Anna Hirschfeld
@annahirschfeld.bsky.social
Senior Director at @PublicDigitalHQ Formerly @DWPDigital. Expect a lot of digital transformation, politics and West Wing. She/her.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
People are calling my lede here "appalling," "nightmare fuel," "actively evil," and "a desecration of the human spirit"
The Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr. Affair Is Messier Than We Ever Could Have Imagined
Inside the most important, and also least important, story of our time
www.theringer.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:16 PM
People are calling my lede here "appalling," "nightmare fuel," "actively evil," and "a desecration of the human spirit"
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Randall’s made me laugh a lot but that’s the first time he’s made me cry.
Properly moving xkcd
xkcd.com/3172/
xkcd.com/3172/
Fifteen Years
xkcd.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Randall’s made me laugh a lot but that’s the first time he’s made me cry.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
This Thursday we're hosting a PD Sessions event on Finding Opportunities for Radical Transformation in Local Public Services.
Book your place to attend in person or online ⬇️
public.digital/events/pd-se...
Book your place to attend in person or online ⬇️
public.digital/events/pd-se...
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This Thursday we're hosting a PD Sessions event on Finding Opportunities for Radical Transformation in Local Public Services.
Book your place to attend in person or online ⬇️
public.digital/events/pd-se...
Book your place to attend in person or online ⬇️
public.digital/events/pd-se...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
As well as our monthly round-up of internet era ways of working and technology news, Public Digital newsletter #101 explores examples of change and innovation in local government.
Read it on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pulse/public...
Read it on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pulse/public...
Public Digital #101 | Public Digital
On Thursday we’re hosting a session on finding opportunities for radical transformation in local public services.
As well as our monthly round-up of internet era ways of working and technology news,...
linkedin.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:56 PM
As well as our monthly round-up of internet era ways of working and technology news, Public Digital newsletter #101 explores examples of change and innovation in local government.
Read it on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pulse/public...
Read it on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/pulse/public...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
More than 2,000 children who have been trafficked or who arrived in the UK to claim asylum disappeared from social services’ care last year.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
More than 2,000 trafficked children and lone child asylum seekers missing from UK councils’ care
Charities say vulnerable young people are being failed by local authorities, the police and central government
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
More than 2,000 children who have been trafficked or who arrived in the UK to claim asylum disappeared from social services’ care last year.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
We need better monetisation and transparency regulations. Governments should put some tough proposals out there and watch the platforms self-regulate to avoid the full fat version.
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
We need better monetisation and transparency regulations. Governments should put some tough proposals out there and watch the platforms self-regulate to avoid the full fat version.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Superman might be the perfect movie for Mikey’s lens of optimism youtu.be/ZHF3vCXApkA?...
Superman 2025 is a a Caffeinated Masterpiece
YouTube video by FilmJoy
youtu.be
November 18, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Superman might be the perfect movie for Mikey’s lens of optimism youtu.be/ZHF3vCXApkA?...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
The Telegraph had to correct its multiple lies about "illegal immigrants" in London at least three separate times.
It takes an obscene amount of hubris to lecture the BBC when you have The Telegraph’s record on truth-telling.
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
Some of the paper’s errors this year are so bad they’re almost laughable 👇🏻
The Telegraph’s BBC hypocrisy
A paper that knows a thing or two about editorial f*ck-ups...
writesbright.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
The Telegraph had to correct its multiple lies about "illegal immigrants" in London at least three separate times.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
November 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
A radio programme like the Shipping Forecast but it’s called Bin Day and it just reads out every single council in the country’s bin schedule
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Politico is reporting that the breach at the Congressional Budget Office is "ongoing."
“Do NOT click on any links in emails from CBO. Do NOT share sensitive information with CBO colleagues over email, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom at this time,” the email to CBO staff reads.
“Do NOT click on any links in emails from CBO. Do NOT share sensitive information with CBO colleagues over email, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom at this time,” the email to CBO staff reads.
Cybersecurity breach at Congressional Budget Office remains a live threat
Library of Congress employees were informed to take caution when emailing the office of the congressional scorekeeper.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Politico is reporting that the breach at the Congressional Budget Office is "ongoing."
“Do NOT click on any links in emails from CBO. Do NOT share sensitive information with CBO colleagues over email, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom at this time,” the email to CBO staff reads.
“Do NOT click on any links in emails from CBO. Do NOT share sensitive information with CBO colleagues over email, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom at this time,” the email to CBO staff reads.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Neither Tim Davie nor Deborah Turness incited an insurrection against the US Capitol. Congressman didn’t have to flee for their lives because of a BBC Panorama edit.
That all happened because of President Donald Trump. If he didn’t resign, it’s truly *insane* that anyone else does.
That all happened because of President Donald Trump. If he didn’t resign, it’s truly *insane* that anyone else does.
November 9, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Neither Tim Davie nor Deborah Turness incited an insurrection against the US Capitol. Congressman didn’t have to flee for their lives because of a BBC Panorama edit.
That all happened because of President Donald Trump. If he didn’t resign, it’s truly *insane* that anyone else does.
That all happened because of President Donald Trump. If he didn’t resign, it’s truly *insane* that anyone else does.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Since we’re in the mood for strict accuracy in broadcast news, worth noting that a rival channel had a pundit - unchallenged - say asylum seekers in hotels committed 44% of sexual offences in one county, seemingly because she cannot understand basic maths.
A national newspaper journalist went on a British TV channel to claim police stats showed asylum-seekers committed 44% of sex crimes in Dorset.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
This shocking claim was treated as fact by the channel which promoted the clip on social media where it was amplified by AI.
Except... it's bollocks.
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Since we’re in the mood for strict accuracy in broadcast news, worth noting that a rival channel had a pundit - unchallenged - say asylum seekers in hotels committed 44% of sexual offences in one county, seemingly because she cannot understand basic maths.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Flashing Red
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list"
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
New post just out:
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Why the criminal justice system should be top of No. 10's "shit list".
No part of the public sector is more broken or brings with it greater political risk. As we saw these past two weeks.
It desperately needs a new approach.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/f...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
New post just out:
"Never again?"
On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order.
And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...
"Never again?"
On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order.
And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...
Never again?
Memory entrepreneurship and the radical right’s assault on the postwar order
open.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:49 AM
New post just out:
"Never again?"
On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order.
And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...
"Never again?"
On how the radical right are trying to change our collective memory about World War Two as part of their assault on the postwar order.
And why that memory remains a critical defence against nationalism.
(£/free trial)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/n...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Iterate, if you can. A new post from me on the long struggle to create shorter feedback cycles in government:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Iterate, if you can
The long struggle to create shorter feedback cycles in government
medium.com
October 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Iterate, if you can. A new post from me on the long struggle to create shorter feedback cycles in government:
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
medium.com/@jamestplunk...
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Your regular reminder that scrapping ILR for people who have come here and played by the rules, which is what Lam proposes here, is a position supported by 3% of the public
Sunday Times interview Tory "rising star" Katie Lam
She is clear she wants lots of legal migrants to be told to "go home" so as "to leave a mostly but not entirely culturally coherent group of people"
(The interviewer suggests she is scrapping ILR or stripping people of it)
She is clear she wants lots of legal migrants to be told to "go home" so as "to leave a mostly but not entirely culturally coherent group of people"
(The interviewer suggests she is scrapping ILR or stripping people of it)
October 19, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Your regular reminder that scrapping ILR for people who have come here and played by the rules, which is what Lam proposes here, is a position supported by 3% of the public
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Looking forward to the columnists and right wing women calling out Farage like they did when Corbyn "hated women journalists" - here he is responding to *Michal Husain* in language last (barely) tolerated in professional settings since the 80s.
October 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Looking forward to the columnists and right wing women calling out Farage like they did when Corbyn "hated women journalists" - here he is responding to *Michal Husain* in language last (barely) tolerated in professional settings since the 80s.
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Researchers pointed a satellite dish at the sky for 3 years and monitored what unencrypted data it picked up. The results were shocking: They obtained thousands of T-Mobile users' phone calls and texts, military and law enforcement secrets, much more: www.wired.com/story/satell... 🧵👇
Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypte...
www.wired.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Researchers pointed a satellite dish at the sky for 3 years and monitored what unencrypted data it picked up. The results were shocking: They obtained thousands of T-Mobile users' phone calls and texts, military and law enforcement secrets, much more: www.wired.com/story/satell... 🧵👇
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
I’ve never wanted anything more than CONCLAVE: THE GAME
October 11, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I’ve never wanted anything more than CONCLAVE: THE GAME
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
Robin Williams' daughter has some quality thoughts on AI slop
October 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Robin Williams' daughter has some quality thoughts on AI slop
Reposted by Anna Hirschfeld
A clear and depressing explanation of why I avoid buying anything from Amazon if I possibly can
Way past its prime: how did Amazon get so rubbish?
Sick of scrolling through junk results, AI-generated ads and links to lookalike products? The author and activist behind the term ‘enshittification’ explains what’s gone wrong with the internet – and ...
www.theguardian.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
A clear and depressing explanation of why I avoid buying anything from Amazon if I possibly can