Musa Okwonga
@okwonga.bsky.social
Author, essayist, public speaker. Co-founder and co-host of the Stadio football podcast. musaokwonga.com
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Musa Okwonga
@okwonga.bsky.social
· Aug 26
In 2008 I met a climate scientist from Mali who was advocating for this so long that he looked exhausted. Absolutely amazing man. He was working so hard on this. And then I see numbers like this and my heart just soars. Youba Sokona, you (and your peers) really did it.
www.ipcc.ch/people/youba...
www.ipcc.ch/people/youba...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
The Creation of Adam
February 12, 2026 at 2:02 PM
The Creation of Adam
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
I said this quietly to senior officials in Ireland over the last 12 months. Now it requires public statement.
Ireland became rich because -among other reasons- it is the venue where US tech firms can operate in Europe with relative impunity. But this strategy may not last much longer.
Ireland became rich because -among other reasons- it is the venue where US tech firms can operate in Europe with relative impunity. But this strategy may not last much longer.
February 12, 2026 at 6:33 AM
I said this quietly to senior officials in Ireland over the last 12 months. Now it requires public statement.
Ireland became rich because -among other reasons- it is the venue where US tech firms can operate in Europe with relative impunity. But this strategy may not last much longer.
Ireland became rich because -among other reasons- it is the venue where US tech firms can operate in Europe with relative impunity. But this strategy may not last much longer.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
This is the "polite" version of the "limited value" language I mentioned in the post about the cop. It's still the same far-right beliefs, just dressed up to be laundered by a credulous press.
Reform vision for British women - have children as early as possible (wouldn’t want you to be educated or have a career, now). If you don’t we’ll tax you and your stupid barren womb. But don’t have any more than 2 kids or we’ll take aware your state benefits.
Or, hear me out, maybe women don't need lectures by the likes of Matt Goodwin?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reform-matt-goodwin-gorton-denton-children-women-b2918340.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reform-matt-goodwin-gorton-denton-children-women-b2918340.html
February 13, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This is the "polite" version of the "limited value" language I mentioned in the post about the cop. It's still the same far-right beliefs, just dressed up to be laundered by a credulous press.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
There have been hugely successful campaigns to fight prison and jail construction across the country, especially in rural areas. These bring together hunters, environmentalists, Indigenous people, prison abolitionists, and immigrant advocates as well as people concerned about land use.
February 13, 2026 at 5:28 PM
There have been hugely successful campaigns to fight prison and jail construction across the country, especially in rural areas. These bring together hunters, environmentalists, Indigenous people, prison abolitionists, and immigrant advocates as well as people concerned about land use.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
And the same people responsible for this will be the same people calling us “lazy”
"Racist people are firing and laying off Black women at three times the rate of other women."
😬Yikes! It sounds bad when you say it like that!
"Black women are losing jobs at 3 times the rate."
Much better! Makes it sound like the Black women just need to be more careful or better at their jobs!
😬Yikes! It sounds bad when you say it like that!
"Black women are losing jobs at 3 times the rate."
Much better! Makes it sound like the Black women just need to be more careful or better at their jobs!
Black Women Are Losing Jobs At Three Times The Rate Of Other Women | Essence
New labor data shows Black women accounted for a disproportionate share of job losses across 2025, especially in federal, education, and care-sector roles.
www.essence.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:13 PM
And the same people responsible for this will be the same people calling us “lazy”
Laurie knows ⚽️
Marco van Basten really doesn't get the flowers or love he deserves, despite all the accolades.
Maybe the perfect striker ever that wasn't R9.
Maybe the perfect striker ever that wasn't R9.
February 13, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Laurie knows ⚽️
"It’s important to hold on to the fact that most people do not think this way, that attitudes of tolerance are now deeply embedded in Britain: the data shows that too. Still, that led too many to become complacent, to assume that this was a problem of our past, one that we’d solved." -yes. yes. yes!
"it was taken as read that anti-immigrant sentiment was a function of economic anxiety: indeed, that was the instant explanation offered for Trump’s victory in 2016" - yes, that's what several US papers said, but that was instantly disproven by the actual facts. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump, Musk and now UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe – they are the enablers, making racists feel great again | Jonathan Freedland
With their profile and vile words, these malign provocateurs are tearing down decency’s guardrails, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:02 PM
"It’s important to hold on to the fact that most people do not think this way, that attitudes of tolerance are now deeply embedded in Britain: the data shows that too. Still, that led too many to become complacent, to assume that this was a problem of our past, one that we’d solved." -yes. yes. yes!
"it was taken as read that anti-immigrant sentiment was a function of economic anxiety: indeed, that was the instant explanation offered for Trump’s victory in 2016" - yes, that's what several US papers said, but that was instantly disproven by the actual facts. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump, Musk and now UK billionaire Jim Ratcliffe – they are the enablers, making racists feel great again | Jonathan Freedland
With their profile and vile words, these malign provocateurs are tearing down decency’s guardrails, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:58 PM
"it was taken as read that anti-immigrant sentiment was a function of economic anxiety: indeed, that was the instant explanation offered for Trump’s victory in 2016" - yes, that's what several US papers said, but that was instantly disproven by the actual facts. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
oh my god it's tomorrow
This is an unapologetically sappy feel-good subject (at least, I guess, for people in a happy relationship”). So, to prepare for Valentine’s Day, what did you and your partner do for a first date?
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
My wife and I went to tea at Huntington Gardens and walked around.
On our first date, my spouse and I spent like an hour talking about footnotes.
February 13, 2026 at 4:51 PM
oh my god it's tomorrow
If the US culture wars aren’t anything to do with Germany then why does Merz, Germany’s leader, do little else but fight them in his own country?
Merz: The battle of cultures of MAGA in the U.S. is not ours. Freedom of speech here ends where the words spoken are directed against human dignity and our Basic Law. We do not believe in tariffs and protectionism, but in free trade.
February 13, 2026 at 4:11 PM
If the US culture wars aren’t anything to do with Germany then why does Merz, Germany’s leader, do little else but fight them in his own country?
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
Ill be clear about why I am so angry and critical about it: Im seeing a good portion of my students who have imbibed the notion that they dont have to read, think or write for themselves because ChatGPT/CoPilot will do their thinking for them, and its terrifying. It should scare all of us.
February 12, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Ill be clear about why I am so angry and critical about it: Im seeing a good portion of my students who have imbibed the notion that they dont have to read, think or write for themselves because ChatGPT/CoPilot will do their thinking for them, and its terrifying. It should scare all of us.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
no, it simply isnt.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
The predominent anti-AI position on bsky is that AI is useless, fake, shit and basically the same as NFTs, destined to collapse in months once everyone sees how poor it is. So anyone who suggests that it could improve or be useful to any boss in any situation in the future must be evil.
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 PM
no, it simply isnt.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
People are talking about capital using gAI as an excuse to conduct mass lay-offs, about students losing learning because theyre being lied to about gAI in education, about the mass theft of the work of artists and authors to train LLMs, about CSAM and nonconsensual sexual images.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
the minute the fb algorithm clocks you as a straight man it immediately sets about trying to destroy your life & endanger those around you
February 13, 2026 at 11:19 AM
the minute the fb algorithm clocks you as a straight man it immediately sets about trying to destroy your life & endanger those around you
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
"It's going to fall earliest and most often on the marginalized."
All These Ring Cameras Are Creating a "Surveillance Nightmare," Critics Say
Safety and privacy advocates say Amazon's Ring doorbell has crossed the threshold into an all-out "surveillance nightmare."
trib.al
February 13, 2026 at 3:40 PM
"It's going to fall earliest and most often on the marginalized."
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
The highest and best use of soccer analytics is throwing computer vision and professional graders at identifying the dribbliest bois www.gradientsports.com/blog/discove...
February 12, 2026 at 3:09 PM
The highest and best use of soccer analytics is throwing computer vision and professional graders at identifying the dribbliest bois www.gradientsports.com/blog/discove...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
"They’ve attacked all these people, in a desperate attempt to make clear to racists and social conservatives that they hear them. If the racists and social conservatives were actually going to vote for them this would merely seem abhorrent. When they clearly aren’t, it’s stupid too."
Everybody Hates Keir
How did Starmer go from landslide to endgame in under two years? Also this week: the most murderous mammal on earth; and every thought I have about an insane train plan.
jonn.substack.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:33 PM
"They’ve attacked all these people, in a desperate attempt to make clear to racists and social conservatives that they hear them. If the racists and social conservatives were actually going to vote for them this would merely seem abhorrent. When they clearly aren’t, it’s stupid too."
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
🚨 Epstein Met Privately with Gates & Thiel to ‘Rebuild His Reputation’ Through Philanthropy.
Documents suggest they met at Epstein's home, alongside Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel and media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman.
@nafeez.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/11/j...
Documents suggest they met at Epstein's home, alongside Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel and media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman.
@nafeez.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/11/j...
Jeffrey Epstein Met Privately with Bill Gates and Peter Thiel to 'Rebuild His Reputation' Through Philanthropy
To 'rebuild' his reputation, Epstein proposed a global philanthropic framework for Gates at the convicted child sex offender's Manhattan home during a meeting attended by Palantir co-founder Peter Thi...
bylinetimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:01 PM
🚨 Epstein Met Privately with Gates & Thiel to ‘Rebuild His Reputation’ Through Philanthropy.
Documents suggest they met at Epstein's home, alongside Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel and media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman.
@nafeez.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/11/j...
Documents suggest they met at Epstein's home, alongside Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel and media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman.
@nafeez.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
bylinetimes.com/2026/02/11/j...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
As always, the problem is not "the left" being unwilling to envision a world where AI, able to live up to its hype or not, ends up driving millions out of work. Rather, it is the accumulation of capital in the hands of a few who will eke out a few extra drops of blood from stone.
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
February 12, 2026 at 1:32 PM
As always, the problem is not "the left" being unwilling to envision a world where AI, able to live up to its hype or not, ends up driving millions out of work. Rather, it is the accumulation of capital in the hands of a few who will eke out a few extra drops of blood from stone.
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
"In place of real politics, it has office politics."
Really good piece by Aditya Chakrabortty
(Includes link to Democracy for Sale's piece about Alan Milburn's massive private earnings and a name check for my @lrb.co.uk scribbling on Labour and the lobbyists.)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Really good piece by Aditya Chakrabortty
(Includes link to Democracy for Sale's piece about Alan Milburn's massive private earnings and a name check for my @lrb.co.uk scribbling on Labour and the lobbyists.)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Behold the incredible shrinking Starmer: the PM who promises more while giving less | Aditya Chakrabortty
It is not just this doomed government but the Labour party itself that is disappearing before our very eyes, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:16 PM
"In place of real politics, it has office politics."
Really good piece by Aditya Chakrabortty
(Includes link to Democracy for Sale's piece about Alan Milburn's massive private earnings and a name check for my @lrb.co.uk scribbling on Labour and the lobbyists.)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Really good piece by Aditya Chakrabortty
(Includes link to Democracy for Sale's piece about Alan Milburn's massive private earnings and a name check for my @lrb.co.uk scribbling on Labour and the lobbyists.)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Musa Okwonga
cohosted a podcast with the great Leila Shami.
We spoke to Razan Rashidi from The Syria Campaign about a lot but particularly about how acts of justice build trust in the state and how without it a culture of impunity takes over that can spiral off into retaliatory violence and acts of vengeance.
We spoke to Razan Rashidi from The Syria Campaign about a lot but particularly about how acts of justice build trust in the state and how without it a culture of impunity takes over that can spiral off into retaliatory violence and acts of vengeance.
Leila @leilashami.bsky.social & Justin @justinsalhani.bsky.social are joined by Razan Rashidi from @thesyriacampaign.org to talk about Transitional Justice
On all podcast apps and Patreon. Support us there!
www.patreon.com/posts/stir-7...
@fromtheperiphery.com
On all podcast apps and Patreon. Support us there!
www.patreon.com/posts/stir-7...
@fromtheperiphery.com
STIR 7/Transitional Justice w/Razan Rashidi | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:03 PM
cohosted a podcast with the great Leila Shami.
We spoke to Razan Rashidi from The Syria Campaign about a lot but particularly about how acts of justice build trust in the state and how without it a culture of impunity takes over that can spiral off into retaliatory violence and acts of vengeance.
We spoke to Razan Rashidi from The Syria Campaign about a lot but particularly about how acts of justice build trust in the state and how without it a culture of impunity takes over that can spiral off into retaliatory violence and acts of vengeance.
RACISM DOCTOR: “yes that’s right we triple-checked him, right down beyond the bone marrow, very impressive in fact, he was actually racist at a molecular level”
“There’s not a racist bone in my body” - someone whose bones, upon close examination, are in fact all racist
February 12, 2026 at 12:57 PM
RACISM DOCTOR: “yes that’s right we triple-checked him, right down beyond the bone marrow, very impressive in fact, he was actually racist at a molecular level”
“There’s not a racist bone in my body” - someone whose bones, upon close examination, are in fact all racist
February 12, 2026 at 12:55 PM
“There’s not a racist bone in my body” - someone whose bones, upon close examination, are in fact all racist
Each time he comes out of the TV studio after a rant like this, someone should greet him by saying “oops what a little mess Jim made! did you enjoy yourself?”
The billionaire INEOS owner, Jim Ratcliffe, said in a statement: 'I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern'
Read more: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
Read more: www.thenational.scot/news/2...
February 12, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Each time he comes out of the TV studio after a rant like this, someone should greet him by saying “oops what a little mess Jim made! did you enjoy yourself?”
It’s very easy to go “hurr hurr woke nonsense” but it’s actually much harder to create something that’s more enjoyable than the woke nonsense, which is why fascists end up trying to silence everyone who points this out, or hating on everyone who enjoys Bad Bunny.
The challenge for fascism is not when it is fighting for control but when it gains control: because then it has to create a cultural product that people are consistently happy with. And, well, just look at the Turning Point USA Super Bowl show or that Match of The Day they had without commentators.
February 12, 2026 at 12:36 PM
It’s very easy to go “hurr hurr woke nonsense” but it’s actually much harder to create something that’s more enjoyable than the woke nonsense, which is why fascists end up trying to silence everyone who points this out, or hating on everyone who enjoys Bad Bunny.