Jack Benjamin
@jackcarterbenjamin.bsky.social
Senior reporter and podcast producer for The Media Leader, a trade publication focused on all things commercial media.
Writer, journalist, American in London.
Writer, journalist, American in London.
To me, the scariest thing about opaque algorthmic social media feeds has always been that they could be tweaked ever so slightly to drip feed propaganda to people. We've already seen this happen on X.
Now, Trump allies the Ellisons own one of the most influential social video apps.
Now, Trump allies the Ellisons own one of the most influential social video apps.
Who Owns TikTok in the U.S. Now?
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:19 AM
To me, the scariest thing about opaque algorthmic social media feeds has always been that they could be tweaked ever so slightly to drip feed propaganda to people. We've already seen this happen on X.
Now, Trump allies the Ellisons own one of the most influential social video apps.
Now, Trump allies the Ellisons own one of the most influential social video apps.
Good lord.
In our conservative estimate, 41 percent of Grok’s images — or 1.8 million — were sexualized depictions of women. Separately, CCDH analyzed how many were sexualized images across genders and ages. Their findings: an estimated 3 million images, including more than 23,000 of children.
January 22, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Good lord.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
We set out to determine how many images of women and girls Grok created during its nudifying spree. What we found was “industrial-scale abuse,” experts said. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Musk’s Chatbot Flooded X With Millions of Sexualized Images in Days, New Estimates Show
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:56 PM
We set out to determine how many images of women and girls Grok created during its nudifying spree. What we found was “industrial-scale abuse,” experts said. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
More evidence the only way to handle Trump’s threats is to threaten him right back. Appease him and he’ll keep pushing until he hits resistance. But in his heart, he’s a TACO.
If Europe found a way for him to save face and move on, great. But Carney's speech was still spoken and was still true. The bell has rung.
January 21, 2026 at 8:18 PM
More evidence the only way to handle Trump’s threats is to threaten him right back. Appease him and he’ll keep pushing until he hits resistance. But in his heart, he’s a TACO.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
It's as though the media heard Don Corleone say, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" and reported, "Don Corleone backs off threats of force. Promises only to make a really nice offer."
I would say it is genuinely inaccurate to say Trump said he would not use force to obtain Greenland at Davos just now.
Days ago he said he wouldn't rule it out. Now look at these three declarations in a row. They function as a threat.
Days ago he said he wouldn't rule it out. Now look at these three declarations in a row. They function as a threat.
January 21, 2026 at 3:06 PM
It's as though the media heard Don Corleone say, "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" and reported, "Don Corleone backs off threats of force. Promises only to make a really nice offer."
@radleybalko.bsky.social: "We can still stop these abuses of power, but we need to be clear about what we’re facing. This is no longer a conversation about law enforcement or immigration policy. This is about authoritarianism."
Opinion | I’ve Covered Police Abuse for 20 Years. What ICE Is Doing Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:44 PM
@radleybalko.bsky.social: "We can still stop these abuses of power, but we need to be clear about what we’re facing. This is no longer a conversation about law enforcement or immigration policy. This is about authoritarianism."
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul has until Wednesday to turn over employment records to the Department of Homeland Security as part of a surprise audit launched Friday, just hours after one of the shop's owners criticized ICE agents during a television interview. bit.ly/4r5AFol
January 21, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Mischief Toy Store in St. Paul has until Wednesday to turn over employment records to the Department of Homeland Security as part of a surprise audit launched Friday, just hours after one of the shop's owners criticized ICE agents during a television interview. bit.ly/4r5AFol
Ads are coming to ChatGPT. Details include:
- A commitment to "clearly label" and separate ads from the rest of the conversation.
- Ads "do not influence answers".
- Ads are “not eligible” to appear next to “sensitive or regulated topics”, including health, mental health and politics.
- A commitment to "clearly label" and separate ads from the rest of the conversation.
- Ads "do not influence answers".
- Ads are “not eligible” to appear next to “sensitive or regulated topics”, including health, mental health and politics.
Ads are coming to ChatGPT. Do brands want in?
Analysis: OpenAI has taken on a huge amount of debt to make its AI future a potential reality. An advertising model is needed to drive increased revenue, but are advertisers interested?
uk.themedialeader.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Ads are coming to ChatGPT. Details include:
- A commitment to "clearly label" and separate ads from the rest of the conversation.
- Ads "do not influence answers".
- Ads are “not eligible” to appear next to “sensitive or regulated topics”, including health, mental health and politics.
- A commitment to "clearly label" and separate ads from the rest of the conversation.
- Ads "do not influence answers".
- Ads are “not eligible” to appear next to “sensitive or regulated topics”, including health, mental health and politics.
Don’t think it’s at all controversial to say: proven cheaters shouldn’t be in the HOF.
But then again, baseball is America’s pastime. So, yknow what, it’s fitting that this year of all years we’ve apparently decided we’re okay with cheating scandals.
But then again, baseball is America’s pastime. So, yknow what, it’s fitting that this year of all years we’ve apparently decided we’re okay with cheating scandals.
Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones are in HOF and could open door for others: usatoday.com/story/sports... via @USATODAY
Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones are in HOF and could open door for others
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday night the old-fashioned way.
usatoday.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Don’t think it’s at all controversial to say: proven cheaters shouldn’t be in the HOF.
But then again, baseball is America’s pastime. So, yknow what, it’s fitting that this year of all years we’ve apparently decided we’re okay with cheating scandals.
But then again, baseball is America’s pastime. So, yknow what, it’s fitting that this year of all years we’ve apparently decided we’re okay with cheating scandals.
apology for poor english
when were you when dollar dies?
i was sat at home doom scroll when mark ring
‘dollar is kill’
‘no’
when were you when dollar dies?
i was sat at home doom scroll when mark ring
‘dollar is kill’
‘no’
January 20, 2026 at 10:56 PM
apology for poor english
when were you when dollar dies?
i was sat at home doom scroll when mark ring
‘dollar is kill’
‘no’
when were you when dollar dies?
i was sat at home doom scroll when mark ring
‘dollar is kill’
‘no’
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum.
January 20, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
“.. it can’t be ruled out,” Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a press conference in capital Nuuk on Tuesday.
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
January 20, 2026 at 5:03 PM
“.. it can’t be ruled out,” Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a press conference in capital Nuuk on Tuesday.
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Carney is pretty much calling for a new bloc to be formed to balance power against the US, China, and Russia.
Something like Europe + Canada + Australia + NZ + Japan, say.
What should concern everyone is that moving into a multipolar world order inevitably will lead to much more military conflict.
Something like Europe + Canada + Australia + NZ + Japan, say.
What should concern everyone is that moving into a multipolar world order inevitably will lead to much more military conflict.
In a speech to the World Economic Forum, Mark Carney says middle powers such as Canada must accept that the rules-based international order is effectively dead, and great power rivalry with is here to stay. Key excerpt:
January 20, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Carney is pretty much calling for a new bloc to be formed to balance power against the US, China, and Russia.
Something like Europe + Canada + Australia + NZ + Japan, say.
What should concern everyone is that moving into a multipolar world order inevitably will lead to much more military conflict.
Something like Europe + Canada + Australia + NZ + Japan, say.
What should concern everyone is that moving into a multipolar world order inevitably will lead to much more military conflict.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
January 20, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Carney: "American hegemony in particular helped provide public goods, a stable financial system... this bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition... recently, great powers have begun using economic integration as a weapon. Tariffs as leverage ... "
Pretty much sums up the reaction everyone in Europe is having to the Americans in Davos.
January 20, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Pretty much sums up the reaction everyone in Europe is having to the Americans in Davos.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
It's hard to even explain what a disaster this is for the US economy in the short-term — as well as US innovation and industry in decades to come. Immigrants and foreign students at our universities are—as always have been—the wellspring of American invention and innovation.
New research concludes the Trump administration’s policies will reduce **legal** immigration to the United States by 33% to 50% over four years.
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...
Trump And Miller Slashing Legal Immigration By 33% To 50%
New research concludes the Trump administration’s policies will reduce legal immigration to the United States by 33% to 50% over four years.
www.forbes.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:28 PM
It's hard to even explain what a disaster this is for the US economy in the short-term — as well as US innovation and industry in decades to come. Immigrants and foreign students at our universities are—as always have been—the wellspring of American invention and innovation.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
No tariffs ruling today means Trump heads to Davos with his power to threaten Europe over Greenland intact.
January 20, 2026 at 3:08 PM
No tariffs ruling today means Trump heads to Davos with his power to threaten Europe over Greenland intact.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Danish pension fund to dump US treasuries
"The US is basically not a good credit and long-term the US government finances are not sustainable," says chief investment officer
www.investing.com/news/stock-m...
"The US is basically not a good credit and long-term the US government finances are not sustainable," says chief investment officer
www.investing.com/news/stock-m...
Danish pension fund AkademikerPension to exit US Treasuries By Investing.com
Danish pension fund AkademikerPension to exit US Treasuries
www.investing.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Danish pension fund to dump US treasuries
"The US is basically not a good credit and long-term the US government finances are not sustainable," says chief investment officer
www.investing.com/news/stock-m...
"The US is basically not a good credit and long-term the US government finances are not sustainable," says chief investment officer
www.investing.com/news/stock-m...
I spoke to The Observer's new commercial chief.
He was explicit in his desire to cast a wider net for potential commercial partners than when the title was owned by The Guardian.
“We can talk to clients that potentially were not able to talk to The Guardian."
He was explicit in his desire to cast a wider net for potential commercial partners than when the title was owned by The Guardian.
“We can talk to clients that potentially were not able to talk to The Guardian."
'We want to do different things': Inside The Observer's 'luxury' commercial strategy
The Observer's new commercial chief speaks about why he's prioritising a "luxury" experience for clients, and the effort to diversify the title's fledgling product offering.
uk.themedialeader.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:25 AM
I spoke to The Observer's new commercial chief.
He was explicit in his desire to cast a wider net for potential commercial partners than when the title was owned by The Guardian.
“We can talk to clients that potentially were not able to talk to The Guardian."
He was explicit in his desire to cast a wider net for potential commercial partners than when the title was owned by The Guardian.
“We can talk to clients that potentially were not able to talk to The Guardian."
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Lord Lebedev's Standard to be merged into the slightly-less-Lebedev-controlled Independent business. More job cuts on the way, less than 18 months after Standard's big relaunch. Story implies annual loss of c£10m. Solidarity to the people at the Standard facing redundancy. www.ft.com/content/e809...
Independent to take over operations of London’s Standard newspaper
Media group co-owned by Evgeny Lebedev plans to retain print product and ‘future-proof’ the business
www.ft.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Lord Lebedev's Standard to be merged into the slightly-less-Lebedev-controlled Independent business. More job cuts on the way, less than 18 months after Standard's big relaunch. Story implies annual loss of c£10m. Solidarity to the people at the Standard facing redundancy. www.ft.com/content/e809...
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
It really is mad king stuff, untethered from reality.
He tells the Norwegian leader, you did not give me a prize that you don't control, so maybe I will invade the territory of another Scandinavian country you don't lead.
He tells the Norwegian leader, you did not give me a prize that you don't control, so maybe I will invade the territory of another Scandinavian country you don't lead.
January 19, 2026 at 6:01 PM
It really is mad king stuff, untethered from reality.
He tells the Norwegian leader, you did not give me a prize that you don't control, so maybe I will invade the territory of another Scandinavian country you don't lead.
He tells the Norwegian leader, you did not give me a prize that you don't control, so maybe I will invade the territory of another Scandinavian country you don't lead.
New from me today: ITV is taking a "soft approach" to the rollout of its AI ads strategy.
Small/medium-sized businesses' demand for AI TV ads has so far been lukewarm -- despite ITV releasing a tool for it in October.
Still, ITV is working on another tool for AI generated pause ads.
Small/medium-sized businesses' demand for AI TV ads has so far been lukewarm -- despite ITV releasing a tool for it in October.
Still, ITV is working on another tool for AI generated pause ads.
'Prove the value': ITV takes 'soft approach' to generative AI ads strategy
ITV business development director Jason Spencer says the broadcaster has made greater use of AI ads in sales pitches and the creative process, rather than just in the final result.
uk.themedialeader.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:41 PM
New from me today: ITV is taking a "soft approach" to the rollout of its AI ads strategy.
Small/medium-sized businesses' demand for AI TV ads has so far been lukewarm -- despite ITV releasing a tool for it in October.
Still, ITV is working on another tool for AI generated pause ads.
Small/medium-sized businesses' demand for AI TV ads has so far been lukewarm -- despite ITV releasing a tool for it in October.
Still, ITV is working on another tool for AI generated pause ads.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Starmer will announce plans to consult on a social media ban for the under-16s as the government attempts to see off a Labour backbench rebellion ⬇️
Sir Keir Starmer to consult on social media ban for under-16s
Sir Keir Starmer to consult on social media ban for under-16s
www.thetimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Starmer will announce plans to consult on a social media ban for the under-16s as the government attempts to see off a Labour backbench rebellion ⬇️
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
Danish officials will not attend Davos as tensions with the US escalate, Bloomberg reports.
January 19, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Danish officials will not attend Davos as tensions with the US escalate, Bloomberg reports.
Reposted by Jack Benjamin
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
![NEW: @potus letter to @jonasgahrstore links @NobelPrize to Greenland, reiterates threats, and is forwarded by the NSC staff to multiple European ambassadors in Washington. I obtained the text from multiple officials:
Dear Ambassador:
President Trump has asked that the following message, shared with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, be forwarded to your [named head of government/state]
“Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreie7itpptx3xbxhpsnlaqmwk752h7pcrion5ija2apksljtax2adx4@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 5:09 AM
mad king moment
from the PBS Newshour correspondent
from the PBS Newshour correspondent