Oliver Rivers
@maxrothbarth.bsky.social
COO at OCCRP. Usual disclaimers about whose these opinions are (mine) apply in the usual (obvious) way. Aspiring cat owner. Corruption, investigative journalism, art, classical music, not necessarily in that order.
I heard a great outpouring of grief, as though a million late Roman historians cried as one.
"Responding to Rachel Reeves’s budget, the Conservative Party leader told the Political Thinking podcast that ‘in early Christian times there was no state or welfare’"
I mean there was no Roquefort cheese either; does that mean Roquefort cheese is unchristian? What an absurd argument.
I mean there was no Roquefort cheese either; does that mean Roquefort cheese is unchristian? What an absurd argument.
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
November 28, 2025 at 12:15 PM
I heard a great outpouring of grief, as though a million late Roman historians cried as one.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
Ahead of our Make Freedom Ring concert in Munich on 30th November, I speak to BR-Klassik about the situation in Gaza, the silence of the classical music industry, the responsibility to speak out as a German citizen, and the question of justice for Palestine
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
Michael Barenboim zu Gaza-Konflikt:
Am Sonntag gibt Michael Barenboim ein Benefizkonzert für Gaza-Hilfen. Im Interview spricht der Geiger über die Gründe für sein öffentliches Engagement und darüber, warum Konzerte Orte der Solidarität ...
www.br-klassik.de
November 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Ahead of our Make Freedom Ring concert in Munich on 30th November, I speak to BR-Klassik about the situation in Gaza, the silence of the classical music industry, the responsibility to speak out as a German citizen, and the question of justice for Palestine
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news...
Mulligan has been drinking out of the people water all afternoon and we just found out
November 27, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
TW via BTselem: filmed executions of Palestinians under occupation in Jenin – carried out by the very regime the support of which several “left wing” German journalists have built their laughable careers on
November 27, 2025 at 10:19 PM
TW via BTselem: filmed executions of Palestinians under occupation in Jenin – carried out by the very regime the support of which several “left wing” German journalists have built their laughable careers on
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
I swear if I read or see one more suggestion that owning a £2million house doesn’t make you rich I will not be responsible for my actions.
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I swear if I read or see one more suggestion that owning a £2million house doesn’t make you rich I will not be responsible for my actions.
Technical question. How will this show up in the public accounts? You could on an actuarial basis accrue for the payments you’re going to get in the future from the estates of people who’ve deferred in their lifetimes. Obviously that wouldn’t affect PSBR today, but does impact the balance sheet, no?
THE POLICY ADDRESSES THIS ALREADY.
"Homeowners will be able to roll up the annual payments and defer them until they move house or die." www.ft.com/content/5b07...
"Homeowners will be able to roll up the annual payments and defer them until they move house or die." www.ft.com/content/5b07...
Mumsnet is already on the case.
November 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Technical question. How will this show up in the public accounts? You could on an actuarial basis accrue for the payments you’re going to get in the future from the estates of people who’ve deferred in their lifetimes. Obviously that wouldn’t affect PSBR today, but does impact the balance sheet, no?
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
This means that Israel killed directly 4% of Gaza residents
Injured probably another 4%
Indirect casualties (excess mortality) is still to be assessed.
Injured probably another 4%
Indirect casualties (excess mortality) is still to be assessed.
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
This means that Israel killed directly 4% of Gaza residents
Injured probably another 4%
Indirect casualties (excess mortality) is still to be assessed.
Injured probably another 4%
Indirect casualties (excess mortality) is still to be assessed.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
Did you know that Joseph Conrad once wrote a story about a ship’s captain who lost most of his money to a dodgy banking corporation?
November 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Did you know that Joseph Conrad once wrote a story about a ship’s captain who lost most of his money to a dodgy banking corporation?
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Scrapping the two-child limit in full is a monumental decision. Well done to all involved in the Child Poverty Strategy, and everyone who has made the case against the policy.
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
OBR says scrapping costs £3 billion in 2029-30 and will lift 450,000 out of poverty
November 26, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Whatever else this government do (and there's plenty of issues with this budget) ministers will always be able to point to this as an incredible important contribution to the country's future. Almost half a million kids taken out of poverty.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
That (Trevor) Phillips “to stop the country from becoming a xenophobic hellhole, we must make it a xenophobic hellhole” article is exactly as bad as you’d expect it to be, but I think that paragraph that’s going around should be quoted in full. It lands slightly differently with the last sentence.
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
That (Trevor) Phillips “to stop the country from becoming a xenophobic hellhole, we must make it a xenophobic hellhole” article is exactly as bad as you’d expect it to be, but I think that paragraph that’s going around should be quoted in full. It lands slightly differently with the last sentence.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
Still can't quite believe that "I only said 'gas the Jews' in a non-hurtful way" was the strategy Nigel Farage opted to go for
November 24, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Still can't quite believe that "I only said 'gas the Jews' in a non-hurtful way" was the strategy Nigel Farage opted to go for
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Nicolas Guillou, French ICC judge sanctioned by the US: 'You are effectively blacklisted by much of the world's banking system'
Six judges and three prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have been sanctioned by the Trump administration. In an interview with Le Monde, Guillou discusses the impact of these measures on ...
www.lemonde.fr
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This story should be covered waaaaayy more than it is.
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
The US has sanctioned six judges if the international criminal court ICC, because Trump didn’t like them issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
Toby Young, self-appointed king of free speech, is speaking in Hungary tomorrow about UK “censorship”.
He’ll be addressing a group funded by Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime, which has seized control of the country’s media, judiciary, and routinely harasses its critics
He’ll be addressing a group funded by Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime, which has seized control of the country’s media, judiciary, and routinely harasses its critics
Toby Young to Address Orbán-Backed Group on UK ‘Censorship’
Conservative peer and right-wing commentator Toby Young is due to deliver a talk tomorrow (25 November) at the in-house think tank of Hungarian autocrat Viktor Orbán. Young is being interviewed by Mat...
www.desmog.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Toby Young, self-appointed king of free speech, is speaking in Hungary tomorrow about UK “censorship”.
He’ll be addressing a group funded by Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime, which has seized control of the country’s media, judiciary, and routinely harasses its critics
He’ll be addressing a group funded by Viktor Orbán’s autocratic regime, which has seized control of the country’s media, judiciary, and routinely harasses its critics
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
After the Gaddafi regime fell in Libya, the country’s $68 billion sovereign wealth fund fell into a period of chaos — during which time fraud went “through the roof,” experts say.
One alleged case involves 2021 presidential candidate Abdelhakim Baayo:
One alleged case involves 2021 presidential candidate Abdelhakim Baayo:
November 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
After the Gaddafi regime fell in Libya, the country’s $68 billion sovereign wealth fund fell into a period of chaos — during which time fraud went “through the roof,” experts say.
One alleged case involves 2021 presidential candidate Abdelhakim Baayo:
One alleged case involves 2021 presidential candidate Abdelhakim Baayo:
Someone’s not having the best start to their Thanksgiving week.
BREAKING: Comey case dismissed without prejudice. Halligan invalidly appointed, judge rules. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Someone’s not having the best start to their Thanksgiving week.
Picture editor must’ve had fun with this one.
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Picture editor must’ve had fun with this one.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
DOGE was not a failure. Its purpose was to use the completely fabricated claim of “efficiency” to irreparably annihilate vast amounts of federal government infrastructure, which it did instantly, violently, and in ways we will not see the full repair of in our lifetimes.
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
DOGE was not a failure. Its purpose was to use the completely fabricated claim of “efficiency” to irreparably annihilate vast amounts of federal government infrastructure, which it did instantly, violently, and in ways we will not see the full repair of in our lifetimes.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
It's infuriating to see so much of the media give Kruger the same kid gloves treatment that Rees-Mogg used to get because he is posh and polite and able to wrap his bigotry in enough intellectual tissue paper to make it seem like a political philosophy rather than an expression of white supremacy.
Reform are so dangerous and this headline doesn’t do it justice. I also think a piece like this should start with the politician‘s core views just to emphasise the urgency.
November 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
It's infuriating to see so much of the media give Kruger the same kid gloves treatment that Rees-Mogg used to get because he is posh and polite and able to wrap his bigotry in enough intellectual tissue paper to make it seem like a political philosophy rather than an expression of white supremacy.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF
November 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
This is pretty striking and makes me wonder exactly what Labour have been up to in making policy seemingly in response to / fear of the former rather than the middle group.
Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 22, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is pretty striking and makes me wonder exactly what Labour have been up to in making policy seemingly in response to / fear of the former rather than the middle group.
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
The judge who authorised the ICC's arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is now shut out from modern life as a result of US sanctions.
He has been blacklisted by financial systems and technologies (Visa, Apple, Google, etc)
Paywall bypass: archive.ph/d8NmT
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
He has been blacklisted by financial systems and technologies (Visa, Apple, Google, etc)
Paywall bypass: archive.ph/d8NmT
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Nicolas Guillou, French ICC judge sanctioned by the US: 'You are effectively blacklisted by much of the world's banking system'
Six judges and three prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have been sanctioned by the Trump administration. In an interview with Le Monde, Guillou discusses the impact of these measures on ...
www.lemonde.fr
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
The judge who authorised the ICC's arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant is now shut out from modern life as a result of US sanctions.
He has been blacklisted by financial systems and technologies (Visa, Apple, Google, etc)
Paywall bypass: archive.ph/d8NmT
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
He has been blacklisted by financial systems and technologies (Visa, Apple, Google, etc)
Paywall bypass: archive.ph/d8NmT
www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...
Reposted by Oliver Rivers
don't really care how this makes me sound at this point, but the free open internet was a mistake and a lot of people out there were clearly never going to be able to handle it
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:47 AM
don't really care how this makes me sound at this point, but the free open internet was a mistake and a lot of people out there were clearly never going to be able to handle it