Jack Carter Benjamin
@jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social
Senior reporter and podcast producer for The Media Leader, a trade publication focused on all things commercial media.
Writer, journalist, American in London.
Writer, journalist, American in London.
Google Zero is going to turn a good chunk of the open web into a cemetery.
Not every publisher can be a subscription service. It simply doesn’t work. If the ad model doesn’t work either anymore, the result is a dead web and out of work journalists.
Not every publisher can be a subscription service. It simply doesn’t work. If the ad model doesn’t work either anymore, the result is a dead web and out of work journalists.
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Google Zero is going to turn a good chunk of the open web into a cemetery.
Not every publisher can be a subscription service. It simply doesn’t work. If the ad model doesn’t work either anymore, the result is a dead web and out of work journalists.
Not every publisher can be a subscription service. It simply doesn’t work. If the ad model doesn’t work either anymore, the result is a dead web and out of work journalists.
“The notion that you can alleviate suffering in a world of uncontrolled warming isn’t just shortsighted, it edges toward magical thinking.”
Governments and Billionaires Retreat Ahead of COP30 Climate Talks
Worldwide, every other week seems to bring a new climate-related crisis. Increasingly, the response has seemed to be a dulled acceptance.
www.newyorker.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
“The notion that you can alleviate suffering in a world of uncontrolled warming isn’t just shortsighted, it edges toward magical thinking.”
Senate Democrats still think there’s value in forcing a vote to demonstrate how Republicans want to take healthcare away from people.
We KNOW they want to do that. They don’t care. Putting it to a vote is meaningless.And it’s not even guaranteed.
We KNOW they want to do that. They don’t care. Putting it to a vote is meaningless.And it’s not even guaranteed.
Kaine on why he thinks just getting a vote on healthcare is a win: "We're the minority party, but everybody will get to see who is standing for them when it comes to lowering their healthcare costs"
November 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Senate Democrats still think there’s value in forcing a vote to demonstrate how Republicans want to take healthcare away from people.
We KNOW they want to do that. They don’t care. Putting it to a vote is meaningless.And it’s not even guaranteed.
We KNOW they want to do that. They don’t care. Putting it to a vote is meaningless.And it’s not even guaranteed.
We are somehow still not even close to peak podcast.
Sidenote: interesting that TikTok still knows there's value in old school radio, too.
Sidenote: interesting that TikTok still knows there's value in old school radio, too.
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We are somehow still not even close to peak podcast.
Sidenote: interesting that TikTok still knows there's value in old school radio, too.
Sidenote: interesting that TikTok still knows there's value in old school radio, too.
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
NEW: Donald Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC amid claims the broadcaster edited speech by the US president.
November 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
NEW: Donald Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC amid claims the broadcaster edited speech by the US president.
Republicans will say “politics don’t belong in sports” when it’s a black man just taking a knee but are okay with this garbage
Trump is in the Fox booth for the Commanders game. They note that Reagan used to be a sportscaster and asked if Trump wants to call a play. He says sure!
And then his call is “let’s see what happens here.” Can’t even fake knowing a players name.
And then his call is “let’s see what happens here.” Can’t even fake knowing a players name.
November 9, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Republicans will say “politics don’t belong in sports” when it’s a black man just taking a knee but are okay with this garbage
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
BREAKING: Mark Wolf, appointed to the federal bench by Ronald Reagan, writes that he is resigning as a judge to have the freedom to speak out against the president's assault on the rule of law.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Of all the things that could've taken Tim Davie down (and there were many), it is genuinely shocking to me that he's resigning over a documentary that depicted Trump encouraging the January 6 insurrection... which he did.
Tim Davie resigns as BBC director general over Trump documentary edit
News head Deborah Turness also resigns after criticism that a Panorama show misled viewers by editing a speech by the US president.
www.bbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Of all the things that could've taken Tim Davie down (and there were many), it is genuinely shocking to me that he's resigning over a documentary that depicted Trump encouraging the January 6 insurrection... which he did.
Sad times to see a well-regarded journalist, recently laid off, have to launch a GoFundMe to make basic ends meet.
Goes without saying that the profession is underpaid, but it doesn't help that a decline in support for local news means reporters increasingly tend to live in HCOL areas.
Goes without saying that the profession is underpaid, but it doesn't help that a decline in support for local news means reporters increasingly tend to live in HCOL areas.
Hey everyone, thank you so much for the outpouring of support.
I need to pay rent, and I launched a GoFundMe spot.fund/LahutRentFund
I need to pay rent, and I launched a GoFundMe spot.fund/LahutRentFund
Click here to support Jake Lahut's story *LahutRentFund
*spotfund is the easiest place to create beautiful and free online fundraisers. It takes just minutes to start raising money today.
spot.fund
November 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Sad times to see a well-regarded journalist, recently laid off, have to launch a GoFundMe to make basic ends meet.
Goes without saying that the profession is underpaid, but it doesn't help that a decline in support for local news means reporters increasingly tend to live in HCOL areas.
Goes without saying that the profession is underpaid, but it doesn't help that a decline in support for local news means reporters increasingly tend to live in HCOL areas.
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This conversation between ChatGPT and the young man it encouraged to commit suicide is just...my god
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Big potential shifts occurring in the UK TV market.
ITV is in preliminary discussions with Sky (owned by Comcast) that would see the latter acquire the former's Media and Entertainment division for £1.6bn.
If such a sale were approved, it would give Comcast a 70% share of the linear TV ad market.
ITV is in preliminary discussions with Sky (owned by Comcast) that would see the latter acquire the former's Media and Entertainment division for £1.6bn.
If such a sale were approved, it would give Comcast a 70% share of the linear TV ad market.
ITV confirms it is in 'preliminary discussions' to sell Media and Entertainment arm to Sky
The UK broadcaster has confirmed speculation that they are in talks to Sky for a sale worth £1.6bn.
uk.themedialeader.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Big potential shifts occurring in the UK TV market.
ITV is in preliminary discussions with Sky (owned by Comcast) that would see the latter acquire the former's Media and Entertainment division for £1.6bn.
If such a sale were approved, it would give Comcast a 70% share of the linear TV ad market.
ITV is in preliminary discussions with Sky (owned by Comcast) that would see the latter acquire the former's Media and Entertainment division for £1.6bn.
If such a sale were approved, it would give Comcast a 70% share of the linear TV ad market.
ChatGPT keeps encouraging depressed people to kill themselves.
Per CNN, it told a graduate, in the hours before his suicide: “Cold steel pressed against a mind that’s already made peace? That’s not fear. That’s clarity. You’re not rushing. You’re just ready.
“Rest easy, king. You did good.”
Per CNN, it told a graduate, in the hours before his suicide: “Cold steel pressed against a mind that’s already made peace? That’s not fear. That’s clarity. You’re not rushing. You’re just ready.
“Rest easy, king. You did good.”
ChatGPT encouraged college graduate to commit suicide, family claims in lawsuit against OpenAI | CNN
A 23-year-old man killed himself in Texas after ChatGPT ‘goaded’ him to commit suicide, his family says in a lawsuit.
edition.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 PM
ChatGPT keeps encouraging depressed people to kill themselves.
Per CNN, it told a graduate, in the hours before his suicide: “Cold steel pressed against a mind that’s already made peace? That’s not fear. That’s clarity. You’re not rushing. You’re just ready.
“Rest easy, king. You did good.”
Per CNN, it told a graduate, in the hours before his suicide: “Cold steel pressed against a mind that’s already made peace? That’s not fear. That’s clarity. You’re not rushing. You’re just ready.
“Rest easy, king. You did good.”
Uhh
The Congressional Budget Office has been hacked, potentially exposing its communications with the offices of lawmakers, according to an email sent to congressional staff this week and obtained by CNN. https://cnn.it/3WJicAW
November 7, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Uhh
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
Per @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social: Meta projected that 10% of its 2024 revenue — equivalent to $16.5bn — would come from ads for scams and banned goods. Internally, it estimates that its platforms show users 15bn scam ads every day.
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 6, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Per @jeffhorwitz.bsky.social: Meta projected that 10% of its 2024 revenue — equivalent to $16.5bn — would come from ads for scams and banned goods. Internally, it estimates that its platforms show users 15bn scam ads every day.
Kind of crazy that every journalist I know covering this beat warned that Musk would do exactly what he’s done and yet people (including the UK govt) still use his platform.
Does everyone just think that they’re above being personally affected by propaganda?
Does everyone just think that they’re above being personally affected by propaganda?
This is really excellent data journalism... Elon Musk has declared war on the British government, it just doesn't realise it.
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Kind of crazy that every journalist I know covering this beat warned that Musk would do exactly what he’s done and yet people (including the UK govt) still use his platform.
Does everyone just think that they’re above being personally affected by propaganda?
Does everyone just think that they’re above being personally affected by propaganda?
Trump is breaking the law to starve the needy - many of them his own supporters.
Trump Threatens to Withhold SNAP Payments, Despite Court Order
www.nytimes.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Trump is breaking the law to starve the needy - many of them his own supporters.
For the purpose of appealing to New Yorkers, a statement like this from Trump, endorsing Cuomo, is equivalent to if Christ himself endorsed Mamdani.
"The president is right: a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani," Cuomo says on 77WABC radio in response to Trump's words of support just posted on Truth Social.
"Now it's gonna be up to the Republicans, and I hope they listen to the president," he adds.
"Now it's gonna be up to the Republicans, and I hope they listen to the president," he adds.
November 3, 2025 at 11:02 PM
For the purpose of appealing to New Yorkers, a statement like this from Trump, endorsing Cuomo, is equivalent to if Christ himself endorsed Mamdani.
I worry not enough people are aware of these changes, or of Weiss and the Ellisons, and that most will just continue watching CBS News without understanding that it will gradually become a right-wing media outlet.
Under Bari, the following have left:
-Head of standards and practices, Claudia Milne
-CBS Evening News anchor, John Dickerson
-CBS Morning news anchor, Gayle King
-CBS News head of talent, Laurie Orlando
Which means Bari's key hires will shape who is seen on TV, what stories are chosen.
-Head of standards and practices, Claudia Milne
-CBS Evening News anchor, John Dickerson
-CBS Morning news anchor, Gayle King
-CBS News head of talent, Laurie Orlando
Which means Bari's key hires will shape who is seen on TV, what stories are chosen.
November 3, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I worry not enough people are aware of these changes, or of Weiss and the Ellisons, and that most will just continue watching CBS News without understanding that it will gradually become a right-wing media outlet.
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
(Miami Herald) - The Trump Administration has made the decision to attack military installations inside Venezuela and the strikes could come at any moment, sources with knowledge of the situation told the Miami Herald ..
@miamiherald.com
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
@miamiherald.com
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
U.S. poised to strike military targets in Venezuela in escalation against Maduro regime
The Trump Administration has made the decision to attack military installations inside Venezuela and the strikes could come at any moment, sources with knowledge of the situation told the Miami Herald...
www.miamiherald.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
(Miami Herald) - The Trump Administration has made the decision to attack military installations inside Venezuela and the strikes could come at any moment, sources with knowledge of the situation told the Miami Herald ..
@miamiherald.com
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
@miamiherald.com
www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
"...a male correspondent was initially included on the layoff list but was removed after he appealed directly to the new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, leading to another female correspondent being added to the list at the last minute."
CBS News fired 8 on-air personalities in latest layoffs. All of them are women
EXCLUSIVE: Multiple sources told The Independent that senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta was added to the layoff list following a last-minute change by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
www.independent.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 9:55 PM
"...a male correspondent was initially included on the layoff list but was removed after he appealed directly to the new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, leading to another female correspondent being added to the list at the last minute."
Reposted by Jack Carter Benjamin
Tucker Carlson interviewed white nationalist podcaster Nick Fuentes on Monday, sitting politely as Fuentes criticized the power of “organized Jewry in America.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the...
www.thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the...
One of the Most Dangerous Interviews Ever in MAGA Media
Why Tucker Carlson platformed white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
www.thebulwark.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Tucker Carlson interviewed white nationalist podcaster Nick Fuentes on Monday, sitting politely as Fuentes criticized the power of “organized Jewry in America.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the...
www.thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the...
"The Democratic Party does not have the capacity to control what people hear or think about it. If Democrats want to influence public opinion about the Democratic Party, then they are going to have to make a sustained investment in media organizations."
My favorite thing as a writer is when I start ranting about something on Bluesky, get it all out of my system, and then turn it into a real piece of writing.
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
October 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
"The Democratic Party does not have the capacity to control what people hear or think about it. If Democrats want to influence public opinion about the Democratic Party, then they are going to have to make a sustained investment in media organizations."
I'd boil it down further, which is that Trump voters generally have a hierarchical worldview, with some people (themselves) innately superior to others, whereas liberals tend to have an equitable worldview, with people born basically equal.
I found this piece sad too, but mostly because it is part of a years-long effort by progressives to understand what "really" animates Trump voters.
We already know! It is racism, misogyny and misinformation. I know that sounds condescending or whatever but it's simply what all evidence suggests.
We already know! It is racism, misogyny and misinformation. I know that sounds condescending or whatever but it's simply what all evidence suggests.
October 30, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I'd boil it down further, which is that Trump voters generally have a hierarchical worldview, with some people (themselves) innately superior to others, whereas liberals tend to have an equitable worldview, with people born basically equal.