Sam Leeming
@samleem.bsky.social
Former Non Dualist. Believed in subjective nature of reality.🙏📿 Overturned by Science and Doubt.
How do we best know what we know? Standards of evidence.🏵️
How do we best know what we know? Standards of evidence.🏵️
Reposted by Sam Leeming
The Cambridge Disinformation Summit will discuss, with global lawmakers, the effects on democracy of concentrated media ownership.
“No other period in history has seen such a rapid and overwhelming buy up of our means of communications by the billionaire class.”
mronline.org/2025/12/03/t...
“No other period in history has seen such a rapid and overwhelming buy up of our means of communications by the billionaire class.”
mronline.org/2025/12/03/t...
The seven richest billionaires are all media barons - MR Online
What the planet’s mega-rich capture of our media system shows is that billionaires are not only a serious drain on resources, but an existential threat to an open society and the free flow of informat...
mronline.org
January 25, 2026 at 7:38 AM
The Cambridge Disinformation Summit will discuss, with global lawmakers, the effects on democracy of concentrated media ownership.
“No other period in history has seen such a rapid and overwhelming buy up of our means of communications by the billionaire class.”
mronline.org/2025/12/03/t...
“No other period in history has seen such a rapid and overwhelming buy up of our means of communications by the billionaire class.”
mronline.org/2025/12/03/t...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Yeah this is something where we should really and quickly find effective ways to secure our information environments.
Because all those social platforms and participatory environments will be full of manipulation bots trying to lure us into fake consensus worldviews.
A few thoughts:
1/
Because all those social platforms and participatory environments will be full of manipulation bots trying to lure us into fake consensus worldviews.
A few thoughts:
1/
We have a new paper in Science today on how malicious AI swarms can threaten democracy.
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
January 22, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Yeah this is something where we should really and quickly find effective ways to secure our information environments.
Because all those social platforms and participatory environments will be full of manipulation bots trying to lure us into fake consensus worldviews.
A few thoughts:
1/
Because all those social platforms and participatory environments will be full of manipulation bots trying to lure us into fake consensus worldviews.
A few thoughts:
1/
Reposted by Sam Leeming
We have a new paper in Science today on how malicious AI swarms can threaten democracy.
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
January 22, 2026 at 7:09 PM
We have a new paper in Science today on how malicious AI swarms can threaten democracy.
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
AI systems can already coordinate autonomously, infiltrate communities, and fabricate social consensus.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @kunstjonas.bsky.social & @daniel-thilo.bsky.social!
Reposted by Sam Leeming
I'm back on QAA this week, talking about the YouTubers who travel to London to tell their audience that western civilization is collapsing, and that England's supposedly lawless, multi-ethnic capital city is at the heart of it. The episode is called London Has Fallen.
January 22, 2026 at 9:40 AM
I'm back on QAA this week, talking about the YouTubers who travel to London to tell their audience that western civilization is collapsing, and that England's supposedly lawless, multi-ethnic capital city is at the heart of it. The episode is called London Has Fallen.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
There it is - nothing suspicious about that going offline at exactly the same time it became clear that a novel pneumonia similar to SARS was being linked to the very same market selling those animals...
January 20, 2026 at 9:24 PM
There it is - nothing suspicious about that going offline at exactly the same time it became clear that a novel pneumonia similar to SARS was being linked to the very same market selling those animals...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
The story of the WIV database, with the date of its removal, was the most successful piece of disinformation by the lab leak activist group DRASTIC.
Did you know it started with different, wilder claim?
If not, good for you, you did not waste time with a lie.
For the curious: ▫️1/4 🧵
#covidorigin
Did you know it started with different, wilder claim?
If not, good for you, you did not waste time with a lie.
For the curious: ▫️1/4 🧵
#covidorigin
Hackers or liars?
DRASTIC members claimed to have obtained Shi Zhengli’s MAC address, a unique identifier linked to a device. Either they have NSA-level capabilities, or they lied. I think they lied. I previously wrot...
pandemonium.hypotheses.org
January 20, 2026 at 7:10 PM
The story of the WIV database, with the date of its removal, was the most successful piece of disinformation by the lab leak activist group DRASTIC.
Did you know it started with different, wilder claim?
If not, good for you, you did not waste time with a lie.
For the curious: ▫️1/4 🧵
#covidorigin
Did you know it started with different, wilder claim?
If not, good for you, you did not waste time with a lie.
For the curious: ▫️1/4 🧵
#covidorigin
Reposted by Sam Leeming
In military operations, it's typical to see cognitive hybrid war precede kinetic (i.e., violent) operations.
In kinetic operations, often the first objective is to destroy command and control (i.e., information) infrastructure.
This might help illustrate my prior point.
In kinetic operations, often the first objective is to destroy command and control (i.e., information) infrastructure.
This might help illustrate my prior point.
January 19, 2026 at 7:37 AM
In military operations, it's typical to see cognitive hybrid war precede kinetic (i.e., violent) operations.
In kinetic operations, often the first objective is to destroy command and control (i.e., information) infrastructure.
This might help illustrate my prior point.
In kinetic operations, often the first objective is to destroy command and control (i.e., information) infrastructure.
This might help illustrate my prior point.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
I'm way late to the ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER discourse, but it tickled me that the film's bad guy is basically Vince McMahon meets Mike Flynn, and he's desperate to join the deep state. Lockjaw could be any number of retired special ops guys who go on Infowars once a week to sell survival buckets.
a man with gray hair and a black shirt is standing in front of a wall
ALT: a man with gray hair and a black shirt is standing in front of a wall
media.tenor.com
January 18, 2026 at 5:33 PM
I'm way late to the ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER discourse, but it tickled me that the film's bad guy is basically Vince McMahon meets Mike Flynn, and he's desperate to join the deep state. Lockjaw could be any number of retired special ops guys who go on Infowars once a week to sell survival buckets.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
RFK Jr.'s foray into colonialist medicine gets nixed.
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:59 PM
RFK Jr.'s foray into colonialist medicine gets nixed.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
MAHA’s fetish for autism is going to harm so many children.
There’s a big story everyone is missing—but this article hits on it.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
We aren’t just seeing public health dismantled bc we’ve been taken over by conspiracy theorists and lunatics.
What we’re really seeing is the giant, predatory, underegulated wellness industry come to Washington.
FDA deletes warning on bogus autism therapies touted by RFK Jr.‘s allies
The agency used to warn of chelation, used by RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine ally David Geier.
arstechnica.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:53 AM
MAHA’s fetish for autism is going to harm so many children.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
"Until we get to net-zero emissions, extreme weather will only get worse, but it’s already damaging crops and pushing up the price of food all over the world."
So reports those hippies at ... [checks notes] ... the @wsj.com.
So reports those hippies at ... [checks notes] ... the @wsj.com.
July 21, 2025 at 5:44 PM
"Until we get to net-zero emissions, extreme weather will only get worse, but it’s already damaging crops and pushing up the price of food all over the world."
So reports those hippies at ... [checks notes] ... the @wsj.com.
So reports those hippies at ... [checks notes] ... the @wsj.com.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
@hcrichardson.bsky.social wrote about a 1945 US leaflet on how to spot fascism in America.
I thought it might be worth screenshotting the relevant bit.
ALL of the these warnings have come to pass in the past year. 1/2
I thought it might be worth screenshotting the relevant bit.
ALL of the these warnings have come to pass in the past year. 1/2
January 11, 2026 at 4:51 PM
@hcrichardson.bsky.social wrote about a 1945 US leaflet on how to spot fascism in America.
I thought it might be worth screenshotting the relevant bit.
ALL of the these warnings have come to pass in the past year. 1/2
I thought it might be worth screenshotting the relevant bit.
ALL of the these warnings have come to pass in the past year. 1/2
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Understanding the psychological appeal of populism
Sandra Obradović
Séamus Power
Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington
Current Opinion in Psychology, 2020
Article link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Sandra Obradović
Séamus Power
Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington
Current Opinion in Psychology, 2020
Article link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 11, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Understanding the psychological appeal of populism
Sandra Obradović
Séamus Power
Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington
Current Opinion in Psychology, 2020
Article link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Sandra Obradović
Séamus Power
Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington
Current Opinion in Psychology, 2020
Article link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Some thoughts about the murder by ICE in Minnesota.
This is the time for all of us to demand much better and to show what’s right.
This is the time for all of us to demand much better and to show what’s right.
January 8, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Some thoughts about the murder by ICE in Minnesota.
This is the time for all of us to demand much better and to show what’s right.
This is the time for all of us to demand much better and to show what’s right.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Every new information medium provides opportunities for fascist myth-makers.
Radio. TV. Now Social Media
Under Hitler and Goebbels, the German film industry became entirely nationalized.
In the US, all social media oligarchs are regime aligned
Clicktatorship is a great title for dire spectacle
Radio. TV. Now Social Media
Under Hitler and Goebbels, the German film industry became entirely nationalized.
In the US, all social media oligarchs are regime aligned
Clicktatorship is a great title for dire spectacle
New, from me: The Trump administration isn’t just using social media to shape a narrative. They view the world through a social media lens in a way that is plausibly corrupting their judgment and undermining their performance.
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Life Under a Clicktatorship
What happens to government when everything is content?
donmoynihan.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Every new information medium provides opportunities for fascist myth-makers.
Radio. TV. Now Social Media
Under Hitler and Goebbels, the German film industry became entirely nationalized.
In the US, all social media oligarchs are regime aligned
Clicktatorship is a great title for dire spectacle
Radio. TV. Now Social Media
Under Hitler and Goebbels, the German film industry became entirely nationalized.
In the US, all social media oligarchs are regime aligned
Clicktatorship is a great title for dire spectacle
Reposted by Sam Leeming
New, from me: The Trump administration isn’t just using social media to shape a narrative. They view the world through a social media lens in a way that is plausibly corrupting their judgment and undermining their performance.
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Life Under a Clicktatorship
What happens to government when everything is content?
donmoynihan.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:40 PM
New, from me: The Trump administration isn’t just using social media to shape a narrative. They view the world through a social media lens in a way that is plausibly corrupting their judgment and undermining their performance.
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Welcome to the clicktatorship. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/life-under...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
I’m telling you, the rise of authoritarianism is directly connected to efforts to keep the fossil-fuel system going. It’s right there for everyone with eyes to see.
The Indian government contends that foreign funds were intended to promote the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty, which it claims "could could expose India to legal challenges... and severely compromise the nation’s energy security and economic development".
🎁🔗
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
🎁🔗
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Indian Climate Activist Investigated for Receiving Foreign Funds
Indian authorities are investigating a prominent climate activist for allegedly using foreign funds to further an anti-fossil fuel agenda.
www.bloomberg.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:44 PM
I’m telling you, the rise of authoritarianism is directly connected to efforts to keep the fossil-fuel system going. It’s right there for everyone with eyes to see.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
This is how Farage builds his coalition of disordered counterpublics, mimicking the MAGA coalition of disordered counterpublics.
Farage: "I believe in vaccinations when they're vaccinations. I don't think what happened with Covid were vaccinations. You have to keep having them every 6 months."
Conspiratorial nonsense.
Some vaccinations like Covid shots require multiple/seasonal doses because immunity fades & viruses change.
Conspiratorial nonsense.
Some vaccinations like Covid shots require multiple/seasonal doses because immunity fades & viruses change.
January 7, 2026 at 9:05 PM
This is how Farage builds his coalition of disordered counterpublics, mimicking the MAGA coalition of disordered counterpublics.
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Published in Feb 2020 as a Commentary, a brief article refuted claims that SARS-CoV-2 had been engineered from RaTG13, SHC014 or MA15, or HIV.
Nothing controversial here! And the article's impact was limited. But it was targeted by FOIA requests. ▫️2/6
Nothing controversial here! And the article's impact was limited. But it was targeted by FOIA requests. ▫️2/6
January 6, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Published in Feb 2020 as a Commentary, a brief article refuted claims that SARS-CoV-2 had been engineered from RaTG13, SHC014 or MA15, or HIV.
Nothing controversial here! And the article's impact was limited. But it was targeted by FOIA requests. ▫️2/6
Nothing controversial here! And the article's impact was limited. But it was targeted by FOIA requests. ▫️2/6
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Common design for how disinformation campaigns undermine democracy.
--Identify audiences who hold perceived grievance
--Support a populist message that offers the aggrieved audience a sense of power it has not recently felt and an out-group to blame.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEjt...
--Identify audiences who hold perceived grievance
--Support a populist message that offers the aggrieved audience a sense of power it has not recently felt and an out-group to blame.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEjt...
How some disinformation campaigns attempt to undermine democracy
YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Common design for how disinformation campaigns undermine democracy.
--Identify audiences who hold perceived grievance
--Support a populist message that offers the aggrieved audience a sense of power it has not recently felt and an out-group to blame.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEjt...
--Identify audiences who hold perceived grievance
--Support a populist message that offers the aggrieved audience a sense of power it has not recently felt and an out-group to blame.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEjt...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
"We are grieving the realization that dedication alone cannot protect an agency from leaders determined to destroy it"
"What does science matter when the health secretary openly peddles unfounded conspiracy theories?"
"What does research matter when evidence-based medicine is treated as optional, or worse, as ideological opposition?"
Essential reading.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
"What does research matter when evidence-based medicine is treated as optional, or worse, as ideological opposition?"
Essential reading.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
Opinion | The CDC Shooting Isn't What Broke Me
Continuing to show up to work at an agency I no longer trust is devastating
www.medpagetoday.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:12 AM
"We are grieving the realization that dedication alone cannot protect an agency from leaders determined to destroy it"
Reposted by Sam Leeming
"If there is no boundary between real and unreal, good and evil, life and death, then nothing means anything, and we face a nihilist abyss." @marcishore.bsky.social in #IWMPost @iwm.at
www.iwm.at/publication/...
www.iwm.at/publication/...
In a Post-Truth World: The Fate of Birth, Death, and Other Boundaries
If there is no boundary between real and unreal, good and evil, life and death, then nothing means anything, and we face a nihilist abyss.
www.iwm.at
December 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"If there is no boundary between real and unreal, good and evil, life and death, then nothing means anything, and we face a nihilist abyss." @marcishore.bsky.social in #IWMPost @iwm.at
www.iwm.at/publication/...
www.iwm.at/publication/...
Reposted by Sam Leeming
If we knew the price we'd have to pay for telling men to open up about their emotions, would we still have done it?
I am begging everyone on here to read this new post by Bryan Johnson — the super rich tech guy who is now doing the “never die” protocol.
I need to talk about it with you all.
I need to talk about it with you all.
December 30, 2025 at 9:08 AM
If we knew the price we'd have to pay for telling men to open up about their emotions, would we still have done it?
Reposted by Sam Leeming
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that the 1918 flu pandemic was caused by a lab virus from vaccine research, a defective influenza vaccine. Let’s analyze what a lie this is. First, in 1918, 107 years ago, virology was in its infancy
December 27, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that the 1918 flu pandemic was caused by a lab virus from vaccine research, a defective influenza vaccine. Let’s analyze what a lie this is. First, in 1918, 107 years ago, virology was in its infancy
The Ultimate Motte and Bailey.
You can’t criticise something that refuses to admit it exists, until it wants authority again.
The teacher retains authority while denying the grounds on which authority could be examined
Nothing is real... except what I’m telling you right now.
You can’t criticise something that refuses to admit it exists, until it wants authority again.
The teacher retains authority while denying the grounds on which authority could be examined
Nothing is real... except what I’m telling you right now.
December 28, 2025 at 11:51 PM
The Ultimate Motte and Bailey.
You can’t criticise something that refuses to admit it exists, until it wants authority again.
The teacher retains authority while denying the grounds on which authority could be examined
Nothing is real... except what I’m telling you right now.
You can’t criticise something that refuses to admit it exists, until it wants authority again.
The teacher retains authority while denying the grounds on which authority could be examined
Nothing is real... except what I’m telling you right now.