Arjun Basu
@arjun.bsky.social
Writer. Latest novel, The Reeds, out now. Proud Montrealer/Fier Montréalais. Beer league hockey. Habs. Board member Access Copyright. A "Certified Elder.” Brand/content consultant. Host a podcast about the future of magazines. https://linktr.ee/arjunbasu
Is this going to come trickling out or all at once? I can't decide which is more damaging. Or, more specifically, which matters more.
Breaking news: House Democrats release Epstein emails alleging President Trump knew of activities, including one claiming the president had “spent hours” at Epstein’s house with one of his sex trafficking victims.
House Democrats release Epstein email that claimed Trump ‘spent hours’ with victim
In the 2011 email, the disgraced financier wrote to Ghislaine Maxwell that Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims and that encounter “has never once been mentioned” by polic...
wapo.st
November 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Is this going to come trickling out or all at once? I can't decide which is more damaging. Or, more specifically, which matters more.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
It will not surprise you to learn that many of these same countries are the ones moving to block the just transition mechanism--the thing that would actually help the world move away from fossil fuels--at #COP30
As #COP30 gets underway in Belem, a new report shows that four countries—Australia, Canada, Norway and the U.S.—have collectively *increased* oil and gas production 40% since the Paris Agreement was signed 10 years ago @rishpardikar.bsky.social writes: drilled.media/news/COP30-OCI
Running into COP30 with Oil and Gas
As COP30 gets underway in Brazil, a new report spotlights increased oil and gas production from the U.S., Australia, Norway and Canada since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed a decade ago.
drilled.media
November 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM
It will not surprise you to learn that many of these same countries are the ones moving to block the just transition mechanism--the thing that would actually help the world move away from fossil fuels--at #COP30
Nice.
Copyright is the only tool or protection artists have. Other than the art itself.
Copyright is the only tool or protection artists have. Other than the art itself.
German Court Rules OpenAI Infringed Song Lyrics in Europe’s First Major AI Music Ruling
GEMA wins its case against OpenAI over unlicensed use of lyrics in ChatGPT, calling it a precedent setter for AI copyright law across Europe.
www.billboard.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Nice.
Copyright is the only tool or protection artists have. Other than the art itself.
Copyright is the only tool or protection artists have. Other than the art itself.
When you say “I’ll have just one” and three hours later you’re in a dark alley and singing, well, Eye of the Tiger.
November 11, 2025 at 10:58 PM
When you say “I’ll have just one” and three hours later you’re in a dark alley and singing, well, Eye of the Tiger.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Shall I tap the sign again?
MAGA is a war of men against women.
That's what the elections of 2016 and 2024 meant: a majority of voters preferred the Worst Man Ever to any woman, no matter her qualifications or race.
MAGA is a war of men against women.
That's what the elections of 2016 and 2024 meant: a majority of voters preferred the Worst Man Ever to any woman, no matter her qualifications or race.
The first woman nominated to lead the Naval Special Warfare command overseeing Navy SEALs had her promotion abruptly canceled — and military sources blame Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's hostility to women in combat roles.
www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth...
www.rawstory.com/pete-hegseth...
SEALs flatten 'weak' Hegseth as elite captain's career ruined because she's female: report
The first woman nominated to lead the Naval Special Warfare command overseeing Navy SEALs had her promotion abruptly canceled — and military sources blame Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's hostility to...
www.rawstory.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Shall I tap the sign again?
MAGA is a war of men against women.
That's what the elections of 2016 and 2024 meant: a majority of voters preferred the Worst Man Ever to any woman, no matter her qualifications or race.
MAGA is a war of men against women.
That's what the elections of 2016 and 2024 meant: a majority of voters preferred the Worst Man Ever to any woman, no matter her qualifications or race.
I just saw before me the path that takes me to the end of a first draft and I need to call it a day.
November 11, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I just saw before me the path that takes me to the end of a first draft and I need to call it a day.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
every time you watch this you discover a new way in which this went wrong
Russia presented its human-like AI robot. It fell down as it walked onto the stage.
November 11, 2025 at 8:13 PM
every time you watch this you discover a new way in which this went wrong
Reposted by Arjun Basu
wow. WOW.
Breaking: Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/m...
Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret • Kansas Reflector
A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor.
kansasreflector.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
wow. WOW.
When Elon asks Grok about JCO he’s going to be a) pissed that Grok is taking her side and b) find she’s said some things he 100% agrees with.
November 11, 2025 at 6:05 PM
When Elon asks Grok about JCO he’s going to be a) pissed that Grok is taking her side and b) find she’s said some things he 100% agrees with.
Joyce Carol Oates built a Boer Trap and it worked.
November 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Joyce Carol Oates built a Boer Trap and it worked.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Anyone know why Sarah Kendzior got suspended?
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Anyone know why Sarah Kendzior got suspended?
Reposted by Arjun Basu
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China’s CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for past 18 months, analysis finds
World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensity
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 AM
This a big deal: "China’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months"
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
China's economy has grown by ~5% in the last year, so this comprehensively debunks the idea (again) that emissions are tied to growth. So yes, faster progress needed, but this is how you turn the corner.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Looks like Sarah Kendzior’s suspension isn’t an error. I don’t know Sarah, but I’ve followed her on and off for like 15 years and this is very surprising to me. I’m not big on assuming the worst based on partial information but this feels bad.
Presumably a mistaken suspension of a journalist who is a very anodyne poster over here, @aaron.bsky.team and co. What's the best way to reach the team who can look into it?
In a rare case of Substack notes usefulness, I just learned that Sarah Kendzior (author of They Knew and a brilliant writer) got bounced from Bluesky. What the hell? new @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Looks like Sarah Kendzior’s suspension isn’t an error. I don’t know Sarah, but I’ve followed her on and off for like 15 years and this is very surprising to me. I’m not big on assuming the worst based on partial information but this feels bad.
Like it’s pretty but it’s early November ffs. We’re getting rain by end of week meaning all this is going to be a wet mess soon enough. November sucks. March is similar but at least spring is springing. In November not so much.
Yes I live in Montreal and I’m complaining about snow. Tabarnak.
Yes I live in Montreal and I’m complaining about snow. Tabarnak.
November 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Like it’s pretty but it’s early November ffs. We’re getting rain by end of week meaning all this is going to be a wet mess soon enough. November sucks. March is similar but at least spring is springing. In November not so much.
Yes I live in Montreal and I’m complaining about snow. Tabarnak.
Yes I live in Montreal and I’m complaining about snow. Tabarnak.
For those keeping score, I didn't win. Some very good people did. We got a snowstorm while inside and exited the theatre to a winter wonderland. Then we went for a burger because we were famished. My socks got wet.
I’m going out. I will drink. Maybe eat a canapé. I won’t win the award my book is up for. (There’s no way). I’ll drink some more. I’ll return home.
That’s the plan.
That’s the plan.
November 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
For those keeping score, I didn't win. Some very good people did. We got a snowstorm while inside and exited the theatre to a winter wonderland. Then we went for a burger because we were famished. My socks got wet.
I’m going out. I will drink. Maybe eat a canapé. I won’t win the award my book is up for. (There’s no way). I’ll drink some more. I’ll return home.
That’s the plan.
That’s the plan.
November 10, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I’m going out. I will drink. Maybe eat a canapé. I won’t win the award my book is up for. (There’s no way). I’ll drink some more. I’ll return home.
That’s the plan.
That’s the plan.
They started as bad actors and then kind of cared about their reputation and then they became a juggernaut and starting lying about the numbers and data and stopped caring about their reputation. They are what they are: big and rich.
If 10% of my business was based on defrauding and scamming people, and was called a "pillar of the global fraud economy", I would have some serious moral qualms about my business. Not our friends at Meta though.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
They started as bad actors and then kind of cared about their reputation and then they became a juggernaut and starting lying about the numbers and data and stopped caring about their reputation. They are what they are: big and rich.
Stupid feels even more stupid on a Monday.
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Stupid feels even more stupid on a Monday.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Yeah it seems like the best political move is to give into this guy
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Yeah it seems like the best political move is to give into this guy
Reposted by Arjun Basu
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
EVs put an end to China's usual holiday surge in gasoline use
Tianyu Jiang took a 2,000-km (1,200-mile) road trip this month during China's national holiday week, driving in his electric vehicle from the southwestern Sichuan basin to Beijing for the first time.
www.reuters.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
You should listen to this pod. It will make you feel better about things without ever forgetting that bad stuff is happening.
New pod. About a magazine that is timely and trying to break through the corporate media bubble and introduce English speakers to what’s being said elsewhere. A tall order. And a much needed one. Available below and wherever you listen to podcasts. @magazeum.bsky.social
magazeum.co/content/tran...
magazeum.co/content/tran...
Lost in Translator — Magazeum
A conversation with Translator founder Charles Emmerson.
magazeum.co
November 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
You should listen to this pod. It will make you feel better about things without ever forgetting that bad stuff is happening.