Ben
@benfields.net
🇺🇸immigrant in LDN
recovering academic
Trying to understand humanity with data, music, libations
Might not be looking in the right places
–
currently: Head of Data @lakaHQ
previously: @bbc @futurelearn @funandplausible
cf https://assemblag.es/@alsothings
recovering academic
Trying to understand humanity with data, music, libations
Might not be looking in the right places
–
currently: Head of Data @lakaHQ
previously: @bbc @futurelearn @funandplausible
cf https://assemblag.es/@alsothings
Reposted by Ben
One reason we failed in the past is bc we didn't build up popular opposition to the crimes, whether it's torture or drone-killing or even attacking Congress.
Now is the time to do that, not after Dems retake power.
Now is the time to do that, not after Dems retake power.
If Democrats are ever in power again what’s going to happen is the idea of holding this administration accountable for breaking the law every single day is immediately going to be made out as the greater breach of the rules.
November 30, 2025 at 9:53 PM
One reason we failed in the past is bc we didn't build up popular opposition to the crimes, whether it's torture or drone-killing or even attacking Congress.
Now is the time to do that, not after Dems retake power.
Now is the time to do that, not after Dems retake power.
Reposted by Ben
The so-called “two gender solution” is an unworkable fantasy
November 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The so-called “two gender solution” is an unworkable fantasy
Reposted by Ben
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
Reposted by Ben
Amazingly, Your Party used first past the post in its vote on which name to use permanently, meaning the winner – Your Party, shocker – only got 37% of the vote on 30% turnout.
November 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Amazingly, Your Party used first past the post in its vote on which name to use permanently, meaning the winner – Your Party, shocker – only got 37% of the vote on 30% turnout.
Reposted by Ben
RFK Jr. Denies Ever Laying Eggs In Olivia Nuzzi
RFK Jr. Denies Ever Laying Eggs In Olivia Nuzzi
WASHINGTON—In an attempt to dispel rumors of an affair during the 2024 presidential campaign, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a press conference Monday during which he d...
theonion.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
RFK Jr. Denies Ever Laying Eggs In Olivia Nuzzi
Reposted by Ben
I’ll put it this way: I have significantly more optimism that we can beat this particular set of fascists than I do that Dems will do what is necessary not to hand the country right back over to the next batch four year later
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I’ll put it this way: I have significantly more optimism that we can beat this particular set of fascists than I do that Dems will do what is necessary not to hand the country right back over to the next batch four year later
Reposted by Ben
This is absolutely my second biggest worry about the current situation in US politics (the first of course being the current regime fully entrenches authoritarian rule).
Really easy to imagine that the Dems win by default in 26/28 but just sorta coast and the fundamentals are unchanged
Really easy to imagine that the Dems win by default in 26/28 but just sorta coast and the fundamentals are unchanged
Unfortunately you have to primary everyone, not just because they don't have what it takes to fight, but because they don't have what it takes to rebuild. Last thing you want is them to win by default and then tread water until the next Trump comes to power
what the moment calls for is fighters instead of gormless boobs who should have retired 30 years ago. policy differences can be hashed out later, everyone can agree that Musk and Trump must be stopped and democracy restored
November 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
This is absolutely my second biggest worry about the current situation in US politics (the first of course being the current regime fully entrenches authoritarian rule).
Really easy to imagine that the Dems win by default in 26/28 but just sorta coast and the fundamentals are unchanged
Really easy to imagine that the Dems win by default in 26/28 but just sorta coast and the fundamentals are unchanged
Introduce yourself with five acts you've seen in concert:
Robyn
Aphex Twin
Prince
Squarepusher
Devo
Robyn
Aphex Twin
Prince
Squarepusher
Devo
Introduce yourself with five concerts you have seen:
Terry Riley
Steve Reich
Philip Glass
Diamanda Galas
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Terry Riley
Steve Reich
Philip Glass
Diamanda Galas
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Introduce yourself with five concerts you have seen:
- Terence Trent D'Arby
- Crash Worship
- Magnetic Fields
- Yo Yo Ma
- Ekko Astral
- Terence Trent D'Arby
- Crash Worship
- Magnetic Fields
- Yo Yo Ma
- Ekko Astral
November 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Introduce yourself with five acts you've seen in concert:
Robyn
Aphex Twin
Prince
Squarepusher
Devo
Robyn
Aphex Twin
Prince
Squarepusher
Devo
Reposted by Ben
Maybe it is the abuses that create division, not report of the abuse, not consequence for the abuse.
Maybe it is bullying that causes division, not fighting the bully on behalf of the bullied.
Maybe it is lies that cause division, not the telling of truths.
Maybe we need to change the frame.
Maybe it is bullying that causes division, not fighting the bully on behalf of the bullied.
Maybe it is lies that cause division, not the telling of truths.
Maybe we need to change the frame.
November 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Maybe it is the abuses that create division, not report of the abuse, not consequence for the abuse.
Maybe it is bullying that causes division, not fighting the bully on behalf of the bullied.
Maybe it is lies that cause division, not the telling of truths.
Maybe we need to change the frame.
Maybe it is bullying that causes division, not fighting the bully on behalf of the bullied.
Maybe it is lies that cause division, not the telling of truths.
Maybe we need to change the frame.
Reposted by Ben
Following the yorp conference like
November 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Following the yorp conference like
sorry what does the Home Secretary have to do with British foreign policy? I mean she's responsible for all sorts of deeply problematic things, but why is she on this list? deeply unserious people. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Sultana attacks the monarchy, Israel and ‘pathetic’ Labour in Your Party speech – UK politics live
MP speaks to delegates in Liverpool after boycotting conference yesterday
www.theguardian.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
sorry what does the Home Secretary have to do with British foreign policy? I mean she's responsible for all sorts of deeply problematic things, but why is she on this list? deeply unserious people. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Reposted by Ben
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
November 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Unfortunately, in US journalism it is considered neutral to spread a lie, but it is considered "biased" to call out a lie. So, there is a structural asymmetry that rewards colorful lies with virality.
Reposted by Ben
Autolabelling service that tells you if a poster needs a wellness check or if they are watching sport
November 30, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Autolabelling service that tells you if a poster needs a wellness check or if they are watching sport
Reposted by Ben
Under Mahmood's current proposals, presumably would have been deported to Czechoslovakia in 1945, when it was "safe" again.
R.I.P. Tom Stoppard, playwright most famous for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Born Tomas Straussler in Czechoslovakia he fled his home during the Nazi occupation and found refuge in Britain at the age of eight. He later discovered all four of his grandparents had died in the Holocaust.
Sir Tom Stoppard, playwright famed for his wit and depth, dies at 88
Winning an Oscar for the screenplay for Shakespeare In Love, he captivated the hearts of audiences for more than six decades.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Under Mahmood's current proposals, presumably would have been deported to Czechoslovakia in 1945, when it was "safe" again.
Reposted by Ben
On @cancelmedaddy.bsky.social, we coined the term "Cancel Culture Grift Economy" to describe how this works.
Years ago, my colleagues at Business Insider and I tracked YouTuber “cancellation” arcs. What we found is that for many entertainers, “cancellation” actually sets the stage for a redemption arc, one that can raise their profile higher than ever. It wasn’t career-ending. It was fuel.
November 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
On @cancelmedaddy.bsky.social, we coined the term "Cancel Culture Grift Economy" to describe how this works.
Reposted by Ben
Reposted by Ben
This is a fucking nightmare.
Vinay Prasad of the FDA claims that he has proof that 10 children died from COVID19 vaccines, so the FDA will now target flu shots, look at whether people should receive multiple vaccines at the same time, and make the vaccine approval process significantly more difficult.
FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements, claiming child covid shot deaths
Vinay Prasad, the nation’s top vaccine regulator, said his team concluded that coronavirus shots were linked to children’s deaths, necessitating a new approach.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This is a fucking nightmare.
Reposted by Ben
Slop Evader is a tool from artist and researcher Tega Brain that lets you search the web for results exclusively before November 30, 2022—the day that ChatGPT was released to the public.
'Slop Evader' Lets You Surf the Web Like It’s 2022
Artist Tega Brain is fighting the internet’s enshittification by turning back the clock to before ChatGPT existed.
www.404media.co
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Slop Evader is a tool from artist and researcher Tega Brain that lets you search the web for results exclusively before November 30, 2022—the day that ChatGPT was released to the public.
is there any seasoning or sauce on any of this? Cranberry from a can can only do so much
Karoline Leavitt's Thanksgiving spread. Please dissect.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
November 29, 2025 at 8:31 PM
is there any seasoning or sauce on any of this? Cranberry from a can can only do so much
Reposted by Ben
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:26 AM
A Dishonorable Strike
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Indulging all assumptions in favor of the administration’s boat strikes, killing helpless men is murder
www.execfunctions.org/p/a-dishonor...
Reposted by Ben
Average folks kettled ICE
ICE still FROZEN at Centre St & Howard in lower Manhattan right now as calls continue circulating for people to join.
NYPD arriving with barricades.
NYPD arriving with barricades.
November 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Average folks kettled ICE
Reposted by Ben
these fucking guys
November 29, 2025 at 7:16 PM
these fucking guys
Reposted by Ben
a few candidates have talked about this but any Dem planning to run in 2028 should make it explicit: the next DOJ will, in fact, go after you if you’re funding this awful ballroom, or any other pay to play deals you make with this administration
Dimon on why JPMorgan Chase is not funding WH Ballroom:
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
November 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
a few candidates have talked about this but any Dem planning to run in 2028 should make it explicit: the next DOJ will, in fact, go after you if you’re funding this awful ballroom, or any other pay to play deals you make with this administration
Reposted by Ben
Thing is, we DID hear about it at his confirmation hearing.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Everyone should read this terrifying thread about Hegseth’s published views wrt war crimes. It’s pretty fucking radical …. We needed to hear about this in his confirmation hearing.
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
November 29, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Thing is, we DID hear about it at his confirmation hearing.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.
Every single senator who voted to confirm Hegseth knew he held these views about the laws of war.
They voted to confirm him anyway.