I met some of my old heroes, and made NEW heroes! Now it is 1:30 so I should get some shuteye before round 2 tomorrow. 🌙
Here’s me and @werd.io and @laurenshof.online at the end of the night ✌️
Here’s me and @werd.io and @laurenshof.online at the end of the night ✌️
Very excited for Protocols for Publishers at Newspeak House later tonight. Lots of publishers and protocol builders showing up to discuss how we might help each other and build an open, protocol-driven web that supports journalism, publishers, and an informed society.
February 4, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Very excited for Protocols for Publishers at Newspeak House later tonight. Lots of publishers and protocol builders showing up to discuss how we might help each other and build an open, protocol-driven web that supports journalism, publishers, and an informed society.
We lost my cousin Alan Dessen recently. He was a good man who was a big part of the fabric of my childhood. He will be missed. www.sddictionary.com/AlanDessenOb...
www.sddictionary.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:36 PM
We lost my cousin Alan Dessen recently. He was a good man who was a big part of the fabric of my childhood. He will be missed. www.sddictionary.com/AlanDessenOb...
Walking through Whitechapel I was struck by how vibrant the community is - all kinds of people out on the street, buying at the market, passing through. Smiles, good-natured shouting, banter. If you hate the diversity of London you hate human life.
February 4, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Walking through Whitechapel I was struck by how vibrant the community is - all kinds of people out on the street, buying at the market, passing through. Smiles, good-natured shouting, banter. If you hate the diversity of London you hate human life.
Reposted by Ben Werdmuller
The athletic trans panic was a new way for them to be
A) racist
B) sore losers
C ) to get women out of sport in general because it was making them to independent
D) a way for privileged women to assure that any woman who is athletic enough is automatically intimidated from continujng
A) racist
B) sore losers
C ) to get women out of sport in general because it was making them to independent
D) a way for privileged women to assure that any woman who is athletic enough is automatically intimidated from continujng
What's that you say!
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
It was all just fear pushing by bad faith groups and that trans women pose no threat to cisgender women.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Trans athletes may not have fitness advantage in women’s sport, landmark study finds
Findings suggest physical performance in trans women converges toward that of cis women over time
www.independent.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 12:08 PM
The athletic trans panic was a new way for them to be
A) racist
B) sore losers
C ) to get women out of sport in general because it was making them to independent
D) a way for privileged women to assure that any woman who is athletic enough is automatically intimidated from continujng
A) racist
B) sore losers
C ) to get women out of sport in general because it was making them to independent
D) a way for privileged women to assure that any woman who is athletic enough is automatically intimidated from continujng
When I left the UK I said I’d be back twice a year. I can’t believe it’s been eight years. I’m wandering around Brick Lane, after wandering my hometown Oxford yesterday, and I just feel like I’m home in a way I didn’t even realize I’d been missing. It’s nice, but also sad.
February 4, 2026 at 9:55 AM
When I left the UK I said I’d be back twice a year. I can’t believe it’s been eight years. I’m wandering around Brick Lane, after wandering my hometown Oxford yesterday, and I just feel like I’m home in a way I didn’t even realize I’d been missing. It’s nice, but also sad.
Reposted by Ben Werdmuller
This is absolutely insane: DHS claims the right to subpoena your emails and to send investigators to your house. In this case, because a retiree sent the mildest possible criticism to a prosecutor. No judges involved.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon
Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenas to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:41 PM
This is absolutely insane: DHS claims the right to subpoena your emails and to send investigators to your house. In this case, because a retiree sent the mildest possible criticism to a prosecutor. No judges involved.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Jaywalking is an anti-human law. It’s been such a relief being back in the UK this week and not having to worry about it.
Reminder that "jaywalking" was literally made up by american car manufacturers to shift the blame for accidents from drivers to pedestrians. "Jay" was a slang term meaning "idiot" or "rube".
“Jaywalking is permitted in London. In 1966, the police tried to crack down on it, but gave up after three months.”
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
People walk and cycle on roads by right, people drive under licence.
Jaywalking is not a thing in English law and Waymo must not change that.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
February 3, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Jaywalking is an anti-human law. It’s been such a relief being back in the UK this week and not having to worry about it.
Ugh. If you’ve DMed me it’ll need to wait until the weekend, when I fly back out.
February 3, 2026 at 7:46 AM
Ugh. If you’ve DMed me it’ll need to wait until the weekend, when I fly back out.
Secure your own squid first before helping others.
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
February 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Secure your own squid first before helping others.
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
(I'm disproportionately proud of this drawing.)
Reposted by Ben Werdmuller
404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for the Palantir-made tool called ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.
www.404media.co/here-is-the-...
www.404media.co/here-is-the-...
Here is the User Guide for ELITE, the Tool Palantir Made for ICE
404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.
www.404media.co
February 2, 2026 at 12:20 AM
404 Media is publishing a version of the user guide for the Palantir-made tool called ELITE, which lets ICE bring up dossiers on individual people and provides a “confidence score” of their address.
www.404media.co/here-is-the-...
www.404media.co/here-is-the-...
Truly weird to wander into my hometown after so long. I'm sat on the Cowley Road having a flat white. Everything is smaller and mossier than I remembered.
February 2, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Truly weird to wander into my hometown after so long. I'm sat on the Cowley Road having a flat white. Everything is smaller and mossier than I remembered.