Alex MacDonald

Alex MacDonald

@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Middle East Eye, reporter/commentator. Mainly talk about Iraq, Iran, Israel-Palestine, UK and Turkey. Folk musician. He/him. DM any story tips!

656 followers993 following802 posts

Pinned

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

As we hit the 30th September deadline for all US troops to pull out of Iraq, I took a look at what this means for the Iran-backed armed groups who have been celebrating it as a victory: www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-pull...

x.comAlex MacDonald (@AlexJayMac) on XAs we hit the 30th September deadline for all US troops to pull out of Iraq, I took a look at what this means for the Iran-backed armed groups who have been celebrating it as a victory: https://t.co/wTu4XoENfh

Alex MacDonald reposted

LiLBazula 👻 🎃
@lilbazza.bsky.social

Comes around earlier every year

Leicester Gazette@leicestergazette.leicester.news

Two University of Leicester students speak out over ‘absurd’ and ‘Orwellian’ decision by the BBC and ITV Studios to edit out pride pins worn on University Challenge

leicester.newsBBC edits out pride pins on University Challenge in ‘Orwellian’ move* * * This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**. * * * Astrophysics student Samuel Carlier and History student Emmeline Hague-Wright were shocked to find that their LGBTQ+ pride pins had been edited out of their University Challenge appearance earlier this year. The episode, initially scheduled for BBC Two on 24 August, was delayed twice before airing on 7 September 2026. The pins showed the progressive LGBTQ+ pride flag, the bisexual pride flag and a rainbow feather. Speaking to the Leicester Gazette, Sam said: “Living in a liberal democracy and having the state broadcaster tell you ‘we’re editing how you look’, seems very Orwellian.” Sam described the choice to remove the pins before broadcast as “weird” and “absurd”. He said: “[Censoring] that seemed weird. If I had worn a rainbow shirt, would they have censored that? If the idea is to keep things impartial, where is that line in the sand?” A side by-side image of Sam wearing the pin and with it having been digitally removed. Photograph: supplied Sam contacted the BBC to try to understand why his pins had been edited out. He told the Gazette: “The BBC people said they’d ring me, and I chased them, they just said go to the complaints website and file a complaint there, that’s what I did.” Since then, Sam hasn’t had a response from the BBC as to why his pins were removed. After the episode had aired, Sam noted that his shirt ‘melted’ into itself occasionally, as a result of the editing. Photograph: supplied ## Students believe the decision was made following online transphobia Emmeline was also shocked when she found out that the feather pin she wore was due to be removed from the episode she was in. It was understood by Emmeline that there was online transphobia in response to previous episode of University Challenge, and she had been contacted by the BBC, anticipating support from the broadcaster. When the BBC contacted her, instead of an offer of support, she was told her pin was going to be removed. “At first it was mostly confusion,” she said. “I heard that they had received a lot of nastiness online from people and I thought they were going to call me to say ‘we have support services if needed,’ and that wasn't what I got at all.” Instead, Emmeline was notified that the episodes were going to be delayed. “It was out of left field, I was confused for a while,” she said. “This entire delay has been because of a feather and two badges on a teammate that were basically impossible [for viewers] to see.” Emmeline had expressed her frustrations with the repeated delays from the BBC, spanning from mid-July to early-September. She said: “We were announced on the website and then delayed again, and then announced on the website a second time, and delayed even further. Speaking about the removal, she said: “It takes a lot of time” she said. “Making it [the edit] look good would be even more expensive and time-consuming. It seems like drastically a lot of effort.” ## Join the conversation Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community. __Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__ ## Wider criticism on LGBTQ+ support The pins Sam wore during the episode. Photograph: supplied According to leading LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall UK, two in five LGBTQ+ students will hide their identities at university for fear of discrimination. Stonewall has reported that more than 36 per cent of trans students have received hostile conduct from university staff due to their gender identity. Reflecting on the digital removal of the pins, Sam spoke about how disheartening the choice was. He said: “There was maybe like a span of eight years where someone could be uncontroversially out in the open queer – now that’s gone again.” he said. The BBC has also been widely criticised for ‘an attack on the LGBTQ+ community’ by pulling its involvement with the popular show, RuPaul's Drag Race. The broadcaster pulled its involvement in September following “significant financial pressures” as the reason for axing their involvement. The criticism follows another recent controversial edit by the BBC. On its hit show, Strictly Come Dancing, a decision was made to edit out ‘Protect the Dolls’ from contestant Bethany Antonia’s T-shirt. It’s a slogan which has become widely used to support the rights of trans women. The BBC defended their decision, saying the changes were made to meet editorial guidelines. It comes as the LGBTQ+ community has faced challenges amid an increasingly less tolerant political climate. ## What the BBC had to say When we asked them about editing out the pins worn by Leicester’s University Challenge team, a BBC spokesperson said: “In line with our editorial guidelines, we advise that no badges, flags, and emblems or symbols are worn or visible during filming, along with clothing with obvious branding or slogans. If such items are not removed for any reason then a decision is made between the programme makers and the BBC regarding any edits to the programme.” The BBC said the delays to the episode were unrelated to the decision to edit out the pins. A spokesperson for ITV Studios said: “University Challenge is an entertainment quiz show and is made in accordance with the BBC Editorial Guidelines requirements for impartiality.” The University of Leicester refused to comment on the matter. * * * **Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget. Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.** The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community. * * *
Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

JFC, you can't make this up: bsky.app/profile/medi...

Mediaite@mediaite.com

Amy Acton’s Estranged Mother Killed Kittens, Court Records Show

dlvr.itAmy Acton’s Estranged Mother Killed Kittens, Court Records ShowDonna Arthur, the estranged mother of Ohio Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton was convicted of animal neglect after she left kittens in a hot car. The post Amy Acton’s Estranged Mother Killed Kittens, Court Records Show first appeared on Mediaite.
Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Listen, some of us get paid to write about Muqtada al-Sadr, don't shoot the messenger...

Andrew Lawrence@ndrew.bsky.social

if you ever write an article about a guy saying hes done with politics and then a month or so later hes making the largest political donation in history then you need to quit and find another line of work

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Here is a picture of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair with Russian President Vladimir Putin outside Number 10 in 2000. Who was Blair's chief of communications at the time?

BBC Newsnight@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social

Alastair Campbell and Christiane Amanpour debate Trump envoy calling Putin a "humanitarian" #Newsnight www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWzcBacBFgU

youtube.comChristiane Amanpour and Alastair Campbell debate Trump envoy calling Putin a "humanitarian"YouTube video by BBC Politics
Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

I've never been to a football match and only found out about this pretty recently and was surprised to say the least. Regardless of your views, you can drink alcohol at other sporting events, cinema, theatre, public lectures, gigs etc. so it does seem pretty weird to single football out.

James Dart@jamesdart.bsky.social

Andy Burnham has signalled he may lift the ban on drinking alcohol in the stands at football matches, suggesting it is ‘unfair’ for fans to be singled out when it is permitted for other sports. Story: @pippacrerar.bsky.social and @tomjgarry.bsky.social

theguardian.comAndy Burnham signals he may lift ban on alcohol in football standsPrime minister says measure is discriminatory when fans of other sports are not similarly restricted
View full thread
Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Don't worry, the UK, Germany and Israel will be the only ones participating this year.

POLITICO Europe@politico.eu

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom, the country that gifted the world The Beatles and S Club 7, will seek answers on how to make the nation’s pop music more competitive on Europe’s biggest stage. 🔗 www.politico.eu/article/brit...

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

The reason that right-wing people in the US, UK, India and Europe (but mainly the US) obsess about London is because it is the absolute, ultimate disavowal of of everything they profess to believe - cosmopolitanism in action. And so they have to make up lies about us.

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

I, for one, will still insist on ordering a cowburger at restaurants.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk

As the Bayeux Tapestry opens to the public at the British Museum, what impact do Britons think the Norman Conquest had on British history? Positive: 25% Neither: 25% Negative: 6% Don't know: 44% yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

The next Israeli government isn't going to be led by Yair Golan, let alone Yousef Jabareen or Aymen Odeh. There will be no change in policy in the occupied Palestine territories and it is very possible the next government will be worse.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Hillary Clinton: "I love Israel, and I hate Netanyahu's government and his policies. I love America, and I hate Trump's government and policies ... if the Israelis want to vote for that again, then I think the United States has to take a very tough position."

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Wonder how many MAGA people who thought 9/11 was done by Bush or Israel have now suddenly decided to go with the "mainstream" narrative of OBL in order to have a go at Mamadani?

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Even leaving aside whether this is a "national emergency" or not - the fact is that Patriot Platform don't care about "illegal" immigration. They are a neo-fascist set-up opposed to the presence of non-white people in the UK and, in a general sense, democracy as a concept.

flyingrodent@flyingrodent.bsky.social

Only the finest candidates

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

If every incident of "illegal" immigration ended, they'd still be opposed to "legal" immigration. They view people born and raised in the UK who are non-white as a threat and as people who need to be removed. And anyone who opposes that as traitors who need to be suppressed.

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

I was somewhat disappointed by rhe Rocky Horror Picture Show when I finally watched it - it was a bit meh. With one (or two) exceptions: Tim Curry was magnificent and basically 80 percent of the film rested on him and the other 20 percent was Susan Sarandon.

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Taybeh, the last Christian-majority town in the occupied West Bank has been closed off by the Israelis. I interviewed Madees Khoury, the brewmaster of the legendary Taybeh Brewery in September about the Israeli encroachment on the town and its impact: www.middleeasteye.net/news/palesti...

middleeasteye.netPalestine's top brewmaster says Israeli settler attacks won't stop Taybeh beerMadees Khoury, the Middle East's only female brewmaster, tells MEE Israeli attacks have only strengthened the company's resolve

Alex MacDonald reposted

Anjali Dayal
@anjalikdayal.bsky.social

the argument against Mamdani attending the 9/11 anniversary, as far as I can tell, is literally just that he’s Muslim, and reposting it is just reporting rank racism

Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Western Sahara filmmakers call for a boycott of The Odyssey after it was filmed in the Moroccan-occupied territory: "A boycott sends a clear message that filmmakers cannot expect audiences to overlook decisions that risk legitimising an occupation" www.middleeasteye.net/news/calls-b...

middleeasteye.net'Cultural parasites': Calls for boycott of The Odyssey over filming in occupied Western SaharaSahrawi filmmakers criticise Christopher Nolan for complicity in Moroccan exploitation of Sahrawi land
Alex MacDonald
@alexjaymac.bsky.social

Anti-Nato sentiment has existed in Turkey since the country joined in 1952 - campaigners tell me the genocide in Gaza and the push for 5% of GDP on spending for member states has pushed it to new heights during the 2026 summit in Ankara: www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-ge...

middleeasteye.netGaza genocide and arms company profits underpin anti-Nato protests in TurkeyTurkey's government has instituted a sweeping crackdown and protest ban as Trump attends key alliance meeting