elia ayoub
@ayoub.bsky.social
Writer, Journalist, Historian, Podcaster. Authoritarianism, hauntology, alternative futures. Eng/Fr/Esp/It/ع
In Brighton, from Lebanon.
I do @thefirethesetimes.com and give online classes. Newsletter: hauntologies.net
In Brighton, from Lebanon.
I do @thefirethesetimes.com and give online classes. Newsletter: hauntologies.net
Pinned
Support Elia Ayoub
Support Elia Ayoub
ko-fi.com
Weekly-ish reminder that an easy way to support my work is through ko-fi.com/eliaayoub
I know these are difficult times, so no worry if you can't
I know these are difficult times, so no worry if you can't
I agree. Might be easier to think of it this email: we got Epstein’s emails (not even all of them.) Imagine if we had the correspondence of other powerful people. We’d see similar things.
We live in a system that has created these people, and Epstein wasn’t unique in that regard.
We live in a system that has created these people, and Epstein wasn’t unique in that regard.
Not accusing Mark of this – he’s pointing out the same thing – but there’s a real trend of turning “Epstein mentioned X in an email” into “Epstein was the mastermind behind X”. Dates, chronology, reality, be damned.
Most bad things in the last decade weren’t all down to him. Sorry.
Most bad things in the last decade weren’t all down to him. Sorry.
We're getting dangerously close to just pinning everything wrong with the world on Epstein...
February 3, 2026 at 10:36 AM
I agree. Might be easier to think of it this email: we got Epstein’s emails (not even all of them.) Imagine if we had the correspondence of other powerful people. We’d see similar things.
We live in a system that has created these people, and Epstein wasn’t unique in that regard.
We live in a system that has created these people, and Epstein wasn’t unique in that regard.
Even if the whole amount was taxable, it still wouldn’t affect their overall wealth by much. They simply understand that their class interest in reducing their societal contribution (here, taxes) as much as possible. They are ideologically committed to keeping the rest of us as poor as possible.
Here's the context:
When Mandelson was Business Minister, Epstein wrote asking him to make only the cash portion (ie not equity etc) of bankers’ bonuses taxable.
Mandelson's answer: “Trying hard to amend as I explained to Jes last night. Treasury digging in but I am on case.”
When Mandelson was Business Minister, Epstein wrote asking him to make only the cash portion (ie not equity etc) of bankers’ bonuses taxable.
Mandelson's answer: “Trying hard to amend as I explained to Jes last night. Treasury digging in but I am on case.”
February 3, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Even if the whole amount was taxable, it still wouldn’t affect their overall wealth by much. They simply understand that their class interest in reducing their societal contribution (here, taxes) as much as possible. They are ideologically committed to keeping the rest of us as poor as possible.
Reposted by elia ayoub
New Epstein emails show Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on how to fight Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax - even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor.
Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.
A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.
A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
February 1, 2026 at 5:26 PM
New Epstein emails show Peter Mandelson secretly advising JPMorgan’s CEO on how to fight Labour’s 2009 bankers’ bonus tax - even suggesting he “mildly threaten” the Chancellor.
Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.
A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
Mandelson was Business Secretary at the time.
A year later, he was seeking work with JPM.
Reposted by elia ayoub
100%
our work showed disclosure re: Big Food lobbying is among worst re: transparency
foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/...
our work showed disclosure re: Big Food lobbying is among worst re: transparency
foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/...
Corporate Lobbying: The Dark Side of the Plate
The latest Food Foundation briefing examines corporate lobbying and conflicts of interest in the food system
foodfoundation.org.uk
February 2, 2026 at 8:22 AM
100%
our work showed disclosure re: Big Food lobbying is among worst re: transparency
foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/...
our work showed disclosure re: Big Food lobbying is among worst re: transparency
foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/...
Reposted by elia ayoub
It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵
February 2, 2026 at 8:20 AM
It's rare to see how lobbyists operate. But the Epstein-Mandelson correspondence shows us what happens all the time: plutocrats and government ministers conspiring against the public interest. This is why all lobbying should be in the public domain, but despite Labour and Con promises, it's not. 🧵
He is a white supremacist so eugenics would be on the cards
Just seen a clip of the Reform Candidate for Gorton and Denton arguing that ‘science has already shown’ that there are ‘inherent differences between groups’.
Which…. Sounds a bit eugenicsy.
Which…. Sounds a bit eugenicsy.
February 3, 2026 at 10:06 AM
He is a white supremacist so eugenics would be on the cards
As you see Trumpism get worse, remember this: it remains Labour policy to actively inject AI into everything and to deepen the UK’s dependence on Trump’s US.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Barnsley rebranded UK’s first ‘tech town’ as US giants join AI push
Minister announces Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe to help apply AI to local schools, hospitals, GPs and businesses
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:15 AM
As you see Trumpism get worse, remember this: it remains Labour policy to actively inject AI into everything and to deepen the UK’s dependence on Trump’s US.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by elia ayoub
Donald Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah for telling jokes at the Grammy Awards. I'm sure the self-declared free speech absolutists will be rushing to Noah's defence at any moment.
February 2, 2026 at 7:57 AM
Donald Trump threatens to sue Trevor Noah for telling jokes at the Grammy Awards. I'm sure the self-declared free speech absolutists will be rushing to Noah's defence at any moment.
Reposted by elia ayoub
February 2, 2026 at 6:26 PM
They really see themselves as playing a game of Risk with our lives
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
February 2, 2026 at 7:29 PM
They really see themselves as playing a game of Risk with our lives
Check out thread: anyone that tells you there are too many migrants is just lying to you
I've had a long-running thread on twitter on the real migration crisis (not enough migrants). Will start posting here... but for the earlier 1,000-plus examples, see here:
x.com/charlesjkenn...
x.com/charlesjkenn...
x.com
x.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Check out thread: anyone that tells you there are too many migrants is just lying to you
Reposted by elia ayoub
January 31, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Today is another day so once again Israel is threatening to bomb Lebanon. It's been virtually non-stop bombing since the 'ceasefire' was signed.
February 2, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Today is another day so once again Israel is threatening to bomb Lebanon. It's been virtually non-stop bombing since the 'ceasefire' was signed.
Reposted by elia ayoub
If you talk to any of the dolls so many of them have stories of sleeping with wealthy and powerful men. It wouldn't shock you that most of the men involved are publicly transphobic. They view trans women as sex objects.
O cool The hypothesis that the elite were trying to segrigate trans people from society purely to keep us as sex slaves was real, but only for trans women since they see trans men as undesirable for sex and want them eliminated which is EXACTLY THE POLICIES AND RHETORIC WE'RE SEEING HAPPEN RIGHT NOW
February 1, 2026 at 7:43 PM
If you talk to any of the dolls so many of them have stories of sleeping with wealthy and powerful men. It wouldn't shock you that most of the men involved are publicly transphobic. They view trans women as sex objects.
Reposted by elia ayoub
‘Many of these new groups want their communities to own, manage and profit from enterprises far larger than the pubs and post offices once associated with community control. They want to take on the town.’
www.ft.com/content/a604...
www.ft.com/content/a604...
Power to the parish: can community ownership successfully scale up?
The UK government has hopes of doubling the size of the co-operative sector, evolving the model beyond post offices and pubs to brownfield sites and storied estates
www.ft.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:39 AM
‘Many of these new groups want their communities to own, manage and profit from enterprises far larger than the pubs and post offices once associated with community control. They want to take on the town.’
www.ft.com/content/a604...
www.ft.com/content/a604...
If your job is keeping the left pro-Israel you’re doing a fab job and are totally not failing at everything you do
No notes
No notes
Schumer has long said his main job is defending Israel, which means defending ICE.
jewishcurrents.org/chuck-schume...
jewishcurrents.org/chuck-schume...
February 2, 2026 at 7:16 AM
If your job is keeping the left pro-Israel you’re doing a fab job and are totally not failing at everything you do
No notes
No notes
Reposted by elia ayoub
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win.
Not because the Democratic Party is salvation, but because the ability to shift — and to do so under the immense weight of fear and ruling class control — is proof we are still alive.
Not because the Democratic Party is salvation, but because the ability to shift — and to do so under the immense weight of fear and ruling class control — is proof we are still alive.
February 1, 2026 at 4:51 AM
I do not regret to inform you that we are going to win.
Not because the Democratic Party is salvation, but because the ability to shift — and to do so under the immense weight of fear and ruling class control — is proof we are still alive.
Not because the Democratic Party is salvation, but because the ability to shift — and to do so under the immense weight of fear and ruling class control — is proof we are still alive.
Reposted by elia ayoub
Just left an ICE Protest in Portland OR that started at City Hall and marched to the ICE building. Main demand was "revoke" the lease that lets the agency use their building.
Crowd was 500-1000. They gassed massively after about an hour. Had to pull a lot of 16-17 year old girls out of the gas.
Crowd was 500-1000. They gassed massively after about an hour. Had to pull a lot of 16-17 year old girls out of the gas.
February 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Just left an ICE Protest in Portland OR that started at City Hall and marched to the ICE building. Main demand was "revoke" the lease that lets the agency use their building.
Crowd was 500-1000. They gassed massively after about an hour. Had to pull a lot of 16-17 year old girls out of the gas.
Crowd was 500-1000. They gassed massively after about an hour. Had to pull a lot of 16-17 year old girls out of the gas.
Check the thread for the video.
Schumer said this today.
Zero fucks given to their party’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. Zero fucks given to civilians being annihilated by a far right ethno-supremacist regime.
Zero fucks given to the Democrats’ own base even.
Get rid of Schumer
Schumer said this today.
Zero fucks given to their party’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. Zero fucks given to civilians being annihilated by a far right ethno-supremacist regime.
Zero fucks given to the Democrats’ own base even.
Get rid of Schumer
February 1, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Check the thread for the video.
Schumer said this today.
Zero fucks given to their party’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. Zero fucks given to civilians being annihilated by a far right ethno-supremacist regime.
Zero fucks given to the Democrats’ own base even.
Get rid of Schumer
Schumer said this today.
Zero fucks given to their party’s complicity in the Gaza genocide. Zero fucks given to civilians being annihilated by a far right ethno-supremacist regime.
Zero fucks given to the Democrats’ own base even.
Get rid of Schumer
Reposted by elia ayoub
I will always remember The Man Show, where Jimmy Kimmel got his hosting start, having a countdown to the day Britney Spears turned 18, and one guest waxing lustful about wanting to be the Cosmo magazine she took to the toilet to read while she took a shit. This would be around 1999.
It's hard to overstate how NORMAL it was to sexualize teen girls when I was growing up.
"Jailbait" jokes were everywhere, I was constantly sexually harassed by men in cars when walking to school in 6th grade.
Epstein is of an cohort where it was GENERALLY maybe a little edgy but not extreme.
"Jailbait" jokes were everywhere, I was constantly sexually harassed by men in cars when walking to school in 6th grade.
Epstein is of an cohort where it was GENERALLY maybe a little edgy but not extreme.
I need people to understand that it’s not just Epstein, it’s the entire rape culture that existed before and after him at every socioeconomic level. That’s why Epstein, who I’ve never thought was particularly smart or interesting, was able to pull this all off—he recognized how abuse functions
February 1, 2026 at 9:48 PM
I will always remember The Man Show, where Jimmy Kimmel got his hosting start, having a countdown to the day Britney Spears turned 18, and one guest waxing lustful about wanting to be the Cosmo magazine she took to the toilet to read while she took a shit. This would be around 1999.
Weekly-ish reminder that an easy way to support my work is through ko-fi.com/eliaayoub
I know these are difficult times, so no worry if you can't
I know these are difficult times, so no worry if you can't
Support Elia Ayoub
Support Elia Ayoub
ko-fi.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Weekly-ish reminder that an easy way to support my work is through ko-fi.com/eliaayoub
I know these are difficult times, so no worry if you can't
I know these are difficult times, so no worry if you can't
Reposted by elia ayoub
Minneapolis, MN -
A native community event near the vigil of Alex Pretti.
A native community event near the vigil of Alex Pretti.
February 1, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Minneapolis, MN -
A native community event near the vigil of Alex Pretti.
A native community event near the vigil of Alex Pretti.
Reposted by elia ayoub
The resistance in Myanmar isn't always easy to donate to directly
One place is:
www.liberatemyanmar.net
There are also orgs doing humanitarian aid work in areas the Junta won't allow aid to get to which also helps!
Kachin Relief Fund:
kachinrelief.org.uk
Karen Women's Organisation:
karenwomen.org
One place is:
www.liberatemyanmar.net
There are also orgs doing humanitarian aid work in areas the Junta won't allow aid to get to which also helps!
Kachin Relief Fund:
kachinrelief.org.uk
Karen Women's Organisation:
karenwomen.org
September 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The resistance in Myanmar isn't always easy to donate to directly
One place is:
www.liberatemyanmar.net
There are also orgs doing humanitarian aid work in areas the Junta won't allow aid to get to which also helps!
Kachin Relief Fund:
kachinrelief.org.uk
Karen Women's Organisation:
karenwomen.org
One place is:
www.liberatemyanmar.net
There are also orgs doing humanitarian aid work in areas the Junta won't allow aid to get to which also helps!
Kachin Relief Fund:
kachinrelief.org.uk
Karen Women's Organisation:
karenwomen.org
Reposted by elia ayoub
Great article. I think the comparison with Civil Rights movement is exactly right: people faced brutality, violence, even murder. But it worked: many of their demands were met, even in the face of extreme racism.
In solidarity from across the pond, where we may need these tactics soon ✊🏼
In solidarity from across the pond, where we may need these tactics soon ✊🏼
My new piece about Resistance 2.0 is up at @theguardian.com! Give it a read to understand why we should expect much more confrontation and disruption this time around. Thanks for the suggestions @victorerikray.bsky.social @sociologistray.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Resistance to Trump 2.0 is getting more confrontational | Dana R Fisher
In Trump’s first term, activists focused on lobbying and voting. Now tactics are shifting to nonviolent civil disobedience
www.theguardian.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Great article. I think the comparison with Civil Rights movement is exactly right: people faced brutality, violence, even murder. But it worked: many of their demands were met, even in the face of extreme racism.
In solidarity from across the pond, where we may need these tactics soon ✊🏼
In solidarity from across the pond, where we may need these tactics soon ✊🏼
Funnily enough this is what my episode on @polphilpod.bsky.social was about: Tech Bros are too stupid to understand that they are doing what Tolkien warns against in the LotR.
the number of people i know -- all of whom should know better -- who are doing exactly this
February 1, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Funnily enough this is what my episode on @polphilpod.bsky.social was about: Tech Bros are too stupid to understand that they are doing what Tolkien warns against in the LotR.