Carolyn Sissoko
@csissoko.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of the West of England
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
EXCLUSIVE: DOGE whistleblower and former SSA Chief Data Officer Chuck Borges is running for office.
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
This DOGE Whistleblower Is Running for Office
WIRED spoke with Chuck Borges, the former SSA data chief turned DOGE whistleblower, who is running to represent southern Maryland in the state’s senate.
www.wired.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
EXCLUSIVE: DOGE whistleblower and former SSA Chief Data Officer Chuck Borges is running for office.
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
In his first interview since announcing his campaign for Maryland State Senate, he describes being sidelined at SSA + why government needs more technologists.
www.wired.com/story/doge-w...
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
PSA: tips to protect yourself from scams on Signal.
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
PSA: tips to protect yourself from scams on Signal.
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
🧵Thread of cafes, restaurants, bars, bagel joints, etc offering free meals to SNAP recipients, for those who might need it, & so those who don't can give 'em their business.
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
October 29, 2025 at 10:44 PM
🧵Thread of cafes, restaurants, bars, bagel joints, etc offering free meals to SNAP recipients, for those who might need it, & so those who don't can give 'em their business.
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
If you know of such offers in your area & don't see them here, please tell us in @'s.
Here's one! toastedseattle.com
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
"What's the point of standards?" is the question our era is destined to answer. Thoroughly.
From Dear Leader all the way down to beat cops and schoolteachers; from internet-poisoned billionaires' Very Online pet hack journos, down to rando shitpoasters.
From Dear Leader all the way down to beat cops and schoolteachers; from internet-poisoned billionaires' Very Online pet hack journos, down to rando shitpoasters.
“I’ve been hearing that standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She also asked openly, ‘What’s the point of standards?’” one CBS source said.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Bari Weiss wants to take down ‘too much power’ CBS News Standards unit: sources
EXCLUSIVE: Internal rumblings within the newsroom come after the S&P head resigned and the network disbanded its vaunted Race and Culture unit.
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
"What's the point of standards?" is the question our era is destined to answer. Thoroughly.
From Dear Leader all the way down to beat cops and schoolteachers; from internet-poisoned billionaires' Very Online pet hack journos, down to rando shitpoasters.
From Dear Leader all the way down to beat cops and schoolteachers; from internet-poisoned billionaires' Very Online pet hack journos, down to rando shitpoasters.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
"The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN." www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
www.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:21 PM
"The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN." www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Robbie Gibb was appointed to the BBC Board by Boris Johnson, was an editorial advisor for GB News, and worked as Theresa May's Director of Comms.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
He is not impartial or neutral. The government should remove him from the Board immediately to protect the BBC's independence.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
The government's reticence over the BBC is coherent with its refusal to confront Reform narratives due to fears of losing 'trust' with voters. Obvious parallels between the unfolding result of BBC's attempts to gain 'trust' with Reform voters, and the likely result for Labour of the same tactics.
I do not understand the Labour government's reticence over defending the BBC and social media regulation. Their long-term survival basically depends on it. Their cowardice in the face of it may be the single thing they are most remembered for.
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
on.ft.com/3JVxC1Z via @FT
BBC faces ‘existential’ threat after exit of top executives
Broadcaster’s deepest crisis in recent history comes amid fresh questions over its future role in British society
on.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The government's reticence over the BBC is coherent with its refusal to confront Reform narratives due to fears of losing 'trust' with voters. Obvious parallels between the unfolding result of BBC's attempts to gain 'trust' with Reform voters, and the likely result for Labour of the same tactics.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
In Italy labor unions helped start a network of left-leaning news/music radio stations that have become some of the staples of public information in much of the country. They now run on a donation / ads model, but initial investment was from labor. I think about this often.
The AFL-CIO should start throwing some money towards labor journalism. If it was done right (i.e. with them accepting that journalists must have full editorial control over what’s published, whether or not union leaders like what they have to say) it could really have such a hugely positive impact
November 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In Italy labor unions helped start a network of left-leaning news/music radio stations that have become some of the staples of public information in much of the country. They now run on a donation / ads model, but initial investment was from labor. I think about this often.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Why is the only resignation-worthy issue at the BBC one which succinctly but slightly lazily told a basically accurate story about the right? Can we count the number of times "misleading editing" misrepresented the left?
November 11, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Why is the only resignation-worthy issue at the BBC one which succinctly but slightly lazily told a basically accurate story about the right? Can we count the number of times "misleading editing" misrepresented the left?
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
The Panorama edit was poor journalism, not sure how it happened (more than 15 yo when I worked there we all had to go on a course because someone made the Queen look grumpy about something in the wrong order). But of all of it, this is the only piece I’ve read that properly nails the issue…
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:49 AM
The Panorama edit was poor journalism, not sure how it happened (more than 15 yo when I worked there we all had to go on a course because someone made the Queen look grumpy about something in the wrong order). But of all of it, this is the only piece I’ve read that properly nails the issue…
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
FT Editorial on the BBC - The broadcaster has made errors, but its board has failed to defend it www.ft.com/content/406e...
November 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
FT Editorial on the BBC - The broadcaster has made errors, but its board has failed to defend it www.ft.com/content/406e...
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Quick thread on the BBC and the political and societal significance of recent developments:
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
One of the main reasons the UK has historically been so much less polarised than the US, is that Britain has a shared source of information, consumed and trusted by most people regardless of their politics.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
November 11, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
🚨 💰 WOW — @SenatorHagerty & @MarshaBlackburn snuck a provision into the spending bill that would let them sue the government for $500,000 because Jack Smith looked into their phone records around Trump’s insurrection.
The Republican grifting is endless. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
The Republican grifting is endless. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
November 11, 2025 at 1:39 AM
🚨 💰 WOW — @SenatorHagerty & @MarshaBlackburn snuck a provision into the spending bill that would let them sue the government for $500,000 because Jack Smith looked into their phone records around Trump’s insurrection.
The Republican grifting is endless. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
The Republican grifting is endless. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Breaking MSNBC:
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
U.S. Attorney investigating alleged grand ‘conspiracy’ calls unit-wide meeting after two prosecutors resign
Career prosecutors on “pins and needles” after flurry of subpoenas approved.
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Breaking MSNBC:
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida called a division-wide meeting this afternoon, following the resignations of two prosecutors who were asked to take part in a vast "conspiracy" investigation into former intel and law enforcement officials.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Kevin Roberts and the Opus
Dei connection
The president of the Heritage Foundation, who caused a huge scandal by defending the platforming the far-right figure Nick Fuentes, is a regular at
the Opus Dei hub in Washington, DC
garethgore.substack.com/p/kevin-robe...
Dei connection
The president of the Heritage Foundation, who caused a huge scandal by defending the platforming the far-right figure Nick Fuentes, is a regular at
the Opus Dei hub in Washington, DC
garethgore.substack.com/p/kevin-robe...
Kevin Roberts and the Opus Dei connection
The president of the Heritage Foundation is a regular at the Opus Dei hub in DC
garethgore.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Kevin Roberts and the Opus
Dei connection
The president of the Heritage Foundation, who caused a huge scandal by defending the platforming the far-right figure Nick Fuentes, is a regular at
the Opus Dei hub in Washington, DC
garethgore.substack.com/p/kevin-robe...
Dei connection
The president of the Heritage Foundation, who caused a huge scandal by defending the platforming the far-right figure Nick Fuentes, is a regular at
the Opus Dei hub in Washington, DC
garethgore.substack.com/p/kevin-robe...
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
The Authoritarian Stack: how tech billionaires are building a post-democratic America and why Europe is next.
My new project is an interactive investigation and open data platform to expose tech authoritarianism and mobilize collective power for democratic alternatives.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
My new project is an interactive investigation and open data platform to expose tech authoritarianism and mobilize collective power for democratic alternatives.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The Authoritarian Stack: how tech billionaires are building a post-democratic America and why Europe is next.
My new project is an interactive investigation and open data platform to expose tech authoritarianism and mobilize collective power for democratic alternatives.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
My new project is an interactive investigation and open data platform to expose tech authoritarianism and mobilize collective power for democratic alternatives.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Grimly depressing that someone so directly and obviously connected with the spread of misinformation has so far succeeded in pushing claims about 'bias' at the BBC -- and that you have to really work hard reading the news reports to extract this crucial piece of information.
Should Gibb be sacked? yes, obviously. He's an abomination of basic journalistic standards. His GB News channel spreads conspiracy theory & disinformation. His Jewish Chronicle newspaper spreads invented stories. He is plainly trying to undermine the BBC so it's as bad as everything else he touches.
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Grimly depressing that someone so directly and obviously connected with the spread of misinformation has so far succeeded in pushing claims about 'bias' at the BBC -- and that you have to really work hard reading the news reports to extract this crucial piece of information.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
It’s such a bad idea, when one of his crimes was calling forth an insurrection, that he’s actually forbidden from holding the office by a constitutional provision, which a unanimous Supreme Court invented a way to turn off.
To repeat: Maybe electing a life-long criminal to an office where he can pardon other criminals wasn't such a good idea.
November 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
It’s such a bad idea, when one of his crimes was calling forth an insurrection, that he’s actually forbidden from holding the office by a constitutional provision, which a unanimous Supreme Court invented a way to turn off.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
The current crisis gives the government a useful excuse to conduct major reform, to make among other things the BBC more robust to right wing media/political attacks. Does Labour have the good sense to take up this opportunity?
What you’re witnessing is a populist assault on the BBC.
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
This is not an institutional scandal in any meaningful sense of the word. It is an attack on public service broadcasting.
iandunt.substack.com/p/extra-edit...
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The current crisis gives the government a useful excuse to conduct major reform, to make among other things the BBC more robust to right wing media/political attacks. Does Labour have the good sense to take up this opportunity?
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
I find it infuriating when folks claim the media is institutionally left-wing, as if it isn't mostly owned by tax-dodging billionaires constantly pushing false narratives around immigration.
If the media was left-wing, Brexit would never have happened and Farage wouldn't be on his way to No10.
If the media was left-wing, Brexit would never have happened and Farage wouldn't be on his way to No10.
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I find it infuriating when folks claim the media is institutionally left-wing, as if it isn't mostly owned by tax-dodging billionaires constantly pushing false narratives around immigration.
If the media was left-wing, Brexit would never have happened and Farage wouldn't be on his way to No10.
If the media was left-wing, Brexit would never have happened and Farage wouldn't be on his way to No10.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
It’s ironic but predictable that the BBC duo -who tried so hard to please the right wing papers-are removed by the right wing papers.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
It’s ironic but predictable that the BBC duo -who tried so hard to please the right wing papers-are removed by the right wing papers.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
Stephen really does have the best take on this. It’s not clear that the BBC Board or indeed the rest of the News team really understood the message of the previous reviews, which were about getting detail right. Instead they wanted to know what was ‘biased’ or not like they were blotting out stains.
The impossible dream some people on the British right are chasing is that you can have a BBC News operation that retreats from detail and expertise, that takes dictation from the government, but this will only create incompetence and failure when it suits you:
To fix the BBC, focus on competence and cash
Corporation fails to learn from criticism, while politicians have consciously reduced its scope for quality journalism
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Stephen really does have the best take on this. It’s not clear that the BBC Board or indeed the rest of the News team really understood the message of the previous reviews, which were about getting detail right. Instead they wanted to know what was ‘biased’ or not like they were blotting out stains.
Reposted by Carolyn Sissoko
The BBC is the latest part of ‘the public realm’ to feel the wrath of the right.
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
November 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The BBC is the latest part of ‘the public realm’ to feel the wrath of the right.
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2
The playbook is wearyingly similar.
Underfund them. Hold them (piously) to the highest standards. Pillory them for all errors. And then co-opt, or neuter, them. 1/2