Ben Wray
@benwray1989.bsky.social
Journalist & researcher: ben.wray@hotmail.co.uk | Co-author 'Scotland After Britain' (Verso, 2022) | co-ordinator of the Gig Economy Project newsletter braveneweurope.com/gig-economy-project
"Caught between the hammer of US imperialism and the anvil of China’s industrial strength, Europe is being squeezed economically and politically."
Piece for @jacobinmag.bsky.socialabout the Nexperia humiliation, a case study in European weakness.
jacobin.com/2025/11/neth...
Piece for @jacobinmag.bsky.socialabout the Nexperia humiliation, a case study in European weakness.
jacobin.com/2025/11/neth...
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
"Caught between the hammer of US imperialism and the anvil of China’s industrial strength, Europe is being squeezed economically and politically."
Piece for @jacobinmag.bsky.socialabout the Nexperia humiliation, a case study in European weakness.
jacobin.com/2025/11/neth...
Piece for @jacobinmag.bsky.socialabout the Nexperia humiliation, a case study in European weakness.
jacobin.com/2025/11/neth...
This is one of the points I make in this Jacobin piece: you can identify liberalism's collapse by the fact that it's increasingly difficult to distinguish between centrist and hard right governments in Europe on issues pertaining to fundamental rights.
jacobin.com/2025/11/trum...
jacobin.com/2025/11/trum...
November 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This is one of the points I make in this Jacobin piece: you can identify liberalism's collapse by the fact that it's increasingly difficult to distinguish between centrist and hard right governments in Europe on issues pertaining to fundamental rights.
jacobin.com/2025/11/trum...
jacobin.com/2025/11/trum...
China is increasing the solar and wind capacity it adds to its energy system each year.
Read the full piece here: carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
Read the full piece here: carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
November 11, 2025 at 5:02 PM
China is increasing the solar and wind capacity it adds to its energy system each year.
Read the full piece here: carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
Read the full piece here: carbonbrief.org/analysis-chi...
The world's only good news story: carbon emissions have flat-lined in China, the world's industrial powerhouse, for 18 months because all new electricity demand in the country is being met by the expansion of renewables, mainly solar.
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The world's only good news story: carbon emissions have flat-lined in China, the world's industrial powerhouse, for 18 months because all new electricity demand in the country is being met by the expansion of renewables, mainly solar.
"Revenge evictions" - elderly people being kicked-out of care homes because they've raised a complaint. I couldn't have imagined such a thing.
Putting residential elderly care in the hands of the private sector was and is a disgrace.
Putting residential elderly care in the hands of the private sector was and is a disgrace.
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
"Revenge evictions" - elderly people being kicked-out of care homes because they've raised a complaint. I couldn't have imagined such a thing.
Putting residential elderly care in the hands of the private sector was and is a disgrace.
Putting residential elderly care in the hands of the private sector was and is a disgrace.
Uber wants to diversify its delivery operations into grocery and retail delivery, much bigger markets than restaurant food delivery. But grocery delivery has lower margins than restaurant food, and retail delivery is highly competitive. Diversifying is easier said than done.
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Uber wants to diversify its delivery operations into grocery and retail delivery, much bigger markets than restaurant food delivery. But grocery delivery has lower margins than restaurant food, and retail delivery is highly competitive. Diversifying is easier said than done.
Investors were worried about DoorDash moving into the European market by buying Deliveroo (and previously Wolt). Khosrowshahi tried to shrug it off but it's clear that there's very few markets where Uber will be able to operate as a complete monopoly without any competitors.
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Investors were worried about DoorDash moving into the European market by buying Deliveroo (and previously Wolt). Khosrowshahi tried to shrug it off but it's clear that there's very few markets where Uber will be able to operate as a complete monopoly without any competitors.
One part of Uber's strategy is to become not just a platform for transport work but a platform for work in general. That's what 'Uber AI Solutions' is for. But the idea that American or European ride hail drivers today are going to become the data labellers of tomorrow is fanciful.
November 5, 2025 at 5:18 PM
One part of Uber's strategy is to become not just a platform for transport work but a platform for work in general. That's what 'Uber AI Solutions' is for. But the idea that American or European ride hail drivers today are going to become the data labellers of tomorrow is fanciful.
Uber massaging the books is nothing new - the company has been trying to put lipstick on $33 billion in losses for years. It's making profits now, but they aren't big profits and it's not clear where it's long-term growth comes from. Hubert Horan may still end up being right!
November 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Uber massaging the books is nothing new - the company has been trying to put lipstick on $33 billion in losses for years. It's making profits now, but they aren't big profits and it's not clear where it's long-term growth comes from. Hubert Horan may still end up being right!
Khosrowshahi is convinced AVs are the future, but Uber is not well-positioned because he sold-off their AV division 5 years ago. Thus, Uber has to strike deals with AV makers to try to stay ahead: but in the long run, Uber needs the AV makers more than the AV makers need Uber.
November 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Khosrowshahi is convinced AVs are the future, but Uber is not well-positioned because he sold-off their AV division 5 years ago. Thus, Uber has to strike deals with AV makers to try to stay ahead: but in the long run, Uber needs the AV makers more than the AV makers need Uber.
Estoy en el departamento del periodismo en la Universidad del Pais Vasco y puedo ver que hay mucho entusiasmo para la profesión aqui 😂
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Estoy en el departamento del periodismo en la Universidad del Pais Vasco y puedo ver que hay mucho entusiasmo para la profesión aqui 😂
Military Keynesianism in all its gory details.
In brief, Germany is going to buy lots & lots of Rheinmetall tanks and kit, while buying American jets & long-range missiles.
Merz said in February the arms-push was abut achieving "independence from the USA” - obvious bollocks then & proven so now.
In brief, Germany is going to buy lots & lots of Rheinmetall tanks and kit, while buying American jets & long-range missiles.
Merz said in February the arms-push was abut achieving "independence from the USA” - obvious bollocks then & proven so now.
October 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Military Keynesianism in all its gory details.
In brief, Germany is going to buy lots & lots of Rheinmetall tanks and kit, while buying American jets & long-range missiles.
Merz said in February the arms-push was abut achieving "independence from the USA” - obvious bollocks then & proven so now.
In brief, Germany is going to buy lots & lots of Rheinmetall tanks and kit, while buying American jets & long-range missiles.
Merz said in February the arms-push was abut achieving "independence from the USA” - obvious bollocks then & proven so now.
Massive demonstration in Oñati for the general strike for Gaza! #HuelgaGeneral15O #HuelgaPorGaza
October 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Massive demonstration in Oñati for the general strike for Gaza! #HuelgaGeneral15O #HuelgaPorGaza
Until now, I hadn't quite taken in the extent of the AI bubble:
"The AI investment 'bubble' (as measured as the stock price relative to the ‘book value’ of a company), is 17 times the size of the dot-com frenzy of 2000 — & 4 times the subprime mortgage bubble of 2007".
Yikes.
"The AI investment 'bubble' (as measured as the stock price relative to the ‘book value’ of a company), is 17 times the size of the dot-com frenzy of 2000 — & 4 times the subprime mortgage bubble of 2007".
Yikes.
October 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Until now, I hadn't quite taken in the extent of the AI bubble:
"The AI investment 'bubble' (as measured as the stock price relative to the ‘book value’ of a company), is 17 times the size of the dot-com frenzy of 2000 — & 4 times the subprime mortgage bubble of 2007".
Yikes.
"The AI investment 'bubble' (as measured as the stock price relative to the ‘book value’ of a company), is 17 times the size of the dot-com frenzy of 2000 — & 4 times the subprime mortgage bubble of 2007".
Yikes.
Journalist Shaimaa Eid and her family just returned to Gaza City from the Al-Mawasi refugee camp and she sent me this picture of what was their home in the Sheikh Radwan area, and now is nothing but rubble.
How do you even start to rebuild your life amidst this destruction? 💔
How do you even start to rebuild your life amidst this destruction? 💔
October 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Journalist Shaimaa Eid and her family just returned to Gaza City from the Al-Mawasi refugee camp and she sent me this picture of what was their home in the Sheikh Radwan area, and now is nothing but rubble.
How do you even start to rebuild your life amidst this destruction? 💔
How do you even start to rebuild your life amidst this destruction? 💔
Musicians from Gaza playing at Oñati's annual festival last night. Great atmosphere! 🇵🇸✊
#Oñati #PalestinaAskatu #PalestinaLibre #FreePalestine
#Oñati #PalestinaAskatu #PalestinaLibre #FreePalestine
October 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Musicians from Gaza playing at Oñati's annual festival last night. Great atmosphere! 🇵🇸✊
#Oñati #PalestinaAskatu #PalestinaLibre #FreePalestine
#Oñati #PalestinaAskatu #PalestinaLibre #FreePalestine
Piece for @jacobinmag.bsky.social on my new report for @etuc-ces.bsky.social on how unions can 'negotiate the algorithm':
"The goal, as one worker told us, should be that 'whatever the bosses can see, we can see as well.'"
jacobin.com/2025/09/unio...
"The goal, as one worker told us, should be that 'whatever the bosses can see, we can see as well.'"
jacobin.com/2025/09/unio...
September 28, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Piece for @jacobinmag.bsky.social on my new report for @etuc-ces.bsky.social on how unions can 'negotiate the algorithm':
"The goal, as one worker told us, should be that 'whatever the bosses can see, we can see as well.'"
jacobin.com/2025/09/unio...
"The goal, as one worker told us, should be that 'whatever the bosses can see, we can see as well.'"
jacobin.com/2025/09/unio...
EU fiscal spending limits are only for nurses and hospitals, not bombs, and only for weak countries like Greece and Portugal, not powerful ones like Germany.
September 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
EU fiscal spending limits are only for nurses and hospitals, not bombs, and only for weak countries like Greece and Portugal, not powerful ones like Germany.
Message from a friend in Gaza who has had to flee their home in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City because Israel has bombed them out, and flee to the south.
I know your timeline is only showing stuff about Charlie Kirk, but the genocide goes on - deadlier than ever.
#GazaGenocide
I know your timeline is only showing stuff about Charlie Kirk, but the genocide goes on - deadlier than ever.
#GazaGenocide
September 12, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Message from a friend in Gaza who has had to flee their home in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City because Israel has bombed them out, and flee to the south.
I know your timeline is only showing stuff about Charlie Kirk, but the genocide goes on - deadlier than ever.
#GazaGenocide
I know your timeline is only showing stuff about Charlie Kirk, but the genocide goes on - deadlier than ever.
#GazaGenocide
September 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Grasberg mine, the largest gold mine and second-largest copper mine in the world which dumps 300,000 tonnes of toxic waste into the Ajkwa river every day, is owned by Freeport McMoran, which 20 British firms invest in (see image).
September 9, 2025 at 8:29 AM
The Grasberg mine, the largest gold mine and second-largest copper mine in the world which dumps 300,000 tonnes of toxic waste into the Ajkwa river every day, is owned by Freeport McMoran, which 20 British firms invest in (see image).
Got a piece in @scotnational.bsky.social today about an important new study from @ccccjustice.bsky.social on the role of British corporations and the British state in the destruction of West Papua, which is being launched at Westminster this morning.
It’s paywalled so a short 🧵with the key points.
It’s paywalled so a short 🧵with the key points.
September 9, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Got a piece in @scotnational.bsky.social today about an important new study from @ccccjustice.bsky.social on the role of British corporations and the British state in the destruction of West Papua, which is being launched at Westminster this morning.
It’s paywalled so a short 🧵with the key points.
It’s paywalled so a short 🧵with the key points.
NATO spending is also increasing faster than China's, i.e. the West is militarising more than China is.
Honestly that BBC article is just vibes and zero content. Readers deserve something a bit more serious.
Honestly that BBC article is just vibes and zero content. Readers deserve something a bit more serious.
September 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
NATO spending is also increasing faster than China's, i.e. the West is militarising more than China is.
Honestly that BBC article is just vibes and zero content. Readers deserve something a bit more serious.
Honestly that BBC article is just vibes and zero content. Readers deserve something a bit more serious.
BBC's China Correspondent: "At [Xi's] feet was a military that is being built to rival the West."
A cursory glance at global military spending shows China makes up 12% and NATO 55%. So not a military built to rival the West, then.
A cursory glance at global military spending shows China makes up 12% and NATO 55%. So not a military built to rival the West, then.
September 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
BBC's China Correspondent: "At [Xi's] feet was a military that is being built to rival the West."
A cursory glance at global military spending shows China makes up 12% and NATO 55%. So not a military built to rival the West, then.
A cursory glance at global military spending shows China makes up 12% and NATO 55%. So not a military built to rival the West, then.
Starmer is so stupid. He's actually feeding the hysteria. It's the complete opposite of what any competent politician would do, which is to change the story. It's like he wants to be booted out of office 🤡
August 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Starmer is so stupid. He's actually feeding the hysteria. It's the complete opposite of what any competent politician would do, which is to change the story. It's like he wants to be booted out of office 🤡