Alona Ferber
@aloner.bsky.social
Senior editor, @prospectmagazine.co.uk | Co-host, The Prospect Podcast | Ex: NS, Haaretz, TBI | UK, Israel/Palestine, feminism, politics, Ursula K Le Guin | Sign up to my newsletter: http://thebacklash.substack.com |
Pinned
"Men close ranks" (and three other reads)
An Epstein files special
thebacklash.substack.com
The Backlash is out and it's an Epstein special, with reads on complicity, Me Too, men still ruling the world. With links to must-reads by @sianushka.bsky.social @carolecadwalla.bsky.social @gracepanetta.bsky.social @melindacooper.bsky.social and many others
thebacklash.substack.com/p/men-close-...
thebacklash.substack.com/p/men-close-...
It's @prospectmagazine.co.uk pod day, and this week @ellenhalliday.bsky.social and I spoke with Makskimas Milta of the Reckoning Project, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/pro...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/pro...
Ukraine: four years of tracking war crimes
Ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, researcher Maksimas Milta discusses The Reckoning Project
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 11:32 AM
It's @prospectmagazine.co.uk pod day, and this week @ellenhalliday.bsky.social and I spoke with Makskimas Milta of the Reckoning Project, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/pro...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/pro...
What a relief! (says this Jewish woman)
February 18, 2026 at 11:06 AM
What a relief! (says this Jewish woman)
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Crucial - and generally totally overlooked part of this story - is *what* the journalists that Labour Together smeared were reporting on
How Labour Together used £730k in illegal political donations to boot strap Keir Starmer’s political rise
That’s why they were targeted
How Labour Together used £730k in illegal political donations to boot strap Keir Starmer’s political rise
That’s why they were targeted
Starmer needs to commission an independent inquiry into Labour Together- or he too becomes implicated in an increasingly unsustainable cover-up
New by me in @theguardian.com on why PM needs to act on Labour Together hiring a PR firm to smear journalists
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
New by me in @theguardian.com on why PM needs to act on Labour Together hiring a PR firm to smear journalists
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Labour Together scandal goes right to the heart of No 10 – Starmer has nowhere to hide | Peter Geoghegan
He can sack who he wants to protect himself, but all roads currently lead back to the prime minister, says Peter Geoghegan of Democracy for Sale
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Crucial - and generally totally overlooked part of this story - is *what* the journalists that Labour Together smeared were reporting on
How Labour Together used £730k in illegal political donations to boot strap Keir Starmer’s political rise
That’s why they were targeted
How Labour Together used £730k in illegal political donations to boot strap Keir Starmer’s political rise
That’s why they were targeted
Reposted by Alona Ferber
White appears to favour not just banning Nus Ghani, Kemi Badenoch. Shabana Mahmood and Rishi Sunak from parliament - but here goes further to endorse "deporting every single one", as Steve Laws advocates for every British-born minority and every migrant.
February 18, 2026 at 9:15 AM
White appears to favour not just banning Nus Ghani, Kemi Badenoch. Shabana Mahmood and Rishi Sunak from parliament - but here goes further to endorse "deporting every single one", as Steve Laws advocates for every British-born minority and every migrant.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Nus Ghani MP - the Deputy Speaker - moved to the UK as a small child. She has been elected by the voters in Wealden in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Nus Ghani MP - the Deputy Speaker - moved to the UK as a small child. She has been elected by the voters in Wealden in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
More outright racism from the regular GB News & Talk TV contributor Lucy White - who previously called (on GB News) for all Muslims to leave Britain
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Nick Fuentes tells his followers not to vote in the midterms so the GOP gets wiped out, Trump gets impeached and indicted, and then "we get a Nazi to run in 2028": "I hope we get a fucking fascist to run in '28 to burn the GOP down as a dark horse and win the presidency as a right-wing radical."
February 17, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Nick Fuentes tells his followers not to vote in the midterms so the GOP gets wiped out, Trump gets impeached and indicted, and then "we get a Nazi to run in 2028": "I hope we get a fucking fascist to run in '28 to burn the GOP down as a dark horse and win the presidency as a right-wing radical."
The Backlash is out and it's an Epstein special, with reads on complicity, Me Too, men still ruling the world. With links to must-reads by @sianushka.bsky.social @carolecadwalla.bsky.social @gracepanetta.bsky.social @melindacooper.bsky.social and many others
thebacklash.substack.com/p/men-close-...
thebacklash.substack.com/p/men-close-...
"Men close ranks" (and three other reads)
An Epstein files special
thebacklash.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:56 PM
The Backlash is out and it's an Epstein special, with reads on complicity, Me Too, men still ruling the world. With links to must-reads by @sianushka.bsky.social @carolecadwalla.bsky.social @gracepanetta.bsky.social @melindacooper.bsky.social and many others
thebacklash.substack.com/p/men-close-...
thebacklash.substack.com/p/men-close-...
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Last week, Netanyahu's security cabinet made a bunch of ostensibly boring decisions dealing with land purchases in the West Bank's Areas A & B. But behind its "smokescreen of picayune bureaucracy," writes Zehava Galon of Zulat, it de facto repealed the Oslo Accords. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026...
Trump's condemnation will not stop Israel's right from West Bank annexation | Opinion
Even Though Trump Has Said He Is 'Against Annexation,' the Israeli Right Will Not Stop Until It Has Claimed Sovereignty Over What Was Affectionately Known as an 'Occupation,' but Is in Reality a Mass ...
www.haaretz.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Last week, Netanyahu's security cabinet made a bunch of ostensibly boring decisions dealing with land purchases in the West Bank's Areas A & B. But behind its "smokescreen of picayune bureaucracy," writes Zehava Galon of Zulat, it de facto repealed the Oslo Accords. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026...
And finally we have the big Reform shadow cabinet reveal. A perfect day to revisit @mrhenrymorris.substack.com's very excellent dispatch from a Reform defectors' away day for @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/723...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/723...
February 17, 2026 at 1:06 PM
And finally we have the big Reform shadow cabinet reveal. A perfect day to revisit @mrhenrymorris.substack.com's very excellent dispatch from a Reform defectors' away day for @prospectmagazine.co.uk
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/723...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/723...
Our local government sleuth is back with this column about the government's U-turn on cancelling local elections, a decision of which the government "should be ashamed", writes the Covert Councillor for @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/724...
Cancel local elections, embolden the populists
The government has U-turned on delaying elections in 30 English councils. It should be ashamed of the ill-thought out plan
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Our local government sleuth is back with this column about the government's U-turn on cancelling local elections, a decision of which the government "should be ashamed", writes the Covert Councillor for @prospectmagazine.co.uk www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/724...
Reposted by Alona Ferber
🧵 Matryoshka, Russian-state aligned bot network has introduced a hashtag HollywoodAgainstZelensky on X/Twitter yesterday.
With deepfaked audio, multiple manipulated Cameo videos make celebrities to "demand" that European leaders force Zelensky to sign a peace treaty on Russia's terms.
With deepfaked audio, multiple manipulated Cameo videos make celebrities to "demand" that European leaders force Zelensky to sign a peace treaty on Russia's terms.
February 17, 2026 at 8:40 AM
🧵 Matryoshka, Russian-state aligned bot network has introduced a hashtag HollywoodAgainstZelensky on X/Twitter yesterday.
With deepfaked audio, multiple manipulated Cameo videos make celebrities to "demand" that European leaders force Zelensky to sign a peace treaty on Russia's terms.
With deepfaked audio, multiple manipulated Cameo videos make celebrities to "demand" that European leaders force Zelensky to sign a peace treaty on Russia's terms.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Dispatches from the #GortonandDenton by-election: local community Facebook groups are being flooded with some really dodgy 💩.
One for my neighbours in Levy and for investigative journalists - not sure whom to talk to about it.
See a few screenshots here, and 🧵on why I think it's sus below.
One for my neighbours in Levy and for investigative journalists - not sure whom to talk to about it.
See a few screenshots here, and 🧵on why I think it's sus below.
February 16, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Dispatches from the #GortonandDenton by-election: local community Facebook groups are being flooded with some really dodgy 💩.
One for my neighbours in Levy and for investigative journalists - not sure whom to talk to about it.
See a few screenshots here, and 🧵on why I think it's sus below.
One for my neighbours in Levy and for investigative journalists - not sure whom to talk to about it.
See a few screenshots here, and 🧵on why I think it's sus below.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
June 10, 2025 at 6:03 AM
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
Reposted by Alona Ferber
White House stands by State Department nominee who complains that "white Americans are increasingly second-class citizens," warns of "white erasure" and says "the Jews love to see themselves as oppressed." @camcgrady.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...
Trump Nominates an Apostle of ‘White Erasure’ for the State Department
www.nytimes.com
February 14, 2026 at 4:13 PM
White House stands by State Department nominee who complains that "white Americans are increasingly second-class citizens," warns of "white erasure" and says "the Jews love to see themselves as oppressed." @camcgrady.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...
“Data may turn out to be just like every other raw material pillaged by capital—finite, exhaustible.
This is where your AI assistant comes in”
This is where your AI assistant comes in”
The tech industry promises a future where an autonomous assistant handles all your little to-dos: finding an outfit for a wedding, buying concert tickets, planning trips. To accomplish this, they’ll need access to your data—all of it.
Bullshit Bots | Sohini Desai
Is AI really coming for entry-level jobs first, and the rest of the workforce next? Tech CEOs certainly want you to think so.
thebaffler.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:53 PM
“Data may turn out to be just like every other raw material pillaged by capital—finite, exhaustible.
This is where your AI assistant comes in”
This is where your AI assistant comes in”
Reposted by Alona Ferber
The £3,000 Observer/Anthony Burgess prize for arts journalism: last call for entries.
Ahead of the closing date on 28 February, Tim Adams, New Review editor, recalls a writer’s doomed vocation. Here’s how to enter the annual prize.
https://bit.ly/3MJ0dJi
Ahead of the closing date on 28 February, Tim Adams, New Review editor, recalls a writer’s doomed vocation. Here’s how to enter the annual prize.
https://bit.ly/3MJ0dJi
The £3,000 Observer/Anthony Burgess prize for arts journa...
Ahead of the closing date on 28 February, Tim Adams, New Review editor, recalls a writer’s doomed vocation. Here’s how to enter the annual prize
bit.ly
February 14, 2026 at 6:16 PM
The £3,000 Observer/Anthony Burgess prize for arts journalism: last call for entries.
Ahead of the closing date on 28 February, Tim Adams, New Review editor, recalls a writer’s doomed vocation. Here’s how to enter the annual prize.
https://bit.ly/3MJ0dJi
Ahead of the closing date on 28 February, Tim Adams, New Review editor, recalls a writer’s doomed vocation. Here’s how to enter the annual prize.
https://bit.ly/3MJ0dJi
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Kristi Noem: "When it gets to Election Day, we've been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."
February 14, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Kristi Noem: "When it gets to Election Day, we've been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."
Reposted by Alona Ferber
🔴 SCOOP: Wife of Starmer’s comms chief had direct knowledge of Labour Together’s investigation into journalists, documents seen by D4S show
Revelation heaps more pressure on minister Josh Simons to explain why he paid a PR firm to dig dirt on reporters
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Revelation heaps more pressure on minister Josh Simons to explain why he paid a PR firm to dig dirt on reporters
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Starmer ally Josh Simons faces fresh questions about digging dirt on journalists
Tory and SNP chiefs call for Labour minister Simons to ‘come clean’ as we reveal new details of PR firm’s campaign to discredit journalists
democracyforsale.substack.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:41 AM
🔴 SCOOP: Wife of Starmer’s comms chief had direct knowledge of Labour Together’s investigation into journalists, documents seen by D4S show
Revelation heaps more pressure on minister Josh Simons to explain why he paid a PR firm to dig dirt on reporters
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Revelation heaps more pressure on minister Josh Simons to explain why he paid a PR firm to dig dirt on reporters
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/starmer-al...
Reposted by Alona Ferber
OH YEAH and here's the link to buy it in such a way that you DON'T HAVE TO GET IT FROM AMAZON:
www.penguin.co.uk/books/180872...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/180872...
February 13, 2026 at 4:37 PM
OH YEAH and here's the link to buy it in such a way that you DON'T HAVE TO GET IT FROM AMAZON:
www.penguin.co.uk/books/180872...
www.penguin.co.uk/books/180872...
Reposted by Alona Ferber
WELL.
UK DECISION TO BAN PALESTINE ACTION AS TERROR GROUP UNLAWFUL, LONDON'S HIGH COURT RULES
February 13, 2026 at 10:08 AM
WELL.
Reposted by Alona Ferber
it's *always* the women. always.
'Mr Goodwin also appeared to agree with the host’s claim that universities have become hotbeds of “politically correct authoritarianism” because they are full of “childless women”.'
Reform candidate calls for young girls to be given "biological reality check" www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
February 13, 2026 at 10:06 AM
it's *always* the women. always.
Fascinating
Where do parents find the time to parent? Less sleep, work and screens.
Amazing chart feat. in @alphaville.ft.com Further Reading.
homeeconomics.substack.com/p/where-do-p...
Amazing chart feat. in @alphaville.ft.com Further Reading.
homeeconomics.substack.com/p/where-do-p...
February 13, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Fascinating
Reposted by Alona Ferber
I don't talk to anyone this much
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
February 12, 2026 at 3:58 PM
I don't talk to anyone this much
www.economist.com/interactive/...
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
Reposted by Alona Ferber
Well done to Sky for correcting this bit of ignorance.
As shown extensively in the Epstein files there's plenty of proof that being rich doesn't mean you have any great insights into the world.
As shown extensively in the Epstein files there's plenty of proof that being rich doesn't mean you have any great insights into the world.
February 11, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Well done to Sky for correcting this bit of ignorance.
As shown extensively in the Epstein files there's plenty of proof that being rich doesn't mean you have any great insights into the world.
As shown extensively in the Epstein files there's plenty of proof that being rich doesn't mean you have any great insights into the world.