Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Van Badham

@vanbadham.bsky.social

23K followers 1.2K following 2.9K posts

Guardian columnist, co-hosts The Week on Wednesday podcast, makes theatre, yaps a lot. Contact me: https://linktr.ee/vanbadham You should totally buy my book, QANON & ON: A Short and Shocking History of Internet Conspiracy Cults. It’s bonkers.

linktr.ee

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Van Badham @vanbadham.bsky.social · 4d

My latest in the @australia.theguardian.com isn’t just about how we must regulate tech - it’s about how WE CAN.

#auspol

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

In a world where techlords rule us by whim, Australia’s stance against deepfakes is reason to celebrate | Van Badham

Could courage be contagious? Let’s hope so, because in the absence of powerful regulation, the normalisation of awful blooms

www.theguardian.com

9 38

Reposted by Van Badham

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · 8h

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

270 2.8K 17K

Reposted by Van Badham

Jacob Soboroff @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social · 7h

Michigan Avenue right now.

850 8.9K 30K

Reposted by Van Badham

Adoptable Dogs @adoptabledogs.bsky.social · 47m

Shelby 🐶
Baby female Australian Shepherd
Adoptable from Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (Thompson Falls, MT)

https://www.petfinder.com/dog/shelby-78672760/mt/thompson-falls/thompson-river-animal-care-shelter-mt62/

3 11

Reposted by Van Badham

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 20h

I’m shocked.

780 4.3K 11K

Reposted by Van Badham

Leroy @leroylynch.bsky.social · 21h

Bank of England: Record of the Financial Policy Committee meeting on 2 October 2025 (note comment on AI risk)
www.bankofengland.co.uk/financial-po...

Despite persistent material uncertainty around the global macroeconomic outlook, risky asset valuations have increased and credit spreads have compressed. Measures of risk premia across many risky asset classes have tightened further since the last FPC meeting in June 2025. On a number of measures, equity market valuations appear stretched, particularly for technology companies focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This, when combined with increasing concentration within market indices, leaves equity markets particularly exposed should expectations around the impact of AI become less optimistic.

1 3 4

Reposted by Van Badham

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 21h

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

370 8.4K 22K

Reposted by Van Badham

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 19h

800 6.2K 18K

Van Badham @vanbadham.bsky.social · 22h

Imagine being so weak you mobilised the national guard because you got heckled by a chicken.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 1d

Kristi Noem confronts enemy combatants in the Portland war zone today.

4 24 120

Reposted by Van Badham

Informed Citizens @johnrwilder.bsky.social · 1d

Someone said Pam Bondi looks like the human embodiment of a Marlboro Light cigarette and now I can't move on with my day

4 5 52

Reposted by Van Badham

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 1d

Kristi Noem confronts enemy combatants in the Portland war zone today.

4.8K 8.1K 26K

Reposted by Van Badham

Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 1d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

1.7K 21K 55K

Reposted by Van Badham

Christian Downie @christiandownie.bsky.social · 1d

Our forthcoming book Climate Obstruction: A Global Assessment is profiled in The Guardian this morning

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... @anuregnet.bsky.social @cssn.org

Media and political attacks on Australia’s emissions targets ‘straight out of the climate obstruction playbook’, expert says

Prof Christian Downie points to the Business Council of Australia and News Corp newspapers as examples of deliberate obstruction

www.theguardian.com

8 8

Reposted by Van Badham

Courtney Vaughn @courtneyvaughn.bsky.social · 1d

Streets are still closed off in front of the Portland ICE facility at 8:30pm. Protesters have gathered on a side street. Dance party in progress.

780 5.1K 21K

Reposted by Van Badham

Jonathan V. Last @jvl.bsky.social · 1d

Bunch of tubbies with facial hair and zero muzzle discipline. Don’t tell the SecWAR.

51 54 300

Reposted by Van Badham

Warren Oates @warrenoates1.bsky.social · 2d

I really like this use of big data to go after unpaid tax.

I know it's just one of a range of measures the Labour government has worked on to go after unpaid tax.

And the impact in year 1: £4.6bn tax collected through this system, 35% higher than the average under the Tories.

‘Big data’ helps HMRC increase UK tax haul by £4.6bn

Connect system uses multiple sources of information to spot cases of underpayment

www.ft.com

4 31 89

Reposted by Van Badham

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 2d

Another tragic accident.

1.3K 3K 9.2K

Reposted by Van Badham

😈 The Morning Star 😈 @morning-gold.bsky.social · 2d

I mean, you can't deny all her children didn't come from one woman.

Van Badham @vanbadham.bsky.social · 2d

The conqueror of the largest empire in history was Queen Victoria, you hairless eunuch streak of shit.

1 4 16

Reposted by Van Badham

Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com · 3d

Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ) publicly targeted this judge on Twitter a couple weeks ago.

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 3d

SOUTH CAROLINA… “Judge Goodstein was walking on the beach when the fire started. Her husband, Arnie, was in the house with children and perhaps grandchildren. The family had to escape by jumping from a window or balcony...” www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...

970 7.5K 14K

Reposted by Van Badham

TheCatMan @bigbrohem.bsky.social · 3d

63 160 920

Reposted by Van Badham

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 2d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 2d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

580 14K 29K

Reposted by Van Badham

Charlie Angus @charlieangus104.bsky.social · 2d

I spoke up about Pierre Poilievre today and got this threat on facebook. Josh Levy tells me to watch my back.
No Josh, I will keep speaking out about building a better Canada regardless of the threats you make to me or my loved ones.

210 300 1.1K

Reposted by Van Badham

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 2d

you know this guy had to have made a huge number of enemies for oklahoma republicans to want to take him down (serves him right, he sucks)

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 2d

THE CHICKENS ARE FINALLY COMING HOME TO ROOST

Ryan Walters is out & the investigation floodgates just opened. The Oklahoma AG launched a full audit of Walters’ entire tenure as Superintendent, and it’s about damn time.

Also the education dept website’s being scrubbed of his culture-war nonsense.
🧵

110 820 5.7K

Reposted by Van Badham

Alisha Grauso (She/Her) @alishagrauso.bsky.social · 2d

I feel deeply conflicted as a soon-to-be 45-year-old trying very hard not to be an accidental cougar when I see clips of Robert Irwin on DWTS.

Every time, I'm talking in my head to the ghost of Steve Irwin like, "Sorry, sir, but your son does really good thirst traps, RIP, peace be with you."

6 3 53

Reposted by Van Badham

Mrs. Detective PikaBOO, Esq. @clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social · 2d

“I left my wife, Nicole Kidman, because I was sick of her, Nicole Kidman, needing me to have sex with her, Nicole Kidman” do you hear yourself man

Tweet from Daily Mail Celebrity @DailyMailCeleb
How Nicole Kidman's 'bottomless need for sexual attention' led to the end of her marriage to country music star Keith Urban: Nashville insiders open up to
ALISON BOSHOFF

610 980 7.6K

Reposted by Van Badham

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 2d

my life is that I record a podcast episode all about tariffs and leave the booth just to find out there are more tariffs

Beginning November 1st, 2025, all Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks coming into the United States from other Countries will be Tariffed at the Rate of 25%. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

110 320 2.3K