Alan Rusbridger

Alan Rusbridger

@arusbridger.bsky.social

EX Editor, the Guardian/ prospect magazine. The New World. ARusbridger.com/ Speaking: karen@chartwellspeakers.com.

64.4K followers586 following585 posts

Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Meanwhile, over at the other place….

Alan Rusbridger@arusbridger.bsky.social

The new Chair of OfCom has rather oddly suggested I should set up a left wing version of GB News. This suggests he doesn’t quite know what his job is. But I have taken him at his word. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75420/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukGB News is allowed to promote Reform, so I’m setting up Woke TVOfcom appears perfectly happy with a channel pumping out right-wing propaganda. It may be time to take the watchdog’s advice and create an alternative
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

The new Chair of OfCom has rather oddly suggested I should set up a left wing version of GB News. This suggests he doesn’t quite know what his job is. But I have taken him at his word. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75420/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukGB News is allowed to promote Reform, so I’m setting up Woke TVOfcom appears perfectly happy with a channel pumping out right-wing propaganda. It may be time to take the watchdog’s advice and create an alternative
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Nuclear weapons, the financial derivatives which caused the 2008 crash, social media, now A.I. Since most legislators can’t comprehend them, we need to design democratic forms of oversight. Don’t close those humanities departments just yet app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75126/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukPoliticians have got no hope when it comes to AI—just look at TrumpThe technology is developing at such speed even the tech bros don’t understand it, let alone lawmakers
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Modi, Orban, Erdogan, Trump, Farage. They all learn from each other on how to deal with journalists, and how create their own propaganda channels. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75066/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukTrump is trying to control the news, and Farage is desperate to follow himBanning the media from the White House appears to have backfired, but the bigger fight for press freedom—when so much of our information is controlled by a handful of billionaires—is very much on
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Last week - when all the front pages headlines were about Farage and his £72m - Farage fronted his own GB News show ….to talk about Farage! He compared his critics to communists and then interviewed other guests - about himself! app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75017/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukFarage and the £130m even his detractors have missedGB news has provided relentless positive PR for Nigel Farage while racking up tens of millions in financial losses. And now there is a new channel in the offing
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

If you add in £130m losses on “Reform TV” (aka GB News) the effective subsidy of Farage’s party from just four men tops £200m. You just have to join the dots app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/75017/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukFarage and the £130m even his detractors have missedGB news has provided relentless positive PR for Nigel Farage while racking up tens of millions in financial losses. And now there is a new channel in the offing
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Many members of the Israeli establishment – from former PMs to judges, generals and academics – vehemently oppose the actions of settlers in the West Bank and support sanctions. You wouldn’t know it from the criticism aimed at Ed Miliband app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74705/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukConfronting Jewish terrorism is not an act of Jew hateMany members of the Israeli establishment vehemently oppose what is happening in the West Bank. You wouldn’t know it from the criticism aimed at Ed Miliband
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

My Avis rental car was pummelled by hail stones in a Biblical storm last week. And I learned a lot about the car hire business and attitudes to climate change www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/enviro...

prospectmagazine.co.ukThe climate crisis is upon us—so why are deniers still getting airtime?Despite the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, sceptics are still making their voices heard—helped by journalists who should know be...
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Maybe Jason Arday’s death can offer us lessons in not rushing to glib judgements; in not joining the unthinking pack; and – above all - in keeping a sense of proportion and plain humanity. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/pol...

prospectmagazine.co.ukJason Arday was a victim of the worst kind of media pile-onThe former Cambridge professor suffered a relentless campaign of coverage against him. His death should teach us an important lesson about keeping a s...

Alan Rusbridger reposted

Kurt Fischer
@kurtfischer.bsky.social

Die Schubertiade war für mich Liebe auf den ersten Blick & Ton … vor 25 Jahren … Silver Jubilee … Warum das bei manchen schon eine Goldene Beziehung ist, das erklärt dieser Liebesbrief von @arusbridger.bsky.social in den @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/0d9d...

ft.comA love letter to the SchubertiadeWorld-class chamber music, alpine hikes and military-precision buses: why Austria’s great Schubert festival still inspires devotion after half a century
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Badenoch stands by an ex Neo Nazi candidate but bans anyone who doesn’t sign up to her moratorium on net zero. A weird form of authoritarian cancel culture has gripped the conservatives … app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74332/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukKemi Badenoch is creating a new—and very odd—type of Conservative partyIn her upside-down leadership, former neo-Nazis can run as councillors, but anyone hoping to stop the world from burning is banned
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Ever wondered if Allister Heath is a crazed ideologue or a brilliant satirist? HIs latest column - learn to love climate change and build more swimming pools - settles the question. The man’s a comic genius - and with perfect timing app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74279/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukClimate change sceptics have lost the plot as Europe burnsReading the Telegraph, it’s hard to work out whether their climate columns are a work of satire
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

The last prison minister escaped over the wall just hours before the latest scandal to engulf our collapsing criminal justice system. But there have been 13 of them in 10 years. Can Burnham be level with us about the size of the crisis he has to solve ? app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74224/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukWe’re addicted to locking people up—but it doesn’t make any of us saferDoes Andy Burnham have the attention span, the will and the courage to tackle a collapsing justice system?
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Farage’s close associate Posh George has written a book called How to Launder Money. Even the late Ronnie Biggs never had the imagination to pen a book entitled “How to Rob Trains”. The stink off Reforn’s funding is overpowering app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74154/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukNigel Farage is swimming in crypto—and has never looked closer to drowningThe Reform UK leader’s man-of-the-people act is losing its magic
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Burnham is proposing Downing Street North. But don’t stop there. Create House of Lords North. Send them to deliberate in Rochdale or Oldham. Many will retire or resign. Sad, but I think Britain can take it. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/74018/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukAndy Burnham wants more power in the north—move the Lords thereFor generations, governments have promised devolution while keeping every important institution in London. That can change
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

A forensic demolition of Michael Grade's nonsense about how @Ofcom should be regulating @GBNEWS from two senior people who worked at the regulator and actually know what they're talking about www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.comDon’t worry, a politician can’t present the Today programme. Michael Grade is wrong about that – and GB News | Stewart Purvis and Chris BanatvalaAs the former Ofcom chair says extraordinary things about the rightwing channel and its critics, a factcheck would not go amiss, say Stewart Purvis and Chris Banatvala, both formerly of Ofcom

Alan Rusbridger reposted

The Guardian
@theguardian.com

As haters and critics circle, will anyone speak up for the BBC? Yes, a huge, loyal army of ordinary Britons | Lindsay Mackie

theguardian.comAs haters and critics circle, will anyone speak up for the BBC? Yes, a huge, loyal army of ordinary Britons | Lindsay MackieThe BBC debate seems dominated by its foes and commercial rivals, but a new survey reveals a hitherto silent majority in supportive voice, says writer and campaigner Lindsay Mackie
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Some prefer monosyllabic analysis - “Woke!” But those who can handle context and history it’s worth revisiting Hampshire Police’s recent culture and asking its relevance to present events www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/738...

prospectmagazine.co.ukViolent protests in Belfast are the toxic legacy of BrexitDangerous rhetoric about migrants has become mainstream again, writes Alan Rusbridger. The violent impact is now being played out on the streets

Alan Rusbridger reposted

Annie Leymarie
@annieleymarie.bsky.social

Nigel Farage "has the extreme good fortune of effectively having his own TV station to amplify his insensitive populist ranting, along with a tribe of nodding journalists..." Will we "allow a talented demagogue to bamboozle us into becoming a country...where rage counts for more than evidence"? 👇

Alan Rusbridger@arusbridger.bsky.social

If Nigel Farage is heading towards power let it not be because journalists forgot the basic craft of their job and because Michael Grade was nodding at the wheel www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/uk/...

prospectmagazine.co.ukNigel Farage is a dangerous demagogue—here’s how to stop himThe Reform leader and his media cheerleaders have cynically exploited the murder of Henry Nowak.

Alan Rusbridger reposted

Peter Geoghegan
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social

An Irishman talks v fast about libel lawyers lobbying against anti-SLAPP laws - and building an investigative newsroom from scratch. Great to chat to @arusbridger.bsky.social and @lionelbarber.bsky.social on @prospectmagazine.co.uk 's Media Confidential www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...

prospectmagazine.co.ukPeter Geoghegan on getting SLAPP’d: ‘It had a huge chilling effect’The wealthy are using lawsuits to silence critics. Why does the government seem so reluctant to tackle them?
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

Crazy idea, opening a Guardian operation in the US - and without a paywall, eh?

Mediagazer@mediagazer.com

Document: The Guardian US posted FY 2026 revenue up 25% YoY to a record $81M and profit up 41% to $34.5M; digital reader donations make up 70.7% of revenue (Sara Fischer/Axios) Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink

Alan Rusbridger reposted

Justin Souter
@justingsouter.bsky.social

I listened to this last week, and it was an excellent discussion between @liambyrnemp.bsky.social @lionelbarber.bsky.social and @arusbridger.bsky.social ...

Liam Byrne MP@liambyrnemp.bsky.social

What happens to democracy when populists win? I joined Prospect Magazine, to dig into GB News, foreign money, and why Ofcom must act. Listen here: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/podcasts/med...

prospectmagazine.co.ukLiam Byrne: What happens when populists win?Alan and Lionel speak with the Labour MP about GB News, the BBC and threats to British democracy
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

FInally, one regulator will look at Nigel Farage and his (changing) explanation of the secret £5m he pocketed. Even Ofcom has shown a twitch of life But the media regulator still doesn’t get it app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73586/...

independent.co.ukFarage and GB News have been getting away with it for too longThe Reform leader is finally under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards over a £5m donation he failed to declare. But don’t hold your breath if you expect similar scrutiny of ...
Alan Rusbridger
@arusbridger.bsky.social

The mob reaction in Epsom to something that - it turned out - never happened is a depressing tale of populism and misinformation, often by people who should know better. That’s the pattern. app.prospectmagazine.co.uk/story/73184/...

app.prospectmagazine.co.ukThe mob reaction in Epsom paints a dark picture of chaos and populismThe protests and violence that followed an alleged rape that never happened were the result of far-right agitators galvanising fear on our streets