Rich Bowden
@richbowden33.bsky.social
Freelance writer, editor and podcaster. Loves family, books, podcasting, and labradors. Grouchy old git who likes a laugh.
Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed
theconversation.com/social-media...
theconversation.com/social-media...
Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed
Social media design influences human behavior, and the Big Tech platforms use it to boost profits – and their owners’ political agendas. Some smaller platforms are using design to support democracy.
theconversation.com
July 8, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Social media can support or undermine democracy – it comes down to how it’s designed
theconversation.com/social-media...
theconversation.com/social-media...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
OPINION: Vladimir Putin is spending millions of dollars, bombarding European voters with manipulative social media and disinformation campaigns on a mass scale.
It’s a new type of warfare on democracy that eliminates the need to roll tanks into capitals.
It’s a new type of warfare on democracy that eliminates the need to roll tanks into capitals.
Putin is invading more than Ukraine
The new battlefield is online, and the stakes are democratic sovereignty.
ow.ly
July 1, 2025 at 7:28 AM
OPINION: Vladimir Putin is spending millions of dollars, bombarding European voters with manipulative social media and disinformation campaigns on a mass scale.
It’s a new type of warfare on democracy that eliminates the need to roll tanks into capitals.
It’s a new type of warfare on democracy that eliminates the need to roll tanks into capitals.
Reposted by Rich Bowden
“A document posted on the C.D.C.’swebsite.,concluding that the “evidence does not support an association” between the preservative & any neurodevelopmental disorder. That document, however, was quickly removed from the website”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/w...
What to Know About the Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:26 AM
“A document posted on the C.D.C.’swebsite.,concluding that the “evidence does not support an association” between the preservative & any neurodevelopmental disorder. That document, however, was quickly removed from the website”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/w...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Tasmanian Senator Lambie on Trump:
"What sort of president, what sort of man gets out there and puts everything out on social media? He is not playing on a game console – this is real life stuff.
Somebody please tell him he is not running a TV show. My God, this is shocking."
#Auspol
"What sort of president, what sort of man gets out there and puts everything out on social media? He is not playing on a game console – this is real life stuff.
Somebody please tell him he is not running a TV show. My God, this is shocking."
#Auspol
June 23, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Tasmanian Senator Lambie on Trump:
"What sort of president, what sort of man gets out there and puts everything out on social media? He is not playing on a game console – this is real life stuff.
Somebody please tell him he is not running a TV show. My God, this is shocking."
#Auspol
"What sort of president, what sort of man gets out there and puts everything out on social media? He is not playing on a game console – this is real life stuff.
Somebody please tell him he is not running a TV show. My God, this is shocking."
#Auspol
Reposted by Rich Bowden
This is sheer craziness- but Israel knows Trump will inevitably back them up, so what’s to stop them?
Israel’s strikes on Iran show Trump is unable to restrain Netanyahu as Middle East slips closer to chaos
Critics have said the US decision to retreat from the region has led to a greater likelihood of conflict
www.theguardian.com
June 13, 2025 at 10:08 AM
This is sheer craziness- but Israel knows Trump will inevitably back them up, so what’s to stop them?
Excellent analysis of the weekend's wipeout of the Australian Liberal party. inside.org.au/are-the-libe...
Are the Liberals in danger of becoming the Kodak of Australian politics? • Frank Bongiorno
The party is taking a long time to understand its plight
inside.org.au
May 5, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Excellent analysis of the weekend's wipeout of the Australian Liberal party. inside.org.au/are-the-libe...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
This is leadership!
Carney calls snap election. Canada to go to the polls.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
Carney calls snap election. Canada to go to the polls.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
Canadian prime minister calls snap election, days after being sworn in
The contest is expected to be dominated by Canada's increasingly tense relationship with US President Donald Trump, who has labelled the country America's "51st state".
www.abc.net.au
March 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
This is leadership!
Carney calls snap election. Canada to go to the polls.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
Carney calls snap election. Canada to go to the polls.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...
We live in hope. Twilight of the Populists? open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
Twilight of the Populists?
Perhaps it's possible that, despite it all, we have reached peak populism
open.substack.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:01 AM
We live in hope. Twilight of the Populists? open.substack.com/pub/benansel...
Independent candidates are taking off in Australia. theconversation.com/independents...
Independents took cities by storm last election. This time, they’ve got regional Australia in their sights
The Teal independents claimed inner-city seats in 2022, but as political disenfranchisement continues, will we see the same play out in regional Australia?
theconversation.com
March 11, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Independent candidates are taking off in Australia. theconversation.com/independents...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Mental health professionals with the Veterans Health Administration say the stress caused by Elon Musk's "What did you do last week?" emails is hurting veterans' care.
'A blitz attack': VA mental health experts liken Elon Musk's emails to warfare
Mental health professionals with the Veterans Health Administration say the stress caused by Elon Musk's "What did you do last week?" emails is hurting veterans' care.
www.npr.org
March 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Mental health professionals with the Veterans Health Administration say the stress caused by Elon Musk's "What did you do last week?" emails is hurting veterans' care.
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Democrats are MIA—just when the country needs them to counter the Trump-Musk blitzkrieg www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Democrats are MIA—just when the country needs them to counter the Trump-Musk blitzkrieg
Why are they bringing a teaspoon to a gunfight?
www.motherjones.com
February 25, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Democrats are MIA—just when the country needs them to counter the Trump-Musk blitzkrieg www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
The Rebellion against The Current Regime continues to grow more powerful and bigger!
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘Heinous actions’: opposition to Trump, slow to energize, shakes off its slumber
The slash-and-burn approach of Trump and his ‘Doge’ head Elon Musk has reinvigorated resistance to the administration
www.theguardian.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The Rebellion against The Current Regime continues to grow more powerful and bigger!
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
💥The Netherlands' largest pension fund, has sold its shares in Tesla, Meta, and Alphabet (Google). The fund with US $569 billion equivolent in assets is "directing more money to companies and projects that help to improve society and the environment." #Divest
www.reuters.com/markets/euro...
www.reuters.com/markets/euro...
Dutch pension fund ABP sells all Alphabet and Meta shares, CEO tells newspaper FD
ABP, the Netherlands' largest pension fund, has sold its shares in tech companies Meta and Alphabet , its CEO told Dutch newspaper FD in an interview published on Monday.
www.reuters.com
February 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
💥The Netherlands' largest pension fund, has sold its shares in Tesla, Meta, and Alphabet (Google). The fund with US $569 billion equivolent in assets is "directing more money to companies and projects that help to improve society and the environment." #Divest
www.reuters.com/markets/euro...
www.reuters.com/markets/euro...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Donald Trump has long admired Vladimir Putin’s ability to rule Russia like a king. As he expands presidential power, this is how a coordinated resistance could work to stop him.
Trump is ruling like a ‘king’, following the Putin model. How can he be stopped?
theconversation.com
February 21, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Donald Trump has long admired Vladimir Putin’s ability to rule Russia like a king. As he expands presidential power, this is how a coordinated resistance could work to stop him.
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Misinformation online is putting the planet at risk
Misinformation online is putting the planet at risk
The spread of false information is one of the biggest global risks, according to the World Economic Forum. Experts say climate denialism content, spread on digital platforms, could stall urgent action. While European nations focus on social media accountability and regulation, some Pacific islands are taking a localised approach to dispelling myths.
www.sbs.com.au
February 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Misinformation online is putting the planet at risk
Reposted by Rich Bowden
Australia at risk as Russia wages a sabotage 'shadow war' across Europe 🇦🇺 #fearmongering #fear #uswarmongers #farright www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
February 17, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Australia at risk as Russia wages a sabotage 'shadow war' across Europe 🇦🇺 #fearmongering #fear #uswarmongers #farright www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
Wow. Orwellian.
www.fastcompany.com/91277620/tru...
www.fastcompany.com/91277620/tru...
Trump’s firing of the U.S. government archivist is far worse than it might seem
The National Archives and Records Administration does more than just preserve documents: It’s the scaffolding of the American political system.
www.fastcompany.com
February 17, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Wow. Orwellian.
www.fastcompany.com/91277620/tru...
www.fastcompany.com/91277620/tru...
The latest Krugman article in Substack is well worth a read. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
What the Musk is Happening?
It’s a catastrophe, but what kind of catastrophe?
open.substack.com
February 6, 2025 at 4:59 AM
The latest Krugman article in Substack is well worth a read. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
What is an oligarchy, and is the United States poised to become one?
theconversation.com/what-is-an-o...
theconversation.com/what-is-an-o...
What is an oligarchy, and is the United States poised to become one?
Outgoing United States president Joe Biden has warned ‘an oligarchy is taking shape in America’. What is an oligarchy? And is America becoming one?
theconversation.com
January 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
What is an oligarchy, and is the United States poised to become one?
theconversation.com/what-is-an-o...
theconversation.com/what-is-an-o...
Reposted by Rich Bowden
This is heartening to see! The resistance is beginning.
I know we are tired. I know we are fearful. But we will make ourselves heard and reclaim this country from the grip of MAGA fascism.
I’ve seen the inside of barbed wire prison camps in America. We came back from that and shall overcome this.
I know we are tired. I know we are fearful. But we will make ourselves heard and reclaim this country from the grip of MAGA fascism.
I’ve seen the inside of barbed wire prison camps in America. We came back from that and shall overcome this.
The People’s March is moving through the streets of Washington: “We won’t go back!”
A broad coalition of activists — among them climate, women’s rights, immigration, anti-war, LGBT, D.C. statehood, racial justice — are mobilizing in unison against Trump, three days before his inauguration. 🧵
A broad coalition of activists — among them climate, women’s rights, immigration, anti-war, LGBT, D.C. statehood, racial justice — are mobilizing in unison against Trump, three days before his inauguration. 🧵
January 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
This is heartening to see! The resistance is beginning.
I know we are tired. I know we are fearful. But we will make ourselves heard and reclaim this country from the grip of MAGA fascism.
I’ve seen the inside of barbed wire prison camps in America. We came back from that and shall overcome this.
I know we are tired. I know we are fearful. But we will make ourselves heard and reclaim this country from the grip of MAGA fascism.
I’ve seen the inside of barbed wire prison camps in America. We came back from that and shall overcome this.
Reposted by Rich Bowden
How constitutional guardrails have always contained presidential ambitions
#Trump
#Trump
How constitutional guardrails have always contained presidential ambitions
The mechanics of upending American democracy would entail surmounting a thick tangle of constitutional, bureaucratic, legal and political obstacles.
theconversation.com
January 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM
How constitutional guardrails have always contained presidential ambitions
#Trump
#Trump