Sam Leeming
@samleem.bsky.social
Former Non Dualist. Believed in subjective nature of reality.🙏📿 Overturned by Science and Doubt.
How do we best know what we know? Standards of evidence.🏵️
How do we best know what we know? Standards of evidence.🏵️
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Here is a strong-worded takedown video on many lab leak conspiracy peddlers.
I worked with @profdaveexplains.bsky.social on this and it will hit the lableak believers like a meteor.
Please enjoy "scicomm unfiltered":
youtu.be/ra0WKNhQZ0U?...
I worked with @profdaveexplains.bsky.social on this and it will hit the lableak believers like a meteor.
Please enjoy "scicomm unfiltered":
youtu.be/ra0WKNhQZ0U?...
COVID Origins: Debunking the Grift, Pseudoscience, and Politics of the Lab Leak Theory
YouTube video by Professor Dave Explains
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Here is a strong-worded takedown video on many lab leak conspiracy peddlers.
I worked with @profdaveexplains.bsky.social on this and it will hit the lableak believers like a meteor.
Please enjoy "scicomm unfiltered":
youtu.be/ra0WKNhQZ0U?...
I worked with @profdaveexplains.bsky.social on this and it will hit the lableak believers like a meteor.
Please enjoy "scicomm unfiltered":
youtu.be/ra0WKNhQZ0U?...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
I've been a bit quieter than usual these past months because @astra.bsky.social and I have been going deep into what we are calling End Times Fascism. The research has been bleak, I won't lie, but it's also been inspiring.
December 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I've been a bit quieter than usual these past months because @astra.bsky.social and I have been going deep into what we are calling End Times Fascism. The research has been bleak, I won't lie, but it's also been inspiring.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Is is so obviously corrupt and self-serving for the liars in power, but few in the EU fall for this Orwellian attempt.
It is mostly to lull red Americans to not even question whether they deserve better but pure, unfiltered sewage from the wannabe fascist regime and their allied tech broligarchs.
It is mostly to lull red Americans to not even question whether they deserve better but pure, unfiltered sewage from the wannabe fascist regime and their allied tech broligarchs.
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
american reporters, you've got to call bullshit on this. vance, purveyor of hate/propaganda, wants the public to believe rules on, for instance, transparency in advertising and forms of deception on X are censorship.
don't fall for it.
don't fall for it.
December 5, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Is is so obviously corrupt and self-serving for the liars in power, but few in the EU fall for this Orwellian attempt.
It is mostly to lull red Americans to not even question whether they deserve better but pure, unfiltered sewage from the wannabe fascist regime and their allied tech broligarchs.
It is mostly to lull red Americans to not even question whether they deserve better but pure, unfiltered sewage from the wannabe fascist regime and their allied tech broligarchs.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
🧵How much should the NHS worry about this winter's flu wave?
You may have seen this alarming headline on the BBC website today...
I think it's too early to make this claim and the data does not support it.
I think it will be a bad flu season but no evidence to think worse than previous yrs
1/8
You may have seen this alarming headline on the BBC website today...
I think it's too early to make this claim and the data does not support it.
I think it will be a bad flu season but no evidence to think worse than previous yrs
1/8
December 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🧵How much should the NHS worry about this winter's flu wave?
You may have seen this alarming headline on the BBC website today...
I think it's too early to make this claim and the data does not support it.
I think it will be a bad flu season but no evidence to think worse than previous yrs
1/8
You may have seen this alarming headline on the BBC website today...
I think it's too early to make this claim and the data does not support it.
I think it will be a bad flu season but no evidence to think worse than previous yrs
1/8
Reposted by Sam Leeming
The US government is now targeting anyone applying for a H-1b visa that have worked on "activities such as misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others."
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
December 4, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The US government is now targeting anyone applying for a H-1b visa that have worked on "activities such as misinformation, disinformation, content moderation, fact-checking, compliance and online safety, among others."
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Have you noticed that science communication is overrun with populist rhetoric? @timhenke.bsky.social and I have.
We are beset by influencers who rubbish institutions, prop up cranks, and mislead audiences about problems in science.
We deserve better.
Full video: youtube.com/watch?v=sQnO...
🧪⚛️
We are beset by influencers who rubbish institutions, prop up cranks, and mislead audiences about problems in science.
We deserve better.
Full video: youtube.com/watch?v=sQnO...
🧪⚛️
December 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Have you noticed that science communication is overrun with populist rhetoric? @timhenke.bsky.social and I have.
We are beset by influencers who rubbish institutions, prop up cranks, and mislead audiences about problems in science.
We deserve better.
Full video: youtube.com/watch?v=sQnO...
🧪⚛️
We are beset by influencers who rubbish institutions, prop up cranks, and mislead audiences about problems in science.
We deserve better.
Full video: youtube.com/watch?v=sQnO...
🧪⚛️
Reposted by Sam Leeming
COVID myths are foundational to modern fascism.
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
November 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM
COVID myths are foundational to modern fascism.
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Recommended
I joined @cwarzel.bsky.social on the Galaxy Brain Podcast to explain some of the reasons why America, and a lot of other Western democracies, are sliding into authoritarianism and why it's probably inevitable
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFh...
America’s Slide Toward Simulated Democracy with Eliot Higgins
YouTube video by The Atlantic
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Recommended
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Is the Gut Microbiome Really Causing Autism? A Scientist Breaks It Down. (Spoiler: no) www.technologynetworks.com/tn/articles/... cc @statsepi.bsky.social @deevybee.bsky.social
Is the Gut Microbiome Really Causing Autism? A Scientist Breaks It Down
Trinity College Dublin’s Dr. Kevin Mitchell reviews the evidence behind claims that gut microbes cause autism. He argues that most microbiome studies are too small, inconsistent and confounded by diet...
www.technologynetworks.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Is the Gut Microbiome Really Causing Autism? A Scientist Breaks It Down. (Spoiler: no) www.technologynetworks.com/tn/articles/... cc @statsepi.bsky.social @deevybee.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Although the scale of this is still to be assessed, this is the inevitable outcome of the monetization of the algorithm. Rage-bait becomes a personal revenue model. Nothing about this should be a surprise.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Looking forward to the @mcid-unibe.bsky.social annual event.
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
November 21, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Looking forward to the @mcid-unibe.bsky.social annual event.
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
I will give a keynote lecture about some of my work and what I learned in the last years:
"Public Health in the Information Age: Old gaps, new vulnerabilities, hidden subversion and the battle for trust"
Should be fun 🎉🧪
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Ukraine banned from Nato, Russia readmitted to the G8 and territory ceded: what’s in Trump’s draft plan www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Ukraine banned from Nato, Russia readmitted to the G8 and territory ceded: what’s in Trump’s draft plan
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he expects to discuss the plan – which was reportedly drafted by Russian and US officials – with Trump
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Ukraine banned from Nato, Russia readmitted to the G8 and territory ceded: what’s in Trump’s draft plan www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Governments and voters are both reacting to algorithm-shaped “public opinion,” not grounded priorities. Immigration feels urgent because platforms amplify fear, pulling parties into hollow performances of toughness. The far right reads that drift as confirmation it’s winning.
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
November 16, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Governments and voters are both reacting to algorithm-shaped “public opinion,” not grounded priorities. Immigration feels urgent because platforms amplify fear, pulling parties into hollow performances of toughness. The far right reads that drift as confirmation it’s winning.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
New from me on Substack: “Source Wars and Bespoke Realities: Wikipedia, Grokipedia, and The Battle for Truth”
I wrote about the high stakes power game over “reliable sources” — and the story of how Grokipedia did change its entry ab me after my Atlantic article on its hallucinations last week.
I wrote about the high stakes power game over “reliable sources” — and the story of how Grokipedia did change its entry ab me after my Atlantic article on its hallucinations last week.
November 16, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New from me on Substack: “Source Wars and Bespoke Realities: Wikipedia, Grokipedia, and The Battle for Truth”
I wrote about the high stakes power game over “reliable sources” — and the story of how Grokipedia did change its entry ab me after my Atlantic article on its hallucinations last week.
I wrote about the high stakes power game over “reliable sources” — and the story of how Grokipedia did change its entry ab me after my Atlantic article on its hallucinations last week.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
I wrote ab how the antivax movement ascended to power, and now directs govt research funding — enabling it both to manufacture “findings” and to defund actual independent research.
This happened concurrently w/the dismantling of outside verification systems where info is distributed: on social.
This happened concurrently w/the dismantling of outside verification systems where info is distributed: on social.
2. How Political Power is Capturing Knowledge Systems and Manufacturing Structural Ignorance by @noupside.bsky.social.
How Political Power is Capturing Knowledge Systems and Manufacturing Structural Ignorance | TechPolicy.Press
We're witnessing the simultaneous capture of knowledge-producing institutions and the elimination of independent verification mechanisms, writes Renée DiResta.
www.techpolicy.press
November 14, 2025 at 10:16 PM
I wrote ab how the antivax movement ascended to power, and now directs govt research funding — enabling it both to manufacture “findings” and to defund actual independent research.
This happened concurrently w/the dismantling of outside verification systems where info is distributed: on social.
This happened concurrently w/the dismantling of outside verification systems where info is distributed: on social.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Astonishing video, worth watching in full.
While agreeing in the round,
I've found this (below) both reassuring and highlighting of the need for constant vigilance. There is no perfect end state. See if you can see where the 'thousand year reich' occurs (also, that Roman Empire lasted quite a while).
m.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P...
I've found this (below) both reassuring and highlighting of the need for constant vigilance. There is no perfect end state. See if you can see where the 'thousand year reich' occurs (also, that Roman Empire lasted quite a while).
m.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P...
The History of Europe: Every Year
YouTube video by Cottereau
m.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Astonishing video, worth watching in full.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Wait a minute - when they find an FCS in a wild bat or raccoon dog beta-CoV, do we then get all our grants back??
November 1, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Wait a minute - when they find an FCS in a wild bat or raccoon dog beta-CoV, do we then get all our grants back??
Reposted by Sam Leeming
“Furin cleavage site”, that is. Just casually, and naturally, sitting there in one of the most evolutionarily active parts of the genome.
Mystery solved.
Mystery solved.
CIDRAP: New coronavirus subspecies with SARS-CoV-2–like mutation discovered in Brazilian bat
by Mary Van Beusekom
@cidrap.bsky.social
bit.ly/4hHRfam
by Mary Van Beusekom
@cidrap.bsky.social
bit.ly/4hHRfam
November 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM
“Furin cleavage site”, that is. Just casually, and naturally, sitting there in one of the most evolutionarily active parts of the genome.
Mystery solved.
Mystery solved.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
1/8
I’ve spent the last 3 days tracking right-wing influencers morning and night. What I found is a machine, not a movement. Every day follows the same rhythm of fear, outrage, and punishment. It’s emotional conditioning disguised as news. #Voices4Victory #DemVoice1 #USDemocracy #ProudBlue
I’ve spent the last 3 days tracking right-wing influencers morning and night. What I found is a machine, not a movement. Every day follows the same rhythm of fear, outrage, and punishment. It’s emotional conditioning disguised as news. #Voices4Victory #DemVoice1 #USDemocracy #ProudBlue
November 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
1/8
I’ve spent the last 3 days tracking right-wing influencers morning and night. What I found is a machine, not a movement. Every day follows the same rhythm of fear, outrage, and punishment. It’s emotional conditioning disguised as news. #Voices4Victory #DemVoice1 #USDemocracy #ProudBlue
I’ve spent the last 3 days tracking right-wing influencers morning and night. What I found is a machine, not a movement. Every day follows the same rhythm of fear, outrage, and punishment. It’s emotional conditioning disguised as news. #Voices4Victory #DemVoice1 #USDemocracy #ProudBlue
Reposted by Sam Leeming
From my talk to UK and U.S. lawmakers a few months ago:
The four "meta" problems that need to be addressed.
Full discussion at this link: www.linkedin.com/pulse/addres...
The four "meta" problems that need to be addressed.
Full discussion at this link: www.linkedin.com/pulse/addres...
October 27, 2025 at 9:53 AM
From my talk to UK and U.S. lawmakers a few months ago:
The four "meta" problems that need to be addressed.
Full discussion at this link: www.linkedin.com/pulse/addres...
The four "meta" problems that need to be addressed.
Full discussion at this link: www.linkedin.com/pulse/addres...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Tell me: having seen the way it’s conducting itself in Gaza, do we trust Israel to do geoengineering on behalf of the world?
Major scoop from @robinsonmeyer.bsky.social:
Stardust Solutions, the Israeli geoengineering startup led by a team of Israeli physicists, just raised $60 million to develop the technology to artificially cool the planet by reflecting sunlight as soon as the 2030s.
heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Stardust Solutions, the Israeli geoengineering startup led by a team of Israeli physicists, just raised $60 million to develop the technology to artificially cool the planet by reflecting sunlight as soon as the 2030s.
heatmap.news/climate-tech...
Exclusive: Stardust Solutions Raises $60 Million to Build a Solar Geoengineering System by 2030
A U.S. firm led by former Israeli government physicists, Stardust seeks to patent its proprietary sunlight-scattering particle — but it won’t deploy its technology until global governments authorize s...
heatmap.news
October 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Tell me: having seen the way it’s conducting itself in Gaza, do we trust Israel to do geoengineering on behalf of the world?