Sameer Padania
@sdp.bsky.social
I work on public interest journalism and information ecosystems worldwide - and how they are funded and financed.
https://macrosco.pe / linkedin.com/in/sameerpadania
#THFC #COYS #FRSA
https://macrosco.pe / linkedin.com/in/sameerpadania
#THFC #COYS #FRSA
Incredibly high-stakes elections coming up in #France and #Brazil soon…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the French far right: mainstream parties are running out of time | Editorial
Editorial: A Paris appeals court will decide if Marine Le Pen can stand in next year’s presidential election. But legal troubles have not damaged the fortunes of her party
www.theguardian.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Incredibly high-stakes elections coming up in #France and #Brazil soon…
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“To restore confidence *in* democratic government, it is vital to restore the confidence *of* democratic government.”
New @futuregovforum.bsky.social report on #power and #democracy:
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/power-failure/
New @futuregovforum.bsky.social report on #power and #democracy:
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/power-failure/
Power Failure: A new theory of power - Future Governance Forum
About About The Future Governance Forum The Future Governance Forum (FGF) is a progressive, non-partisan think tank focused on reforming the state with the ultimate goal of renewing the nation. We mak...
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk
January 19, 2026 at 10:54 AM
“To restore confidence *in* democratic government, it is vital to restore the confidence *of* democratic government.”
New @futuregovforum.bsky.social report on #power and #democracy:
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/power-failure/
New @futuregovforum.bsky.social report on #power and #democracy:
www.futuregovernanceforum.co.uk/power-failure/
Excellent canter through the field of civic renewal by @jamestplunkett.bsky.social.
"technocracy lacks an emotional register. It can’t speak in sentiments like pride, agency, and a felt sense of momentum - precisely the sentiments that are abundant in community-led development."
"technocracy lacks an emotional register. It can’t speak in sentiments like pride, agency, and a felt sense of momentum - precisely the sentiments that are abundant in community-led development."
New post just out:
"Power to the People"
Today we have a guest post from @jamestplunkett.bsky.social on how Labour can counter the "Britain is Broken" narrative by investing in civic life and giving people more control over their community.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
"Power to the People"
Today we have a guest post from @jamestplunkett.bsky.social on how Labour can counter the "Britain is Broken" narrative by investing in civic life and giving people more control over their community.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/p...
January 19, 2026 at 9:17 AM
“Trump’s axis is destroying the administrative state, decapitating cultural institutions, & taking full ownership of the federal knowledge infrastructure. Trump’s movement seeks the final subjugation of the knowledge institutions & the knowledge classes. It is waging war on knowledge itself.”
January 18, 2026 at 12:39 PM
“Trump’s axis is destroying the administrative state, decapitating cultural institutions, & taking full ownership of the federal knowledge infrastructure. Trump’s movement seeks the final subjugation of the knowledge institutions & the knowledge classes. It is waging war on knowledge itself.”
Reposted by Sameer Padania
How much more in your face can it be?
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
January 17, 2026 at 9:16 PM
How much more in your face can it be?
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
"Why are you asking me for my paperwork?"
"Because of your accent."
"You have an accent too."
"Where were you born sir?"
"Where were you born at?"
"Put your hands behind your back."
I don't want to own a car, I want to share a car, as one transport option alongside public transport and my bike. I don't think this is a weird desire. This is the third UK / #London #carsharing or subscription service I have used that has shut down... It's genuinely maddening.
January 16, 2026 at 9:43 PM
I don't want to own a car, I want to share a car, as one transport option alongside public transport and my bike. I don't think this is a weird desire. This is the third UK / #London #carsharing or subscription service I have used that has shut down... It's genuinely maddening.
[lunchbreak]
Have Noiser Podcast Network got Hugh Bonneville chained up in a recording studio somewhere?
HB: “no more, I beg of you!”
NPN: “You know what you signed up for, Bonneville! Record five more Sherlock Holmes stories, *if* you want that conjugal visit.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...
Have Noiser Podcast Network got Hugh Bonneville chained up in a recording studio somewhere?
HB: “no more, I beg of you!”
NPN: “You know what you signed up for, Bonneville! Record five more Sherlock Holmes stories, *if* you want that conjugal visit.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...
BBC Sounds - Sherlock Holmes Short Stories - Available Episodes
Listen to the latest episodes of Sherlock Holmes Short Stories on BBC Sounds.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 1:33 PM
[lunchbreak]
Have Noiser Podcast Network got Hugh Bonneville chained up in a recording studio somewhere?
HB: “no more, I beg of you!”
NPN: “You know what you signed up for, Bonneville! Record five more Sherlock Holmes stories, *if* you want that conjugal visit.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...
Have Noiser Podcast Network got Hugh Bonneville chained up in a recording studio somewhere?
HB: “no more, I beg of you!”
NPN: “You know what you signed up for, Bonneville! Record five more Sherlock Holmes stories, *if* you want that conjugal visit.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Synthetic media is becoming a routine feature of Indian politics, amid ineffective regulation, selective enforcement, and strained institutions, says Prateek Waghre. Neither AI detection nor new rules will fix a system where political actors and institutions exploit these tools for divisive ends.
Synthetic Media in Elections and Politics in India | TechPolicy.Press
Prateek Waghre discusses India’s approach to AI and deepfakes in elections, and how government authorities are or are not responding to synthetic media.
buff.ly
January 14, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Synthetic media is becoming a routine feature of Indian politics, amid ineffective regulation, selective enforcement, and strained institutions, says Prateek Waghre. Neither AI detection nor new rules will fix a system where political actors and institutions exploit these tools for divisive ends.
@benjitoon.bsky.social Hi Ben - would you mind following so I can DM you, please?
January 14, 2026 at 6:43 PM
@benjitoon.bsky.social Hi Ben - would you mind following so I can DM you, please?
I’m sure this was scheduled well before the Trump-edit furore, but feels like a subtweet:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Words and Music - American Ideas of Independence - BBC Sounds
Ideas of freedom expressed by Willa Cather, Solomon Northup, Walt Whitman, Louise Erdrich.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 10:44 AM
I’m sure this was scheduled well before the Trump-edit furore, but feels like a subtweet:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Reposted by Sameer Padania
Reposted by Sameer Padania
“Sometimes lines have to be drawn. Whatever you think of the #BBC, the president of the US is launching a personal lawsuit which at the very least could impoverish and disrupt a citizen-funded national institution, which the prime minister needs explicitly to defend.” @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 1:26 AM
“Sometimes lines have to be drawn. Whatever you think of the #BBC, the president of the US is launching a personal lawsuit which at the very least could impoverish and disrupt a citizen-funded national institution, which the prime minister needs explicitly to defend.” @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social
Reposted by Sameer Padania
“In seeking to preserve its autonomy & yet maintain the US special relationship, @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social [ @chathamhouse.org ] said the UK had to be willing to differ publicly, urging Keir Starmer to make an explicit stand in the defence of the #BBC...”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
End of western alliance means UK must be bolder, says Chatham House director
Bronwen Maddox says Trump’s rejection of international law leaves UK and Europe facing huge dilemma
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 AM
“In seeking to preserve its autonomy & yet maintain the US special relationship, @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social [ @chathamhouse.org ] said the UK had to be willing to differ publicly, urging Keir Starmer to make an explicit stand in the defence of the #BBC...”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
“In seeking to preserve its autonomy & yet maintain the US special relationship, @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social [ @chathamhouse.org ] said the UK had to be willing to differ publicly, urging Keir Starmer to make an explicit stand in the defence of the #BBC...”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
End of western alliance means UK must be bolder, says Chatham House director
Bronwen Maddox says Trump’s rejection of international law leaves UK and Europe facing huge dilemma
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 AM
“In seeking to preserve its autonomy & yet maintain the US special relationship, @bronwenmaddox.bsky.social [ @chathamhouse.org ] said the UK had to be willing to differ publicly, urging Keir Starmer to make an explicit stand in the defence of the #BBC...”
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
I still remember reading Jay Ruby’s Secure the Shadow - extraordinary:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026268109...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026268109...
January 12, 2026 at 7:42 AM
I still remember reading Jay Ruby’s Secure the Shadow - extraordinary:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026268109...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026268109...
"The [open access] book’s central concept, strategic amateurism, proposes the key role of nonprofessional, communal leisure musical activities in building the structures for anti-capitalist organizing."
academic.oup.com/book/60031?l...
academic.oup.com/book/60031?l...
Socialism Now: Singing Activism after Yugoslavia
Abstract. Socialism Now: Singing Activism after Yugoslavia traces the activities of the self-organized choirs that have emerged in the region in the twenty
academic.oup.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:58 AM
"The [open access] book’s central concept, strategic amateurism, proposes the key role of nonprofessional, communal leisure musical activities in building the structures for anti-capitalist organizing."
academic.oup.com/book/60031?l...
academic.oup.com/book/60031?l...
Slightly diminish a band:
Car Morrison
Car Morrison
Led Balloon
Slightly diminish a band:
Jefferson Kite
Jefferson Kite
January 11, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Slightly diminish a band:
Car Morrison
Car Morrison
“Elon's Spies investigates how this #freespeech champion uses private investigators & #surveillance to target everyone from
#whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics & people in his own life.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
#whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics & people in his own life.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Tortoise Investigates - Elon's Spies - Introducing... Elon's Spies - BBC Sounds
How the world's richest man targets his enemies.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 11:25 AM
“Elon's Spies investigates how this #freespeech champion uses private investigators & #surveillance to target everyone from
#whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics & people in his own life.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
#whistleblowers at his companies, to online critics & people in his own life.”
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
This 1999 piece - off the back of julien donkey-boy by #HarmonyKorine - imagining what the next 30 years of his #film career would look like, just popped back into my head.
Glad we are still on target for “Samuel Beckett’s Green Eggs and Ham”:
www.salon.com/1999/10/01/h...
Glad we are still on target for “Samuel Beckett’s Green Eggs and Ham”:
www.salon.com/1999/10/01/h...
"What - If I Can Be So Presumptuous - Was I Thinking?" - Salon.com
A short overview of the next 30 years of filmmaker Harmony Korine's illustrious career.
www.salon.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:59 PM
This 1999 piece - off the back of julien donkey-boy by #HarmonyKorine - imagining what the next 30 years of his #film career would look like, just popped back into my head.
Glad we are still on target for “Samuel Beckett’s Green Eggs and Ham”:
www.salon.com/1999/10/01/h...
Glad we are still on target for “Samuel Beckett’s Green Eggs and Ham”:
www.salon.com/1999/10/01/h...
When a public good is framed as too expensive it's stopped being seen as a public good. The university is so obviously a place and idea that should be owned by and for the public. 💔
Three short paragraphs, and you've got the whole mind-bending mess that is #UKHE finance & governance neatly laid out.
This is why it's all so exhausting: our managers declare there's only one static frame, while we know their framing is part of the issue.
💡 www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/10/w...
This is why it's all so exhausting: our managers declare there's only one static frame, while we know their framing is part of the issue.
💡 www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/10/w...
January 10, 2026 at 1:52 PM