Andrew Purcell
@andrewpurcell.bsky.social
Journalist turned human rights activist, creative project enthusiast, runner, father of two boys, exhausted shell of a man.
Admirably clear take from the BBC's own Culture and Media Editor Katie Razzall.
It's carefully worded, of course, but concludes that "some are asking" if "the BBC has been weaponised" by the right.
It's carefully worded, of course, but concludes that "some are asking" if "the BBC has been weaponised" by the right.
Katie Razzall: A seismic moment that shows rift at top of BBC
There may be more to this than meets the eye, says the BBC's culture and media editor.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Admirably clear take from the BBC's own Culture and Media Editor Katie Razzall.
It's carefully worded, of course, but concludes that "some are asking" if "the BBC has been weaponised" by the right.
It's carefully worded, of course, but concludes that "some are asking" if "the BBC has been weaponised" by the right.
"All requested anonymity, fearing legal repercussions."
In Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia you can be executed for saying the emperor has no clothes.
The project will never be built but they've already sentenced some tribespeople to death for getting in the way.
In Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia you can be executed for saying the emperor has no clothes.
The project will never be built but they've already sentenced some tribespeople to death for getting in the way.
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
"All requested anonymity, fearing legal repercussions."
In Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia you can be executed for saying the emperor has no clothes.
The project will never be built but they've already sentenced some tribespeople to death for getting in the way.
In Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabia you can be executed for saying the emperor has no clothes.
The project will never be built but they've already sentenced some tribespeople to death for getting in the way.
The Times was always a conservative paper but it's startling how hard it's swung to the right under Tony Gallagher, with Labour in power.
This is their top story today, splashed on front page of app.
This is their top story today, splashed on front page of app.
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The Times was always a conservative paper but it's startling how hard it's swung to the right under Tony Gallagher, with Labour in power.
This is their top story today, splashed on front page of app.
This is their top story today, splashed on front page of app.
We started working with the NYT on this story months ago, but it's worth the wait. Their journalists have dug into Saudi Arabia's record year of executions for drug offences, to tell the stories of some of the poor migrants targeted - often killed just for being in the wrong place at wrong time.
As Saudi Arabia Cracks Down on Drugs, Executions Near a Record High
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
We started working with the NYT on this story months ago, but it's worth the wait. Their journalists have dug into Saudi Arabia's record year of executions for drug offences, to tell the stories of some of the poor migrants targeted - often killed just for being in the wrong place at wrong time.
The UK right have been flirting with this as a wedge issue for some time.
The death penalty is not a deterrent, miscarriages of justice are fatal, it targets the most vulnerable and there's no humane way to execute someone. It is banned in Britain for good reason.
Of course Reform want it back!
The death penalty is not a deterrent, miscarriages of justice are fatal, it targets the most vulnerable and there's no humane way to execute someone. It is banned in Britain for good reason.
Of course Reform want it back!
Support for bringing back the death penalty, by 2024 vote
Reform: 82%
Con: 67%
Labour: 35%
Lib Dem: 30%
Green: 26%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
Reform: 82%
Con: 67%
Labour: 35%
Lib Dem: 30%
Green: 26%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 7, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The UK right have been flirting with this as a wedge issue for some time.
The death penalty is not a deterrent, miscarriages of justice are fatal, it targets the most vulnerable and there's no humane way to execute someone. It is banned in Britain for good reason.
Of course Reform want it back!
The death penalty is not a deterrent, miscarriages of justice are fatal, it targets the most vulnerable and there's no humane way to execute someone. It is banned in Britain for good reason.
Of course Reform want it back!
"His equally out-of-touch billionaire backers, who have barely seen the city beyond the windows of their SUVs for years, thought they had hired the man for the job, but didn’t actually understand what the job was."
A richly deserved and most enjoyable takedown of everything this man represents 🔥
A richly deserved and most enjoyable takedown of everything this man represents 🔥
Opinion | It’s Not Just Cuomo Who Lost. It’s Cuomoism.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
"His equally out-of-touch billionaire backers, who have barely seen the city beyond the windows of their SUVs for years, thought they had hired the man for the job, but didn’t actually understand what the job was."
A richly deserved and most enjoyable takedown of everything this man represents 🔥
A richly deserved and most enjoyable takedown of everything this man represents 🔥
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
And frying their brains in ways they don’t even realise, never mind understand
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
And frying their brains in ways they don’t even realise, never mind understand
The death of Twitter left a huge gap in NGO comms plans, so I understand it's hard to quit. But by staying, you are lending legitimacy to a far right radicalisation engine.
Too many journalists still treat it as a neutral news source, too, not acknowledging it vastly over represents r/w views.
Too many journalists still treat it as a neutral news source, too, not acknowledging it vastly over represents r/w views.
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
How the world's richest man is boosting the British right
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The death of Twitter left a huge gap in NGO comms plans, so I understand it's hard to quit. But by staying, you are lending legitimacy to a far right radicalisation engine.
Too many journalists still treat it as a neutral news source, too, not acknowledging it vastly over represents r/w views.
Too many journalists still treat it as a neutral news source, too, not acknowledging it vastly over represents r/w views.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
The full transcript of Zohran Mamdani's acceptance speech is very much worth reading in full. Even if you don't agree with your politics, it's very beautifully put together.
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
November 5, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The full transcript of Zohran Mamdani's acceptance speech is very much worth reading in full. Even if you don't agree with your politics, it's very beautifully put together.
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
archive.is/8VqQJ
[this is a useable link to the NYT transcript]
Zohran Mamdani's rise is astonishing and his videos have played a huge part in it.
Of course you need a candidate who's authentic, disciplined and actually stands for something, but there's a template here for progressives shut out of and smeared by mainstream media.
Great article, too.
Of course you need a candidate who's authentic, disciplined and actually stands for something, but there's a template here for progressives shut out of and smeared by mainstream media.
Great article, too.
Selling Zohran | Defector
On a cool Sunday in November, a few days after Donald Trump’s re-election, Zohran Mamdani stood on a street corner in Jamaica, Queens, holding up a hastily drawn cardboard sign that read “DID YOU VOTE...
defector.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Zohran Mamdani's rise is astonishing and his videos have played a huge part in it.
Of course you need a candidate who's authentic, disciplined and actually stands for something, but there's a template here for progressives shut out of and smeared by mainstream media.
Great article, too.
Of course you need a candidate who's authentic, disciplined and actually stands for something, but there's a template here for progressives shut out of and smeared by mainstream media.
Great article, too.
"Cheney, 84, picked an appropriate time to die. His decades-long struggle to consolidate the unparalleled might of U.S. warmaking within the White House has succeeded."
Spencer Ackerman with the eulogy Dick Cheney deserves, wishing him accountability in the next life he evaded in this one.
Spencer Ackerman with the eulogy Dick Cheney deserves, wishing him accountability in the next life he evaded in this one.
www.thenation.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
"Cheney, 84, picked an appropriate time to die. His decades-long struggle to consolidate the unparalleled might of U.S. warmaking within the White House has succeeded."
Spencer Ackerman with the eulogy Dick Cheney deserves, wishing him accountability in the next life he evaded in this one.
Spencer Ackerman with the eulogy Dick Cheney deserves, wishing him accountability in the next life he evaded in this one.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
My first thought was 'How does this fit into the narrative spun by Matt Goodwin and co'? And then I realised I was only thinking that because of this chap's name. So in a way, their rot has already set in, even within myself.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
My first thought was 'How does this fit into the narrative spun by Matt Goodwin and co'? And then I realised I was only thinking that because of this chap's name. So in a way, their rot has already set in, even within myself.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
I’m sure Matt Goodwin will be along shortly to tell us all whether LNER Customer Service Host Samir Zitouni counts as British or not. news.sky.com/story/train-...
Train company LNER 'extremely proud' of rail worker in critical condition after mass stabbing as family call him 'hero'
The "extraordinary bravery" of the LNER worker who intervened during the train mass stabbing attack on Saturday has been hailed by his company.
news.sky.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I’m sure Matt Goodwin will be along shortly to tell us all whether LNER Customer Service Host Samir Zitouni counts as British or not. news.sky.com/story/train-...
Eight years ago today, Jagtar Singh Johal was on honeymoon in India, when police abducted him and tortured him until he signed a blank piece of paper.
He's still in prison, trapped in an endless trial despite complete lack of evidence. How can UK Govt accept this treatment of its citizen?
He's still in prison, trapped in an endless trial despite complete lack of evidence. How can UK Govt accept this treatment of its citizen?
Jagtar Singh Johal: Wife's 'pain' over husband's 2017 arrest in India
Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in connection with terror-related offences in the Punjab region in November 2017.
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Eight years ago today, Jagtar Singh Johal was on honeymoon in India, when police abducted him and tortured him until he signed a blank piece of paper.
He's still in prison, trapped in an endless trial despite complete lack of evidence. How can UK Govt accept this treatment of its citizen?
He's still in prison, trapped in an endless trial despite complete lack of evidence. How can UK Govt accept this treatment of its citizen?
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
helluva closing message
UNTIL IT’S DONE, Ep. 5: Vito Marcantonio
There are many who dismiss our vision for New York as impossible. To them, I say we need look only to our past for proof of how we can shape the future.
Tomorrow is Election Day. And this is the final Until It's Done of our campaign.
There are many who dismiss our vision for New York as impossible. To them, I say we need look only to our past for proof of how we can shape the future.
Tomorrow is Election Day. And this is the final Until It's Done of our campaign.
November 4, 2025 at 4:48 AM
helluva closing message
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
this is such a great encapsulation of why this race feels existential even to people outside NYC. Cuomo as the final boss of everything wrong with the current Democratic Party, Mamdani happily grabbing the third rails everyone’s told are too dangerous to touch (trans people, Muslims, socialism)
It's uncanny how Cuomo has been laser-focused at appealing to the absolute worst qualities in people - their insularity, their tribalism, and now their fear. A campaign monumental in its cynicism, a colossal bet by this man and his billionaire backers that people are basically bad.
This isn't a closing election argument, it's Vidkun Quisling explaining why surrender is better than resistance.
November 4, 2025 at 5:45 AM
this is such a great encapsulation of why this race feels existential even to people outside NYC. Cuomo as the final boss of everything wrong with the current Democratic Party, Mamdani happily grabbing the third rails everyone’s told are too dangerous to touch (trans people, Muslims, socialism)
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
November 2, 2025 at 2:35 PM
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
Again, this precise use case is why these systems exist-to proliferate people’s racist (transphobic, misogynistic…) imaginary at scale. This should not be seen as a “misuse” but rather the product being used exactly as intended.
Racist Influencers Using OpenAI's Sora to Make it Look Like Poor People Are Selling Food Stamps for Cash
Folks looking for evidence of SNAP recipients as welfare queens have no shortage of AI generated schlock to use as justification.
futurism.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Again, this precise use case is why these systems exist-to proliferate people’s racist (transphobic, misogynistic…) imaginary at scale. This should not be seen as a “misuse” but rather the product being used exactly as intended.
Hats off to the Ladbrokes PR team, I guess, but the Sunday Times should be ashamed to print this.
"A lifeline for predominantly working-class communities." Yeah, right.
"A lifeline for predominantly working-class communities." Yeah, right.
Bookmakers have threatened to shut every high street branch if their tax goes up, shedding thousands of jobs often filled by women. They say they feel like Samaritans
Our betting shops are sanctuaries. I worry for the men if we close
Bookmakers have threatened to shut every high street branch if their tax goes up, shedding thousands of jobs often filled by women. They say they feel like Samaritans
www.thetimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Hats off to the Ladbrokes PR team, I guess, but the Sunday Times should be ashamed to print this.
"A lifeline for predominantly working-class communities." Yeah, right.
"A lifeline for predominantly working-class communities." Yeah, right.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.
October 31, 2025 at 5:57 PM
On the left, the refurbished Lincoln bathroom. On the right, picture I took in Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra in 2005.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
"To measure what is happening in the United States, the Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion, with help from scholars who have studied this phenomenon. The sobering reality is that the United States has regressed, to different degrees, on all 12."
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy?
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"To measure what is happening in the United States, the Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion, with help from scholars who have studied this phenomenon. The sobering reality is that the United States has regressed, to different degrees, on all 12."
Yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, military police invaded Alemão favela and killed *at least 117 people*.
The usual claim that they were all "narco-terrorists". And yes, some were gang members, of Red Command, heavily-armed.
But without doubt, they also killed civilians, because these raids always do.
The usual claim that they were all "narco-terrorists". And yes, some were gang members, of Red Command, heavily-armed.
But without doubt, they also killed civilians, because these raids always do.
October 29, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Yesterday in Rio de Janeiro, military police invaded Alemão favela and killed *at least 117 people*.
The usual claim that they were all "narco-terrorists". And yes, some were gang members, of Red Command, heavily-armed.
But without doubt, they also killed civilians, because these raids always do.
The usual claim that they were all "narco-terrorists". And yes, some were gang members, of Red Command, heavily-armed.
But without doubt, they also killed civilians, because these raids always do.
Reposted by Andrew Purcell
Wow - those are quite phenomenal headlines given the details of the story.
Ahh look, he’s just a ‘nerdy’ guy. No harm done.
You need to scroll down to paragraph 13 of the Sky piece to find the full story!
🧵
1/9
Ahh look, he’s just a ‘nerdy’ guy. No harm done.
You need to scroll down to paragraph 13 of the Sky piece to find the full story!
🧵
1/9
October 29, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Wow - those are quite phenomenal headlines given the details of the story.
Ahh look, he’s just a ‘nerdy’ guy. No harm done.
You need to scroll down to paragraph 13 of the Sky piece to find the full story!
🧵
1/9
Ahh look, he’s just a ‘nerdy’ guy. No harm done.
You need to scroll down to paragraph 13 of the Sky piece to find the full story!
🧵
1/9