Eliot Higgins
@eliothiggins.bsky.social
Founder and creative director of Bellingcat and director of Bellingcat Productions BV. Author of We Are Bellingcat.
Pinned
🧵 @jburnmurdoch.ft.com is spot on about the conditions in his FT piece. Liberal democracy held it together thanks to growth, good demographics, and the promise of a better future. Those days are gone, and that’s the "why" behind the erosion. However...
Democratic politicians have, though, pursued growth in GDP at the expense of other values. One response to @jburnmurdoch.ft.com pessimistic scenario is refocus on those values, combined with egalitarianism, sufficiency and quality of life. Not "it's the economy, stupid" but "it's the the society"
The events of the last 24 hours show why it's important to build functional verification structures in public and counterpublic spaces to resist the authoritarian erosion of our democratic systems, as described in this thread.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Q: Were you aware that Lutnick visited Epstein's island?
TRUMP: I wasn't, but from what I hear he was there with his wife and children. I was never there.
TRUMP: I wasn't, but from what I hear he was there with his wife and children. I was never there.
February 12, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Q: Were you aware that Lutnick visited Epstein's island?
TRUMP: I wasn't, but from what I hear he was there with his wife and children. I was never there.
TRUMP: I wasn't, but from what I hear he was there with his wife and children. I was never there.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Background: Péter Magyar’s then-girlfriend Evelin Vogel secretly wore a wire, recording their private talks—audio later leaked in Orbán’s propaganda. As their relationship collapsed, she was allegedly bought off by Orbán’s people and began acting as a honey trap, Magyar claims.
February 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Background: Péter Magyar’s then-girlfriend Evelin Vogel secretly wore a wire, recording their private talks—audio later leaked in Orbán’s propaganda. As their relationship collapsed, she was allegedly bought off by Orbán’s people and began acting as a honey trap, Magyar claims.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
💥Dramatic turn in Hungary’s election race: Orbán rival Péter Magyar says that in 2024 his ex-girlfriend set a honey trap to secretly record them having sex—footage he claims Orbán’s camp plans to publish to ruin and blackmail him.
Magyar currently holds a big lead in the polls. Election in 59 days.
Magyar currently holds a big lead in the polls. Election in 59 days.
February 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM
💥Dramatic turn in Hungary’s election race: Orbán rival Péter Magyar says that in 2024 his ex-girlfriend set a honey trap to secretly record them having sex—footage he claims Orbán’s camp plans to publish to ruin and blackmail him.
Magyar currently holds a big lead in the polls. Election in 59 days.
Magyar currently holds a big lead in the polls. Election in 59 days.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
U.S. judge rejects BBC's stay application in Trump defamation case reut.rs/4kAdrVo
U.S. judge rejects BBC's stay application in Trump defamation case
A U.S. judge has rejected the BBC's application to stay discovery in the $10 billion lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over its editing of a speech that made it appear he directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol, court documents showed on Thursday.
reut.rs
February 12, 2026 at 6:45 PM
U.S. judge rejects BBC's stay application in Trump defamation case reut.rs/4kAdrVo
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Q: Have you fired that staffer who posted the video that included the Obamas?
Trump: No I haven't. That was a video that's been shown all over the place before that was posted, it's a very strong piece on voter fraud
Trump: No I haven't. That was a video that's been shown all over the place before that was posted, it's a very strong piece on voter fraud
February 12, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Q: Have you fired that staffer who posted the video that included the Obamas?
Trump: No I haven't. That was a video that's been shown all over the place before that was posted, it's a very strong piece on voter fraud
Trump: No I haven't. That was a video that's been shown all over the place before that was posted, it's a very strong piece on voter fraud
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
congrats clap for yourself
Fetterman: "I met with Secretary Noem. I've always treated her with respect. I refuse and never will engage in the kinds of sexist terms like 'ICE Barbie' that the left media will use."
February 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
congrats clap for yourself
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
SLOTKIN: So the fact we have ICE agents saying out loud to people they're trying to arrest that 'we're gonna put you in a database,' they are making that up?
LYONS: We do not do that
LYONS: We do not do that
February 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM
SLOTKIN: So the fact we have ICE agents saying out loud to people they're trying to arrest that 'we're gonna put you in a database,' they are making that up?
LYONS: We do not do that
LYONS: We do not do that
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
GALLEGO: Why is the agent who shot Renee Good holding a camera phone & weapon?
LYONS: The US attorney was requiring to have video leading up to arrests, so officials have used phones for that
GALLEGO: Maybe you shouldn't be trying to be an influencer and wielding a weapon at the same time
LYONS: The US attorney was requiring to have video leading up to arrests, so officials have used phones for that
GALLEGO: Maybe you shouldn't be trying to be an influencer and wielding a weapon at the same time
February 12, 2026 at 6:06 PM
GALLEGO: Why is the agent who shot Renee Good holding a camera phone & weapon?
LYONS: The US attorney was requiring to have video leading up to arrests, so officials have used phones for that
GALLEGO: Maybe you shouldn't be trying to be an influencer and wielding a weapon at the same time
LYONS: The US attorney was requiring to have video leading up to arrests, so officials have used phones for that
GALLEGO: Maybe you shouldn't be trying to be an influencer and wielding a weapon at the same time
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Judge says Pentagon 'trampled' on Sen. Mark Kelly's rights, blocks effort to demote him over 'illegal orders' video www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Judge says Pentagon 'trampled' on Sen. Mark Kelly's rights, blocks effort to demote him over 'illegal orders' video
The Pentagon moved to downgrade Kelly’s military retirement rank and pay over a video he appeared in that urged the military and intelligence community not to follow illegal orders.
www.nbcnews.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Judge says Pentagon 'trampled' on Sen. Mark Kelly's rights, blocks effort to demote him over 'illegal orders' video www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
"Epstein had pitched [art school dept chair] on a potential art exhibit titled 'Statutory' that would showcase underage models dressed to look older than they were."
He was really just upfront with it.
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
He was really just upfront with it.
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Professors in the Epstein Files Begin to Face Consequences
Several faculty members who spoke regularly with Epstein have been stripped of their titles or teaching duties.
www.insidehighered.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
"Epstein had pitched [art school dept chair] on a potential art exhibit titled 'Statutory' that would showcase underage models dressed to look older than they were."
He was really just upfront with it.
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
He was really just upfront with it.
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
stp.guy7 suggests the existence of stp.guys 1-6.
“I’ve reviewed over 50 sticky toffee puddings” is an incredibly powerful way to begin a video
February 12, 2026 at 5:16 PM
stp.guy7 suggests the existence of stp.guys 1-6.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Join us live in one hour: discord.gg/bellingcat?e...
February 12, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Join us live in one hour: discord.gg/bellingcat?e...
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Bit of a stonking week in podcast listening:
* @benwhitelaw.bsky.social and @masnick.com on the return of comments
* Ezra Klein, Cory Doctorow and Tim Wu on the internet we ended up with
* @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social interviewing @eliothiggins.bsky.social.
Links here:
* @benwhitelaw.bsky.social and @masnick.com on the return of comments
* Ezra Klein, Cory Doctorow and Tim Wu on the internet we ended up with
* @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social interviewing @eliothiggins.bsky.social.
Links here:
Journalism insight in your lugholes
Three fabulous podcast episodes that are well worth your time.
onemanandhisblog.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Bit of a stonking week in podcast listening:
* @benwhitelaw.bsky.social and @masnick.com on the return of comments
* Ezra Klein, Cory Doctorow and Tim Wu on the internet we ended up with
* @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social interviewing @eliothiggins.bsky.social.
Links here:
* @benwhitelaw.bsky.social and @masnick.com on the return of comments
* Ezra Klein, Cory Doctorow and Tim Wu on the internet we ended up with
* @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social interviewing @eliothiggins.bsky.social.
Links here:
"Threads has gone woke, Beryl!"
Threads director Mick Jackson has expressed worry over the upcoming remake’s focus on finding “hope even in the most challenging of times.”
“That one phrase worried me,” he tells Empire. “Hope is not part of nuclear war.”
Read more: www.empireonline.com/movies/news/...
“That one phrase worried me,” he tells Empire. “Hope is not part of nuclear war.”
Read more: www.empireonline.com/movies/news/...
February 12, 2026 at 10:37 AM
"Threads has gone woke, Beryl!"
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
that US healthcare system in full:
February 12, 2026 at 9:18 AM
that US healthcare system in full:
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
He had been auctioning memorabilia including stuff from Dawsons Creek to help fund treatment which really says something
February 12, 2026 at 9:20 AM
He had been auctioning memorabilia including stuff from Dawsons Creek to help fund treatment which really says something
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
The fact that James Van der Beek's family needs a crowdfunder page is mindblowing.
February 12, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The fact that James Van der Beek's family needs a crowdfunder page is mindblowing.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
how bad do you have to fuck up to allow an exploit in fucking NOTEPAD
The AI features added to Notepad created a critical exploit vulnerable to loading a compromised txt file.
The fix is part of Patch Tuesday, so update your systems.
AI is not a feature I ever desired in Notepad. I should look into some alternatives...
The fix is part of Patch Tuesday, so update your systems.
AI is not a feature I ever desired in Notepad. I should look into some alternatives...
AI-upgraded Notepad now exposes Windows users to critical exploit
A critical remote code execution vulnerability found in the AI-upgraded Windows 11 Notepad has fueled renewed criticism of Microsoft's forced AI feature creep.
cybernews.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:37 PM
how bad do you have to fuck up to allow an exploit in fucking NOTEPAD
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Ratcliffe is where populism leads. To multimillionaires spouting ignorant racist horseshit that divides us but unites the far right in their cynical bid to exploit prejudice for power. Ratcliffe will just shrug from his tax haven home. He doesn’t care. Farage laps it up. Everyone else loses.
February 12, 2026 at 8:47 AM
Ratcliffe is where populism leads. To multimillionaires spouting ignorant racist horseshit that divides us but unites the far right in their cynical bid to exploit prejudice for power. Ratcliffe will just shrug from his tax haven home. He doesn’t care. Farage laps it up. Everyone else loses.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
Pam Bondi brought a document to the Judiciary Committee today that had my search history of the Epstein files on it.
The DOJ is spying on members of Congress. It’s a disgrace and I won’t stand for it.
The DOJ is spying on members of Congress. It’s a disgrace and I won’t stand for it.
February 12, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Pam Bondi brought a document to the Judiciary Committee today that had my search history of the Epstein files on it.
The DOJ is spying on members of Congress. It’s a disgrace and I won’t stand for it.
The DOJ is spying on members of Congress. It’s a disgrace and I won’t stand for it.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Another participation trophy for Trump.
"Sir, to show our appreciation, the trophy says 'the undisputed champion of beautiful, clean coal'"
February 11, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Another participation trophy for Trump.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
CNN confirms what MSNBC reported live a few hours ago: DOJ is surveilling Dem lawmakers when they go to the DOJ to search unredacted Epstein files.
CNN: "Another photograph - these are notes AG Bondi brought to the hearing today. This shows a list of Rep. Jayapal's search history. Lawmakers are allowed to go to a DOJ facility to search unredacted files. We learned from this photo that the searches are apparently being tracked & read by the DOJ"
February 11, 2026 at 9:36 PM
CNN confirms what MSNBC reported live a few hours ago: DOJ is surveilling Dem lawmakers when they go to the DOJ to search unredacted Epstein files.
Reposted by Eliot Higgins
A handyman from Florida who received a pardon from President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted on state charges of child sex abuse and exposing himself to a child. n.pr/4tx7oVq
A Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump was convicted of sexually abusing children
A handyman from Florida who received a pardon from President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted on state charges of child sex abuse and exposing himself to a child.
n.pr
February 11, 2026 at 7:12 PM
A handyman from Florida who received a pardon from President Trump for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was convicted on state charges of child sex abuse and exposing himself to a child. n.pr/4tx7oVq