Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Scott Timcke

@scotttimcke.bsky.social

840 followers 73 following 46 posts

Senior Research Associate, Research ICT Africa. Focusing on AI, Property, and Democratic Theory in the Polycrisis.

Videos

Political science 36%

Sociology 32%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Jun 25

In the second of Research ICT Africa's policy briefs in the African Just AI series, I examine the issue of democratic fundamentals to argue that work on these takes priority over the promise of AI in African elections.

Do give it a read. #democracy #AI #Africa

researchictafrica.net/research/foc...

Focus on the democratic fundamentals: What comes before the promise of AI in African elections

In the second instalment of Research ICT Africa’s Just AI policy brief series, researcher Scott Timcke argues for a shift in focus from technological quick-fixes to the core democratic conditions [......

researchictafrica.net

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · May 16

When you think running 116 MILES in 17 hours(!!) is a professional fail...my goodness.

Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1d3...

My Second Attempt at Running For 24-hours (around a 400m track this time!)

YouTube video by Vo2maxProductions

www.youtube.com

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Apr 24

Not exactly what Claude Lefort meant.

David Pepper @davidpepperoh.bsky.social · Apr 23

🚨

An Empty Chair Town Hall…In JD Vance’s Hometown

A 🧵

Boy, was American democracy on display last night in JD Vance’s hometown—Middletown, Ohio.

Patriotism at its best.

1/

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Apr 24

The era of edicts.

Reposted by Scott Timcke

David Pepper @davidpepperoh.bsky.social · Apr 23

🚨

An Empty Chair Town Hall…In JD Vance’s Hometown

A 🧵

Boy, was American democracy on display last night in JD Vance’s hometown—Middletown, Ohio.

Patriotism at its best.

1/

17 120 460

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Jaime Casas @jaimecasas.bsky.social · Apr 16

Private investor-driven AI is "anathema" to democracy. @scotttimcke.bsky.social connects the dots between AI's current trajectory, growing inequality, and the weakening of democratic structures. A powerful analysis. #DigitalDemocracy #WealthInequality #AISafety www.techpolicy.press/ai-inequalit...

AI, Inequality, and Democratic Backsliding | TechPolicy.Press

Investor-driven AI development is anathema to the material conditions that enable democracy, writes Scott Timcke.

www.techpolicy.press

8 13

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Apr 8

Upgradable.

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Apr 7

Techno Border Imperialism.

Philip Di Salvo @philipdisalvo.bsky.social · Apr 7

Google Is Helping the Trump Administration Deploy AI Along the Mexican Border by @sambiddle.com theintercept.com/2025/04/03/g...

Google Is Helping the Trump Administration Deploy AI Along the Mexican Border

Google is part of a Customs and Border Protection plan to use machine learning for surveillance, documents reviewed by The Intercept reveal.

theintercept.com

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Philip Di Salvo @philipdisalvo.bsky.social · Apr 7

Google Is Helping the Trump Administration Deploy AI Along the Mexican Border by @sambiddle.com theintercept.com/2025/04/03/g...

Google Is Helping the Trump Administration Deploy AI Along the Mexican Border

Google is part of a Customs and Border Protection plan to use machine learning for surveillance, documents reviewed by The Intercept reveal.

theintercept.com

14 11

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Apr 4

Another elephant graph.

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · Apr 4

when your economy policy is just revenge vibes

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Leah Litman @leahlitman.bsky.social · Apr 4

when your economy policy is just revenge vibes

87 470 2.9K

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Mar 29

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Institute for Research on Male Supremacism @irms.bsky.social · Mar 19

What is Male Supremacism? Check out the graphic below for our definition of it, and register today to learn more about it at our conference on April 24- 26! bit.ly/IRMS2025 #IRMS2025 #IRMSConf

3 5

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Mar 12

I'll send a piece for them series.

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Mar 10

And to send scheduled emails so it appears you are at your desk later in the week.

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Mar 5

Trade Wars Are Class Wars.

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Mar 4

A recent piece of mine on agentic AI and democracy in Transforming Society.

www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/03/04/h...

How agentic AI challenges democracy - Transforming Society

Scott Timcke, author of 'Algorithms and the End of Politics', explores how agentic AI, with its autonomous decision-making, threatens democratic principles by undermining transparency, accountability,...

www.transformingsociety.co.uk

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Duncan Green @duncangreenlse.bsky.social · Mar 3

New blog claxon! Today we launched the LSE's 'Activism, Influencing and Change' site and programme, which I'll be running with Tom Kirk (@globalpolicy.bsky.social). If that's of interest, please repost and head on over to blogs.lse.ac.uk/activism-inf... to read/subscribe/comment

10 10

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Mar 2

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Feb 27

We need more Mississippi Burning.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Feb 27

Breaking News: Gene Hackman, the two-time Oscar winner who gave nuanced performances in films like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” died at 95. nyti.ms/4h8iyJa

A black-and-white photo of Gene Hackman. Text reads: "1930-2025. Gene Hackman. Photo credit: Evening Standard/Getty Images"

Reposted by Scott Timcke

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Feb 27

Breaking News: Gene Hackman, the two-time Oscar winner who gave nuanced performances in films like “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven,” died at 95. nyti.ms/4h8iyJa

80 550 2.1K

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Feb 25

Grok government.

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Ben Goggin @bengoggin.bsky.social · Feb 24

NEW: Info gathered from Musk's 5 accomplishments email is expected to be run through an AI system to determine whether or not someone's work is mission-critical, according to three sources with knowledge of the system
www.nbcnews.com/politics/dog...

DOGE will use AI to assess the responses from federal workers who were told to justify their jobs via email

The revelation comes as federal workers face a midnight deadline to respond to an email from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

www.nbcnews.com

290 380 1K

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Feb 24

Woefully unqualified from temperament to skills to experience.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Feb 24

Dan Bongino, a former New York City police officer and Secret Service agent turned right-wing pundit and podcaster, will be the next deputy director of the FBI, President Trump said on Sunday night.

Right-Wing Commentator Named F.B.I. Deputy Director

The choice of Dan Bongino is a radical departure from the bureau’s history of having a veteran agent serve in the key role that oversees operations.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Scott Timcke

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Feb 24

Dan Bongino, a former New York City police officer and Secret Service agent turned right-wing pundit and podcaster, will be the next deputy director of the FBI, President Trump said on Sunday night.

Right-Wing Commentator Named F.B.I. Deputy Director

The choice of Dan Bongino is a radical departure from the bureau’s history of having a veteran agent serve in the key role that oversees operations.

www.nytimes.com

170 87 220

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Feb 23

Drugs and / or reactionary white South African brain. I saw lots of this in the late 90s.

Riley MacLeod @rcmacleod.bsky.social · Feb 23

OK honest question what is the root of this? Is this just how you think on drugs?

The reason this matters is that a significant number of people who are supposed to be working for the government are doing so little work that they are not checking their email at all!

In some cases, we believe non-existent people or the identities of dead people are being used to collect paychecks. In other words, there is outright fraud.

Reposted by Scott Timcke

Riley MacLeod @rcmacleod.bsky.social · Feb 23

OK honest question what is the root of this? Is this just how you think on drugs?

530 1.1K 4.9K

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Feb 20

When you need the press and a spreadsheet to keep track of your siblings...

TheSouthAfrican.com @thesouthafrican.com · Feb 20

Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, says she learned about her reported new sibling through social media. Here is what we know…

Elon Musk’s daughter finds out about alleged new sibling via social media

Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, says she learned about her reported new sibling through social media. Here is what we know…

www.thesouthafrican.com

Reposted by Scott Timcke

TheSouthAfrican.com @thesouthafrican.com · Feb 20

Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, says she learned about her reported new sibling through social media. Here is what we know…

Elon Musk’s daughter finds out about alleged new sibling via social media

Elon Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Wilson, says she learned about her reported new sibling through social media. Here is what we know…

www.thesouthafrican.com

2 3 8

Scott Timcke @scotttimcke.bsky.social · Feb 17

Might as well call it the American Ukraine Company to really harken back.

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

Revealed: Trump’s confidential plan to put Ukraine in a stranglehold

Panic in Kyiv as US president demands higher share of GDP than Germany’s First World War reparations