#Tag · bonfire.cafe

#corruption
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/10/uk-and-us-sink-to-new-lows-in-global-index-of-corruption

@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us · 14 hours ago

The UK is continuing its slow but clear fall in perceptions of corruption across the world.

This has already seen a fall in both ranking & a rise in the absolute level of the perception of the UK as a (partially) corrupt society.

In the ten years from 2015 the UK fell from 7th ranked to 20th (which is to say perception of corruption grew)... and this year has an overall score for corruption of 70/100 (the lower the worse the perception of corruption).

Countries’ drop in scores in annual table comes amid ‘worrying trend’ of backsliding in established democracies

UK and US sink to new lows in global index of corruption

#corruption
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/10/uk-and-us-sink-to-new-lows-in-global-index-of-corruption

@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us · 14 hours ago

The UK is continuing its slow but clear fall in perceptions of corruption across the world.

This has already seen a fall in both ranking & a rise in the absolute level of the perception of the UK as a (partially) corrupt society.

Countries’ drop in scores in annual table comes amid ‘worrying trend’ of backsliding in established democracies

UK and US sink to new lows in global index of corruption

Trending Bot and 1 other boosted

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 7 days ago

"Every #democracy facing this challenge has learned you don’t defeat authoritarians by being more reasonable. You defeat them by being more determined and by uniting the country against their most visible vulnerability: their #corruption.

#History won’t judge #Democrats on whether they were moderate enough. It will judge them on whether they fought hard enough, and smart enough, when democracy was threatened."
https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-not-to-defeat-authoritarianism/

#Trump #Authoritarianism #Politics #News #US #USA #America

Headline:
Forum
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

by Adam Bonica and Jake Grumbach

With responses from: Cori Bush, Amanda Litman, Matthew Yglesias, G. Elliott Morris, Julia Serano, Eric Rauchway, Suzanne Mettler & Trevor E. Brown, Thomas Ferguson, Timothy Shenk, Jared Abbott & Milan Loewer, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Lily Geismer, Danielle Wiggins, William A. Galston, and Henry Burke — Headline: Forum How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated. by Adam Bonica and Jake Grumbach With responses from: Cori Bush, Amanda Litman, Matthew Yglesias, G. Elliott Morris, Julia Serano, Eric Rauchway, Suzanne Mettler & Trevor E. Brown, Thomas Ferguson, Timothy Shenk, Jared Abbott & Milan Loewer, Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, Lily Geismer, Danielle Wiggins, William A. Galston, and Henry Burke

Boston Review

How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 7 days ago

#Trump #Authoritarianism #Politics #News #US #USA #America

Boston Review

How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism

Angela Antunovic boosted

#EpsteinFiles #corruption #politics

@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us · last week

I agree with Zoe Williams, the Epstein files are revealing how the entitled rich were happy total Epstein's money, with little care about what they needed to offer in exchange (at some time the future)....

And what it tells you is also, just how cheap they were.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/02/epstein-files-expose-cheap-corruption-uk

The bargain-bucket price tag on certain consciences is depressing. And the excuses of ignorance and amnesia are looking a little thin

The Epstein files expose just how cheap corruption is in the UK

#EpsteinFiles #corruption #politics

@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us · last week

And what it tells you is also, just how cheap they were.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/02/epstein-files-expose-cheap-corruption-uk

The bargain-bucket price tag on certain consciences is depressing. And the excuses of ignorance and amnesia are looking a little thin

The Epstein files expose just how cheap corruption is in the UK

David Gerard boosted

⚯ Michel de Cryptadamus ⚯

@cryptadamist@universeodon.com · 2 weeks ago

Jeffrey Epstein emailed All-In Podcast bro / friend of David Sacks / Uber investor etc. Jason Calacanis back in 2011 asking to be introduced to "the bit coin guys”

that’s 4 years earlier than we had evidence of Epstein being interested in crypto/bitcoin etc. prior to today.

more: https://cryptadamus.substack.com/p/the-epsteincrypto-timeline-is-alarming

#jasonCalacanis #Epstein #JeffreyEpstein #bitcoin #crypto #uspol #uspolitics #epsteinFiles #uspolitics #corruption

To: Jeffrey Epsteinfieevacation@gmail.com]
From: Jason Calacanis
Sent: Sat 6/4/2011 8:43:16 PM
Subject: Re:
hey pal... running out to a kids birthday party.
will dig up their info.
50 you know, these are folks who are not trying to build a business. they are the crazy open
source folks who are radicals. their motivation is more inline with Wikileaks or wikipedia.
i had these guys on my TV show on the web: YouTube - - Startups - Gavin Andresen and Amir
Taaki, Bitcoin
http:/fjc.is’kzemuH
best j
On Sat, Jun 4, 2011 at 1:36 PM, Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation(@ gmail.com> wrote:
I would like to get in touch with the bit coin guys. | I m happy to see you doing well
REA RAR ER RENEE RESTA EARS — To: Jeffrey Epsteinfieevacation@gmail.com] From: Jason Calacanis Sent: Sat 6/4/2011 8:43:16 PM Subject: Re: hey pal... running out to a kids birthday party. will dig up their info. 50 you know, these are folks who are not trying to build a business. they are the crazy open source folks who are radicals. their motivation is more inline with Wikileaks or wikipedia. i had these guys on my TV show on the web: YouTube - - Startups - Gavin Andresen and Amir Taaki, Bitcoin http:/fjc.is’kzemuH best j On Sat, Jun 4, 2011 at 1:36 PM, Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation(@ gmail.com> wrote: I would like to get in touch with the bit coin guys. | I m happy to see you doing well REA RAR ER RENEE RESTA EARS

A Rather Alarming Epstein/Crypto/Russia/Israel Timeline

The longer you look at it the more alarming it gets.

⚯ Michel de Cryptadamus ⚯

@cryptadamist@universeodon.com · 2 weeks ago

Jeffrey Epstein emailed All-In Podcast bro / friend of David Sacks / Uber investor etc. Jason Calacanis back in 2011 asking to be introduced to "the bit coin guys”

that’s 4 years earlier than we had evidence of Epstein being interested in crypto/bitcoin etc. prior to today.

more: https://cryptadamus.substack.com/p/the-epsteincrypto-timeline-is-alarming

#jasonCalacanis #Epstein #JeffreyEpstein #bitcoin #crypto #uspol #uspolitics #epsteinFiles #uspolitics #corruption

A Rather Alarming Epstein/Crypto/Russia/Israel Timeline

The longer you look at it the more alarming it gets.

Chip Butty boosted

JuneSim63 💚

@junesim63@mstdn.social · 2 weeks ago

A Labour-linked lobbying firm is selling access to government officials, including tech secretary Liz Kendall and “top advisers to the prime minister”, for tens of thousands of pounds.

#Corruption #Lobbying #UKPolitics #Technology

Arden Strategies lobbying firm offers ‘cash-for-access’ to Labour ministers at Future of Tech Summit | openDemocracy
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/dark-money-investigations/arden-strategies-cash-for-access-future-labour-ministers-tech-summit-liz-kendall-jim-murphy/

openDemocracy

    Revealed: Lobbyist selling access to ministers for £30,000

Firms can get direct access to tech minister and No 10 advisers in exchange for sponsoring tech event, brochure says

JuneSim63 💚

@junesim63@mstdn.social · 2 weeks ago

A Labour-linked lobbying firm is selling access to government officials, including tech secretary Liz Kendall and “top advisers to the prime minister”, for tens of thousands of pounds.

#Corruption #Lobbying #UKPolitics #Technology

openDemocracy

    Revealed: Lobbyist selling access to ministers for £30,000

Firms can get direct access to tech minister and No 10 advisers in exchange for sponsoring tech event, brochure says

⚯ Michel de Cryptadamus ⚯

@cryptadamist@universeodon.com · last month

prediction markets are creating revolutionary new vectors for corruption

#Kalshi #Polymarket #predictionMarkets #KarolineLeavitt #uspol #corruption

@mtp
What stage of capitalism is it when the White House is rigging betting markets on how long its press briefings denying war crimes will last

@predictionMarketTrader
Today's White House Press Briefing had a 98% chance of running over 65 minutes - until Karoline Leavitt abruptly ended it with seconds to spare.

Traders on the NO side made 50x in seconds. — @mtp What stage of capitalism is it when the White House is rigging betting markets on how long its press briefings denying war crimes will last @predictionMarketTrader Today's White House Press Briefing had a 98% chance of running over 65 minutes - until Karoline Leavitt abruptly ended it with seconds to spare. Traders on the NO side made 50x in seconds.

der.hans boosted

I’ve written repeatedly about how Republicans effectively rewrote the 2021 infrastructure bill (they voted against) to ensure that billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded broadband grants …

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · last month

" #Republicans effectively rewrote the 2021 #infrastructure bill (they voted against) to ensure that billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded broadband grants (intended to be spent on affordable, next-generation fiber) was stolen from local communities, and instead given to #ElonMusk & #JeffBezos...

It’s a coordinated hijacking of taxpayer money that will actually undermine affordable #internet access."
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/12/30/the-wall-street-journal-applauds-republicans-corrupt-illegal-theft-of-billions-in-taxpayer-dollars/

#GOP #Corruption #Politics #Tech #Technology #News #US #UnitedStates

Headline and text from article:
The Wall Street Journal Applauds Republicans’ Corrupt, Illegal Theft Of Billions In Taxpayer Dollars

Tue, Dec 30th 2025 05:27am - Karl Bode

I’ve written repeatedly about how Republicans effectively rewrote the 2021 infrastructure bill (they voted against) to ensure that billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded broadband grants (intended to be spent on affordable, next-generation fiber) was stolen from local communities, and instead given to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos for expensive, congested satellite service.

I’ve also explained in detail why that’s a problem: These networks may be initially cheaper to deploy, but the networks lack the capacity to actually scale to meet demand. Data indicates they harm astronomy research and the ozone layer. They’re ultimately more expensive for consumers than fiber deployments, especially if those fiber deployments are by cooperatives or community owned.

In short, taxpayer money directed toward Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk is also money directed away from higher-capacity, faster, locally-owned (and usually cheaper) fiber and wireless alternatives. And it’s money given to billionaires for technology they already had deployed or would have deployed anyway. It’s a coordinated hijacking of taxpayer money that will actually undermine affordable internet access.

Enter the Wall Street Journal editorial board, which aggressively lies about all of this all of this in a new, comically terrible editorial.... — Headline and text from article: The Wall Street Journal Applauds Republicans’ Corrupt, Illegal Theft Of Billions In Taxpayer Dollars Tue, Dec 30th 2025 05:27am - Karl Bode I’ve written repeatedly about how Republicans effectively rewrote the 2021 infrastructure bill (they voted against) to ensure that billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded broadband grants (intended to be spent on affordable, next-generation fiber) was stolen from local communities, and instead given to Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos for expensive, congested satellite service. I’ve also explained in detail why that’s a problem: These networks may be initially cheaper to deploy, but the networks lack the capacity to actually scale to meet demand. Data indicates they harm astronomy research and the ozone layer. They’re ultimately more expensive for consumers than fiber deployments, especially if those fiber deployments are by cooperatives or community owned. In short, taxpayer money directed toward Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk is also money directed away from higher-capacity, faster, locally-owned (and usually cheaper) fiber and wireless alternatives. And it’s money given to billionaires for technology they already had deployed or would have deployed anyway. It’s a coordinated hijacking of taxpayer money that will actually undermine affordable internet access. Enter the Wall Street Journal editorial board, which aggressively lies about all of this all of this in a new, comically terrible editorial....

Techdirt

The Wall Street Journal Applauds Republicans’ Corrupt, Illegal Theft Of Billions In Taxpayer Dollars

I’ve written repeatedly about how Republicans effectively rewrote the 2021 infrastructure bill (they voted against) to ensure that billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded broadband grants …

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · last month

#GOP #Corruption #Politics #Tech #Technology #News #US #UnitedStates

Techdirt

The Wall Street Journal Applauds Republicans’ Corrupt, Illegal Theft Of Billions In Taxpayer Dollars

Alex Akselrod boosted

@ZhiZhu@newsie.social · 3 months ago

"Trump accused a group of Democratic lawmakers of sedition in an outburst on #SocialMedia Thursday morning and said their behavior was “punishable by death.”

Their crime? Recording a #video that reminded members of the #military that they are not supposed to obey illegal orders."
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/us/politics/trump-democrats-sedition-death-punishment.html

#DonaldTrump #Trump #GOP #Fascism #Corruption #Republicans #USPol #Politics #Democrats #Law #News #Press #US #USA #UnitedStates #America

Headline from the New York Times:
Trump Accuses Democrats of Sedition, ‘Punishable by Death,’ Over Message to the Military

President Trump was reacting to a video that reminded members of the military that they are not supposed to obey illegal orders. — Headline from the New York Times: Trump Accuses Democrats of Sedition, ‘Punishable by Death,’ Over Message to the Military President Trump was reacting to a video that reminded members of the military that they are not supposed to obey illegal orders.

https://www.nytimes.com

Trump Accuses Democrats of Sedition, ‘Punishable by Death,’ Over Message to the Military