Mhairi Brennan

Scandalous

Hannah Spencer walking into Westminster, sucking her teeth, tutting, and muttering "tell you what, you've had some cowboys in here."

Swoon!

She's here! You can buy a copy in all good bookshops! #indyref

I hope people understand that this is a major success for those who would attack democracy and media. I realize that the CPB was quite technical. But what we are looking at here is the decimation of a gigantic infrastructure for distribution and transmission of journalism and information.

I’d say he’s sweating now

We built Jikipedia, a new wiki that compiles Jmail data into exhaustive reports on key figures in the Epstein scandal.

It lists all recorded visits to Epstein's estates, each person's possible knowledge of Epstein's crimes and laws that they may have violated.

latha rèidio sona dhut! Happy world radio day! #worldradioday
Why not treat yourself to an episode of Gruth is Uachdar - the tales of Hebridean life that put Finlay J Macdonald on the map. Available for the first time in Gaelic thanks to BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Palantir's Swiss Exit Highlights Global Data Sovereignty Challenge | NewsCase Switzerland's military has terminated its contract with Palantir Technologies Inc. following a security audit. The review concluded that U.S. intelligence ag

"Switzerland’s military has terminated its contract with Palantir… following a security audit… concluded that U.S. intelligence agencies could potentially access sensitive Swiss defense data… significant reputational warning for the data analytics firm"

www.newscase.com/palantirs-sw...

#R4Today

Reform UK approached Bangor University to ask whether Sarah Pochin (Reform MP) could come to debate. They said no, and this is the response they get

Reform would behave exactly as Donald Trump. Don't agree with them, and they will penalise, threaten, defund, and cancel you. They are proto fascists.

we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad

I had the best time at @iamhist.bsky.social symposium. So many thought-provoking presentations about uses of AI in the archive. Felt very privilaged to have my book launch on the programme.

Sex and snacks, but no seat at the table: the role of women in Epstein’s sordid men’s club Files reveal a world of flattery and fratboy tones, where rich men are cultivated and women provide services

The files reveal the deep-rooted ambivalence, disdain and hatred for women that sits at the root of masculinity. It’s something good men have to fight against every day, but power corrodes that will and leaves you totally unaccountable

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Let’s walk back to where we started. What motivates Trump? The answer is simple: racism. You might also say ego and raw self-interest, but the two are connected. Racism, among other things, is a kind of chauvinism, a belief in one’s inherent superiority, based on nothing other than a meaningless accident of birth. It’s an ideology that papers over feelings of inadequacy, that tells you that — no matter what you have or have not accomplished in your life — you’re still better than someone, some group. Let’s suppose you’re the spoiled son of a self-made man. Let’s suppose that, despite your flash and bravado, you’ve failed at virtually everything you’ve tried. You’re the laughingstock of polite society, a punchline for the privileged. You think you’re superior enough to be the president of the United States — the highest honor in your country — but the actual president is a man of humble origins, a minority of the kind your family didn’t even rent to when you were in the landlord business. And he is claiming power that rightfully belongs to you. He’s even mocking you, ridiculing you for all the world to see. For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career — from his embrace of birtherism to his hatred of birthright citizenship — cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism.

Please take the time to read this superb @jamellebouie.net column. It establishes a baseline of truth for anyone who wants to think, talk, and write honestly about Trump. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/o...

It is really infuriating to see how misogyny really does unite men across the sociopolitical spectrum. And, in so far as the Epstein files go, they sort women into two categories: fuckable or irrelevant. When they near a hint of accountability they complain about not being able to make women prey.

For those keeping score at home:

This is the thing. Freelancing happens to work very well for some people as individuals (me, for instance) but society needs real newsrooms and real teams. We gig writers are just part of the ecosystem.

The dedication in my book. iykyk. #indyref

Thanks for re-posting!

Archiving the Referendum This book provides insights into BBC Scotland’s role in shaping narratives around the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Delighted to say that Archiving the Referendum is now out in the world and available to buy! Do you like #tv, #archive, and #indyref ? Why not treat yourself to a copy!
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

Rhoda Meek: Creeping authoritarianism is coming and Scotland is no longer immune I LOOKED at Baron Offord of Garvel last week, leader of Reform UK in Scotland, and thought of Animal Farm. I looked at Suella Braverman, defecting…

Read the full story here: www.thenational.scot/politics/258...

So proud to have been on Kenmure Street that day

Everybody to Kenmure Street has won an international award at Sundance Film Festival. Well timed, cos it will remind doubters, haters & sceptics that neighbours will protect one another against an authoritarian state - in Glasgow 2021 or Minneapolis today. www.thenational.scot/news/2581367...

One of the team was delighted to tell me there's no buffer zones in the city centre. So we're ok with men harrassing women in the street?

@glasgowcc.bsky.social How are these people allowed to set up in the city centre? Buffer zones?

Noooo

This right here is the beginnings of the result of what DOGE was really up to. Not *really* slashing stuff, but getting access to as many government citizen databases and joining them to be able to target people quickly and comprehensively across all their exposure to the federal government.

Vote vote vote (against Reform please)

The Telegraph’s political editor is saying, more subtly, what others are saying brutally.

Well said, Deacon Blue!