Eliot Higgins
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eliothiggins.bsky.social
Eliot Higgins
@eliothiggins.bsky.social
140K followers 4.2K following 5.3K posts
Founder and creative director of Bellingcat and director of Bellingcat Productions BV. Author of We Are Bellingcat.
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eliothiggins.bsky.social
Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 6d
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
eliothiggins.bsky.social Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 8d
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
crookedfootball.bsky.social Chris Bertram @crookedfootball.bsky.social · 8d
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
quinn.social.circl.lu.ap.brid.gy
Can someone explain to me, in simple language even a tech and politics journalist can understand, how Bellingcat isn't labor exploitation?
January 31, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
eliothiggins.bsky.social
Bellingcat's Discord community is still digging through the Epstein files and making sure they're all safely backed up. You can join the thread here:
discord.com/channels/709...
Some really weird stuff in there. New users can use this link to join the server:
discord.com/invite/belli...
Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games
Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.
discord.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
peterjukes.bsky.social
Sorry - to be clear (not enough coffee this morning) Rybolovlev is part of Putin’s team negotiating over Ukraine
January 31, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
peterjukes.bsky.social
I’m sure others have noticed this exchange between Michael Wolff and Epstein about exorbitant price Rybolovlev’ paid to Trump for his the Palm Beach Mansion and suspicious trades with MBS - but how many have twigged that Rybolovlev is part of the current Ukraine negotiating team?
January 31, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
jamesrball.com
There were some fairly terrible defences of Chomsky during the last tranche of Epstein docs – “he’s not simping to Epstein like the others” was a genuine line of argument. Hopefully we can put those behind us now?
emily.gorcen.ski Emily Gorcenski @emily.gorcen.ski · 10h
Cool thoughts from Noam Chomsky
From: Matthew Hiltzik < To: J <jeevacation@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Thoughts from Chomsky Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2019 23:34:06 +0000 I think that is wise Sent from my iPhone On Feb 23, 2019, at 4:19 PM, J < jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote: Ive watched the horrible way you are being treated in the press and public. It's painful to say, but I think the best way to proceed is to ignore it. I've had plenty of experience, though of course not on this scale. A google search will bring up tons of hysterical accusations of all sorts, even groups devoted to vilifying me. I pay no attention, unless I'm approached for a comment on a specific matter. It's a nuisance, but it's the best way. The same conclusions from experiences of others, in some cases close friends. What the vultures dearly want is a public response, which then provides a public opening for an onslaught of venomous attacks, many from just publicity seekers or cranks of all sorts -- which are impossible to answer (how do you prove that you are not a neo-Nazi who wants to kill the Jews, or a rapist, or whatever charge comes along?). That's particularly true now with the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women, which has reached the point that even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder. For virtually everyone who sees any of this, the reaction will be "where there's smoke there's fire, maybe raging fire" (whatever the facts, which few will even think of investigating). In general, it's best I think not to react unless directly questioned, particularly in the current mood -- which, I presume, will fade away, even if not in time to prevent much torture and distress.
January 31, 2026 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
'The 450,000 objects, which are being held in a secret warehouse, include a possible Roman gladiator's tag, a hand axe that may be more than 40,000 years old and 19th Century gold dentures.'
Treasures found on HS2 route stored in secret warehouse
Archaeological finds from the planned HS2 train line have been shown exclusively to the BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 9:29 AM
eliothiggins.bsky.social
Bellingcat's Discord community is still digging through the Epstein files and making sure they're all safely backed up. You can join the thread here:
discord.com/channels/709...
Some really weird stuff in there. New users can use this link to join the server:
discord.com/invite/belli...
Discord - Group Chat That’s All Fun & Games
Discord is great for playing games and chilling with friends, or even building a worldwide community. Customize your own space to talk, play, and hang out.
discord.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:34 AM
eliothiggins.bsky.social
Epstein files latest: Andrew, Elon Musk, Peter Mandelson among those named in newly released documents
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Epstein files latest: Andrew, Elon Musk, Peter Mandelson among those named in newly released documents
The US Department of Justice released more than three million pages of files on Friday
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:29 AM
eliothiggins.bsky.social
Amazing revelation about the creator of the popular girl undressing app - Elon Musk had more extensive ties to Epstein than previously known, emails show
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Elon Musk had more extensive ties to Epstein than previously known, emails show
Newly released files from DoJ show the pair making plans in 2012 and 2013 for the Tesla CEO to visit Epstein’s island
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
lisadiedrich.bsky.social
"the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women"--Noam Chomsky
emily.gorcen.ski Emily Gorcenski @emily.gorcen.ski · 10h
Cool thoughts from Noam Chomsky
From: Matthew Hiltzik < To: J <jeevacation@gmail.com> Subject: Re: Thoughts from Chomsky Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2019 23:34:06 +0000 I think that is wise Sent from my iPhone On Feb 23, 2019, at 4:19 PM, J < jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote: Ive watched the horrible way you are being treated in the press and public. It's painful to say, but I think the best way to proceed is to ignore it. I've had plenty of experience, though of course not on this scale. A google search will bring up tons of hysterical accusations of all sorts, even groups devoted to vilifying me. I pay no attention, unless I'm approached for a comment on a specific matter. It's a nuisance, but it's the best way. The same conclusions from experiences of others, in some cases close friends. What the vultures dearly want is a public response, which then provides a public opening for an onslaught of venomous attacks, many from just publicity seekers or cranks of all sorts -- which are impossible to answer (how do you prove that you are not a neo-Nazi who wants to kill the Jews, or a rapist, or whatever charge comes along?). That's particularly true now with the hysteria that has developed about abuse of women, which has reached the point that even questioning a charge is a crime worse than murder. For virtually everyone who sees any of this, the reaction will be "where there's smoke there's fire, maybe raging fire" (whatever the facts, which few will even think of investigating). In general, it's best I think not to react unless directly questioned, particularly in the current mood -- which, I presume, will fade away, even if not in time to prevent much torture and distress.
January 31, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
theguardian.com
Ulez bomber: the retired electrician who turned bomb-making extremist
Ulez bomber: the retired electrician who turned bomb-making extremist
Shy 63-year-old’s decision to blow up London traffic camera linked to online conspiracy theories and Islamophobia To his neighbours, Kevin Rees did not seem like an extremist. The shy 63-year-old lived on a tree-lined street in suburban Sidcup, in Bexley, south-east London. He appeared to be enjoying retirement after a career mending dishwashers and other domestic appliances. “He’s a quiet character – I’ve lived opposite him for 10 years and never really spoken to him,” says Sam, who declined to give her full name. Behind the lace curtains, Rees was much more abrasive, at least online. Under the user name the “Exterminator” he ranted about London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, and the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) which in 2023 was expanded to the capital’s outer borough, including Bexley. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
timescarcass.bsky.social
This really is what it looks like. "Oh hey One of the World's Foremost Intellectuals*, have you seen this video Sargon of Akkad put out?" Epstein was a blithering idiot.

* please assume Jack's caveats about NC
January 31, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
timescarcass.bsky.social
Jeffrey Epstein sent an email to Noam Chomsky saying "Yeah you've got some points, I guess, but also Blacks are genetically less intelligent and here's my source... The Right Stuff podcast."

fucking dipshit
hannahgais.bsky.social hannah gais @hannahgais.bsky.social · 9h
Jeffrey Epstein sent a link to the white nationalist podcast The Right Stuff, whose core hosts played an active role in the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally. He did so in February 2016. Before TRS made national news, really.

Genuinely bizarre.
January 31, 2026 at 9:10 AM
eliothiggins.bsky.social
I spoke to WNYC's On The Media about the Verification, Deliberation, Accountability framework I've developed, and how, without major interventions, it predicts the inevitable slide of democracies into populism, conspiracy, and, finally, authoritarianism
www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm...
Videos of ICE Violence Are Plentiful. Accountability.… Not So Much. | On the Media | WNYC Studios
The Trump administration called Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by federal officers, a “domestic terrorist.” And then bystander footage flooded the internet. On this week’s On th...
www.wnycstudios.org
January 31, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
christopherbair.bsky.social
So many of the verified audience reviewers have no other reviews on RT. So they bought a ticket to see Melania through Fandango, then gave very short reviews to mark it *****.

Something tells me that this is just astroturfing, and once the dismal opening weekend's numbers are confirmed, we'll know.
January 31, 2026 at 8:25 AM
eliothiggins.bsky.social
This must be the biggest gap in critic and user scores in Rotten Tomatoes history.
January 31, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
ayoub.bsky.social
1-- Epstein was funding white nationalist stuff (see next post)

2- How is he making these many typos

3- I don’t even know what to say about Chomsky anymore
hannahgais.bsky.social hannah gais @hannahgais.bsky.social · 9h
Jeffrey Epstein sent a link to the white nationalist podcast The Right Stuff, whose core hosts played an active role in the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally. He did so in February 2016. Before TRS made national news, really.

Genuinely bizarre.
January 31, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
onthemedia.bsky.social
📻 Tune into this week’s show, featuring: @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social, @radleybalko.bsky.social, @eliothiggins.bsky.social on-the-media.visitlink.me/16Iibw
January 31, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
esqueer.net
So QAnon spent years spreading conspiracy theories that the government was run by a cabal of elite pedophiles and it turns out they supported the actual cabal of elite pedophiles to get into power and destroy democracy.
January 30, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
markpopham.bsky.social
STEPHEN MILLER: so you've gone through all of these files and made sure there's nothing incriminatory about Trump or his friends and associates, right

KASH PATEL: *standing in line at berghain dressed like the Ikea monkey* oh yeah definitely
January 30, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
theonion.com
ICE Opens New Supermax Detention Center For Most Hardened Toddlers https://theonion.com/ice-opens-new-supermax-detention-center-for-most-harden-1827838332/
ICE Opens New Supermax Detention Center For Most Hardened Toddlers
January 30, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
ronfilipkowski.bsky.social
Movie review from Guardian on Melania.
January 30, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
timdickinson.bsky.social
Epstein to Musk: can you help me electrify my sex dens?
January 30, 2026 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
timdickinson.bsky.social
Elon Musk, Jeffrey Epstein and Woody Allen on a Carribean island at Christmastime?

www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
January 30, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
internethippo.bsky.social
For decades the Right has daydreamed about saving their country from monsters, they finally got the chance and it turns out they love the monsters. The monsters are even monstrous in the exact ways they fantasized about! You never have to listen to these guys about anything again
January 30, 2026 at 9:52 PM