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Xavier Greenwood

@xaviergreenwood.bsky.social

5.4K followers 720 following 110 posts

Senior editor at The Observer. I edit The Sensemaker and report across print and digital. Previously made podcasts for Tortoise.

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Feb 20

I spent countless childhood evenings listening to BBC Radio 5 Live in my mum’s car, so it’s a dream to have written this series for 5 Live about Man City. All four eps out on BBC Sounds and on the radio soon. Produced with @mrabutler.bsky.social & hosted by Clive Myrie.

@tortoisemedia.bsky.social

BBC Sounds - Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges - Available Episodes

Listen to the latest episodes of Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges on BBC Sounds.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jul 25

Trump’s visit to Scotland may have local, national and global consequences. @theobserveruk.bsky.social

Trump’s Scotland visit will have local and global consequ...

The president’s return to his maternal homeland has triggered the country’s biggest security operation since the death of the Queen

observer.co.uk

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Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · Jul 23

Unite’s £112m white elephant.

An internal report claims building firm behind trade union’s disastrous hotel project provided a private jet to take Len McCluskey to the Champions League final.

Read more:

Unite’s £112m white elephant | The Observer

An internal report claims building firm behind trade union’s disastrous hotel project provided a private jet to take Len McCluskey to the Champions Leagu...

observer.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jul 23

I've written for @theobserveruk.bsky.social about Len McCluskey, the Flanagan Group and Unite's £112 million white elephant.

Unite’s £112m white elephant | The Observer

An internal report claims building firm behind trade union’s disastrous hotel project provided a private jet to take Len McCluskey to the Champions Leagu...

observer.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jul 18

I've written a short piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social about Oasis and the songs that have no meaning. Lots to capture in 350 words, but I gave it a go

I sobbed along to Oasis at Heaton Park. Why? It’s complic...

The band’s return to Manchester has created a mix of powerful emotions. Even with the songs that have no meaning

observer.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jul 6

My piece for @theobserveruk.bsky.social on what esports has in common with traditional sports... Saudi Arabia for one thing.

Esports is another plank in Saudi Arabia’s cultural takeover

There are power plays behind the screen as a new era of gaming championships emerges

observer.co.uk

Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jul 1

France says au revoir to public smoking. Me on the myths and realities of the French love affair with tobacco in today's
@theobserveruk.bsky.social

France says au revoir to public smoking | The Observer

This week’s restrictions are the latest step towards the country’s target of creating a tobacco-free generation by 2032

observer.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jun 26

Zohran Mamdani’s primary win in New York should be a warning for Democrats. Me for @theobserveruk.bsky.social

Zohran Mamdani: out of left field | The Observer

Zohran Mamdani’s primary win in New York should be a warning for Democrats

observer.co.uk

Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · Jun 4

Canada seeks to break sport’s strangest losing streak

Edmonton Oilers face-off against Florida Panthers with the weight of history – and geopolitics – on the line.

🖋️ @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social

Canada seeks to break sport’s strangest losing streak

Edmonton Oilers face-off against Florida Panthers with the weight of history – and geopolitics – on the line

bit.ly

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Jun 4

The Stanley Cup begins this evening with the weight of history – and geopolitics – on the line. Here's my piece for
@theobserveruk.bsky.social on sport's strangest losing streak...

Canada seeks to break sport’s strangest losing streak

Edmonton Oilers face-off against Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup with the weight of history – and geopolitics – on the line

observer.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · May 13

My analysis of Labour’s immigration plans in today’s @theobserveruk.bsky.social.

They won’t beat Reform but may unintentionally show voters that reducing migration carries an economic and social cost:

Labour’s new immigration plans won’t beat Reform | The Observer

But they might show voters that reducing migration carries an economic and social cost

observer.co.uk

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Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · May 12

A toxic takeover turned Manchester United from a powerhouse into football’s laughing stock.

The 20-year anniversary of the Glazer family buyout does not mark a happy day for fans.

✍️ @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social

Read more:

A toxic takeover turned United from a powerhouse into football’s laughing stock | The Observer

The 20-year anniversary of the Glazer family buyout does not mark a happy day for fans

bit.ly

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · May 11

Also in the paper, available in all good newsagents, and many bad ones too.

Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · May 11

In today's @observeruk.bsky.social, I've written about 20 years of the Glazers at Manchester United. Time flies!

A toxic takeover turned United from a powerhouse into football’s laughing stock | The Observer

The 20-year anniversary of the Glazer family buyout does not mark a happy day for fans

observer.co.uk

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · May 2

They have — uncontacted refers to sustained contact!

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · May 2

I’ve invented a new social media trend. It’s called the leave the Sentinelese people alone challenge.

My story in @observeruk.bsky.social today about the growing threats to uncontacted tribes.

Uncontacted tribes are under threat from developers, extractors… and influencers

An isolated people that Marco Polo called ‘violent and cruel’ just want to be left alone

observer.co.uk

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Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

Tortoise @tortoisemedia.bsky.social · Apr 15

Manchester United is a club used to success. But it is languishing in the league and saddled with debt.

This week's Slow Newscast tells the story of how one of the world's most successful football clubs fell apart.

🗣️ @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social

Listen now: lnk.to/HyBIHwBS

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Apr 15

And here is the accompanying newsletter piece:

Manchester United’s long slide to irrelevance

The story of the club’s decline starts, bizarrely, with a racehorse

www.tortoisemedia.com

Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Apr 15

For this week’s @tortoisemedia.bsky.social Slow Newscast, I’ve told the two-decade story of Manchester United’s decline. Listen if you enjoy football, business shenanigans or schadenfreude.

How to ruin a football club

The Slow Newscast · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

Anand Menon @anandmenon.bsky.social · Apr 15

Feeling tired and depressed? Cheer yourself up H/T @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social www.tortoisemedia.com/2025/04/15/m...

Manchester United’s long slide to irrelevance

The story of the club’s decline starts, bizarrely, with a racehorse

www.tortoisemedia.com

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Apr 8

And read today's Sensemaker on how a dubious online claim became part of presidential policy:

How a dubious claim about whales went from fringe argument to presidential policy

Tortoise’s Hot Air project shows how climate misinformation spreads

www.tortoisemedia.com

Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Apr 8

@chefboibex.bsky.social @ktriley.bsky.social and others have been working on an incredible new tool to track climate misinformation online. Check it out here @tortoisemedia.bsky.social

Hot Air – Explore the Tool

www.tortoisemedia.com

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Mar 14

Some fantastic jobs coming up at the Observer, namely a chief international correspondent position as well as correspondent jobs in Africa, the Middle East, the US, Latin America and Europe. Take a look!

Chief International Correspondent, The Observer

www.tortoisemedia.com

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Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

Jess Winch @jesswinch.bsky.social · Mar 14

Come work with us! The Observer is looking for a chief international correspondent and a slate of new contributors across the world. It's a fantastic chance to join a revamped international team and play a role in shaping global coverage in the new Observer. www.tortoisemedia.com/2025/03/13/c...

Chief International Correspondent, The Observer

www.tortoisemedia.com

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Reposted by Xavier Greenwood

Cat Neilan @catneilan.bsky.social · Mar 7

Exclusive: Labour failed to declare five figure donation to Cabinet minister, citing "administrative error"

The sum came from an opaque firm whose accounts don't show if it made a profit - something which the govt is considering banning

www.tortoisemedia.com/2025/03/07/e...

Exclusive: Labour fails to declare minister’s five-figure donation

The party blamed an administrative error for not declaring the sum, revealed as part of a joint investigation between Tortoise and BBC R4’s The Naked Week

www.tortoisemedia.com

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Xavier Greenwood @xaviergreenwood.bsky.social · Mar 2

Such nice words for Football on Trial in the Project Brazen newsletter!

Listen to the first two eps on BBC Radio 5 Live at 7pm or catch the whole thing here now: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

@mrabutler.bsky.social @tortoisemedia.bsky.social

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