Zena Marks
@zenamarks.bsky.social
Science + natural history journalist and producer-director for TV, digital and radio. Social evolution specialist. Sceptical, not cynical.
Reposted by Zena Marks
Al Sharpton: Barack Obama was able to become President because of Jesse Jackson.
February 17, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Al Sharpton: Barack Obama was able to become President because of Jesse Jackson.
"Wherever the BBC has been forced to withdraw – for financial or political pressures – propaganda has been quick to fill the gap.
[The #BBCWorldService is] an instrument of soft power. But...also part of our national security. Accurate journalism is the strongest weapon in the war of information."
[The #BBCWorldService is] an instrument of soft power. But...also part of our national security. Accurate journalism is the strongest weapon in the war of information."
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:41 PM
"Wherever the BBC has been forced to withdraw – for financial or political pressures – propaganda has been quick to fill the gap.
[The #BBCWorldService is] an instrument of soft power. But...also part of our national security. Accurate journalism is the strongest weapon in the war of information."
[The #BBCWorldService is] an instrument of soft power. But...also part of our national security. Accurate journalism is the strongest weapon in the war of information."
Reposted by Zena Marks
Russia stepping up gray zone attacks against NATO countries in the Arctic
www.reuters.com/world/norway...
www.reuters.com/world/norway...
Norway says it expects more Russian spying in the Arctic, sabotage activity
Norwegian security services said they expect Russia to step up its spying on Norway this year, with a focus on the Arctic, and Moscow may commit acts of sabotage aimed at undermining Oslo's support fo...
www.reuters.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Russia stepping up gray zone attacks against NATO countries in the Arctic
www.reuters.com/world/norway...
www.reuters.com/world/norway...
I love it when stats and poll watchers are confounded by real life. Reminds me why I was named after Zeno of Elea. #StSebastiansparadox #hareandtortoiseparadox
February 10, 2026 at 12:15 AM
I love it when stats and poll watchers are confounded by real life. Reminds me why I was named after Zeno of Elea. #StSebastiansparadox #hareandtortoiseparadox
Tom Allan is a big loss. The operation became noticeably more effective when he came in.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
Keir Starmer’s director of communications Tim Allan steps down
Keir Starmer’s director of communications Tim Allan steps down
Exclusive: Decision follows departure of chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over Peter Mandelson scandal
Tim Allan, Keir Starmer’s director of communications, has stepped down after just five months in the job, his resignation coming a day after the prime minister’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, also resigned.
Allan said in a brief statement: “I have decided to stand down to allow a new No10 team to be built. I wish the PM and his team every success.” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Tom Allan is a big loss. The operation became noticeably more effective when he came in.
bsky.app/profile/theg...
bsky.app/profile/theg...
This is the perfect opportunity for #Starmer to demonstrate that he did indeed inspire the character of Mark Darcy - defending vulnerable people from the Wickhams of the political/financial world. I despise corrupt people, who so predictably try to take down principled people holding them to account
February 8, 2026 at 5:46 PM
This is the perfect opportunity for #Starmer to demonstrate that he did indeed inspire the character of Mark Darcy - defending vulnerable people from the Wickhams of the political/financial world. I despise corrupt people, who so predictably try to take down principled people holding them to account
Reposted by Zena Marks
Not *all* Labour MPs wanted McSweeney out.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
February 8, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Not *all* Labour MPs wanted McSweeney out.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
“Gutted about Morgan”, one texts.
“So many of us know he’s brilliant to work with, so exceptional at the bigger picture strategic thinking, relentlessly focused on the moving pieces… and credit him with winning the majority”.
One (rare) advantage of X over BlueSky - you can bookmark posts from your phone app, rather than only 'like' them. @bsky.app please can you advise/sort?
February 7, 2026 at 12:51 AM
One (rare) advantage of X over BlueSky - you can bookmark posts from your phone app, rather than only 'like' them. @bsky.app please can you advise/sort?
#Starmer staying in power is in the interests of UK national security. This is particularly on the basis of national and international stability and yes, I would strongly argue, principled competence.
February 5, 2026 at 11:13 AM
#Starmer staying in power is in the interests of UK national security. This is particularly on the basis of national and international stability and yes, I would strongly argue, principled competence.
To state the blooming obvious, in today's global climate, national security and politics need to be in lockstep.
February 5, 2026 at 11:09 AM
To state the blooming obvious, in today's global climate, national security and politics need to be in lockstep.
Reposted by Zena Marks
🚨🚨Poland to examine “increasingly likely possibility that pedophilia scandal was co-organized by intelligence services” in Moscow.
Read the full story below. 🖇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
Read the full story below. 🖇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
February 4, 2026 at 6:33 PM
🚨🚨Poland to examine “increasingly likely possibility that pedophilia scandal was co-organized by intelligence services” in Moscow.
Read the full story below. 🖇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
Read the full story below. 🖇️
www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...
Would the security services really allow someone who wasn't a member of the security services to be ambassador to the U.S. in the second Trump era? #PeterMandelson
February 5, 2026 at 10:05 AM
Would the security services really allow someone who wasn't a member of the security services to be ambassador to the U.S. in the second Trump era? #PeterMandelson
It seems to me that, today, society rewards looking as though you're doing something more than actually doing it. Performativeness. (I wonder whether the advent of 'liking' things, rather than actually liking them, has anything to do with it.)
February 2, 2026 at 12:39 AM
It seems to me that, today, society rewards looking as though you're doing something more than actually doing it. Performativeness. (I wonder whether the advent of 'liking' things, rather than actually liking them, has anything to do with it.)
Sandwiches instead of the roast at boarding school 🎻 Poor Roper #NightManager
February 1, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Sandwiches instead of the roast at boarding school 🎻 Poor Roper #NightManager
"I was there that day recovering the bodies of my fellow astronauts." Yet another way in which @captmarkkelly.bsky.social is a hero. #ColumbiaDisaster #MarkKelly #Americanheroes
Twenty-three years ago today, seven astronauts never made it home when we lost space shuttle Columbia. It was a tragedy that changed space exploration and reminded us of its incredible risks. I think about their families every Feb. 1st. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.
February 1, 2026 at 9:02 PM
"I was there that day recovering the bodies of my fellow astronauts." Yet another way in which @captmarkkelly.bsky.social is a hero. #ColumbiaDisaster #MarkKelly #Americanheroes
Reposted by Zena Marks
They are all Black journalists and Black politicians. Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are journalists. Trahern Jean Crews ran for Minnesota's House District 66B. Jamael Lydell Lundy is running for Minnesota Senate District 65.
feds have arrested jamael lundy alongside journalists georgia fort and don lemon for the protest at a st. paul church led by an ICE agent
lundy is currently running for state senate district 65 in minnesota. his wife is anika bowie, a st. paul city councilmember
www.jlundyforsd65.com
lundy is currently running for state senate district 65 in minnesota. his wife is anika bowie, a st. paul city councilmember
www.jlundyforsd65.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:42 PM
They are all Black journalists and Black politicians. Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are journalists. Trahern Jean Crews ran for Minnesota's House District 66B. Jamael Lydell Lundy is running for Minnesota Senate District 65.
Reposted by Zena Marks
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Reposted by Zena Marks
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
January 27, 2026 at 12:22 AM
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
shows.acast.com/media-confid... Germany's household levy model, with low-income exemptions, sounds good #BBC #BBCCharter #Licencefee #BBCfunding #BBCfundingmodel
How to protect the BBC from its enemies | Media Confidential
shows.acast.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:29 PM
shows.acast.com/media-confid... Germany's household levy model, with low-income exemptions, sounds good #BBC #BBCCharter #Licencefee #BBCfunding #BBCfundingmodel
There are male journalists who try to silence a woman who disagrees with them. They do realise that they are journalists & social media platforms are public, yes? They're bringing the efficacy of society down. Women have a right to comment/disagree - esp where they have expertise & the man doesn't.
January 26, 2026 at 5:17 PM
There are male journalists who try to silence a woman who disagrees with them. They do realise that they are journalists & social media platforms are public, yes? They're bringing the efficacy of society down. Women have a right to comment/disagree - esp where they have expertise & the man doesn't.