Basia Cummings
@basialc.bsky.social
Editor, digital
The Observer
The Observer
Reposted by Basia Cummings
American libraries are under attack. I have written a long piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the MAGA assault on libraries (and archives), and the strong librarians fighting back. observer.co.uk/news/interna...
‘There is no political power without power over the archive’
Titles banned, data deleted, the nation’s librarians sacked without explanation – Donald Trump’s war on books is a threat to democracy across the world, ...
observer.co.uk
July 12, 2025 at 5:42 AM
American libraries are under attack. I have written a long piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on the MAGA assault on libraries (and archives), and the strong librarians fighting back. observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Britain hasn’t suddenly become more racist, but racists have become more assertive in their bigotry. My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Modern racism has become loud and proud | The Observer
The response to a photo of a class in London shows how ethnic notions of national identity have seeped into mainstream conservatism
observer.co.uk
July 13, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Britain hasn’t suddenly become more racist, but racists have become more assertive in their bigotry. My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Marvellous piece by @kenanmalik.bsky.social:
Modern racism has become loud and proud | The Observer
The response to a photo of a class in London shows how ethnic notions of national identity have seeped into mainstream conservatism
observer.co.uk
July 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Marvellous piece by @kenanmalik.bsky.social:
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Brave and fascinating article about my friend and colleague @ellaalshamahi.bsky.social
Creationist to evolutionary biologist.
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Creationist to evolutionary biologist.
observer.co.uk/news/science...
‘People can change their minds’: the evolutionary biologi...
Ella Al-Shamahi is the erudite presenter of a breathtaking new series about our 300,000-year history. But her own evolution story isn’t short of drama ei...
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Brave and fascinating article about my friend and colleague @ellaalshamahi.bsky.social
Creationist to evolutionary biologist.
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Creationist to evolutionary biologist.
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
observer.co.uk/news/nationa... This is not only a brilliant investigation but a vindication of the Tortoise Observer takeover - @chloehadj.bsky.social has been doing great work on the Tortoise podcast team for some time
The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 8:27 AM
observer.co.uk/news/nationa... This is not only a brilliant investigation but a vindication of the Tortoise Observer takeover - @chloehadj.bsky.social has been doing great work on the Tortoise podcast team for some time
Reposted by Basia Cummings
I spent months on this investigation and gathered docs from the UK courts, Land Registry and a French local authority, to show that Raynor and Moth Winn's story is not as they claim. @tortoisemedia.bsky.social @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how the couple behind a bestseller le...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal it was far from the truth
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
I spent months on this investigation and gathered docs from the UK courts, Land Registry and a French local authority, to show that Raynor and Moth Winn's story is not as they claim. @tortoisemedia.bsky.social @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
A superb piece of journalism in The Observer: it seems like the one of the sacred texts of Nature Writing (TM) is not quite as much of an unflinchingly honest read as claimed
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...
observer.co.uk
July 6, 2025 at 7:54 AM
A superb piece of journalism in The Observer: it seems like the one of the sacred texts of Nature Writing (TM) is not quite as much of an unflinchingly honest read as claimed
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Great piece by Chloe Hadjimatheou. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...
observer.co.uk
July 7, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Great piece by Chloe Hadjimatheou. observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
This is *mental*. The TeachFirst brand is worth a vast sum. And DfE proposes to torch all that? Lunatics.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Teach First brand that helps top graduates into poorest s...
Leading brand that trains teachers for most deprived areas of the country will not be allowed to operate under its current name
observer.co.uk
July 11, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This is *mental*. The TeachFirst brand is worth a vast sum. And DfE proposes to torch all that? Lunatics.
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
observer.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
This week @theobserveruk.bsky.social published a major investigation into The Salt Path.
In this special episode of The News Meeting, the reporter behind the story, @chloehadj.bsky.social and her editor, Alexi Mostrous, discuss how the investigation unfolded.
Listen here: lnk.to/689fK3
In this special episode of The News Meeting, the reporter behind the story, @chloehadj.bsky.social and her editor, Alexi Mostrous, discuss how the investigation unfolded.
Listen here: lnk.to/689fK3
The Salt Path Controversy: Behind the scenes
The Observer recently published a major investigation into the bestselling memoir The Salt Path. In this special episode, Giles Whittell is joined by the journalist behind the story, Chloe Hadjimatheo...
lnk.to
July 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
This week @theobserveruk.bsky.social published a major investigation into The Salt Path.
In this special episode of The News Meeting, the reporter behind the story, @chloehadj.bsky.social and her editor, Alexi Mostrous, discuss how the investigation unfolded.
Listen here: lnk.to/689fK3
In this special episode of The News Meeting, the reporter behind the story, @chloehadj.bsky.social and her editor, Alexi Mostrous, discuss how the investigation unfolded.
Listen here: lnk.to/689fK3
Reposted by Basia Cummings
The Observer Issue 12,185: Closing in
'Khamenei once governed a country, now he commands a bunker'
More than 20 Iranian commanders killed
Trump sends B-2 Bombers to Guam
#TomorrowsPapersToday bit.ly/4jFwQCW
'Khamenei once governed a country, now he commands a bunker'
More than 20 Iranian commanders killed
Trump sends B-2 Bombers to Guam
#TomorrowsPapersToday bit.ly/4jFwQCW
June 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The Observer Issue 12,185: Closing in
'Khamenei once governed a country, now he commands a bunker'
More than 20 Iranian commanders killed
Trump sends B-2 Bombers to Guam
#TomorrowsPapersToday bit.ly/4jFwQCW
'Khamenei once governed a country, now he commands a bunker'
More than 20 Iranian commanders killed
Trump sends B-2 Bombers to Guam
#TomorrowsPapersToday bit.ly/4jFwQCW
Reposted by Basia Cummings
“AI could lead to fewer stories, better told with more context”
Our colleagues Marina Adami & Gretel Kahn summarise this morning's #DNR25 global launch ft @basialc.bsky.social, David Rhodes, Jane Barrett and @mitalilive.bsky.social
Watch or read
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/ai-coul...
Our colleagues Marina Adami & Gretel Kahn summarise this morning's #DNR25 global launch ft @basialc.bsky.social, David Rhodes, Jane Barrett and @mitalilive.bsky.social
Watch or read
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/ai-coul...
“AI could lead to fewer and better told stories” – Our panel on navigating a fast-changing news ecosystem
A summary of our launch with Jane Barrett from Reuters, David Rhodes from Sky News and Basia Cummings from the Observer.
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk
June 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
“AI could lead to fewer stories, better told with more context”
Our colleagues Marina Adami & Gretel Kahn summarise this morning's #DNR25 global launch ft @basialc.bsky.social, David Rhodes, Jane Barrett and @mitalilive.bsky.social
Watch or read
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/ai-coul...
Our colleagues Marina Adami & Gretel Kahn summarise this morning's #DNR25 global launch ft @basialc.bsky.social, David Rhodes, Jane Barrett and @mitalilive.bsky.social
Watch or read
reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/ai-coul...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
So delighted to be joining @theobserveruk.bsky.social as Contributing Editor — and to have the chance to speak to Salman Rushdie @hayfestival.bsky.social. If you couldn't be there, you can read my piece — what a guy, eh? observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Free speech, fiction and survival: my conversation with S...
In his most frank conversation since he was attacked onstage three years ago, Salman Rushdie addresses his recovery, the importance of fiction in an era ...
observer.co.uk
June 4, 2025 at 8:56 AM
So delighted to be joining @theobserveruk.bsky.social as Contributing Editor — and to have the chance to speak to Salman Rushdie @hayfestival.bsky.social. If you couldn't be there, you can read my piece — what a guy, eh? observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
This piece - about the consequences of coming out as autistic- is very important to me, and pretty damn personal.
I hope people find it useful.
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
I hope people find it useful.
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
‘I came out as autistic. Everyone said: That explains a lot’ | The Observer
An autism diagnosis helped Laurie Penny make sense of their experiences, but its real value was in helping them understand the rest of society
observer.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This piece - about the consequences of coming out as autistic- is very important to me, and pretty damn personal.
I hope people find it useful.
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
I hope people find it useful.
observer.co.uk/news/first-p...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Thomas Dyja, author of The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American, helps us understand Pope Leo through his background as a son of Chicago. Op-ed via @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Opinion: intimate and humane, Pope Leo is a true son of Chicago | The Observer
Robert Prevost would have seen greed, racism and corruption growing up in the Windy City, but he is a champion of the humanity we Chicagoans value
observer.co.uk
May 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Thomas Dyja, author of The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American, helps us understand Pope Leo through his background as a son of Chicago. Op-ed via @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Sending Second Life to all my friends who are/have been growing babies and raising them. My review of @amandahess.bsky.social’s brilliant first book, in @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/culture/book...
May 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Sending Second Life to all my friends who are/have been growing babies and raising them. My review of @amandahess.bsky.social’s brilliant first book, in @theobserveruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
First piece in the new Observer. Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash's daring and dangerous escape from Moscow to Paris. Barabash faced up to 10 years in jail for opposing Putin's war in Ukraine.
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Ekaterina Barabash: the journalist who fled Putin’s Russia by road, air and on foot | The Observer
The Russian journalist was forced to leave her homeland, family and friends or face years in prison after denouncing the invasion of Ukraine
observer.co.uk
May 10, 2025 at 8:55 AM
First piece in the new Observer. Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash's daring and dangerous escape from Moscow to Paris. Barabash faced up to 10 years in jail for opposing Putin's war in Ukraine.
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
observer.co.uk/news/interna...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Me in @theobserveruk.bsky.social on Thunderbolts*, which is the most fun I have had with Marvel in a long time. observer.co.uk/culture/film...
Thunderbolts*: an unusually thoughtful Marvel movie
A superpowered Florence Pugh reprises her Black Widow assassin role in this toned-up Marvel movie
observer.co.uk
May 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Me in @theobserveruk.bsky.social on Thunderbolts*, which is the most fun I have had with Marvel in a long time. observer.co.uk/culture/film...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
When I tell people how many brothers and sisters I have, they often ask how on Earth I host them all. The answer is that I've managed to refuse this task for my entire life. That was until... last week.
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
‘I’ve agreed to host the family shindig – thereby accepting the inevitable destruction of our house’
To my elder siblings, asking me to host would be like nominating my three-year-old daughter to be their doula
observer.co.uk
May 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
When I tell people how many brothers and sisters I have, they often ask how on Earth I host them all. The answer is that I've managed to refuse this task for my entire life. That was until... last week.
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
In-person tickets for tomorrow's event are sold out, but you can still watch it online. Need to book though. Looking forward to talking to and with you all. observer.co.uk/our-events/t...
The Secret History of Neoliberalism with George Monbiot
Independent journalism | News, culture & style | Investigations, analysis, features, ideas, recipes, newsletters & podcasts that make sense of the world
observer.co.uk
May 5, 2025 at 6:12 AM
In-person tickets for tomorrow's event are sold out, but you can still watch it online. Need to book though. Looking forward to talking to and with you all. observer.co.uk/our-events/t...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
A story of school dinners observer.co.uk/style/food/a...
School dinners: looking back on 60 years of the meals you loved to loathe
Independent journalism | News, culture & style | Investigations, analysis, features, ideas, recipes, newsletters & podcasts that make sense of the world
observer.co.uk
May 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
A story of school dinners observer.co.uk/style/food/a...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
guys! I have huge news!
as of this week I now have a monthly sports column (!) in the new Observer
first piece will be in the paper on Sunday but it's already online: observer.co.uk/news/columni... [free to read!]
as of this week I now have a monthly sports column (!) in the new Observer
first piece will be in the paper on Sunday but it's already online: observer.co.uk/news/columni... [free to read!]
May 2, 2025 at 9:15 AM
guys! I have huge news!
as of this week I now have a monthly sports column (!) in the new Observer
first piece will be in the paper on Sunday but it's already online: observer.co.uk/news/columni... [free to read!]
as of this week I now have a monthly sports column (!) in the new Observer
first piece will be in the paper on Sunday but it's already online: observer.co.uk/news/columni... [free to read!]
Reposted by Basia Cummings
A run of scientific studies has shown that cutting-edge AI models are learning to lie. I spoke to the very thoughtful @yoshuabengio.bsky.social about it
observer.co.uk/news/science...
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Chatbots are afraid of dying, warns the godfather of AI
Cases of scheming, hacking and misdirection are growing among advanced AI models
observer.co.uk
May 2, 2025 at 9:18 AM
A run of scientific studies has shown that cutting-edge AI models are learning to lie. I spoke to the very thoughtful @yoshuabengio.bsky.social about it
observer.co.uk/news/science...
observer.co.uk/news/science...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Sara Sharif: what the judges knew
The Observer has obtained private family court papers that show how a system meant to protect children failed a ten-year-old girl. Reporting by Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The Observer has obtained private family court papers that show how a system meant to protect children failed a ten-year-old girl. Reporting by Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Sara Sharif: what the judges knew
The Observer has obtained private family court papers that show how a system meant to protect children failed a ten-year-old girl
observer.co.uk
May 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Sara Sharif: what the judges knew
The Observer has obtained private family court papers that show how a system meant to protect children failed a ten-year-old girl. Reporting by Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The Observer has obtained private family court papers that show how a system meant to protect children failed a ten-year-old girl. Reporting by Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Basia Cummings
Today, my weekly column moves home. My Kitchen Diary can now be found at observer.co.uk
The Observer | News, culture and style
Independent journalism | News, culture & style | Investigations, analysis, features, ideas, recipes, newsletters & podcasts that make sense of the world
observer.co.uk
April 27, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Today, my weekly column moves home. My Kitchen Diary can now be found at observer.co.uk